should wear any Hood except striped with divers colours nor Furs but Garments turned the wrong side outward This King confirmed the Liberties of the City of London and ordained that the L. Mayor should sit in all places of Judgment within the Liberty of the same as chief Justice the Kings person only excepted and that every Alderman that had been Mayor should be Justice of Peace in all London and Middlesex and every Alderman that had not been Mayor should be Justice of Peace in his own Ward Also he granted to the Citizens of London that they should not be forced without their own consent to go out of the City to fight or defend the Land and likewise that after that day the Charter and Franchises of the City should not be seized into the Kings hands but onely for Treason and Rebellion done by the whole City Likewise that Southwark should be under the Government of the City and the Lord Mayor to chuse a Bailiff there as he pleased He also granted to the Citizens of London that the Officers of the Mayor and Sheriffs should from that day forward use Maces of silver parcel gilt In the twenty second year of his Reign a contagious Pestilence arose in the East and South parts of the World and coming at last into England it so wasted the people that scarce the tenth person of all sorts were left alive There died in London some say in Norwich between the first of January and the first of July 57374 persons This Plague lasted nine Years In the thirty fifth year of his Reign another Plague happened which was called the second Pestilence in which died many Lords and Bishops In this Kings time a Frost lasted from the midst of September to the Moneth of April In the fourth year of his Reign a solemn Just or Turnament was held in Cheapside London between the great Cross and the great Conduit In the eleventh year of his Reign was so great plenty that a Quarter of Wheat was sold at London for 2 s. a fat Ox for a noble a fat Goose for 2 d. a Pig for a penny and other things after that rate But in his 27 year there was a great scarcity by reason there fell little or no Rain from the end of March to the end of July and was therefore called the Dry Summer John Barns Mayor of London gave a chest with three Locks and a thousand Marks to be lent to young men upon security and for the Use of it if learned they were to say the Psalm De Profundis c. for the soul of John Barns if otherwise to say a Pater Noster but however the money is lent the cheft stood long after in the Chamber of London without money or security In the time of the Princes sickness the King calls a Parliament at Westminster and demands supplies upon which they demand redress of the Grievances of the Subjects and among the rest that John Duke of Law after and Alice Perice the Kings Concubine with others might be removed from the Court this Woman presuming so much upon the Kings favour that she grew very insolent and intermedled with Courts of Justice and other Offices where she her self would sit to countenance her Causes And this was so vehemently urged by the Speaker of the House of Commons that the King rather than want Supplies gave way to it and so they were all presently put from Court But the Prince dying soon after they were all recalled to Court again and restored to their former plâ—ces and Sir Peter de la More the Speaker was at the sâ—â—t of Alice Perice confined to perpetual Imprisonment though by making great Friends he got his Liborty in two years About this time John Wickliff bringeth in a new Doctrine inveighing against the abuses of Church-men Monks and other Religious Orders whom the Duke of Lancaster favoured Whereupon a great contention arose between him and the Bishop of London the Londoners take the Bishops part and set upon the Duke of Lancasters house at the Savoy upon which the Duke after the Tumult caused the Mayor and Aldermen to be displaced and others put in their rooms and Wickliff is banished to Bohemia where his Doctrine continues in great veneration to this day among that People King Edward died in the 64 year of his age and fiftieth of his Reign and his Grandchild Richard the second succeeded of whose unfortunate Reign and Deposition you have heard before we shall therefore onely add a few particulars more In his thirteenth year a Royal Just or Turnament was proclaimed to be holden in Smithfield London and at the day appointed about three of the clock in the Afternoon there issued out of the Tower threescore fine Horses apparelled for the Justs and upon every one an Esquire of Honour riding a soft pace after them came four and thirty Ladies of Honour mounted on Palfreys and every Lady led a Knight with a chain of gold These Knights being on the Kings side had their armour and apparel garnished with white Harts and Crowns of gold upon their heads and so they came riding through the streets of London to Smithfield This Just lasted twenty four days all which time the King and Queen lay at the Bishops Palace by S. Pauls Church and kept open house to all comers In the year 1â—89 whilest the King was at Sheen near London there swarmed in his Court such a multitude of Flies and Gnats skirmishing one with another that they were swept away with Brooms by heaps and Bushels were filled with them In the one and wentieth year of his Reign King Richard caused the great Hall at Westminster to be repaired both with Walls Windows and Roofs In his twelfth year in March there were terrible Winds and afterward a great Mortality and Dearth A Dolphin was likewise taken at London Bridge being ten foot long and very big Also in Parliament time an Image made by Necromancy in Wax as it is said at an hour appointed uttered these words The Head shall be cut off the Head shall be lifted up aloft the Feet shal be lift up above the head This hapned in that called the Marvellous Parliament not long before that called the Parliament that wrought wonders Henry IV. his Uncle succeeded K. Rich. against whom several Rebellions were raised especially one Henry Piercy called Hotspur and others who were overthrown King Henry himself killing thirty six with his own hands the Earl of Worcester among the rest was taken and beheaded with many others whose Heads were set on London Bridge In his time a Parliament was called at Westminster in which the Commons presented a Petition to the King and the House of Peers desiring that the King might have the Temporal Possessions of the Bishops and Clergy affirming that they would maintain 150 Earls 1500 Knights 6200 Esquires and 100 Hospitals for maimed Souldiers They desired likewise that Clerks Convict should not be delivered into the Bishops Prison
which the Rabble cryed Where is the Traytor who answered I am the Archbishop whom you seek not a Traytor Whereupon they dragged him out of the Chappel to Tower-hill where being incompassed with many Thousands and seeing many drawn swords about his head he said What is it dear Brethren you purpose to do what is mine offence committed against you for which you will kill me you were best take heed that if I be killed who am your Pastor there come not on you the Indignation of the just Revenger or at least for such a fact all England be not put under Interdiction or the Popes Curse But they cried out with a great noise That they did not fear the Interdiction neither did allow the Pope to be above them The Archbishop seeing death at hand spoke them fairly and granting forgiveness to the Executioner he kneeled down and offered his Head to be cut off The Hangman struck him on the neck but not deadly he putting up his hand said Aha it is the hand of God and being struck again before he removed his hand his fingers ends were cut off and part of the Arteries with which he fell down but died not till they had mangled him with eight several strokes in the Neck and Head His body lay two days unburied none daring to do it His Head they cut off and nailing his hood thereon fixt it upon a Pole on London Bridge This Simon Sudbury was eighteen years Bishop of London and being translated to Canterbury he in 1375. repaired the Walls of London from the West-gate which he built to the North-gate which had been destroyed by the Danes before the Conquest of William the Bastard He was at last buried in the Cathedral at Canterbury Sir Robert Hales Lord Treasurer of England suffered with him at the same time a most Valiant Knight and Lord of St. Johns together with John Leg one of the Serjeants at Arms and William Apledore a Franciscan Friar who was the Kings Confessor Many more were beheaded daily for no cause but the pleasure of the Commons for it was pastime to them to take any who were not sworn of their Party and pulling off their Hoods behead them They took 13 Flemings out of the Augustine Friers 17 out of another Church and 32 in the Vintry and beheaded them all And to make a distinction of Flemings they put them to pronounce Bread and Cheese and if they spake it like Brot and Cawse off went their Heads as a sure sign that they were Flemings The King coming according as he was required to Mile-end was much astonished at the madness of the People who with frowning Countenances made the following demands which they presented in writing â—nd would have them confirmed by the Kings Letters Patents 1. That all men should be free from Servitude or Bondage so that from thenceforth there should be no Bondmen 2. That he should Pardon all men of what Estate soever all manner of Actions and Insurrections committed and all Treasons Felonies Transgressions and Extortions by any of them done and to grant them Peace 3. That all men henceforth might be infranchised or made free to buy and sell in every County City Burrough Town Fair Market and other Places within the Realm of England 4. That no Acre of Land holden in Bondage or Service should be holden but for four pence and if it had been held for less in former time it should not now be inhanced These and many other things they required telling the King That he had been ill Governed to that day but for the time forward he must be otherwise governed The King finding himself in danger yeilded hereunto and so desiring a Truce the Essex men returned home Next day the King went to Westminster to visit St. Edwards Shrine and coming back by Westsmithfield he found the place full of Kentishmen to whom he sent word That their Fellows the Essex men were gone home and that if they desired it he would grant them the same Conditions of Peace But their Chief Captain named John or as others say Walter Hilliard alias Tyler being a cunning Fellow answered He desired Peace but upon his own Conditions intending by fair words to have delayed the business till the next day for he designed that Night to have killed the King and the Nobility about him and then to have pâ—â—ndred the City and burnt it But he was wonderfully disappointed in his Pride having refused Conditions of Peace which were sent him in three several Charters three times Upon which the King at last sent Sir John Newton not to Command but to Intreat him to come and discourse with him concerning what he demanded among which one particular was That Wat Tyler desired a Commission to behead all Lawyers Escheators and others whatsoever that were learned in the Law conceiving that afterward all would be managed according to the Humour of the Common People And it is reported that the day before putting his hand to his Lips he had said That before four days came to an end all the Laws of England should proceed from his mouth When Sir John Newton desired Tyler to dispatch him he scornfully answered If thou art so hasty thou mayst go to thy Master for I will come when I please However Sir John Newton followed him slowly on Horseback and by the way a Doublet-maker brought threescore Doublets to the Commons and demanded thirty Marks for them but could have no Money Upon which Wat Tyler told him Friend be quiet thou shalt be well paid before this day be ended keep nigh me and I will be thy Creditor Wat Tyler then set Spurs to his Horse and rid up toward the King coming so near that his Horse touched the Crouper of the Kings to whom he said Sir King seest thou all yonder People Yes truly said the King but why dost thou ask Because said Tyâ—er they are all at my Command and have sworn their Truth and Faith to me to do whatever I bid them In good time replyed the King I believe it well Then said Tyler Believest thou King that these People and as many more that are in London will depart from thee thus without having thy Letters No said the King you shall have them they are ready and shall be delivered to them all Wat Tyler observing Sir John Newton to be near him bearing the Kings Sword was offended saying Thâ— it became him better to be afoot in his presence Thâ— Knight answered stoutly That surely there was no haâ—â— in it since he himself was on Horseback This so iâ— raged Wat that he drew his Dagger and offered 〈◊〉 strike the Knight calling him Traytor Sir John toâ—â— him he lied and drew his Dagger likewise Wat Tylâ— seeming much disturbed at this Indignity attempteâ— before his Rustick Companions to have run upon thâ— Knight whom the King to preserve from the dangeâ— commanded to alight from his Horse and deliver hiâ— Dagger to Wat Tyler But his
of Suffolk into their Fellowship but he having notice of their intent suddenly rose from supper and got away Yet they compelled many other Lords and Knights to be sworn to them and to ride with them as the Lord Scales the Lord Morley Sir John Brewis Sir Stephen Hales and Sir Robert Salle the last of whom not enduring their Insolencies had his Brains dashed out by a Countrey-man that was his Bondman The rest terrified by his Example were glad to carry themselves submissively to their Commander John Littester who named himself King of the Commons and counted it a Preferment for any to serve him at his Table in taking Assay of his Meats and Drinks with kneeling humbly before him as he sate at Meat And now these Fellows upon Consultation send two Choice Men namely the Lord Morley and Sir John Brewis with three of their Chief Commons to the King for their Charter of Manumission and freedom from Bondage who being on their way they were met near Newmarket by Henry Spenser Bishop of Norwich who examining if there were any of the Rebels in their Company and finding three of the Chief present he instantly caused their Heads to be struck off and then pursued on toward Northwalsham in Norfolk where the Commons stayed for an Answer from the King and though he had at first but eight Lances and a small number of Archers in his Company yet they so increased as to become a compleat Army with which he set upon the Rebels and routed them taking John Littester and other Principal Ringleaders whom he caused all to be Executed and by this means the Countrey was quieted After this the Lord Mayor of London sate in Judgment upon Offenders where many were found guilty and lost their Heads among others Jack Straw John Kirkby Alane Tredder and John Sterling who gloried that he was the man who had slain the Archbishop Sir Robert Tresilian Chief Justice was likewise appointed to sit in Judgment against the Offenders beforâ— whom above fifteen hundred were found guilty anâ— in divers places put to death and among them John Ball their Priest and Incendiary of whom it is not impertinent to relate a Letter he wrote to his Fellow Rebels in Essex by which we may see how fit an Orator he was for such an Auditory and what strength of perswasion there was in Nonsense John Sheep St. Mary Priest of York and now of Colchester greeteth well John Nameless and John the Miller and John Carter and biddeth them that they beware of Guile in Burrough stand together in Gods name and biddeth Peirce Plowman go to his work and chastize well Hob the Robber and take with you John Trueman and all his Fellows and no moe John the Miller ye ground small small small The Kings Son of Heaven shall pay for all Beware or ye be woe know your Friend from your Foe Have enough and say Hoe and do well and better Elee Sin and seek Peace and hold you therein and so biddeth John Trueman and all his Fellows Neither may it be amiss to declare the Confession of Jack Straw at his Execution The Lord Mayor being present spake thus to him John Behold thy death is at hand without remedy and there is no way left for thy escape therefore for thy Souls health without making any lye tell us what your Intentions were and to what end you Assembled the Commons After some pause John seeming doubtful what to say the Lord Mayor added Surely John thou knowest that if thou perform what I require of thee it will redound to thy Souls Health Being hereupon incouraged he made his Confession to this purpose It is now to no purpose to lye neither is it lawful to utter any untruth especially knowing that my Soul must suffer more bitter Torments if I do so And because I hope for two advantage by speaking Truth First that what I shall say may profit the Common-wealth and Secondly That after my death I trust by your Suffrages to be helped and succoured according to your promises by your Prayers I will therefore speak Faithfully and without deceit At the same time when we were Assembled upon Black-Heath and had sent to the King to come to us our purpose was to have slain all such Knights Esquires and Gentlemen as attended him And for the King we would have kept him amongst us that the People might have more boldly repaired to us since they would have thought that whatever we did was by his Authority Finally when we had got strength enough so as not to fear any attempt made against us we would have slain all such Noblemen as should either have given Counsel or made Resistance against us but especially we would have slain all the Knights of the Rhodes or St. John of Jerusalem and lastly we would have killed the King himself and all men of Estates with Bishops Monks Canons and Parsons of Churches Only we would have saved Friers Mendicants for Ministring the Sacraments to us When we had been rid of all these we would have devised Laws according to which the Subjects of this Realm should have lived For we would have created Kings as Wat Tyler in Kent and others in other Countreys But because this our purpose was disappointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury who would not permit the King to come to us we sought by all means to dispatch him out of the way as at length we did And further the same Evening that Wat Tyler was killed we were resolved having the greatest part of the Commons of the City inclined to join with us to have set Fire in four corners of the City and so to have devided among our selves the Spoil of the chiefest Riches that could have been found And this said he was our purpose as God may help me now at my last end After this Confession he was beheaded and his head was set on London Bridge by Wat Tylers And thus by the happy and prosperous success at London this dangerous Rebellion was fully quieted In 1392. and the Fifteenth of Richard II. there happened some difference between that King and the Londoners One occasion was that the King would have borrowed of them a thousand pound but they feeling much and fearing more the Kings daily Exactions not only refused it but abused a certain Italian Merchant who would have laid down the Money Another occasion was That one of the Bishop of Salisburies Servants named Walter Roman taking an House Loaf out of a Bakers basket in the Streets ran with it into the Bishops House The Citizens demanded the delivery of the Offender but the Bishops men shut the Gates and would not suffer the Constable to enter upon which many people got together threatning to break open the Gates and Fire the House unless Roman were brought forth What said they are the Bishops men Priviledged or is his house a Sanctuary or will he protect those whom he ought to punish if we may be abused
in this manner not only our Streets but our Shops and Houses shall never be free from violence and wrong this we neither will nor can endure for it doth not become us And hereupon they approached the Gates with great Fury But the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs having notice hereof came to them and told them That this â—as not Courage but Outrage which they shewed whereby they would procure both danger to themselves and displeasure against the whole City and that though wrong had been done yet they were not the Persons neither was this the way to redress the same Thus partly by perswasion and partly by their Presence and Authority they suppressed the Riot and sent every man home with strict charge to keep the Peace Hitherto there was no great mischeif done and the quarrel might have been ended without any further trouble had not the Bishops stirred in it and kindled the Coals of Contention afresh For the Londoners were at that time not only secretly suspected but openly noted to be Favourers and Followers of Wickliffs Opinions which were contrary to the Pope and Church of Rome and upon that account the Bishops were malicious against them and most of their Actions were interpreted to proceed from other Causes and to tend to worse Purposes than they outwardly seemed to bear yea many accidental matters were charged upon them to be done out of Design and on purpose Whereupon John Waltham Bishop of Salisbury and Lord Treasurer of England made a grievous Complaint against them for this last Attempt to Thomas Arundel Archbishop of York and Lord Chancellor alledging That if upon every slight pretence the Citizens should be suffered in this manner to affront the Bishops without reproof or punishment they would endanger not only the Dignity and State but the Liberty of the whole Church also For said he did they not lately take upon them the punishment of Adulteries and other Crimes appertaining to Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction maliciously alledging That either the Bishops and their Officers were infamous for those Vices themselves and did therefore Connive at the same in others Or else by Covetous Commutation and taking of Money did rather set those sins to Sale than endeavour carefully to suppress them Did they not said he rudely and irreverently break open the doors upon the Archbishop of Canterbury and interrupt his Proceedings against John Aston an open Disciple of Wickliff and do we imagine that this is the last Indignity they will offer no certainly nor yet the least for if this boldness and Insolence be not supprest our Authority will soon fall into Contempt and Scorn and will be made a Common Football for every base and unworthy Citizen to kick at Armed with these furious Arguments they went together to King Richard and so incensed him against the Londoners his Mind being before prepared by former Provocations that he was once resolved to have utterly ruined and destroyed the whole City But being perswaded to use more Moderation he in Revenge first caused the Lord Maior Sheriffs and many of the Principal Citizens to be committed to several Prisons the Lord Mayor to Windsor Castle and others to other Places and then seized the Liberties of the City into his hands declaring that no Lord Mayor should for the future be Elected any more but that the King should at his Pleasure appoint a Warden or Governour over the City And this Office was first committed to Sir Edward Darlington who for his kindness toward the City was soon removed and Sir Baldwin Radington put in his place The King was likewise perswaded by Arundel Archbishop of York to remove the Terms and Courts that is the Chancery Exchequer Kings Bench the Hamper Office and the Common-pleas from London to York where they continued from Midsummer 1393. till Christmas next following to the great dammage and loss of the City of London But at last upon the earnest intreaty of the Dukes of Lancaster and Glocester his Uncles the King sent for the Londoners before him to Windsor where having first terrified them with the sight of a great Number of Souldiers he caused all the Priviledges and Charters of the City both old and new to be produced some of which he restored to them and detained others Yet were not the Citizens received fully into favour neither did they recover the Person or Dignity of their Lord Mayor at that time Shortly after the King went to London at whose coming the Citizens turned all their Greif into Joy the Vulgar being without measure in both entertaining him with such joyful Triumphs and Rich Presents as if it had been the day of his Coronation thinking by all these costly preparations to have pacified all former Anger and displeasure against them but they found themselves much deceived there being no Reconciliation to be made without Money for they were not absolutely restored to their Liberties till they had paid Ten Thousand pound to the King as a Fine Thus did the Londoners shew a strange diversity of Disposition in rashly committing an Offence and patiently induring punishment yet upon this Account as soon as the first occasion was offered against King Richard they shewed themselves either his earnest Enemies or faint Friends as by the sequel appears In 1387. King Richard II. held his Feast of Christmas in the Tower of London And in the year 1399 the same King was sent Prisoner to the Tower which being a very remarkable Transaction it may be necessary to give a breif Account thereof Richard the II. was the only Son of a Renowned Father Edward Sirnamed the Black Prince who died before his Father Edward III. and thereupon Richard was by his Grandfather in his Life-time declared to be his Heir and lawful Successor and accordingly after his Death was Crowned King of England at Westminster July 16. 1377. But being of tender age only eleven years old several Persons were commissioned to be his Protectors or Guardians and soon after a Parliament was called at Westminster wherein Alice Peirce the late Kings Concubine was banished and all her Goods Confiscate and two Tenths of the Clergy and two Fifteenths of the Temporality were granted but so as that two Citizens of London William Walworth and John Philpot should receive and keep it to see it bestowed for defence of the Realm At which time Sir Hugh Calverly Deputy of Callice burnt 26 French Ships in the Haven of Bulloigne But one Mercer a Scottish Pyrate came to Scarborough and took divers Ships committing likewise many Outrages and no Order being taken to repel them John Philpot set out a Fleet at his own Charge and encountring him in his own Person took Mercer and all his Ships and returning home instead of being rewarded for his Service he was questioned for presuming to fit out a Navy without Advice of the Kings Council While the King was in his Minority matters were carried indifferent well but in the year 1387 King Richard begins to enter as we
of the River against an Invasion and securing Merchandizing and Navigation by Block-Houses Forts or 〈…〉 There are divers Courts of Judicature belonging to the Lord Mayor and City of London the highest and most ancient Court is called the Hustings which preserves the Laws Rights Franchises and Customs of the City There is a Court of Requests or Conscience the Court of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen where also the Recorder and Sheriffs sit two Courts of the Sheriffs one for each Counter the Court of the City Orphans whereof the Lord Mayor and Aldermen have the Care The Court of Common-Council consisting as the Parliament of England of two Houses one of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen and the other of Commoners but they fit all together In which Court are made all B. -Laws which bind all the Citizens of London for every man either by himself or by his Representative gives his assent thereto wherein consists the happiness of the English above all other Subâ—â—cts in the world that neither in Laws By Laws Taxes nor Imposts no man is obliged to pay any thing but by his own consent There is another Court of the Chamberlain of the City to whom belong the Receipts of the Rents and Revenues thereof and likewise the Inrolling and making Free Apprentices over whom he hath great Authority Also the Courts of Coroner and Escheator and another Court for the conservation of the River of Thames lastly the Court of Goal Delivery at Newgate held usually eight times a â—ear at the Old Baily both for the City and Middlesex for the Trial of Criminals whereof the Lord May or is cheif Judge There are other Courts called Wardmote or the meeting of Wards whereof there are 26 in the whole City every Alderman having a several Ward In this Court Inquiry is made into all things that conduce to the Regulating and well Governing of the City Also the Court of Hallmote or Assembly of every Guild and Fraternity for Regulating what belongs to every company in particular There are two Sheriff belonging to this City which like the Lord Mayor are only for a year and are elected generally upon Midsummerday The name is thought to be Saxon from Shire or Country and Rive Governour His Office is to serve the King's Writs of Attachment to return indifferent Juries to see that the publick Peace be kept and that condemned Persons be executed c. Newgate Ludgate and the two Counters are put into the Custody of the Sheriffs For the Ecclesiastical Government there is a Bishop and the present is Dr. Henry Compton and to the Cathedral of St Paul's belongs a Dean a Chapter a Treasurer and 〈◊〉 Prehends A Rector or Vicar is placed in every Parish for the Cure of Sâ—uls and there is in most Parishes a Parsonage or Vicarage-House for the Minister and a Competent Allowance of Tithes CHAP. VI. The several Companies or Corporations of the City of London with the Arms of each Company and the time of their Incorporating THE Traders of the City of London are divided into Companies or Corporations and are so many Bodies Politick enjoying large Priviledges by the Charters of divers Kings granted to them and have Halls to meet in some like Pallaces with Arms belonging to each Company The Arms of this famous City of London are Argent Cross Gules with the Sword of St. Paul say some and not the Dagger of William Walworth for they say it is recorded this Coat did belong to the City long before Wat Tyler's Rebellion The ARMS of London The ARMS of the rest of the Companies follow Merchant Adventurers Incorporated by Ed. 4. consirmed by Q. Eliz. Turkey Merchants Incorporated by Q. E. their Charter inlarged by K. James 1. East-India Company They were first Incorporated by Q. E. 1600. 1. Mercers They were Incorporat 17 Rich. 2. 1393. 2. Grocers First called Pepperers Incorporated 28 E. 3. 3. Drapers They were Incorporâ—â—â— in the 17 H. 6. 4. Fishmongers The Stock and Salt Incorporated 28 H. 8. 5. Goldsmiths They were made a Company 16 R. 2. 6. Skinners Incorporated first by Edw. 3. confirmed 18 Rich 2. 7. Merchant Taylors They were compleatly Incorporated by Hen. 7. 1531. 8. Haberdashers Incorporat 17 Hen. 7. called St. Kath. Society 9. Salters Had their Arms 22 Hen. 8. Crest and Supporters by Q. Eliz. 10. Iroâ—mongers They were made a Company the 3d of Edward 4. 11. Vintners Incorpor by Edw. 3. and confirmed by Hen. 6. 12. Clothworkers Grew to be a Company the 22 of Henry 8. 13. Dyers Incorporated first by a Charter from Henry 6. 14. Brewers Incorporated by Hen. 6. confirmed by Q. Eliz. 15. Leathersellers First Incorporated in the 6th of Richard 2. 16. Prwterers They were made a Society by K. Edw. 4. 17. Barber-Chirurgeons First Incorporated by Edw. 4. and confirmed by every Prince since 18. Armorers Incorporated by Hen. 6. himself being of the Company 19. White Bakers They are Ancient being Incorporat 1 Edw. 2. 20. Wax Chandlers In great credit in the times of Popery Incorporat 2 Rich. 3. 1484. 21. Tallow Chandlers Incorporated 2 Edw. 4. and confirmed by King James 1. 22. Cutlers They were made a Company by Henry 5. and others since 23. Girdlees They were made a Company 27 Henry 6. 24 Butchers They were not Incorporated till 3 of King James 1. 25. Sadlers They are Ancient from Edw. 1. 300 years ago 26. Carpenters They were Incorporated 7 July 17 Edw. 4. 27. Cordwinders or Shoemakers were Incorporated 17 Hen. 6. and confirmed since 28. Painters or Painter Stainers were Incorgor 23 Q. E. 1580. 29. Curriers They are ancient but not Incorporated till 12 Jnne 3 of King James 30. Masons or Free Masons were made 〈◊〉 Company 12 Hen. 4. 31. Plumbers They were made a Corporation 9 K. James 1. 32. Inholders They were made a Company 6 Henry 8. 33. Founderes Incorporated the 18 Sept. 12 K. James 1. 34. Embroiderers They were Incorporated in the 4 of Q. Eliz. 35. Poulterers Incorporat by Henry 7. and confirmed 33 Q. E. 36. Cooks Indorpor 12 E. 4. confir by Q. E. K. J. 1. 37. Coopers They were made a Company the 18 H. 7. 38. Bricklayers or Tylers Incorporated by Q. E. confirm 2 K. J. 1. 39. Bowyers The of their Incorporated was 21 K. J. 1. 40. Fletchers They are also a Corporation but when made is uncertain 41. Blacksmiths Incorporated 20 Q. E. confirmed 2 K. Ja. 1. 42. Joyners Incorporated 13 Q. E. 43. Plaisterers They were Incorporain the Reign of King Henry the 7. 44. Weavers now Silk Weavers very ancient having 3 Societies 45. Fruiterers Incorporated 3 K. J. 1. 49. Scriveners Ancient yet not Incorporated till 14 K. J. 1. 50. Bottlemakers Horners are of great Antiquity but not Incor 51. Stationers Of great Antiquity before Printing Incorporated 3 Phil. and M. 52. Marblers Not Incorporat unless joined with the Masons 53. Wool-packers They flouâ—â—â—hed in the time of the Woâ—â—staple 54. Farriers They rise
fallen by Will or by Intestates and are under the Jurisdiction of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury There is also the College of Physicians curiously rebuilt in Warwick lane and likewise a College of Heralds who are Messengers of War and Peace and skilful in Descents Pedigrees and Coats of Arms. Gresham College in Bishopsgate-street is another built by Sir Tho. Gresham and a Revenue left to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen for maintaining four Persons to read within this College Divinity Geometry Astronomy and Musick with an allowance to each besides Lodging of 50 l. a year and other Rents are left to the Mercers Company to find three able Men more to read Civil Law Physick and Rhetorick with the same allowance these several Lectures should be read in Term time every day in the Week except Sundays beginning at nine in the Morning and at two Afternoon to give notice whereof the Bell in the Steeple of the Royal-Exchange is to ring at those times they are to read Forenoon in Latin and Afternoon in English The Musick Lecture to be read only in English There is also Sion College founded by Dr. White near Cripplegate for the use of the Clergy of London and of the Liberties thereof and some Alms-Houses for 24 poor People to perform all which he gave 3000 l. and for the maintenance of these poor People 120 l. a year for ever and 40 l. a year for a Sermon in Latin at the beginning of every Quarter and a plentiful Dinner for all the Clergy that shall then meet there In this College is a fine Library built by John Symson well furnished with Books for Divines This College felt the rage of the Fire but is since rebuilt A little without the Walls stands another College or Collegiate House called the Charter-house formerly a Convent of Carthusian Monks called also Suttons Hospital It consists of a Master or Governour a Chaplain with a Master and Usher to instruct 44 Scholars besides 80 decayed Gentlemen Soldiers or Merchants who have all a plentiful maintenance of Diet Lodging Cloaths Physick c. and live all together in a Collegiate manner and the 44 Scholars have all Necessaries whilst they are here taught and when fit for the University there is allowed to each out of the Revenues of this College 20 l. yearly for 3 years after they come to the University and to others sit for Trades a considerable sum to bind them Apprentices There are all sorts of Officers fit for such a Society as Minster Physician Apothecary Steward Cook Butler c. who have all competent Salaries This vast Revenue and Princely Foundation was the sole Gift of an ordinary Gentleman Mr. Thomas Sutton born in Lincolnshire and is of such account that by the Kings Letters Patents under the great Seal divers Persons of the highest Dignity and Quality in Church and State are always the Overseers and Regulators of this Society as the Arch bishop of Canterbury the L. Keeper or Chancellor L. Treasurer and 13 more There are likewise divers publick Schools endowed as St. Pauls a Free School founded by Dr. Collet Dean of St. Pauls for 153 Children to be taught gratis for which there was appointed a Master a Submaster or Usher and a Chaplain with large â—â—â—pends paid by the Mercers Company This famous School was also burnt down but is now reedified in a more magnificent and commodious Manner In 1553. after the crecting of Christs Hospital out of the Ruins of the Gray Fryers a great number of poor Children were taken in and a School appointed at the charge of the City There are in London divers other endowed or Free Schools as Merchant Taylors Mercers c. There are likewise several famous Hospitals in this City as Christs Hospital given by King Edward VI. from whence Children are put forth Apprentices every year some of them being instructed in Arithmetick and Navigation are placed with Commanders of Ships out of the Mathematical School founded by K. Charles H. Then there is St. Bartholomews Hospital for maimed Soldiers Seamen and other diseased Persons St. Thomas's Hospital in Southwark for sick and wounded Persons Also Pridewell Hospital for Vagrants and Indigent Persons The Hospital oâ— Bethlem for curing Lunaticks and mad Men hath been lately removed because of the inconveniency of the Place and a stately and magnificent Hospital built for them in Morefields which cost above 17000 Pound CHAP. IX The Strand Westminster and Part Adjacent IT would too much enlarge this small Volume to give an exact Account of the City of Westminster and other Parts we shall therefore only remark some Particulars Westminister was formerly called Dorney or Thorney and was an Island incompassed by the Thames overgrown with Fryers and Thorns but now graced with sltately Houses and Pallaces both publick and private The chief are the two Palaces of White hall but the former was lately burnt down by a sudden Fire and St. James's to which is adjoined a delightful Park in which is a Mall said to be the best in Europe it is now the Pallace of our Gracious Queen Anne Then there is Westminster-hall where the Courts of Justice are kept as the High Court of Parliament consisting of the King the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons The Court of Kings Bench wherein the King sometimes sate in Person in which are handled all the Pleas of the Crown all things that concern loss of Life or Member for them the K. or Qu. is concerned because the Life and Limbs of the Subject belong only to them so that the Pleas are here between the King and the Subject As all Treasons Felonies Breach of Peace Oppression Misgovernment c. In this Court sit four Judges Then there is the Court of Common-Pleas so called say some because there are debated the usual Pleas between one Subject and another in this Court there are likewise four Judges Next is the Court of Exchequer so called some think from a Checquer wrought Carpet covering the great Table in that Court wherein are tryed all Causes concerning the Kings Revenue There is another called the Court of the Dutchy of Lancaster which takes Cognizance of all Causes that concern the Reveâ—ues of that Dutchy Also the high Court of Chanâ—ery which is placed next the King's Bench as mitigating the Rigor thereof this Court is the Womb â—f all our Fundamental Laws it is called Chancery as â—ome imagine because the Judge of this Court sate â—nciently inter Cancellos or within Lattices as the East end of our Churches being separated per Cancelâ—os from the Body of the Church as peculiarly belonging to the Priest were thence called Chancels this Court grants Writs according to Equity or Consciâ—nce Out of which issue Summons for Parliaments â—dicts Proclamations Letters Patents Treaties â—eagues with Forreign Princes c. There is likewise â—he Court of Admiralty wherein all matters concernâ—ng the Sea are determined by the Civil Law because â—he Sea is without the Limits
his brother Murdered Q. Elizabeth Prisoner in the Tower The Lords having thus got the Government into their hands obliege the King to free them from all Obedience and Allegiance whensoever he infringed their Charter Yet soon after the King sends to Râ—me to be freed from his Oath which he obtained Whereupon the Lords put themselves into arms and Moniford Earl of Leicester their General takes many Castles The King likewise raises Forces The Barons march toward London under a Banner richly and beautifully flourished with the Kings Arms. And as they passed by the Houses or Possessions of those that favoured the Popes Bulls whereby the King himself and all others who had formerly sworn to observe and maintain those new Ordinances and Laws and to support the Authority of the twenty four Peers were fully absolved from their Oaths they robbed and wasted them as Enemies to the King and kingdom They then approached the City of London and by their Letters desired the Lord Mayor and Citizens to send them word whether they resolved to support the Authority of the Peers or not protesting before God themselves intended nothing else and that if any thing were defective in those Laws they should be reformed The Lord Mayor sends these Letters with all speed to the King who desired likewise to know whether they would support the Laws of the twenty four Peers or not they stoutly answered that they would since by the Kings command they had all sworn so to do The King was extreamly enraged at this answer but he could get no other and the same answer they sent to the Lords who thereupon proceeded in their march and were with much joy and kindness received into London and soon after routed the Prince who came against them with a considerable Army But some of the meaner sort of the City intending under the pretence of these disturbances to do mischief elected two ambitious Fellows whom they called the two Constables of London and agreed that at the tolling of a great Bell in St. Pauls Church as many as would join with them should be ready to act whatever the two Constables commanded them and though all endeavours were used to prevent them yet their desire of plunder so furiously transported them that upon the tolling that Bell a great number met together and marching about eight miles Westward from London they ruined and destroyed the House and Possessions of the Kings Brother Richard King of the Romans carrying away all his Goods with them Which insolent outrage much furthered the succeeding Wars for whereas before Richard being of a mild and virtuous disposition had used all his endeavours to make peace upon all occasions he now became a professed Enemy both to the Barons and the City of London After this the Lords sent a Letter to the King and protested with all humility and submission that they intended nothing but the performance of their Oaths by defending those Laws and Ordinances which had been established in Parliament for the benefit of the King and the Realm But the King his Brother Richard and Edward the young Prince thinking nothing more disdainful than that Subjects should rule and command their Sovereign resolved to revenge it and bid utter defiance to the Lords and both Armies met near a Town called Lewis in Sussex where a cruel Battel was fought and the King his Brother and the Prince were all taken prisoners with many other great Commanders and twenty thousand men slain Yet a while after upon some Conditions they were all three set at Liberty and the former Laws and Ordinances were confirmed in Parliament and the King took an Oath for confirming the power of the twelve Peers After which the Earls of Leicester and Glocester the two Generals of the Lords Party fell into a great difference which Prince Edward taking advantage of raiseth an Army and persuading the Earl of Glocester to join with him they fell upon the Earl of Leicesters Army and utterly routed them himself his eldest Son and many others being slain Which overthrow utterly defeated the Barons and revived the Melancholy King who calling a Parliament all the former Decrees were made void together with the power of the twelve Peers and the King regained his former Liberty and Authority When this Parliament was ended the King perhaps by the instigation of his Brother Richard who was so horridly abused without cause by the baser sort of the Inhabitants of the City resolved utterly to destroy and consume the City of London by Fire because he said the Magistrates and Inhabitants had always hated him and taken part with the Lords against him Whereupon those of the Nobility who were most in favour with the King humbly besought him By no means to do such an execrable deed which would not onely weaken his own Kingdom and Government but would likewise make him infamous throughout the World to all Generations They were very earnest in their suit and their Reasons were unanswerable yet the King prorested That he was resolved to do it and his determination should be unchangeable and his Justice upon such Rebellious Villains should be a President to deter all perverse and obstinate Rebels and Traitors in time to come This severe Resolution made the Citizens tremble at the indignation of their angry King so that perceiving his rage and fury not to be mitigated they caused an instrument to be drawn in writing which was confirmed with their Common Seal wherein they confessed their Rebellion and humbly craved pardon for the same and without any exception or reservation they wholly submitted their Lands Goods and Lives together with the whole City to the Kings Grace and Mercy This Instrument they sent to Windsor to the King by some of the chiefest of the Citizens who were ordered to present it on their knees but so furious was the Kings wrath against them and so implacable was his anger that he reputed none to be his Friends who interposed as Mediators on their behalf neither would he admit any of them into his presence but commanded them immediately to be thrown into prison and five of the principal of them he gave to the Prince together with all their Lands and Goods and all the rest he bestowed among his Attendants who made them Slaves and suffered them to enjoy the least part of their own But when the King had thus a little revenged himself and time had cooled his mighty passion he began to hearken to the importunate intercession of Prince Edward his Son and soon after received the City and all its Inhabitants into favour again and laying onely a Fine upon them of a thousand Marks he restored to them all their Charters Liberties and Customs which for their transgressions he had seized into his hands And now though these Intestine Troubles and Civil Wars which like an outragious Fire dispersed into the midst of a well compacted City had end angered the whole State of the kingdom were thus appeased
and though the Earl of Glocester by his revolt from the Barons and joining with the Prince had greatly furthered this good work and had caused the King to enjoy a happy peace yet was this Earl so little trusted that he found neither favour nor reward but was much slighted and had but cold entertainment at Court which he highly resented and meditated revenge In this fury he came headlong into the City of London and complaining of his ill usage the common people flockt in Troops about him and daringly committed many notorious outrages within the City forgetting the great Calamity they had lately suffered and what favours they had received From thence they went to the Kings Palace at Westminster which they most barbarously rifled spoiled and ransacked This might have produced another Civil War but the Tumult was in a little time dispersed and the Prince again interposed himself an earnest Mediator between the King and all the Offenders and procured a large and free pardon for the Earl of Glocester whereby all things were again appeased and quieted After which the Earl of Glocester and Prince Edward went into the Holy Land where he continued till after the death of his Father It is observed of this King Henry the third that he was never constant in his love nor his hate for he never had so great a Favourite but he cast him off with disgrace nor so great an Enemy whom he received not into favour An example of both which Qualities was seen in his carriage to Hubert de Burgh who was for a time the greatest Favourite yet cast out afterward in miserable disgrace and then no man held in greater hatred yet received afterward into Grace again And it is strange to read what Crimes this Hubert was charged with at his Arraignment and especially one That to dissuade a great Lady from marrying with the King he had said The King was a squint-eyed Fool and a kind of Leper deceitful perjured more faint-hearted than a Woman and utterly unfit for any Ladies Company For which and other crimes laid to his charge in the Kings Bench where the King himself was present he was adjudged to have his Lands Confiscate and to be deprived of his Title of Earl yet after all he was restored to his Estate again and suffered to live quiet There is likewise an instance of his Timorousness in the following passage The King being in his Barge on the Thames on a sudden the Air grew dark and there followed a terrible Shower with Thunder and Lightning of which the King being impatient commanded himself to be put to Land at the next Stairs which was Durham-house where Simon Montford Earl of Leicester lived which the Earl having notice of came to wait on the King saying Sir Why are you afraid the Tempest is now past Whereunto the King with a stern look replied I fear Thunder and Lightning extreamly but by the head of God I fear thee more than all the Thunder and Lightning in the World Whereto the Earl answered My Leige it is injurious and incredible that you should stand so much in fear of me who have been always loyal both to you and your Kingdom whereas you ought to fear your Enemies even those that destroy the Realm and abuse your Majesty with bad Counsels In this Kings Reign the two great Charters of Magna Charta and Charta de Forestae were ratified and confirmed The Pleas of the Crown were likewise pleaded in the Tower of London All Wears in the Thames were in this Kings time ordered to be pulled up and destroyed Also the Citizens of London were allowed by Charter to pass Toll-free through England and to have free liberty of Hunting about London they had likewise licence to have and use a Common Seal It was also ordained that no Sheriff of London should continue in his Office longer than one Yearâ— whereas before they continued many and the City were allowed to present their Mayor to the Barons of the Exchequer to be sworn who before was presented to the King where-ever he were In the 32 year of his Reign the Wharf in London called Queen-Hith was farmed to the Citizens for fifty pounds a year which is scarce now worth fifteen This King caused a Chest of Gold to be made for laying up the Reliques of King Edward the Confessor in the Church of Westminster Hubert de Burgh Earl of Kent was buried in the Church of the Friars Preachers in London to which Church he gave his Pallace at Westminster which afterward the Archbishop of York bought and made it his Inn then commonly called York Place and now Whitchall In the thirteenth year of this King there were great Thunders and Lightnings which burnt many houses and slew both Men and Beasts In his 15. year upon S. Pauls day when Roger Wiger Bishop of London was at Mass at S. Pauls the Sky suddenly grew dark and such a terrible Thunder-clap sell upon the Church that it was shaken as if it would have fallen and so great a flash of Lightning came out of a dark Cloud that all the Church seemed to be on fire so that all the people ran out of the Church and fell on the ground with astonishment In 1233. five Suns were seen at one time together after which followed so great a Dearth that people were forced to eat Horse-flesh and Barks of Trees and in London twenty thousand were starved for want of Bread In 1236. the River of Thames overflowed the Banks so that in the great Pallace at Westminster men rowed with Boats in the midst of the Hall In 1240. many strange Fishes came ashore and among others forty Sea Bulls and one of a huge bigness passed through London Bridge unhurt till he came to the Kings House at Moreclack where he was killed In 1263. the Thames again overflowed the Banks about Lambeth and drowned Houses and Fields for the space of six Miles And the same Year there was a Blazing Star seen for three Moneths In 1264. seven hundred Jews were slain in London their Goods spoiled and their Synagogue defaced because one Jew would have forced a Christian to have paid above two pence a Week for the use of twenty shillings In 1268. there happened a great quarrel between the Goldsmiths and Taylors of London which occasioned much mischief to be done and many men were slain for which Riot twelve of the Ringleaders were hanged In 1269. the River of Thames was so hard frozen from the last of November to Gandlemas that men and Beasts passed over from Lambeth to Westminster and Goods were brought from Sandwich and other Port Towns by Land In 1271. the Steeple of Bow in Cheapside fell down and slew many people both Men and Women About the same time a Child was born near London who is reported at two years old to have cured all Diseases And at Greenwich near London a Lamb was yeaned which had two perfect bodies and but one head King