England in some difficult cases were not wont to give Judgment until they had first consulted the King or his Privy Council Moreover the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament have oft-times transmitted matters of high moment to the King and his Privy Council as by long experience and wisdom better able to judge of and by secrecy and expedition better able to transact some State Affairs then all the Lords and Commons together At present the King and his Privy Council take Cognisance of few matters that may well be determined by the known Laws and ordinary Courts of Justice but onely as aforesaid consult for the Publick Good Honour Defence Safety and Benefit of the Realm not medling with matters that concern Freeholds but matters of Appeal and sudden Emergencies The Lords of the Privy Council are as it were a part of the King incorporate with him and his Cares bearing upon their Shoulders that great weight that otherwise would lye wholly upon His Majesty wherefore of such high value and esteem they have always been that if a man did but strike in the House of a Privy Counsellor or elsewhere in his presence he was grievously Fined for the same and to conspire the death of any of them was made Felony in any of the Kings servants within the Check Roll and to kill one of them was High Treason A Privy Councellor though but a Gentleman shall have precedence of all Knights Baronets and younger Sons of all Barons and Viscounts The Substance of their Oath is That they shall according to their power and discretion Truly Justly and Evenly Counsel and Advise the King in all matters to be Treated in His Majesties Council that they shall keep secret the Kings Counsel c. By Force of this Oath and the Custom of the Kingdom of England a Privy Counsellor is made without any Patent or Grant and to continue onely during the Life of the King that makes him nor so long unless the King pleaseth Heretofore there hath been usually a Lord President of the Kings Privy Council a Dignity of so high Repute that by a Statute of Henry the Eight he is to take place in publick next to the Lord High Treasurer of England His Office was to speak first to business to report to His Majesty the Passages and State of businesses transacted at Council Table The last Lord President was the Earl of Manchester Father of the present Lord Chamberlaine To his Privy Councellors the King of England may declare or conceal from them whatsoever he alone judgeth fit and expedient qua in re saith the Excellent Sir Tho. Smith absolutissimum est hoc Regnum Angliae prae Venetorum Ducatu aut Lacedaemoniorum Principatu The King with the advice of his Privy Council doth publish Proclamations binding to the Subject provided that they are not contrary to Statute or Common Law In cases where the publick peace honour or profit of the Kingdom may be endangered for want of speedy redress there the King with his Privy Council usually make use of an absolute power if need be The Members of this most Honorable Council are such as his own free Will and meer Motion shall please to choose and are commonly men of the highest rank eminent for Estates Wisdom Courage Integrity c. And because there are few cases of moment so temporal but that they may some way relate to spiritual affairs therefore according to the general Rules of Policy and Government which God himself ordained amongst his chosen people the Jews the Privy Council as well as the great Council of Parliament is composed of Spiritual as well as Temporal persons some of the principal Bishops of England have in all times been chosen by His Majesty to be of his Privy Council The Lords of His Majesties Privy Council are at present these that follow His Royal Highness the Duke of York His Highness Prince Rupert Gilbert Lord-Archbishop of Canterbury Sir Orlando Bridgman Knight and Baronet Lord Keeper of the Great Seal John Lord Roberts Lord Privy Seal George Duke of Buckingham Mr. of the Horse to His Majesty James Duke of Monmouth James Duke of Ormond Lord Great Steward of His Majesties Houshold Henry Marquis of Dorchester Henry Earl of Ogle Thomas Earl of Ossory Robert Earl of Lindsey Lord Great Chamberlain of England Edward Earl of Manchester Lord Chamberlain of His Majesties Houshold· Awbrey Earl of Oxford John Earl of Bridgwater Robert Earl of Leceister Henry Earl of S. Albans Edward Earl of Sandwich Arthur Earl of Anglesey John Earl of Bath Groom of the Stole to His Majesty Charles Earl of Carlisle William Earl of Craven John Earl of Rothes His Majesties Commissioner in Scotland John Earl of Lotherdale Secretary of State in Scotland John Earl of Tweedale John Earl of Middleton Richard Earl of Carbury Lord President of Wales Roger Earl of Orrery Humphrey Lord Bishop of London Henry Lord Arlington one of His Majesties Principal Secretaries of State Francis Lord Newport Comptroler of His Majesties Houshold John Lord Berkley Lieutenant of Ireland Densel Lord Holles Anthony Lord Ashley Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Thomas Clifford Knight Treasurer of His Majesties Houshold Sir George Carteret Knight Vice-Chamberlain to His Majesty Sir John Trevor Knight one of His Majesties Principal Secretaries of State Sir Thomas Ingram Knight Chancellor of the Dutchy Sir William Morice Knight Sir John Duncom Knight Sir Thomas Chicheley Knight Master of the Ordnance These are all to wait on his Majesty and at Council Board sit in their Order bare-headed when His Majesty presides At all Debates the lowest delivers his opinion first that so he may be the more free and the King last of all declares his Judgment and thereby determines the mater in Debate The Time and Place of holding this Council is wholly at the Kings pleasure but it is most commonly held in the morning on Wednesday and Friday out of Parliament time and Term time and in the Afternoon in time of Parliament and Term. A Council is seldom or never held without the Presence of one of the Secretaries of State of whose Office and Dignity much more considerable in England than in other Nations take here this brief Account The Kings of England had antiently but one Secretary of State until about the end of Henry the Eight his Reign it was thought fit that weighty and important Office should be discharged by two Persons both of equal authority and both stiled Principal Secretaries of State In those days and some while after they sate not at Council Board but having prepared their business in a Room adjoyning to the Council-Chamber they came in and stood on either hand of the King and nothing was debated at the Table until the Secretaries had gone through with their Proposals But Queen Elizabeth seldom coming to Council that Method was altered and the two Secretaries took their places as Privy Counsellors which Dignity they have retained and enjoyed ever since and a
Sir William Hartop Kt. Sir John Prettyman Kt. and Bar. Lincoln George Vicount Castleton Sir Robert Car Kt. and Bar. City of Lincoln Sir Thomas Meres Kt. Sir John Mounson jun. Kt. of the Bath Borough of Boston Sir Anthony Irby Kt. Sir Philip Harcourt Kt. Borough of Great Grimsby Jervas Holles Esq Sir Frechevile Holles Kt. Town of Stamford Peregrin Bertue Esq William Montague Esq Borough of Grantham Sir John Newton Bar. Sir William Thorold Kt. and Bar. Middlesex Sir Lancelot Lake Kt. Sir Thomas Allen Kt. City of Westminster Sir Philip Warwick Kt. Sir Richard Everard Kt. London Sir John Frederick Kt. Sir William Thomson Kt. William Love Esq John Jones Esq Monmouth Sir Trevor Williams Bar. William Morgan Esq Borough of Monmouth Sir George Probert Kt. Norfolk Thomas Lord Richardson Sir Ralph Hâ—re Bar. City of Norwich Christopher Jâ—y Esq Francis Corey Esq Town of Lynn Regis Robert Wright Esq John Coke Esq Town of Great Yarmouth Sir William Coventry Kt. Sir William Doyly Kt and Bar. Borough of Thetford Sir Allan Apseley Kt. Joseph Williamson Esquire Borough of Castlerising Sir Robert Paston Kt. and Bar. Robert Steward Esquire Northamton Sir Justinian Isham Bar. George Clark Esquire City of Peterborough William Lord Fitzwilliams Sir Vere Fane Town of Northampton Lord O Bryon Sir William Farmer Town of Brackeley Sir Thomas Crew Kt Robert Spencer Esquire Borough of Higham Ferrers Sir Lewis Palmer Bar. Northumberland Henry Earl of Ogle Sir William Fenwick Bar. Town of Newcastle upon Time Sir Francis Anderson Kt. Sir John Marley Kt. Borough of Morpeth Sir George Downing Kt. and Bar. Edward Lord Morpeth Town of Berwick upon Twede Edward Gray Esquire Daniel Collingwood Esquire Nottingham Anthony Eyre Esquire Sir Francis Leeke Knight and Bar. Town of Nottingham Arthur Stanhop Esquire Robert Pierpoint Esquire Borough of Eastretford Sir William Hickman Bar. Sir Edward Deering Kt. Oxon. Sir Francis Wainman Kt. Sir Anthony Cope Knight and Bar. Vniversity of Oxon. Lawrence Hide Esquire Sir Henage Finch Kt. and Bar. His Majesties Atturney General City of Oxon. Robert Croke Esquire Brome Whorwood Esquire Borough of New-Woodstock Sir Thomas Spencer Bar Sir William Fleetwood Kt. Borough of Banbury Sir John Holeman Kt. Rutland Edward Noell Esquire Phillip Sherrard Esquire Salop. Sir Francis Lawley Bar. Richard Newport Esquire Town of Salop. Robert Leighton Esquire Thomas Jones Serjeant at Law Borough of Bruges alias Bridgenorth Sir William Whitmore Bar. Sir Thomas Whitmore Knight of the Bath Borough of Ludlow Sir Job Charleton His Majesties Serjeant at Law Somerset Fox Esquire Borough of Great Wenlock Sir Thomas Littleton Kt. George Weld Esquire Town of Bishops-Castle Edmond Waring Esquire William Oakeley Esquire Sommerset Edward Philips Esquire Sir Jo. Sydenham Bar. City of Bristol Sir John Knight Kt. Sir Humphrey Hook Kt. City of Bath Sir William Basset Kt. Sir Francis Popham Kt. and Bar. City of Wells Richard Lord Butler Earl of Arran Sir Maurice Berkley Kt. and Bar. Lord Fitzharding Borough of Taunton Sir William Portman Bar. Sir William Windham Kt. Borough of Bridgewater Edmond Windham Esquire Peregrine Palmer Esquire Borough of Minehead Sir Jo. Malet Kt. Sir Hugh Windham Kt. Borough of Ilcester Sir Edward Phillips jun. Kt. Henry Dunster Merchant Borough of Milborneport Francis Windham Esquire Michael Mallet Esquire Southampton Charles Lord St. John Sir John Norton Bar. City of Winchester Sir Rober Holmes Kt. Lawrence Hide Esquire Town of Southampton Sir Richard Ford Kt. Thomas Knowles Esquire Town of Portsmouth Richard Norton Esquire Sir George Carteret Kt. and Bar. Borough of Yarmouth Richard Lucy Esquire Edward Smith Esquire Borough of Peterfield Thomas Neal Esquire Arthur Bold Esquire Borough of Newport alias Medena Sir Robert Dillington William Glascock Esq Borough of Stockbridge Sir Robert Howard Kt. Robert Phillips Esquire Borough of Newtown Sir John Barrington Kt. and Bar. Sir Robert Worsley Kt. and Bar. Borough of Christchurch Humphry Weld Esquire Henry Tulse Esquire Borough of Whitchurch Henry Wallop Esquire Giles Hungerford Esquire Borough of Limmington Sir William Lewis Bar. Sir Nicholas Steward Bar. Town of Andover John Collins Esquire Sir John Trot Bar. Stafford Sir Edward Littleton Bar. Randolph Egerton Esquire City of Litchfield Richard Diot Esquire Sir Theophilus Bidolph Kt. and Bar. Borough of Stafford Robert Milward Esquire William Chetwinde Esquire Borough of Newcastel under Line Sir Caesar Colclough Bar. Edward Manwaring Esquire Borough of Tamworth Charles Lord Clifford John Swinfein Esquire Suffolke Sir Henry Felton Bar. Sir Henry North Bar. Borough of Ipswich John Wright Esquire William Bloise sen Esquire Borough of Dunwich William Wood Esquire Sir John Pettus Kt. Borough of Orford Sir Allen Broderick Knight Walter Devereux Esquire Borough of Aldborough Sir John Holland Bar. Jo. Bence Esquire Borough of Sudbury Sir Robert Cordel Bar. Thomas Walgrave Esquire Borough of Eye Sir George Reeve Kt. and Bar. Charles Cornwallis Esquire Borough of St. Edmonds-bury Sir John Duncomb Kt. Sir Edmond Pooley Kt. Surrey Sir Adam Brown Bar. Sir Edmond Bowyer Kt. Borough of Southwark Sir Thomas Bludworth Kt. Sir thomas Clarges Kt. Borouhg of Blechingly Sir William Hayward Kt. Sir Edward Bish Kt. Borough of Rygate Roger James Esquire Sir Edward Thurland Knight Borough of Guiltford Arthur Onslow Esquire Thomas De Mahoy Esquire Borough of Gatton Thomas Turgis Esquire Sir Nicolas Carew Kt. Borough of Haslemere George Evelyn Esquire Thomas Morrice Esquire Sussex Sir John Pelham Bar. Sir Will. Morley Kt. of the Bath City of Chichester Sir Henry Peckham Kt Serjeant at Law William Garaway Esquire Borough of Horsham Sir John Covert Kt. and Bar. Orlando Bridgman Esquire Borough of Midhurst Baptist May Esquire John Steward Esquire Borough of Lewis Sir John Stapely Kt. and Bar. Sir Thomas Woodcok Kt. Borough of New-Shoreham Edward Blaker Esquire Jo. Fag Esquire Borough of Bramber Sir Cicil Bishop Peircy Goring Esquire Borough of Steyning Sir John Fag Bar. Henry Goring Esq Borough of East Grimstead Charles Lord Buckhurst Sir George Courthop Kt. Borough of Arundel Roger Earl of Orrory Francis Lord Angier Warwick Sir Robert Holt Bar. Sir Henry Puckering alias Newton City of Coventry Sir Clement Fisher Bar. Richard Hopkins Esq Borough of Warwick Sir Francis Compton Kt. Foulk Grevile Esq Westmerland Sir Phillip Musgrave Bar. Sir Thomas Strickland Kt. Borough of Apulby Thomas Tufton Esq John Dalston Esq Wilts Henry Lord Cornbury Thomas Thin Esq City of New Sarum Sir Stephen Fox Kt. Richard Coleman Esq Borough of Wilton Sir John Birkenhead Kt. Sir Thomas Mompesson Kt. Borough of Downton Gilbert Rawleigh Esq Sir Joseph Ash Kt. Borough of Hindon Edward Seymor Esq Sir George Grubham How Bar. Borough of Westbury Richard Lewis Esq Thomas Wanklyn Esq Borough of Hetsbury John Jolliffe Esq William Ash Esq Borough of Calne William Ducket Esq George Low Esq Borough of the Devises Edward Lewis Esq George Johnson Borough of Chippenham Sir Edward Hungerford Kt. of the Bath Henry Baynton Esq Borough of Malmesbury Phillip Howard Esq Sir Edward Pool Kt.
Borough of Cricklade Sir George Hungerford Kt. Sir John Earnely Kt. Borough of Great Bedwin Sir John Trevor Kt. Henry Clerk Esq Borough of Lugdersal William Ashburnham Esq Thomas Gray Esq Borough of Old Sarum Edward Nicholas Esq Sir Eliab Harvey Kt. Borough of Wooten Basset Sir Walter St. John Bar. John Pleydal Esq Borough of Marleborough John Lord Seymour Jeoffery Daniel Esq Worcester Sir John Packington Bar. Samuel Sandys Sen. Esq City of Worcester Sir Rowland Berkly Kt. Thomas Street Esq Borough of Droitwich Henry Coventry Esq Samuel Sandys Jun. Esq Borough of Evesham Sir John Hanmer Kt. Sir James Rushout Kt. Borough of Bewdly Sir Henry Herbert Kt. York Conyers Darcy Esq Sir Thomas Slingsby Kt. City of York Sir Metcalf Robinson Kt. Sir Thomas Osborn Bar. Town of Kingston upon Hull Anthony Gilby Esq Andrew Marvel Gent. Borough of Knaersborough Sir John Talbot Kt. William Stockdale Esq Borough of Scarborough Sir Phillip Munckton Esq William Thompson Esq Borough of Rippon Sir Jo. Nicholas Kt. of the Bath Thomas Burwell Dr. of Laws Borough of Richmond Sir William Killegrew Kt. Marmaduke Darcy Esq Borough of Heydon Henry Guy Esq Sir Hugh Bethel Kt. Borough of Burrowbridge Sir Rich. Malevere Kt. and Bar. Robert Long Esq Borough of Malton William Palmes Esquire Sir Thomas Gowre Kt. Borough of Thirske Sir Thomas Ingram Kt. Will. Franklin Esquire Borough of Aldborough Sir Soloman Swale Bar. Sir Francis Goodrick Kt. Borough of Beverley Michael Wharton Esquire Sir John Hotham Bar. Borough of North-Allerton Sir Gilbert Gerard Kt. and Bar. Roger Talbot Esquire Borough of Ponfract Sir John Dawney Kt. Sir William Lowther Kt. Barons of the Cinque Ports Port of Hastings Edward Waller Esquire Sir Denny Ashburnham Bar. Town of Winchelsea Francis Finch Esquire Robert Austin Gent. Town of Rye Sir John Robinson Kt. and Bar. Sir Jo. Austin Bar. Port of New Rumney Sir Charles Sidley Bar. Sir Norton Knatchbull Bar. Port of Hyth John Harvey Esquire Sir Henry wood Kt. and Bar. Port of Dover George Montague Esquire Edward Lord Hinchenbroke Port of Sandwich Jo. Strode Esquire James Thurbarne Esquire Port of Seaford Sir William Thomas Kt. and Bar. Nicholas Pelham Esquire WALES Anglesey Nicholas Bagnall Esquire Town of Bewmorris John Robinson Esquire Brecon Edward Progers Esquire Town of Brecon Sir Herbert Price Bar. Cardigan Edward Vaughan Esquire Town of Cardigan Sir Charles Cotterel Kt. Carmarthen Sir Henry Vaughan Kt. Town of Carmarthen John Lord Vaughan Knight of the Bath Carnarvon Sir Richard Wynne Bar. Town of Carnarvon William Griffith Esquire Denbigh John Wynne Esquire Town of Denbigh Sir John Salisbury Bar. Flint Sir Thomas Hanmer Bar. Town of Flint Roger Whitely Esquire Glamorgan Sir Edward Mansel Bar. Town of Cardiffe Robert Thomas Esquire Merioneth Henry Wynne Esquire Pembroke Arthur Owen Esquire Town of Haverdford-West Sir Frederick Hyde Kt. Town of Pembroke Rowland Lagherne Esquire Montgomery Andrew Newport Esquire Town of Montgomery Henry Herbert Esquire Radnor Sir Richard Lloyd Kt. Town of Radnor Sir Edward Harley Kt. of the Bath Note that some Knights and Burgesses being lately deceased others are not yet elected in their Room Of the Executive Power in Temporal Matters A Brief account of the Legislative power in Temporall affairs having been given next may be considered the Executive power in those affairs and that is generally in the King he is the Fountain of Justice he is the Fountain of Justice he is the Lord Chief Justice of England and therefore as all the Laws of England are called the Kings Laws because he is Caput Principium Finis Parliamenti by which the Laws are made and that nothing can have the Force of a Law but what he wills so all the Courts of Judicature are called the Kings Courts and all the Judges of those Courts are called the Kings Judges The highest Court of Judicature in England is the House of Lords in Parliament so that the Parliament is not only Concilium but Curia a Court of Judicature consisting as aforementioned of all the Lords Spiritual and Temporal as Judges and these assisted with the most grave and eminent Lawyers of England both in Common and Civil Law To the Judicature of this Supreme and most Honourable Court all other Courts and Persons that are Subjects of England are Subject and accountable for all Crimes not properly tryable remediable or punishable in other inferiour Courts of Justice and to this Court all last Appeals are to be made and from whose Sentence there lies no appeal but to a succeeding Parliament and this supreme Judicatory or Judicial Power lyes only in the King and House of Lords and at the Bar of this High Court may the House of Commons as the Grand Inquest of the Nation impeach the highest Subject of England whether of the Clergy or of the Laity and prosecute them till it come to a Sentence after which there can be no farther proceeding till the King informed of the whole matter gives His Royal Assent for the Execution of the said Sentence or grant His gracious Pardon In the late Long Parliament the House of Commons pretended to be also a Court of Judicature and at length usurped a most exorbitant power to the total ruine of Monarchical Government and it is worth observing by what Gradations they arrived thereto In the time of Queen Elizabeth and not before the Commons began to take upon them as saith Mr. Pryn a learned Member of that House to seclude one another for undue Elections whereas formerly the King and Lords were accounted the sole Judges of all Members of the Commons House and to have the sole power to judge of their undue Elections Returns Misdemeanors Breaches of Privileges and of all other matters concerning their Membership also for freeing any Member from Arrest or Imprisonments did wholely and solely belong to the Lords and not to the Commons unless it were by special order referred by the Lords to the House of Commons as heretofore sometimes hath been done In the time of King Charles the Martyr the Commons went farther took upon them utterly to expel out of their House some of their fellow Members as Projectors and Monopolizers although they had been duly elected After this in the same Kings time they expelled all such as adhered in Loyalty to the King next they secluded and imprisoned all such as the Officers of the late rebellious Army impeached or disliked then by the help of that Army 50 or 60 of the Members of that House expelled all the rest of their fellows and soon after voted down the King and whole House of Lords and voted themselves to be the Parliament to be the sole Legislators and the Supreme Authority of England into such a prodigious height of folly and impiety do men run when they once allow themselves to pass their due limits Of the Court of Justice called the Kings-Bench FOr the Execution of Laws after the House of Lords in Parliament the highest Court in England is the Kings
Bench so called because anciently the King sometimes there sate in person on a high Bench and his Judges on a low Bench at his Feet to whom the Judicature belongs in the absence of the King In this Court are handled the Pleas of the Crown all things that concern loss of life or member of any Subject for then the King is concerned because the Life and Limbs of the Subject belong only to the King so that the Pleas here are between the King and the Subject Here are also handled all Treasons Felonies Breach of Peace Oppression Misgovernment c. This Court moreover hath power to examine and correct all Errors in facto in jure of all the Judges and Justices of England in their Judgements and Proceedings and this not only in Pleas of the Crown but in all Pleas Real Personal and mixt except only in the Exchequer In this High Court sit commonly Four Grave Reverend Judges whereof the First is stiled the Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench and is created not by Patent but by a short Writ thus Johanni Keeling Militi salutem Sciatis quod constituimus vos Justiciarium nostrum Capitalem ad placita coram nobis tenenda durante beneplacito nostro Teste me ipso apud Westm The rest of the Judges of the Kings Bench hold their places by Letters Patents in these words Rex omnibus ad quos praesentes literae pervenirint salutem Sciatis quod constituimus dilectum fidelem Richardum Rainsford Militem unum Justiciariorum ad placita coram nobis tenenda durante beneplacito nostro Teste c. These Judges and all the Officers belonging to this Court have all Salaries from the King and the chief of them have Robes and Liveries out of the great Wardrobe In this Court all young Lawyers that have been called to the Bar are allowed to plead and practice This Court may grant Prohibitions to keep other Courts both Ecclesiastical and Temporal within their Bounds and due Jurisdiction The Jurisdiction of this Court is general and extendeth to all England is more uncontroulable than any other Court for the Law presumes that the King is alwayes there in person None may be Judge in this Court unless he be a Serjeant of the Degree of the Coif that is a Serjeant at Law who upon taking this high Degree is obliged to wear a Lawn Coif under his Cap for ever after A List of the several Officers belonging to His Majesties Court of Kings-Bench LOrd Chief Justice Sir John Keeling Knight Justices are Sir Thomas Twisden Knight and Baronet Sir Richard Rainsford Knight Sir William Morton Knight Clerk of the Crown Sir Thomas Fanshaw Knight his Secondary Jasper Waterhouse Esquire Protonotary Sir Robert Henley Knight his Secondary William Livesay Esquire Marshal or Keeper of the Kings Bench Prison Stephen Mosedell Esquire Custos Brevium Justinian Paget Esquire Andrew Vivean and Francis Woodward Clerks of the Paper Office Sealer of the Writs Edward Coleman Gilbert Barrel Clark of the Rules Clerk of the Errors Henry Field George Bradford Clerk for Filing Declarations a Cryer Porter and some other inferiour Officers Then there are Filacers for the several Counties of England whose Office is in this Court to make out all Process upon original Writs as well real as personal and mixt They were lately these that follow Humphrey Ironmonger Edward Parnel James Buck Samuel Astrey Francis Greg John Hynde Thomas Stone Thomas Leach Gilbert Eveleigh Henry Ewin Joshua Langrige William Oglethorp John Philips William Osborn Rob. Hyde and Anthony Rouse The manner of Tryals in this and all other Common Law Courts in England being different from that of all other Countries and peculiar to England shall be at large described apart in a Chapter with other peculiars Of the Court of Common Pleas. THe next Court for execution of Laws is the Court of Common-Pleas so called because there are debated the usual Pleas between Subject and Subject Some say this Court as well as other Courts were at first held in the Kings House wheresoever he resided but by the Statute of Magna Charta it was ordained that this Court should not be ambulatory but be held at a certain place and that hath ever since been in Westminster-Hall None but Serjeants at Law may plead in this Court and so many of them as the King shall appoint are bound by oath to assist all that have any Cause depending in that Court This Court may grant prohibitions as the Court of the Kings Bench doth The chief Judge in this Court is called the Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas or of the Common-Bench holdeth his place by Letters Patent durante bene placite and so do the other inferiour Judges of this Court whereof there are commonly three In this Court all Civil Causes Real and Personal are usually tryed according to the strict Rule of the Law Real Actions are pleadable in no other Court nor Fines levyed or Recoveries suffered but only in this Court at Westminster The King allows to the Lord Chief Justice of this Court a Fee Reward Robes and two Tun of Wine â—s is done to the Lord Chief Justice of the other Bench also to the other Judges of this Court and to four Serjeants is allowed Fees Reward and Robes to each one In the 11th and 12th of Edward 3. there were eight Judges belonging to the Common Pleas at other times seven six and five and so in the time of Henry 6. and Edward 4. but since usually but four as at this day Before the Reign of Queen Mary these and the rest or the twelve Judges rode upon Mules and not upon Horses as they now do in great State aâ— the beginning of the Term. A List of the several Officers belonging to His Majesties Court of Common-pleas LOrd Chief Justice Sir John Vaughan Kt. Sir Thomas Tyrrel Kt. Sir John Archer Kt. Sir William Wylde Kt. and Bar. these are the present Judges of that Tribunal Then there is an Officer called Custos Brevium the first Clerk of the Court whose Office it is to receive and keep all Writs returnable in that Court to receive of the Protonotaries all the Records of Nisi Prius called Postea's He holdeth his Place by Patent from the King and hath the Gift of the second Protonotary's Place and of the Clerk of the Juries· Sir Joseph Ash hath this Office and doth execute it by his Deputy Thursby Esquire There are three Protonotaries a word compounded of Greek and Latin which with the Antients was usual and signifies the first Notaries they are chief Clerks of this Court and by their Office are to enter and inroll all Declarations Pleadings which the Filazers did formerly promiscuously do Assises Judgments and Actions to make out Judicial Writs c. These considerable Offices are in the hands of Thomas Robinson Alan Lockhart and Humphrey Wirley Esquires The Chirographer also from two Greek words signifying to acknowledge a Debt by setting ones
Council is seldom or never held without the presence of one of them at the least Their employment being of extraordinary trust and multiplicity renders them most considerable both in the eyes of the King upon whom they attend every day as occasion requires and of the Subjects also whose requests and desires are for the most part lodged in their hands to be presented to the King and always to make dispatches thereupon according to His Majesties Answers and Directions As for Forraign Affairs the Secretaries divide all the Kingdoms and Nations which have intercourse of business with the King of England into two grand Provinces whereof each Secretary taketh one to himself receiving all Letters and Addresses from and making all dispatches to the several Princes and States comprehended within his own Province But in all matters of home concern whether they relate to the Publick or to particular persons both the Secretaries do equally and indistinctly receive and dispatch whatsoever is brought to them be it for the Church the Militia or private Grants Pardons Dispensations c. They have this special Honour that if either of them be a Baron he taketh place and hath the precedence of all other persons of the same degree though otherwise by their Creation some of them might have right to precede him and a Knight in like manner if he hath no other qualification They have their several Lodgings appointed them in all the Kings Houses as well for their own Accommodation as for their Office and those that attend upon it They have also a very liberal Diet at the Kings charge or Board-wages in lieu of it To shew how considerable their place is their setled allowance from the King in Salary and Pension is little less than Two thousand pounds Sterling per annum to each of them The Secretaries and Clerks whom they imploy under them are wholly at their own choice and have no dependance upon any other power or person besides themselves They have the Custody of that Seal of the King which is properly called the Signet the use and application whereof gives denomination to an Office constantly attending the Court called the Signet Office wherein there are four Clerks who wait alternately by Months and prepare such things as are to pass the Signet in order to the Privy Seal or Great Seal The present Secretaries of State are Henry Lord Arlington whom for his eminent Services at home and abroad both in War and Peace His Majesty was pleased to advance into the place of Sir Edward Nicholas And Sir John Trevor who for his great abilities and succesful Negotiations had that Trust and Honour conferred upon him when Sir William Morice late Secretary of State was by His Majesties gracious consent permitted to retire from business Waiting on the Privy Council there are Four Clarks in Ordinary who waite by Months each one he that comes in is always a week before and a week after his Month to assist there Their Office is to read what is brought before the Council and draw up all such Orders as the King and Lords shall direct and cause them to be Registred They are these that follow Sir Richard Brown Sir Edward Walker Sir John Nicolas Sir Robert Southwel Salaries to each 250. l. besides Fees for Orders and Letters c. Beside the forenamed Officers there is a Keeper of the Records John Woolly Esq no Fee Two Keepers of the Council Chamber Fee to each 45 l. Thirty Messengers whereof Ten at a time by turns waite every Moneth Fee to each 45 l. These upon Occasion are sent by Warrant of the Lords of the Privy Council to fetch any Person under the Degree of a Baron and to keep him Prisoner in his House till farther order Attending on the Secretaries are the Clerks of the Signet or Little Seal which is always in the Custody of the Secretaries for sealing the Kings Private Letters and for all such Grants as pass His Majesties hands by Bill assigned Of these Clerks there are four Sir John Nicholas Knight of the Bath Sir Philip Warwick Knight Trumbal Esquire and Sidney Bear Esquire These have no Fee from the King but onely Dyet which at Pension is 200 l. yearly Their Office is in Whitehall they waite by Month each of them three Months in a year One of them alwayes attends the Court wheresoever it removes and by Warrant from the King or Secretaries of State or Lords of the Council prepare such Bills or Letters for the King to sign as not being matters of Law are by any Warrants directed to them to prepare In their Office all Grants either prepared by the Kings learned Council in the Law or by themselves for the Kings hand when signed are returned and there transcribed again and that transcription is carried to one of the Principal Secretaries of State and Sealed and then it is called a Signet which is directed to the Lord Privy Seal and is his Warrant for issuing out a Privy Seal upon it which is prepared by the Clerks of that Seal is sufficient for the payment of any Moneys out of the Exchequer and for several other uses but when the nature of the Grant requires the passing the Great Seal then the Privy Seal is an Authority to the Lord Keeper to pass the Great Seal as the Signet was to the Lord Privy Seal to affix that Seal to the Grant but in all three Offices viz. Signet Privy-Seal and Great-Seal the Grant is transcribed So all which passes from the King hath these several ways of being considered before perfected There are also four Clarks of the Privy Seal viz. the Lord Sandwich whose Interest for his life is in one Mr Watkins Mr Baron Master Bickerstaff and Mr. More of their Office is to be seen in Stat. 27. of Henry 8. worthy to be noted To this Office in time when the Court of Request is in being belongs the Sealing of all Commissions and other process out of that Court. Moreover depending on the Secretaries of State is an antient Office called the Paper-Office the Keeper whereof hath in his Charge all the publick Papers Writings Matters of State and Counsel all Letters Intelligences Negotiations of the Kings publick Ministers abroad and generally all the Papers and dispatches that pass through the Offices of the two Secretaries of State which are from time to time transmitted into this Office and here remain disposed by way of a Library within His Majesties Palace of Whitehall This considerable Officer hath a Fee of 160 l. per annum payable out of the Exchequer and is at present that very worthy person Joseph Williamson Doctor of Laws After the Kings most Honorable Privy Council that Primum mobile or rather that Resort or Spring may be considered the Great wheeles first moved by that Spring which are the Convocation for the Ecclesiastical Government and the Parliament for the Civil But for the better understanding of the Ecclesiastical Government it will be
hand is an Officer who ingrosseth Fines acknowledged c. He holdeth his Place also by Patent and is at present Mr. Sparks in trust for Sir William Drake who doth execute it by a Deputy Mr. Wayt. All these Officers aforementioned sit in the Court covered with black round knit Caps according to the mode immediately before the invention of Hats which was since the beginning of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth Moreover they are all sworn and have their Offices for life as a Freehold There are in this Court 3 Officers unsworn and hold their Places durante bene placito One Clerk of the Treasury Mr. George Ingram who hath the charge of keeping the Records of this Court and makes out all Records of Nisi Prius and divers other things This Office is in the Gift of the Lord Chief Justice 2. Clerk of the Inrolements of Fines and Recoveries who is by Statute under the three puisne Judges of this Court and removeable at their pleasure Note that the Inrolement of Fines and Recoveries or any part thereof by Stat 23 Eliz. cap. 3. is of as good force and validity in Law to all intents and purposes for so much of any of them so inrolled as the same being extant and remaining were or ought by Law to be The general neglect whereof in this Kingdom hath occasioned many Law Suits and hath proved in process of time exceeding dangerous to many mens Estates 3. The Clerk of the Outlawries Mr. Annuel who makes out the Writs of Capias Utlagatum after the Outlawry in the name of the Kings Atturney whose Deputy he is pro tempore There are five Clerks more 1. Clerk of the Kings Silver Henry Nurse Esquire unto whom every Fine or Final Agreement in sale of Lands is brought after it hath been with the Custos Brevium and to whom Money is paid for the Kings use 2. Clerk of the Warrants Mr· Thomas Brown executed by a Deputy Mr. James Mayo who entreth all Warrants of Atturney for Plaintiff and Defendant 3. Clerk of the Juries Mr. John Green who makes out the Writs called Habeas Corpora and Distringas for appearance of the Jury either in this Court or at the Assises in the Country 4. Clerk of the Essoins or Excuses for lawful cause of absence Mr. Townley 5. Clerk of the Super sedeas Mr. Abbot which is held by Patent but before King James time made by the Exchequer In this Court are also Filazers for the several Counties of England so called from the French Fil a Thred because they file their Writs These make out all Process upon Original Writs and do many other things too long to be here set down of these there are 14. viz. Fabian Philips Esquire who hath London Middlesex Huntington and Cambridge Shires The rest of the Counties are divided amongst these that follow Sir Roger Hill Henry Dutton Spicer Grey Fr. Hill Robert Child Charles Clare Sir Thomas Stringer Thomas Child Bennet Mark Hildesley Herbert Matthews and Hughes who is Protonatory Filazer and Exigenter of Monmouth by Patent the rest in the Gift of the Lord Chief Justice and hold for life There are also four Exigenters whose Office it is to make all Exigents and Proclamations in all Actions where process of Outlawry doth lye This Writ is called an Exigent because it exacteth the Party that is requireth his appearance to answer the Law and lies against a Transgressor of the Law that cannot be found nor any of his Goods within the County so that after summons by the Sheriff at five several County Courts if he appear not he is outlawed The four Exigenters at present are William Petty John Dawling Charles Clare and Silvester Petty all in the Gift of the Lord Chief Justice and are for life There are also belonging to this Court four Cryers and a Porter Of the Court called the Exchequer THe next Court for Execution of Laws is that called the Exchequer so called as some think from a Chequer-wrought Carpet covering the great Table in that Court as the Court of Green Cloth in the Kings house is so called from the Green Carpet or else from the French word Eschequier a Chess board because the Accomptants in that Office were wont to use such Boards in their Calculation Here are tryed all causes which belong to the Kings Treasury or Revenue as touching Accounts Disbursements Customs and all Fines imposed upon any man In this Court may sit the Lord Treasurer the Chancellor of the Exchequer the Lord Chief Baron and four other Learned Judges called Barons of the Exchequer and one other Cursitor Baron but the two first seldom sit and the five last Seldom fail The first of these five is the Principal Judge of this Court and answers the Bar or the Baristers who direct their Speech to him takes Recognizances for the Kings Debts c. It is an Office of High Honour and Profit he is styled Lord Chief Baron is Created by Letters Patents to hold this Dignity Quam dieu bene se gesserit wherein he hath a more fixed estate then the Chief Justices of either Bench for the Law intends this an Estate for Life in the absence of the Lord Chief Baron the other three Barons supply his place according to their Seniority but the fifth is said to be a Cursitor of the Court and administers the Oaths to the Sheriffs Under-Sheriffs Baylifs Searchers Surveyors c. of the Custom-house In the Exchequer are held two Courts one of Law another of Equity All Judicial Proceedings according to Law are coram Baronibus but the Court of Equity held in the Exchequer Chamber is coram Thesaurario Cancellario Baronibus This Court had its beginning primo Ph. Mar. The Authority of this Court is of original jurisdiction without any Commission Note also that all the other forementioned Courts were not Instituted by any Statute or written Law but have their Original from the antient Custom of the Kingdom For a long time after the Conquest there sat in the Exchequer both Spiritual and Temporal Barons of the Realm and in later times there sate in their places others that were not Peers of the Realm yet stiled Barons quia ibi sedere solebant Barones All the Twelve Judges belonging to these High Tribunals sit in Robes and Square Caps like those Doctors of Divinity because as some say they were antiently most commonly Clergy-men and Doctors Bishops or Prelates A List of the several Officers belonging to His Majesties Court of Exchequer In the Vpper Exchequer THe Kings Remembrancer Thomas Lord Vicount Fanshaw in whose Office are 8 sworn Clerks whereof John Payn and Thomas Hall Esquires at present are the two Secondaries the rest are Ansel Beaumont Hugh Frankland Butler Buggin George Wats Nicholas Sanders c. In this Office pass all the Accounts concerning the Kings Revenue for Customs Excise Hearth-money Subsidies and all Ayds granted to the King in Parliament and all other Accounts of what nature soever
of proceedings not used in Common Law Courts as the Defendants answering to the Bill and sometimes to the Interrogatories upon Oath though to the accusing of a mans self in divers matters dammageable and penal also by the whole manner of publication the depositions of Witnesses by the examining of witnesses upon Interrogatories and in perpetuam rei memoriam by the term and use of final Decree and many other points differing from the Common Law and wholly agreeing with the Civil Law This Court is alwayes open when all the others are shut but onely in Term time so that if a man be wrongfully imprisoned in the Vacation time out of Term the Lord Chancellour may grant his Writ of Habeas Corpus and do him justice according to Law So likewise may this Court grant Prohibitions in time of Vacation as well as in Term time A List of the several Officers belonging to the High Court of Chancery SIR Orlando Bridgman Knight and Barronet Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England Then the 12 Masters of the Chancery as followeth Sir Harbottle Grimston Baronet Master of the Rolls Sir William Childe Knight Doctor of Laws Sir Justinian Lewin Knight Doctor of Laws Sir Thomas Escourt Knight Sir Mundeford Bramston Knight Doctor of Laws Sir Nathaniel Hobart Knight Sir William Glascock Knight Sir John Coel Knight Sir Robert Stewart Knight Sir Timothy Baldwin Knight Doctor of Laws Sir Andrew Harket Knight Sir William Beversham The House founded at first for the converted Jews was after their expulsson out of England annext for ever to the Office of Master of the Rolls where he hath the custody of all Charters Patents Commissions Deeds Recognisances which being made up in Rolls of Parchments gave occasion of the Name At present there are kept all the Rolls since the beginning of Henry 7. the rest are kept in the Tower of London In his gift are besides the six Clerks Offices the Offices of the Examiners and three Clerks of the Pettibag Next Clerk of the Crown Henry Barker Esquire this Office is of high importance he is either by himself or Deputy continually to attend the Keeper of the Great Seal for special matters of State and hath a place in the Higher House of Parliament he makes all Writs for summoning Parliaments and upon a Warrant directed to him by the Speaker of the House of Commons upon the Death or removal of any Member he makes a Writ for a new Election Protonatary of this Court is Robert Pescod Esquire this Office is chiefly to expedite Commissions for Embassies It is executed by a Deputy Clerk of the Hamper or Hannaper sometime stiled Warden of the Hannaper Whose Office 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 dayly in Term time and at all times of Sealing with leather baggs now but antiently probably with Hampers wherein are put all sealed Charters Patents c. and then those Baggs delivered to the Comptroller of the Hamper This Office is now enjoyed by Henry Seymer Esquire and executed by a Deputy Warden of the Fleet or Keeper of the Fleet-Prison is an Office very considerable and is to take care of the Prisoners there who are commonly such as are sent thither from this Court for contempt to the King or his Laws or such as will not pay their Debts c. The present Warden is Sir Jeremy Whitchcote It is executed by a Deputy Serjeant at Armes is Humphrey Ley Esq whose Office is to bear a great gilt Mace before the Lord Keeper c. 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 were antiently Clerici and afterwards forfeited their places if they did marry till by Act of Parliament in the time of Hen. 8. they were allowed to take Wives They are also Atturneys for Plaintiffs and Defendants in causes depending in this Court The present six Clerks Sir John Marshal Matthew Pindar Esq Matthew Bluck Esq Sir Cyril Wyche John Wilkinson Esq and Edward Abney Esq who sit altogether at their Office in Chancery Lane Examiners in Chancery there are two Sir Robert Peyton and Sir Nicholas Strode Their Office is to examine the Witnesses in any suit on both sides on their Oaths This Office also is executed at the Rolls Clerks of the Petty Bag in Chancery are three Edmund Warcup Esq John Hobson Esq and George Low Esq they are under the master of the Rolls Their Office is to make all Patents for Customers Comtrollers all Conge d' eslires first summons of Nobility Clergy Knights Citizens and Burgesses to Parliament c. The Subpena Office is to issue out Writs to call a person into Chancery This Office is in the hands of Frances Lady Vane Sir Walter Vane and Charles Vane and executed by a Deputy Clerk of the Patents or of Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England is Sir Richard Pygot and executed by a Deputy erected 16 Jac. The Register of the Court of Chancery the Farl of St. Albans under whom are three Deputy Registers for the Court two Deputy Registers for the Rolls two entring Clerks and a Keeper of the Books Cursiters Office in the Chancery is to make out Original Writs they were antiently called Clerici de Cursu of these there are twenty four whereof each one hath certain Counties and Cities allotted to them into which they make out such Original Writs as are required These Clerks are a Corporation within them-themselves and are all persons of Quality whose names follow The Names of the Cursiters now in being are these that follow JOhn Symonds Principal William Barker Assistants Benjamin Gladman Assistants Henry Edmonds Ge. Norbury Abr. Nelson Rich· Plumpton Roger Brown John Norbury Richard Cross Edmund Eyre Will. Adderley Abr. Skynner Jo. Shelbury Will. Plumpton Thomas Fisher Elias Gladman Roger Twisden Ben. Storke John More William Loe. H. Amhurst Philip Barecroft Rich. Parmee Esquires who execute these Offices by themselves or by their Deputies This Office is kept near Lincolns Inn. Clerk of the Presentations of Spiritual Benefices Edwes Esquire Commissioners Sir George Courthop Sir Edm. Turner Halsal Esq Alienation Office N. Crew Esq Receiver Gen. Joh. Nichols All the forementioned Courts of Judicature at Westminster are opened four times the year called the four Termes viz. Easter Term which beginneth alwayes the seventeenth day after Easter and lasteth 27 dayes Trinity Term begins the 5 th day after Trinity Sunday and lasteth 20 dayes Michaelmas Term began heretofore a little after that Feast but now by a late Statute begins the 23 October and lasteth 37 dayes Lastly Hilary Term begins now 10 dayes after St. Hilary Bishop or the 23 of January and lasteth 21 dayes so in all 105 dayes from whence must be deducted about 20 Sundayes and Holydayes which
Headborough to keep the Peace to secure offenders to bring them before the Justice c. Then for the Ecclesiastical Government of Villages there is as before hath been mentioned the Parson or Vicar who hath Curam Animarum the Care of Souls as the Lord of the Mannor hath in some measure Curam Corporum for which he hath the Tythes Glebe and Church Offrings hath under him the Church-wardens and Sides-men to take care of the Church and Church Assemblies the Overseers of the Poor to take care of the Poor Sick Aged Orphans and other Objects of Charity and Lastly the Clark to wait on him at Divine Service Thus admirable and excellent is the Constitution of the present English Government above and beyond any other Government in Christendom O Fortunatos nimium bona si sua norint Angligenas If English men did know their Bliss Too great would be their Happiness Of the Military Government of England IT was a smart Motto that the Great Henry the IV. of France Grandfather to our Gracious King now raigning caused to be engraven on his Great Guns Ratio Ultima Regum Intimating thereby that when Subjects refuse to submit to the Laws of the Land or Neighbours to the Law of Nations then Kings have recourse to Force and Armes to bring them to Reason So long as Subjects are prone to Sedition and Neighbour-Princes and States to Ambition there will be a necessity of a Military Power in every State both by Land and likewise by Sea where the Country is any where bordering on the Sea Of the Military power of England both by Land and Sea the King of England hath the sole supreme Power Government Command and disposition And neither one nor both Houses of Parliament have any right to levey any Forces or make any War Offensive or Defensive as they have at large declared in Parliament Anno 14 Car 2. By Land the next under the King was the late Duke of Albemarle who by His Majesties Commission dated 4 th of April 1660. at Breda was made Generalissimo of all His Majesties Forces in all His Three Kingdoms Horse and Foot Land Souldiers in pay as well within Garrison as without Since the Death of the aforementioned Duke the Horse and Foot which are in constant Pay are thus ordered there are four excellent Regiments of Foot The first is called the Kings Regiment consisting of 24 Companies and near 1700 men commanded by Coll. John Russel whose Lieftenant Coll. is Edw. Grey brother to the Lord Grey and whose Major is William Rolleston The next is the Duke of Yorks Regiment 720 men commanded by Sir Charles Littelton whos 's Lieft. Coll. is Sir John Griffith and his Major Nath. Dorrel Of the third Regiment 600 men Sir Walter Vane is Coll. Thomas Howard of Suffolk Lieft. Coll. and Sir Thomas Ogle Major Of the fourth Regiment 960 men the Coll. is the Earl of Craven his Lieft. Col. is Sir James Smith his Major John Millar There is also a Gallant Regiment of Horse consisting of 8 Troops about 500 Horse besides Officers commanded by the Earl of Oxford and his Major is Francis Windham His Majesty hath besides 3 compleat Troops for his Life Guards whereof one is called the Kings Troop consisting of 200 Horse and commanded by the Duke of Monmouth Another the Queens Troop 150 Horse and commanded by Sir Philip Howard and the third the Duke of Yorks Troop 150 Horse and commanded by the Marquis of Blanquefort whereof see more in the first Part of the Present State of England The pay of a Colonel of Foot is 20 s. per diem and of a Colonel of Horse 12 s. per diem the other Officers have proportionable pay Each Foot Souldier in London hath 10 d. a day and each Horseman 2 s. 6 d. a day Onely those of the Life Guard have each 4 s. a day The rest of His Majesties Forces that are in constant pay are disposed of into several Garrisons a List whereof follows Alphabetically with the names of their several Governors Barwick Lord Widdrington Carlile Sir Philip Musgrave Chepstow Captain Roger Vaughan Chester Sir Jeofry Shackerly Dover Capt. Strode Deale Capt Titus Guernsey Lord Hatton Gravesend Sir Francis Leak Harwich Sir Charles Littleton Hull John Lord Bellassis Jersey Sir Thomas Morgan Languard Fort Major Dorrell St. Maws Sir Viel Vivian Pendenis Richard Lord Arundel Plimouth Earl of Bath Portsmouth D. of York Sir Philip Honywood Lieutenant Governor Scarborough Sir Tho. Slingsby Scylly Isle Sir Will. Godolphin Shereness Sir Bourcher Wray Tinmouth Col. Edward Villars Tower Sir John Robinson Vpner Castle Windsor Castle Prince Rupert Isle of Wight Sir Robert Holmes York the Lord Freschevile In some of these Garrisons His Majesty is at the charge of above 500 men constantly each Garrison Souldier hath 8 pence a day Of all the land Forces in pay the Commissaries Gen. of Musters are Henry Howard of Suffolk and Sir Cecil Howard The Pay-master of all the Forces is Sir Stephen Fox The Judge Advocate Dr. Sam. Barrow For regulating and ordering His Majesties Land Forces that are in constant pay there are no Orders yet setled by Act of Parliament as there are for his Sea Forces but may be in a short time Besides the afore-mentioned Forces there is the standing Militia by Land of all England setled in the King to be governed ordered and enlarged from time to time as his Majesty shall see occasion For the management of these standing Land Forces the King himself makes choice of divers of the principal Peers of his Kingdome and by Commission creates them Lord Lieutenants of the several Counties of England with power to arm array and form into Companies Troops and Regiments to conduct upon occasion of Rebellion or Invasions and employ the men so armed within the Counties and Places for which the said Lords are commissioned or into any other County as the King shall give order To give Commissions to Colonels or other Commissioned Officers to present to the King the names of the Deputy-Lieutenants who have in the absence of the Lord Lieutenant the same power and these are to be of the prime Gentry of the County to charge any person in the County with Horse Horsemen and Arms or Foot Souldiers and Arms within the said County proportionable to their estates with limitation that no person be charged with a Horse unless he hath 500 l. yearly Revenue or 6000 l. in personal Estate No person to be charged with a Foot Souldier unless he hath 50 l. yearly Revenue or 600 l. personal Estate Those that have meaner Estates are to joyn two or three together to find a Horse and Horseman or a Foot Souldier The forementioned Horse and Foot are to muster once or twice a year and each Horseman during the time of the Muster to be allowed him for whom he serves 2 s. a day and each Foot Souldier 12 d. a day For furnishing Ammunition and other Necessaries the Lord Lieutenant
now corruptly the Charter house it being heretofore a Covent of Carthusian Monks called in French des Chartreux This Colledge called also Suttons Hospital consists of a Master or Governor at present Sir Ralph Sidenham a Chaplain Doctor Thriscross a Master and Usher to instruct 44 Scholars besides fourscore decayed Gentlemen Souldiers and Merchants who have all a plentiful maintenance of Dyet Lodging Clothes and Physick c. and live altogether in a Collegiate manner with much cleanliness and neatness and the four and fourty Scholars have not onely all necessaries whilst they are here taught but if they become fit for the Universities there is allowed unto each one out of the yearly Revenues of this Colledge 20 l. yearly and duly paid for 8 years after they come to the University and to others fitter for Trades there is allowed a considerable Sum of money to bind them Apprentices There are moreover all sorts of officers expedient for such a Society as Physitian Apothecary Steward Cooks Butlers c. who have all competent Salaries This vast Revenue and Princely Foundation was the sole Gift of an ordinary Gentleman Mr. Thomas Sutton born in Lincoln-shire and 't was of such high Account as it was thought fit that by the Kings Letters Patents under the Great Seal divers persons of the highest Dignity and Quality in Church and State should alwayes be the Overseers and Regulators of this Society as the Archbishop of Canterbury the Lord Keeper Lord Treasurer and 13 others Besides there are in London divers endowed Schools which in France would be stiled Colledges as Paul's School foundded 1512. by John Collet Doctor of Divinity and Dean of Pauls for 153 Children to be taught there gratis for which purpose he appointed a Master a Sub-master or Usher and a Chaplain with large stipends for ever committing the oversight thereof to the Masters Wardens and Assistants of the Mercers in London for his father Henry Collet sometime Lord Mayor of London was of the Mercers Company This famous School was also lately burnt down and now is reedified in a far more magnificent commodious and beautiful manner the worthy Master thereof is Mr. Samuel Crumholm alias Cromlum There are in London divers other endowed Schools as Merchant-Taylors Mercers-Chappel c. a particular Account whereof the designed Brevity of this Treatise will not admit It would also make this Book too much swell to give an Account of the many richly endowed Hospitals Almes-houses Work-houses or Houses of Correction the many stately built Taverns Inns and Coffee Houses some whereof surpass all others in foreign parts and are worthy to be viewed by curious Travellers who may also find it worthy their pains to remarque the several spatious well-built Theaters which for variety of Scenes excellent Actors Language Designs Musick c. are hardly to be equalled Moreover they may observe the many well furnisht Markets the weekly Horse-fairs the great commodiousness of Hackney-Coaches of Sedans of Boats c. belonging to this famous City also to consider the City of Westminster and the Burrough of Southwark both which now seem to be swallowed up in London Within the Precincts of Westminster are many Magnalia several things are as remarkable as any aforementioned the antient stately Abby Church founded before the Norman Conquest by the Pious King Edward the Confessor and most richly endowed afterwards rebuilt from the ground by Henry the III. with that rare Architecture now seen wherein are the most magnificent Tombs and Monuments of our Kings and Queens and greatest Nobles of England To the East end of which is added a Chappel of King Henry the VII which for the most admirable artificial work without and within for a Monument of massy Brass most curiously wrought is scarce to be paralleld in the World This huge Fabrick stands where first was the Temple of Apollo and afterwards King Sebert the East Saxon King that first built St. Pauls aforementioned built here a Church to St. Peter Queen Elizabeth converted this Abbey into a Collegiate Church and therein placed a Dean 12 Secular Canons or Prebendaries Petty Canons and others of the Quire to the number of 30 ten Officers belonging to the Church as many servants belonging to the Collegiate Dyet two Schoolmasters 40 Scholars 12 Almes-men with plentiful maintenance for all besides Stewards Receivers Registers Collectors and other Officers the principal whereof is the high Steward of Westminster who is usually one of the prime Nobility and is at present the Lord Chamberlain The Dean is entrusted with the custody of the Regalia at the Coronation honored with a place of necessary service at all Coronations and a Commission of Peace within the City and Liberties of Westminster the Dean and Chapter invested with all manner of Jurisdiction both Ecclesiastical and Civil not onely within the City and Liberties of Westminster but within the Precincts of St. Martin le grand within the Walls of London and in some Towns of Essex exempted in the one from the Jurisdiction of the Bishop of London and in the other from that of the Archbishop of Canterbury For Ecclesiastical Causes and probate of Wills it hath a Royal Jurisdiction Dr. Richard Lloyd is Commissary from whom Appeal must be onely to the King in his High Court of Chancery who thereupon issueth out a Commission of Delegates under the Great Seal of England When the Convocation is adjourned from St. Pauls for the conveniency of being nearer to the Parliament to Westminster the Bishops first declare upon a Protestation made by the Dean there that they intend not thereby to violate that high Priviledge viz. That no Bishop or Archbishop may come there without leave of the Dean first obtained There is also a fair Publick Library free for all strangers to study both morning and afternoon alwayes in Term time Next this Church stood the Royal Palace and usual place of Residence for the Kings of England who ordinarily held their Parliaments and all their Courts of Judicature in their dwelling Houses as is done at this day at Madrid by the King of Spain and many times sate themselves in the said Courts of Judicature as they do still in their Court of Parliament A great part of this huge Palace was in the time of Henry the VIII destroyed by fire what remained hath still been employed for the use of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament and for the chief Courts of Judicature The great Hall where these are kept some say was built by King William Rufus others by King Richard the II. about 300 years agoe and for all dimensions is not to be equalled by any Hall in Christendom Moreover Strangers and Foreigners may take notice of the extraordinary commodiousness conveniency and situation of the present Royal Palace and usual place of Residence called Whitehall belonging heretofore to Cardinal Woolsey seated between a noble navigable River and a most delectable Park of the great Chamber there called the Banquetting-House
the Church assist the Priest at the Lords Supper by giving the Cup only After this brief account of Ecclesiastical persons somewhat may here not unfitly be added touching those persons who though not in holy Orders yet have a peculiar Relation to the Church and are quasi semi Ecclesiastici as first Patrons of Churches who by first building of Churches or first endowing them with Lands have obtained for them and their Heirs a right of Advowson or Patronage whose office and duty is to present a fit Clerk when the Church is void to the Bishop to be by him Canonically instituted and to protect the said Church as far as he can from all wrong and in case his Clerk prove unfit for the place to give notice thereof to the Bishop Next are the Oeconomi vel Ecclesiae Guardiani the Church wardens whose Office is to see that the Church be in good repair fitly adorned and nothing wanting for Divine Service Sacrament and Sermons that the Church yard be sufficiently mounded or inclosed that there be an exact Terrier of the Glebe Lands and if any thing belonging to the Church be detained to sue for the same to observe that all Parishoners come duly to Divine Service to require the penalty for absence to enquire after to admonish and to present to the Bishop scandalous livers to collect the Charity of the Parishoners for poor Strangers to declare and to execute the orders of the Bishop to see that none presume to vent his own conceptions in the Pulpit unless he hath a special licence so to do The Churchwardens are elected every Easter Week usually by the Parson and Parishoners if they so agree if not then one by the Parson and the other by the Parishioners There are also in greater Parishes joyned with the Church wardens Testes Synodales anciently called Synods-men now corruptly called Sides-men who are to assist the Church-wardens in enquiries into the lives of inordinate livers and in presenting men at Visitations Lastly the Sacristan corruptly the Sexton or Clark who is ordinarily to be chosen by the Parson only he ought to be twenty years old or above of good life that can read write and sing his office is to serve at Church the Priest and Church-wardens In the Church of England there are as in the antient primitive times three Orders Bishops Priests and Deacons None may be admitted Deacon before the age of 23 years unless he hath a Dispensation to be admitted younger None may be made a Priest till he be completely 24 years old None may be admitted Bishop till full 30 years old The Ordination of Priests and Deacons is four times the year upon four several Sundayes in the Ember or Failing Weeks that so all the Nation may at once in their joynt Prayers to God recommend them that are to receive Ordination which is performed by a Bishop in a solemn grave devout manner thus for Deacons After Morning Prayer there is a Sermon declaring the Duty and Office of Deacons and Priests then they being decently habited are presented to the Bishop by the Archdeacon or his Deputy whom the Bishop askes if he hath made due inquiry of them and then askes the people if they know any notable impediment or crime in any one of them after follow certain godly Prayers then a Collect Epistle and Gospel but before the Gospel the Oath of Supremacy is administred to every one of them and the Bishop putteth divers godly questions to them which being answered they all kneel and he laying his hands upon them severally doth ordain them Deacons then delivers to every one of them the New Testament and gives them authority to read the same in the Church then one of them appointed by the Bishop reads the Gospel and then all with the Bishop proceed to the Communion and so are dismissed with the Blessing pronounced by the Bishop The Ordination of Priests is partly in the same manner only the Epistle and Gospel are different and after the questions and answers made the Bishop puts up a particular prayer for them and that ended he desires the Congregation to recommend them to God secretly in their prayers for doing of which there is a competent time of general silence then follows Vent Creator Spiritus in Meter to be sung then after another prayer they all kneeling the Bishop with the Priests present layeth his hands upon the head of every one severally and gives them Ordination in a grave set form of words different both from that of Bishops and that of Deacons the rest as in the ordaining of Deacons Of the Ecclesiastical Government of England and first of the Convocation FOr the Church legislative power or the making of Ecclesiastical Laws and consulting of the more weighty affairs of the Church the King by the advise of his Privy Council usually convokes a National Synod commonly called the Convocation which is summoned in manner following The King directeth his Writ to the Archbishops of each Province for summoning all Bishops Deans Arch-deacons Cathedrals and Collegiate Churches according to their best discretion and judgment assigning them the time and place in the said Writ whereupon the Archbishop of Canterbury directs his Letters to the Bishop of London as his Dean Provincial first citing himself peremptorily and then willing him to cite in like manner all the Bishops Deans Archdeacons Cathedral and Collegiate Churches and all the Clergy of his Province to that place and at the day prefixt in the Writ but directeth withal that one Proctor sent for each Cathedral and Collegiate Churche and two for the body of the inferiour Clergy of each Diocess may suffice The Bishop of London accordingly directs his letters to the Bishops of every Diocess of the Province citing them in like manner to appear and to admonish the Deans and Archdeacons to appear personally and the Cathedrals Collegiate Churches and inferiour Clergy of the Diocess to send their Proctors to the place and at the day appointed also to certifie to the Archbishop the names of all so summoned by them The place where the Convocation of Clergy in the Province of Canterbury hath usually been held was St. Pauls Church in London but of later times at St. Peters in Westminster in the Chappel of Henry the Seventh where there is as in Parliament a Higher and a Lower House or a House of Lords Spiritual and a House of Commons Spiritual The Higher House of Convocation in the Province of Canterbury consists of 22 Bishops whereof the Archbishop is President sittting in a Chair at the upper end of a great Table and the Bishops on each side of the same Table all in their Scarlet Robes The Lower House consists of all the Deans Archdeacons one Proctor for every Chapter and two Proctors for all the Clergy of each Diocess in all 166 persons viz. 22 Deans 24 Prebendaries 54 Archdeacons and 44 Clerks representing the Diocesan-Clergy The first day both houses being assembled the Higher chooseth
Commons is a little above 500 persons whereof commonly near 200 are absent upon business or sickness c. Note that the Barons of the Cinque Ports are at this day onely as other Burgesses in Parliament but are still called Barons after the antient manner because heretofore they got great renown by their exploits at Sea in defending the Kingdom in memory whereof they have yet the Priviledge to send Burgesses to bear the Cloth of State over the Kings Head on the day of his Coronation and to dine that day in the Kings Presence A List of all the Knights Citizens Burgesses and Barons of the Cinque Ports that at present serve in the Parliament of England Bedford SIR Humphry Winch Bar. Sir John Nappier Bar. Town of Bedford Pawlet St. John Esq Sir William Beecher Kt. Berks. Richard Nevil Esq Sir Richard Powle Kt of the Bath Burough of New Windsor Sir Richard Braham Kt. Sir Thomas Higgons Kt. Borough of Reading Sir Thomas Doleman Kt. Richard Aldworth Esq Burough of Wallingford Sir John Benet Knight of the Bath Robert Packer Esq Borough of Abingdon Sir George Stonehouse Bar. Bucks Sir William Bowyer Kt. and Bar. Sir William Terringham Kt. of the Bath Town of Bucks Sir Richard Temple Bar. Sir William Smith Bar. Borough of Chipping Wiccomb Sir Edmond Pye Kt. and Bar. Sir John Burlace Bar. Borough of Aylesbury Sir Richard Ingoldsby Knight of the Bath Sir Thomas Lee Bar. Borough of Agmondesham Sir Will. Drake Kt. Sir Thomas Proby Bar. Borough of Wendever Richard Hampden Esq Robert Crooke Esq Borough of great Marlowe Peregrine Hobby Esq Charles Cheyney Esq Cambridge Sir Thomas Chicheley Kt. Sir Thomas Wendy Knight of the Bath Vniversity of Cambridge Thomas Crouch Master of Arts Sir Charles Wheeler Bar. Town of Cambridge William Lord Allington Roger Pepis Esq Chester Sir Foulke Lucy Knight Thomas Cholmly Esq City of Chester Sir Thomas Smith Bar. John Radcliff Esq Cornwall Sir Jonath Trelawny Kt. Sir John Corryton Bar. Borough of Dunhivid alias Launceston Sir Richard Edgecombe Knight of the Bath Sir Charles Harbord Knight His Majesties Surveyor General Borough of Leskeard John Harris Esq Barnard Greenvile Esq Borough of Lestwithiel Charles Smith Esq Silas Titus Esq Borough of Truroe John Arundel Esq Edward Boscawen Borough of Bodmin Sir John Carew Bar. Hender Roberts Esq Borough of Helston Sir William Godolphin Bar. Sidney Godolphin Esq Borough of Saltashe Francis Buller Junior Esq John Buller Esq Borough of Camelford Thomas Coventry Esq Sir Will. Godolphin Kt. Borough of Port-Pigham alias Westlow Sir Henry Vernon Bar. John Trelawny Esq Borough of Grampound Charles Trevanion Esq John Tanner Esq Borough of Estlow Henry Seymour Esq Sir Robort Atkins Kt. of the Bath Borough of Penryn William Pendarvis Esq John Birch Esq Borough of Tregony Hugh Boscawen Esq Thomas Herle Esq Borough of Bossiny Robert Roberts Esq Richard Rous Esq Borough of St. Ives James Praed Esq Edward Nosworthy Esq Borough of Fowey Jonathan Rashley Esq John Rashly Gent. Borough of St. Germains John Elliot Esq Edward Elliot Esquire Borough of St. Michael Matthew Wren Esq Francis Ld Hawley Borough of Newport John Speccot Esq Nicolas Morice Borough of St. Mawes Arthur Spry Esq Sir Joseph Tredinham Borough of Kellington Sir Cyril Wych Kt. Sam. Roll Esq Cumberland Sir George Fletcher Bar. Sir John Lowther Bar. City of Carlile Sir Philip Howard Kt. Christopher Musgrave Esq Borough of Cockermouth Sir Wilfrid Lawson Kt. John Clark Esq Derby William Lord Cavendish Sacheveril Esq Town of Derby John Dalton Esq Anchetel Grey Esq Devon Sir John Roll Knight of the Bath Sir Copplestone Bamfield Kt. City of Exeter Sir James Smith Kt. Robert Walker Esq Borough of Totnes Sir Edward Seymour Bar. Sir Thomas Clifford Kt. Borough of Plymouth Sir William Morice Kt. Sir Gilbert Talbot Kt. Town and Borough of Okehampton Sir Edward Wise Knight of the Bath John Harris Esq Borough of Barnstable Sir John Norcot Bar. Nicholas Dennis Esq Borough of Plympton Sir William Stroude Kt. Sir Nicholas Slanning Kt. and Bar. Borough of Honiton Sir Courtney Poole Bar. Peter Prideaux Esq Borough of Tavistok George Howard Esq William Russel Esq Borough of Ashburton Sir Geo. Sonds Kt. of the Bath John Fowel Esq Borough of Clifton Dartmouth Hardnes William Harbord Esq William Gould Esq Borough of Beeralston Sir John Maynard Kt. the Kings Sergeant at Law Joseph Maynard Esq Borough of Tiverton Thomas Carew Esq Henry Ford Esq Dorset Giles Strangeways Esq Sir John Strode Kt. Town of Poole Sir John Moreton Bar. Thomas Trenchard Esq Borough of Dorchester James Gould Esq John Churchill Esq Borough of Kings Lime Sir John Shaw Kt. and Bar. Henry Henly Esq Borough of Weymouth Sir John Covenrry Kt. of the Bath Sir Winston Churchill Kt. Borough of Kings-mellcombe Bullen Reymes Esq Anthony Ashley Esq Borough of Bridport Humphrey Bishop Esq John Strangewaise Esq Bor. of Shaston alias Shastbury Henry Whittacre Esq John Bennet Esq Borough of Wareham George Pit Esq Robert Culleford Esq Borough of Corfe Castle Sir Ralf Banks Kt. John Tregonwell Esq Essex Banestre Maynard Esq Sir John Bramstone Knight of the Bâ—rbâ— Borough of Colchester Sir Harbottle Grimstone Baronet Master of the Rolls Sir John Shaw Kt. Borough of Malden Sir John Tirril Kt. Sir Richard wiseman Kt. Borough of Harwich Thomas King Esq Sir Capel Luckin Gloucester John Grubham How Esq Sir Bainham Throgmorton Kt. City of Gloucester Sir Edward Massy Kt. Evan Seyes Serjeant at Law Borough of Cirencester Henry Fowle Esq John George Esq Borough of Tewksbury Sir Henry Capel Kt. of the Bath Richard Dowdswel Esq Hereford John Kerle Bar. Thomas Price Esq City of Hereford Roger Vaughan Esq Herbert Westphaling Esq Borough of Leompster Reynald Graham Esq Humphrey Cornwall esq Borough of Weobly John Barnaby Esq Sir Thomas Tompkins Kt Hertford Sir Richard Franklyn Knight and Baronet Will. Hale Esq Borough of St. Albans Sam. Grimston Esq Thomas Arris Doctor of Physick Borough of Hertford Sir Edward Turner Knight Speaker Thomas Lord Fanshaw Knight of the Bath Huntingdon Robert Vicount Mandeville Henry Williams Esq Borough of Huntingdon Sir John Cotton Bar. Lyonel Walden Esquire Kent Sir Thomas Peyton Bar. Sir John Tufton Kt. and Bar. City of Canterbury Thomas Hardâ—es Serj. at Law Sir Edward Masters Kt. City of Rochester Sir Francis Clerk Kt. Richard Heâ—d Esquire Borough of Maidstone Thomâ—s Heâ—lâ—ckenden Esquire Sir Robert Barneham Bar. Borough of Queenborough James Herbert Esquire Sir Edward Hales Bar. Lancaster Sir Roger Bradshaw Kt. Thomas Preston Esquire Borough of Lancaster Richard Kirkby Esquire Richard Harrison Esquire Borough or Town of Preston in Amounderness Edward Rigby Esquire John Otway Esquire Borough of Newton Richard Lord Gorges Richard Leigh Esq Borough of Wigon Charles Eâ—rl of Ancram Sir Jeofry â—hâ—kerley Kt. Borough of Clitheroe Sir John Heath Attorney of the Dutchy Ambrose Pudrey Esq Borough of Liverpoole Sir William Bucknell Kt. Sir Gilbert Ireland Kt. Leicester John Lord Roos George Faunt Esq Town of Leicester
Arches founded in a deep broad River and some say on a soft ozy Ground is Eight hundred Foot in length Sixty high and Thirty broad hath a Draw bridge almost in the middle and Twenty Foot between each Arch it was built Anno 1209. in the Reign of King John The first Stone-bridge in England having been built above One hundred years before by Queen Maud Wife to Henry the First at Stratford on the River Lee Three miles from London so called from the Highway there passing over a Ford and since called Stratford Bow from the Arched Bridge a piece of Architecture then new to the English Nation The building of this Bridge of London was an exceeding difficult and costly piece of Work and to those that consider the constant great Flux and Reflux at that place it seems almost impossible to be done again The charges of keeping it in repair is so great that it hath been thought fit by our Ancestors to have a large House a vast Revenue in Lands and Houses divers considerable Officers c. to be set apart for the constant care and repair thereof Concerning this Bridge and the stupendious site and structure thereof take here the fancy of an ingenious Person deceased WHen Neptune from his Billows London spi'd Brought proudly thither by a High Spring-Tide As through a Floating Wood he steer'd along And moving Castles cluster'd in a throng When he beheld a mighty Bridge give law Unto his Surges and their fury aw When such a Shelf of Cataracts did roar As if the Thames with Nile had chang'd her shoar When he such Massie Walls such Towers did eye Such Posts such Irons upon his back to â—ie When such vast Arches he observ'd that might Nineteen Rialto's make for depth and height When the Cerulean god these things survey'd He shook his Trident and astonish'd said Let the whole Earth now all Her Wonders count This Bridge of Wonders is the Paramount Not far below this famous Bridge is placed the Custome House where is received and managed all the Impositions laid on Merchandise Imported or Exported from this City which are so considerable that of all the Customs of England divided into three parts the Port of London pays Two thirds that is above 330000 l. yearly In this Office there are employed many persons of great ability and worth Collectors Customers Comptrollers Surveyors Registers whereof some have Salaries of 500 l. yearly besides many perquisites The House where this great Office was kept being destroyed by the late Fire is now rebuilt in a very much more magnificent uniform and commodious manner by the King and will cost His Majesty 10000 l. the building There are at present within this City of London divers other very considerable Offices whereof take the account following Of the Office of Post-Master General THe Profits of the said Office are setled by Act of Parliament on his Royal Highness the Duke of York but His Majesty doth constitute His Post-Master General by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England and accordingly hath conferred that Office upon the Right Honorable Henry Lord Arlington His Principal Secretary of State The present Post-Master General keepeth one Grand or General Office in the City of London from whence Letters and Pacquets are dispatched Every Monday to France Italy Spain Flanders Germany Sweden Danemark c and to Kent Every Tuesday to the United Netherlands Germany c. And to all parts of England Scotland and Ireland Every Wednesday to Kent onely and the Downs Every Thursday to France Spain Italy and all parts of England and Scotland Every Friday to the Spanish and United Netherlands Germany Sweden Danemark and to Kent Every Saturday to all parts of England Scotland and Ireland And the Answers of the said Letters and Pacquets are received in the said Office in due Course And from thence dispersed and delivered according to their respective directions with all expedition The said Office is managed by a Deputy and other Officers to the number of Seventy seven Persons who give their actual attendance respectively in the dispatch of the business Upon this Grand Office depends One hundred eighty two Deputy Post-Masters in England and Scotland most of which keep Regular Offices in their Stages and Sub Post-Masters in their Branches and also in Ireland another General Office for that Kingdom which is kept in Dublin consisting of Eighteen like Officers and Forty five Deputy Post-Masters The present Post-Master General keeps constantly for the transport of the said Letters and Pacquets Between England and France Two Pacquet-Boats Flanders Two Pacquet-Boats Holland Three Pacquet-Boats Ireland Three Pacquet-Boats And at Deal Two Pacquet-Boats for the Downs All which Officers Post-Masters Pacquet-Boats are maintained at his own proper charge And as the Master piece of all those good regulations established by the present Post-master General for the better government of the said office he hath annexed and apropriated the Market Towns of England so well to the respective Post-stages that there is no considerable Market-Town but hath an easy and certain Conveyance for the Letters thereof to and from the said grand office in the due Course of the Mailes every Post Note also that all Letters are conveyed with more expedition and less charges then in any forreign Country A Letter containing a whole sheet of Paper is conveyed 80 miles for 2 d. 2 sheets 4 d. and an ounce of Letters but 8 d. and that in so short a time by night as well as by day that every 24 hours the Post goes 120 miles and in 5 dayes an answer of a Letter may be had from a place 300 miles distant from the Writer Moreover if any Gentleman desires to ride Post to any principal Town of England Post-Horses are alwayes in readiness taking no Horse without the consent of his owner which in other Kings reigns was not duly observed and only 3 d. is demanded for every English mile and for every Stage to the Post boy 4 d. for conducting Besides this excellent convenience of conveying Letters and Men on Horseback there is of late such an admirable commodiousness both for Men and Women of better rank to travel from London to almost any great Town of England and to almost all the Villages near this great City that the like hath not been known in the World and that is by Stage Coaches wherein one may be transported to any place sheltred from foul weather and foul ways free from endamaging ones health or body by hard jogging or over violent motion and this not onely at a low price as about a shilling for every 5 miles but with such velocity and speed as that the Posts in some forreign Countryes make not more miles in a day for the Stage Coaches called flying Coaches make Forty or Fifty miles in a day as from London to Oxford or Cambridge and that in the space of Twelve hours not counting the time for Dining setting forth not too early and