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
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
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
Zeal of the King was as he said himself so astonished That he could not tell what to say But after some pause said That he thought at this present for some entrance to be had it were good to practise with the City of London because the Number of the Poor there are very great and the Citizens also very many and wise and he doubted not but they were also both pitiful and merciful as the Mayor and his Brethren and other the Worshipful of the said City And that if it would please the Kings Majesty to direct His Gracious Letters unto the Mayor of London willing him to call unto him such Assistants as he should think meet to consult of this matter for some Order to be taken therein he doubted not but good would follow thereon and he himself promised the King to be one himself that should earnestly travel therein The King forthwith not only Granted his Letter but made the Bishop tarry until the same was written and his Hand and Signet set thereto and commanded the Bishop not only to deliver the said Letter himself but also to signifie unto the Mayor that it was the Kings especial Request and express Commandment that the Mayor should therein travel and so soon as he might conveniently give him knowledge how far he had proceeded therein The Bishop was so joyous at the having this Letter that now he had occasion to travel in so good a matter wherein he was marvellous zealous that nothing could have more pleased and delighted him wherefore the same Night he came to the Lord Mayor of London who was then Sir Richard Dobbs Kt. and delivered the King's Letter and shewed his Message with effect The Lord Mayor not only joyfully received this Letter but with all speed agreed to set the matter forward for he also favoured it very much And the next day being Monday he desired the Bishop of London to dine with him and against that time the Mayor promised to send for such men as he thought meetest to talk of this matter and so he did He sent first for two Aldermen and six Commoners and afterwards more were appointed to the number of 24. In the end after sundry Meetings for by the means and good diligence of the Bishop it was well followed they agreed upon a Book that they had devised wherein first they considered on Nine special kinds and sorts of poor People and those they brought into these Three degrees 1. The Poor by Impotency 2. The Poor by Casualty 3. The Thriftless Poor 1. The Poor by Impotency are also divided into three kinds viz. 1. The Fatherless Poor Mans Child 2. The Aged Blind and Lame 3. The Diseased Person by Leprosie Dropsie c. 2. The Poor by Casualty are likewise of 3 kinds that is to say 1. The Wounded Soldier 2. The Decayed Housholder 3. The Visited with any grievous Disease 3. The Thriftless Poor are three kinds in like manner viz. 1. The Rioter that consumeth all 2. The Vagabond that will abide in no place 3. The Idle Person as Strumpets and others For these three sorts of Poor three several Houses were provided 1. For the Innocent and Fatherless which is the Beggars Child and is indeed the Seed and Breeder of Beggary they provided the House that was the late Gray-Fryers in London and called it by the Name of Christs-Hospital where poor Children are trained up in the knowledge of God and some virtuous Exercises to the overthrow of Beggary For the 2 Degree was provided the Hospitals of St. Thomas in Southwark and St. Bartholomew in West-Smithfield where are continually at least 200 Diseased Persons which are not only there lodged and Cured but also fed and nourished For the 3 Degree they provided Bridewell where the Vagabond and idle Strumpet is chastised and compelled to labour to the overthrow of the vicious life of Idleness They provided also for the honest decayed Housholder that he should be relieved at home at his House and in the Parish where he dwelt by a Weekly Relief and Pension And in like manner they provided for the Lazer or Leprous Person to keep him out of the City from Clapping of Dishes and Ringing of Bells to the great trouble of the Citizens and also to the dangerous Infection of many that they should be relieved at home at their Houses by several Pensions Now after this good Order taken to the Eternal Honour of this Noble City and the Citizens willing to further the same the Report thereof was made to the King And His Majesty for the Advancement thereof was not only willing to grant such as should be Overseers and Governors of the said Houses a Corporation and Authority for the Government of them but also required that he might be accounted as the Chief Founder and Patron thereof And for the furtherance of the said Work and continual maintenance of the same He of his meer Mercy and Goodness granted that whereas before certain Lands were given to the maintaining of the House of the Savoy founded by King Henry VII for the Lodging of Pilgrims and Strangers and that the same was now made but a Lodging for Loyterers Vagabonds and Strumpets that lay all day in the Fields and at night were harboured there the which was rather the maintenance of Beggary than any Relief to the Poor gave the same Lands being first surrendred by the Master and Fellows there which Lands were of the yearly value of 600 l. unto the City of London for the maintenance of the Foundation aforesaid And for a further Relief a Petition being made to the King's Majesty for a Licence to take in Mortmaine or otherwise without Licence Lands to a certain yearly value and a space left in the Patent for His MAJESTY to put in what Sum He pleased He looked on the void place called for Pen and Ink and with His own Royal Hand wrote this Sum 4000 Marks by the year which is 2666 l. 13 s. 4 d. and with the former 600 l. makes in all 3266 l. 13 s. 4 d. and then said in the hearing of his Council Lord I yield thee most hearty thanks that thou hast given me life thus long to finish this work to the Glory of thy Name After which Foundation established he lived not above two days whose life would have been wished equal to the Patriarchs if it had pleased God so to have prolonged it He dyed at Greenwich the 6th of July Anno 1553. He was in Body beautiful of a sweet Aspect and specially in his Eyes which seemed to have a starry liveliness and lustre in them For his pregnancy of Wit and Knowledge in all kinds of Learning Cardan who coming into England had often conference with him reporteth of him that he was extraordinary skilful in Languages and in the Politicks well seen in Philosophy and in Divinity and generally indeed a very Miracle of Art and Nature He would answer Ambassadors sometimes upon the sudden either in
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-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
the Lord Steirard in the Compting-house is the Treasurer of the Houshold the Comptroller the Cofferer the Master of the Houshold the two Clerks of the Green Cloth the two Clerks Comptrollers one Sergeâ—nt two Yeomen the Cofferers Clerks or Clerks of the Assignments the Groom two Messengers The Compting-house is so called because the Accompts for all Expences of the King's Houshold are theâ—e daily taken by the Lord-Steward the Treasurer Comptroller the Cofferer the Master of the Houshold the two Clerks of the Green Cloth and the two Clerks Comptrollers who also there make Provisions for the Houshold according to the Law of the Land and make Payments and Orders for the Well-governing of the Servants of the Houshold In the Compting-house is the Green-Cloth which is a Court of Justice continually sitting in the King's House composed of the Persons last mentioned whereof the three first are usually of the King 's Privy Council To this Court being the first and most ancient Court of England is committed the charge and over-sight of the King's Court Royal for matters of Justice and Government with Authority for maintaining the Peace within 12 Miles distance wheresoever the Court shall be and within the King's House the power of correcting all the Servants therein that shall any way offend It is called the Green-Cloth of a Green-Cloth whereat they 〈◊〉 over whom are the Arms of the compting-Compting-house bearing Vert a Key or and a Staff Argent Saultier signifying their power to Reward and Correct as Persons for their great Wisdom and Experience thought fit by His Majesty to exercise both these Functions in His Royal House The Treasurer of the King's House is always of the Privy Council and in absence of the Lord Steward hath power with the Comptroller and Steward of the Marshalsea to hear and determine Treasons Felonies and other Crimes committed within the King's Palace and that by Verdict of the King's Houshold If any Servants within the Check-Roll be found Guilty of Felony they are to have no Benefit of Clergy allowed them The Comptrollers Office is to Controul the Accompts and Reckonings of the Green-Cloth His Fee is Annually 107 l. 12 s. 4 d. A Table of 16 Dishes each Meal He bears a White Staff c. The Cofferer is a principal Officer and hath especial Charge and Over-sight of other Officers of the House for their good Demeanor and Carriage in their Offices and is to pay the Wages of the King's Servants above and below Stairs And for Provisions by the Direction and Allowance of the Green-Cloth His Annual Fee is 100 l. and a Table of seven Dishes each day The Office of the Master of the Houshold is to survey the Accompts of the House His Fee is 100 Marks and seven Dishes daily All Bills of Comptrolment Parcels and Brievements are lotted and allowed by the Clerks Comptrollers and summed up by the Clerks of the Green-Cloth ☞ Note That though the King pays still the ancient Fees which at first were above ten times the value they are now yet the Perquisites in many Oâ—fices make sometimes a place of 10 l. Fee to be worth near 500 l. per Annum ☞ Note also That in each Office there is a Succession from one to another the inferior Degree still coming into the place of the next above if he dyes as one of the Children may come to be Groom then Yeoman then Gentleman then Sergeant c. as he happens to out-live them above him The Chief Clerk waits upon and appoints the Kings Queens and Houshold Dyets every third Month waits upon all Foreign Princes Strangers and Ambassadors when His Majesty gives them Entertainment He keeps all the Records Leger-Books and Papers relating to that Office makes up all Bills Parcels and Debentures for Board-Wages and Provisions and Necessaries issuing from the Offices of the Pantery Buttery and Cellar Keeps Accompt of and makes up the Remains with several other Duties which oblige him to constant Waiting He appoints Scowrers Turn-Brochers and Porters in his turn with the Master Cook in the several Kitchens and hath a Fee equal to an Officer of the Green-Cloth and Diet of seven Dishes each Meal The second and third Clerks wait upon the Diet as abovesaid each of them one month in three and attend the King and Queen in their Progresses when appointed by the Green-Cloth and have a Table of five Dishes There are three Master Cooks for the King Queen and Houshold who have each a Table of five Dishes There is a Knight Harbinger three Gentlemen Harbingers and seven Yeomen Harbingers The Office is given to the Knight-Harbinger by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England during Life When the King goes on Progress in England or Beyond the Seas he does by himself or his Deputy provide and appoint all Lodgings and Harbingage for all great Persons all Noblemen Bishops all His Majesties Servants and Attendants c. For all Ambassadors and Foreigners c. His Salary is 20 Marks per Annum and 10 s. a day out of the Exchequer besides Fees for Honours given by the King and Homage done to His Majesty and divers other Perquisites In the Court the Officers according to their several Degrees are called either Lords Knights Esquires Sergeants Gentlemen Clerks Yeomen Grooms Pages or Children There are two Lords viz. the Lord Steward and the Lord Chamberlain Two Knights viz. the Knight Marshal and the Knight Harbinger Four Esquires of the Body c. The Knight Marshal called Mareschalus Hospitii Regis hath Jurisdiction and Cognizance of all Crimes within the Royal Palace whereunto one of the Parties is the King's Servant He is one of the Judges of the Court called the Marshalsea or Marshal-Seat of Judicature which is held in Southwark and hath there a Prison belonging to the same Upon Solemn Occasions he Rides before the King with a short Baston tipt at both ends with Gold and hath six Provost Marshals or Virgers in Scarlet Coats to wait on him and to take care of the Royal Palace that no Beggars Vagabonds Common Women that prostitute their Bodies Malefactors c. come within or near the Court. There are divers other Officers below Stairs under the Lord Steward as also the Officers belonging to the Queens Kitchin Cellar Pantery c. and to the Lords Kitchin together with Children Scowrers Turn-Broaches c. His Majesties Servants in Ordinary above-stairs are as followeth THE Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber whereof the first is called the Groom of the Stole as it were Servant of the Robe or Vestment he having the Office and Honour to Present and Put on His Majesties first Garment or Shirt every morning and to order the things of the Bed-Chamber The Gentlemen are usually of the prime Nobility of England Their Office is each one in his Turn to wait a Week in every quarter in the King's Bed-Chamber there to lie by the King in a Pallet-Bed all Night and in the absence of the Groom
of the Stole to supply his place They wait on the King when he eats in private for then the Cup-Bearers Carvers and Sewers do not wait The yearly Fee to each is 1000 l. There is a Vice-Chamberlain a Keeper of the Privy-Purse a Treasurer of the Chamber who pays Riding and Lodging Wages as the Lord Chamberlain shall direct a Surveyor General of His Majesties Works The Master of the Robes belonging to His Majesties Person whose Office it is to order them at Coronations St. George's Feast and Parliament-Time He has also the ordering of all His Majesties Wearing Apparel of His Collar of Esses Georges and Garter beset with Diamonds and Pearls The Grooms of the Bed-Chamber are Twelve besides some Supernumeraries They are to be under the degree of Knights and to attend in the King's Bed-Chamber to dress and undress him in private The yearly Fee to each is 500 l. Then there are Six Pages of the Bed-Chamber Four Gentlemen-Vshers of the Privy Chamber who wait one at a time in the Privy Lodgings There are Forty eight Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber in Ordinary who are all Knights or Esquires of Note of which Twelve every Quarter wait on the King's Person within doors and without so long as His Majesty is on Foot and when the King is in the Privy Chamber they wait at the Table and bring in his Meat They wait also at the Reception of Ambassadors and every Night two of them lie in the King 's Privy Chamber A Gentleman of the Privy Chamber by the King's Commandment onely without any written Commission may Arrest any Peer of England as Cardinal Wolsey acknowledged There are Six Grooms of the Privy Chamber in Ordinary all Gentlemen of Quality These wait as all Grooms without Sword Cloak or Hat whereas the Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber wear always Cloak and Sword There is also a Library Keeper In the Presence Chamber Gentlemen-Vshers daily Waiters in Ordinary are four whereof the first hath that considerable Office of the Black Rod and in time of Parliament is to attend every day in the Lords House and is also Vsher of the most Honourable Order of the Garter Second Gentleman Vsher daily Waiter c. their Office is to wait in the Presence Chamber and to attend next the King's Person and after the Lord Chamberlain and Vice-Chamberlain to order all Affairs and all Under-Officers above-stairs are to obey these There are Eight Gentlemen-Vshers Quarter-Waiters in Ordinary who wait also in the Presence Chamber and are to give Directions in the absence of the Gentlemen-Vshers daily Waiters to the Grooms and Pages and other Under-Officers who are to attend in all Offices next below the Gentlemen-Vshers Quarter-Waiters The Grooms of the great Chamber are Fourteen Six Gentlemen-Waiters Four Cup-Bearers Four Carvers Four Sewers Four Esquires of the Body whose Office is to guard the King's Person by Night to set the Watch and to give the Word and to keep good Order in the whole House by Night as the Lord Chamberlain and his other Officers are to do by day The Sewers of the Chamber are Eight The Groom-Porter's Office is to see the King's Lodgings furnished with Tables Chairs Stools Firing to furnish Cards Dice c. to decide Disputes arising at Cards Dice Bowling c. There are Sixteen Sergeants at Arms all Gentlemen or Knights attending upon His Majesty There are also Four other Sergeants at Arms whereof one attends the Lord President of Wales another the Speaker of the House of Commons and another the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland There are Forty eight Chaplains in Ordinary usually Doctors in Divinity and for the most part Deans or Prebends and all principal Preachers who attend by Four every month to Preach before the King There are Four Physicians in Ordinary for the King's Person whereof one is assigned to attend the Queen There are also Physicians in Ordinary to the Houshold of which one is for the Tower of London There are besides these above Twelve able Physicians who are the King 's Sworn Servants but wait not nor have Fee There is a Master and Treasurer of the Jewel-house and three Under-Officers called Yeomen and Grooms whose Office is to take charge of all Vessels of Gold or Silver Gilt for the King and Queens Table of all Plate in the Tower of Chains and loose Jewels not fix'd to any Garment The Master of the Ceremonies has a Fee of 200 l. his Assistant 120 l. 13 s. 4 d. and one Marshal 100 l. per Annum This Office of Master of the Ceremonies was instituted by King James for the more Honourable Reception of Ambassadors and Strangers of Quality The Assistant Master of the Ceremonies is to execute the same Imployment in all Points whensoever the other is absent The Marshal of the Ceremonies is their Officer for the more easie performance of the said Services and being subordinate to them both is to act nothing but by the directions of one of them Amongst the King's Servants in Ordinary are three Kings of Arms six Heralds or Dukes of Arms and four Pursuivants at Arms. The Title of the first is Garter whose Office is to attend and direct at those Ceremonies and Solemnities that concern the most Noble Order of the Garter and to Marshal the Solemn Funerals of the Knights of that Order as also of the Peers of England and to direct all things else relating to Arms which appertain to the Peerage The Title of the Second is Clarencieux who regulates and directs the Proceedings at Solemn Funerals of all Degrees under Peers as shall be celebrated in his Province which is the Counties on the South of Trent and whatsoever else there relateth to Arms. The Title of the Third is Norroy who regulates and directs like the Second throughout his Province on the North of Frent The Offices of the Heralds and Pursuivants besides their Services at the aforesaid Solemnities are together with the Kings of Arms to attend at Publick Solemnities and some or all of them to proclaim War or Peace carry Defiances summon Fortified Places or Rebels in Arms proclaim Traytors and to do their best Service in whatsoever relateth to the Nobility and Gentry of England in point of Honour and Arms. Amongst the King's Servants in Ordinary are reckoned one Geographer one Historiographer one Hydrographer one Library-keeper one Cosmographer one Poet Laureat and one Publick Notary The King besides the Great Wardrobe hath divers standing Wardrobes at Whitehal Windsor Hampton-Court the Tower of London and Greenwich c. whereof there are divers Officers There is the Removing Wardrobe which always attends upon the Person of the King Queen and the Children as also upon Ambassadors Christenings Masks Plays c. at the Command of the Lord Chamberlain who hath the disposing of vacant places Here are fix Officers one Yeoman two Grooms and three Pages the Salary of the Yeoman is 200 l. of the Grooms 100 l. and of the Pages 100 Marks And to all
Captain on occasion and at the same time also two Brigadiers having also Ebony-staves headed with Ivory and Engraven as the others There is added a Troop of Grenadiers to each Troop of Guards one Division of which mounts with a Division of the Troop to which they belong they never go out on small Parties from the Guard only perform Centry-Duty on Foot and attend the KING also on Foot when he walks abroad but always March with great Detachments The KING's Troop consists of a Captain two Lieutenants three Sergeants three Corporals two Drums two Hautbois and eighty private Souldiers Mounted The Queens Troop of a Captain two Lieutenants two Serjeants two Corporals two Hautbois and Sixty private Souldiers Mounted The Dukes Troop consists of the like Number with the Queens The Captains of His MAJESTIES Guards always Command as Eldest Colonels of Horse the Lieutenants as Eldest Lieutenant-Colonels of Horse the Cornets and Guidons as Eldest Majors of Horse the Quartermasters as Youngest Captains of Horse the Brigadiers as Eldest Lieutenants of Horse and amongst themselves every Officer according to the Date of his Commission takes precedency when on Detachments but not when the Three Troops march with their Colours for then the Officer of the Eldest Troop commands those of equal Rank with him in the others though their Commission be of Elder Date Next immediatly after the Three Troops of Guards His MAJESTIES Regiment of Horse Commanded by the Earl of Oxford takes place and the Colonel of it is to have precedency after the Captains of the Guards and before all other Colonels of Horse whatsoever change may be of the Colonel and all the Officers thereof in their proper Degree are to take place according to the Dates of their Commissions As to the Foot the King's Regiment Commanded by the Honorable Colonel John Russel takes place of all other Regiments and the Colonel thereof is always to precede as the first Colonel The Colestream Regiment Commanded by the Earl of Craven takes the next the Duke of Yorks Regiment next then His Majesties Holland Regiment Commanded by the Earl of Mulgrave and all other Colonels according to the Dates of their Commissions All other Regiments of Horse and Foot not of the Guards take place according to their Respective Seniority from the time they were first Raised and no Regiment loses its precedency by the Death of its Colonel At the KING's House there is a Guard for His Person both above and below stairs In the Presence Chamber the Band of Gentlemen Pensioners wait instituted by King Henry the VII and chosen out of the best and antientest Families in England to be a Guard to His Majesties Person and also to be a Nursery to breed up hopeful Gentlemen and fit them for Employments Civil and Military as well abroad as at home as Deputies of Ireland Embassadors in Foreign Parts Counsellors of State Captains of the Guard Governours of places Commanders in the Wars both by Sea and Land of all which there have been Examples They are to attend the King's Person to and from His Chappel only as far as the Privy Chamber also in all other Solemnity as Coronations publick Audience of Embassadors c. They are 40 in Number over whom there is a Captain usually some Peer of the Realm a Lieutenant a Standard-bearer and a Clerk of the Check They wait half at a time quarterly Those in quarter wait daily five at a time upon the King in the House and when He walks abroad Upon extraordinary occasions all of them are Summoned Their ordinary Arms are Gilt Pole-Axes Their Arms on Horse-back in time of War are Cuirassiers Arms with Sword and Pistol These are only under their own Officers and are always Sworn by the Clerk of the Check who is to take Notice of such as are absent when they should be upon their Duty Their Standard in time of War is a Cross Gules in a Field Argent also 4 bends In the first Room above stairs called the Guard-Chamber attend the Yeomen of the Guard of His Majesties Body whereof there were wont to be 250 Men of the best quality under Gentry and of larger Stature then ordinary for every one was to be Six Foot high there are at present 100 Yeomen in dayly waiting and 70 more not in waiting and as any of the 100 die his place is filled up out of the 70. These wear Scarlet Coats Down to the knee and Scarlet Breeches both richly Guarded with black Velvet and rich Badges upon their Coats both before and behind moreover black Velvet round broad Crown'd Caps with Ribbons of the King's Colour One half of them of late bear in their hands Harquebuzes and the other half Partizans with large Swords by their sides they have Wages and Diet allowed them Their Office is to wait upon the King in His standing Houses 40 by by Day and 20 to Watch by Night about the City to wait upon the King's Person abroad by Water or Land The KING's Palace Royal ratione Regiae dignitatis is exempted from all Jurisdiction of any Court Civil or Ecclesiastick but only to the Lord Steward and in his absence to the Treasurer and Comptroller of the King's Houshold with the Steward of the Marshalsea who by vertue of their Office without Commission may Hear and Determin all Treasons Fellonies Breaches of the Peace Committed within the KING's Court or Palace The Orders and Rules for the Demeanor of all Officers and Servants are hung upon Tables in several Rooms at the Court and Signed with the King 's own hand worthy to be Read of all Strangers The Court or House where the King resides is accounted a Place so Sacred that if any Man presume to strike another there and only draw blood his Right hand shall be cut off and he Committed to perpetual Imprisonment and Fined All occasions of striking are also there forbidden The Court of England for Magnificence Order Numberâ— and Quality of Officers rich Furniture Entertainment and Civility to Strangers and for plentiful Tables might compare with the best in Christendom and far Excels most Courts abroad It hath for a long time been a Pattern of Hospitality and Charity to the Nobility and Gentry of Eugland All Noblemen or Gentlemen Subjects or Strangers were freely Entertained at the plentiful Tables of His Majesties Officers Divers Dishes were provided every day extraordinary for the King's Honour Two hundred and fourty Gallons of Beer a day were allowed at the Buttery-Bar for the Poor besides all the broken Meat Bread c. gathered into Baskets and given to the Poor at the Court-Gates by Two Grooms and Two Yeomen of the Almonry who have Salaries of His Majesty for that Service The Lord Almoner hath the Priviledge to give the King's Dish to whatsoever Poor Man he pleases that is the first Dish at Dinner which is set upon the King's Table or in stead thereof four pence a day which anciently was equivalent to four shillings now
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
a fair Room over it appointed for a Treasury for the Books and Records of the City and another Room underneath for necessary use and Employment was begun Anno 1614. and finished Michaelmas 1615. at the charge of 1740 l. which was well well bestowed The Kitchins c. were built about Anno 1501. for accommodation of the Lord Mayors Feast by means of Sir John Shaa Goldsmith Lord Mayor who kept the first Lord Mayors Feast there which were wont to be kept before in Merchant-Taylors or Grocers-Hall c. The adjoyning Chappel or College of Mary Magdalen and All-Saints was called London-College built Anno 1299. which had a Custos seven Chaplains three Clerks and four Quiristers Adjoying to this Chappel was a fair and large Library pertaining to the Guild-Hall and College but the Books to the quantity of three-score Cart-loads * Howel p. 118. in Edw. 6. time were sent for by Edw. Duke of Somerset with promise to restore them but they were never return'd The Library was built by the Executors of Sir Richard Whittington aforesaid and by W. Bury This great Guild-Hall was destroyed by the great Fire 1666 but very Magnificently rebuilt In the great Hall on the East-end it is very Richly hung with the lively Effigies of His Majesty and the Duke of York and round about on all sides it is adorn'd with the costly and lively Pictures of the great Ministers of State and Judges of the Land There are many large and spacious Courts and Offices where the Respective Affairs of the City are managed as before in the Section of the Civil-Government of London Of Blackwell-Hall THis place was purchased by the Lord Mayor and Commonalty for 50 l. 20. R. 2. and employed as a Weekly Market-place for all sorts of Woollen-Cloaths broad and narrow brought from all parts of the Kingdom there to be sold 21 R. 2. It was Decreed that no Foreigner or Stranger should sell any Woollen-Cloath but in Blackwell-Hall upon pain of forfeiture thereof It was Rebuilt being decayed Anno 1558. at the charge of 2500 l. to which Richard May Merchant-Taylor gave 300 l. at his Decease It was destroyed by the great Fire 1666 but rebuilt in a very capacious manner and is the greatest Market and Store-house for all sorts of Woollen-Cloath c. Of Leaden-Hall ANno 1411. This Hall was confirm'd unto the City by Sir Richard Whittington and others who purchased it Anno 1443. 21 H. 6. Sir John Hatherly Lord Mayor purchased License of the King to take up 200 fodder of Lead for the building of Water-Conduits a Common Granary and the Cross in Cheap-side more beautifully for the honour of the City This Granary was built by the honourable and famous Merchant Simon Eyre the words of the Grant be Cum Nobilis potens vir c. Whereas the Noble and powerful man c. sometime an Vpholsterer and then a Draper Anno 1419. He built it of square Stone as it now sheweth having escaped the fury of the great Fire with a fair and large Chappel on the East-side of the Quadrant over the Porch he caused to be Written Dextra Domini exaltavit me The Lords Right hand exalted me Within the Chappel was written Honorandus famosus Mercator Simon Eyre hujus operis c. In English thus The honourable and famous Merchant Simon Eyre Founder of this Work once Mayor of this City Citizen and Draper of the same Departed out of this Life 18 Sept. 1459. 38 H. 6. He was buried in the Church of St. Mary Wolnoth in Lumbard-street He gave very many large and bountiful Legacies to be read in Stow page 163. This Hall was Burnt Anno 1484. but Rebuilt again in a very stately and capacious manner There were kept the Artillery Guns and other Armour of the City The Store of Timber for the necessary reparations of the Tenements belonging to the Chamber of London It was a Free Market for Victuallers There were the Common Beams for weighing of Wools and other Wares the Scales to weigh Meal there were made the Pageants for the Midsummer-Watches In other parts Woolsacks were stowed Abovestairs the Painters workt upon the Pageants the Residue were let to Merchants c. Now there is kept the greatest Flesh-Market about the City And a great Magazine of Corn. In speaking of Halls it may not be impertinent to remember the Right honourable Baptist Lord Hicks Viscount Cambden who besides many noble and charitable acts of Piety in King James his time recorded by Stow p. 760 761. built the Sessions-House for the Justices of Middlesex in St. Johns-street at the charge of 600 l. called after his Name Hicks's-Hall which was a great convenience they sitting before in a common Inn called the Castle As for the particular Halls of Companies we have spoke of them Generally before which is all that appears at present necessary SECT 7. Of the Custom-House THe House where this great Office was kept a little below Billingsgate was destroyed by the great Fire but is Rebuilt in a much more magnificent uniform and commodious manner by the King which hath cost His Majesty 10000 l. Here is received and managed all the Impositions laid on Merchandize Imported or Exported from this City which are so considerable that of all the Customs of England which amount to about 600000 l. a year divided into three parts the Port of London pays two thirds that is about 400000 l. per annum A great Number of Officers are here Employ'd whereof divers are of considerable quality and ability There are at present Five Commissioners who have the charge and oversight of all His Majestics Customs in all Ports of England Viz. Sir Richard Temple Bar. Sir George Downing Kt. Charles Cheney Esq Francis Millington Esq John Vpton Esq The Sallaries to each of these is 1200 l. a Year they have many Deputies or Waiters in the Port of London and also in all the Out-Ports Then there are Customers Collectors Comptrollers Surveyors Searchers Waiters c. Sir John Shaw Collector Inwards and for the Act of Navigation Fee 966. l. 13. s. 4. d. Sir Nicholas Crisp Collector Outwards Sallary 276 l. Alderman Edward Backwell Comptroller Sallary 255 l. George Nicholas Esq Surveyor-General Sallary 500 l. The Searchers Office is managed by a Chief and five Under-Searchers Clerks c. Since the happy Restoration of His Majesty there has been in all Eleven Persons Under-Searchers in that Office viz. Six who have all except one disposed of their place by His Majesties grace and favours Mr. Daniel Colwall Rob. Forster Leonard Scot. Will. Dockwra Tho. Hampson John Seymour Esq The Five Undersearchers now in Possession are Mr. Tho. Burton John Evans Richard Goodlad Charles Beauvoir Richard Pierce The Chief Searcher has 120 l. per annum The Undersearchers have each 12 l. And sundry Fees settled upon them by Authority of Parliament which are paid them by Masters of Ships and Merchants c. Having always been Officers