tres plus compleverat annis Nam tribus octensis Regia Sceptra tulit Quindecies Domini centenus fluxerat annus Currebat nonus cum venit atra Dies Septima termensis lux tunc fulgebat Aprilis Cum Clausit summam tanta Corona Diem Nulla Dedere prius tantum tibi saecula Regem Anglia vix similem posteriora Dabunt This Church is famous for the Monuments and Tombs of our Kings Queens Nobility and other eminent Men as Sebert the first Christian King of the Eastâ— Saxons Harold the Bastard Son of Canutus the Dane King of England King Edward the Confessor and his Queen Edith Maud Wife to King Henry the First the Daughter of Malcolm King of Scots Henry the 3. and his Son King Edward the 1. with Eleanor his Wife daughter to Ferdinando the first King of Castile and Leon. King Edward the 3. and Philippa of Henault his Wife King Henry the 5. with Katherine his Wife Daughter to King Charles the 6. of France Anne Wife to King Richard 3. Daughter to Richard Nevil Earl of Warwick King Henry the 7. with his Wife Elizabeth Daughter to King Edward the 4. and his Mother Margaret Countess of Richmond King Edward the sixth that most Religious and truly Vertuous Prince who lyeth under the Brass richly Gilded Altar most curiously wrought with Excellent Workmanship Anne of Cleave the 4 th Wife of King Henry the Eight Queen Mary and the Renowned Queen Elizabeth upon the Remove of whose Body from Richmond where She Dyed to White-Hall by Water these Lines were Written which may for their Elegancy and in Remembrance of that most Illustrious Protestant Queen be inserted The Queen was brought by Water to White-Hall At every stroake the Oars their tears let fall More clung about the Barge Fish under water Wept out their Eyes of Pearl swam blindly after I think the Barge-men might with easier Thighs Have row'd her thither in her Peoples Eyes For howsoe'er thus much my thoughts have scann'd Sh 'ad come by Water had she come by Land Prince Henry eldest Son of King James the First Monarch of Great Britain King James Himself and Queen Ann his Wife and the first Male born of King Charles the First dying an Infant Of Dukes and Earls and Lords Degree Edmund Earl of Lancaster second Son of King Henry the Third and his Lady Aveline de fortibus Countess of Albemarle William and Andomar of Valente of the Family of Lusignian Earls of Pembrooke Alphonsus John and other Children of King Edward the first John of Eltham Earl of Cornwall Son to King Edward the Second Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Glocester the youngest Son of Edward the Third with other of his Children Eleanor Daughter and Heir of Humphry Bâ—hun Earl of Hereford and of Essex Wife to Thomas of Woodstock The young Daughter of Edward the Fourth And King Henry the Seventh Henry a Child of two months old Son of King Henry the Eighth Sâ—phia the Daughter of King James who died as it were in the first Day-dawning of her Age. Philippa Mohun Dutchess of York Robert of Henault in right of his Wife Lord Bourchier Ann the young Daughter and Heir of John Mowbraâ— Duke of Norfolk promised in Marriage unto Richard Duke of York younger Son to King Edward the Fourth Sir Giles Dawbny Lord Chamberlain to King Henry the Seventh and his Wife of the House of the Arundels in Cornwall John Viscount Wells Frances Brandon Dutchess of Suffolk Mary her Daughter Margaret Douglas Countess of Lenex Grandmother to James King of Great Britain with Charles her Son Winefrid Bruges Marchioness of Winchester Ann Stanhope Dutchess of Somerset and Jane her Daughter Ann Cecil Countess of Oxford Daughter to the Lord Burleigh Lord High-Treasurer of England with Mildred Burghley her Mother Elizabeth Berkly Countess of Ormond Frances Sidney Countess of Sussex James Butler Viscount Thurles Son and Heir to the Earl of Ormond Besides these Humphry Lord Bourchier of Cornwall Sir Humphry Bourchier Son and Heir to the Lord Bourchier of Berners both slain at Barnetfield Sir Nicholas Carew Baron Powis Thomas Lord Wentworth Thomas Lord Wharton John Lord Russel Sir Thomas Bromley Lord Chancellor of England Douglas Howard Daughter and Heir General of Henry Viscount Howard of Bindon Wife to Sir Arthur Gorges Elizabeth Daughter and Heir of Edward Earl of Rutland Wife to William Cecil Sir John Puckering Lord-Keeper of the Great Seal of England Frances Howard Countess of Hartford Henry and George Cary the Father and Son Barons of Hunsdon both Lords Chamberlains to Queen Elizabeth The Heart of Ann Sophia the Daughter of Christopher Harley Count Beaumont Ambassador for the King of France in England bestowed within a small Gilt Urn over a Pyramid Sir Charles Blunt Earl of Devonshire Lord-Lieutenant-General of Ireland Geoffrey Chaucer the Prince of English Poets in his time Edmund Spencer an eminent Poet. William Cambden Clarencieux King of Arms. Causabon the Famous French Writer Michael Drayton c. Then there is George Villiers Duke Marquiss and Earl of Buckingham Favourite to King James and King Charles the First Also the Earl of Essex and several others Interr'd there during His present Majesties Absence from His Government There is also Interr'd George Duke of Albemarle Father to his Grace the present Duke whose Funerals were Solemnly performed the Thirtieth of April 1670. The Dutchess of Albemarle was also Interr'd in King Henry the Sevenths Chappel the twenty eighth of February 1669. in Westminster Church There is likewise Interr'd that Celebrated Poet Mr. Abraham Cowley under a Monument of Exquisite Curiosity at the Charges of his Grace the Noble Duke of Buckingham Having done with Westminster-Abby we shall give a Brief account of the other Churches Alphabetically as they were before the Fire And of such as are Re-built which are now far more Durable and Stately than before the Reader may expect an Account hereafter I. St. Albans Church in Woodstreet is of great Antiquity being Dedicated to St. Albans the first Martyr of England Another mark of Antiquity was to be seen in the manner of the turning the Arches in the Windows and heads of the Pillars There were also Roman Bricks found inlay'd here and there among the Stones of the Building it was Anno 1632. being wonderfully decay'd pull'd down in order to be Re-built In it were diverse Monuments which for brevity sake are omitted II. On the North side of the East end of Tower-street is the Parish-Church called All-hallows Barkin a very fair Church standing in a large Church-Yard on the North side whereof was built a fair Chappel by King Richard the first whose heart 't is said was buryed there under the high Altar This Chappel was Augmented by King Edward the first And a fraternity setled there by King Edward the fourth King Richard the third new Built it and founded therein a Colledge of Priests which was suppressed in the Year 1548. in the Second of Edward the sixth and the Ground made
Foreigner an English Man can Attaint a Man of Treason when he is Dead and when he is no more a Man c. A Parliament is Summoned in manner following About fourty Days before the Parliament doth Assemble the King Issues out His Writ out of the Chancery cum advisamento Consilii sui with the advice of His Council and the Warrant is per ipsum Regem Consilium by the King Himself and His Council The King's Writ which is a short Letter or Epistle is directed and sent to every particular Person of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal commanding the Lords Spiritual in Fide Dilectione in Faith and Love and the Lords Temporal per fidem allegantiam by their Faith and Allegiance to appear at a certain time and place to Treat and give their Advice in some certain Important Affairs concerning the Church and State c. Other Writs are sent to the High Sheriff of each County to Summon the People to Elect two Knights for each County two Citizens for each City and one or two Burgesses for each Burrough according to Statute Charter or Custom In these Elections antiently all the People had their Votes and most Votes carried it but for avoiding of Tumults and Trouble it was Enacted by Henry the VI. that none should have any suffrage in the Election of Knights of the Shire but such as were Free-holders did Reside in the County and had of Yearly Revenue 40 s. which till the discovery of Gold and Silver in America was as much as 30 or 40 l. now The Persons Elected for each County are to be Milites Notabiles or at least Esqs or Gentlemen fit to be made Knights as it is in the Statutes of Henry the VI. they ought to be de discretionibus Militibus ad laborandum potentioribus of the discreetest Knights and most able to endure Labour of age viz. 21 Years at least and Experience without Rancor Malice Heat and Envy to be constant so as not to be swerved from Right by Fear Reward or Favour and in Judgment no respecters of Persons of a ripe and good Memory that remembring Perils past they may prevent Dangers to come They are to be Vigorous Active and Temperate and content to give their Attendance for Publick Good with which they are Intrusted Men of Noble Spirits and good Estates to prevent their being Mercenary or Bribed to betray their great Trust Men well verst in National and Political Affairs and of Capacious Understandings that so they might not be imposed upon ' by the Subtilty of such as would over-reach them They ought also to be well acquainted with the Laws of the Land and the Transactions of former Parliaments in order to the Repeal of Old Laws which though fit for the times they were made may not be so for the present times the Circumstances of things being varyed much from what they were by divers Revolutions and to Enact New Laws for general Good And indeed we have had of late Parliaments of this Character Men of such brave Spirits such Sagacity Prudence and Integrity to promote the General Welfare of that Great Body Politick whose Worthy Representatives they were as have exceeded their Predecessors and will hardly be out-done in succeeding times They ought to be Native English Men or at least such as have been Naturalized by Act of Parliament No Alien or Denizen none of the twelve Judges no Sheriff of a County no Ecclesiastical Person that hath curam animarum the cure or care of Souls may be chosen to Serve for any County City or Burrough This Grand and Illustrious Senate Consists of the three great Estates of the Kingdom the King 's most Excellent Majesty being the head viz. The Prelates and the Peers of the Realm and the Commons in which is such a Co-ordination of Power such a Wholsom mixture betwixt Prince and Commonalty during the time of Consultation that they make but one Body Politique their Results when they concur being as so many Harmonious Diapasons arising from the Touch of different Strings This Great Council is the great Bulwark of the English Liberty Property and Religion and the great Bank that keeps them from Slavery and the Inundations of Tyrannical Incroachments and unbounded Will-Government The People are lyable to no Laws but what they themselves make and are subject to no Contribution Tax Assessment or Pecuniary Leveys whatsoever but what they themselves Vote and Voluntarily yield to For there all Degrees of People be Represented the Yeoman Merchant Tradesman Mechanick c. have their inclusive Votes as well as the Gentry and Free-holders their Burgesses and Knights The House of Lords consists of Eleven Dukes whereof two are of the Royal Family viz. the Duke of York and Prince Rupert then the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper of the Great Seal the Lord Treasurer and the Lord Privy Seal takes Place before all Dukes not of the Royal Blood There are two Marquesses the Lord High Chamberlain of England the Lord Steward of the King's Houshold and the Lord Chamberlain of the King's Houshould in respect of their Offices takes place of all Earls who at present are in Number viz. such as may Sit in the House of Lords 64. Then there are 7 Viscounts and 60 Barons according to the Printed List of the last Parliament that met at Oxford March 21. this present Year 1681. Then there are two Archbishops and twenty four Bishops so that the whole Number may be about 176 some of which Lords are under Age some Employed abroad by the King some Sick or Infirm so that the ordinary Number that Sits besides the Peers in the Tower and such as are Excluded by Act of Parliament for Recusancy c. may be about one hundred The House of Commons consists of two Knights for each of the 40 Shires in England being 80. One for each County in Wales being 12 Knights Two for each of the 25 Cities in England and four for London in all 52. Sixteen Barons for the Cinque-Ports Two Burgesses for each of the two Vniversities About 330 Burgesses for 168 Burroughs in England of which some few send but one Burgess a piece Lastly of twelve Burgesses viz. one for one Burrough in each County of Wales so that the Total according to the aforesaid List is 513. Of which many are absent somtimes by permission of the House upon business or because of Sickness c. The Number of the Parliament Men that each County sends are as followeth 1. Bedfordshire 4 2. Berkshire 9 3. Buckinghamshire 14 4. Cambridgeshire 6 5. Cheshire 4 6. Cornwall 44 7. Cumberland 6 8. Derbyshire 4 9. Devonshire 26 10. Dorsershire 20 11. Durham 4 12. Essex 8 13. Glocestershire 8 14. Herefordshire 8 15. Hartfordshire 6 16. Huntingtonshire 4 17. Kent 10 18. Lancashire 14 19. Leicestershire 4 20. Lincolnshire 12 21. Middlesex 8 22. Monmouthshire 3. 23. Norfolk 12 24. Northamptonshire 9 25. Northumberland 8 26. Nottinghamshire 8 27. Oxfordshire
the Dukes Marquesses and Earls according to their Creations Upon the first Form across the House below the Woolsacks sit the Viscounts and upon the next Forms the Barons all in Order The Lord Chancellor or Keeper if the King be present stands behind the Cloth of Estate otherwise sits on the first Woolsack thwart the Chair of State his Great Seal and Mace by him he is Lord Speaker of the Lords House Upon other Woolsacks sit the Judges the Privy Counsellors and Secretaris of State the King's Council at Law the Masters of Chancery who being not Barons have no suffrage by Voâ—ce in Parliament but only sit as was said to give Advice when required The Reason of their sitting upon Woolsacks is thought to be to put them in mind of the Great Importance of our Woollen Manufactories which is the Grand Staple Commodity of England and so not to be by any means neglected On the Lowermost Woolsack are placed the Clerk of the Crown and Clerk of the Parliament whereof the former is concern'd in all Writs of Parliament and Pardons in Parliament The other Recordeth all things done in Parliament and keepeth the Records of the same This Clerk hath also two Clerks under him who kneel behind the same Woolsack and write thereon Without the Bar of the Lords House sits the King 's first Gentleman Usher called the Black-Rod from a Black-staff he carries in his hand under whom is a Yeoman Usher that waits at the Door within a Cryer without and a Serjeant at Mace always attending the Lord Chancellor When the King is present with His Crown on his Head none of the Lords are covered The Judges stand till the King gives them leave to sit When the King is absent the Lords at their entrance do Reverence to the Chair of State as is or should be done by all that enter into the King's Presence Chamber The Judges then may sit but may not be covered till the Chancellor or Keeper signifies unto them the leave of the Lords The King's Council and Masters of Chancery sit also but may not be covered at all The Commons in their House sit Promiscuously only the Speaker hath a Chair placed in the middle and the Clerk of that House near him at the Table They never had any Robes as the Lords ever had but wear every one what he fancyeth most The time of Sitting in Parliament is on any day in the Morning or before Dinner When the day prefixt by the King in His Writs of Summons is come the KING usually in his Royal Robes with His Crown on His Head declares the cause of their being Assembled in a short Speech leaving the rest to the Lord Chancellor who then stands behind His MAJESTY the Commons in the mean time standing bare at the Bar of the Lords House who are Commanded to chuse then a Speaker which without the KING's Command they may not do whereupon they Return to their own House and choose one of their own Members whom they present on another Day to the KING and being approved of by His MAJESTY sitting in His Chair and all the Lords in their Scarlet Robes he makes a modest refusal which not allowed he Petitioneth His Majesty That the Commons may have during their Sitting 1. A free Access to His Majesty 2. A freedom of Speech in their own House 3. Freedom from Arrests Which the King Grants Before they enter upon Affairs all the Members of the House of Commons take the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy in the presence of an Officer appointed by the KING And since the Papists have been found by the Wisdom of the KING and Parliament to be Plotting and Contriving to introduce the pretended Supremacy of their Pope and inslave the Nation to their Tyrannical Anti-spiritual Jurisdiction by Horrid Projections Plots Intrigues c. to prevent any such from Voting in either House it was thought meet though no Oaths can bind such who profess the Impious Doctrine of Equivocation that all are to declare their Opinion against the Doctrines of Transubstantiation Invocation and Adoration of Saints the Sacrifice of the Mass which Test the Lords also are Obliged to take in their House before they can Sit and Debate upon any Affair The Lords House hath a power not only in Making and Repealing Laws but also in tractando Consilium impendendo that is in Treating and Counselling c. as the words of the Writ are also in Judging of Controversies Judging in the Arraignment of any Peer of the Realm putting Men to their Oaths especially in matters of Importance as the Corruption of Judges and Magistrates in Illegal proceeding in other Courts in Appeals from Decrees in Chancery No Papist is to Sit or have Suffrage in the Lords House The Lords in case of necessary or unavoidable absence may make their Proxies to Vote in their place after License obtained under the KING's Signet The Commons as was said have a power in Making and Repealing Laws they have a Negative Voice as the KING and Lords have for nothing can pass into a Law without the joint concurrence of the King and both Houses Bills for Levying of Mony upon the Subject begin in the House of Commons because the greater part of the same arises from them The Commons have a power to Supplicate and propose Laws and as before to Impeach publick Delinquents of the Highest Quality that are Subjects for they are the Grand Inquest of the Nation and are to present Publick Grievances to be Redressed and Delinquents to be punished To this end the Lords sit in their Robes on the Bench covered they Swear and Examine Witnesses and at last pass Sentence the Members of the House of Commons stand bare at the Bar of the Lords House produce Witnesses manage Evidences c. Though every Member of the House of Commons is chosen to Serve for one particular County City or Borough yet he Serves for the whole Kingdom and his Voice is equal to any other his power is absolute to consent or dissent They are to make it their special care to promote the good of that County City or Borough for which they Serve so as that no particular benefit may interfere with or be prejudicial to the Good of the whole Kingdom The Lords are to bear their own Charges because they Represent only themselves The Commons usually had their Reasonable expences In the 17 of Ed. II. they had Ten Groats for Knights and Five Groats for Burgesses a day and not long after Four s. a day for Dubbed Knights and Two s. for all others which in those days as appears by the Prices of all things was a considerable Sum above Twenty times more than it is now So that some decayed Boroughs finding the expence heavy Petitioned that they might not be obliged to send Burgesses to Parliament and so were Vnburgessed c. It is the Practice of each House to debate all publick Affairs relating to the general or
of the said Doctors in a most Capacious and Beautiful manner where they keep their Courts and pleadings every Term which begins and ends almost at the same time with the Term at Westminster The Chief Court is that of the Arches so called from the Arched Church of St. Mary-le-Bow in Cheapside where this Court was wont to be held but now in the Common-Hall at Doctors Commons the Judge whereof is called the Dean of the Arches having Jurisdiction over a Deanry consisting of thirteen Parishes within London exempt from the Jurisdiction of the Bishop of London Hither are directed all Appeals in Ecclesiastical matters within the Province of Canterbury to this belong divers Advocates all Doctors of the Civil Law two Registers and ten Proctors The Dean or Judge of the Arches sitteth alone without any Assessors and Heareth and Determineth all Causes without any Jury of Twelve Men. The manner is briefly thus Fist goes out a Citation then a Bill and Answer then by Proofs Witnesses and Presumptions the matter is Argued pro and con and the Canon and Civil Laws quoted and then the Definitive Sentence of the Judge passeth and upon that Execution But by Statute 25 Henry the VIII it was provided that it shall be Lawful for any Subject of England in Case of Defect of Justice in the Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury to Appeal to the King's Majesty in His Court of Chancery and that upon such an Appeal a Commission under the Great Seal shall be directed to certain Persons particularly Designed for that business so that from the Highest Court of the Archbishop there lyes an Appeal to this Court and beyond it to none other It is called the Court of Delegates and in Civil Affairs is the Highest Court in England Ecclesiastical Criminal Causes are Tried by way of Accusation Denunciation or Inquisition The first When some one takes upon him to prove the Crime The second When the Church-Wardens Present and are not bound to prove because it is presumed they do it without Malice and that the Crime is Notorious Thirdly By Inquisition when by reason of Common Fame inquiry is made by the Bishop ex Officio suo by calling some of the Neighborhood or the Party Accused to their Oaths But this Oath ex Officio was taken away by Parliament in the time of King Charles the First If the Party Accused after Admonition submits not he is Excommunicated from the Church and is disenabled to be a Plaintiff in a Law Suit c. Which is called Excommunicatio Minor Excommunicatio Major excludes from the Church and from Society in Temporal Affairs and that for Heresie Schism Perjury Incest or such grievous Crimes then a Man cannot be Plantiff or Witness in any Civil or Ecclesiastical Court. And if he continues Excommunicated 40 Days the King 's Writ de Excommunicato capiendo is granted out of the Chancery against him whereupon he is cast into Prison without Bail there to lye till he hath submitted to the Bishop and satisfied for what he is charged with by which many tender Consciences have suffered deeply There is an Anathematismus inflicted upon an obstinate Person that is Judged an Heretick wherein he is Curs'd and Rejected to Damnation There is also an Interdict Prohibiting all Divine Offices to a Place or People if against a People it follows them any where if against a Place the People may go elsewhere to hear Somtimes a Person Adjudged a Delinquent is punished another way which is called Publick Pennance and is to stand in the Church-Porch upon Sunday bare Headed and bare Footed in a White sheet and a White Rod in his Hand then he is to go into the Church and his Crime being publickly repeated and he professing Repentance is Absolved but in some Cases the Party may come off for Money to the Poor or some Pious Use which is not always converted that way Christian Burial is denyed to Persons Excommunicate or Perjured to such as are Hang'd for Felony or Kill themselves to Apostates Hereticks and Extortioners Somtimes the Clergy Men are suspened ab Officio viz. from the Exercise of their Functions somtimes there is a Deprivatio a Beneficio when deprived of their Livings somtimes they are Degraded that is Deprived of their Orders which is commonly for some Heinous Crime So much Briefly of these Censures and Punishments The Office of Actuary attending the Court of Arches is to set down the Judges Decrees Register the Acts of the Court and send them in Books of the Registry The Office of the Register is to Attend the Court by himself or Deputy and receive all Libels or Bills Allegations and Exhibits of Witnesses Files all Sentences and keeps the Records of the Court. The Beadle attends the Court carryeth a Mace before the Judge and calls the Persons Cited to appear The Judge and all the Advocates who are all Doctors of the Civil Law wear Scarlet Robes with Hoods lined with Taffata if they be of Oxford or White Miniver Furr if of Cambridge and the Proctors ought to wear Hoods lined with Lamb skin if not Graduates but if Graduates Hoods according to their Degree The Proctors are Persons that Exhibit their Proxies for their Clients and make themselves Parties for them and draw and give in Pleas or Libels and Allegations in the behalf of their Clients produce the Witnesses prepare the Causes for Sentence and and attend the Advocates with the proceedings All Arguments made by Advocates and all Petitions made by Proctors are to be in Latin All process of this Court runs in the Name of the Judge and returnable before him heretofore in Bow-Church but now in the Common-Hall at Doctors Commons The Places and Offices of this Court are in the Gift of the Archbishop of Canterbury These Ecclesiastical Laws consist of Canons made by General Councels the Opinion of Fathers the Decrees of several Bishops of Rome formerly admitted and our own Constitutions made antiently in several Provincial Synods which by 25 Henry VIII are in Force so far as they are not Repugnant to the Laws and Customs of England or the King's Prerogative Then the Canons made in the Convocations of latter times as Primo Jacobi and confirmed by him some Statutes Enacted by Parliament and divers old Customs not written but yet in use and where these fail the Civil Law takes place Amongst the Great Officers of the Crown which are Nine viz. the Lord High Steward of England the Lord High Chancellor the Lord High Treasurer the Lord President of the KING's Council the Lord Privy Seal the Lord Great Chamberlain the Lord High Constable the Earl Marshal and the Lord High Admiral of England The last only appertains to this place his Trust and Honour is so great that it has been usually given to the KING 's Younger Sons near Kinsmen or some of the Highest and Chiefest of all the Nobility He has the management of all Maritime Affairs as well in respect of Jurisdiction as
George Whitmore Samuel Cranmore Henry Prat. 1632 8 Sir Nicholas Raynton Hugh Perry Henry Andrews 1633 9 Sir Râ—lph Freeman Sir Thomas Mouldston Gilbert Harrison Richard Gurney 1634 10 Sir Robert Parkhurst John Heylord John Cordel 1635 11 Sir Christ Cletherow Thomas Soame John Gayer 1636 12 Sir Edw. Bromfield William Abel John Garret 1637 13 Sir Richard Fen. Thomas Atkin. Edward Rudge 1638 14 Sir Maurice Abot Isaac Pennington John Wollaston 1639 15 Sir Henry Garraway Thomas Adams John Warner 1640 16 Sir Edmund Wright John Towse Abrah Reynardson 1641 17 Sir Richard Gurney George Garret George Clarke 1642 18 Isaac Pennington John Langham Thomas Andrews 1643 19 Sir John Wolaston John Fowke James Bunce 1644 20 Thomas Atkin. William Gibbs Richard Chambly 1645 21 Thomas Adams John Kendrick Thomas Foot 1646 22 Sir John Gayer Thomas Cullam Simon Edmonds 1647 23 Sir John Warner Samuel Avery John Bide 1648 24 Sir Abra Reinardson Thomas Andrews in his Room Thomas Viner Richard Brown King CHARLES the II. began His Reign the Thirtieth of January 1648. 1649 1 Thomas Foot Christopher Pack Rowland Wilsen John Dethick 1650 2 Thomas Andrews Robert Tichborn Richard Chiverton 1651 3 John Kendrick Andrew Richards John Ireton 1652 4 John Fowke Stephen Eastwick William Vnderwood 1653 5 Thomas Viner James Philips Walter Bigge 1654 6 Christopher Pack Edmund Sleigh Thomas Aleyn 1655 7 John Dethick William Thompson John Detherick 1656 8 Robert Tichborn Tempest Milner Nathaniel Temms 1657 9 Richard Chiverton John Robinson Tho. Chandler died Richard King 1658 10 John Ireton Anthony Bateman John Lawrence 1659 60 11 12 Sir Thomas Aleyn Knight and Bar. Francis Warner William Love Esq 1660 61 12 â—3 Sir Richard Brown Baronet Sir Will. Bolton Knt. Sir William Peâ—k Kt. 1661 2 13 14 Sir John Frederick Francis Menil Esq Samuel Starling Esq 1662 3 14 15 Sir Joh. Robinson Bar. Sir Thom. Bludworth Sir Wilâ—iam Turner 1663 4 15 â— Sir Anthon. Bateman Sir Richard Food Sir Richard Rives 1664 â— 16 17 Sir John Lawrence Sir George Waterman Sir Charles Doe 1665 6 17 â— Sir Thom. Bludworth Sir Robert Hanson Sir William Hooker 1666 7 18 â—9 Sir William Boulton Sir Robert Viner Sir Joseph Sheldon 1667 â— 19 20 Sir William Peake Sir Dennis Gauden Sir Thomas Davies 1668 9 20 21 Sir William Turner John Forth Esq Sir Francis Chaplain 1669 70 21 22 Sir Samuel Starling Sir John Smith Sir James Edwards 1670 71 22 23 Sir Richard Ford. Samuel Forth Esq Patience Ward Esq 1671 2 23 24 Sir George Waterman Sir Jonat Daws died Sir Robert Clayton Sir John Moore 1672 3 24 25 Sir Robert Hanson Sir Will. Pritchard Sir James Smith 1673 4 25 â—6 Sir William Hooker Sir Henry Tulse Sir Robert Jeffry 1674 5 26 7 Sir Robert Viner Knt. and Barronet Sir Nathan Herne Sir John le Thuilâ—er 1675 6 27 â— Sir Joseph Sheldon Sir Thomas Gold Sir John Shorter 1676 7 28 9 Sir Thomas Davies Sir John Peak Sir Thomas Stamp 1677 8 29 30 Sir Francis Chaplain Sir William Royston Sir Thomas Becâ—ford 1678 9 30 31 Sir James Edwards Sir Richard How Sir John Chapman 1679 80 31 2 Sir Robert Clayton Sir Jonath Raymond Sir Simon Lewis 1680 1 32 3 Sir Patience Ward Slingsby Bethel Esq Henry Cornish Esq Having given a Catalogue of all the Mayors and Sheriffs that have been in London to this present year we shall proceed to give a brief Account of this great Magistrate for to give a full and distinct Account of all things relating to that high Place quadrates not with the intended bulk of this little Memorial The Lord Mayor of London upon the Death of the King is the prime Person of England and therefore when King James came to take possession of the English Crown Sir Robert Lee then Lord Mayor of London subscribed before all the great Officers of the Crown and all the Nobility He is always for his great Dignity Knighted before the Year of His Mayoralty be expired unless Knighted before whilst Alderman which of 〈◊〉 hath been usual He keeps a Table so richly and plentifully furnished where all strangers or others that are of any quality are nobly entertained at all times of the year that it is fit to receive the greatest Subject of England or of other Monarchs Nay it is Recorded that in the 31. E. 3. Henry Picard Lord Mayor of London Feasted Four Kings viz. The King of England the King of France the King of Cyprus and the King of Scotland with other great Estates all in one day And their Present Majesties of Great Britain have been by some of the late Lord Mayors Treated at their Table There is also for the Grandeur of the Lord Mayor 1000 l. a year allowed for his Sword-bearer's Table in the Lord Mayor's House His Domestick attendance is very honourable He hath Four Officers that wait on him who are reputed Esquires by their places that is the Sword-Bearer the Common-Hunt the Common-Cryer and the Water-Bayliff there is also the Coroner three Sargeants Carvers three Sergeants of the Chamber a Sergeant of the Channel four Yeomen of the Water-side one Vnder-WaterBayliff two Yeomen of the Chamber three Meal-Weighers two Yeomen of the Wood-Wharffs most of which have their Servants allowed them and have Liveries for themselves c. His State and Magnificence is remarkable when he appears abroad which is usually on Horse-back with rich Caparisons himself always in long Robes sometimes of fine Scarlet Cloath richly Furr'd sometimes Purple sometimes Puke and over his Robes a Hood of Black Velvet which is said to be a Badge of a Baron of the Realm with a great Chain of Gold about his Neck or Collar of SS's with a great rich Jewel Pendant thereon with many Officers walking before and on all sides of him He is usually Chosen on Michaelmas-day by the Livery-men or Members of the several Companies in London out of the twenty-six Aldermen all persons of great Wealth and Wisdom in which Election the Senior Alderman hath usually the precedence yet in this particular the said Electors are at their liberty On the 29 th of October there is a most Magnificent Cavalcade when the Lord Mayor attended with all the Aldermen all his Officers all the several Companies or Corporations rides to the Water-side where they enter their stately Barges with their Arms Colours and Streamers and go to Westminster to be sworn to be true to the King c. in the Exchequer Chamber after which he returns in the same manner to Guild-Hall that is the great Common-Hall of Guilds or Incorporated Fraternities where is prepared for him and his Brethren a most sumptuous Dinner to which many of the Great Lords and Ladies and all the Judges of the Land are invited And the King and Queens Majesties the Duke of York and Prince Rupert did lately honour that Feast with their presence The Lord Mayor on the Day of the King's Coronation is Chief Bâ—tler and bears the Kings Cup
The Lord Mayor Court Of Aldermen THE PRESENT STATE OF London OR Memorials COMPREHENDING A Full and Succinct Account Of the Ancient and Modern State thereof By THO. DE-LAVNE Gent. Civitates ab initio Vtilitatis causa constitutae sunt Aristot 1. Polit. LONDON Printed by George Larkin for Enoch Prosser and John How at the Rose and Crown and Seven Stars in Sweethings-Alley near the Royal Exchange in Cornhil 1681. To the Right Honourable Sir Patience Ward Knight LORD MAYOR OF THE City of LONDON My Lord THese Memorials respecting the Ancient and Modern State of this great and Renowned City of which under His Majesty Your Lordship enjoys the Supreme Magistracy cannot find a more Proper or more Honourable Patron than Your Lordship considering the High Place You hold in that Meridian for which This Discourse is Calculated The General Grief expressed by all Loyal English Protestants for Your Lordships late Indisposition and the General Rejoycing amongst them for Your Happy Recovery as a Mercy to this City of both which the Presenter of this Address was in part a Witness and Partaker are Evidences both of Your Lordships Good Administration in so Eminent a Dignity aud the Universal Satisfaction of this Famous Metropolis in Your Government Your Prudent Zealous and Couragious Conduct in these Perillous and Menacing Times suitable to those Never-to-be-forgotten Speeches delivered by Your Lordship and Your Eminent and Worthy Predecessor Sir Robert Clayton at the Time of Your Election to this August Magistracy has engaged all True Patriots and Abhorrers of Foreign and Domestick Vassalage a thing attempted to be Introduced by those Execrable Mediums of Assassinating the Sacred Person of His Royal Majesty and Everting His Government to give Your Lordship an Eminent Place in their Esteem and Justly Obliges this Great City to Honour Your Lordship in a Degree suitable to so High a Merit My Lord I hope You will vouchsafe me Your Pardon for my Presumption in Publishing this small Product of my Recess and Solitude under the Patronage of Your Honourable Name for which and the Famous City You Govern I have so High a Veneration that it Obliges me to be Your Lordships most humble Servant Thomas De-Laune London June 24. 1681. To the Reader THis Abstract is partly collected from the best Authors I could meet with as the Chronicles and Statutes of England Antiquaries Modern Writers c. I have endeavoured to avoid Prolixity and to omit no Remarkables as far as my designed Brevity would admit intending rather a Compendium than a Voluminous History What lay scatered in divers Volumes are reduced in a method wholly new under their proper Heads briefly yet I hope not obscurely I have intermixt many new things which fell within my own observation or my Friends respecting the Present State of this City never to my knowledge I am sure never in this Method Published It is said That Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile Dulci If that be not done here yet it is an Essay of that kind being a mixture wherein with great variety things highly useful are interwoven with delightsom And if there be any mistakes or imperfections which all men are liable to upon any Information which shall be thankfully resented it may be capable of Rectifying hereafter I do not pretend to give a full account of all things worthy to be known in this great City or of its famous Citizens for that would make an huge Volume but onely of the most Eminent which have occurr'd to my Reading or Observation As to the Method and particulars treated of you are referred to the Synopsis or Table of Contents following by which you may easily find out any thing in the Book If the City thinks this worth entertainment it will engage me to proceed in perfecting other Materials I have by me and offer it in another work which I trust will be useful to all I have an high Honor for this Illustrious City and the worthy Inhabitants thereof as an Instance of which this Essay is offered to the perusal of the Candid Reader by Thomas Dâ—-lauâ—â— To his Friend Mr. Thomas De-Laune An Acrostick on The Present State of LONDON This is that City which the Papal Crew Have by their Damn'd Devices overthrew Erected on her old Foundations New Pourtrayed once by Stow and now again Rebuilt and Re-reviv'd by thee De-laune Extracted Phoenix-like whose splendor shows She triumphs o're the Ruine of her Foes Excellent Architect that in few Sheets New builds a City of Five hundred Streets Temples Courts Churches Monuments and Halls Shores Towers Gates Inns Citadels and Walls The Grandeur of this fam'd Metropolis Arts Laws and Customs thou hast shewn in this This Little Volume comprehends the Great European-Empory the Royal Seat Of English Monarchs whose Succession runs From Royal Fathers Lineally to Sons London the Author fully lets Thee see Orders and Customs of Antiquity Names Honours Titles Companies drawn forth Display'd in Banners Badges of thy Worth Of all the Cities on the Continent No better Governours nor Government R. S. To his Friend the Author UPON THE Present State of LONDON REader Survey DE-LAVNE and his Survey Who LONDON's Glories lively doth display In Her immediate State whose Stately Pile Exceeds all Structures on the British Isle Look through this Little Book as through a Glass You may behold what now She Is and Was. View between Sixty Six and Eighty One Can you not see Great Alteration In Sky-Invading-Flames three days She burns Which all her Glories into Ashes turns But stop not there Look nearer yet by Ten Doth She not mount to greater Glory then Before Look nigher yet by Five for this Her Present State a Pleasant Prospect is This Glass Brave City he presents to Thee That Thou Thy Self Thy Self may'st better see This Thy Remote and Distant Friends will move To Admiration and Vniting Love When they peruse those Gallant Laws whereby Thou' rt Rul'd and Rulest by Just Policy Thy Piety Thy Splendid Trade by which Thou art become so Great so Good so Rich. Those worthy Characters which he hath writ Exalts Thy Greatness Justifies his Wit 'T is not my Task Thy Splendor to Commend It is Exalted by DE-LAVNE Thy Friend My Muse would fain Attempt his Commendation But is constrain'd to rest in Admiration D. E. Philopolis The CONTENTS CHap. 1 Of the Antiquity Original and Name of London Page 1. Chap. 2. Of the Situation of London P. 3. Chap. 3. Of its Increase Magnitude Publick Structures and number of Inhabitants p. 5 292. Sect. 1. Of its Walls Towers Gates c. p. 9. Of the Tower and Ancient Castles p. 13 17. Sect. 2. Of its Churches and Monuments p. 19 Of Pauls Church and Westminster-Abby p. 20 The Ancient State of all the Churches in London Alphabetically with their monuments c. p 27. The Monument of Mr. Fox Martyrologist p. 69. Of Mr. Speed the Famous Historian p. 73. Sect. 3. Of Hospitals viz. Christs Hospital and
a Garden-Plat till the time of Queen Elizabeth and then Built upon and made a Store-House for Merchants Goods The Church was Beautified and Repaired in the Year 1613. III. On the East-side of Bread-street at the corner of Watling-street is the Church of All-hallows Bread-street wherein were divers Monuments This Church had a fair Spired-Steeple of Stone which in the Year 1559. September the Fifth about Noon by a great Tempest of Lightning and a great Clap of Thunder was struck about Nine or Ten Foot beneath the Top out of which fell a stone that overthrew a Man and slew a Dog but the Spire was taken down to save the Charge of Repair This Church was Repaired and Beautified at the Parish Charge Anno 1625. IV. Great All-hallows in Thames-street was a fair Church with a large Cloyster on the South side in which were Sundry Monuments but now Ruinated It was Repaired and richly Beautified at the Parish Charge Anno 1627. and 1629. In the year 1632. all the Iles to the Chancel were raised a Foot and a half and the Pews a Foot above that for conveniency of Hearing which cost six hundred Pound There was a Monument of Queen Elizabeths with these Verses If Royal Vertues ever crown'd a Crown If ever Mildness shin'd in Majesty If ever Honour honour'd true Renown If ever Courage dwelt with Clemency If ever Princess put all Princes down For Temp'rance Prowess Prudence Equity This this was She that in Despight of Death Lives still Admir'd Ador'd ELIZABETH Many Daughters have done Vertuously but thesâ— excellest them all In the Figure of a Book over her were these words They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Sion which shall not be removed On the one side Spains Rod Romes Ruine Netherlands Relief Heavens Jem Earths Joy Worlds Wonder Natures Chief On the the other side Britains Blessing Englands Splendor Religions Nurse the Faiths Defender Under her I have fought a good Fight I have finished my Course c. V. In Hony-lane near the Standard in Cheap-side is the small Parish-Church called All-hallows Hony-lane Repaired at the Parish Charge anno 1625. At the cost of above Fifty Five Pound VI. In Thames-street is the Parish-Church of All-hallows the less which stood on Vaults and said to be Built by Sir John Poultney sometimes Mayor of London the Steeple and Quire stood on an Arched-gate which was being fallen Re-built by the Parish anno 1594. The whole Church was Repaired and Beautified at the cost of the Parishoners anno 1616. Here was also a Monument of Queen Elizabeths VII In Lumbard-street stood the Parish-Church called All-hallows Lumbard-street begun to be New Built anno 1494. and finished 1516. To which the Pewterers were good Benefactors the Steeple was finished 1544. about the 36 of H. 8. Here were also divers Monuments It was Repaired and Beautified at the Parish-charge Anno 1622 and 1623 and cost 177 l. 9 s. VIII The Parish-Church of Alhallows-Stayning or as commonly call'd Stane-Church lies on the South-side of Langborn-Ward somewhat within Mart-lane in which were divers fair Monuments as of John Costin a Cirdler who dyed 1244. and gave the Poor of the Parish an Hundred Quarters of Charcoals yearly for ever John Mann Citizen and Mercer who gave an Hundred Pounds towards the Repair of the Church and dyed in the year 1615. It was Repaired and Beautified at the Parish-charge Anno 1630. IX The Parish-Church of Alhallows the Wall so called because it stands close to the Wall of the City in Bread-street-Ward It was Repaired and Beautified at the Charge of the Parishioners Anno 1613. Again most curiously Repaired and Beautified Anno 1627. at 220 l. Cost Queen ELIZABETHS Monument Read but her Reign the Princess might have been For Wisdom call'd Nicaulis Sheba's Queen Against Spain's Holofernes Judith she Dauntless gain'd many a glorious Victory Not Deborah did her in Fame excel She was a Mother to our Israel An Hester who her Person did ingage To save her People from the Publick Rage Chaste Patroness of True Religion In Court a Saint in Field an Amazon Glorious in Life Deplored in her Death Such was Vnparallel'd ELIZABETH Born Anno 1534. Crowned An. 1558. Jan. 15. Reigned years 44. mon. 4. days 17. Dyed An. 1602. Mar. 24. X. The Parish-Church of St. Alphage The principal Isle of this Church towards the North was pulled down and a Frame of Four Houses set up in the place The other part from the Steeple upward was converted into a Parish-Church of St. Alphage And the Parish-Church which stood near unto the Wall of the City by Cripplegate was pulled down the Plat thereof made a Carpenters Yard with Saw-Pits This being decay'd the Parishioners Repaired it Anno 1624. and being Beautifully finished Anno 1628. it cost the Parish 500 l. XI St. Andrew Hubbard or St. Andrew in East-Cheap is situate in Love-Lane in Billingsgate-Ward which was Repaired and Beautifully adorned at the Cost of the Parish Anno 1630. amounting to above 600 l. XII St. Andrew Vndershaft stands at the North-West-Corner of Aldgate-Ward a Fair and Beautiful Parish-Church so called because every May-Day in the morning they were wont in old times to set up a high Shaft or May-pole in the Street before the South-door which when fixt was higher than the Steeple But this practice was discontinued since Evil May-Day when there was an Insurrection of Apprentices and other Young Persons against Foreigners Anno 1517. The said Shaft being laid along under the Pent-houses of a Row of Houses upon Iron Hooks till the 3d of Edw. 6. the People Saw'd it in pieces after it had lay'n 32 years every man taking the length of his House Which was occasioned by the Preaching of one Stevin who at Pauls Cross said It was an Idol as giving Name to the Church It was New Built by the Parish Anno 1520. to which Stephen Jennings Merchant-Taylor sometimes Lord Mayor was a great Benefactor as also John Kerby Merchant-Taylor sometimes one of the Sheriffs John Garland Merchant-Taylor and his Executor Nicholas Levison and several others and fully finished Ann 1532. It was afterwards Repaired and Beautified at the Parish-charge Anno 1627. They had at the lower end of the North Isle a fair Wainscot-Press full of good Books the Works of many Learned Divines where at convenient times any that would may read XIII The Church of St. Andrew Wardrobe was a proper Church in Baynard-Castle-Ward but few Monuments in it John Parut founded a Chauntry there it was Repaired at the Charge of the Parish Anno 1627. XIV On the North of Pope-Lane so called of one Pope that owned it is the Parish-Church of St. Ann in the Willows or St. Ann Aldersgate so called as some think of Willows growing formerly thereabouts It was Burnt in part 1548. but since Repaired It was afterwards much decay'd but beautifully repaired Anno 1624. XV. St. Ann Black-friers it seems was built in the Reign of Edw. III. It was new
built in the year 1430. 8 H. 6. Sir William Eastfield Mayor William Russe and Ralph Holland Esqs Sheriffs and the Commonalty granted of the Common Ground of the City Three Foot and an half in Breadth on the North part and Four Foot in Breadth toward the East for the enlarging thereof This Ancient Church belonging to the Black-friers before the dissolution of such places by H. 8. was one of the most spacious and fair Churches in London but afterwards demolished Anno 1613. The Inhabitants of Black-friers purchased so much Houses on the South-side of their Church as was 36 Foot in Length and 54 in Breadth the Purchase whereof together with the Vault for Burying and other Rooms under that part of the Church c. cost 1546 l. 6 s. Anno 1632. The Inhabitants of the said Black-friers purchased the Rooms directly under an upper Room formerly converted to a Church to repair the Walls and Foundations whereon the Church stood at the cost together with the Repairs of 500 l. The Sum of all bestowed upon Black-friers Church since the Reformation amounted to 2600 l. 4 s. till the year 1633. It was burnt down Anno 1666. in the great Fire and not yet Re-built XVI St. Anthonieâ— Church vulgarly called St. Antlins or St. Antholins in Budge-Row in Cord-wainer-street Ward was a fair Parish-Church Sir Thomas Knowles late Lord Mayor of London lieth Buried there who Repaired and was a great Benefactor to it It was Repaired and Beautified Anno 1616. towards which Sir William Craven Mr. Henry Jay Aldermen Mr. Adrian Moore Mr. Thomas Boothby Mr. Francis Dorrington Mr. William Parker Mr. Cleophas Smith Citizen and Draper of London were free and bountiful Benefactors the cost amounted to near 1000 l. XVII The Parish-Church of Augustine vulgarly Austin in Watling-street in Faringdon-Ward-within was a fair Church and well Repaired And was in the years 1630 and 1631 in part Re-built and Beautifully adorned at the charge of the Parishioners which cost 1200 l. XVIII The Parish-Church of St. Bartholomew Exchange at the end of Bartholomew-lane was new Built by Thomas Pike Alderman with the assistance of Nicholas Yoo one of the Sheriffs of London about the year 1438. Sir John Lepington's Lady founded a Chauntry there in the 21 of Edw. 4. Sir William Capel Mayor added a proper Chapel Anno 1509. on the South-side James Wilford Taylor one of the Sheriffs 1499. appointed by his Testament a Doctor of Divinity every Good-Friday to preach a Sermon there of Christ's Passion for ever from six a clock till 8 before Noon This Church was Repaired and Beautified at the charge of the Parishioners Anno 1620. XIX The Parish-Church of St. Bennet which of Robert Fink senior who new Built it is called St. Bennet Finck stands in Thread-needle-street in Broad-street-Ward which was a proper Church It was Repaired and Beautifully adorn'd at the Parish-charge Anno 1633. at the cost of above 400 l. XX. In the Street formerly called Grass-street but vulgarly Graces or Gracious-street is the Parish-Church called St. Bennet Grass-Church of the Herb-Market kept near it but vulgarly Grace-Church in Bridge-Ward-within This Church was Repaired and Beautified Anno 1630. with a new Clock-Dyal and Chimes added Anno 1633. XXI St. Bennet Pauls-Wharf in Thames-street in Castle-Baynard-Ward was a proper Parish-Church with several Monuments in it XXII The Parish-Church of St. Syth hath an addition of Bennet-Shorne or Shrog or Shorehog and is vulgarly called St. Bennet Sherehog The ancientest name of these is Shorne of one Benedict Shorne sometime a Citizen and Stock-fishmonger of London who New Built Repaired it or was a Benefactor thereof in the time of Edward II. so that Shorne is corruptly called Shrog and more corruptly Shorebog Being very much decayed it was at the Parish-charge very amply Repaired and Beautified Anno 1628. It is near Needles-lane in Cheap-Ward XXIII The Parish-Church of St. Botolph in Thames-street in Billingsgate-Ward was a handsom Church and had many fair Monuments in it but now defaced This Church was Repaired and Beautifully adorn'd at the Parish-charge Anno 1624. XXIV Christ-Church was founded by King Henry VIII who gave the old Parish-Church of St. Nicholas to the Mayor and Commonalty of London towards the maintenance of this New Church to be erected in the late dissolved Church of the Grey-fryers called St. Ewin which Parish-Church with the aforesaid Parish-Church of St. Nicholas and so much of St. Sepulchres Parish as is within Newgate were then made one Parish-Church by the name of Christ-Church Of the Hospital there we shall speak under its proper head There was a fair and spacious Gallery erected in the North Isle of this Church Anno 1628. which cost the Parishioners 149 l. 10 s. which was not only necessary but graceful and beautiful It is in Faringdon-Ward-within XXV In Broad-street-Ward near the Stocks-Market is the Parish-Church of St. Christopher To which Richard Sherington Anno 1392. gave Lands so did the Lady Margaret Norford Anno 1406. John Clavering 1421 c. But above all the charity of Robert Thorne Merchant-Taylor and a Batchelor is to be perpetuated who lay Interred there in a fair Tomb of Touch and gave by his Will 4445 l. to pious Uses This Church was Repaired and Beautified at the cost of the Parish Anno 1621. XXVI St. Clements East-Cheap in Candlewick-street-Ward is a small Parish-Church William Chartney and William Overie founded a Chauntry there It was Repaired and Beautified at the cost of the Parishioners Anno 1632. XXVII At the South-west corner of Lime-street in Langborn-Ward stood the fair Parish-Church of St. Dionis called Back-Church new Built in the Reign of Henry VI. to which John Bugge Esq was a great Benefactor John Darby Alderman added thereto a fair Isle or Chapel on the South-side and was there Buried Anno 1466. He gave besides sundry Ornaments his Dwelling-house besides other Houses unto the said Church The middle Isle of this Church was new laid in the year of our Lord 1629. The Steeple was repaired a new Turret built new Frames were made for the Bells and the Church very decently beautified Anno 1632. XXVIII The Parish-Church of St. Dunstans East is so called for difference from another Church in the West of that Name It was a fair and large Church of an ancient Building and within a large Church-yard There be many rich Merchants and other rich Tradesmen in that Parish chiefly Salters and Ironmongers In this are divers Monuments of worthy persons There are also Seven shillings three pence given to the Poor every Sunday throughout the year in ready money besides Bread and other Gifts according to the Wills and Dispositions of Sir Richard Champion and Alderman Heardson with Coals given besides at certain times One man hath given yearly on Ox to be distributed by a quarter thereof quarterly and a Peck of Oat-meal therewithall to the Poor But so ordered that they that have the quarter of Beef and Peck of Oatmeal at one
Edifices yet there is not in Christendom a Court more convenient and meet for Royal Accommodation nor more Richly Furnisht But for the Readers more distinct information we will give him a Brief account of our King 's Court under two heads Viz. 1. It s Government both Ecclesiastical Civil and Military 2. It s Hospitality and plentiful Tables 1. It s Government c. The Dean of the Kings Chappel is usually some Grave and Learned Prelate chosen by the King who only is his Superiour his Chappel being exempt from all Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction being called Capella Dominica the Demean Chappel in no Diocess but is a Regal Peculiar Exempt and Reserved to the Visitation and immediate Government of the King who is Supream Ordinary and as it were Prime Bishop over all the Churches and Bishops of England By the Dean are chosen all other Officers of the Chappel viz. A Sub-Dean or Praecentor Capellae Thirty two Gentlemen of the Chappel whereof twelve are Priests the other twenty commonly called Clerks of the Chappel are to perform with the said Priests the Office of Praying Singing c. One of these being well skill'd in Musick is chosen Master of the Children whereof are twelve in Ordinary to instruct them in the Rules and Art of Musick for the service of the Chappel three others are chosen to be Organists to whom is joyned upon Solemn Days a Consort of the King's Musick to make the Musick more full and compleat There are four Officers called Vergers because they carry Silver Rods in their hands viz. a Sergeant two Yeomen and a Groom of the Chappel Common Prayers are Read there three times a day The King has his private Oratory where some of his Chaplains in Ordinary perform the Office every day of the Week Upon twelve high and Principal Festivals in the Year the King after the Service is over attended with the Principal Nobility offers a Sum of Gold to God in signum specialis Domini that by his Grace he is King and holds all of Him which belongs to the Dean to be distributed amongst the Poor This Gold offered is called the Bizantine which anciently was a Piece of Gold Coyned by the Emperours of Constantinople in Latin Bizantium That which was used by King James was a piece of Gold having on the one side the Pourtrait of the King kneeling before an Altar with four Crowns before Him and this Motto circumscribed Quid retribuam Domino pro omnibus quae retribuit mihi On the other side was a Lamb lying by a Lyon with this Motto viz. Cor Contutum humiliatum non despiciet Deus The King hath besides His Extraordinary which are many Fourty Eight Chaplains in Ordinary who are Eminent Doctors in Divinity whereof Four every Month wait at Court to Preach The Lord High Almoner is usually the Bishop of London who disposeth of the Kings Alms and for that use receiveth besides other Moneys allowed by the King all Deodands and bona felonum de se to be that way disposed Under the Lord High Almoner there is a Sub-Almoner two Yeomen and two Grooms of the Almonry Then there is the Clerk of the Closet usually some Reverend Divine much esteemed by His Majesty who attends at his Right hand in Service time to Resolve Doubts about Spiritual matters to wait upon His Majesty in His private Oratory or Closet The Dean of the Chappel's Fee is 200 l. Yearly And the Sub-Deans one hundred pound The Clerk of the Closet's Fee is twenty Nobles per annum The Chief Officer of Civil Government in His Majesties Court is the Lord Steward To whom the State of the Kings-House is committed to be Ruled and Guided by his Discretion whose Commands in Court are to be obey'd whose Power State and Dignity is very great He hath Authority over all Officers and Servants of His Majesties Court except those of His Majesties Chappel Chamber and Stable c. He may by his Office without any Commission Judge of all Discords as Treasons Murders Felonies Bloodsheds committed within the Court or the Verge thereof which is every way within Twelve Miles of the Chief Funnel of the Court only London by Charter is exempted because where the King is Justice ought to be immediatly sought of the King 's own Officers So that the Jurisdiction of the Verge hath been from very Antient times Executed by the Lord Steward with great Ceremony in the Ntaure of a peculiar King 's Bench and that not only within but without the Kings Dominions The Lord Steward is a White-staff-Officer for he in the King's presence carrieth a White-staff and at other times going abroad it is carried by a Footman bare-headed Which White-staff is taken for a Commission When the King Dies he breaketh his Staff over the Herse made for the King's Body and thereby discharges all the Officers whom the succeeding Kings usually establish in their former Offices His Fee is 100 l. yearly and 16 Dishes of Meat daily besides Wine Beer c. The next Officer is the Lord Chamberlain who hath the Over-sight of all Officers belonging to the King's Chamber except the Precincts of the King's Bed-Chamber which is wholly under the Groom of the Stole and all above Stairs who are all sworn by him or his Warrant to the Gentlemen Ushers to the King He hath also the Over-sight of the Officers of the Wardrobe at all His Majesties Houses and of the Removing Wardrobes or of Beds of the Tents Revels Musick Comedians Hanting and of the Messengers of the Trumpeters Drummers of all Handicrafts and Artizans retained in the King's Services He hath also the Over-sight of the Heralds and Pursuivants and Sergeants at Arms of all Physicians Apothecaries Chyrurgeons Barbers Chaplains though himself be a Lay-man Also of the Charges of Coronations Marriages Entries Cavalcades Funerals c. His Fee is 100 l. yearly and 16 Dishes each Meal with the Appurtenances The third great Officer is the Master of the Horse anciently called Comes Stabuli or Constable who hath the ordering and disposal of all the King's Stables and Races or Breed of Horses He hath also power over the Escuries and Pages Footmen Grooms Riders of the Great Horses Farriers Smiths Coachmen Sadlers and all other Trades working to the King's Stables to all whom he or by his Warrant the Avener giveth an Oath to be true and faithful He hath the Charges of all Lands and Revenues appointed for the King's Breed of Horses and for Charges of the Stable and for Litters Coaches Sumpter-Horses c. At any Solemn Cavalcade he Rides next behind the King and leads a Leer Horse of State His annual Fee is 666 l. 16 s. 4 d. and a Table of 16 Dishes each Meal The Accompt of the Stables for Horse-meat Livery Wages and Board-Wages are brought by the Avener being chief Clerk of the Avery to be passed and allowed by the Green-Cloth Under these Principal Officers are almost all the other Officers and Servants as under
together six Dishes each Meal The Moveables of this Wardrobe are at length divided into three parts whereof the Yeoman hath one for his own use the Grooms another and the Pages the third In the Office of the Tents Soyls Hayes and Pavilions are two Masters four Yeomen one Groom one Clerk Comptroller and one Clerk of the Tents The Master of the Revels is to order all things concerning Comedies c. there is one Yeoman one Groom Engraver Sculptor one in each Office In the Office of the Robes besides the Master above-mentioned there is one Yeoman three Grooms one Page two Purveyors one Brusher one Taylor one Dyer one Girdler one Clerk one Lace-man one Cutter and Racer two Embroiderers two Silkmen one Shoemaker one Perfumer one Feather-maker one Millener one Mercer one Hosier one Draper one Surveyor c. Falconer with Thirty three Officers under him Master of the Buck-Hounds with a Sergeant and Thirty four persons under him Master of the Otter-Hounds Master of the Harriers and five under him Master of the Ordnance a Lieutenant and Master Armorer with Seventeen Under-Officers Messengers of the Chamber in Ordinary two Clerks of the Check and Forty more in all Forty two Musitians in Ordinary Sixty two Trumpeters and Kittle-Drummers Fifteen Drummers and Fifes Seven Apothecaries Two one for the King's Person and one for the Houshold Chyrurgeoâ—s two Bâ—rbers two Printers three besides one for the Oriental Tongues Bookseller Stationer and Book-binder Silâ—man Woollen-Draper and two Taylors Post-Masters for all the Port-Towns in England all sworn to and paid by the King A Master of the Game of Cock-fighting One Sergeant Skinner who hath the care of His Majesties Furrs Two Embroiderers Two Keepers of the Privy Lodging Two Gentlemen and one Yeoman of the Bows One Cross-Bow-maker One Fletcher One Cormorant-Keeper One Hand-Gun-maker One Master and Marker of Tennis One Mistriss Semstress and one Laundress One Perspective-Maker One Master-Fencer One Haberdasher of Hats One Comb-maker One Sergeant Painter One Painter One Limner One Picture-Drawer One Silver-Smith One Goldsmith One Jeweller One Peruque-maker One Keeper of Pheasants and Turkies Joyner Copier of Pictures Watch-maker Cabinet-maker Lock-Smith of each one Game of Bears and Bulls one Master one Sergeant one Yeoman Two Operators for the Teeth Two Coffer-bearers for the Back-stairs One Yeoman of the Leash Fifty five Watermen Vpholsterer Letter-Carrier Foreign-Post Coffee-maker of each one Ten Officers beionging to Gardens Bowling-Greens Tennis-Court Pall-Mall Keeper of the Theatre at Whitehall Cutler Spurrier Girdler Corn-cutter Button-maker Embosser Enameler of each one Writer Flourisher and Embellisher Scenographer or Designer of Prospects Letter-Founder of each one Comedians Seventeen Men and Eight Women Actors Gunner Gilder Cleanser of Pictures Scene-keeper Coffer-maker Wax-chandler of each one Keeper of Birds and Fowl in St. James's Park one Keeper of the Volery Coffee-club-maker Sergeant-Painter of each one with divers other Officers and Servants under the Lord Chamberlain to serve His Majesty upon occasion Many of which Offices and Places are of good Credit and great Profit and enjoyed by Persons of Quality As to the Officers under the Master of the Horse there are Twelve Querries so called of the French Escayer derived from Escury a Stable Their Office is to attend the King on Hunting or Progress or on any occasion of Riding abroad to help His Majesty up and down from his Horse c. Four of these are called Querries of the Crown-Stable and the others are called Querries of the Hunting-Stable The Fee to each of these is only 20 l. yearly according to the ancient Custom but they have allowance for Diet to each 100 l. yearly besides Lodgings and two Horse-Liveries Next is the chief Avener from Avena Oats whose yearly Fee is 40 l. There is moreover one Clerk of the Stable four Yeomen-Riders four Child-Riders Yeomen of the Stirrup Sergeant-Marshal and Yeomen-Farriers four Groom-Farriers Sergeants of the Carriage three Surveyors a Squire and Yeomen-Sadlers four Yeomen-Granators four Yeomen-Purveyors a Yeoman-Peckman a Yeoman-Bitmaker four Coach-men eight Litter-men a Yeoman of the Close Wagon Sixty four Grooms of the Stable whereof 30 are called Grooms of the Crown Stable and Thirty four of the Hunting and Pad-Stable Twenty six Footmen in their Liveries to run by the King ' s Horse All these Places are in the Gift of the Master of the Horse There is besides these an antient Officer called Clerk of the Market who within the Verge of the King's Houshold is to keep a Standard of all Weights and Measures and to burn all that are false From the Pattern of this Standard all the Weights and Measures of the Kingdom are to be taken There are divers other considerable Officers not Subordinate to the Three Great Officers as the Master of the great Wardrobe Post-Master Master of the Ordinance Warden of the Mint c. Upon the King are also attending in his Court the Lords of the Privy-Council Secretaries of State the Judges the College of Civilians the King's Council at Law the King's Serjeants at Law the Masters of Requests Clerks of the Signet Clerks of the Council Keeper of the Paper-Office or Papers of State c. There is always a Military Force to preserve the King's Person which are His Guards of Horse and Foot The Guards of Horse are in Number 600 Men well Armed and Equipped who are generally Young Gentlemen of considerable Families who are there made fit for Military Commands They are divided into Three Troops viz. The King's Troop distinguished by their Blew Ribbons and Carbine Belts their Red Hooses and Houlster-Caps Embroidered with His Majesties Cypher and Crown The Queens Troops by Green Ribbons Carbine Belts covered with Green Velvet and Gold Lace also Green Hooses and Houster Caps Embroidered with the same Cypher and Crown And the Dukes Troop by Yellow Ribbons and Carbine Belts and Yellow Hooses Embroidered as the others In which Troops are 200 Gentlemen besides Officers Each of these Three Troops is divided into Four Squadrons or Divisions Two of which consisting of one hundred Gentlemen and Commanded by one Principal Commissioned Officer two Brigadiers and two Sub-Brigadiers with two Trumpets mount the Guards one day in six and are Relieved in their turns Their Duty is always by Parties from the Guard to attend the Person of the KING the Queen the Duke and the Dutchess wheresoever they go near home but if out of town they are attended by Detachments out of the said Three Troops Besides this there is a more strict Duty and Attendance Wâ—â—â—ly on the KING's Person on Foot wheresoever He walks from His Rising to His going to Bed by one of the three Captains who always waits immediatly next the KING 's own Person before all others carrying in his hand an Ebony-staff or Truncheon with a Gold head Engraved with His MAJESTIES Cyper and Crown Near him also attends a Principal Commissioned Officer with an Ebony-staff and Silver head who is ready to Relieve the
peculiarly belonging to the Priest and were thence called Chancels This Court is Officina Justitiae the Fountain of all our Fundamental Laws and Proceedings in Law and the Original of all other Courts It is as antient as the Civility of the Nation though perhaps by another Name This Court proceeds either ordinarily according to the Laws Statutes and Customs of the Nation and in Latin granting out Writs Mandatory and Remedial Writs of Grace or else according to Equity and Conscience and by English Bill so that the Chancery hath two Courts in one The Equitable part is by Bills Answers and Decrees to Examin Frauds Combinations Trusts Secret Vses c. To moderate the Rigour of the Laws and Rescue Men out of the hands of their Oppressors To Relieve a Man especially in three things viz. against Cheats unfortunate Accidents and Breaches of Trust Out of this Court Issue out Writs or Summons for Parliaments Edicts Proclamations Charters Protections safe Conducts Writs of Moderata Misericordia when any Person hath been Amerced too high are for a reasonable part of Goods for Widows and Orphans Patents for Sheriffs Writs of Certiorari to remove Records and false Judgments in inferior Courts Writs of Audita Querela and Scire Facias here are Sealed and Inrolled Letters Patents Treaties and Leagues with Foreign Princes Deeds between Party and Party touching Lands Estates or Purchasers taking Recognizances and making Extents upon Statutes and Recognizances for Payment of Money or securing of Contracts Writs Remedial or Magisterial Commissions of Appeal Oyer and Terminer c. The Court of Common Pleas which are between Subject and Subject hath its Original and Commission from the Chancery and cannot hold Pleas without it For the Latin part of this Court are the 24 Cursitors and for the English part are the Six Clerks The Court of Equity that proceeds not according to Law is no Court of Record and therefore binds only the Person not his Lands or Goods The Judge of this Court is the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England He is here the Sole Judge whereas in other Courts there are three or four Judges But he may and doth often in Cases of greater Weight and Difficulty in Cases of Law call some of the other Judges to his assistance and therefore it is said this Office may be discharged by one that is no professed Lawyer as it has been frequently to their great Praise It is the highest Dignity in England that a Lay-Man is capable of it is Summum ambientis animi quasi solstitium and the Chancellor is Magistratum omnium Antistes Antiently the Lord Chancellor had somtimes his Vice-Chancellor commonly called Keeper of the Great Seal but of latter times they differ only in Name The Chancellor is said to be Keeper of the King's Conscience to Judge secundum aequum bonum according to Equity and Conscience he is to moderate the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the exact Rigor and Letter of the Law whereunto other Judges are exactly tyed For the Princes of this Realm in imitation of the KING of Kings governing the Woâ—ld by Justice and Mercy have Erected two Supreâ—m Tribunals together at the upper end of Westminster-Hall one of Justice wherein nothing but the strict Letter of the Law is observed and the other of Mercy where in the Rigor of the Law is tempered with the sweetness of Equity which is nothing else but Mercy qualifying the sharpness of Justice This Court being a Court of Conscience the less it is perplexed with the Quirks of Lawyers the more it is guided by Conscience and Equity The manner of proceeding in this Court is thus the Action is by Bill or Plaint the Witnesses Examined in private the Decrees in English or Latin not in French No Jury of Twelve Men but all Sentences are given by the Judge of the Court. The place of Master of the Rolls is of great Dignity in the Gift of the King for life or during pleasure This Officer hath Jure Officii the Gift of those considerable Officers of the Six Clerks in Chancery hath the keeping of the Rolls and in the absence of the Chancellor hears Causes and makes Orders by Vertue of a Commission with two Masters and that Jure Officii by right of Office This Court is always open whereas all the others are shut but only in Term time so that if a Man be wrongfully Imprisoned in the Vacation time out of Term the Lord Chancellor may Grant his Writ of Habeas Corpus and do him Justice according to Law so likewise may this Gourt Grant Prohibitions in time of Vacation as well as in Term time The Defendant is to Answer Bills and Interrogatories upon Oath though to the accusing of himself in divers matters Dammageable and Penal the Witnesses are to Depose upon Interrogatories and in perpetuam rei Memoriam by the Term and use of Final Decree agreeable with the Civil Law In the Master of the Rolls Office are kept all the Rolls since the beginning of King Henry the VII the rest are kept in the Tower of London In this Gift are besides the Six Clerks Office the Offices of the Examiners and three of the Clerks of the Petty-Bag-Office The Office of Clerk of the Crown is of High importance he is either by himself or Deputy continually to attend the Lord Chancellor for special matters of State and hath place in the Higher House of Parliament He makes all Writs for Election of Members of Parliament Sitting in Parliament upon Warrant directed to him upon the Death or Removal of any Member and also Commissions of Oyer and Terminer Goal-Delivery Commissions of Peace and many other Commissions distributing Justice to His Majesties Subjects The Office of the Protonotary of this Court is chiefly to expedite Commissions for Embassies The Office of the Clerk of the Hanaper or Hamper is to receive all the Money due to the King for the Seals of Charters Patents Commissions and Writs and to attend the Keeper of the Seal daily in Term time and at all times of Sealing with Leather Bags now but antiently probably with Hampers wherein are put all the Sealed Charters Patents c. And then those Bags delivered to the Comptroller of the Hamper The Office of Warden of the Fleet or Keeper of the Fleet-Prison is very Considerable He is to take care of the Prisoners there who are commonly such as are sent thither from this Court for contempt of the King or His Laws on such as will not pay their Debts c. The Sergeant at Arms Office is to bear a Gilt Mace before the Lord Chancellor or Keeper for the time being The Six Clerks are Officers of great account next in Degree to the Twelve Masters in Chancery whose Office is to Inroll Commissions Pardons Patents Warrants c. that are passed the Great Seal They are Attorneys for Plaintiffs and Defendants in Causes depending in this Court Their Offices are at a place
called Six-Clerks-Office in Chancery-Lane they keep Commons together in Term time The Three Clerks of the Petty-Bag are under the Master of the Rolls they make all Patents for Customers Comptrollers all Congeâ—d ' Estires first Summons of Nobility Clergy Knights Citizens and Burgesses to Parliament From the Subpoena-Office are Issued Writs to Summon Persons to appear in Chancery There are two Examiners who are to examin Witnesses upon upon their Oaths in any suit on both sides The Curssiters Office is to make out Original Writs they were antiently called Clerici de Cursu They are in Number 24 whereof each one hath certain Counties and Cities allotted to him They are a Corporation of themselves c. IV. EXCHEQVER Within the Port or Entry into the Hall on either side are ascendings up into large Chambers without the Hall adjoyning thereunto wherein certain Courts be kept namely on the Right hand is the Court of Exchequer which is so called as some think from a Chequer-wrought-Carpet covering the great Table in that Court or else from the French word Exchequer a Chess Board because the Accomptants in that Office were wont to use such Boards in their Calculation Here are Tried all Causes that belong to the King's Treasury or Revenue as touching Accounts Disbursements Customs and all Fines imposed upon any Man In this Court do Sit the Lord Treasurer the Chancellor of the Exchequer the Lord Chief Baron and Four other Learned Judges called Barons of the Exchequâ—r and one other Cursitor-Baron but the two first â—â—â—dom Sit and the five last seldom fail The first of these five is the Principal Judge of this Court which is a place of High Honour and Profit he iâ— stiled Lord Chief Baron is created by Letters Paâ—tents to hold this Dignity quam diu bene se gesseriâ— wherein he hath a more fixed Estate than the Chiâ— Justices of either Bench for the Law intends this aâ— Estate for Life In the absence of the Lord Chieâ— Baron the other three Barons supply his place acâ—cording to their Seniority but the 5 th is said to bâ— Cursitor of the Court and Administers the Oaths tâ— the Sheriffs under-Sheriffs Bayliffs Searchers Surveyors c. of the Custom-House In the Exchequer are held two Courts one oâ— Law another of Equity all Judicial proceedings according to Law are Coram Baronibus before the Barons but the Court of Equity held in the Exchequer-Chamber is Coram Thesaurario Cancellario Baronibus before the Treasurer Chancellor and Barons The Authority of this Court is of Original Jurisdiction without any Commission All the Twelve Judges belonging to these High Tribunals sit in Robes and Square Caps like Doctors of Divinity because as some say they were in old times most commonly Clergy Men. There are divers Officers belonging to the upper Exchequer as the King's Remembrancer in whose Office are Eight Sworn Clerks All Accounts pass there that concern the King's Revenue for Customs Excise Hearth-Money Subsidies and all aids granted to the King in Parliament and all other Accounts of what nature soever concerning the King's Revenue either Certain or Casual all Securities whether by Bond or Recognizances to the King for any of His Debts are taken here All proceedings upon any Statute by information for Custom Excises or any other Penal Law All proceedings upon the said Bonds or Recognizances or any other Bonds taken in the King's Name by Officers appointed thereunto under the Great Seal of England and transmitted into this Office for Recovery thereof From whence Issue forth Process to cause all Accountants to come in and Account c. This Office is in the King's Gift The Office of the Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer is to make Process against all Sheriffs Receivers Bayliffs c. for their Accounts and many other things of Moment as Estreal Rules all Charters and Letters Patents whereupon any Rents are reserved to the King This also is in the KING's Gift The Clerk of the Pipe hath all the Accounts and Debts due to the King drawn down out of the Remembrancers Office and chargeth them down out of the Remembrancers Office and chargeth them down in the Great Roll or Pipe and therefore probably called the Pipe-Office he hath under him Eight Sworn Clerks Here Accountants have their quietus est and here are made Leafes of extended Lands The Comptroller of the Pipe writes out all Summons twice every Year to the High Sheriffs to Levy the Farms and Debts of the Pipe He keeps a Roll of the Pipe-Office Accounts whereby to discover any thing that shall be amiss In the Office of the Clerk of the Pleas all the Officers of the Exchequer and other priviledged Persons as Debtors to the King c. are to have their Priviledge to Plead and be Impleaded as to all matters at the Common Law And the Proceedings are accordingly by Declarations Pleas and Trials as at the Common Law because they should not be drawn out of their own Court where their attendance is Required In this Office are four Sworn Attorneys To the Forâ—ign Opposers-Office all Sheriffs repair to be by him opposed of their Green-Wax and from thence is drawn down a Charge upon the Sheriffs to the Clerk of the Pipe This Office is kept in Grays-Inn The Office of the Clerk of the Estreats is to receive every Term the Estreats or Extracts out of the Office of the Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer and to write them out to be Levied for the King Also to make Schedules for such Sums as are to be discharged The Auditors of the Imprest Audit the Great accounts of the King's Customs Wardrobe Mint First Fruits and Tenths Naval and Military Expences Moneys imprested c. The Auditors of the Revenue Audit all the accounts of the King 's other Revenue that arise by Aids granted in Parliament The Remembrancer of the first Fruits and Tenths takes all Compositions for first Fruits and Tenths and makes Process against such as pay not the same This Office is kept in Hatton-Garden c. As to the other part of the Exchequer where the King's Revenue is received and disbursed the Principal Officer is the Lord Treasurer whose place is somtimes and is at this present managed by Commissioners appointed by His Majesty The next is the Chancellor of the Exchequer who is an Officer of great Account and Authority He hath a Principal Power not only in the Exchequer-Court but also here in the managing and disposing of the King's Revenue he hath the Custody of the Exchequer-Seal He hath the Gift of the Comptroller or Clerk of the Pipe of the Clerk of the Pleas of the Clerk of the Nichils and of the Seal of the Court He is also under Treasurer and hath the Gift of the two Praisers of the Court. Then there are two Chamberlains of the Exchequer in whose Custody are many ancient Records Leagues and Treaties with Foreign Princes the Standards of Moneys Weights and Measures those antient Books called Dooms-Day and the Black
particular Welfare of the Kingdom or Subject And every Parliament may get a Bill drawn and give it to the Speaker or Clerk of the Parliament to be presented in convenient time Whatsoever is proposed for a Law is first put in Writing and called a Bill which being read in a full Assembly it is either unanimously rejected or else allowed to be Debated and then it is Committed to a certain Number of the House presently Nominated and called a Committee After it hath been Amended and twice Read two several Days in the House it is Ingrossed that is Written Fair in a Parchment and Read the Third time another day and then if in the Lords House the Chancellor or if in the House of Commons the Speaker demands if they will have it put to the question whether a Law or no Law If the Major part be for it there is Written on the Bill by the Clerk of the Lords House Soit baille aux Seigneurs or of the House of Commons Soit baille aux Communes retaining the Antient Custom which was to speak in French When the Speaker finds divers Bills prepared to be put to the Question he gives Notice the day beâ— before that to morrow he intends to put such Bills to the passing or third Reading and desires the special attendance of all the Members If a Bill be rejected it cannot be any more proposed during that Session All Bills sent by the Commons to the Lords House are usually attended to shew their respect with several of their Members and as they come up to the Lords Bar the Member that 's to present the Bill maketh three profound Reverences and delivers it to the Lord Chancellor who comes down to the Bar to receive it A Bill sent by the Lords to the Commons is usually by some of the Masters of Chancery or some other whose seat is on the Wool-sacks and by none of the Members who coming up to the Speaker bow thrice and deliver it to him after one of them hath read the Title and desired it might be taken into Consideration If it pass that House then is Written on it Les Communes ont assentez When any Member of the House of Commons speaks to a Bill he stands up uncovered and directs his Speech only to the Speaker then if what he Delivers be confuted by another yet he is not allowed to Answer again the same day lest the whole time should be spent in a Dispute between two talkative persons Also if a Bill be debating in the House no man may speak to it in one day above once If any one speak words of offence which the House takes cognizance of as such he is called to the Bar and sometimes sent to the Tower The Speaker is not allowed to persuade or dissuade in passing of a Bill but only to make a short and plain Narrative nor to Vote except the House be equally Divided In Committees though of the whole House it is allowed to Speak and Reply as often as they please In the House of Lords they give their Suffrages or Votes beginning at the lowest Baron and so to the highest Peer in order every one Answering apart Content or Not content In the House of Commons they Vote by Yea's and No's and if it be doubtful which is the greater Number then the Yea's are to go forth and the No's sit still because these are content with their present condition without any addition or alteration of Laws as the other desire and then some are appointed to Number them But at a Committee though it be of the whole House as it is sometimes the Yea's go on one side and the No's on the other whereby they may be discerned If a Bill pass in one House and being sent to the other House they of the other House Demur upon it then a Conference is demanded in the Painted Chamber where certain deputed Members of each House Meet the Lords sitting covered at a Table and the Commons standing bare the business is then debated If they agree not it is Nulled if they do agree it Passes When Bills have past both Houses they are presented to his Majesty for his Royal assent who comes in his Robes with the Crown on his Head and being Seated in his Chair of State the Lords being all in their Robes the Clerk of the Crown reads the Tiâ—tle of each Bill and as he reads the Clerk of the Parliament according to his Instructions from the King who before hath maturely considered each Bill pronounceth the Royal assent If it be a Publick Bill the Answer is Le Roy le veut and then that Bill becomes a Law If a Private Bill the Answer is Soit fait comms el est desire If it be a Pubblick Bill which the King likes not then the Answer is Le Roy s'avisera which is taken for an absolute Denial in a more Civil way and that Bill wholly nulled So that nothing but what the King confirms by his Royal Assent hath the force of a Law The King can by Commission granted to some of His Nobles give His Royal Assent to any Bill that requires haste If it be a Bill for Monies given to His Majesty then the Answer is Le Roy remercie ses Loyaux Sujets accepte leur Benevolence aussi le veut which is an ancient Ceremony of Thanking the Subjects for parting with their Money The Bill for the King 's General Pardon hath but one Reading in either House because they must take it as the King will please to give it so the Bill of Subsidies granted by the Clergy Assembled in Convocation for the same Reason When the Bill for the General Pardon is passed by the King the Answer is thus Les Prelates Seigneurs Communes en ce Parliament Assemblez au nom de tous vos autre Sujects remercient tres humblement votre Majeste prient Dieu vous donner en sante bonne vie Congue All Acts of Parliament before the Reign of Henry 7. were Passed and Enrolled in French now in English The stile runs thus Be it Enacted by the King 's most Excellent Majesty by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons c. When it pleases the King the Parliament is Adjourned Prorogued or Dissolved thus Adjournments are usually made in the Lords House by the Lord Chancellor in the King's name to what other day and place the King pleases and then all things already Debated and Read in one or both Houses may be resumed because they continue in the same State they were in before to the next Meeting When the Parliament is Prorogued there is a Session and then all Bills and Debates must begin anew at the re-assembling of the Parliament The Speaker of the House of Commons upon notice given that it is the King's pleasure that that House shall also Adjourn doth say with the Assent of the House This House is Adjourned
When the King Prorogues or Dissolves the Parliament He commonly comes in Person to the House of Lords in his Robes with the Crown on his Head and sends by the Vsher of the Black-Rod for all the House of Commons to the Bar of that House and after the King's Answer to each Bill signified as aforesaid his Majesty usually makes a Solemn Speech the Lord Chancellor another and the Speaker of the House of Commons a Third Then the Lord Chancellor by the special Command of the King doth pronounce the Parliament Prorogued or Dissolved The King being Head of the Parliament if his Death doth happen during the Sitting of the Parliament it is ipso facto Dissolved IV. Sommerset-House in the Strand is the Queens Palace In the Year 1549. Edward Duke of Sommerset Uncle to Edward the 6 th and Lord Protector pulled down several adjoyning Buildings to make him a Mansion-House there the Stones of which Houses and some other more remote Buildings which he demollished were converted to this Spatious and Beautiful Palace of which we cannot add much more but that it was the Fatal place where the wicked Romish Assassinates prompted by Hell and their accursed Principles most barbarously Murdered that Noble Patriot and never to be forgotten Knight Sir EDMOND-BERRY GODFREY on Saturday the 12 th of October 1678. The Bloody Villains being enraged at the Discovery of their Execrable Plot in which this brave Gentleman was very active made him a Sacrifice to their Revenge so that he may be truly stiled the Martyr of the English Protestant Interest and deserves a Memorial in all Loyal Christian Hearts The Narrative is published at large to which we refer our Reader only we cannot omit his Majesties Royal act who so resented this Abominable Villany that he issued his Proclamation the 20 th of October promising 500 l. to the Discoverer and a Pardon if one of the Malefactors and another soon after promising on the word of a King not only the said Reward of 500 l but such care for the Security of the Discoverer as he could in Reason propose upon which Captain William Bedlow since Dead and Mr. Miles Praunce a Silver-smith in Princes-street which last confessed to have been in the Fact made the Discovery and upon their clear and undoubted Evidence three of the Wretches were Executed viz. Green Berry and Hill the rest fled from Justice but cannot escape Divine Vengeance Having spoken of these principal Palaces it may be expected that we should speak something of the Great and Famous Houses of the Nobility which are very many and Magnificent not yielding to any in Europe as Clarendon-House which for Situation stately Architecture spacious solid uniform Structure is admirable Berkley-House Wallingford-House Northumberland-House Salisbury and Worcester Houses Bedford Leicester Newport Mountague and Southampton Houses and indeed most Houses of the great Peers But the brevity of our Volume will not admit a large Description only in General we shall say something of them in the Section that Treats of the Fire Anno 1666. and the Rebuilding of the City SECT 5. Of Exchanges and Publick-Halls THe Royal Exchange in Cornhil-Ward was Erected in the Year 1566 just one hundred Years before it was Burnt in this manner Certain Houses upon Cornhil containing Eighty Housholds were purchased by the City of London for above 3532 l. which they sold for 478 l. to such as would take them down and carry them away Then the Ground or Plot was made plain at the Charges of the City and Possession thereof was given to Sir Thomas Gresham Knight a Noble Merchant and Agent to Queen Elizabeth by certain Aldermen in the name of the whole for to Build an Exchange thereon for Merchants to Assemble On the 7 th of June he laid the first Stone in the Foundation being accompanied with some Aldermen where every one of them laid a piece of Gold which the Work-men took up The Work was advanced with such Expedition that in November 1567 it was finished and afterwards in the presence and by the special Command of the Queen it was Proclaimed by a Herald and with sound of Trumpet named The ROYAL EXCHANGE It was Built most of Brick and yet was the most splendid Burse all things considered that was then in Europe The Burse for Merchants was kept before in Lumbard-street In the great and dismal Conflagration Anno 1666. the Royal Exchange was consumed But it is since Rebuilt in a far more stately and Magnificent manner of excellent Portland Stone almost as durable as Marble with such curious and admirable Architecture especially for a Front a Turret and for Arch-work that it surpasseth all other Burses in Europe The Form is Quadrangular with a large Paved Court where the Merchants Meet it is Quadratum Oblongum an Oblong square and on each side are stately Galleries or Portico's Checquered with a smooth and delicate Stone-Pavement the Arches supported with strong Stone Pillars where in case of Rain or extream Heat the greatest part may be sheltered The whole Fabrick cost above 50000 l. whereof one half was disbursed by the Chamber of London and the other by the Company of Mercers And to reimburse them there are to be let 190 Shops above-stairs at 20 l. per annum and 30 l. Fine besides the several Shops below on the several sides and the huge Vaulted Cellars under ground so that it must needs be the richest piece of Ground in the World For The Exact Dimensions of the Ground whereon this Goodly Fabrick is Erected is but 171 Foot from North to South and 203 Foot from East to West and little more than three quarters of an Acre of Ground yet producing above 4000 l. Yearly Rent The New Exchange on the Strand was called Durham-House Built by Thomas Hatfield Bishop of Durham who being made Bishop of that See Anno 1549. continued so 36 Years It was a very Capacious Edifice on the North side stood a row of Thatcht low Stables which the Right Honourable Robert Earl of Salisbury then Lord High Treasurer of England purchased and pulled down Erecting in the room thereof at his own Charge a very goodly and beautiful Building with Cellars underneath and a Walk fairly Paved above it with Rows of Shops and the like above stairs The first Stone was laid the 10 th of June 1608 and it was finished in November following The Shops above and under were curiously adorn'd and in April following the Earl Invited King James the Queen the Prince the Duke of York to come thither who came attended with many of the Nobility where after a Rich Banquet the King named it Britains Burse There are also two Exchanges more viz. The Middle Exchange and Exeter Exchange which last was lately built in both which Goods are sold as at the Royal Exchange Having done with Exchanges we shall proceed to the Publick Halls of Companies As for the Great Guild-Hall for Orders sake the Reader is referred to the Section
sense of Honour in persons of Birth and Fortune engages them to preserve their Reputation These Colleges are called Inns which was the old English Word for the Houses of Noblemen or Bishops or men of great Note as the French word Hostel at Paris There are Two Inns of Sergeants Four Inns of Courts and Eight Inns of Chancery of which there are Nine within the Liberty of the City and five in the Suburbs Those within the City Liberties are Sergeants Inn Fleetstreet Sergeants Inn Chancery-lane For Judges and Sergeants only The Inner The Middle Temple in Fleet-street are Inns of Court Cliffords Inn Fleetstreet Thavies Inn Furnivals Inn Bernards Inn Staple Inn Holborn Are Inns of Chancery Without the Liberties are Grays Inn Holborn Lincolns Inn Chancery-lane Inns of Court Clements Inn New Inn Lyons Inn Inns of Chancery Of these we shall briefly speak in this Oâ—deras 1. The Sergeants Inns are so called because Divers Judges and Serjeants at Law keep their Commons and Lodge there in Term-time In these Inns or Colleges the Students of the Common-Law when they are arrived to the highest Degree have Lodging and Dyet They are called Servientes ad legem Sergeants at Law These are bred two or three years in the University and there chiefly versed in Logick and Rhetorick which are expedient for a Lawyer as also in the Theory of the Civil-Law and some knowledge in the French Tongue as well as Latine then the Student is admitted to be one of the Four Inns of Court where he is first called a Moot-man and after about seven years Study is chosen an Vtter Barrister and having then spent twelve years more and performed his Exercises of which more hereafter he is chosen a Bencher and sometime after a Reader During the Reading which heretofore was three Weeks and three Days as afore-mentioned the Reader keeps a Constant and sumptuous Feasting Inviting the Chief Nobles Judges Bishops Great Officers of the Kingdom and sometimes the King himself that it costs them sometimes 800 l. or 1000 l. Afterwards he wears a long Robe different from other Barristers and is then in a capacity to be made a Sergeant at Law when his Majesty shall be pleased to call him which is in this Manner When the Number of Sergeants is small the Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas by the advice and consent of the other Judges makes choice of six or eight more or less of the most grave and learned of the Inns of Court and presents their Names to the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper who sends by the Kings Writ to each of them to appear on such a Day before the King to receive the State and Degree of a Serjeant at Law at the appointed time they being habited in Robes of two Colours viz. Brown and Blew come accompanied with the Students of the Inns of Courts and attended by a Train of Servants and Retainers in peculiar Cloath-Liveries to Westminster-Hall and there in publick take a Solemn Oath and are Cloathed with certain Robes and Coifs without which they may be seen no more in publick After this they Feast the great Persons of the Nation in a very Magnificent and Princely manner give Gold Rings to the Princes of the Royal Family the Archbishops Chancellor and Treasurer to the value of 40 s. each Ring and to Earls and Bishops Rings of 20 s. To other Great Officers to Barons c. Rings of less value Out of these are chosen all the Judges of the King's Bench and Common-Pleas Wherefore all those Judges do always wear the white Linnen Coif which is the principal Badge of a Sergeant and which he has had the priviledge to wear at all times even in the King's presence and whilst he spake to the King though antiently no Subject may be so much as capped in the King's presence When any of the Judges are wanting the King by advice of the Council makes choice of one of those Sergeants at Law to supply his place and by Letters Patents Sealed by the Lord Chancellor who Constitutes him sitting in the middle of the rest of the Judges by a set Speech Declaring to the Serjeant that upon this occasion he is called to do Justice with Expedition and Impartiality to His Majesties Subjects causing the Letters Patents to be read and then Departs after which the Lord Chief Justice places the said Sergeant on the Bench Junior to all the rest and having taken an Oath well and truly to Serve the King and his People in his Office to take no Bribâ— to do equal and speedy Justice to all c. He sets himself to the Execution of his Charge Being thus advanced he hath great honour and a considerable Salary besides perquisites for each one hath 1000 l. a year from the King His habit of a Sergeant is somewhat altered his long Robe and Cap his Hood and Coif are the same but there is besides a Cloak put over him and closed on his Right Shoulder and instead of a Caputium lined with Minever or de minuto vario divers small pieces of white rich Fur only the two Lord Chief-Justices and the Lord Chief-Baron have their Hoods Sleeves and Collars turned up with Ermine ☞ Note that the two Sergeants Inns belong to the twelve Judges and about twenty-six Sergeants The Fees in old times from a Client to a Sergeant at Law for advice in his Chamber or for pleading in any Court of Judicature was but 20 s. and the Fee of a Barrister 10 s. which is now more then is given in our Neighbour Nations but at present it is usual to give some some Sergeants 10 l. and some 20 l. and to a Barrister half as much at the pleading of any Considerable Cause so that some Lawyers gain 3000 or 4000 l. yearly in Fees and purchase great Estates in a few years and are sometimes advanced to be Peers of the Realm as late times especially have shewn When there was a call of Serjeants at Law it was almost incredible to hear of their preparations in old times they have often kept their Feasts in Ely House which was the Bishop of Ely's Palace in Holborn There was a call of Seven Sergeants in the year 1464. 4. E. 4. in Michaelmas Term who kept their Feast in this Palace to which Sir Matthew Philip Lord Mayor of London with the Aldermen Sheriffs and the most eminent Commoners were invited to which they came but the Lord Gray of Ruthen then Lord Treasurer of England was placed against the minds of the Serjeants as they said before the Lord Mayor who thereupon took such Distaste that he went away with the Aldermen Sheriffs and Commons without partaking of the Feast to the great trouble of the New Sergeants as well as the dissatisfaction of the City There was another Feast kept there for Five days by the Sergeants in the Year 1531. 23 Henry VIII where the King Queen and Foreign Ambassadors Dined as also the Lord Mayor the
sumptuous Fane The Lands Chief Seat that challengeth for hers Kings Coranations and their Sepulchers Then goes along by that more beautious Strand That shews the Wealth and glory of the Land Such sumptuous Seats within so little space Th' all-viewing Sun scarce sees in all his Race By London leads which like a Crescent lies Whose Windows view with the be-spangled Skies Her rising Spires so thick themselves do show As do the Reeds that on her Banks do grow There sees his Wharffs and People-crowded Shores His bosom spread with shoals of labouring Oars With that great Bridge that doth him most Renown By which he puts all other Rivers down This Noble River hath her Original out of the side of an Hill in Cotswold Downs a little above a Village called Winchcomb in Oxfordshire where it was antiently called Isis or the Ouse running to Oxford and by the way receiving many small Rivulets and Brooks joyning at that City with the Charwell then by Abington Dorchester where the River Thame and Isis joyn from whence it is called Thamâ—sis or Thames thence by Reading Maiden-head Windsor Stanes and several other considerable Palaces Towns and stately Houses to London and receives the Medway a considerable River that runs by the City of Rochester and Waters all the Southern parts of Kent The length of it being at least if measured by the Journeys at Land 180 Miles and Ebbs and Flows as before near 80 Miles The Common difference betwixt Tide and Tide is found to consist of 24 Minutes which wanteth but 12 of a whole hour in 24 by which they come later than the other Mr. Stow tells us that in his time the first Edition of his Survey being Printed above 80 years ago there were 2000 Wherries or small Boats whereby 3000 Water-men got their Living their Gains being most in Term-time but now there are a great many more this River being a Nursery to breed young Men sit for the Sea to Serve His Majesty or the Merchants c. Besides these there is an Infinite Number of Wherries Tide-Boats Tilt-Boats Barges Hoys c. for Passengers or to bring necessary Provision of all sorts from all Quarters of Oxfordshire Berkshire Buckinghamshire Bedfordshire Hartfordshire Middlesex Essex Surrey and Kent unto the City but of the Navigation of London we refer to the Chapter of Trade and the Rates of Water-men to a distinct head to be Treated of hereafter The Extent of the Jurisdiction and Prerogative of the Lord Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of London on the River Thames c. THe Lord Mayor of LONDON for the time being and his Successors for ever in that great Dignity have full Power and Authority over the Rivers of Thames and Medway to inflict punishment upon all Transgressors relating to the said Rivers the Water-Bayly of London being his Substitute The Extent of this Jurisdiction begins at a place called Colnie-Ditch a little above Stains-Bridge Westward as far as London-Bridge and from thence to a place called Yendall otherwise Yenland or Yenleete and the Waters of Medway This Authority and Jurisdiction belongs to the Lord Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of London by divers Grants Charters and Confirmations made by the Kings and Queens of England besides sundry Acts of Parliament Yet there have been some contests betwixt the Lord Mayor and the Lord High Admiral of England about it but after a fair and Judicial Tryal in open Court the Controversie was decided in favour of the City and the Lord Mayor was adjudged to be Conservator of the Thames There were also some Controversies about the Rivers of Thames and Medway but all differences were absolutely concluded Anno 1613. Sir John Swinnerton being then Lord Mayor and Thomas Sparry Esq being then his Deputy in that Office So that the Lord Mayor bears always since as in former times the stile of Conservator of the said River within the said Limits and Bounds And whereas there was a Company of Fishermen called Tinckermen that with unlawful Nets and other devices made an infinite destruction of the young Brood or Fry of Fish to feed their Hogs by the singular care and cost of the Lord Mayor and vigilance of the Citizens they were many years ago supprest and a regular and orderly manner of Fishing brought in use that such a havock may not be made of the young Fry As also sundry other abuses by unlawful Fishing and some annoying Timbers in Tilbury-hope dangerous to Passengers and destructive to the young Brood of Fish and Fishermens Nets were also to general benefit reformed Likewise they took care to clear and cleanse the River Westward of about 79 Stops or Hatches consisting of divers great Stakes and Piles erected by Fishermen for their private lucre and standing ill-favouredly for Passengers near the Fair-Deep but none now are left except such as stand out of the passable high stream that can prejudice none The like Course was kept in the time of Henry the 4 th and Henry the 8 ths times There is also a watchful Eye that no Carrion nor Dead Carkasses be thrown into the River to pollute or infect the stream To all these intents and purposes the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen his Brethren with the under Officers meet eight times a year in the four Counties of Middlesex Surrey Kent and Essex and have a Judicial sitting for Maintenance of the Rivers Rights and Priviledges where they have power to Impanel Juries to make Inquisition after all Offences committed upon the River within their Exteâ—â— and as the Verdict given by the Jury makes it appear so they proceed to the punishment of the 〈◊〉 sors according to the quality of the offence whereof it may be proper to give this Memorable Instance as it is Recorded by Mr. Stow in his Survey page 20 Printed Anno 1633. and more briefly delivered by Mr. Howel in his Londinopolis Printed Anno 1657. page 15. Thus. Sir John Rolls Knight and Lord Mayor of the City of London and Conservator of the River of Thames and Waters of Medway assisted and accompanied by the Aldermen and two Sheriffs then contemporary and attended by the Recorder and the Sub-conservation or Water-Bayly with 50 Officers and Servants took their Barges at Billings-gate the third of July 1616. and in a few hours arrived at Graves-end in Kent where a Session for Conservancy of the said River was kept before the said Lord Mayor and his said Assistants at which place and time a Jury of the Free-holders of the said County being sworn to inquire of all Offences committed in any part of the River whatsoever within the said County The Common Sergeant of the City the Recorder being then absent upon extraordinary occasions Delivered them a Charge to this effect That for as much as there had not been any Session of Conservancy in many years passed kept by any Lord Mayor of London in that place it was probable and evident they could not be well informed neither of the Lord Mayor's
West yea a considerable share of the richest Merchandizes of the World c. so that this Famous River may be said to be as it were the Radical Moysture of London and its best Friend which was hinted by the Lord Mayor to King James for the King being displeased because the City would not lend Him a Sum of Money told the Mayor and Aldermen that he would Remove His Court with all the Records of the Tower and the Courts of Westminster-Hall to another place with further expressions of that kind The Lord Mayor calmly heard all and at last Answered Your Majesty hath Power to do what You Please and Your City of London will obey accordingly but She humbly Desires that when Your Majesty shall remove Your Courts You would please to leave the Thames behind You. Besides the inestimable Benefit that this Noble River brings to the City and the Adjacent places by the easie conveyance of all Sorts of Goods and Merchandizes almost all the Fuel for Firing being also brought by it from Newcastle Scotland Kent Essex c. It supplies the City in very many places with excellent wholsom Water convey'd into all the Adjacent Houses by Water Engines of great cost and Artifice So much for the Thames The City of London is supply'd with pure Spring-Water from above Twenty Conduits so Commodiously placed that they serve all the Chiefest parts of the City And in all parts though on the highest Ground It is abundantly Served with Pump Water and those Pumps in many places hardly Six Foot deep in the Ground Of the New-River This Famous and never-to-be-forgotten Work brought by the Liberal Charge and Exquisite Skill of one Worthy Man Sir Hugh Middleton Knight and Baronet Citizen and Goldsmith of London deserves an everlasting Memorial Several Wells and Springs of sweet and fresh Water with which the City was served being Decayed sundry Projects were on Foot to supply that want but this Principal Device was found out by the aforesaid Gentleman and the Difficulties and vast Expence made it for some time to be retarded but Courage and a Resolution to promote the Publick Good prompted him on to the Atchievment which since hath proved happily Commodious and of infinite Utility to the whole City so that the brave Adventurer deserves a Statue to Eternize his Name and Transmit his Memory to keep it Fresh like his Waters to future Ages Now as Mr. Stow speaks very ingeniously if those Enemies to all Good Actions Danger Difficulty Detraction Contempt Scorn and Envy could have prevailed by their Malevolent Interposition either before at the beginning and in the very Birth of the Attempt and a good while after this work had never been accomplished Queen Elizabeth granted Power to the Citizens by Act of Parliament for Cutting and Conveying of a River from any part of Middlesex or Hartfordshire to the City of London with a Limitation of ten Years time for the performance thereof But She dyed before it was undertaken King James Granted the like but without limitation of time And when others would not undertake it Sir Hugh Middleton did with infinite Pains and vast Charge both begin and finish it He brought it from Amuel and Chadwel two Springs near Ware in Hartfordshire from whence in a turning and winding Course it Runs threescore Miles before it reaches the City At the North-side of the City at Islington he built a large Cistern to receive it and from thence it is dispersed in Pipes serving the highest parts of London in their lower Rooms and the Lower parts in their higher Rooms It was begun the 28 th of February Anno Dom. 1608 and finished in five Years It can hardly be imagined what difficulties and rubs there were in the way through which the Water was to pass some being Ozie Soft and Muddy other again as Hard Craggy and Stâ—ny in some places the Channel is Thirty Foot deep in other places it is carried over Valleys in open Troughs betwixt Hills which Troughs are supported by Wooden Arches some of them fixt in the Earth very deep and rising in Height above 23 Foot Over this New-River are made 800 Bridgs some of Stone some of Brick and some of Wood and six hundred Men have been at once imployed in this Great Work The River being brought to the said Great Cistern the Water was not let in till Michaelmas Day Anno 1613. Sir John Swinnerton then Lord Mayor and Sir Thomas Middleton Brother to the said Sir Hugh being Elected Lord Mayor for the Ensuing Year In the Afternoon Sir John Swinnerton and Sir Thomas Middleton with Sir Henry Mountague the Recorder of London and many of the Worthy Aldermen Rode in a Solemn manner to see the Great Cistern and first Issuing of the strange River thereunto which was then made Free Denizen of London and the Solemnity was thus A Troop of Labourers of the Number of Sixty or more well Apparrelled and wearing Green Monmoth Caps after the Brittish manner all alike carried Spades Shovels Pickaxes and such like Instruments of Laborious Employment and marching after Drums twice or thrice about the Cistern presented themselves before the Mount where the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen were with a Worthy Company besides and one Man in the behalf of the rest delivered a handsom Speech in Verse at the Conclusion of which the Flood-Gates flew open and the Stream ran Cheerfully into the Cistern the Drums Beating and Trumpets Sounding in Triumphant manner and a Gallant Peal of Chambers gave a Period to the Entertainment Upon which brave Man these Lines were made Ad Hugonem Middleton Equitem Aurat um De stupenda hac aquarum opera Compita qui fluvium per Londinensia Duxti Vt jam quisque suis vicus abundet aquis Non Aganippe tuas satis est depromere laudes Haec scaturigo novae quam tibi fundit aquae Before we leave this Head although it is noâ— necessary to give a particular Account of every Conduit whereof there are many in and about the City as was said and one now a Rearing in the place of the Old Conduit at the West end of Cheapâ— side which is intended to be a Stately one and beseeming the Magnificence of the City and that Gallant Street where it is to be Erected c. Yeâ— that neatly-wrought Conduit in Stocks-Market aâ— the West end of Lumbard-street is not to be omitted whereupon is placed a very Magnificent Statue of KING CHARLES the II. on Horseback Trampling upon an Enemy all in Excellent White-Marble at the Sole Cost and Charges of Sir Robert Viner who was Lord Mayor of London in the Year 1675. There is likewise a very Magnificent Statue of King CHARLES the I. on Horse-back all ofâ— Solid Brass at Charing-Cross the Figures of both which are here Exhibited THE K. AT THE STOCKs MARKET THE K. AT CHARING CROSs CHAP. IV. Of the Government of London IN this Chapter we shall briefly Treat of the Government of this Renowned City
amongst the highest Nobles of the Kingdom which serve on that Day in other Offices He presents the King with Wine in a Golden Cup having a Cover of which the King Drinks and the Lord Mayor receives the said Cup for his Fee The first Lord Mayor that went by Water to Westminster was Sir John Norman Draper Anno 1453. the 32. of H. 6. that is 228 years ago The two Sheriffs of this City are also Sheriffs of the County of Middlesex and are annually Chosen by the Citizens from among themselves in the Guild-Hall upon Midsummer-day a high Priviledge among many others anciently granted to this City by several Kings and Queens of this Kingdom but they are not Sworn till Michaelmas-Eve and then are also presented at the Exchequer to be allowed by the Barons and Sworn after which they enter upon their Office If the Persons so chosen refuse to hold they incur a Penalty unless they will take a Solemn Oath that they are not worth 10000 l. In the Year 1199. that is 482 years ago King John granted the Sheriff-Wick of London and Middlesex to the City as King Henry the First before had done for the sum of 300 l. a year which is paid into the Exchequer to this Day He gave them also Authority to Chuse and Deprive their Sheriffs at pleasure In the 1. of R. 1. the Citizens obtained to be Governed by two Bayliffs which Bayliffs are in Divers antient Deeds called Sheriffs according to the Speech of the Law which called the Shire Ballâ—va c. which King also as formerly said gave the City liberty to be governed by a Mayor as their Principal Governour and their Bayliffs were changed into Sheriffs The Sheriffs of London In the Year 1471. were appointed each of them to have Sixteen Sergeants every Sergeant to have his Yeoman and Six Clerks viz. A Secondary a Clerk of the Papers and Four other Clerks besides the Under-Sheriffs Clerks their Stewards Bâ—tlers Porters and other in Houshold many There are Twenty-six Aldermen that preside over the Twenty-six Wards of the City of which more when we speak of Wards when any of these die the Lord Mayor and Aldermen chuse another out of the most substantial men of the City If any so chosen refuse to hold he is usually Fined 500 l. All the Aldermen that have been Lord Mayors and the Three eldest Aldermen that have not yet arrived to that Honourable Estate are by their Charter Justices of the Peace of this City In the Year 1555. Seven Aldermen Died in less than Ten Months The Recorder of London is usually a Grave and Learned Lawyer that is skilful in the Customs of the City who is to be an Assistant to the Lord Mayor He taketh his place in Councels and in Courts before any man that hath not been Mayor and Learnedly Delivers the sentences of the whole Court The Present Recorder is Sir George Treby an eminent Gentleman and a Worthy Member of our last Parliaments The Chamberlain of London is at present Sir Thomas Player a Gentleman that has deserved very well of this City and the Protestant Interest in General both in that Station and as a Member for this Honourable City in the last Parliaments The Chamberlain is Elected by the Commons upon Midsummer-day so are the Two Bridge-Masters The Auditors of the City and Bridge-House Accounts the Surveyors for BEER and ALE. There is also a Town-Clark or Common-Clerk and a Remembrancer who are Esquires The Chamberlain of London is an Officer very considerable in point of power for without him can no man set up Shop or Occupy his Trade without being Sworn before him no man can set over an Apprentice to another but by his Licence he may Imprison any that disobeys his Summons or any Apprentice that misdemeans himself or punish him otherwise On Munday and Tuesday in Eâ—ster-week all the Aldermen and Sheriffs come unto the Lord Mayor's House before Eight of the Clock in the Morning to Break-fast wearing their Scarlet Gowns Furr'd and their Cloaks as also their Horses attending When Break-fast is ended they mount their Horses and ride to the Spittle which is an ancient Custom not changed but once in 300 years and that upon extraordinary occasion till this year when they went to S. Sepulchres the Sword and Mace being born before the Lord Mayor There they hear a Sermon and then return to Dinner and some of the Aldermen Dine with the Sheriffs and some with the Lord Mayor On Wednesday in Easter-week they go thither in the same manner only the Lord Mayor and Aldermen wear their Violet Gownes and sutable Cloaks But the Ladies on the former Days wearing Scarlet on this Day are attired in Black On Whitsunday all the Aldermen use to meet the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs at the New-Church-yard by Moorfields wearing their Scarlet Gowns lined without Cloaks there they hear a Sermon appointed for that Day and so return to Dinner When they chuse Parliament-men all the Aldermen meet the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs at the Guild-Hall by nine of the Clock in the Morning wearing their Velvet Gowns and their Cloaks either furred or lined according as the time of the year requireth when they are to be chosen and they sit in the Hastings-Court untill the Commons do make Choice of them The last Honourable Members that served for this Renowned City were Sir Robert Clayton Knight that was Lord Mayor the last year Thomas Pilkinton Alderman Sir Thomas Player Knight and William 〈◊〉 Esq of whose real worth courage fidelity and wisdom in the management of that great Trust the City is very sensible as appears by the publick demonstrations deservedly given of it and no less sensible was the last Parliament but one of the Cities Loyalty Fidelity and great care to preserve his Majesties Royal person and the Protestant Religion that the thanks of the House was order'd to be given them which was accordingly done by the Worthy Members aforesaid What the Office of the Constables in the City of London is you may gather from their Oath which is thus Ye shall Swear that ye keep the Peace of our Soveraign Lord the King well and lawfully after your power And ye shall Arrest all them that make Contest Riot Debate or Affray in breaking of the said Peace and lead them to the House or Compter of one of the Sheriffs And if ye be withstood by strength of Misdoers ye shall rear on them an Out-cry and pursue them from Street to Street and from Ward to Ward till they be Arrested And ye shall search at all times when ye be required by the Seavengers or Beadles the Common Noysance of your Ward And the Beadle and Raker ye shall help to Rear and gather their Sallary and Quarterage if ye be thereunto by them required And if any thing be done within your Ward against the Ordinance of this City such defaults as ye shall find there done ye shall them present to the Mayor and
Pleadable before the Mayor and Sheriffs in the same Husting of Cowmon-Pleas by Plaint without Writ c. The Aldermen of London are summoned to the Husting and they ought by usage of the said City to be summoned by an Officer of the Sheriffs sitting upon an Horse of 100 s. price at least Of the Court of Requests or Conscience THis Court was first Erected by an Act of Common-Councel 9 H. 8. viz. That the Lord Mayor and Aldermen for the time being should Monthly assign two Aldermen and four Discreet Commoners to sit twice a week to hear and Determine all matters brought before them betwixt Freemen where the Due Debt or Damage did not exceed 40 s. Afterwards the said Number of Commissioners were enlarged to the Number of Twelve which continued till the end of Queen Elizabeths Reign and 3 Jacobi cap. 15. confirm'd by Act of Parliament where it was Enacted That every poor Citizen and Free-man inhabiting in London being sued for Debt under 40 s. may exhibit his suit in the Court of London called the Court of Requests where shall be nominated Twelve Commissioners three of which may send for any Creditor who is complained of in suing such a Debt under 40 s. and if he refuse to come or perform not their Orders they may cause him to be Arrested by any Sergeant of London and Commit him to Prison there to remain untill he perform the said Order c. This Court was to continue by the first Act of Common-Councel but for two years but being found Charitable and Profitable for the relief of poor Debtors unable to make present payment and to restrain malicious persons from proceeding in wilful Suits and to help poor persons as had small Debts owing to them and unable to prosecute Suits in Law elsewhere it was continued by divers Acts of Common-Councel as aforesaid Of the Court of the Lord MAYOR and ALDERMEN IN this Court the Lord Mayor and Aldermen as also the Recorder and Sheriffs who are usually Aldermen or else constantly Chosen upon the next vacancy sit this is a Court of Record principally instituted among other causes for the redressing and correcting the Errors Defaults and misprisions which happen in the Government of the City It is kept on Tuesdays and Thursdays In this Court are comprehended several other Courts as I. The Court of Orphans for the Mayor and Alderman as was said at large before by Custom have the Custody of the Orphans within the City c. The Chamberlain is a sole Corporation to himself and his Successors for Orphans and a Recognizance made to him and his Successours touching Orphans shall by Custom go to his Successor The Government of Orphans is so invested in the Mayor that if any Orphans sue in the Ecclesiastical Court or elsewhere for a Legacy or Duty due to them by the Custom a Prohibition doth lie 2. The Court of Wardmote or of the Wardmote Inquest for the whole City being divided into twenty-six Wards every Ward hath such an Inquest consisting of twelve or more who inquire after Abuses and Disorders and present them to be redressed inquiry is also made into all things that can conduce to the Regulating and well governing the City 3. The Court of Hall-mote or Hall-Court or Assembly of every Guild or Fraternity for Redressing what belongs to the said Companies in particular 4. The Court of the Conservation of the Water and River of Thames which belongs to the Lord Mayor from Stanes-Bridge unto the Water of Yendal and Medway of which we have spoke largly before when we Treated of the River of Thames 5. The Courts of the Coroner and Escheater which both belong to the Lord Mayor he being Coroner and Escheator by vertue of his Authority and Office 6. The Court of Policies and Assurances to Merchants that venture and Traffique on the Seas where Ships and Goods are Insured at so much per Cent. where there is an Officer of good Quality who Registers those Assurances 7. The Court of the Tower of London which is held within the Verge of the City before the Steward by prescription of Debt Trespass and other Actions Now part of the Tower is within the City and part in Middlesex viz the East part but the West in London whereof as was formerly said when we spoke of the Tower p. 14. there was a notable Example in the Person of Sir Thomas Overbury who being poysoned in a Chamber on the West part the principal Murderers were Tryed before Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer in London and so was Sir Gervase Elways the Lieutenant of the Tower at that time 8. The Court of Common-Councel consisting as the Parliament of England of two Houses one for the Lord Mayor and Aldermen and the other for the Commoners In which Court are made all By-Laws which bind all the Citizens of London for every Man either by himself or by his Representative gives his assent thereunto wherein consists the great happiness of the English Subject above all the Subjects of any other Prince in the World that neither in Laws nor By-Laws neither in Taxes or Imposts any man is obliged but by his own Consent The Oath of a Common-Councel-Man YE shall Swear that ye shall be true to our Soveraign Lord the King that now is and to his Heirs and Successors Kings of England and readily ye shall come when ye be summoned to the Common-Council of this City but if ye be reasonably excused and good and true Councel ye shall give in all things touching the Commonwealth of this City after your Wit and Cunning and that for favour of any person ye shall maintain no singular profit against the Common profit of this City and after that ye be come to the Common-Councel you shall not thence depart untill the Common-Councel be ended without reasonable cause or else by the Lord Mayors License And also any secret things that be spoken or said in the Common-Councel which ought to be kept secret in no wise you shall disclose as God you help The Common-Councel-Men are chosen at the Wardmote-Inquest for the respective Wards and are to be of the most sufficient honest and discreet Men of the Ward to serve for the ensuing year on St. Thomas the Apostles day 9. The Court of the Chamberlain of the City to whom belongs the Receipts of the Rents and Revenues of the City And to his Court belongs the business of Apprentices over whom he hath great Authority as was said before This Officer is chosen by the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Commons He over-sees and keeps all the Books Rolls Records and other Monuments and Remembrances that ought to remain of Record and the City Treasure to keep and maintain all the Rents and Tenements pertaining to the Chamber of London His Office about Orphans we have shewed before as also about Apprentices to which we shall add that he is to cause their Indentures to be Inrolled and make those Apprentices to serve out
sorts of Weapons for War than they drew out of these only such able Men as had White Harness and them all to appear in White Coats with Breeches and white Caps and Feathers and because Notice was given that the King himself would see them Muster they all prepared to appear as splendidly as they could and to that end the Lord Mayor Aldermen Recorder and Sheriffs and all who had been Sheriffs had all white Harness and over that Coats of black Velvet with the Arms of the City Embroidered thereon each one a great Gold Chain and Mounted on a goodly Horse with rich Trappings on their Heads Velvet Caps in their Hands Battle-Axes gilt Each Alderman and the Recorder had four Halberdiers in white Silk or else Buff-Coats waiting on them with gilt Halberds and the Lord Mayor and sixteen tall men apparrelled in white Sattin Doublets Caps and Feathers Chains of Gold and other Gorgeous Attire with long gilt Halberds following his Lordship at a distance But next to him he had four Footmen in white Sattin then two Pages cloathed in Crimson-Velvet and Cloath of Gold riding on Gallant Horses richly furnisht one of them carrying the Lord Mayors Helmet and the other his Pole-Ax both richly gilt and adorn'd Most of the Citizens of any Quality or Office were in white Sattin or white Silk Coats with Chains of Gold and some with rich Jewels what the Number of Men in Arms was is not recorded but it may be guessed at by what follows They Mustered in Mile-end-Fields and before Nine of the Clock in the Morning began to March entring at Aldgate in excellent order down to Westminster where the King and Court stood to view them passing by thence they Marched about St. James's-Park so through Holborn up to Leaden-Hall and there Disbanded immediately and yet this was not done till five of the Clock in the Evening which was Eight hours continual March At His Majesties Return to his Government there were in London and the Liberties six Regiments of Trained-Bands and six Regiments of Auxiliaries and one Regiment of Horse these thirteen Regiments about six Weeks before his Majesties arrival Mustered in Hyde-Park being then drawn out for promoting and securing his Majesties Return These twelve Regiments of Foot were 18000 Men compleat Eight of these Regiments had seven Companies in each and the other four had six Companies in each in all Eighty Companies The Regiment of Horse of six Troops and 100 in each Troop this considerable Army drawn together before the 20 th of May was Judged to be highly useful for facilitating that great Work Some Months after the King sent to the City a Commission of Lieutenancy appointing several persons as his Lieutenants in London giving them the same power that the Lords Lieutenants have in their respective Counties and in pursuance of that Commission the Regiments were new settled There were six Regiments of Train-Bands commanded by six Citizens Knights and their Lieutenant-Colonels were all Knights and there were six Regiments of Auxiliaries In all these twelve Regiments were 20000 Men then were listed two Regiments of Horse each consisting of five Troops in all 800 Horse these were all Drawn into Hide-Park where His Majesty was pleas'd to take a view of them But in case of need it is certain that in London and within the Liberty there may in few days be raised 400000 Men Besides Southwark one Regiment of Train'd-Bands 1500 Men The Hamlets of the Tower two Regiments in all 3000 Men then Holborn Regiment and Westminster Regiment 2000 each and in case of necessity they can raise 20000 more that is in all 66500 Men and in case of absolute need they can double that Number and yet leave enough to manage Trade c. To demonstrate this we shall look back into former times when London was far less populous and of less dimensions then Now and produce what we find Recorded of its Military power Stow in his Survey p. 85. saith that Anno 1539 31. H. VIII a great Muster was made of the Citizens on the 8 th of May at Mile-end all in bright Harness with Coats of white Silk or Cloath and Chains of Gold in three great Battels to the Number of 15000 which passed through London to Westminster and round St. James's Park and so home through Holborn This was for the Midsummer Watch which custom was discontinued till 1548. 2 E. 6. and then revived with an Addition of above 300 Demi-Laâ—ces and light Horsemen prepared by the City for Scotland for the Relief of the Town of Haddington kept by the English The like Marching Watch hath not been used since though some attempts have been made in order to its continuation as Anno 1585. A Book was written by a grave Citizen Mr. John Mâ—ntgomery Dedicated to Sir Thomas Pullison then Lord Mayor and the Aldermen containing the Manner and Order of a Marching-Watch on the accustomed way wherein he used this Motive That Artificers of sundry sorts were thereupon set to Work none but rich men charged poor men helped old Souldiers Trumpets Drummers Fifes and Ensign-beâ—rers with such like men meet for the Princes Service kept in ure wherein theâ— safety and defence of every Common-Wealth consisteth Armor and Weapons being yearly used thereby the Citizens had of their own ready prepared for any need whereas by intermission hereof Armourers are out of Work Souldiers out of ure Weapons over-grown withfoulness few or none good being provided c. Mr. Howel in his Londinopolis Printed 1657. Writes thus p. 398. For strength Defensive and Offensive for Arms of all sorts for Artillery Amunition for Arsenals and Docks on both sides the River for Castles and Block-houses c. London is not inferiour to any she hath 12000 Trained-Band Citizens perpetually in a Readiness excellently Armed c. The City of London hath sent out strong Fleets in former times to scoure and secure the Four Seas from Depredations and Pyracy Anno 1293 She was able to set forth a Fleet of 95 Ships Another Record shews that in King Stephens Reign the City raised 60000 Foot and 20000 Horse for Land Service which is about 500 years ago No place is better furnished with Magazines of Corn and Arms against a Famine for besides that at Leadeâ—-Hall and the Bridge-House How many Halls have Store-Houses of this kind By the Computation of humane Souls in this great City may be guessed what Military force may be raised of which the said Author says thus In the year 1636. King Charles the First sending to the Lord Mayor to make a Scrutiny what Number of Papists and Strangers were in the City the Lord Mayor Sir Edward Bromfield took occasion thereby to make a cense or computation of all the people and there were of Men Women and Children above 700000 that lived within the Bars of his Jurisdiction alone and this being so long ago viz. 45 years 't is judged by all probable computation that London hath more by a third
Chief 37. MARBLERS The Company call'd the Marblers or Sculpters are in one Fraternity with the Masons yet they have a different Coat viz. a Chevron between two and a Mallet Argent 38. WOOL-PACKERS There was a Company of Wool-packers in the time of the Hans when the Staple of Wool flourished their Coat Azure a Wool-sack Argent 39. FARRIERS Had their rise from Henry de Ferraris a Norman who was Master of the Horse to the Conqueror who gave him the honour of Tutbury the first preferment of the Ferrars Their Arms three Horse-shoos Azure 40. PAVIOVRS This is an ancient Company their Coat Argent a Chevron between three Rummers Sable 41. LORINORS Their Arms are Gules on a Chevron Argent three Horse-Combs 'twixt three Roses Argent 42. BROWN-BAKERS Incorporated 19 Jacobi their Arms Gules a hand issuing out of the Clouds a chief Barry wavie Or and Azure on a Chevron Gules 43. WOOD-MONGERS Incorporated 3 Jacobi Their Coat Argent a Chevron 'twixt three Faggots Sable 44. VPHOLSTERS or VPHOLDERS Their Arms Sable three Tents Gules on a Chevron Or three Tents of the second 45. TVRNERS Incorporated 2 Jacobi Their Coat Azure a Katharine-wheel Argent 46. GLAZIERS Their Arms two Crosiers Salterways Sable four Sprigs on a Chief Gules a Lyon passant Gardant Or. 47. CLARKS The Company of Clarks called Parish-Clarks is ancient and stand Register'd in the Books of Guild-Hall They were incorporated 17 H. 3. Their Arms Azure a Flower-de-luce Or on a Chief Gules a Leopards head 'twixt two Books Or. 48. WATER-MEN Have for their Arms barry waive of six Azure and Argent a Lighter proper on a chief Gules a pair of Oars Salterways 'twixt two Cushions Or. 49. APOTHECARYES This Company having separated themselves from the ancient Society of the Grocers grew so much in favour with King James that he used to call them his Company and therefore gave them a Charter of Incorporation the 15 th of his Reign Amongst many worthy Members of this Company I may not forget Dr. Gideon De Laune Apothecary to King James a man noted for many singularities in his time a great Benefactor to to the Publick and particularly to the Foundation of the Apothecaries-Hall in Black-Fryars where his Statue in white Marble is to be seen to this day And to whom I have the honour to be nearly related which is not the Reason that I mention him but to perpetuate his Memory as well as others as his due desert he liv'd piously to the age of 97 years and worth notwithstanding his many acts of publick and private piety near as many thousand pounds as he was years having 37 Children by one Wife and about 60 Grand-children at his Funeral His famous Pill is in great request to this day notwithstanding the Swarms of pretenders to Universal Pill-making This little digression I hope will not be offensive 50. SILK-THROWERS This Company was made a Fellowship of this City 19 Jacobi and Incorporated by the name of the Master Wardens Assistants and Commonalty of the Trade or Mystery of Silk-throwers of the City of London 13 April 5 Car. 1. Besides these there are several other Societies of which more hereafter These Corporations or Bodies-Politick have all their stately spacious Halls as was said with Clerks and other Ministerial Officers to attend them when they meet to consult about the regulation of their respective Societies and for promoting publick Good and advancement of Trade and Wealth as also when they meet at their sumptuous and splendid Feasts And in this London surpasseth all other Cities The Arms of LONDON To conclude our Heraldry the Arms of this Illustrious City shall bring up the Rear as well as it has been placed in the Front It is Argent Cross Gules with the Sword of St. Paul not Sir William Wallworth's Dagger as some have conceited for this Coat did belong to the City before the said Sir William Walworth Lord Mayor slew the Rebel Wat Tyler as learned Antiquaries Affirm The Oath of a Freeman YE shall Swear that ye shall be good and true to our Soveraign Lord King Charles the Second 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 which 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 charges bearing your part as a Freeman ought to do Ye shall colour no Forreigners Goods under or in your Name whereby the King or this City might or may lose their customs or advantages Ye shall know no Foreigner to buy or sell any Merchandize with any Foreigner 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 whiles ye may have Right and Law within the same City Ye shall take none Apprentice but if he be Free-born that is to say no Bondmands Son nor the Son 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 inrolled 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 King's Peace in your own person Ye shall know no Gatherings Conventicles or Conspiracies made against the Kings Peace but ye shall warn the Mayor thereof or let it to your power All these points and Articles ye shall well and truly keep according to the Laws and Customs of this City to your power so God you help c. Of the Guild-Hall PAge 160. The Reader was referred to what should be spoken about the great Guild-Hall to the Chapter of Government where an account has been given of the several Courts there therefore there is no need of further addition here as to that only we shall briefly remark its Antiquity Fabian says that this Hall was begun to be built New Anno 1411. 12 H. 4. By Sir Thomas Knolles then Lord Mayor and his Brethren the Aldermen and made a large and great House 1 H. 6. The Executors of Sir Richard Whittington gave towards the paving of this great Hall 20 l. and next year 15 l. more to the said pavement with hard stone of Purbeck they also Glazed the Windows thereof and of the Lord Mayors Court on every of which the Arms of Sir Richard Whittington were placed The Foundation of the Mayors Court was laid 3. H. 6. and of the Porch on the South-side of the Court Then were built the Lord Mayors Chamber the Councel-Chamber and other Rooms above stairs The New Councel-Chamber a very good and honourable Deed with
given by Polidor Virgil p. 561. Thus Quibus Rebus ita usu venit c. by which means it grew to a Custom that after a vast destruction of men by this Distemper this kind of help was found effectual If any person was taken with this Sweat by day he must go to Bed with his Cloaths on If by night and the party be in bed then he must rest and not stir for 24 hours compleat in the mean time he must be so covered as not to provoke Sweat but let it proceed of its own accord he must neither eat nor drink any thing but what will just serve to keep him alive he must not so much as put forth hand or foot to be cooled for that 's death unavoidable If the Patient observes this he is certainly cured else lost and this Disease saith he invaded only England or English-men which men at that time made portentous constructions of This Mortal Distemper was succeeded by a rageing Plague which swept away many so that the King was forced to remove his Court from one place to another By that Sweating-sickness in H. 8's time infinite multitudes of People dyed in several places of England especially in London sparing neither rich nor poor for even in the King's Court the Lord Gray of Wilton and the Lord Clinton and many Knights Gentlemen and Officers died of it The like Sweating-sickness hapned in the 20 th year of his Reign which began in London and afterwards spread it self into all parts of the Kingdom so that the Term and the Assizes were adjourned In the 20 E. 3. as Baker says p. 131. there died in London of a Plague 57374 persons In the 4 th of Queen Mary hot burning Agues and other strange Diseases took away much People So as between the 20 th of October and the last of December there died 7 Aldermen of London namely Henry Heardson Sir Richard Dobs Sir Will. Laxton Sir Henry Hobblethorn Sir John Champney Sir John Ayleph and Sir John Gresham of which some were Lord Mayors c. I find that in the 8 th of Qu. Eliz. there died in ten Months seven Aldermen of London viz. Edward Banks Richard Chamberlain Sir Martin Bowes Sir Richard Mallory Sir William Hewet Sir Thomas White and Richard Lambert one of the Sheriffs for that year In the 36 th of Qu. Eliz. there dyed of the Plague in London and the Suburbs 17890. besides the Lord Mayor and three Aldermen and Michaelmas-Term was holden at St. Albans The first of King James viz. 1602 there died in London and Liberties 38244 whereof of the Plague 30578 yet the next year though the City was increased with a great number of Strangers there died of all Diseases but 4263. There broke out likewise a great Plague in the First of King Charles the First whereof more died than in the beginning of his Fathers Reign Many other Plagues have been in the City but I shall conclude this subject with a brief account of the great Plague in 1665. In the beginning of May the Bill of Mortality mentions nine that died of the Plague and decreased the next Week to three then increased to fourteen next to seventeen next forty three and then great Persons began to retire into the Country In June the Bill increases to 112 next 168 next 267 next 470 then do many Tradesmen go into the Country and many Ministers take occasion to absent themselves from their Charge In July the Bill rises to 725 then to 1089 next 1843 next to 2010 Now most Parishes are infected a vast number of Houses shut up no Trade at all and the number of dying persons still encreasing although so many thousands left the City In Aug. the Bill rises to 2817 next 3880 next 4237 and then 6102 all which died of the Plague besides other Diseases Now there is a dismal solitude in London-streets every day looks with the face of a Sabbath observed with greater solemnity than it used to be in the City Shops are shut up very few walk about so that grass begins to spring in some places A deep silence every where no ratling of Coaches c. no calling in Customers no London Crys no noise but dying Croans and Funeral Knells c. In September the Bill rises to 6988 the next falls to 6544 but then rises again to 7165 which was the greatest Bill There were but four Parishes that were not infected and in them few tarried The next Bill falls to 5538 then to 4929 then to 4327 then to 2665 then to 1421 then to 1031. First Week in November it rises to 1414 but falls to 1050 then to 652 then to 333 and so lessened more and more to the end of the year when we had a Bill of 97306 which died of all Diseases which was 79000 more than the year before and the number of them which died of the Plague was reckoned to be 68596 that year but others say that there died of that fatal Disease in little more than a years space near 100000 persons in London and some adjacent places I shall proceed to remark briefly some few things more which are Miscellaneous Collections of my own from Divers Authors In the time of Edward the Second when the workmen were digging the Foundation of a Work about Pauls there were found more than 100 heads of Oxen which confirm'd that opinion that of old time it had been the Temple of Diana and that there was the Sacrifice of Beasts In the 3 H. 5. It is said that seven Dolphins came up the River of Thames whereof four were taken In the Fourth of Q. Mary before Harvest Wheat was sold for four Marks the Quarter Malt at 44 s. the Quarter Pease at 46 s. 8 d. Yet after Harvest Wheat was sold for 5 s. the Quarter Malt for 6 s. 8 d. Rye at 3 s. 4 d. In the Country Wheat was sold for 4 s. the Quarter Malt at 4 s. 8 d. and in some places a Bushel of Rye for a pound of Candles which was 4 d. I have read that in the Third of King James a Whale came up within eight miles of London whose body was seen divers times above water and judged to exceed the length of the largest Ship in the River but when she tasted the fresh-water and sented the Land she returned into the Sea I find recorded by divers Writers that the 17 th of July 1619 one Bernard Calvart of Andover rode from St. George's Church in Southwark to Dover and from thence passed by Barge to Callice in France and from thence returned back to St. George's Church the same day setting out about three in the Morning and returned about eight in the Evening fresh and lusty being 184 miles which was very strange In the 14 th R. 2. on Christmas-day a Dolphin was taken at London-bridge being ten Foot long and a monstrous grown Fish In the 37 H. 8. On Tuesday in Easter week William Foxely Pot-maker for the Mint
Judges the Barons of the Exchequer the Aldermen of the City and several Eminent Persons Merchants and Publick Officers and many Gentlemen of Quality There were brought to the Slaughter-House 24 great Beefs at 26 s. 8 d. a piece from the Shambles one Carkass of an Oxe at 24 s. One hundred Fat Muttons at 2 s. 10 d. a piece 51 great Veals at 4 s. 8 d. a piece 34 Porks at 3 s. 8 d. a piece 91 Piggs at 6 d. each 10 Dozen of Capons of one Poulterer for they had three at 20 d. a piece Capons of Kent 9 Dozen and a half at 12 d. a piece Capons Course Nineteen Dozen at 6 d. a piece Cocks of Gross 7 Dozen and 9 at 8 d. a piece Cocks Course 14 Dozen and 8 at 3 d. a piece Pullets the best 2 d half penny other Pullets two pence Pigeons 37 Dozen at 10 d. the Dozen Swans 14 Dozen Larks 340 Dozen at 5 d. the Dozen c. with all other Appurtenances needful for a Splendid and Magnificent Entertainment Which is mentioned the rather to shew the Change of Prices this being but 150 Years ago The two Temples near Temple-Bar were formerly the dwelling of the Knights Templers who founded them in the Reign of Henry the II. These Templers took beginning about the Year 1118. Their first profession was for safeguard of Pilgrims coming to visit the Sepulchre at Jerusalem and increased mightily They bare Crosses of red Cloth on their uppermost Garments to be known from others they were called Templers or Knights of the Temple because their first Mansion was near the Temple in Jerusalem granted to them by King Baldwin Many Noblemen afterwards in all parts of Christendom became Brethren of this Order and built themselves Dwellings in every great Town but this at London was their chief Dwelling in England Matthew Paris Reports that they were first so Poor that they had but one Horse to Serve two of them but they became very Rich and Pompous afterwards and entertained the Nobility and Foreign Ambassadors and the Prince Himself frequently their Seal for the reason aforesaid was two Men riding upon one Horse Many Parliaments and Great Councels have been there kept as appears in our Historys In the Year 1308. all the Templers in England and all Christendom were apprehended and committed to divers Prisons for Heresie and other Articles by means of Philip King of France who procured them to be Condemned by a General Councel whose Lands were given by a Councel at Vienna Anno 1324 to the Knights Hospitallers called the Order of St. John of Jerusalem who took the Island of Rhodes from the Turk and bravely maintained it till the time of Solyman the Magnificent who after a most sharp and tedious Siege of six Months took it when they had Valorously kept it about 200 Years and made a dismal slaughter in Solymans great Army consisting of about 200000 Men and 300 Gallies c. These Knights have since Inhabited Malta another Island in the Mediterranean Sea given them by the King of Spain In the Reign of Edward the III. this Temple was purchased by the Students of the Common Law which is above 300 Years ago they are called the Inner and Middle Temple in Relation to Essex-House which was part of the Knights Templers and called the Outer-Temple because Sealed without Temple-Bar As to the Casualties of Fire and Tumults by which this Temple suffered but now restored in a Beautiful and Stately manner we refer to the Chapter that particularly Treats of such things The Inns of CHANCERY are Cliffords-Inn in Fleet-street somtimes belonging to the Lord Clifford but afterwards let to Students of Law Thavies-Inn in Holborn begun in the Reign of Edward the III and since purchased by Lincolns-Inn as was also Furnivals-Inn in Holborn Bernards-Inn and Staple-Inn belonging to the Merchants of the Staple These Five Inns of Chancery are within the Liberties of the City And Clements-Inn so called because it stands near St. Clements Church without Temple-Bar New-Inn so called because of a Newer Foundation than the others and Lyons-Inn antiently a Common-Inn with the Sign of the Lyon which three last are without the City Liberties These were heretofore Preparatory Colledges for Younger Students and many were entred here before Admitted to the Inns of Courts But now they are for the most part taken up by Attornies Solicitors and Clerks who have here their Chambers apart and their Diet at a very easie rate in a Hall together where they are obliged to appear in Grave long Robes and Black round knit Caps These Colledges belong all to some Inns of Court who send Yearly some of their Barristers to Read to these In each of which one with another there are about 60 or 70 Persons There are two Inns of Court without the City Liberties called Lincolns-Inn which antiently belonged to the Earls of Lincoln and Greys Inn belonging to the Noble Family of the Greys These two Inns are very Capacious and Stately Colleges with very lovely Walks and Gardens Greys-Inn especially being Seated upon the very Edge or Skirt of the Subâ—rbs in Holborn yeilds a most Gallant Prospect into the Country and in its Beautiful Walks one may partake of the fresh Country Ayr as well as if in the Country In these two Inns and in the two Temples which are our four Inns of Court as was said the Gentlemen that are Studious of the Common Law reside in a Collegiate manner And in the Reign of Henry the VI they florished so that there were in each about 200 Students each expending Yearly about 20 l. which was as much as 200 l. now and were as Fortescue saith Vltra Studium legum quasi Gymnasia omnium morum that is Besides the Studies of the Law as it were Schools of all sorts of Civility and Good breeding or manners These Societies are no Corporations nor have any Judicial Power over their Members but have certain Orders among themselves which have by consent the Force of Laws For lighter offences they are Excommoned or put out of Commons not to eat with the rest and for greater Offences they lose their Chambers and are expelled the College and being once expelled they are never received by any of the three other Societies Which deprivation of Honour to Young generous Spirits is more grievous than perhaps Deprivation of life They wear a Grave black Robe and Cap when they meet at Chappel at the Hall or at Courts of Justice and at other times walk with Cloak and Sword or what they please These Colleges have no Lands nor Revenues because being no Corporations they cannot purchase but the charges of the House are defray'd by what is paid at Admittances and Quit-Rents for their Chambers The whole Company of Gentlemen in each Society may be divided into 4 parts Benchers Vtter-Barristers Inner-Barristers and Students Benchers are the Seniors to whom is Committed the Government and ordering of the whole House and out of these