expedient to premise somewhat of the Ecclesiastical persons in England IN the Government of the Church of England among the Ecclesiastical persons governing in the Englih Church is First the King of England who is as the Lawyers say Personae sacra mixta cum sacerdote The King is the supreme Bishop of England and at his Coronation by a solemn Consecration and Unction he becomes a Spiritual Person Sacred and Ecclesiastical for as he hath put upon him Corona Regni as an Embleme of his King-ship and power in Temporals so hath he Stola Sacerdotis commonly called Vestis Dalmatica as a Levitical Ephod to signify his Priesthood and power in Spirituals He is Supreme Governor in all Causes Ecclesiastical as well as Civil is Patron Paramount of all Ecelesiastical Benefices in England to whom the last Appeal in Ecclesiastical Affaires are made who alone hath power to nominate persons for all Bishopricks and chief Dignities as Deaneries and some Prebends in the Church c as more at large may be seen in the First part of the Present State of England Next to the King in the Church Government are the Bishops whereof two are called Primats Metropolitans or Archbishops that is chief Bishops the one of Canterbury the other of York each of which have besides their Peculiar Dioceses a Province consisting of several Dioceses and therein by Common Law a Prerogative of proving Wills and granting Administrations where the person dying had bona notabilia that is above 5 l. in Divers Dioceses or Jurisdictions Also by Grants of several Kings they have each one certain Priviledges Liberties and immunities in their own Estates Under these two Archbishops are 26 Bishopricks whereof 22 are reckoned in the Province of Canterbury and four in the Province of York So that there are besides the two Archbishops twenty four Bishops all which have the Title of Lords by reason of their Baronies annext to their Bishopricks and have precedence of all other Barons both in Parliament and other Assemblies amongst these precedes always the Bishop of London who by antient right is accounted Dean of the Episcopal Colledg of that Province and by vertue thereof is to signify the Pleasure of his Metropolitan to all the Bishops of the Province to execute his Mandates to disperse his Missives on all emergency of affaires to precide in Convocations or Provincial Synods during the necessary absence of the Metropolitan Next to London in Parliament precedes Durham and then Winchester all the rest of the Bishops take place according to the Seniority of their Consecrations The Function of an English Bishop consists in what he may act either by his Episcopal Order or by his Episcopal Jurisdiction By his Episcopal Order he may ordain Deacons and Priests he may Dedicate Churches and burying places may administer the Rite and Ceremony of Confirmation without whom none of these things may be done The Jurisdiction of a Bishop is either Ordinary or Delegated the Ordinary is what by the Law of the Land belongs to each Bishop in his own Diocess the Delegated is what the King is pleased to confer upon him not as a Bishop but as he is a Subject and a considerable Member of the Kingdom For all Clergymen are in England as antiently among Gods own People the Jews and amongst the Primitive Christians so soon as they were under Christian Emperors judged fit to enjoy divers temporal honours and employments as First to be in the Commission of the Peace for who so proper to make and keep Peace as they whose constant duty it is to preach Peace who so fit as they whose main business and study it is to reconcile those that are at variance and therefore since His Majesties happy Restauration as well as before divers grave discreet Divines have been made Justices of Peace and thereby not only the poor Clergy-men have been protected from the oppression of their causeless enemies but many differences have been composed without any Law-sute in a more Christian and less expensive way Secondly to be of His Majesties Privy Council where frequently Cases of Conscience may arise relating to State matters that will admit neither of delay nor publication and therefore after the pattern of that excellent Christian Emperor Constantine the Great our good Kings both before and since the Reformation have always admitted some spiritual persons to their Council Tables and Closet-debates Thirdly to be employed in publick Treaties and Negotiations of Peace and this both the Ancient and Modern practice will justify that none hath been more frequently and succesfully used in such Messages then the Ambassadors of Christ Fourthly to enjoy some of the great Offices of the Crown as to be Lord Chancellor Lord Treasurer c. And it hath been observed that in the late Kings Raign when the Bishop of London was Lord Treasurer that Office was executed with as much diligence faithfulness dexterity and content to the Subject as well as to the King as ever it had been by any of his late lay-Predecessors In the ordinary Jurisdicton of a Bishop as a Bishop may be considered either the Jurisdiction it self or what is instated in him by the Law of the Land for the better execution of that Jurisdiction The Jurisdiction it self is established partly by Statute Law as to Licence Physitians Surgeons and School-Masters to unite and consolidiate small Parishes to assist the Civil Magistrates in the execution of some Statutes concerning Ecclesiastical affairs to compel the payment of Tenths and Subsidies due from the Clergy to the King Partly by Common Law as upon the Kings Writ to certify the Judges touching legitimate and illegetimate Births and Marriages to require upon the Kings Writ the burning of an obstinate Heretick also to require the Kings Writ for imprisoning the Body of one that obstinately stands excommunicated 40 dayes And partly by Common and Ecclesiastical Law together as to cause Wills of the Deceased to be proved to grant Administration of Goods of such as dye intestate to give order for the gathering and preserving of perishable Goods where none is willing to administer to cause Account to be given of Administrations to collate Benefices to grant Institutions to Benefices upon the Presentations of other Patrons to command Induction to be given to order the collecting and preserving of the Profits of vacant Benefices for the use of the Successors to defend the Franchises and Liberties of the Church to visit their particular Diocesses once in three years and therein to inquire of the Manners Carriages Delinquencies c. of Ministers of Church-wardens of the rest of the Parishoners and amongst them especially of those that profess themselves Physitians Surgeons School-masters Midwives of Wardens of Hospitals how they perform their several Duties and trusts also of all others professing Christianity and offending either against Piety as by Blasphemy Idolatry Superstition Perjury Heresie Errors against the 39 Articles Schism Conventicles absence from Divine Service unlawful abstinence
THE SECOND PART OF THE PRESENT STATE OF England Together with DIVERS REFLECTIONS UPON The Antient State thereof By EDWARD CHAMBERLAYNE Dr of Laws and Fellow of the Royal Society The SECOND EDITION Corrected and newly Augmented In Magnis voluisse sat est In the SAVOY Printed by T. N. for John Martyn Printer to the Royal Society and are to be sold at the Sign of the Bell in St. Pauls Church-Yard 1671. ORNATISSIMO CONSULTISSIMOQUE VIRO D. JOS. WILLIAMSON ARMIG E SOCIETATE REGIA LONDINENSI IN REGNI COMITIIS SENATORI REGIAE MAJESTATI AB ARCHIVIS STATUS ET INTIMIORI CONCILIO A SECRETIS HOC QUALE-QUALE ENGHIRIDIUM L. M. D. C. Q. E. C. TO THE READER IN a former small Treatise intituled The Present State of England the Author having given a succinct Account of the Government in general as it is Monarchical and therein of the King Queen Princes and Princesses of the Blood of the Great Officers of the Crown of the Kings Queens and Duke of Yorks Courts of the Three States of England Clergy Nobility and Commons and of divers other remarkables In this Second Part of the Present State of England he hath endeavored to describe with the like brevity the Particular Government of England Ecclesiastical Civil and Military The several Courts of Justice the Offices and Officers belonging thereunto and for the sake of Foreigners to exhibite a particular Description of the Famous City of London of the Two Renowned Universities c. In erecting such a spacious and various Edifice the Spectator at first view will hardly conceive how much pains was bestowed in digging the Foundation in raising Scaffolds in finding conveying and fiting Materials in contriving the Architecture in removing the Rubbish c. Other Builders consult onely their own Brains and the Dead that is Books whereunto access may be had at all hours but in this Work the Living and the choicest among them were to be advised with whereof some were far distant others seldom at leisure some unwilling to communicate their Knowledge others not at all affable However if the Reader reaping in few hours the Fruits of many Moneths labor shall receive any content the Author will not onely be satisfied for this but encouraged for another like Enterprise THE CONTENTS A. ADmiral 176 Admiralty 179 Archbishops 16 Archdeacon 29 Arches Court 39 249 Audience Court 40 B. Becons 161 Benchers 111 Bishops Function 17 Bishops Jurisdiction 17 Bishop making 21 Bishops Consecration 24 Bishops Translation 26 Britains Burse 202 C. Castles 161 Chancellours 40 Chancery Court 131 Chancery Officers 138 Civilians Colledge 249 Civilians a List 251 Christmas at Inns of Court 241 Church-Wardens 31 Clerk of the Market 150 High Commission Court 38 Common Pleas 112 Common Pleas Officers 114 Company of Traders 213 Constables High 149 Constables Petty 152 Convocation 34 Coroners 149 Court of Archdeacons 35 Court of Delegates 39 257 Court of Kings Bench 109 Court of Lords 106 Cursitors 142 Custom-house 226 D. Dean and Chapter 27 Deans Rural 29 Doctors Commons 249 E. Ecclesiastical Government 15 Ecclesiastical Persons ib. Ecclesiastical Censures 20 Ecclesiastical Causes 41 Ecclesiastical Laws 42 Ecclesiastical Tryals ib. Ecclesiastical Punishments 43 Exchange Royal 202 Exchequer 118 Exchequer Officers 120 Exchequer lower 124 Excommunications 43 G. Garrisons 156 Government of Cities 150 Government Civil 49 Government of Counties 145 Government Ecclesiastical 15 Government Military 154 Government of Villages 152 Grammar School 275 H. Heralds Colledge 266 House of Commons 71 House of Lords ib. I. Innes of Court 234 Innes of Chancery 233 Inner Barristers 237 Judges 246 L. Lancaster Dutchy 130 Laws of Rhodes 180 London Bridge 224 London burnt 197 London Character 188 London City ib. London Colledges 232 London Government 206 London rebuilt 201 London Tower 215 London Tythes 207 Lord Mayor 209 Lords Lieutenants 298 M. Master of the Ordnance 216 Merchants 205 Military Government 154 Militia Maritime 162 Militia standing 158 Mint 217 Mooting 240 N. Navy Charges 187 Navy Office 183 O. Officers of Common Pleas 114 Officers of Exchequer 120 Officers of Kings Bench 111 Ordination of Deacons 32 Ordination of Priests 33 P. Parliament 49 Parliament men 73 St. Pauls London 193 Paper Office 14 Patrons of Churches 30 Peculiar Court 40 Penance 46 Post Office 227 Prebendary 28 Prerogative Court 40 256 Privy Council 2 Privy Council Clerks 12 Privy Councellors 6 Privy Seal Clerks 14 Physitians Colledge 258 Physitians a List 260 R. Reader at the Innes of Court 238 Records in the Tower 217 Rectors Office 30 River New 204 Rool'd Oleron 180 Royol Soveraign 166 S. Secretaries of State 116 Signet Clerks 12 Sexton or Clerk 32 Sheriffs of Counties 147 Ships a List 169 Sergeants at Law 243 Sergeants Inne ibid. Sergeants making 245 Southwark 280 T. Thames 203 Trade of London 205 Tower Lieutenant 222 V. Vice Admiral 176 Vicar General 257 Universities 281 Utter Baristers 237 W. Wardrobe Office 230 Westminster 277 Angliae Notitia OR THE PRESENT STATE OF ENGLAND The Second Part. Of the Government of England in particular and First of the Kings most Honourable Privy Council THe Government of England in particular is either Ecclesiastical Civil or Military wherein the King is supreme Governour in all Causes and over all Persons from him is derived all Authority and Jurisdiction He is quasi Intellectus Agens Forma formarum vel potius Mundi Anglici Deus And the Primum Mobile thereof from whence all the Inferiour Orbes derive their Motion is that Noble Honourable and Reverend Assembly called Concilium secretum Privatum vel Continuum Regis Concilium which is a Court of such Antiquity and Honour that it may be said to be higher then the highest Court of England as the Parliament is usually called for our Parliaments are not only much younger but also may truly be said to be the Productions of the Kings Privy Council as appears by the words of the Writ for summoning of a Parliament This is the highest watch Tower of the Nation wherein the King with all his good Centinels and Watchmen about him takes a careful survey of all his Dominions and sometimes of all the Domininons of the World as any of them have any Relation to his where he Consults and Contrives how to protect his numberless Subjects not onley from Injuries amongst themselves but from the wrongs and violences of all other Nations where he doth consult and watch for the publick good Honour Defence Profit and Peace of all his people Before the later end of Henry the Third Quod provisum fuit per Regem Concilium suum Privatum sigilloque Regis confirmatum proculdubio legis vigorem habuit saith Spelman The Primitive and ordinary way of Government in England was by the King and and his Privy Council and all our Kings have acted much by it determining Controversies of great importance soemtimes touching Lands and Rights between party and party whereof there are very many Precedents and the Judges of
but for avoiding of tumults and trouble it was enacted by H. VI. that none should have any suffrage in the election of Knights of the Shire but such as were Freeholders did reside in the County and had yearly Revenue 40 s. which till the discovery of the Gold and Silver in America was as much as 30 or 40 l. now whence it came to pass that the Lay-Commons were then elected as the Clergy-Commons the Procuratores Cleri were and ever have been viz. sine Prece sine Pretio sine Poculo c. The persons elected for each County are to be Milites Notabiles or at least Esquires or Gentlemen fit to be made Knights as it is in the Statutes of H. VI. They ought to be de discretioribus Militibus ad laborandum potentioribus as the words in some Writs have been they ought not to be of younger years for then it would be Juvenaâ—us si sic loqui liceat potiús quam Senatus not lazy Epicures but men of years vigorous active and abstemious men that will be content to give their constant attendance in Parliament or else to enjoy neither Priviledge nor Expences allowed to every Member of the Commons House They ought to be native English men or at least such as have been Naturalized by Act of of Parliament No Alien or Denizon none of the Twelve Judges no Sheriff of a County no Ecclesiastical person that hath cure of souls may be chosen a Parliament man to serve for any County City or Burrough Two things are said to be requisite to the legality of sitting in Parliament first that a man should be of full age that is 21 years old at the least for if no man under that age can dispose of his Estate nor make one legal Act to that purpose then much less may he bear any part in the supreme power of the Nation to Judge Vote or Dispose of the Estate of the whole Realm yet the practice in the House of Commons though never in the House of Lords hath sometimes been otherwise All Members of Parliament both Lords and Commons that they may attend the publick Service of their Countrey 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 they are at Parliament and all the time they are on the way home again Eundo Morando ad propria redeundo for so were the old words but they are not priviledged from Arrests for Treason Felony or breach of the peace The place of meeting for the High and Honourable Assembly is in whatsoever City Town or House the King pleaseth but of latter times it hath been usually held at the Kings antient Palace and usual Residence at Westminster all the Lords in a fair Room by themselves and the Commons not far from them in another fair Room which was heretofore the antient free Chappel of S. Stephen The manner of sitting in the Lords House is thus The King as oft as he comes which hath usually been only at the opening of Parliaments or at the passing of Bills or at some solemn debates as the present King hath frequently done is placed at the upper end of the room in a Chair of State under a Cloth of State under which on either hand none but the Kings Children On the Kings right hand is a seat antiently for the King of Scotland when he was summoned to Parliament as he sometimes was in side legiantia but now it is for the Prince of Wales On the Kings left hand is a Seat for the Duke of York On the Kings right hand and next the wall are placed on a Form the two Archbishops next below on another Form the Bishops of London Durham and Winchester all the rest of the Bishops sit according to the priority of their Consecration On the Kings left hand upon Forms are placed the Lords Chancellor Treasurer President of the Kings Council and 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 Woolsacks On the same side sit the Dukes Marquisses and Earls according to their Creations Upon the first Form a cross 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 Secretaries of State the Kings Council at Law the Masters of Chancery Thâ—se being not Barons have no suffrage in Parliament onely sit to give their advice when it is required The reason why these Sages are placed upon Woolsacks may probably be to mind them of the great importance of Wooll and Sheep to the Nation that it-never be neglected On the lowermost Woolsack are placed the Clerk of the Crown now Henry Barker Esquire and Clerk of the Parliament at present John Brown Esquire whereof the former is concerned 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 Kings first Gentleman Usher called the Black Rod from a black sttaff he carries in his hand under whom is a Yeoman Usher that waits at the door within a Cryer without and a Sergeant at Mace always attending the Lord Keeper 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 Kings Presence-Chamber The Judges then may sit but may not be covered till the Chancellor or Keeper signify unto them the leave of the Lords The Kings Council and Masters of Chancery sit also but may not be covered at all The Commons in their House sit promiscuously onely 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 fancieth most which to strangers seems very unbecoming the Gravity and Authority of the Great Council of England and that during their attendance on Parliament a Robe or grave vestment would as well become the Honourable Members of the House of Commons as it doth all the Noble Venetians both young and old who have right to sit in the Great Council
Headborough to keep the Peace to secure offenders to bring them before the Justice c. Then for the Ecclesiastical Government of Villages there is as before hath been mentioned the Parson or Vicar who hath Curam Animarum the Care of Souls as the Lord of the Mannor hath in some measure Curam Corporum for which he hath the Tythes Glebe and Church Offrings hath under him the Church-wardens and Sides-men to take care of the Church and Church Assemblies the Overseers of the Poor to take care of the Poor Sick Aged Orphans and other Objects of Charity and Lastly the Clark to wait on him at Divine Service Thus admirable and excellent is the Constitution of the present English Government above and beyond any other Government in Christendom O Fortunatos nimium bona si sua norint Angligenas If English men did know their Bliss Too great would be their Happiness Of the Military Government of England IT was a smart Motto that the Great Henry the IV. of France Grandfather to our Gracious King now raigning caused to be engraven on his Great Guns Ratio Ultima Regum Intimating thereby that when Subjects refuse to submit to the Laws of the Land or Neighbours to the Law of Nations then Kings have recourse to Force and Armes to bring them to Reason So long as Subjects are prone to Sedition and Neighbour-Princes and States to Ambition there will be a necessity of a Military Power in every State both by Land and likewise by Sea where the Country is any where bordering on the Sea Of the Military power of England both by Land and Sea the King of England hath the sole supreme Power Government Command and disposition And neither one nor both Houses of Parliament have any right to levey any Forces or make any War Offensive or Defensive as they have at large declared in Parliament Anno 14 Car 2. By Land the next under the King was the late Duke of Albemarle who by His Majesties Commission dated 4 th of April 1660. at Breda was made Generalissimo of all His Majesties Forces in all His Three Kingdoms Horse and Foot Land Souldiers in pay as well within Garrison as without Since the Death of the aforementioned Duke the Horse and Foot which are in constant Pay are thus ordered there are four excellent Regiments of Foot The first is called the Kings Regiment consisting of 24 Companies and near 1700 men commanded by Coll. John Russel whose Lieftenant Coll. is Edw. Grey brother to the Lord Grey and whose Major is William Rolleston The next is the Duke of Yorks Regiment 720 men commanded by Sir Charles Littelton whos 's Lieft. Coll. is Sir John Griffith and his Major Nath. Dorrel Of the third Regiment 600 men Sir Walter Vane is Coll. Thomas Howard of Suffolk Lieft. Coll. and Sir Thomas Ogle Major Of the fourth Regiment 960 men the Coll. is the Earl of Craven his Lieft. Col. is Sir James Smith his Major John Millar There is also a Gallant Regiment of Horse consisting of 8 Troops about 500 Horse besides Officers commanded by the Earl of Oxford and his Major is Francis Windham His Majesty hath besides 3 compleat Troops for his Life Guards whereof one is called the Kings Troop consisting of 200 Horse and commanded by the Duke of Monmouth Another the Queens Troop 150 Horse and commanded by Sir Philip Howard and the third the Duke of Yorks Troop 150 Horse and commanded by the Marquis of Blanquefort whereof see more in the first Part of the Present State of England The pay of a Colonel of Foot is 20 s. per diem and of a Colonel of Horse 12 s. per diem the other Officers have proportionable pay Each Foot Souldier in London hath 10 d. a day and each Horseman 2 s. 6 d. a day Onely those of the Life Guard have each 4 s. a day The rest of His Majesties Forces that are in constant pay are disposed of into several Garrisons a List whereof follows Alphabetically with the names of their several Governors Barwick Lord Widdrington Carlile Sir Philip Musgrave Chepstow Captain Roger Vaughan Chester Sir Jeofry Shackerly Dover Capt. Strode Deale Capt Titus Guernsey Lord Hatton Gravesend Sir Francis Leak Harwich Sir Charles Littleton Hull John Lord Bellassis Jersey Sir Thomas Morgan Languard Fort Major Dorrell St. Maws Sir Viel Vivian Pendenis Richard Lord Arundel Plimouth Earl of Bath Portsmouth D. of York Sir Philip Honywood Lieutenant Governor Scarborough Sir Tho. Slingsby Scylly Isle Sir Will. Godolphin Shereness Sir Bourcher Wray Tinmouth Col. Edward Villars Tower Sir John Robinson Vpner Castle Windsor Castle Prince Rupert Isle of Wight Sir Robert Holmes York the Lord Freschevile In some of these Garrisons His Majesty is at the charge of above 500 men constantly each Garrison Souldier hath 8 pence a day Of all the land Forces in pay the Commissaries Gen. of Musters are Henry Howard of Suffolk and Sir Cecil Howard The Pay-master of all the Forces is Sir Stephen Fox The Judge Advocate Dr. Sam. Barrow For regulating and ordering His Majesties Land Forces that are in constant pay there are no Orders yet setled by Act of Parliament as there are for his Sea Forces but may be in a short time Besides the afore-mentioned Forces there is the standing Militia by Land of all England setled in the King to be governed ordered and enlarged from time to time as his Majesty shall see occasion For the management of these standing Land Forces the King himself makes choice of divers of the principal Peers of his Kingdome and by Commission creates them Lord Lieutenants of the several Counties of England with power to arm array and form into Companies Troops and Regiments to conduct upon occasion of Rebellion or Invasions and employ the men so armed within the Counties and Places for which the said Lords are commissioned or into any other County as the King shall give order To give Commissions to Colonels or other Commissioned Officers to present to the King the names of the Deputy-Lieutenants who have in the absence of the Lord Lieutenant the same power and these are to be of the prime Gentry of the County to charge any person in the County with Horse Horsemen and Arms or Foot Souldiers and Arms within the said County proportionable to their estates with limitation that no person be charged with a Horse unless he hath 500 l. yearly Revenue or 6000 l. in personal Estate No person to be charged with a Foot Souldier unless he hath 50 l. yearly Revenue or 600 l. personal Estate Those that have meaner Estates are to joyn two or three together to find a Horse and Horseman or a Foot Souldier The forementioned Horse and Foot are to muster once or twice a year and each Horseman during the time of the Muster to be allowed him for whom he serves 2 s. a day and each Foot Souldier 12 d. a day For furnishing Ammunition and other Necessaries the Lord Lieutenant
now corruptly the Charter house it being heretofore a Covent of Carthusian Monks called in French des Chartreux This Colledge called also Suttons Hospital consists of a Master or Governor at present Sir Ralph Sidenham a Chaplain Doctor Thriscross a Master and Usher to instruct 44 Scholars besides fourscore decayed Gentlemen Souldiers and Merchants who have all a plentiful maintenance of Dyet Lodging Clothes and Physick c. and live altogether in a Collegiate manner with much cleanliness and neatness and the four and fourty Scholars have not onely all necessaries whilst they are here taught but if they become fit for the Universities there is allowed unto each one out of the yearly Revenues of this Colledge 20 l. yearly and duly paid for 8 years after they come to the University and to others fitter for Trades there is allowed a considerable Sum of money to bind them Apprentices There are moreover all sorts of officers expedient for such a Society as Physitian Apothecary Steward Cooks Butlers c. who have all competent Salaries This vast Revenue and Princely Foundation was the sole Gift of an ordinary Gentleman Mr. Thomas Sutton born in Lincoln-shire and 't was of such high Account as it was thought fit that by the Kings Letters Patents under the Great Seal divers persons of the highest Dignity and Quality in Church and State should alwayes be the Overseers and Regulators of this Society as the Archbishop of Canterbury the Lord Keeper Lord Treasurer and 13 others Besides there are in London divers endowed Schools which in France would be stiled Colledges as Paul's School foundded 1512. by John Collet Doctor of Divinity and Dean of Pauls for 153 Children to be taught there gratis for which purpose he appointed a Master a Sub-master or Usher and a Chaplain with large stipends for ever committing the oversight thereof to the Masters Wardens and Assistants of the Mercers in London for his father Henry Collet sometime Lord Mayor of London was of the Mercers Company This famous School was also lately burnt down and now is reedified in a far more magnificent commodious and beautiful manner the worthy Master thereof is Mr. Samuel Crumholm alias Cromlum There are in London divers other endowed Schools as Merchant-Taylors Mercers-Chappel c. a particular Account whereof the designed Brevity of this Treatise will not admit It would also make this Book too much swell to give an Account of the many richly endowed Hospitals Almes-houses Work-houses or Houses of Correction the many stately built Taverns Inns and Coffee Houses some whereof surpass all others in foreign parts and are worthy to be viewed by curious Travellers who may also find it worthy their pains to remarque the several spatious well-built Theaters which for variety of Scenes excellent Actors Language Designs Musick c. are hardly to be equalled Moreover they may observe the many well furnisht Markets the weekly Horse-fairs the great commodiousness of Hackney-Coaches of Sedans of Boats c. belonging to this famous City also to consider the City of Westminster and the Burrough of Southwark both which now seem to be swallowed up in London Within the Precincts of Westminster are many Magnalia several things are as remarkable as any aforementioned the antient stately Abby Church founded before the Norman Conquest by the Pious King Edward the Confessor and most richly endowed afterwards rebuilt from the ground by Henry the III. with that rare Architecture now seen wherein are the most magnificent Tombs and Monuments of our Kings and Queens and greatest Nobles of England To the East end of which is added a Chappel of King Henry the VII which for the most admirable artificial work without and within for a Monument of massy Brass most curiously wrought is scarce to be paralleld in the World This huge Fabrick stands where first was the Temple of Apollo and afterwards King Sebert the East Saxon King that first built St. Pauls aforementioned built here a Church to St. Peter Queen Elizabeth converted this Abbey into a Collegiate Church and therein placed a Dean 12 Secular Canons or Prebendaries Petty Canons and others of the Quire to the number of 30 ten Officers belonging to the Church as many servants belonging to the Collegiate Dyet two Schoolmasters 40 Scholars 12 Almes-men with plentiful maintenance for all besides Stewards Receivers Registers Collectors and other Officers the principal whereof is the high Steward of Westminster who is usually one of the prime Nobility and is at present the Lord Chamberlain The Dean is entrusted with the custody of the Regalia at the Coronation honored with a place of necessary service at all Coronations and a Commission of Peace within the City and Liberties of Westminster the Dean and Chapter invested with all manner of Jurisdiction both Ecclesiastical and Civil not onely within the City and Liberties of Westminster but within the Precincts of St. Martin le grand within the Walls of London and in some Towns of Essex exempted in the one from the Jurisdiction of the Bishop of London and in the other from that of the Archbishop of Canterbury For Ecclesiastical Causes and probate of Wills it hath a Royal Jurisdiction Dr. Richard Lloyd is Commissary from whom Appeal must be onely to the King in his High Court of Chancery who thereupon issueth out a Commission of Delegates under the Great Seal of England When the Convocation is adjourned from St. Pauls for the conveniency of being nearer to the Parliament to Westminster the Bishops first declare upon a Protestation made by the Dean there that they intend not thereby to violate that high Priviledge viz. That no Bishop or Archbishop may come there without leave of the Dean first obtained There is also a fair Publick Library free for all strangers to study both morning and afternoon alwayes in Term time Next this Church stood the Royal Palace and usual place of Residence for the Kings of England who ordinarily held their Parliaments and all their Courts of Judicature in their dwelling Houses as is done at this day at Madrid by the King of Spain and many times sate themselves in the said Courts of Judicature as they do still in their Court of Parliament A great part of this huge Palace was in the time of Henry the VIII destroyed by fire what remained hath still been employed for the use of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament and for the chief Courts of Judicature The great Hall where these are kept some say was built by King William Rufus others by King Richard the II. about 300 years agoe and for all dimensions is not to be equalled by any Hall in Christendom Moreover Strangers and Foreigners may take notice of the extraordinary commodiousness conveniency and situation of the present Royal Palace and usual place of Residence called Whitehall belonging heretofore to Cardinal Woolsey seated between a noble navigable River and a most delectable Park of the great Chamber there called the Banquetting-House
England in some difficult cases were not wont to give Judgment until they had first consulted the King or his Privy Council Moreover the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament have oft-times transmitted matters of high moment to the King and his Privy Council as by long experience and wisdom better able to judge of and by secrecy and expedition better able to transact some State Affairs then all the Lords and Commons together At present the King and his Privy Council take Cognisance of few matters that may well be determined by the known Laws and ordinary Courts of Justice but onely as aforesaid consult for the Publick Good Honour Defence Safety and Benefit of the Realm not medling with matters that concern Freeholds but matters of Appeal and sudden Emergencies The Lords of the Privy Council are as it were a part of the King incorporate with him and his Cares bearing upon their Shoulders that great weight that otherwise would lye wholly upon His Majesty wherefore of such high value and esteem they have always been that if a man did but strike in the House of a Privy Counsellor or elsewhere in his presence he was grievously Fined for the same and to conspire the death of any of them was made Felony in any of the Kings servants within the Check Roll and to kill one of them was High Treason A Privy Councellor though but a Gentleman shall have precedence of all Knights Baronets and younger Sons of all Barons and Viscounts The Substance of their Oath is That they shall according to their power and discretion Truly Justly and Evenly Counsel and Advise the King in all matters to be Treated in His Majesties Council that they shall keep secret the Kings Counsel c. By Force of this Oath and the Custom of the Kingdom of England a Privy Counsellor is made without any Patent or Grant and to continue onely during the Life of the King that makes him nor so long unless the King pleaseth Heretofore there hath been usually a Lord President of the Kings Privy Council a Dignity of so high Repute that by a Statute of Henry the Eight he is to take place in publick next to the Lord High Treasurer of England His Office was to speak first to business to report to His Majesty the Passages and State of businesses transacted at Council Table The last Lord President was the Earl of Manchester Father of the present Lord Chamberlaine To his Privy Councellors the King of England may declare or conceal from them whatsoever he alone judgeth fit and expedient qua in re saith the Excellent Sir Tho. Smith absolutissimum est hoc Regnum Angliae prae Venetorum Ducatu aut Lacedaemoniorum Principatu The King with the advice of his Privy Council doth publish Proclamations binding to the Subject provided that they are not contrary to Statute or Common Law In cases where the publick peace honour or profit of the Kingdom may be endangered for want of speedy redress there the King with his Privy Council usually make use of an absolute power if need be The Members of this most Honorable Council are such as his own free Will and meer Motion shall please to choose and are commonly men of the highest rank eminent for Estates Wisdom Courage Integrity c. And because there are few cases of moment so temporal but that they may some way relate to spiritual affairs therefore according to the general Rules of Policy and Government which God himself ordained amongst his chosen people the Jews the Privy Council as well as the great Council of Parliament is composed of Spiritual as well as Temporal persons some of the principal Bishops of England have in all times been chosen by His Majesty to be of his Privy Council The Lords of His Majesties Privy Council are at present these that follow His Royal Highness the Duke of York His Highness Prince Rupert Gilbert Lord-Archbishop of Canterbury Sir Orlando Bridgman Knight and Baronet Lord Keeper of the Great Seal John Lord Roberts Lord Privy Seal George Duke of Buckingham Mr. of the Horse to His Majesty James Duke of Monmouth James Duke of Ormond Lord Great Steward of His Majesties Houshold Henry Marquis of Dorchester Henry Earl of Ogle Thomas Earl of Ossory Robert Earl of Lindsey Lord Great Chamberlain of England Edward Earl of Manchester Lord Chamberlain of His Majesties Houshold· Awbrey Earl of Oxford John Earl of Bridgwater Robert Earl of Leceister Henry Earl of S. Albans Edward Earl of Sandwich Arthur Earl of Anglesey John Earl of Bath Groom of the Stole to His Majesty Charles Earl of Carlisle William Earl of Craven John Earl of Rothes His Majesties Commissioner in Scotland John Earl of Lotherdale Secretary of State in Scotland John Earl of Tweedale John Earl of Middleton Richard Earl of Carbury Lord President of Wales Roger Earl of Orrery Humphrey Lord Bishop of London Henry Lord Arlington one of His Majesties Principal Secretaries of State Francis Lord Newport Comptroler of His Majesties Houshold John Lord Berkley Lieutenant of Ireland Densel Lord Holles Anthony Lord Ashley Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Thomas Clifford Knight Treasurer of His Majesties Houshold Sir George Carteret Knight Vice-Chamberlain to His Majesty Sir John Trevor Knight one of His Majesties Principal Secretaries of State Sir Thomas Ingram Knight Chancellor of the Dutchy Sir William Morice Knight Sir John Duncom Knight Sir Thomas Chicheley Knight Master of the Ordnance These are all to wait on his Majesty and at Council Board sit in their Order bare-headed when His Majesty presides At all Debates the lowest delivers his opinion first that so he may be the more free and the King last of all declares his Judgment and thereby determines the mater in Debate The Time and Place of holding this Council is wholly at the Kings pleasure but it is most commonly held in the morning on Wednesday and Friday out of Parliament time and Term time and in the Afternoon in time of Parliament and Term. A Council is seldom or never held without the Presence of one of the Secretaries of State of whose Office and Dignity much more considerable in England than in other Nations take here this brief Account The Kings of England had antiently but one Secretary of State until about the end of Henry the Eight his Reign it was thought fit that weighty and important Office should be discharged by two Persons both of equal authority and both stiled Principal Secretaries of State In those days and some while after they sate not at Council Board but having prepared their business in a Room adjoyning to the Council-Chamber they came in and stood on either hand of the King and nothing was debated at the Table until the Secretaries had gone through with their Proposals But Queen Elizabeth seldom coming to Council that Method was altered and the two Secretaries took their places as Privy Counsellors which Dignity they have retained and enjoyed ever since and a
Council is seldom or never held without the presence of one of them at the least Their employment being of extraordinary trust and multiplicity renders them most considerable both in the eyes of the King upon whom they attend every day as occasion requires and of the Subjects also whose requests and desires are for the most part lodged in their hands to be presented to the King and always to make dispatches thereupon according to His Majesties Answers and Directions As for Forraign Affairs the Secretaries divide all the Kingdoms and Nations which have intercourse of business with the King of England into two grand Provinces whereof each Secretary taketh one to himself receiving all Letters and Addresses from and making all dispatches to the several Princes and States comprehended within his own Province But in all matters of home concern whether they relate to the Publick or to particular persons both the Secretaries do equally and indistinctly receive and dispatch whatsoever is brought to them be it for the Church the Militia or private Grants Pardons Dispensations c. They have this special Honour that if either of them be a Baron he taketh place and hath the precedence of all other persons of the same degree though otherwise by their Creation some of them might have right to precede him and a Knight in like manner if he hath no other qualification They have their several Lodgings appointed them in all the Kings Houses as well for their own Accommodation as for their Office and those that attend upon it They have also a very liberal Diet at the Kings charge or Board-wages in lieu of it To shew how considerable their place is their setled allowance from the King in Salary and Pension is little less than Two thousand pounds Sterling per annum to each of them The Secretaries and Clerks whom they imploy under them are wholly at their own choice and have no dependance upon any other power or person besides themselves They have the Custody of that Seal of the King which is properly called the Signet the use and application whereof gives denomination to an Office constantly attending the Court called the Signet Office wherein there are four Clerks who wait alternately by Months and prepare such things as are to pass the Signet in order to the Privy Seal or Great Seal The present Secretaries of State are Henry Lord Arlington whom for his eminent Services at home and abroad both in War and Peace His Majesty was pleased to advance into the place of Sir Edward Nicholas And Sir John Trevor who for his great abilities and succesful Negotiations had that Trust and Honour conferred upon him when Sir William Morice late Secretary of State was by His Majesties gracious consent permitted to retire from business Waiting on the Privy Council there are Four Clarks in Ordinary who waite by Months each one he that comes in is always a week before and a week after his Month to assist there Their Office is to read what is brought before the Council and draw up all such Orders as the King and Lords shall direct and cause them to be Registred They are these that follow Sir Richard Brown Sir Edward Walker Sir John Nicolas Sir Robert Southwel Salaries to each 250. l. besides Fees for Orders and Letters c. Beside the forenamed Officers there is a Keeper of the Records John Woolly Esq no Fee Two Keepers of the Council Chamber Fee to each 45 l. Thirty Messengers whereof Ten at a time by turns waite every Moneth Fee to each 45 l. These upon Occasion are sent by Warrant of the Lords of the Privy Council to fetch any Person under the Degree of a Baron and to keep him Prisoner in his House till farther order Attending on the Secretaries are the Clerks of the Signet or Little Seal which is always in the Custody of the Secretaries for sealing the Kings Private Letters and for all such Grants as pass His Majesties hands by Bill assigned Of these Clerks there are four Sir John Nicholas Knight of the Bath Sir Philip Warwick Knight Trumbal Esquire and Sidney Bear Esquire These have no Fee from the King but onely Dyet which at Pension is 200 l. yearly Their Office is in Whitehall they waite by Month each of them three Months in a year One of them alwayes attends the Court wheresoever it removes and by Warrant from the King or Secretaries of State or Lords of the Council prepare such Bills or Letters for the King to sign as not being matters of Law are by any Warrants directed to them to prepare In their Office all Grants either prepared by the Kings learned Council in the Law or by themselves for the Kings hand when signed are returned and there transcribed again and that transcription is carried to one of the Principal Secretaries of State and Sealed and then it is called a Signet which is directed to the Lord Privy Seal and is his Warrant for issuing out a Privy Seal upon it which is prepared by the Clerks of that Seal is sufficient for the payment of any Moneys out of the Exchequer and for several other uses but when the nature of the Grant requires the passing the Great Seal then the Privy Seal is an Authority to the Lord Keeper to pass the Great Seal as the Signet was to the Lord Privy Seal to affix that Seal to the Grant but in all three Offices viz. Signet Privy-Seal and Great-Seal the Grant is transcribed So all which passes from the King hath these several ways of being considered before perfected There are also four Clarks of the Privy Seal viz. the Lord Sandwich whose Interest for his life is in one Mr Watkins Mr Baron Master Bickerstaff and Mr. More of their Office is to be seen in Stat. 27. of Henry 8. worthy to be noted To this Office in time when the Court of Request is in being belongs the Sealing of all Commissions and other process out of that Court. Moreover depending on the Secretaries of State is an antient Office called the Paper-Office the Keeper whereof hath in his Charge all the publick Papers Writings Matters of State and Counsel all Letters Intelligences Negotiations of the Kings publick Ministers abroad and generally all the Papers and dispatches that pass through the Offices of the two Secretaries of State which are from time to time transmitted into this Office and here remain disposed by way of a Library within His Majesties Palace of Whitehall This considerable Officer hath a Fee of 160 l. per annum payable out of the Exchequer and is at present that very worthy person Joseph Williamson Doctor of Laws After the Kings most Honorable Privy Council that Primum mobile or rather that Resort or Spring may be considered the Great wheeles first moved by that Spring which are the Convocation for the Ecclesiastical Government and the Parliament for the Civil But for the better understanding of the Ecclesiastical Government it will be
a Bishop for their Prolocutor and the Lower being required by the Highe House to choose them a Prolocutor or Speaker which done they present him to the Upper House by two of their Members whereof one makes a Speech in Latin and then the Elect person makes another Speech in Latin Lastly the Archbishop answers in Latin and in the name of all the Lords approves of the person Both Houses debate and transact only such matters as His Majesty by Commission expresly alloweth In the Upper House things are first proposed and then communicated to the Lower House The Major vote in each House prevailes Out of Parliament time they usually assemble every day about Nine of the clock and first the Junior Bishop sayes prayers in Latin beginning with the Letany and then for the King c. And in the Lower House the Prolocutor says prayers In Convocation are debated only matters concerning Religion and the Church and sometime of giving His Majesty assistance in Money for as the Laity cannot be taxed without their own consent signified by their Representative in Parliament so the Clergy cannot be taxed without their consent signified by their Representative in Convocation The Clergy in Convocation might antiently without asking the Royal Assent and now may with the Royal Assent make Canons touching matters of Religion to bind not only themselves but all the Laity with-out consent or ratification of the Lords and Commons in Parliament Till the late Rebellion the Parliament did not at all meddle in the making Canons or in matters Doctrinal or in Translation of Scriptures only by their civil Sanctions when they were thereto required did confirm the Results and Consultations of the Clergy that so the people might be the more easily induced to obey the Ordinances of their Spiritual Governors The Clergy of England had antiently their Representatives in the Lower House of Parliament as appears by that antient Record so highly prized by the late Lord Coke and as the Upper House had and still hath Lords Spiritual as well as Temporal so in the Lower House there were always Commons Spiritual as well as Temporal for that Record saith expresly that the Commons in Parliament consist of three degrees or kinds First ex Procuratoribus Cleri Secondly ex Militibus Comitatuum Thirdly ex Burgensibus and the words of the Writ directed now to the Procuratores Cleri seem to give them the very same right to sit in that House as the words of the Writ to the Knights Citizens and Burgesses do give to them All the Members of both Houses of Convocation have the same priviledges for themselves and menial Servants as the Members of Parliament have and that by Statute The Archbishop of York at the same time holds at York a Convocation of all his Province in like manner and by constant correspondence doth debate and conclude of the same matters as are debated and concluded by the Provincial Synod of Canterbury Now for the Executive power in Church matters throughout the Kingdom of England there have been provided divers excellent Courts whereof the highest for criminal Causes was the High Commission Court for the jurisdiction whereof it was enacted primo Elizabethae that Her Majesty and Successors should have power by Letters Patents under the Great Seal to nominate Commissioners to exercise jurisdiction throughout the whole Realm to visit reform and correct all Errors Heresies Schisms Abuses and Delinquencies that may by any Ecclesiastical power be corrected or reformed This Court consisted of the highest persons of England in the Church and State and was the principal Bulwark and Preservative of the Church of England against the practices and assaults of all her Adversaries whether Romanist Puritan or Atheist yet for some pretended abuses the use thereof was taken away in the late seditious long Parliament whereupon followed a deluge of Errors in Religion Apostacy Atheism Blasphemy Sacriledge Incest Adultery impious Libels Schisms Conventicles c. all which so overwhelmed the manners of English men and occasioned at length so many profest Atheists that until the re-establishment of this or the like Court there cannot a Reformation be reasonably hoped for For civil affairs that concern the Church the highest Court is the Court of Delegates for the jurisdiction whereof it was provided 25 H. 8. that it shall be lawful for any subject of England in case of defect of justice in the Courts of the Archbishop of Canterbury to appeal to the Kings Majesty in his Court of Chancery and that upon such appeal a Commission under the Great Seal shall be directed to certain persons particularly designed for that business so that from the highest Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury there lies an Appeal to this Court of Delegates and beyond this to none other Next to the Court of Delegates are the Courts of the Archbishop of Canterbury where any Ecclesiastical Sutes between any persons may waving all inferior Courts be decided amongst them the highest Court is the Court of Arches so called from the Arched Church and Tower of S. Maries in Cheapside London where this Court is wont to be held the Judge whereof is called Dean of the Arches having jurisdiction over a Deanery consisting of 13 Parishes within London exempt from the jurisdiction of the Bishop of London Hither are directed all Appeals in Ecclesiastical matters within the Province of Canterbury To this Court belongs divers Advocates all Doctors of the Civil Law two Registers and ten Proctors the Dean at present is Doctor Sweat In the next place the Archbishop of Canterbury hath his Court of Audience kept within the Archbishops Palace and medleth not with any difference between parties but concerning Elections and consecration of Bishops Admission and Institution to Benefices dipensing with Banes of Matrimony c. The next Court is called the Prerogative Court which judgeth of Estates fallen by Will or by Intestates so called because the Archbishops jure Praerogativae suae hath this power throughout his whole Province where the party at the time of death had 5 l. or above in several Dioceses and these two Courts hath also the Archbishop of York Lastly the Court of Peculiars which dealeth in certain Parishes lying in several Dioceses which Parishes are exempt from the jurisdiction of the Bishops of those Dioceses and are peculiarly belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury in whose Province there are 57 such Peculiars Besides these Courts serving for the whole Province every Bishop hath his Court held in the Cathedral of his Diocess over which he hath a Chancellor tearmed antiently Ecclesiecdicus Episcopi Ecdicus the Church Lawyer or the Bishops Lawyer who being skill'd in the Civil and Canon Law sits there as Judge and if his Diocess be large he hath in some more remote place a Commissary whose authority is only in some certain place of the Diocess and some certain Causes limited to him by the Bishop in his Commission and these are called Consistory Courts
Commons is a little above 500 persons whereof commonly near 200 are absent upon business or sickness c. Note that the Barons of the Cinque Ports are at this day onely as other Burgesses in Parliament but are still called Barons after the antient manner because heretofore they got great renown by their exploits at Sea in defending the Kingdom in memory whereof they have yet the Priviledge to send Burgesses to bear the Cloth of State over the Kings Head on the day of his Coronation and to dine that day in the Kings Presence A List of all the Knights Citizens Burgesses and Barons of the Cinque Ports that at present serve in the Parliament of England Bedford SIR Humphry Winch Bar. Sir John Nappier Bar. Town of Bedford Pawlet St. John Esq Sir William Beecher Kt. Berks. Richard Nevil Esq Sir Richard Powle Kt of the Bath Burough of New Windsor Sir Richard Braham Kt. Sir Thomas Higgons Kt. Borough of Reading Sir Thomas Doleman Kt. Richard Aldworth Esq Burough of Wallingford Sir John Benet Knight of the Bath Robert Packer Esq Borough of Abingdon Sir George Stonehouse Bar. Bucks Sir William Bowyer Kt. and Bar. Sir William Terringham Kt. of the Bath Town of Bucks Sir Richard Temple Bar. Sir William Smith Bar. Borough of Chipping Wiccomb Sir Edmond Pye Kt. and Bar. Sir John Burlace Bar. Borough of Aylesbury Sir Richard Ingoldsby Knight of the Bath Sir Thomas Lee Bar. Borough of Agmondesham Sir Will. Drake Kt. Sir Thomas Proby Bar. Borough of Wendever Richard Hampden Esq Robert Crooke Esq Borough of great Marlowe Peregrine Hobby Esq Charles Cheyney Esq Cambridge Sir Thomas Chicheley Kt. Sir Thomas Wendy Knight of the Bath Vniversity of Cambridge Thomas Crouch Master of Arts Sir Charles Wheeler Bar. Town of Cambridge William Lord Allington Roger Pepis Esq Chester Sir Foulke Lucy Knight Thomas Cholmly Esq City of Chester Sir Thomas Smith Bar. John Radcliff Esq Cornwall Sir Jonath Trelawny Kt. Sir John Corryton Bar. Borough of Dunhivid alias Launceston Sir Richard Edgecombe Knight of the Bath Sir Charles Harbord Knight His Majesties Surveyor General Borough of Leskeard John Harris Esq Barnard Greenvile Esq Borough of Lestwithiel Charles Smith Esq Silas Titus Esq Borough of Truroe John Arundel Esq Edward Boscawen Borough of Bodmin Sir John Carew Bar. Hender Roberts Esq Borough of Helston Sir William Godolphin Bar. Sidney Godolphin Esq Borough of Saltashe Francis Buller Junior Esq John Buller Esq Borough of Camelford Thomas Coventry Esq Sir Will. Godolphin Kt. Borough of Port-Pigham alias Westlow Sir Henry Vernon Bar. John Trelawny Esq Borough of Grampound Charles Trevanion Esq John Tanner Esq Borough of Estlow Henry Seymour Esq Sir Robort Atkins Kt. of the Bath Borough of Penryn William Pendarvis Esq John Birch Esq Borough of Tregony Hugh Boscawen Esq Thomas Herle Esq Borough of Bossiny Robert Roberts Esq Richard Rous Esq Borough of St. Ives James Praed Esq Edward Nosworthy Esq Borough of Fowey Jonathan Rashley Esq John Rashly Gent. Borough of St. Germains John Elliot Esq Edward Elliot Esquire Borough of St. Michael Matthew Wren Esq Francis Ld Hawley Borough of Newport John Speccot Esq Nicolas Morice Borough of St. Mawes Arthur Spry Esq Sir Joseph Tredinham Borough of Kellington Sir Cyril Wych Kt. Sam. Roll Esq Cumberland Sir George Fletcher Bar. Sir John Lowther Bar. City of Carlile Sir Philip Howard Kt. Christopher Musgrave Esq Borough of Cockermouth Sir Wilfrid Lawson Kt. John Clark Esq Derby William Lord Cavendish Sacheveril Esq Town of Derby John Dalton Esq Anchetel Grey Esq Devon Sir John Roll Knight of the Bath Sir Copplestone Bamfield Kt. City of Exeter Sir James Smith Kt. Robert Walker Esq Borough of Totnes Sir Edward Seymour Bar. Sir Thomas Clifford Kt. Borough of Plymouth Sir William Morice Kt. Sir Gilbert Talbot Kt. Town and Borough of Okehampton Sir Edward Wise Knight of the Bath John Harris Esq Borough of Barnstable Sir John Norcot Bar. Nicholas Dennis Esq Borough of Plympton Sir William Stroude Kt. Sir Nicholas Slanning Kt. and Bar. Borough of Honiton Sir Courtney Poole Bar. Peter Prideaux Esq Borough of Tavistok George Howard Esq William Russel Esq Borough of Ashburton Sir Geo. Sonds Kt. of the Bath John Fowel Esq Borough of Clifton Dartmouth Hardnes William Harbord Esq William Gould Esq Borough of Beeralston Sir John Maynard Kt. the Kings Sergeant at Law Joseph Maynard Esq Borough of Tiverton Thomas Carew Esq Henry Ford Esq Dorset Giles Strangeways Esq Sir John Strode Kt. Town of Poole Sir John Moreton Bar. Thomas Trenchard Esq Borough of Dorchester James Gould Esq John Churchill Esq Borough of Kings Lime Sir John Shaw Kt. and Bar. Henry Henly Esq Borough of Weymouth Sir John Covenrry Kt. of the Bath Sir Winston Churchill Kt. Borough of Kings-mellcombe Bullen Reymes Esq Anthony Ashley Esq Borough of Bridport Humphrey Bishop Esq John Strangewaise Esq Bor. of Shaston alias Shastbury Henry Whittacre Esq John Bennet Esq Borough of Wareham George Pit Esq Robert Culleford Esq Borough of Corfe Castle Sir Ralf Banks Kt. John Tregonwell Esq Essex Banestre Maynard Esq Sir John Bramstone Knight of the Bâ—rbâ— Borough of Colchester Sir Harbottle Grimstone Baronet Master of the Rolls Sir John Shaw Kt. Borough of Malden Sir John Tirril Kt. Sir Richard wiseman Kt. Borough of Harwich Thomas King Esq Sir Capel Luckin Gloucester John Grubham How Esq Sir Bainham Throgmorton Kt. City of Gloucester Sir Edward Massy Kt. Evan Seyes Serjeant at Law Borough of Cirencester Henry Fowle Esq John George Esq Borough of Tewksbury Sir Henry Capel Kt. of the Bath Richard Dowdswel Esq Hereford John Kerle Bar. Thomas Price Esq City of Hereford Roger Vaughan Esq Herbert Westphaling Esq Borough of Leompster Reynald Graham Esq Humphrey Cornwall esq Borough of Weobly John Barnaby Esq Sir Thomas Tompkins Kt Hertford Sir Richard Franklyn Knight and Baronet Will. Hale Esq Borough of St. Albans Sam. Grimston Esq Thomas Arris Doctor of Physick Borough of Hertford Sir Edward Turner Knight Speaker Thomas Lord Fanshaw Knight of the Bath Huntingdon Robert Vicount Mandeville Henry Williams Esq Borough of Huntingdon Sir John Cotton Bar. Lyonel Walden Esquire Kent Sir Thomas Peyton Bar. Sir John Tufton Kt. and Bar. City of Canterbury Thomas Hardâ—es Serj. at Law Sir Edward Masters Kt. City of Rochester Sir Francis Clerk Kt. Richard Heâ—d Esquire Borough of Maidstone Thomâ—s Heâ—lâ—ckenden Esquire Sir Robert Barneham Bar. Borough of Queenborough James Herbert Esquire Sir Edward Hales Bar. Lancaster Sir Roger Bradshaw Kt. Thomas Preston Esquire Borough of Lancaster Richard Kirkby Esquire Richard Harrison Esquire Borough or Town of Preston in Amounderness Edward Rigby Esquire John Otway Esquire Borough of Newton Richard Lord Gorges Richard Leigh Esq Borough of Wigon Charles Eâ—rl of Ancram Sir Jeofry â—hâ—kerley Kt. Borough of Clitheroe Sir John Heath Attorney of the Dutchy Ambrose Pudrey Esq Borough of Liverpoole Sir William Bucknell Kt. Sir Gilbert Ireland Kt. Leicester John Lord Roos George Faunt Esq Town of Leicester
Bench so called because anciently the King sometimes there sate in person on a high Bench and his Judges on a low Bench at his Feet to whom the Judicature belongs in the absence of the King In this Court are handled the Pleas of the Crown all things that concern loss of life or member of any Subject for then the King is concerned because the Life and Limbs of the Subject belong only to the King so that the Pleas here are between the King and the Subject Here are also handled all Treasons Felonies Breach of Peace Oppression Misgovernment c. This Court moreover hath power to examine and correct all Errors in facto in jure of all the Judges and Justices of England in their Judgements and Proceedings and this not only in Pleas of the Crown but in all Pleas Real Personal and mixt except only in the Exchequer In this High Court sit commonly Four Grave Reverend Judges whereof the First is stiled the Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench and is created not by Patent but by a short Writ thus Johanni Keeling Militi salutem Sciatis quod constituimus vos Justiciarium nostrum Capitalem ad placita coram nobis tenenda durante beneplacito nostro Teste me ipso apud Westm The rest of the Judges of the Kings Bench hold their places by Letters Patents in these words Rex omnibus ad quos praesentes literae pervenirint salutem Sciatis quod constituimus dilectum fidelem Richardum Rainsford Militem unum Justiciariorum ad placita coram nobis tenenda durante beneplacito nostro Teste c. These Judges and all the Officers belonging to this Court have all Salaries from the King and the chief of them have Robes and Liveries out of the great Wardrobe In this Court all young Lawyers that have been called to the Bar are allowed to plead and practice This Court may grant Prohibitions to keep other Courts both Ecclesiastical and Temporal within their Bounds and due Jurisdiction The Jurisdiction of this Court is general and extendeth to all England is more uncontroulable than any other Court for the Law presumes that the King is alwayes there in person None may be Judge in this Court unless he be a Serjeant of the Degree of the Coif that is a Serjeant at Law who upon taking this high Degree is obliged to wear a Lawn Coif under his Cap for ever after A List of the several Officers belonging to His Majesties Court of Kings-Bench LOrd Chief Justice Sir John Keeling Knight Justices are Sir Thomas Twisden Knight and Baronet Sir Richard Rainsford Knight Sir William Morton Knight Clerk of the Crown Sir Thomas Fanshaw Knight his Secondary Jasper Waterhouse Esquire Protonotary Sir Robert Henley Knight his Secondary William Livesay Esquire Marshal or Keeper of the Kings Bench Prison Stephen Mosedell Esquire Custos Brevium Justinian Paget Esquire Andrew Vivean and Francis Woodward Clerks of the Paper Office Sealer of the Writs Edward Coleman Gilbert Barrel Clark of the Rules Clerk of the Errors Henry Field George Bradford Clerk for Filing Declarations a Cryer Porter and some other inferiour Officers Then there are Filacers for the several Counties of England whose Office is in this Court to make out all Process upon original Writs as well real as personal and mixt They were lately these that follow Humphrey Ironmonger Edward Parnel James Buck Samuel Astrey Francis Greg John Hynde Thomas Stone Thomas Leach Gilbert Eveleigh Henry Ewin Joshua Langrige William Oglethorp John Philips William Osborn Rob. Hyde and Anthony Rouse The manner of Tryals in this and all other Common Law Courts in England being different from that of all other Countries and peculiar to England shall be at large described apart in a Chapter with other peculiars Of the Court of Common Pleas. THe next Court for execution of Laws is the Court of Common-Pleas so called because there are debated the usual Pleas between Subject and Subject Some say this Court as well as other Courts were at first held in the Kings House wheresoever he resided but by the Statute of Magna Charta it was ordained that this Court should not be ambulatory but be held at a certain place and that hath ever since been in Westminster-Hall None but Serjeants at Law may plead in this Court and so many of them as the King shall appoint are bound by oath to assist all that have any Cause depending in that Court This Court may grant prohibitions as the Court of the Kings Bench doth The chief Judge in this Court is called the Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas or of the Common-Bench holdeth his place by Letters Patent durante bene placite and so do the other inferiour Judges of this Court whereof there are commonly three In this Court all Civil Causes Real and Personal are usually tryed according to the strict Rule of the Law Real Actions are pleadable in no other Court nor Fines levyed or Recoveries suffered but only in this Court at Westminster The King allows to the Lord Chief Justice of this Court a Fee Reward Robes and two Tun of Wine â—s is done to the Lord Chief Justice of the other Bench also to the other Judges of this Court and to four Serjeants is allowed Fees Reward and Robes to each one In the 11th and 12th of Edward 3. there were eight Judges belonging to the Common Pleas at other times seven six and five and so in the time of Henry 6. and Edward 4. but since usually but four as at this day Before the Reign of Queen Mary these and the rest or the twelve Judges rode upon Mules and not upon Horses as they now do in great State aâ— the beginning of the Term. A List of the several Officers belonging to His Majesties Court of Common-pleas LOrd Chief Justice Sir John Vaughan Kt. Sir Thomas Tyrrel Kt. Sir John Archer Kt. Sir William Wylde Kt. and Bar. these are the present Judges of that Tribunal Then there is an Officer called Custos Brevium the first Clerk of the Court whose Office it is to receive and keep all Writs returnable in that Court to receive of the Protonotaries all the Records of Nisi Prius called Postea's He holdeth his Place by Patent from the King and hath the Gift of the second Protonotary's Place and of the Clerk of the Juries· Sir Joseph Ash hath this Office and doth execute it by his Deputy Thursby Esquire There are three Protonotaries a word compounded of Greek and Latin which with the Antients was usual and signifies the first Notaries they are chief Clerks of this Court and by their Office are to enter and inroll all Declarations Pleadings which the Filazers did formerly promiscuously do Assises Judgments and Actions to make out Judicial Writs c. These considerable Offices are in the hands of Thomas Robinson Alan Lockhart and Humphrey Wirley Esquires The Chirographer also from two Greek words signifying to acknowledge a Debt by setting ones
of proceedings not used in Common Law Courts as the Defendants answering to the Bill and sometimes to the Interrogatories upon Oath though to the accusing of a mans self in divers matters dammageable and penal also by the whole manner of publication the depositions of Witnesses by the examining of witnesses upon Interrogatories and in perpetuam rei memoriam by the term and use of final Decree and many other points differing from the Common Law and wholly agreeing with the Civil Law This Court is alwayes open when all the others are shut but onely in Term time so that if a man be wrongfully imprisoned in the Vacation time out of Term the Lord Chancellour may grant his Writ of Habeas Corpus and do him justice according to Law So likewise may this Court grant Prohibitions in time of Vacation as well as in Term time A List of the several Officers belonging to the High Court of Chancery SIR Orlando Bridgman Knight and Barronet Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England Then the 12 Masters of the Chancery as followeth Sir Harbottle Grimston Baronet Master of the Rolls Sir William Childe Knight Doctor of Laws Sir Justinian Lewin Knight Doctor of Laws Sir Thomas Escourt Knight Sir Mundeford Bramston Knight Doctor of Laws Sir Nathaniel Hobart Knight Sir William Glascock Knight Sir John Coel Knight Sir Robert Stewart Knight Sir Timothy Baldwin Knight Doctor of Laws Sir Andrew Harket Knight Sir William Beversham The House founded at first for the converted Jews was after their expulsson out of England annext for ever to the Office of Master of the Rolls where he hath the custody of all Charters Patents Commissions Deeds Recognisances which being made up in Rolls of Parchments gave occasion of the Name At present there are kept all the Rolls since the beginning of Henry 7. the rest are kept in the Tower of London In his gift are besides the six Clerks Offices the Offices of the Examiners and three Clerks of the Pettibag Next Clerk of the Crown Henry Barker Esquire this Office is of high importance he is either by himself or Deputy continually to attend the Keeper of the Great Seal for special matters of State and hath a place in the Higher House of Parliament he makes all Writs for summoning Parliaments and upon a Warrant directed to him by the Speaker of the House of Commons upon the Death or removal of any Member he makes a Writ for a new Election Protonatary of this Court is Robert Pescod Esquire this Office is chiefly to expedite Commissions for Embassies It is executed by a Deputy Clerk of the Hamper or Hannaper sometime stiled Warden of the Hannaper Whose Office is to receive all the Money due to the King for the Seals of Charters Patents Commissions and Writs and to attend the Keeper of the Seal dayly in Term time and at all times of Sealing with leather baggs now but antiently probably with Hampers wherein are put all sealed Charters Patents c. and then those Baggs delivered to the Comptroller of the Hamper This Office is now enjoyed by Henry Seymer Esquire and executed by a Deputy Warden of the Fleet or Keeper of the Fleet-Prison is an Office very considerable and is to take care of the Prisoners there who are commonly such as are sent thither from this Court for contempt to the King or his Laws or such as will not pay their Debts c. The present Warden is Sir Jeremy Whitchcote It is executed by a Deputy Serjeant at Armes is Humphrey Ley Esq whose Office is to bear a great gilt Mace before the Lord Keeper c. Six Clerks are Officers of great account next in degree to the twelve Masters in Chancery whose Office is to inroll Commissions Pardons Patents Warrants c. That are passed the Great Seal They were antiently Clerici and afterwards forfeited their places if they did marry till by Act of Parliament in the time of Hen. 8. they were allowed to take Wives They are also Atturneys for Plaintiffs and Defendants in causes depending in this Court The present six Clerks Sir John Marshal Matthew Pindar Esq Matthew Bluck Esq Sir Cyril Wyche John Wilkinson Esq and Edward Abney Esq who sit altogether at their Office in Chancery Lane Examiners in Chancery there are two Sir Robert Peyton and Sir Nicholas Strode Their Office is to examine the Witnesses in any suit on both sides on their Oaths This Office also is executed at the Rolls Clerks of the Petty Bag in Chancery are three Edmund Warcup Esq John Hobson Esq and George Low Esq they are under the master of the Rolls Their Office is to make all Patents for Customers Comtrollers all Conge d' eslires first summons of Nobility Clergy Knights Citizens and Burgesses to Parliament c. The Subpena Office is to issue out Writs to call a person into Chancery This Office is in the hands of Frances Lady Vane Sir Walter Vane and Charles Vane and executed by a Deputy Clerk of the Patents or of Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England is Sir Richard Pygot and executed by a Deputy erected 16 Jac. The Register of the Court of Chancery the Farl of St. Albans under whom are three Deputy Registers for the Court two Deputy Registers for the Rolls two entring Clerks and a Keeper of the Books Cursiters Office in the Chancery is to make out Original Writs they were antiently called Clerici de Cursu of these there are twenty four whereof each one hath certain Counties and Cities allotted to them into which they make out such Original Writs as are required These Clerks are a Corporation within them-themselves and are all persons of Quality whose names follow The Names of the Cursiters now in being are these that follow JOhn Symonds Principal William Barker Assistants Benjamin Gladman Assistants Henry Edmonds Ge. Norbury Abr. Nelson Rich· Plumpton Roger Brown John Norbury Richard Cross Edmund Eyre Will. Adderley Abr. Skynner Jo. Shelbury Will. Plumpton Thomas Fisher Elias Gladman Roger Twisden Ben. Storke John More William Loe. H. Amhurst Philip Barecroft Rich. Parmee Esquires who execute these Offices by themselves or by their Deputies This Office is kept near Lincolns Inn. Clerk of the Presentations of Spiritual Benefices Edwes Esquire Commissioners Sir George Courthop Sir Edm. Turner Halsal Esq Alienation Office N. Crew Esq Receiver Gen. Joh. Nichols All the forementioned Courts of Judicature at Westminster are opened four times the year called the four Termes viz. Easter Term which beginneth alwayes the seventeenth day after Easter and lasteth 27 dayes Trinity Term begins the 5 th day after Trinity Sunday and lasteth 20 dayes Michaelmas Term began heretofore a little after that Feast but now by a late Statute begins the 23 October and lasteth 37 dayes Lastly Hilary Term begins now 10 dayes after St. Hilary Bishop or the 23 of January and lasteth 21 dayes so in all 105 dayes from whence must be deducted about 20 Sundayes and Holydayes which
Arches founded in a deep broad River and some say on a soft ozy Ground is Eight hundred Foot in length Sixty high and Thirty broad hath a Draw bridge almost in the middle and Twenty Foot between each Arch it was built Anno 1209. in the Reign of King John The first Stone-bridge in England having been built above One hundred years before by Queen Maud Wife to Henry the First at Stratford on the River Lee Three miles from London so called from the Highway there passing over a Ford and since called Stratford Bow from the Arched Bridge a piece of Architecture then new to the English Nation The building of this Bridge of London was an exceeding difficult and costly piece of Work and to those that consider the constant great Flux and Reflux at that place it seems almost impossible to be done again The charges of keeping it in repair is so great that it hath been thought fit by our Ancestors to have a large House a vast Revenue in Lands and Houses divers considerable Officers c. to be set apart for the constant care and repair thereof Concerning this Bridge and the stupendious site and structure thereof take here the fancy of an ingenious Person deceased WHen Neptune from his Billows London spi'd Brought proudly thither by a High Spring-Tide As through a Floating Wood he steer'd along And moving Castles cluster'd in a throng When he beheld a mighty Bridge give law Unto his Surges and their fury aw When such a Shelf of Cataracts did roar As if the Thames with Nile had chang'd her shoar When he such Massie Walls such Towers did eye Such Posts such Irons upon his back to â—ie When such vast Arches he observ'd that might Nineteen Rialto's make for depth and height When the Cerulean god these things survey'd He shook his Trident and astonish'd said Let the whole Earth now all Her Wonders count This Bridge of Wonders is the Paramount Not far below this famous Bridge is placed the Custome House where is received and managed all the Impositions laid on Merchandise Imported or Exported from this City which are so considerable that of all the Customs of England divided into three parts the Port of London pays Two thirds that is above 330000 l. yearly In this Office there are employed many persons of great ability and worth Collectors Customers Comptrollers Surveyors Registers whereof some have Salaries of 500 l. yearly besides many perquisites The House where this great Office was kept being destroyed by the late Fire is now rebuilt in a very much more magnificent uniform and commodious manner by the King and will cost His Majesty 10000 l. the building There are at present within this City of London divers other very considerable Offices whereof take the account following Of the Office of Post-Master General THe Profits of the said Office are setled by Act of Parliament on his Royal Highness the Duke of York but His Majesty doth constitute His Post-Master General by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England and accordingly hath conferred that Office upon the Right Honorable Henry Lord Arlington His Principal Secretary of State The present Post-Master General keepeth one Grand or General Office in the City of London from whence Letters and Pacquets are dispatched Every Monday to France Italy Spain Flanders Germany Sweden Danemark c and to Kent Every Tuesday to the United Netherlands Germany c. And to all parts of England Scotland and Ireland Every Wednesday to Kent onely and the Downs Every Thursday to France Spain Italy and all parts of England and Scotland Every Friday to the Spanish and United Netherlands Germany Sweden Danemark and to Kent Every Saturday to all parts of England Scotland and Ireland And the Answers of the said Letters and Pacquets are received in the said Office in due Course And from thence dispersed and delivered according to their respective directions with all expedition The said Office is managed by a Deputy and other Officers to the number of Seventy seven Persons who give their actual attendance respectively in the dispatch of the business Upon this Grand Office depends One hundred eighty two Deputy Post-Masters in England and Scotland most of which keep Regular Offices in their Stages and Sub Post-Masters in their Branches and also in Ireland another General Office for that Kingdom which is kept in Dublin consisting of Eighteen like Officers and Forty five Deputy Post-Masters The present Post-Master General keeps constantly for the transport of the said Letters and Pacquets Between England and France Two Pacquet-Boats Flanders Two Pacquet-Boats Holland Three Pacquet-Boats Ireland Three Pacquet-Boats And at Deal Two Pacquet-Boats for the Downs All which Officers Post-Masters Pacquet-Boats are maintained at his own proper charge And as the Master piece of all those good regulations established by the present Post-master General for the better government of the said office he hath annexed and apropriated the Market Towns of England so well to the respective Post-stages that there is no considerable Market-Town but hath an easy and certain Conveyance for the Letters thereof to and from the said grand office in the due Course of the Mailes every Post Note also that all Letters are conveyed with more expedition and less charges then in any forreign Country A Letter containing a whole sheet of Paper is conveyed 80 miles for 2 d. 2 sheets 4 d. and an ounce of Letters but 8 d. and that in so short a time by night as well as by day that every 24 hours the Post goes 120 miles and in 5 dayes an answer of a Letter may be had from a place 300 miles distant from the Writer Moreover if any Gentleman desires to ride Post to any principal Town of England Post-Horses are alwayes in readiness taking no Horse without the consent of his owner which in other Kings reigns was not duly observed and only 3 d. is demanded for every English mile and for every Stage to the Post boy 4 d. for conducting Besides this excellent convenience of conveying Letters and Men on Horseback there is of late such an admirable commodiousness both for Men and Women of better rank to travel from London to almost any great Town of England and to almost all the Villages near this great City that the like hath not been known in the World and that is by Stage Coaches wherein one may be transported to any place sheltred from foul weather and foul ways free from endamaging ones health or body by hard jogging or over violent motion and this not onely at a low price as about a shilling for every 5 miles but with such velocity and speed as that the Posts in some forreign Countryes make not more miles in a day for the Stage Coaches called flying Coaches make Forty or Fifty miles in a day as from London to Oxford or Cambridge and that in the space of Twelve hours not counting the time for Dining setting forth not too early and
to behave themselves in that Port Gravity and Authority as if they were so in the Kings House that so hereafter they may know the better to behave themselves in case they should be promoted to that Honour for these Gentlemen are usually of such quality as come not hither with intent to profess the Law but to learn so much Law as may be necessary to preserve their Estates and to make themselves accomplisht in other qualities necessary for Gentlemen At such time they have here divers divertisements as Feasting every day singing dancing Musick which last is allowed there to all Comers and is so excessive that what the Dicers allow out of each winning to the Butlers box usually amounts to above 50 l. a day and night wherewith and a small contribution from each Student are the great charges of the whole Christmas defrayed Sometimes when their publick Treasury is great they create a Prince among themselves with such Title as they please to give him and he hath all his Officers and a Court sutable to a great Prince and many of the prime Nobility and great Officers of State are feasted and entertained by him with Enterludes c. From All Saints day to Candlemas each House usually hath Revels on Holy-dayes that is Musick and Dancing and for this is chosen some young Student to be Master of the Revels Note that the manner of their Parlament is briefly thus Every Quarter commonly the Benchers cause one of the standing Officers of the House to summon a Parlament which is onely an Assembly and Conference of Benchers and Utter-Baristers which are called the Sage Company and meet in a place called the Parlament Chamber and there Treat of such matters as shall seem expedient for the good ordering of the House and the Reformation of such things as they shall judge meet to be Reformed Here are the Readers for Lent and Summer vacation elected also the Treasurer is here chosen and the Auditors appointed to take the Accounts of the old Treasurer c. Here offences committed by any of the Society are punished c. These Innes of Court are most wisely situated by our Ancestors between the Kings Courts of Judicature and the most opulent City of London In the Four Innes of Court are reckoned about 800 Students Lastly there are two more Colledges called Sergeants Inne where the Common-Law Student when he is arrived to the highest degree hath his Lodging and Dyet These are called Servientes ad Legem Sergeants at Law and are as Doctors in the Civil Law only these have heretofore been reputed more Noble and Honourable Doctoris enim appellatio est Magisterii Servientis vero Ministerii and therefore Doctors of Law are allowed to sit within the Bar in Chairs and covered whilst Sergeants stand without the Bar bareheaded only with Coiffs or Caps on To arrive to this high Degree take this brief account The young Student in the Common Law being born of a Gentile Stock and bred two or three years in the University and there chiefly versed in Logick and Rhetorick both expedient for a Lawyer and gotten some insight into the Civil Law and some skill in the French Tongue as well as Latin he is admitted to be one of the Four Innes of Court where he is first called a Moot man and after about Seven years study is chosen an Utter Barister and having then spent Twelve years more and performed the Exercises before mentioned he is chosen a Bencher and some time after a Reader during the Reading which heretofore was Three weeks and Three days the Reader keeps a constant and sumptuous Feasting inviting the chief Nobles Judges Bishops great Officers of the Kingdom and sometimes the King himself as that most accomplished Lawyer the present Atturney General did that it costs them sometimes 800 or 1000 l. Afterward he wears a long Robe different from other Baristers and is then in a capacity to be made a Sergeant at Law when His Majesty shall please to call him which is in this manner When the number of Sergeants is small the Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas by the advice and consent of the other Judges make choice of Six or Eight more or less of the most Grave and Learned of the Innes of Court and presents their Names to the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper who sends by the Kings Writ to each of them to appear on such a day before the King to receive the State and Degree of Sergeant at Law at the appointed time they being habited in Robes of two colours viz. Brown and Blew come accompanyed with the Students of the Innes of Court and attended by a train of Servants and Retainers in certain peculiar cloth Liveries to Westminster-Hall there in publick take a solemn Oath and are clothed with certain Robes and Coyfs without which they may no more be seen in publick after this they feast the great persons of the Nation in a very magnificent and Princely manner give Gold Rings to the Princes of the Blood Archbishops Chancellor and Treasurer to the value of Forty shillings each Ring to Earles Bishops Rings of Twenty shillings to other great Officers to Barons great Prelates c. Rings of less value Out of these are chosen all the Judges of the Kings Bench and Common Pleas wherefore all those Judges do alwayes wear the white Linnen Coyfe which is the Principal Badge of a Sergeant and which he had ever the Priviledge to wear at all times even in the Kings presence and whilst he spake to the King though antiently it was not permitted to any Subject to be so much as capped in the Presence of the King of England as at present it is not allowed in the presence of the Pope or of the Emperour When any of the aforementioned Judges are wanting the King by advice of His Council makes choice of one of these Sergeants at Law to supply his place and constitutes him by Letters Patents Sealed by the Chancellor who sitting in the middle of the rest of the Judges in open Court by a set Speech declares to the Sergeant that upon this occasion is brought in the Kings pleasure and to the people the Kings goodness in providing the Bench with such able honest men as that Justice may be done expeditely and impartially to all His Subjects and then causes the said Letters Patents to be read and being departed the Chief Justice places the said Sergeant on the Bench junior of all the rest and having taken his Oath well and truly to serve the King and His people in the Office of Justice to take no reward to do equal and speedy Justice to all c. he sits himself to the Execution of his Charge The Sergeant being thus advanced to be a Judge hath thereby great Honour and a very considerable Salary besides certain perquisits for each one hath at least One thousand pound a year from the King and now in some things his former habit
from his Parents all his life time after Besides these there are of late Grammar Schools founded and endowed in almost every Market Town of England wherein the children of the Town are onely to be taught gratis without any other allowance But in the multiplying of these Schools it may be doubted whether there appeared not more Zeal then Prudence for the Parents of such School-boys not able to advance them to the Universities all the rest besides Reading and Writing becomes useless and the Youths by Eight or ten years lazy living rendred unapt for the labor belonging to the more profitable Plough and divers Manufactures usually turn either Serving-men or Clerks to Justices or Lawyers whereby they learn much Chicanery they become cunning Petty-foggers multiply Law-sutes and cozen their Countrey or if perhaps they are set to Trades that little smattering in Learning got at the Grammar School renders them commonly proud stiff-necked self-conceited unapt to be governed apt to embrace every new Doctrine Heresie Schism Sect and Faction Or in case their Parents are able to put them to the University yet for want of sufficient maintenance and residence there they get onely to be half-learned and thereby a propensity to Preach Faction Sedition and Rebellion to seduce those that are more ignorant then themselves as was evident in our late unhappy troubles where it was observed that the Seducers were generally such as had been from those Market Latin Schools advanced to be either Commoners or Servitors for a short time in the University and the seduced ordinarily such as from those Schools became afterward Shop-keepers or Petty-foggers If such had been endowed with more or perhaps with less knowledge they had probably been much more humble loyal and obedient to their Governors both Civil and Ecclesiastical and therefore the late King of Spain consulting with his ablest Counsellors of State for a general Reformation of Matters that were found by experience to be inconvenient and prejudicial to His Kingdoms after mature deliberation came to this resolution That amongst other abuses the great number of Countrey Grammar Schools should by a solemn Prematica or Ordnance be diminished and the childrens time better employed at Manufactures Trades Husbandry c. Besides upon serious consideration it will be found that England is over-stocked with Scholars for the proportion of its Preferments and for its employments for Lettered Persons whereby it comes to pass that too many live discontented and longing for Innovations and Changes and watching for an opportunity to alter the Government both of Church and State This following List was provided to be inserted after the account of the standing Militia of England A List of the present Lords Lieutenants of the several Counties and Places of England in Alphabetical Order BEdford Earl of Alisbury Berks Lord Lovelace Bristol Duke of Ormond Bucks Earl of Bridgwater Cambridge Earl of Suffolk Cheshire Earl of Derby Cornwall Earl of Bath Cumberland Earl of Carlisle Derby Earl of Devonshire Devon Duke of Albemarle Dorset Duke of Richmond Durham Bishop of Durham Essex Earl of Oxford Glocester Marquess of Worcester Hereford Marquess of Worcester Hertford Earl of Essex Huntingdon Earl of Sandwich Kent Duke of Richmond Lancaster Earl of Derby Leicester Earl of Rutland Lincoln Earl of Lindsey Middlesex Earl of Craven Monmouth Marquess of Worcester Norfolk Lord Townsend Northampton Earl of Peterborough Northumberland Earl of Ogle Nottingham Duke of Newcastle Oxford Lord Say and Seal Purbeck Isle Sir Ralph Banks Rutland Viscount Camden Shropshire Lord Newport Southwark Borough Earl of Craven Somerset Duke of Ormond Southampton Lord St. John Stafford Lord Brook Suffolk Earl of Suffolk Surrey Lord Mordant Sussex Earl of Dorset Wales Earl of Carbery Warwick Earl of Northampton Westmerland Earl of Carlisle Wilts Earl of Essex Worcester Lord Windsor York East-Riding Lord Bellasis York West-Riding Duke of Buckingham THus the Reader hath had a small Map of a great Monarchy the most just and easie that ever any people lived under except onely those who lived in England before the late unparalleld Rebellion and many ways more happy then that which the great and good States-man Philip Comines so much admired in his days when he declared after he had much commended the Policy of the Venetian Commonwealth That amongst all the Seigneuries in the World England was the Countrey where the State was best ordered and where there was the least Violence and Oppression upon the People FINIS