viridem Aeneas frondenti ex ilice Metam Constituit signum Nautis pater unde reverti Sciverit longos ubi circumflectere Cursus At the Common Law none could Erect any of these Three but the King It being done ever by the King's Commission under the Great Seal But of later times by Letters Patents to the Lord Admiral he hath power to Erect the same By the Act of 8 Eliz. the Master Wardens and Assistants of Trinity-House of Deptford Stroud a Company of the chiefest and most expert Masters and Governours of Ships shall and may lawfully from time to time at their will and pleasure and at their costs Make Erect and Set up such and so many Beacons Marks and Signs for the Sea in the Sea-shoars and Upland places near the Sea-coasts or Forelands of the Sea only for Sea Marks as to them shall seem most meet whereby the Dangers may be avoided and Ships the better come to their Ports And all such beacons Marks and Signs so by them to be Erected shall be continued renewed and maintained from time to time at the Costs and Charges of the said Master Wardens and Assistants If any cut down c. any Beacon c. by the Statute of 8 Eliz. 13. he shall incur the Penalty therein mentioned which if he be not able to pay he shall be ipso facto convict of Utlawry Vide Coke's 4. Inst. cap. 25. The Transcript of a Manuscript Ordination which hath been observ'd for Watch to be kept in the County of Norfolk from Lyme to Yarmouth and it is very probable the like hath been done by like Authority in other Maritime Counties Vide Stat. 5 H. 4. cap. 3. Watches to be made in the Sea Coasts in places of Danger through the Realm by the Number of People and in manner they were wont to be made in times past De Conservatore Treugarum i. e. Induciarum Salvorum Regis Conductuum BY 2 H. 5. Conservatorum Induciarum salvorum Regis conductuum was Praised and Appointed in every Port of the Sea by Letters Patents His Office was to Inquire of all Offences done against the King's Truces and fafe Conducts upon the Main Sea out of the Counties and out of the Liberties of the Cinque-Ports as Admirals of Custom were wont It concerns the Jurisdiction of divers Courts especially the Court before-mentioned upon the Statute of 28 H. 8. and of the Court of Admiralty to know the Rights of Leagues and Ambassadors as far as the Laws of England Extend unto All Leagues or Safe Conducts are or ought to be of Record Inrolled in Chancery that the Subject may know who may be in Amity with the King and who not who be Enemies and can have no Action here and who in League and may have Actions Personaâ— here In all Treaties the Power of the one and the other ought to be Equal A League may be broken by Levying of War or by Ambassador or Herald Bryan 19 E. 4. held if all the Subjects in England would make War with a King in League with the King of England without the Assent of the King of England yet such a War was no breach of the League See 2 H. 5. cap. 6. in the Preamble But in the Duke of Norfolk's Case 14 Eliz. the Question was Whether the Lord Herise and other Subjects of the King of Scots who without his Consent had wasted and burnt divers Towns in England and Proclaimed Enemies were Enemies in Law within the Statute of 25 E. 3. the League being between the King and Scotland and Resolved they were Enemies And in the Bishop of Rosse's Case Anno 13 Eliz. The Question being An Legatus qui Rebellionem contra Principem ad quem Legatus concitat Legati Privilegiis gaudeat non ut Hostiis Poenas subjaceat and Resolv'd he had lost the Priviledge of an Ambassador and was subject to Punishment Ambassadors were called Orators afterwards Legati à legando Nuntij à nâ—nciando and afterwards Ambassiatores or Embassatories and sometimes Agents For Omnis Legatus est Agens sed Omnis Agens non est Legatus In Sam. Palach's Case 12 Jac. 1. affirming himself to be Ambassador of Mula Sedan King of Morocco mentioned Coke's 4 Inst. cap. 26. It was Resolv'd there could be no Ambassador without Letters of Credence from his Sovereign to another who had Sovereign Authority and although in his Letters of Credence he be termed an Agent or Nuntius yet in such Case he is Ambassador or Legate And it was likewise Resolv'd That Ambassadors ought to be Free and Safe in every place by the Law of all Nations yea although they be Ambassadors of our Enemies or a Banish'd Man be sent to the place from whence he is banish'd And in the Case of Cardinal Poole fled to Rome from Henry the Eighth the Pope sent him Ambassador to the French King the King of England Demandeth him as a Traytor from the King notwithstanding he was sent Ambassador sed non praevaluit But if a Sovereign Ambassador being Prorex committeth here any Crime which is contra jus Gâ—ntium as Treason Murder Adultery c. he may be punished as another private Alien and not remanded to his Sovereign but of Courtesie And so of Contracts that be good Jure Gentium he must answer here but if any thing be Malum prohibitum by an Act of Parliament Private Law or Custom of this Realm which is not Malum in se Jure Gentium nor contra Jus Gentium an Ambassador residing here shall not be bound by them but otherwise it is of the Subjects of either Kingdom Vide Information upon the Statute of 19 H. 7. cap. 1. Coke's 4 Inst. cap. 26. concerning Prohibited Goods brought hither See more in Palach's Case Where one may not be Indicted of Piracy for taking the Goods of the Subjects of an Enemy Prince solo Amici and where The Court of Admiralty shall have the Jurisdiction and where not And now a word or two concerning Leagues of which are four kinds I. Foedus Pacis and that a Christian Prince may have with an Infidel Si fieri possit quod ex vobis est cum omnibus hominibus Pacem habeatis 2. Foedus Congratulationis sive Consolationis And this a Christian Prince may make with an Infidel as David did with Hanon I Chron. 19.2 3. Foedus Commercij sive Commutationis Mercium And this also may be made with an Infidel as King Solomon did with Hiram and Joshua did with the Gibeonites 4. Foedus Mutuâ— Auxilij And this cannot be done with an Idolater Jehosaphat King of Judah made Foedus mutui auxilij with Ahab King of Israel an Idolater For Ahab said to Jehosaphat Veni mecum in Ramoth Gilead cui ille respondet Ut ego tu sicut populus tuus sic populus meus tecum erimus in Bello In which War Ahab was slain and Jehosaphat in extream danger But seeing Foedus Pacis and Foedus
Children Scourers Turnbroachers c. In all Sixty eight These Officers according to their Degrees are named Lords Knights Esquires Serjeants Gentlemen Clerks Yeomen Grooms Pages or Children and these Succeed each other as they Outlive those next Degree above them As likewise from the Pastry to the Acatery as the Clerk of one Office dies the next succeeds And as the Clerk of the Avenary Spicery or Kitchin dies The Clerk of the Acatery succeeds and from thence to be one of the Clerks Comptrollers Then Clerk of the Compting House Then Master of the Houshold Lastly Cofferor of the Houshold Higher than which he cannot rise by Succession Although the King pays but the ancient Fees which at first were above Ten times the value Yet the perquisites in many Offices make sometimes a place of 10 l. worth near 500 l. per Annum The Knight Marshal CAlled Mareschallus Hospitij Regis hath Jurisdicton and Cognizance of all Crimes within the Royal Palace where one of the Parties is the Kings Servant He is one of the Judges of the Court called The Marshalsea or Marshals Seat of Judicature which is held in Southwark and hath 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 Whores Malefactors c. come within or near And now we are led to speak of the Marshals Court before mentioned And called The Court of the Marshelsea THis is an ancient Court of Record Ordained to determine Suits between those of the King's House and others within the Verge The Judges are the Steward and Marshal of the King's House who have Cognizance of all manner of Pleas of Trespass within the Verge so as either party be of the same House and of all other Actions personal wherein both Parties are the King Servants and this is the proper Jurisdiction of the Marshal's Court. And a Man shall have Amercement in an Action brought against him in the Court of the Steward and Marshal when he is not of the Kings House when the Trespass or Contract was made or when the Plaintiff was not of the Kings House at that time F. N. B. 141. Error in this Court for that neither of the parties was of the Kings House at the time of Suit brought or for that it is not shewn that the Plaintiff nor Defendant were of the Kings House at that time or afterward and every other Cause of Errour there shall be amended in the King's Bench 5 10 E. 3. c. 3. And having taken some short remarks upon the Marshalsey we come next to The Court of the Palace CUria Palatij was Erected by King Charles the First By his Letters Patents dated the 2d of July Anno Regni sui sexto And made a Court of Record called the Court of the Kings Palace at Westminster For the Tryal of all Personal Actions between Party and Party The Liberty whereof extends 12 Miles round Whitehal which Jurisdiction was confirmed by King Charles the Second The Judges of this Gourt are the Stewards of the Kings House and Knight Marshal for the time being and the Steward of the Court or his Deputy being always a Lawyer This Court is kept every Fryday in th Court House on St. Margarets-Hill in Southwark and may be held in any place within the Jurisdiction The Proceeding is by Capias or Attachment which is to be served upon the Defendant by one of the Knights Marshals Men who taketh Bond with such Sureties for the Defendants Appearance at the next Court as he will be answerable for The Process may may be had at several places within the Liberty of the Court appointed by the Steward which every Marshals Man can help you to The Defendant upon Appearance must put in Bail to Answer the Condemanation of the Court which if he neglect to do the Plaintiff may have the Bond for appearance assigned over to his use The next Court after Ball put in The Plaintiff ought to Declare and set forth the cause of his Action and so afterwards proceed to Issue and Trial by Jury according to the course of the Common Law and that in Four or Five Court days They hold Pleas of all manner of Personal Actions as Debt Trespass Battery Slander Trover and all Actions of the Case c. But usually if the Cause be considerable as above Five pound they carry the Cause away by an Habeas Corpus cum causa into the King's Bench or Common-Pleas The Fees of the Palace Court or Marshalsea as granted by the Letters Patent You may see at large in the Compleat Sollicitor The Court of the Lord Steward Treasurer and Comptroller of the Kings Houshold concerning Felony c. THey or any of them have Authority to Inquire by 12 Sad Men and Discreet Persons of the Cheque Roll If any Servant in the Cheque under the State of a Lord make any Confederacies Compassings Conspiracies or Imaginations with any Person or Persons to Destroy or Murder the King Or any Lord of this Realm Or any Person Sworn to the King's Councel Or the Steward Treasurer or Comptroller of his Houshold And if it be found then to be put to Tryal by 12 other Sad Men of the Houshold and no Challenge to be allowed but for Malice And if they are found guilty then to be adjudged Felony Vide le Statute 3 Hen. 7. cap. 14. The Court of the Lord Steward of the King's House Or in his Absence of the Treasurer and Comptroller and Steward of the Marshelsea THey or Two of them whereof the Steward of the Marshelsea to be One by vertue of their Offices without any Commission Have Authority by the Act of 33 Hen. 8. cap. 12. The said Steward of the Marshalsea being from time to time appointed by the Lord Great Master or Lord Steward for the time being And whether the King be removed from his Palace House or Houses or not removed before such Offence Inquired of Tryed Heard and determined the said Officers shall have a power to Inquire by Verdict of the King's Houshold-Servants within the Cheque Roll of all Persons slain within the King's House or where he shall abide before the Coroner of the King's Houshold And all Officers named in the Act upon Precept to them have Power to Summon 24 Persons Yeomen of the Houshold to Enquire of Treasons Misprisions of Treasons Murders Manslaughters or other Malicious Strikings where Blood is or shall be shed against the King's Peace Upon the Presentment Inquisition or Indictment found and certified by the Coroner The Judges or Two of them whereof the Steward of the Marshalsea to be one shall make another Precept to the Clerks and other Officers of the Houshold who have thereby power to warn another Jury of 24 Gentlemen of the King's Chamber and other
the Government of the Office as likewise all Patents and Grants and the Names of all Officers Clerks Artificers Attendants Gunners Labourers and others who enjoy the said Grants or any other Fees from the King for the same To draw all Estimates for Provisions and Supplies to be made and all Letters Instructions Commissions Deputations and Contracts for His Majesty's Service To make all Bills of Imprest and Debentures for the payment and satisfaction of the respective Artificers and Creditors of the Office for Work done or Provisions received and Quarter-Books for the Salaries Allowances and Wages of all Officers Clerks and other Ministers belonging to the said Office and also to keep Journals and Liegers of the Receipts and Returns of His Majesty's Stores that nothing be Bought Borrowed Given Received Lent or Employed without due Record thereof to serve as a Cheque between the Two Accomptants of the Office the one for Money the other for Stores The Storekeeper is to take into his Custody all His Majesty's Ordnance Munitions and Stores thereunto belonging and to Indent and put in Legal Security for the safe keeping thereof and to make Just and True Accompt from time to time to Receive no Provisions whatsoever that are manifestly inserviceable or before they have been Reviewed by the Surveyor nor to Issue any proportion of Ordnance c. but what is agreed upon and signed by the Officers according to the appointment of the Master of the Ordnance grounded upon the Order of the King or six of the Privy Council or the Lord Admiral for Matters concerning the Navy Nor to Receive back any Stores issued till they have been Reviewed by the Surveyor and Registred by the Clerk of the Ordnance in the Book of Remains To look that all His Majesties Store-Houses be well Repaired and well Accommodated and the Stores kept in such order and lustre as is fit for the Service and Honour of the King The Clerk of the Deliveries is to Draw all Proportions for Delivery of any Stores and Provisions and to be present at the Delivery and by Indenture to Charge the particular Receiver of the King's Munitions whether Captain Gunner or other and to Register as well the Copies of all Warrants for Deliveries as the Proportions delivered whereby to discharge the Store-keeper The Treasurer and Paymaster of the Office was formerly an Appendix to that of Lieutenant of the Ordnance But the late King Charles Erected it into a particular and distinct Office and granted the same as all the other before-mentioned are by Letters Patent And there are other Subordinate Officers which likewise hold by Patent as The Master Gunner of England who is to teach all such as desire to Learn the Art of Gunnery and to oblige every Scholar by Oath not to serve any Foreign Prince or State without leave nor to Teach any other the said Art but such as have taken the said Oath and to certifie the Master of the Ordnance the Sufficiency of any person Recommended to be one of the King's Gunners and his Ability to discharge the said Duty The Keeper of the Small Guns who hath the charge and custody of the King 's Small Guns as Musquets Harquebusses Carabines Pistols c. with their Furniture There are many other Inferiour Officers and Ministers Attendants and Artificers as Clerks proof-Proof-Masters Messengers Master Smith Master Carpenter Master Wheelwright Master Gunnsmith Furbusher c. which for Brevity are here omitted as likewise the King 's principal Engineer The Master of the Ordnance hath a Superintendency and Jurisdiction over all the King's Engineers Employed in the several Fortifications of the Kingdom most of whom have their Salaries and Allowances payable in the said Office to which they are accountable and from whence they receiev their particular Orders and Instructions according to the Directions and Commands given by the King and signified by The Master of the Ordnance Nota The several sorts of Cannon seem to be denominated from the Rapacious kind of Creatures whose Names they bear as Faulcons Faulconets Sakers Culverins from the Latin Coluber Basilisks Griffons Dragons c. The Office of the Warden of the Mint WHere is minted all the Bullion that is Minted in England although the King may set up a Mint in any other Place of the Kingdom In this are divers Persons of Quality and Worth whereof the principal is The Warden of the Mint who is to Receive the Silver and Gold brought in by Merchants or Goldsmiths or others to pay them for it and to Oversee all the rest his Fee is 100 l. per Annum And next is The Master Worker who Receives the Bullion from the Warden causes it to be Melted delivers it to the Moneyers and receives it from them again when Minted and hath an Allowance by the Pound weight but no set Fee And next is The Comptroller who sees all the Money be made according to the Just Assize to oversee the Officers and Comptrol them if the Money be not as it ought to be his Fee is 100 Marks and these three last above hold by Patent of the King The next is The Assay-Master who weighs the Bullion and sees it be according to the Standard his Fee is 200 Marks The Auditor to take the Accounts and make them up The Surveyor of the Melting who is to see the Bullion cast out and not to be alter'd after it is delivered to the Melter which is after the Assay-Master hath made Tryal thereof There are moreover A Clerk of the Irons A Graver A Weigher A Teller Melters Blanchers Moneyers and other Officers belonging to the Mint The Office of Records in the Tower IS of Venerable Antiquity and the Keeper and Deputy dignified with Special Trust The Keeper hath a Salary of 500 l. per Annum and is properly in the Gift of the Master of the Rolls and afterwards His Majesty hath usually by Letters Patents Confirmed it As the Chappel of the Rolls and Petty-Bag Office fill the Records are sent hither by a Writ formed for that purpose and these Records amongst other things contain the Foundations of Abbeys and Religious Houses as The Chappel of the Rolls contain those of their Dissolution and the Donation of the Lands of which many Families are now possessed The Leagues and Treaties with Foreign Princes The Atchievements of this Nation in France and Foreign parts The Original of All Laws that have been Enacted or Recorded until Richard the Third The Homage and Dependency of Scotland upon England The Establishment of Ireland in Laws and Dominions The Dominion of the Brittish Seas totally excluding French and Dutch to Fish therein without License from England proved by Records before the Conquest The Interest of the Isles of Man and of Jersey Guernsey Sarke and Alderney the Four last being the Remaining part of the Norman Possessions The Title of our Kings to the Realm of France and how obtained And all that our Kings and Princes have till that time Done
can Examine after Judgment 10 Hen. 6.14 15. Also there is a practise called Marking of a Cause before the Lord Mayor which is after a Verdict given for the Plaintiff in the Sheriffs Court the Defendant may get the Cause marked by one of the Clerks in the Lord Mayor's Court to stay Judgment and Execution until the matter be Examined in Equity where the Lord Mayor doth oftentimes mitigate the Damages or give the Defendant time to pay it c. This Court is held Mondays Tuesdays and every day if the Lord Mayor please to sit The Court of the Mayor and Aldermen THis is a Court of Record consisting of the Lord Mayor Recorder and Twenty three Aldermen whereof the Two Sheriffs are part And their Proceedings is by Arrest of the Body or Attachment of the Defendants Goods and in that case much like the other Courts of Common Law By the Statute of 43 Eliz. cap. 12. They have power to correct Errors used for default of good Governance c. in the City The Court of Orphans THe Mayor and Aldermen by Custom have the Custody of Orphans within the City And if they commit the custody to another Man he should have a Ravishment of Ward if the Orphan be taken away And they shall have custody of the Lands and Goods of such Orphans A Recognizance may be acknowledg'd in this Court before the Mayor and Aldermen to the Chamberlain for Orphans and he being a sole Corporation the Recognizance and Bond made to him and his Successors concerning Orphans shall by Custom go to his Successors Executors or Administrator are to Exhibite true Inventories before the Lord Mayor and Aldermen and give Security by Rocognizance or the Court may commit them to Prison till they do it If the Father advance any of his Children by part of his Goods that shall bar him to demand any further unless the Father under his Hand or by Will declare it was but in part of Advancement and then that Child putting his part in Hotchpot with the Executors and Widow may have a Third part of the whole and this the Civil Law calls Collatio Bonorum How the Goods of a Freeman shall be divided See Coke's 1 Inst Sect. 207. The Court of Common Councel THis is held by the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Commonalty Resembling the High Court of Parliament The Commonalty being chosen out of every Ward constitute the Lower House and Represent all the Commonalty of the City Here they make Acts for the better Government of the City For the Execution of the Laws and Statutes of this Realm Pro Bono publico and for the better advancement of Trade and Traffick Provided such Constitutions be not contrary to the Laws of the Realm And these being made by Mayor Aldermen and Commonalty do bind within the City And they of the Common Assembly do give their Assent by holding up their Hands The Court of Wardmote Inquest THis Resembles the Country Leets Every Ward being as a Hundred and the Parishes as Towns And in in every Ward there is an Inquest of Twelve or more Sworn every year to Inquire of and present Nusances and other Offences within the Ward The Court of Hallmote THis is as much as to say The Court of the Hall being the Court which every Company in London keeps in their Halls which was anciently called The Hallmote or Folke Mote The Chamberlain 's Court for Apprentices BEfore the Chamberlain all Indentures of Apprentices are or ought to be Inrolled and if they be not Inrolled and if they be not Inrolled the Apprentice may refuse to Serve and Sue out his Indenture in this Court at his Pleasure and be discharged of his Master The Chamberlain is Judge in all Complaints either of the Servant against the Master or Master against the Servant and punisheth the Offenders at his Discretion In this Court are all Apprentices made Free And that may be Three manner of ways By Service as are Apprentices By Birthright as being the Son of a Freeman which is called Freedom by his Fathers Copy or by Redemption by Order of the Court of Aldermen The Court of the Conservator of the Water and River of Thames THe Lord Major of London for the time being is the Conservator or Governor of the River of Thames and the Issues Breaches and Lands overflown from Stanes Bridge to the Waters of Yendal or Medway And hath Authority for punishment of such as use unlawful Netts or Engins in Fishing or take Fish under Size or unseasonably c. 4 Hen. 7. cap. 15. And in all Commissions touching the Water of Lee the Lord Mayor shall be one 3 Jac. cap. 14. The Court of the Coroner in London THe Mayor is Coroner within the City And this Court is holden before him or his Deputy See Coroner before in the Counties The Court of Escheator in London THe Lord Mayor is also Escheator within the City And this Court is holden before him or his Deputy Vide Escheator before in Counties The Court of Policies and Assurances THis Court Sitteth by Force of the Commission under the Great Seal Warranted by Act of Parliament Ann. 43 Eliz. cap. 12. there being an Officer or Clerk to Register Assurances The Jurisdiction of which Court you may read in that Act of Parliament being for Incouragement of Trade The Judge of the Admiralty Recorder Two Doctors of Civil Law Two Common Lawyers Eight Merchants or any five of them to determine all differences concerning Assurances as they shall think fit without Formalities of Pleadings And to Commit to Prison without Bail all such as disobey their Decrees And to that end they are to meet once a Week at the Assurance Office and not to take any Fee If any be grieved by their Decree he may Exhibit his Bill in Chancery for Re-examination of that Decree The Lord Mayor is Chief Judge at the Court or Sessions of Gaol Delivery held Eight times in the year or oftner at the Sessions-House in the Old Baily for the City of London and County of Middlesex for the Tryal of Criminals and hath power to Reprieve Condemned persons The Tradesmen in London are divided into Corporations or Companies and are so many Bodies Politick of these Twelve are called Chief Companies and he that is chosen Lord Mayor if he be not before must be made Free of one of these Companies viz. Mercers Grocers Drapers Fishmongers Goldsmiths Skinners Merchant Taylors Haberdashers Salters Ironmongers Vintners Cloth-Workers All which Companies have Assembling places called Halls and each of them hath a Master chosen Annually from amongst themselves and Subordinate Governours called Wardens or Assistants And these in their Companies exactly correspond to the General Government of the City Several of our Kings have to honour some of these Companies taken their Freedom of it as VII several Kings had been of the Taylors Company whereof the last of these Seven being King Henry the 7th gave them the Name and Title of Merchant Taylors
And the late King Charles the Second was made Free of the Grocers There are near LX other Companies or Corporations All enjoying large Priviledges by the Charters of several Kings and have Fair Halls to meet in The Military Government in London HIs Late Majesty King Charles the Second after his Restoration sent a Commission of Lieutenancy appointing several Persons His Lieutenants giving them the same Power in London the Lord Lieutenants have in their respective Counties And in pursuance of that Commission the Regiments then in being were New setled in this manner viz. Six Regiments of Trained Bands Commanded by six Citizens Knights and their Lieutenant Colonels all Knights and six Regiments of Auxiliaries In these Twelve Regiments were 20000 Men Then there were Listed Two Regiments of Horse each consisting of five Troops in all 800 Horse But in case of need in London and within the Liberties may in a Few days be Raised 40000 Men. There is in Southwark One Regiment of Trained Bands Fifteen Hundred Men. In the Hamlets of the Tower Two Regiments in all Three thousand Men Then Holbourn Regiment and Westminster Regiment Two thousand each and in case of Necessity they can Raise 20000 more The Artillery Company is as a Nursery of Souldiers and hath been so for above 60 years the late King Charles when Prince of Wales Listed himself therein and the Duke of York did the like at the same time who after the Restoration took upon himself the Command thereof and under him was a Leader who Exercised them every Tuesday Fortnight and the other Tuesday the Exercise was performed by the several Members of the Company who are there Trained up to Command Of this Society are many of the Nobility also the Lord Mayor and most of the Aldermen All the Commanders of the Trained Bands and Auxiliaries here Exercise Arms. This Company consists of 600 Men. Their Officers are A Leader Two Lieutenants Two Ensigns Two Serjeants A Provost Martial Four Gentlemen of Arms c. They have also a Court Martial consisting of A President A Vice-President a Treasurer and Twenty four Members of the Company On the Second Tuesday in February at a General Rendezvous every Year the Officers are Elected For the Security and Defence of this Famous City and River there hath been anciently divers Fortresses But the most Eminent and Chief is that called The Tower of London WHich is not only a Fort or Cittadel to command and defend both City and River but also A Royal Palace where our Kings with their Courts have sometimes Lodged A Royal Arsenal where are Arms and Ammunition for 60000 Men The Treasury for the Jewels and Ornaments of the Crown The only Mint for coyning Gold and Silver The Great Archive where are conserved All the Records of the Courts at Westminster The Chief Prison for the safe Custody of Great Persons that are Criminals and if the great Extent thereof within the Walls be considered and its Authority over the several Hamlets without and the many high Priviledges and Liberties belonging thereunto it may rather be Reputed a City than a Cittadel The Governour of this Important Fortress is the Constable or Lieutenant of the Tower Who is High Steward of a Court there held by Prescription of Debt Trespass and other Actions of any Sum Greater or Lesser and hath a Deputy Before the late Act might refuse a Habeas Corpus may give Protection to all Debtors belonging to the Tower within the Realm of England hath Priviledge to take Unam Lagenam of all Wine-Ships that come Is Virtute Officij to be in Commission of the Peace for the Counties of Kent Surrey and Middlesex and as some hold to be Custos Rotulorum of the County of Middlesex His Salary is 200 l. per Annum His usual Fee for every Prisoner is 20 l. at Entrance and 3 l. a Week for an Esquire For a Knight 5 l. a Week For a Baron or above 50 l. at Entrance to whom the King allows 10 l. Weekly whereof Two part goes to the Prisoner the other Third part to the Lieutenant for Lodgings and Dyet and 50 l. to the Lieutenant upon the Prisoners discharge The Gentleman Porter of the Tower holds his Place by Patent and at the Entrance of a Prisoner hath for his Fee Vestimenta Superiora or a Composition for it The Gentleman Gaoler is put in by the Lieutenant of the Tower his Fee is 41 s. of a Gentleman 5 l. of a Knight Forty Warders of the Tower accounted the King's Domestick Servants and Sworn by the Lord Chamberlain of His Majesties Houshold or by the Clerk of the Cheque The Tower is not within any County or Parish only a small part some account to be in Middlesex but is a Liberty of it self exempt from all Taxes to the King Church or Poor It hath A Parochial Church exempt from all Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Archbishop and is a Donative bestowed by the King without Institution or Induction And there are Thirteen Hamlets of large Extent belonging to the Tower whose Train-Bands are all bound to Assist the Constable or Lieutenant of the Tower which are called The King's Company and are to Wait on the King's Person in time of Need and to go no further than the King And within the Tower is kept The Office of the Ordnance BEing the grand and standing Magazine of the principal Preparatives Habiliaments Utensils and Instruments of War as well by Sea as Land for the Defence and Safety of the Kingdom and consequently hath Influence in the Navies Forts Castles and Armies thereof having the Superintendence Ordering and Disposing as well of the Grand Magazine lodged in the Tower as at the Minories Woolwich Chatham Windsor Portsmouth Plimouth Hull and elsewhere And is under the Government of The Master of the Ordnance under whom The Administration and Management of the said Office is committed to the Principal Officers following viz. The Lieutenant of the Ordnance who in the absence of the Master of the Ordnance is to Impart all Orders and Warrants directed to the Office and to see them duly Executed and to give Order for Discharging the Great Ordnance when required upon Coronation Days Days Festival Triumphs c. As also to see the Train of Artillery fitted with all its Equipage for Motion upon any occasion The Surveyor is to Survey all the Ordnance Stores and Provisions of War in the custody of the Store-keeper which he is to see so distinguished and placed as shall be best for their Preservation and Safety for a decent View and a ready Account to allow all Bills of Debt and to keep Check upon all Labourers and Artificers Works and to see that all Provisions received be good and serviceable and duly proved with the Assistance of the rest of the Officers and the Proof Masters and marked with the King's Mark if they ought so to be The Clerk of the Ordnance is to Record all Orders and Instructions given for
or Confirmed at home or abroad Tenures of all the Lands in England Extents of Mannors and Lands Inquisitions Post mortem being of great Advantage upon Trials of Interest or Descent Liberties and Priviledges granted to Cities Towns Corporate or private Men as Court Leets Waifs Estrays Markets Fairs Free Warrens Felons Goods c. Or what else could come to the Crown or pass out of it Writs Pleadings and Proceedings as well in Chancery as at Common Law and in the Exchequer Inspeximus Inrolments c. Deeds and Contracts between party and party and The Just Establishment of all the Offices in the Nation The Metes and Bounds of all Forests with the Rights of the Inhabitants therein and many other And therefore in the Petitions of the Commons in Parliament 46 E. 3. said to be perpetual Evidence of every man's Right and the Records of the Nation These Records are reposited in the place called Wakefield Tower being many Cart Loads Thus distinguished Rotuli Patentium Chartarum Parliamentorum Clausarum Finium Scotiae Vasconiae Franciae Hiberniae Walliae Normanniae Almaniae Oblatae Liberatae Extractae Perambulationes Forestae Scut ' Rotul ' Marshal ' Romae de Treugis Chart ' Patent ' fact ' in Partibus Transmarinis Patent ' de Domibus Judaeorum Protection ' de Perdonation ' c. Stapulae cum multis aliis Depicted lately upon every Press belonging to each King's Reign and very easie to be brought forth for use This Office is to be open from 7 till 11 in the Morning and from 1 till 5 in the Afternoon on all Working-days only in December January and February they open an Hour later in the Morning and shut up an Hour earlier at Night All Records since Richard the Third are yet in the Chappel of the Rolls The Money allowed by the King for the Maintenance of all these Officers and keeping thls Vast Structure in Repair amounts to a vast Sum. Saint Katherines NEar the Tower is St. Katherines which hath a Royal Jurisdiction for the Ecclesiastical Causes and Probate of Wills and belongeth to the Queen from whom if any will Appeal it must be to the King in his Chancery who thereupon Issueth out a Commission under the Great Seal as in Appeals from the Arches or Prerogative The Bridge SUrpasseth all others in Europe It hath 19 Arches 20 Foot between each Arch is 800 Foot in Length 60 High and 30 Broad and hath a Draw-Bridge almost in the Middle Built 1209 in the Reign of King John The Charge of keeping it in Repair is so Great that our Auncestors thought fit to have a Large House a vast Revenue in Lands and Houses and divers Officers to be apart for the constant Care and Repair thereof The Principal whereof are the Two Bridgmasters chosen yearly out of the Body of the Liveries upon Midsummer-day after the Sheriffs and Chamberlain The Bridge over the River Lee at Stratford was built an Hundred years before and being the first Arched Stone-Bridge seen in England gave it the Name of Stratford-Bow Not far below this Famous Bridge is the place for Receipt and Management of all Impositions laid on Merchandizes Imported and Exported into and from this City which is called The Custom-House WHerein are Employed a great Number of Officers whereof the First and Chief are Six Commissioners who have Charge of all His Majesties Customs in all Ports of England Salary to each is 2000 l. a year And these have many Deputies Customers Collectors Comptrollers Surveyors Searchers Waiters c. in the Port of London and in all the Out-Ports Collector of Subsidies or Customs Outwards Fee Two hundred seventy six pounds Collector of Customs Inwards Fee Four hundred sixty six pounds Thirteen shillings Four pence Customer Inwards Fee Sixty two pounds Six shillings Eight pence Customers of Cloth and Petty Customs Fee Two hundred seventy seven pounds Customers of the Great Customs Two Fee Fifty pounds a piece Comptroller of Customs Inwards and Outwards Fee Two hundred fifty five pounds Comptroller of Cloth and Petty Customs Fee One hundred pounds Surveyors of Customs Inwards and Outwards Fee Three hundred pounds Surveyor General Fee Five hundred pounds Comptroller of the Great Custom Fee Thirty pounds Register of the Seizures Fee One hundred and six pounds Chief Searcher Fee One hundred Twenty pounds Five Under-Searchers Eighteen King's Waiters Fee to each Fifty two pounds Surveyor of the Out-Ports Fee Two hundred and Fifty pounds The Perquisites to each of these Officers are very considerable and to some more than their Salaries In all the Out-Ports the King hath the like Officers who all Receive Salaries likewise out of His Majesty's Revenue The General Post-Office THe King by Letters Patent doth Constitute his Post-Master General who keeps one General Office in the City of London from whence Letters and Packets are dispatched Monday to France Italy Spain Flanders Germany Sweden Denmark c. and to Kent Tuesday to the United Netherlands Germany c. and to all Parts of England Scotland and Ireland Wednesday to Kent only and the Downs Thursday to France Spain Italy and all Parts of England and Scotland Fryday to the Spanish and united Netherlands Germany Sweden Denmark and to Kent Saturday to all Parts of England Scotland and Ireland And the Answers of these Letters are Received in the said Office in due Course and dispersed from thence according to the Directions This Office is managed by a Deputy and other Officers to the number of Seventy seven Persons who give their actual Attendance Upon this Grand Office Depends 182 Deputy post-Post-Masters in England and Scotland Most of which keep Regular Offices in their Stages and Sub-Post-Masters ink their Branches And also in Ireland another General Post-office for that Kingdom which is kept in Dublin consisting of 18 like Officers and 45 Deputy Post-masters The Post-master General keeps for Transport of Letters to France Two Packet-boats to Flanders Two to Holland Two to Ireland Three at Deal Two for the Downs which he Maintains at his proper Charge And the Market Towns of England are so well Appropriated to the Respective Postages that they have an easy and certain conveyance of Letters in due Course of the Mails every Post The number of the Letters Missive in England tho' formerly inconsiderable yet are now so great that the Office hath been Farmed at 30000 l. a year The Charge of Letters here is Less and the Expedition Greater than in any Foreign Country A Letter of a Sheet of Paper costs 2 d. for 80 Miles Two Sheets 4 d. and an ounce 8 d. and in 24 Hours the Post goes 120 Mile and in Five days an Answer may be had from a place 300 Miles distant And for Riding Post you pay only 3 d. a Mile and 4 d. to the Post Boy at every Stage For Study of Law IN London are the Colledges or Houses of the Municipal or Common Law Professors and Students Which are Fourteen still called Inns the
the use of the Clergy in London and Liberties â—hereof and a part thereof for Twenty â—oor People for which he gave Three Thousand pounds and for the Mainâ—enance of the poor People 120 l. yearly for ever and 40 l. yearly for a Sermon in Latin at the beginning of â—very Quarter and a plentiful Dinner â—or all the Clergy that shall meet â—here There was a Spacious Library â—uilt by John Sympson Rector of St. Olaves Hartstreet and well furnished with Books The Chartreaux in London THis was heretofore a Convent of Carthusian Monks called in French Des Chartreaux It is called Sutton's Hâ—â—pital also and consists of A Master oâ— Governour A Chaplain A Master and Usher to Instruct 44 Scholars besideâ— 80 Decayed Gentlemen Souldiers anâ— Merchants who have all a plentifâ—â— Maintenance of Dyet Lodging Cloath and Physick c. The Scholars fit for the University have Twenty poundâ— yearly allowed them for Eight year after they come to the University 〈◊〉 and others fitter for Trades have a considerabl Sum of Money to bind them out Apprentices And they have all Officers expedient for such a Society as Physician Apothecary Steward Cooks Butlers c. who have all Competent Salaries This vast Revenue was the Gift of an ordinary Gentleman Mr. Thomas Sutton Born in Lincolnshire and was of such Account that by the King's Letters Patents Persons of the Highest Quality as the Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Chancelor Lord Treasurer and Thirteen others are Governours and Overseers thereof Schools in London ARe St. Paul's Founded An 1512. by John Collett Dr. of Divinity and â—ean of St. Paul's for 153 Children to â—e Taught gratis There being a Master Usher and Chaplain who have â—arge Stipends and the Master Wardens and Assistants of The Company of â—ercers in London have the oversight â—hereof And divers other Schools which are â—ndowed as Merchant-Taylors Mercers-Chappel c. which for brevity sake I â—mit The Arms of the City of London â—re Argent A Cross Gules with the Sword of St. Paul not the Dagger of William â—alworth as some have conceited â—or this Coat did belong to the City before Walworth slew Wat Tyler as â—earned Antiquaries affirm Southwark THis Burrough was granted by King Edward the Sixth by Lettâ—ers Patents to the Major Commonalâ—y and Citizens of London and is calâ—ed the Bridge-Ward without and Governed by One of the 26 Aldermen of London It hath nothing Remarkable but that it pays more in a Subsidy to the King and Musters more Men than any City in England except London The City of Westminster THE Ancient Stately Abby Church here was Founded by the Pious King Edward thâ— Confessor and richly Endowed afterwards Rebuilt by King Henry the Third with that rare Architecture now seen Wherein are most Magnificent Tombs and Monuments of our Kings Queens and Greatest Nobles To the East-end of which is added A Chappel by King Henry the Seventh which for curiouâ— Artificial Work without and within For a Monument of Massy Brass most curiously wrought is scarce to be parallel'd in the whole World This huge Fabrick stands where first was the Temple of Apollo and afterwards King Sebert the First Christened King of the East Saxons who first Built St. Paul's Church in London Built here likewise this Church to St. Peter It taketh the name from this Monastery which Minster signifieth it being called Westminster in respect of the East Minister not far from the Tower of London This Monastery 30 Hen. 8. was Surrendred to the King who Erected thereof a Dean and Chapter Anno 33 Hen. 8. It was raised to a Bishopâ—ick and Tho. Thurlby made the first and last Bishop thereof Queen Eliz. Converted it into a Collegiate Church and therein placed a Dean Twelve seculiar Canons or Prebendaries Pety Canons and others of the Quire to the number of Thirty Ten Officers belonging to the Church as many Servants belonging to the Collegiate Diet Two School-Masters Forty Scholars Twelve Alms-men with plentiful Allowance 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 The Dean is intrusted with the Regaâ—ia at the Coronation and Honoured with a place of necessary Service at â—ll Coronations and with a Commisâ—ion of the Peace within the City and Liberties of Westminster The Dean and Chapter invested with all Jurisdiction both Ecclesiastical and Civil not only within the City and Liberties of Westminster but within the Precincts of St. Martins le Grand and in some Towns in Essex Exempted in the one from the Jurisdiction of the Bishop of London And in the other from that of the Archbishop of Canterbury It hath a Royal Jurisdiction for Ecclesiastical Causes and Probate of Wills and a Commissary from whom is no Appeal but to the King in his 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 the Parliament to Westminster The Bishops first declare upon a Protestation made by the Dean there that they intend thereby not to violate that High Priviledge viz. That no Archbishop or Bishop 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 always in Term time Within this City are Twelve Wards Out of which are Elected One Burgess and One Assistant in every Ward and out of these Twelve Two are Elected yearly on the Thursday in Easter Week to be Chief Burgesses and so to continue for the year ensuing These Burgesses have Authority by Act 27 Eliz. To Hear Examine Determine and Punish according to the Laws of the Realm and lawful Customs of the City of London Matters of Incontinency Common Scolds Inmates and Common Annoyances and to commit such Persons as shall offend against the Peace and thereof give knowledge within Twenty four hours to some Justice of Peace within the County of Middlesex Next the Abbey Church stood the Palace Royal and usual Place of Residence of the Kings of England who ordinarily held their Parliaments and Courts of Judicature in their Dwelling Houses and many times sate themselves in the said Courts of Judicature as they do still in Parliament But after the Parliament was divided into two several Houses which was about 50 Ed. 3. The Commons assembled in the Chapter House of the Abbot of Westminster until 1 Ed. 6. which gave to the King Colledges Chauntries Free Chappels c. The King being thereby Possessed of the Ancient Beautiful Free Chappel of St. Stephen Founded by King Stephen which had Revenues of the old yearly value of 1085 l. It afterwards served for the House of Commons A great part of this Huge Palace was in the time of Hen. 8. destroyed by Fire what remained hath still been Employed for the use of the Parliament and Courts of Judicature The