the Dukes Marquesses and Earls according to their Creations Upon the first Form across the House below the Woolsacks sit the Viscounts and upon the next Forms the Barons all in Order The Lord Chancellor or Keeper if the King be present stands behind the Cloth of Estate otherwise sits on the first Woolsack thwart the Chair of State his Great Seal and Mace by him he is Lord Speaker of the Lords House Upon other Woolsacks sit the Judges the Privy Counsellors and Secretaris of State the King's Council at Law the Masters of Chancery who being not Barons have no suffrage by Voâ—ce in Parliament but only sit as was said to give Advice when required The Reason of their sitting upon Woolsacks is thought to be to put them in mind of the Great Importance of our Woollen Manufactories which is the Grand Staple Commodity of England and so not to be by any means neglected On the Lowermost Woolsack are placed the Clerk of the Crown and Clerk of the Parliament whereof the former is concern'd in all Writs of Parliament and Pardons in Parliament The other Recordeth all things done in Parliament and keepeth the Records of the same This Clerk hath also two Clerks under him who kneel behind the same Woolsack and write thereon Without the Bar of the Lords House sits the King 's first Gentleman Usher called the Black-Rod from a Black-staff he carries in his hand under whom is a Yeoman Usher that waits at the Door within a Cryer without and a Serjeant at Mace always attending the Lord Chancellor When the King is present with His Crown on his Head none of the Lords are covered The Judges stand till the King gives them leave to sit When the King is absent the Lords at their entrance do Reverence to the Chair of State as is or should be done by all that enter into the King's Presence Chamber The Judges then may sit but may not be covered till the Chancellor or Keeper signifies unto them the leave of the Lords The King's Council and Masters of Chancery sit also but may not be covered at all The Commons in their House sit Promiscuously only the Speaker hath a Chair placed in the middle and the Clerk of that House near him at the Table They never had any Robes as the Lords ever had but wear every one what he fancyeth most The time of Sitting in Parliament is on any day in the Morning or before Dinner When the day prefixt by the King in His Writs of Summons is come the KING usually in his Royal Robes with His Crown on His Head declares the cause of their being Assembled in a short Speech leaving the rest to the Lord Chancellor who then stands behind His MAJESTY the Commons in the mean time standing bare at the Bar of the Lords House who are Commanded to chuse then a Speaker which without the KING's Command they may not do whereupon they Return to their own House and choose one of their own Members whom they present on another Day to the KING and being approved of by His MAJESTY sitting in His Chair and all the Lords in their Scarlet Robes he makes a modest refusal which not allowed he Petitioneth His Majesty That the Commons may have during their Sitting 1. A free Access to His Majesty 2. A freedom of Speech in their own House 3. Freedom from Arrests Which the King Grants Before they enter upon Affairs all the Members of the House of Commons take the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy in the presence of an Officer appointed by the KING And since the Papists have been found by the Wisdom of the KING and Parliament to be Plotting and Contriving to introduce the pretended Supremacy of their Pope and inslave the Nation to their Tyrannical Anti-spiritual Jurisdiction by Horrid Projections Plots Intrigues c. to prevent any such from Voting in either House it was thought meet though no Oaths can bind such who profess the Impious Doctrine of Equivocation that all are to declare their Opinion against the Doctrines of Transubstantiation Invocation and Adoration of Saints the Sacrifice of the Mass which Test the Lords also are Obliged to take in their House before they can Sit and Debate upon any Affair The Lords House hath a power not only in Making and Repealing Laws but also in tractando Consilium impendendo that is in Treating and Counselling c. as the words of the Writ are also in Judging of Controversies Judging in the Arraignment of any Peer of the Realm putting Men to their Oaths especially in matters of Importance as the Corruption of Judges and Magistrates in Illegal proceeding in other Courts in Appeals from Decrees in Chancery No Papist is to Sit or have Suffrage in the Lords House The Lords in case of necessary or unavoidable absence may make their Proxies to Vote in their place after License obtained under the KING's Signet The Commons as was said have a power in Making and Repealing Laws they have a Negative Voice as the KING and Lords have for nothing can pass into a Law without the joint concurrence of the King and both Houses Bills for Levying of Mony upon the Subject begin in the House of Commons because the greater part of the same arises from them The Commons have a power to Supplicate and propose Laws and as before to Impeach publick Delinquents of the Highest Quality that are Subjects for they are the Grand Inquest of the Nation and are to present Publick Grievances to be Redressed and Delinquents to be punished To this end the Lords sit in their Robes on the Bench covered they Swear and Examine Witnesses and at last pass Sentence the Members of the House of Commons stand bare at the Bar of the Lords House produce Witnesses manage Evidences c. Though every Member of the House of Commons is chosen to Serve for one particular County City or Borough yet he Serves for the whole Kingdom and his Voice is equal to any other his power is absolute to consent or dissent They are to make it their special care to promote the good of that County City or Borough for which they Serve so as that no particular benefit may interfere with or be prejudicial to the Good of the whole Kingdom The Lords are to bear their own Charges because they Represent only themselves The Commons usually had their Reasonable expences In the 17 of Ed. II. they had Ten Groats for Knights and Five Groats for Burgesses a day and not long after Four s. a day for Dubbed Knights and Two s. for all others which in those days as appears by the Prices of all things was a considerable Sum above Twenty times more than it is now So that some decayed Boroughs finding the expence heavy Petitioned that they might not be obliged to send Burgesses to Parliament and so were Vnburgessed c. It is the Practice of each House to debate all publick Affairs relating to the general or
together six Dishes each Meal The Moveables of this Wardrobe are at length divided into three parts whereof the Yeoman hath one for his own use the Grooms another and the Pages the third In the Office of the Tents Soyls Hayes and Pavilions are two Masters four Yeomen one Groom one Clerk Comptroller and one Clerk of the Tents The Master of the Revels is to order all things concerning Comedies c. there is one Yeoman one Groom Engraver Sculptor one in each Office In the Office of the Robes besides the Master above-mentioned there is one Yeoman three Grooms one Page two Purveyors one Brusher one Taylor one Dyer one Girdler one Clerk one Lace-man one Cutter and Racer two Embroiderers two Silkmen one Shoemaker one Perfumer one Feather-maker one Millener one Mercer one Hosier one Draper one Surveyor c. Falconer with Thirty three Officers under him Master of the Buck-Hounds with a Sergeant and Thirty four persons under him Master of the Otter-Hounds Master of the Harriers and five under him Master of the Ordnance a Lieutenant and Master Armorer with Seventeen Under-Officers Messengers of the Chamber in Ordinary two Clerks of the Check and Forty more in all Forty two Musitians in Ordinary Sixty two Trumpeters and Kittle-Drummers Fifteen Drummers and Fifes Seven Apothecaries Two one for the King's Person and one for the Houshold Chyrurgeoâ—s two Bâ—rbers two Printers three besides one for the Oriental Tongues Bookseller Stationer and Book-binder Silâ—man Woollen-Draper and two Taylors Post-Masters for all the Port-Towns in England all sworn to and paid by the King A Master of the Game of Cock-fighting One Sergeant Skinner who hath the care of His Majesties Furrs Two Embroiderers Two Keepers of the Privy Lodging Two Gentlemen and one Yeoman of the Bows One Cross-Bow-maker One Fletcher One Cormorant-Keeper One Hand-Gun-maker One Master and Marker of Tennis One Mistriss Semstress and one Laundress One Perspective-Maker One Master-Fencer One Haberdasher of Hats One Comb-maker One Sergeant Painter One Painter One Limner One Picture-Drawer One Silver-Smith One Goldsmith One Jeweller One Peruque-maker One Keeper of Pheasants and Turkies Joyner Copier of Pictures Watch-maker Cabinet-maker Lock-Smith of each one Game of Bears and Bulls one Master one Sergeant one Yeoman Two Operators for the Teeth Two Coffer-bearers for the Back-stairs One Yeoman of the Leash Fifty five Watermen Vpholsterer Letter-Carrier Foreign-Post Coffee-maker of each one Ten Officers beionging to Gardens Bowling-Greens Tennis-Court Pall-Mall Keeper of the Theatre at Whitehall Cutler Spurrier Girdler Corn-cutter Button-maker Embosser Enameler of each one Writer Flourisher and Embellisher Scenographer or Designer of Prospects Letter-Founder of each one Comedians Seventeen Men and Eight Women Actors Gunner Gilder Cleanser of Pictures Scene-keeper Coffer-maker Wax-chandler of each one Keeper of Birds and Fowl in St. James's Park one Keeper of the Volery Coffee-club-maker Sergeant-Painter of each one with divers other Officers and Servants under the Lord Chamberlain to serve His Majesty upon occasion Many of which Offices and Places are of good Credit and great Profit and enjoyed by Persons of Quality As to the Officers under the Master of the Horse there are Twelve Querries so called of the French Escayer derived from Escury a Stable Their Office is to attend the King on Hunting or Progress or on any occasion of Riding abroad to help His Majesty up and down from his Horse c. Four of these are called Querries of the Crown-Stable and the others are called Querries of the Hunting-Stable The Fee to each of these is only 20 l. yearly according to the ancient Custom but they have allowance for Diet to each 100 l. yearly besides Lodgings and two Horse-Liveries Next is the chief Avener from Avena Oats whose yearly Fee is 40 l. There is moreover one Clerk of the Stable four Yeomen-Riders four Child-Riders Yeomen of the Stirrup Sergeant-Marshal and Yeomen-Farriers four Groom-Farriers Sergeants of the Carriage three Surveyors a Squire and Yeomen-Sadlers four Yeomen-Granators four Yeomen-Purveyors a Yeoman-Peckman a Yeoman-Bitmaker four Coach-men eight Litter-men a Yeoman of the Close Wagon Sixty four Grooms of the Stable whereof 30 are called Grooms of the Crown Stable and Thirty four of the Hunting and Pad-Stable Twenty six Footmen in their Liveries to run by the King ' s Horse All these Places are in the Gift of the Master of the Horse There is besides these an antient Officer called Clerk of the Market who within the Verge of the King's Houshold is to keep a Standard of all Weights and Measures and to burn all that are false From the Pattern of this Standard all the Weights and Measures of the Kingdom are to be taken There are divers other considerable Officers not Subordinate to the Three Great Officers as the Master of the great Wardrobe Post-Master Master of the Ordinance Warden of the Mint c. Upon the King are also attending in his Court the Lords of the privy-Privy-Council Secretaries of State the Judges the College of Civilians the King's Council at Law the King's Serjeants at Law the Masters of Requests Clerks of the Signet Clerks of the Council Keeper of the Paper-Office or Papers of State c. There is always a Military Force to preserve the King's Person which are His Guards of Horse and Foot The Guards of Horse are in Number 600 Men well Armed and Equipped who are generally Young Gentlemen of considerable Families who are there made fit for Military Commands They are divided into Three Troops viz. The King's Troop distinguished by their Blew Ribbons and Carbine Belts their Red Hooses and Houlster-Caps Embroidered with His Majesties Cypher and Crown The Queens Troops by Green Ribbons Carbine Belts covered with Green Velvet and Gold Lace also Green Hooses and Houster Caps Embroidered with the same Cypher and Crown And the Dukes Troop by Yellow Ribbons and Carbine Belts and Yellow Hooses Embroidered as the others In which Troops are 200 Gentlemen besides Officers Each of these Three Troops is divided into Four Squadrons or Divisions Two of which consisting of one hundred Gentlemen and Commanded by one Principal Commissioned Officer two Brigadiers and two Sub-Brigadiers with two Trumpets mount the Guards one day in six and are Relieved in their turns Their Duty is always by Parties from the Guard to attend the Person of the KING the Queen the Duke and the Dutchess wheresoever they go near home but if out of town they are attended by Detachments out of the said Three Troops Besides this there is a more strict Duty and Attendance Wâ—â—â—ly on the KING's Person on Foot wheresoever He walks from His Rising to His going to Bed by one of the three Captains who always waits immediatly next the KING 's own Person before all others carrying in his hand an Ebony-staff or Truncheon with a Gold head Engraved with His MAJESTIES Cyper and Crown Near him also attends a Principal Commissioned Officer with an Ebony-staff and Silver head who is ready to Relieve the
Captain on occasion and at the same time also two Brigadiers having also Ebony-staves headed with Ivory and Engraven as the others There is added a Troop of Grenadiers to each Troop of Guards one Division of which mounts with a Division of the Troop to which they belong they never go out on small Parties from the Guard only perform Centry-Duty on Foot and attend the KING also on Foot when he walks abroad but always March with great Detachments The KING's Troop consists of a Captain two Lieutenants three Sergeants three Corporals two Drums two Hautbois and eighty private Souldiers Mounted The Queens Troop of a Captain two Lieutenants two Serjeants two Corporals two Hautbois and Sixty private Souldiers Mounted The Dukes Troop consists of the like Number with the Queens The Captains of His MAJESTIES Guards always Command as Eldest Colonels of Horse the Lieutenants as Eldest Lieutenant-Colonels of Horse the Cornets and Guidons as Eldest Majors of Horse the Quartermasters as Youngest Captains of Horse the Brigadiers as Eldest Lieutenants of Horse and amongst themselves every Officer according to the Date of his Commission takes precedency when on Detachments but not when the Three Troops march with their Colours for then the Officer of the Eldest Troop commands those of equal Rank with him in the others though their Commission be of Elder Date Next immediatly after the Three Troops of Guards His MAJESTIES Regiment of Horse Commanded by the Earl of Oxford takes place and the Colonel of it is to have precedency after the Captains of the Guards and before all other Colonels of Horse whatsoever change may be of the Colonel and all the Officers thereof in their proper Degree are to take place according to the Dates of their Commissions As to the Foot the King's Regiment Commanded by the Honorable Colonel John Russel takes place of all other Regiments and the Colonel thereof is always to precede as the first Colonel The Colestream Regiment Commanded by the Earl of Craven takes the next the Duke of Yorks Regiment next then His Majesties Holland Regiment Commanded by the Earl of Mulgrave and all other Colonels according to the Dates of their Commissions All other Regiments of Horse and Foot not of the Guards take place according to their Respective Seniority from the time they were first Raised and no Regiment loses its precedency by the Death of its Colonel At the KING's House there is a Guard for His Person both above and below stairs In the Presence Chamber the Band of Gentlemen Pensioners wait instituted by King Henry the VII and chosen out of the best and antientest Families in England to be a Guard to His Majesties Person and also to be a Nursery to breed up hopeful Gentlemen and fit them for Employments Civil and Military as well abroad as at home as Deputies of Ireland Embassadors in Foreign Parts Counsellors of State Captains of the Guard Governours of places Commanders in the Wars both by Sea and Land of all which there have been Examples They are to attend the King's Person to and from His Chappel only as far as the Privy Chamber also in all other Solemnity as Coronations publick Audience of Embassadors c. They are 40 in Number over whom there is a Captain usually some Peer of the Realm a Lieutenant a Standard-bearer and a Clerk of the Check They wait half at a time quarterly Those in quarter wait daily five at a time upon the King in the House and when He walks abroad Upon extraordinary occasions all of them are Summoned Their ordinary Arms are Gilt Pole-Axes Their Arms on Horse-back in time of War are Cuirassiers Arms with Sword and Pistol These are only under their own Officers and are always Sworn by the Clerk of the Check who is to take Notice of such as are absent when they should be upon their Duty Their Standard in time of War is a Cross Gules in a Field Argent also 4 bends In the first Room above stairs called the Guard-Chamber attend the Yeomen of the Guard of His Majesties Body whereof there were wont to be 250 Men of the best quality under Gentry and of larger Stature then ordinary for every one was to be Six Foot high there are at present 100 Yeomen in dayly waiting and 70 more not in waiting and as any of the 100 die his place is filled up out of the 70. These wear Scarlet Coats Down to the knee and Scarlet Breeches both richly Guarded with black Velvet and rich Badges upon their Coats both before and behind moreover black Velvet round broad Crown'd Caps with Ribbons of the King's Colour One half of them of late bear in their hands Harquebuzes and the other half Partizans with large Swords by their sides they have Wages and Diet allowed them Their Office is to wait upon the King in His standing Houses 40 by by Day and 20 to Watch by Night about the City to wait upon the King's Person abroad by Water or Land The KING's Palace Royal ratione Regiae dignitatis is exempted from all Jurisdiction of any Court Civil or Ecclesiastick but only to the Lord Steward and in his absence to the Treasurer and Comptroller of the King's Houshold with the Steward of the Marshalsea who by vertue of their Office without Commission may Hear and Determin all Treasons Fellonies Breaches of the Peace Committed within the KING's Court or Palace The Orders and Rules for the Demeanor of all Officers and Servants are hung upon Tables in several Rooms at the Court and Signed with the King 's own hand worthy to be Read of all Strangers The Court or House where the King resides is accounted a Place so Sacred that if any Man presume to strike another there and only draw blood his Right hand shall be cut off and he Committed to perpetual Imprisonment and Fined All occasions of striking are also there forbidden The Court of England for Magnificence Order Numberâ— and Quality of Officers rich Furniture Entertainment and Civility to Strangers and for plentiful Tables might compare with the best in Christendom and far Excels most Courts abroad It hath for a long time been a Pattern of Hospitality and Charity to the Nobility and Gentry of Eugland All Noblemen or Gentlemen Subjects or Strangers were freely Entertained at the plentiful Tables of His Majesties Officers Divers Dishes were provided every day extraordinary for the King's Honour Two hundred and fourty Gallons of Beer a day were allowed at the Buttery-Bar for the Poor besides all the broken Meat Bread c. gathered into Baskets and given to the Poor at the Court-Gates by Two Grooms and Two Yeomen of the Almonry who have Salaries of His Majesty for that Service The Lord Almoner hath the Priviledge to give the King's Dish to whatsoever Poor Man he pleases that is the first Dish at Dinner which is set upon the King's Table or in stead thereof four pence a day which anciently was equivalent to four shillings now
9 28. Rutland 2 29. Shropshire 12 30. Somersetshire 18 31. Southampton Or Southamptonshire 26 32. Staffordshire 10 33. Suffolk 16 34. Surrey 14 35. Sussex 20 36. Warwickshire 6 37. Westmorland 4 38. Wiltshire 34 39. Worcestershire 9 40. Yorkshire 30 BARONS of the CINQUE-PORTS Port of Hastings 2 Town of Winchelsey 2 Town of Rye 2 Port of new Rumney 2 Port of Hieth 2 Port of Dover 2 Port of Sandwich 2 Port of Seaford 2 WALES 1. Anglesey 1 Bewmaris 1 2. Brecon 1 Town of Brecon 1 3. Cardigan 1 Town of Cardigan 1 4. Carmarthen 1 Town of Carmarthen 1 5. Carnarvan 1 Town of Carnarvan 1 6. Denbigh 1 Town of Denbigh 1 7. Flint 1 Town of Flint 1 8. Glamorgan 1 Town of Cardiff 1 9. Merioneth 1 10. Pembrook 1 Town of Haverford-west 1 Town of Pembrook 1 11. Montgomery 1 Town of Montgomery 1 12. Radnor 1 Town of Radnor 1 The Barons of the Cinque-Ports are at this Day only as Burgesses in Parliament yet they are still called Barons after the antient manner because heretofore they got Renown by their Exploits at Sea in defending the Kingdom in Memory whereof they have yet the priviledge to send Burgesses to bear the Cloth of State over the King's Head on the day of His Coronation and to Dine that Day in the King's presence The Writ or Summons to the Sheriff for Election of Members to Serve in the House of Commons runs to this purpose The KING to the Sheriff c. Greeting WHereas by the Advice and Assent of our Council for certain arduous and urgent Affairs concerning Vs the State and Defence of our Kingdom of England and the Church of England We have Ordamed a certain Parliament of Ours to be held at this Our City of the Day of next Ensuing and there to have Conference and to Treat with the Prelates Great Men and Peers of Our said Kingdom We command and strictly enjoyn you that making Proclamation at Our next County Court after the Receipt of this Our Writ to be holden the day and Place aforesaid you cause two Knights girt with Swords the most fit and discreet of the County aforesaid and of every City of that County two Citizens of every Burrough two Burgesses of the discreetest and most sufficient to be freely and indifferently chosen by them who shall be present at such Proclamation according to the Tenor of the Statutes in that Case made and provided and the Names of the said Knights Citizens and Burgesses so châ—sen to be inserted in certain Indentures to be then made between you and those that shall be present at such Election whether the Parties so Elected be present or absent and shall make them to come at the said Day and Place so that the said Knights for themselves and the County aforesaid and the Citizens and the Burgesses for themselves and the Commonalty of the said Cities and Boroughs may have severally from them full and sufficient Power to do and to consent to those things which then by the Favour of GOD shall happen to be Ordained by the Common Councel of Our said Kingdom concerning the businesses aforesaid so that the business may not by any means remain undone for want of such Power or by reason of the improvident Election of the foresaid Knights Citizens and Burgesses But we will not in any Case that you or any other Sheriff of Our said Kingdom shall be Elected and at the Day and Place aforesaid the said Election being made in a full County Court you shall certify without Delay unto Vs in Our Chancery under your Seal and the Seals of them who shall be present at the Election sending back unto Vs the other part of the Indenture aforesaid affixed to these presents together with the Writ Witness Our Self at c. The King is in the sence of Law the Fountain of Justice He is Lord Chief Justice of England and therefore all the Laws of the Realm are called His Laws for He is Caput principium finis Parliamenti that is the head beginning and end of Parliament and nothing can have the Force of a Law but what has His Royal Assent The highest Court of Judicature in England is the House of Lords in Parliament who are assisted with the most Grave and Eminent Lawyers of England both in Common and Civil Law who are only Ministerial there and have no Voices but to give their Opinions in matters of Law which become doubtful To the Judicature of this Supreme and most Honorable Court all other Courts and Persons that are Subjects of England are accountable for all Crimes not properly Tryable Remediable or Punishable in other inferiours Courts of Justice and to this Court all last Appeals are made from whose Sentence there lies no Appeal but to a succeeding Parliament and this Supreme Judicatory or Judicial Power lies only in the King and House of Lords and at the Bar of this High Court may the House of Commons as the Grand Inquest of the Nation Impeach the Highest Subject of England whether of the Clergy or of the Laity and prosecute them till it come to a Sentence All Members of Parliament both Lords and Commons that they may attend the publick Service of their Country are priviledged with their Menial Servants attending on their Persons together with all their necessary Goods brought along with them from all Attachments and Imprisonments for Debts Trespasses Account or Covenant all the time that they are on the way to the Place of Parliament all the time that they tarry there and return Eundo Morando ad propria redeundo but not from Arrests for Treason Felony or breach of the Peace The place of Meeting for this High and Honorable Assembly is in whatsoever City Town or House the King pleaseth but most usually at Westminster All the Lords Sit in a fair Room by themselves and the Commons not far from them in another Fair Room heretofore the antient Free Chappel of St. Stephen The King as oft as he comes which is usually at the opening of Parliaments passing of Bills or Solemn Debates is placed at the upper end of the Room in a Chair of State under a Cloth of State under which on either hand sit none but the King's Children On the King 's right hand is a Seat for the Prince of Wales on His left hand is a Seat for the Duke of York On the King 's right hand next the Wall are placed on a Form the two Archbishops next below on another Form the Bishops of London Durham and Winchester Upon other Forms on the same side the rest of the Bishops sit according to the Priority of their Consecration On the King 's left hand upon Forms are placed the Lord Chancellor Treasurer President of the King's Council the Lord Privy Seal if they are Barons above all Dukes except those of the Royal Family if they are not Barons then they Sit uppermost on the Wool-sacks On the same side Sit
Right to the Conservation of the Thames and the Waters of Medway by way of Inquisition whereof there were two the one taken at Raynam in Essex the other at Gravesend in Kent before Sir William Cambridge Grocer then Lord Mayor of London 9 Henry V. where it was presented that whereas by the antient Ordinances of London the Meshes of Nets should be two Inches in the fore part and one Inch in the hinder part and it being found that the Offences according to the said Inquisitions are Contra libertates consuetudines Civitatis it was adjudged that the Nets should be burnt according to the antient Custom in that behalf provided VI. He goes on after to prove that this Right belongs to the City by Decrees In 8 Henry IV. the Mayor and Aldermen did exhibit their humble Petition to the King's Councel reciting that time out of mind they had the Conservation and Correction of the River of Thames of all Trincks Nets and other Engines whatsoever in the River of Thames and Medway placed and have used to make a Sub-Conservator under them and complaining that Alexander Bonner then Sub-Conservator having discharged his Duty in removing Kiddles he was ill intreated by the owners dwelling in Erith Bratriferry Barking Woolwich and other places in the Counties of Kent and Essex and upon hearing of the matter in Camera Stellata they were found Guilty and Constrained to submit themselves to the Lord Mayor and ordered to bring always their Nets unto him before they should use them and that the Kiddles then taken should be at the disposition of the Lord Mayor so the Offenders made their submission accordingly VII He proceeds This Right appertains to the City of London by Letters Patents which he proved by a Grant made by Edward IV. to the Earl of Pembroke for setting up a Wear in the River of Thames which Grant was Revoked and Cancelled at the Request of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen upon shewing their Right therefore alleaged it was contrary to their antient Liberties At which time the Cities Title to the Conservancy of the Thames and Medway was at large set forth and recited to have been shewn to the Lord Chancellor and to the said Earl and his Counsel which accordingly was also read VIII He reinforceth the Right of the City by Proclamations whereof one was made by H. VIII in the 34 of His Reign wherein it is affirmed that the Lord Mayor and his Predecessors have had by divers Grants of the Kings of England and by Acts of Parliaments enjoyed always the Conservacy of the Thames without Impediments or Interruption By which Proclamation it was Commanded that none should resist deny or impugne the Lord Mayor or his Deputy in doing or executing any thing that might conduce to the Conservacy of the River and of the Fish and Fry within the same IX He produceth Report for in a Controversie betwixt the Lord Admiral and the Lord Mayor for the Measuring of Coals and other things upon the Thames it then fell into Debate to whom the Conservacy of the Thames did belong which cause was referred by Queen ELIZABETH's Councel of State 1597 to the Attorney-General and Solicitor who joyntly Certified amongst other things that the Conservancy and care of the said River did and ought to belong to the City of London X. By quo Warranto it was proved that the Conservacy of the Thames belongs to the City for 3 Jac. a quo Warranto was brought against the City in the Exchequer to know by what Title She claimed the Conservacy of the River of Thames and the Waters of Medway whereupon the City made Her Title Good thereunto by antient prescription and otherwise so Judgment was given in Her Favour XI He goes on afterwards to confirm the Right of the City by Proof of Vsage in regard the Lord Mayor and Aldermen have time out of mind made Ordinances concerning the Good Government of the River of Thames as well for the Seasons and Manner of Fishing beneath London-bridge Eastward upon pain of certain Penalties as appears from time to time from the Reign of Henry III. and so downward The Lord Mayor hath removed Kiddles Wears Trinks and other unlawful Engines and reformed the disorders of such as have offended besides in the River of Thames and inflicted punishment upon Offenders accordingly The Right of the City appears also by the Writs and Preceps under the Teste of the Lord Mayor to the Sheriffs of Kent and Essex for the Returning of Juries before him to inquire of Offences done in the River The same Right of the City appears also by Commissions whereof divers have been directed to the Lord Mayor to put in Execution the Acts of Parliament made for Conservance of the Thames and Medway and to inquire of all Offences made or done in the said Waters and to punish the Deliaquents accordingly Lastly He makes good the Right and Title of the City by the Continual Claim She has made thereunto as appears in those various Contests She had with the Lord Admiral of England wherein after divers Debates and Disputes She still came off well and made Her Title good Which moved King Jamts in the third Year of His Reign to put a Final Determination to the Business by the Letters Patents he passed unto the City wherein he saith That ad omnem Controversiam in hac parte Temporibus tam presentibus quam futuris tollendam omne Dubium amo vendam that to cut off all Controversies as well of the present times as of Future and to remove all Doubts he did Confirm and Ratifie the said Right unto the City of London c. I. This Office of Conservator of so Noble a River is of great Extent for he is to preserve the Currency of the stream on the Banks on both sides II. To preserve the Fish and Fry within the same that no Fishermen use unlawful Nets or Engines or fish at Prohibited Seasons III. To hinder the erection of any Weares Kiddles or Engines and the knocking in of any Posts Piles or Stake which may in any sort hinder the Stream or Navigation and to pull them up if already done and punish the Offenders also to prevent all incroachments upon the Rivers and the Banks thereof likewise to inquire of all Bridges Flood-Gates Mill-dams and such like Annoyances and whether any do hurl in any Soyl Dust or Rubbish or other Filth whatsoever to choak her But for the strength and safety of the River against the Invasion of an Enemy by Block-Houses Forts Bastions or Castles and the securing of the Merchant and Navigation to and fro that Charge belongs to the Soveraign Prince The former Charge Care and Circumspection belongs properly to the City of London which is Seated in a fit place to be watchful over her for which Vigilance the Thames Rewards the City abundantly by bringing her in the Spices of the South the Jewels of the East and the Treasures of the