Then had ye wooden Churches nay wooden Chalices but Golden Priests but now you have Golden Chalices and Wooden Priests And to conclude this Argument King Edgar in his Charter to the Abby of Malmsbury dated the year of Christ 974 writes to this Effect All the Monasteries in my Realm to the outward sight are nothing but wormeaten and rotten Timber and Boards and which is worse within they are almost empty and void of Divine Worship Thus much as to Walls in General now to return to London This City was destroyed and burnt by the Danes and other Pagan Enemies about the year of our Lord 839 and was nobly rebuilt and repaired in the year 886 by Alfred King of the West Saxons so that it lay waste and uninhabited for almost fifty years Alfred committed the custody of this new built City to his Son in Law Etheldred Earl of Mercia to whom he had before married his Daughter Ethelsted And that this City was then strongly Walled may appear by divers Accidents William of Malmsbury writes that about the year 994 the Londoners shut up their Gates and defended their King Etheldred within their Walls against the Danes In the year 1016 Canutus the Dane made War against Edmond Ironside King of the West-Saxons and brought his Navy to the West part of the Bridge casting a Trench about the City of London and attempted to have won it by assault but the Citizens repulsed him and drove him from their Walls Likewise in the year 1052 Earl Godwin with his Navy Sailed up by the South end of the Bridge and assailed the Walls of this City William Fitz Stephen in the Reign of Henry 2. writes thus The Wall of London is High and Great well Towered on the North side with due distance between the Towers On the South side also the City was Walled and Towered but the Fishful River of Thames by his ebbing and flowing hath long since subverted them Where by the Northside he means from the River in the East to the River of Thames in the West for so the Wall stretched in his time and the City being far longer from East to West than in breadth from South to North and also narrower at both ends than in the midst is therefore compassed with the Wall on the Landside in the form of a Bow except where it is indented in betwixt Cripplegate and Aldersgate But the Wall on the Southside along the River of Thames was streight as the string of a Bow and fortified with Towers or Bulwarks as we now term them in due distance from each other as our Author says and we our selves may observe at this day this demonstrates that the Walls of this City are of great Antiquity Now for repairing and maintaining this Wall we find That in the year 1215 and the 6th of King John The Barons entring the City by Aldgate first took Assurance of the City and then broke into the Jews houses and seizing their Money and Goods for their own uses they with great diligence repaired the Walls and Gates of this City with Stones taken from the Jews broken Houses In the year 1257 Henry 3. ordered the Walls of this City which were much decayed and without Towers to be handsomely repaired and beautified at the common Charge of the City In the 17th of Edward 4. Ralph Joceline Mayor caused part of the Wall of the City of London to be repaired between Aldgate and Aldersgate He also caused Morefields to be searched for Clay to make brick for that purpose The Skinners made that part of the Wall between Aldgate and Buvies Marks commonly call'd Bevis Marks toward Bishopsgate as may appear by their Arms fixed in three places there The Lord Mayor and his Company of Drapers made all that part between Bishopsgate and Alhallows Church in the Wall and from Alhallows toward the Postern called Moregate A great part of the same Wall was repaired by the Executors of Sir John Crosby Alderman his Arms being in 2 places and other Companies repaired the rest of the Wall to Cripplegate the Goldsmiths repaired from Cripplegate to Aldersgate and there the work ceased The Circuit of the VVall of London on the Lands side that is from the Tower of London in the East to Aldgate is 82 Perches From Aldgate to Bishopsgate 86 Perchees From Bishopsgate to Cripplegate 162 Perches From Cripplegate to Aldersgate 75 Perches From Aldersgate to Newgate 66 Perches From Newgate to Ludgate 42 Perches in all 513 Perches of Assize From Ludgate to Fleet Ditch 60 Perches From Fleetbridge to the River of Thames about 70 Perches So that the total of these Perches amounteth to 643 and every Perch being 5 Yards and an half makes 3536 Yards and an half containing 10608 Foot which is two English Miles and 608 Foot more In former time there were but four Gates in the VVall of this City that is Aldgate for the East Aldersgate for the North Ludgate for the VVest and Bridgate over London Bridge for the South but of late days for the Conveniency of Passengers divers other Gates and Posterns have been made Fitz Stephen saith that in the Reign of Henry 2 there were seven Double Gates in the VVall of this City but names them not we may therefore suppose them to be 1. The Gate next the Tower of London called the Postern 2. Aldgate 3. Bishopsgate 4. Aldersgate 5. Newgate 6. Ludgate 7. Bridge-gate Since which there hath been built Moregate now a Famous Gate and several other smaller Posterns as one between Bishopsgate and Moregate and two between Moregate and Cripplegate besides other in other Places As to the first called the Postern near the Tower which was destroyed by the dreadful Fire in 1666 of which you have a particular Account in this Treatise and never since rebuilt or like to be by that which remained of it before it seemed to have been a fair strong Arched Gate built of hard Stone In the year 1190 and the 2. of Richard 1. William Longshamp Bishop of Ely Chancellor caused part of the City VVall from that Gate to the White Tower to be broken down for inlarging the Tower round which he made a VVall imbattelled which is now the outermost VVall He likewise made a broad deep Ditch without the VVall to let in the Tyde from the Thames But the Southside of this Gate was by undermining the Foundation much weakned and about two Hundred years after that is 1440 the 18 Hen. 6. it fell down and was never since rebuilt The next in the East is ALDGATE or Oldgate of the Antiquity thereof having been one of the four Principal Gates and also one of the seven Double Gates aforementioned It had two pair of Gates and Portcullises though now but one yet the hooks of the other Gate and the place of letting down the other Portcullice are yet to be seen This Gate appeareth to be very Ancient being named in a Charter in King Edgars time and likewise in K. Edward
remarkable John Day a famous Printer dwelt in this Gate and built many Houses upon the City wall toward St. Anns Church You may read more of the new building this Gate in Aldersgate Ward In the sixth year of Edw. 6. Three was a Postern Gate made through the City VVall on the Northside of the late dissolved Cloister of Friars Minors commonly called Gray Friars Now Christ Church and Hospital this was done to make a Passage from Christ Church Hospital to St. Bartholomews Hospital in Smithfield and License was given to Sir Richard Dobbs Lord Mayor to do it by Virtue of an Act of Common Council Aug. 1. in the 6 of Edw. 6. The next Gate is on the Northwest and is called NEWGATE and is the fifth Principal Gate though built later than the rest being erected about the Reign of Hen. 1. or K. Stephen upon this occasion The Cathedral of St. Pauls being burnt down in the Reign of William the Conquerour 1086. Mauritius then Bishop of London did not repair the Old Church as some have thought but laid the Foundation of a new one which it was judged would hardly ever have been finished it was so wonderful for length bredth and height and likewise because it was raised upon Vaults or Arches after the Norman fashion and never known in England before After Mauritius Richard Beumore did very much advance the building of this Church purchasing the large Streets and Lanes round about which ground he incompassed with a strong Stone VVall and Gates By reason of this inclosure for so large a Church-yard the High-street from Aldgate in the East to Ludgate in the West was made so streight and narrow that the Carriage through the City was by Paternoster-Row down Ave-Mary Lane and so through Bouger Row now called Ludgatestreet to Ludgate or else by Cheapside through Watlingstreet and so through Carter-lane and up Creed-lane to Ludgate which Passage by reason of the often turning was very Inconvenient VVhereupon a New Gate was made to pass through Cheapside North of St. Pauls St. Nicholas Shambles and Newgate-street to Newgate and from thence westward to Holbourn Bridge or Turning without the Gate to Smithfield and Islington or Iseldon or to any place North or VVest This Gate hath for many years been a Prison for Felons Murderers Highwaymen and other Trespassers as appeareth by the Records of King John and others and among the rest in the 3. of Hen. 3. 1218. That King writ to the Sheriffs of London commanding them to repair the Goal of Newgate for the safe keeping of his Prisoners promising that the Charges thereof should be allowed them upon their Account in the Exchequer In the year 1241. The Jews of Norwich were hanged being accused for Circumcising a Christian Child their House called the Thor was pulled down and destroyed Aaron the Son of Abraham a Jew and other Jews in London were constrained to pay twenty thousand Marks at two Terms in the year or else to be kept perpetual Prisoners in Newgate at London and in other Prisons In 1255 King Henry 3. lodged in the Tower and upon some displeasure against the City of London for the escape of John Offrem a Clerk Convict Prisoner in Newgate for killing a Prior who was Cousin to the Queen He sent for the Lord Mayor who laid the fault on the Sheriffs to whose Custody the Prisoners are committed the Mayor was discharged but the Sheriffs were imprisoned above a month though they alledged the fault was in the Bishops Officers who though he was imprisoned in Newgate yet they were to see that he was kept safe But however the King required three thousand Marks of the City for a Fine In the third year of Edw. 3. 1326. Robert Baldock the Kings Chancellor was put into Newgate In 1237 Sir John Pouitney gave four Marks a year for releif of the Prisoners in Newgate In 1358 William Walworth gave likewise toward their relief and so have many others since In 1414 the Jaylors in Ludgate and Newgate died and 64 Prisoners In 1418 the Parson of Wertham in Kent was Imprisoned in Newgate In the first of Henry 6 1412. The Executors of Richard Whittington repaired Newgate And Thomas Knowles Grocer sometimes L. Mayor brought the wast water from the Cestern near St. Nicholas Chappel by St. Bartholomews Hospital to Newgate and Ludgate for the Accommodation of the Prisoners In 1431 all the Prisoners in Ludgate were conveyed to Newgate by the Sheriffs of London And soon after they fetcht from thence 18 Persons Freemen of the City who were led pinioned to the Counters like Felons by the false suggestion of the Jaylor of Newgate But Ludgate was a while after again appointed for Freemen who were Debtors and they were all carried back again thither In 1427. There was a great Skirmish in the North Countrey between Sir Thomas Percie Lord Egremond and the Earl of Salisburies Sons whereby many were wounded and slain but the Lord Egremond being taken was found to give the occasion and was thereupon condemned by the Kings Council to pay a considerable Sum of Money to the Earl of Salisbury and in the mean time was committed to Newgate and a while after both he and his Brother Sir Richard Percie brake out by night and went to the King The other Prisoners got upon the Leads over the Gate and defended it against the Sheriffs and all their Officers a great while till they were forced to call more Citizens to their Aid who at last subdued them and laid them in Irons Thus much of Newgate LUDGATE is the next in the VVest and the Sixth Principal Gate of this City and Historians say was built by King Lud near 66 years before our Saviours Nativity which shews its great Antiquity This being built for the VVest as Aldgate for the East In the year 1215. aforementioned being the 17th of King John when the Barons who were in Arms against the King entred this City and pull'd down the Jews Houses repairing the VValls and Gates of the City with the Stones thereof It appeareth that they then repaired or rather new built this Gate For in 1586 when this Gate was pulled down in order to its being repaired there was a stone found within the wall which seems to have been taken from one of the Jews Houses there being several Hebrew Characters ingraven thereon which being interpreted are thus in English This is the Station or Ward of Rabbi Moses the Son of the Honourable Rabbi Isaac This it is thought had been fixed upon one of the Jews Houses as a sign he lived there In 1260 Ludgate was repaired and beautified with the Images of Lud and other Kings but in the Reign of Edw. 6. these Images of the Kings had their Heads smitten off and were defaced by such as judged every Image to be an Idol In the Reign of Q. Mary they were repaired and new heads set upon their old Bodies which remained so till the 28 of Q. Elizabeth 1586.
of the River against an Invasion and securing Merchandizing and Navigation by block-Block-Houses Forts or 〈…〉 There are divers Courts of Judicature belonging to the Lord Mayor and City of London the highest and most ancient Court is called the Hustings which preserves the Laws Rights Franchises and Customs of the City There is a Court of Requests or Conscience the Court of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen where also the Recorder and Sheriffs sit two Courts of the Sheriffs one for each Counter the Court of the City Orphans whereof the Lord Mayor and Aldermen have the Care The Court of Common-Council consisting as the Parliament of England of two Houses one of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen and the other of Commoners but they fit all together In which Court are made all B. -Laws which bind all the Citizens of London for every man either by himself or by his Representative gives his assent thereto wherein consists the happiness of the English above all other Subâ—â—cts in the world that neither in Laws By Laws Taxes nor Imposts no man is obliged to pay any thing but by his own consent There is another Court of the Chamberlain of the City to whom belong the Receipts of the Rents and Revenues thereof and likewise the Inrolling and making Free Apprentices over whom he hath great Authority Also the Courts of Coroner and Escheator and another Court for the conservation of the River of Thames lastly the Court of Goal Delivery at Newgate held usually eight times a â—ear at the Old Baily both for the City and Middlesex for the Trial of Criminals whereof the Lord May or is cheif Judge There are other Courts called Wardmote or the meeting of Wards whereof there are 26 in the whole City every Alderman having a several Ward In this Court Inquiry is made into all things that conduce to the Regulating and well Governing of the City Also the Court of Hallmote or Assembly of every Guild and Fraternity for Regulating what belongs to every company in particular There are two Sheriff belonging to this City which like the Lord Mayor are only for a year and are elected generally upon Midsummerday The name is thought to be Saxon from Shire or Country and Rive Governour His Office is to serve the King's Writs of Attachment to return indifferent Juries to see that the publick Peace be kept and that condemned Persons be executed c. Newgate Ludgate and the two Counters are put into the Custody of the Sheriffs For the Ecclesiastical Government there is a Bishop and the present is Dr. Henry Compton and to the Cathedral of St Paul's belongs a Dean a Chapter a Treasurer and 〈◊〉 Prehends A Rector or Vicar is placed in every Parish for the Cure of Sâ—uls and there is in most Parishes a Parsonage or vicarage-Vicarage-House for the Minister and a Competent Allowance of Tithes CHAP. VI. The several Companies or Corporations of the City of London with the Arms of each Company and the time of their Incorporating THE Traders of the City of London are divided into Companies or Corporations and are so many Bodies Politick enjoying large Priviledges by the Charters of divers Kings granted to them and have Halls to meet in some like Pallaces with Arms belonging to each Company The Arms of this famous City of London are Argent Cross Gules with the Sword of St. Paul say some and not the Dagger of William Walworth for they say it is recorded this Coat did belong to the City long before Wat Tyler's Rebellion The ARMS of London The ARMS of the rest of the Companies follow Merchant Adventurers Incorporated by Ed. 4. consirmed by Q. Eliz. Turkey Merchants Incorporated by Q. E. their Charter inlarged by K. James 1. East-India Company They were first Incorporated by Q. E. 1600. 1. Mercers They were Incorporat 17 Rich. 2. 1393. 2. Grocers First called Pepperers Incorporated 28 E. 3. 3. Drapers They were Incorporâ—â—â— in the 17 H. 6. 4. Fishmongers The Stock and Salt Incorporated 28 H. 8. 5. Goldsmiths They were made a Company 16 R. 2. 6. Skinners Incorporated first by Edw. 3. confirmed 18 Rich 2. 7. Merchant Taylors They were compleatly Incorporated by Hen. 7. 1531. 8. Haberdashers Incorporat 17 Hen. 7. called St. Kath. Society 9. Salters Had their Arms 22 Hen. 8. Crest and Supporters by Q. Eliz. 10. Iroâ—mongers They were made a Company the 3d of Edward 4. 11. Vintners Incorpor by Edw. 3. and confirmed by Hen. 6. 12. Clothworkers Grew to be a Company the 22 of Henry 8. 13. Dyers Incorporated first by a Charter from Henry 6. 14. Brewers Incorporated by Hen. 6. confirmed by Q. Eliz. 15. Leathersellers First Incorporated in the 6th of Richard 2. 16. Prwterers They were made a Society by K. Edw. 4. 17. Barber-Chirurgeons First Incorporated by Edw. 4. and confirmed by every Prince since 18. Armorers Incorporated by Hen. 6. himself being of the Company 19. White Bakers They are Ancient being Incorporat 1 Edw. 2. 20. Wax Chandlers In great credit in the times of Popery Incorporat 2 Rich. 3. 1484. 21. Tallow Chandlers Incorporated 2 Edw. 4. and confirmed by King James 1. 22. Cutlers They were made a Company by Henry 5. and others since 23. Girdlees They were made a Company 27 Henry 6. 24 Butchers They were not Incorporated till 3 of King James 1. 25. Sadlers They are Ancient from Edw. 1. 300 years ago 26. Carpenters They were Incorporated 7 July 17 Edw. 4. 27. Cordwinders or Shoemakers were Incorporated 17 Hen. 6. and confirmed since 28. Painters or Painter Stainers were Incorgor 23 Q. E. 1580. 29. Curriers They are ancient but not Incorporated till 12 Jnne 3 of King James 30. Masons or Free Masons were made 〈◊〉 Company 12 Hen. 4. 31. Plumbers They were made a Corporation 9 K. James 1. 32. Inholders They were made a Company 6 Henry 8. 33. Founderes Incorporated the 18 Sept. 12 K. James 1. 34. Embroiderers They were Incorporated in the 4 of Q. Eliz. 35. Poulterers Incorporat by Henry 7. and confirmed 33 Q. E. 36. Cooks Indorpor 12 E. 4. confir by Q. E. K. J. 1. 37. Coopers They were made a Company the 18 H. 7. 38. Bricklayers or Tylers Incorporated by Q. E. confirm 2 K. J. 1. 39. Bowyers The of their Incorporated was 21 K. J. 1. 40. Fletchers They are also a Corporation but when made is uncertain 41. Blacksmiths Incorporated 20 Q. E. confirmed 2 K. Ja. 1. 42. Joyners Incorporated 13 Q. E. 43. Plaisterers They were Incorporain the Reign of King Henry the 7. 44. Weavers now Silk Weavers very ancient having 3 Societies 45. Fruiterers Incorporated 3 K. J. 1. 49. Scriveners Ancient yet not Incorporated till 14 K. J. 1. 50. Bottlemakers Horners are of great Antiquity but not Incor 51. Stationers Of great Antiquity before Printing Incorporated 3 Phil. and M. 52. Marblers Not Incorporat unless joined with the Masons 53. Wool-packers They flouâ—â—â—hed in the time of the Woâ—â—staple 54. Farriers They rise
his brother Murdered Q. Elizabeth Prisoner in the Tower The Lords having thus got the Government into their hands obliege the King to free them from all Obedience and Allegiance whensoever he infringed their Charter Yet soon after the King sends to Râ—me to be freed from his Oath which he obtained Whereupon the Lords put themselves into arms and Moniford Earl of Leicester their General takes many Castles The King likewise raises Forces The Barons march toward London under a Banner richly and beautifully flourished with the Kings Arms. And as they passed by the Houses or Possessions of those that favoured the Popes Bulls whereby the King himself and all others who had formerly sworn to observe and maintain those new Ordinances and Laws and to support the Authority of the twenty four Peers were fully absolved from their Oaths they robbed and wasted them as Enemies to the King and kingdom They then approached the City of London and by their Letters desired the Lord Mayor and Citizens to send them word whether they resolved to support the Authority of the Peers or not protesting before God themselves intended nothing else and that if any thing were defective in those Laws they should be reformed The Lord Mayor sends these Letters with all speed to the King who desired likewise to know whether they would support the Laws of the twenty four Peers or not they stoutly answered that they would since by the Kings command they had all sworn so to do The King was extreamly enraged at this answer but he could get no other and the same answer they sent to the Lords who thereupon proceeded in their march and were with much joy and kindness received into London and soon after routed the Prince who came against them with a considerable Army But some of the meaner sort of the City intending under the pretence of these disturbances to do mischief elected two ambitious Fellows whom they called the two Constables of London and agreed that at the tolling of a great Bell in St. Pauls Church as many as would join with them should be ready to act whatever the two Constables commanded them and though all endeavours were used to prevent them yet their desire of plunder so furiously transported them that upon the tolling that Bell a great number met together and marching about eight miles Westward from London they ruined and destroyed the House and Possessions of the Kings Brother Richard King of the Romans carrying away all his Goods with them Which insolent outrage much furthered the succeeding Wars for whereas before Richard being of a mild and virtuous disposition had used all his endeavours to make peace upon all occasions he now became a professed Enemy both to the Barons and the City of London After this the Lords sent a Letter to the King and protested with all humility and submission that they intended nothing but the performance of their Oaths by defending those Laws and Ordinances which had been established in Parliament for the benefit of the King and the Realm But the King his Brother Richard and Edward the young Prince thinking nothing more disdainful than that Subjects should rule and command their Sovereign resolved to revenge it and bid utter defiance to the Lords and both Armies met near a Town called Lewis in Sussex where a cruel Battel was fought and the King his Brother and the Prince were all taken prisoners with many other great Commanders and twenty thousand men slain Yet a while after upon some Conditions they were all three set at Liberty and the former Laws and Ordinances were confirmed in Parliament and the King took an Oath for confirming the power of the twelve Peers After which the Earls of Leicester and Glocester the two Generals of the Lords Party fell into a great difference which Prince Edward taking advantage of raiseth an Army and persuading the Earl of Glocester to join with him they fell upon the Earl of Leicesters Army and utterly routed them himself his eldest Son and many others being slain Which overthrow utterly defeated the Barons and revived the Melancholy King who calling a Parliament all the former Decrees were made void together with the power of the twelve Peers and the King regained his former Liberty and Authority When this Parliament was ended the King perhaps by the instigation of his Brother Richard who was so horridly abused without cause by the baser sort of the Inhabitants of the City resolved utterly to destroy and consume the City of London by Fire because he said the Magistrates and Inhabitants had always hated him and taken part with the Lords against him Whereupon those of the Nobility who were most in favour with the King humbly besought him By no means to do such an execrable deed which would not onely weaken his own Kingdom and Government but would likewise make him infamous throughout the World to all Generations They were very earnest in their suit and their Reasons were unanswerable yet the King prorested That he was resolved to do it and his determination should be unchangeable and his Justice upon such Rebellious Villains should be a President to deter all perverse and obstinate Rebels and Traitors in time to come This severe Resolution made the Citizens tremble at the indignation of their angry King so that perceiving his rage and fury not to be mitigated they caused an instrument to be drawn in writing which was confirmed with their Common Seal wherein they confessed their Rebellion and humbly craved pardon for the same and without any exception or reservation they wholly submitted their Lands Goods and Lives together with the whole City to the Kings Grace and Mercy This Instrument they sent to Windsor to the King by some of the chiefest of the Citizens who were ordered to present it on their knees but so furious was the Kings wrath against them and so implacable was his anger that he reputed none to be his Friends who interposed as Mediators on their behalf neither would he admit any of them into his presence but commanded them immediately to be thrown into prison and five of the principal of them he gave to the Prince together with all their Lands and Goods and all the rest he bestowed among his Attendants who made them Slaves and suffered them to enjoy the least part of their own But when the King had thus a little revenged himself and time had cooled his mighty passion he began to hearken to the importunate intercession of Prince Edward his Son and soon after received the City and all its Inhabitants into favour again and laying onely a Fine upon them of a thousand Marks he restored to them all their Charters Liberties and Customs which for their transgressions he had seized into his hands And now though these Intestine Troubles and Civil Wars which like an outragious Fire dispersed into the midst of a well compacted City had end angered the whole State of the kingdom were thus appeased
slain and with the execution of eight more though five hundred were found guilty this Insurrection is suppressed It was a custom that upon St. Bartholomews day the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of London should go to the Wrestling-place near More-fields where at this time the Prior of St. Johns likewise was to see the sport and a Servant of his being ashamed to be foiled before his Master desired to Wrestle again contrary to custom which the Lord Mayor denied whereupon the Prior fetched Bowmen from Clerkenwel against the Mayor and some slaughter was made the Mayors Cap was shot through with an Arrow yet he would have the sport go on but no Wrestlers came whereupon he said He would stay a while to make Trial of the Citizens respect to him and presently after a great party of them came with Banners displaid and fetched him home in triumph Soon after another Quarrel happened in Holborn between the Gentlemen of the Inns of Chancery and some Citizens in appeasing whereof the Queens Attorney and three more were slain The year after the Apprentices of London upon a very slight occasion fall upon the Foreign Merchants rifling and robbing their houses but the Lord Mayor by his discretion appeased the Tumult punishing some of the Offenders with Death and others by Fine and all things are quieted and appeased The Kings Resloration 1660. The Regicides of Exec at Charingcross The Insurection of Venner c. 1660. As soon as this Parliament was dissolved the Duke sends for the Queen and some others to come out of Scotland But they had raised an Army there and the Duke of York met them with another and at Wakefield Green the Duke is flain with the loss of three thousand of his men and leing dead had his head crowned with a Paper Crown together with many other Circumstances of disgrace However his Son Edward Earl of March prosecutes the Quarrel and puts the Queens Forces to flight which she endeavoured to recruit but some of her Northern Army having robbed the People as they came along the Country saying It was their Bargain to have all the Spoil in every place The Londoners would not suffer any Provision to be sent to them the Commons rising about Cripplegate and stopping the Carts which the Lord Mayor was sending to the Army In the mean time the Earls of March and Warwick having got a considerable Army march to London and were joyfully received there And soon after the Earl of Warwick drawing all his Forces into St. Johns Field by Clerkenwel and having cast them in a Ring he read to them the Agreement of the last Parliament and then demanded Whether they would have King Henry to reign still Who all cryed out No No. Then he asked them Whether they would have the Earl of March Eldest Son of the Duke of York by that Parliament proclaimed King to reign over them Who with great shouting answered Yes Yes Then several Captains and others of the City went to the Earl of March at Baynards Castle to acquaint him what had passed who at first seemed to excuse himself as unable to execute so great a charge but encouraged by the Archbishop of York the Bishops of London and Exeter and the Earl of Warwick he at laft consented to take it upon him and soon after he was generally proclaimed King And here Writers end the Reign of King Henry the sixth though there were several changes For sometimes he was a King and sometimes none yet he was never well setled though he lived twelve years after King Henry was then in the North and raise an Army to oppose Edward but is defeated by the Lord Falconbridge Upon which Henry and his Queen go to Scotland and raise more Forces but are again beaten And now King Edward sits three days together in the Kings Bench in Westminster Hall to hear Causes and regulate Disorders And the Earl of Warwick is sent into France to treat of a Marriage with that Kings daughterâ— but in the mean while the King marries the Lady Elizabeth Gray At which Warwick grows discontented and joins against King Edward and surprizing him takes him Prisoner but he soon made his escape King Henry was taken in disguise and sent to the Tower of London some years before And now Warwick going to France brought a great Army over and proclaimed Edward an Usurper who thereupon endeavoured to raise an Army but could not and therefore fled out of England into the Duke of Burgundies Country and King Henry is taken out of Prison where he had been nine years and again proclaimed King But King Edward by the assistance of the Duke of Burgundy lands an Army in Yorkshire and marches towards London where he was joyfully received And in the year 1471 and the 11 year of his Reign K. Edward made his entry into the City and had King Henry delivered into his hands The Earl of Warwick having notice thereof marcheth with his Army toward St. Albans and King Edward follows him carrying King Henry along with him where the Earl of Warwick and many others are slain and Henries Parry utterly routed And now was the time for King Henry to be delivered out of all his Troubles for the bloudy Duke of Glocester entering the Tower of London where he sound King Henry nothing at all troubled for all his Crosses struck him into the heart with his Dagger and there slew him And now within half a years space we find one Parliament proclaimed Edward an Usurper and Henry a lawful King and another proclaiming Edward a lawful King and Henry an Usurper that we may know there is nothing certain in humane Affairs but uncertainty In the fifth year of King Henry the sixth it rained almost continually from Easter to Michaelmas In his seventh year the Duke of Norfolk was like to have been drowned passing through London Bridge his Barge being set upon the Piles so overwhelmed that thirty persons were drowned and the Duke with others that escaped were fain to be drawn up with Ropes In his seventeenth year was so great a Dearth of Corn that people were glad to make Bread of Fearn roots Next year all the Lions in the Tower died In the thirty third year of his Reign there was a great Blazing Star and there happened a strange sight a monstrous Cock came out of the Sea and in the presence of a multitude of people made a hideous crowing three times beckening toward the North South and West There were also many prodigious Births and in some places it rained bloud About this time the Draw-bridge on London Bridge was made and Leaden Hall was built to be a Storehouse of Grain and Fewel for the poor of the City In the first year of this Kings Reign a Parliament was held at London where the Queen-Mother with the young King in her lap came and sate in the House of Lords In this Kings Reign Printing was first brought into England by William Caxton of
haughty mind would no be so pacified for he demanded his Sword also 〈◊〉 which Sir John Newton answered It is the Kings Sword and thou art not worthy to have it neither durst thou 〈◊〉 it of me if there were no more here but thou and I. 〈◊〉 my Faith said Wat Tyler I will never eat till I haâ— thy Head and would thereupon have fallen upoâ— him But at that very Instant William Walworth Loâ—â— Mayor of London a stout Couragious Person accoâ—â— panied with divers Knights and Esquires came 〈◊〉 assist the King to whom he said My Leige it were great shame and such as had never before been heard 〈◊〉 if in such a presence they should permit a Noble Knight 〈◊〉 be shamefully Murdered and that before the face of thâ—â— Severaign therefore he ought to be rescued and Tyler tâ— Rebel to be Arrested The Lord Mayor had no sooner spoke thus but thâ— King though he were very young yet began to takâ— Courage and commanded him to lay hands upon him Walworth being a man of an incomparable Spirit anâ— Courage immediately arrested Tyler with his Mac upon his Head and that in such a manner as he seâ— down at the feet of his Horse and those who attended the King presently encompassed him round thâ— his Companions could not see him and John Caveâ— dish an Esquire of the Kings alighting from his Horse rust his Sword into Tylers Belly Although some â—ite that the Lord Mayor did it with his Dagger many â—hers followed and wounded him in divers places to â—ath and then they drew his body from among the â—ople into St. Bartholomews Hospital The Commons perceiving their Captain to be slain â—yed out Their Captain was Traiterously murdered â—d incouraged one another to fight and revenge his â—eath and bent their Bows Upon which the King 〈◊〉 to them and said What work is this my Men what 〈◊〉 you mean to do Will you shoot at your King Be not â—â—tinous nor concerned for the death of a Traytor and Riâ—ld I am your King I will be your Captain and Leaâ—r follow me into the Field and there you shall have â—hatsoever you desire This the King said for fear in â—eir fury they should fire the Houses in Smithfield â—here there Captain was slain They thereupon followed him intothe open Feild though the Souldiers â—â—at were with him were uncertain whether they â—ould kill the King or whether they would be â—iet and depart peaceably home with the Kings â—harter In the mean time William Walworth the ever reâ—owned Lord Mayor to prosecute his first worthy â—ct which had succeeded so happily went only with â—â—e man with all speed into the City and there beâ—â—n to cry out You good Citizens come to help your â—ing who is in danger to be murdered and succour me â—ur Mayor who am in the same danger or if you will not â—â—lp me yet leave not the King destitute The Citizens who had a great Esteem and Affection or the King no sooner heard this but with a Noble â—nd Loyal forwardness they immediately raised a thouâ—nd Men who being compleatly armed stayed in â—â—e streets for some Commander who with the Lord â—ayor might lead them to the Assistance of the King 〈◊〉 this his great distress when by good chance Sir Robert Knowls a Freeman of the City came at that instant whom they all desired to be their Leader which he willingly accepted and so with the Lord Mayor and some other Knights they were led to the King who with all his Company rejoyced very much at this unexpected Assistance from these brave armed Citizens who all on a sudden incompassed the whole Body of the Commons And here in an instant was a very strange and Remarkable Alteration for the Commons presently threw down their Arms and falling on their knees begg'd Pardon and they who just before boasted that they had the Kings Life in their power were now glad to hide themselves in Caves Ditches and Corn-fields The Knights being desirous of revenge intreated the King that they might be permitted to take off the heads of an hundred or two of them but the King would not grant it but commanded the Charter which they demanded written and sealed to be delivered to them at that time for preventing further mischief as doubting if they were not satisfied the Commons of Essex and Kent might rise again Having got their Charter they departed home The Commons being thus dispersed and gone the King called for the worthy Lord Mayor and with great Honour deservedly Knighted him in the Field and gave him a hundred pound a year in Fee he also Knighted five Aldermen his Brethren girding them about the waste with the Girdle of Knighthood as the manner was in those days but Stow saith it was thus To cause the Person to put a Basenet on his Head and then the King with a Sword in both his Hands to strike him strongly on the Neck And for an Eternal Remembrance of this happy day the King for the Honour of the City granted that a Dagger should be added to the Arms of the City in the right Quarter of the Shield they before this time bearing only a Cross without the Dagger After this the King marched into the City with great Joy and went to His Mother who lodged in the Tower Royal called then the Queens Wardrobe where she had continued two days and nights in great fear and trouble But when she saw the King she was extreamly comforted saying Ah fair Son what great sorrow have I suffered for you this day To whom the King answered Certainly Madam I know it well but now rejoyce and thank God for I have this day recovered mine Inheritance and the Realm of England which I had almost lost Then the Arch-Bishops Head was taken off London Bridge and Wat Tylers set up in the Place Now since some Writers have reported that the Rebel so Valiantly struck down by Sir William Walworth was named Jack Straw and not Wat Tyler it may be necessary to give an Account of the Principal Leaders and Captains of the Commons of whom Wat Tyler was the Cheif as being the first man who judged himself offended there were likewise Jack Straw John Kirkby Allen Thredder Thomas Scot and Ralph Rugg these and divers others were Commanders of the Kentish and Essex men And at the same time there were gathered together to the number of fifty thousand in Suffolk by the incitement of John Wraw a lewd Priest who made one Robert Westbrome take upon him the name of King these fell to destroying Houses but especially those of Lawyers and seizing Sir John Cavendish Lord Cheif Justice of England they beheaded him and set his Head upon the Pillory in St. Edmundsbury The like Commotion of the Commons was at the same time also in Cambridgshire the Isle of Ely and Norfolk conducted by John Litester a Dyer and to countenance their proceedings the more they designed to have brought William Ufford Earl
in this manner not only our Streets but our Shops and Houses shall never be free from violence and wrong this we neither will nor can endure for it doth not become us And hereupon they approached the Gates with great Fury But the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs having notice hereof came to them and told them That this â—as not Courage but Outrage which they shewed whereby they would procure both danger to themselves and displeasure against the whole City and that though wrong had been done yet they were not the Persons neither was this the way to redress the same Thus partly by perswasion and partly by their Presence and Authority they suppressed the Riot and sent every man home with strict charge to keep the Peace Hitherto there was no great mischeif done and the quarrel might have been ended without any further trouble had not the Bishops stirred in it and kindled the Coals of Contention afresh For the Londoners were at that time not only secretly suspected but openly noted to be Favourers and Followers of Wickliffs Opinions which were contrary to the Pope and Church of Rome and upon that account the Bishops were malicious against them and most of their Actions were interpreted to proceed from other Causes and to tend to worse Purposes than they outwardly seemed to bear yea many accidental matters were charged upon them to be done out of Design and on purpose Whereupon John Waltham Bishop of Salisbury and Lord Treasurer of England made a grievous Complaint against them for this last Attempt to Thomas Arundel Archbishop of York and Lord Chancellor alledging That if upon every slight pretence the Citizens should be suffered in this manner to affront the Bishops without reproof or punishment they would endanger not only the Dignity and State but the Liberty of the whole Church also For said he did they not lately take upon them the punishment of Adulteries and other Crimes appertaining to Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction maliciously alledging That either the Bishops and their Officers were infamous for those Vices themselves and did therefore Connive at the same in others Or else by Covetous Commutation and taking of Money did rather set those sins to Sale than endeavour carefully to suppress them Did they not said he rudely and irreverently break open the doors upon the Archbishop of Canterbury and interrupt his Proceedings against John Aston an open Disciple of Wickliff and do we imagine that this is the last Indignity they will offer no certainly nor yet the least for if this boldness and Insolence be not supprest our Authority will soon fall into Contempt and Scorn and will be made a Common Football for every base and unworthy Citizen to kick at Armed with these furious Arguments they went together to King Richard and so incensed him against the Londoners his Mind being before prepared by former Provocations that he was once resolved to have utterly ruined and destroyed the whole City But being perswaded to use more Moderation he in Revenge first caused the Lord Maior Sheriffs and many of the Principal Citizens to be committed to several Prisons the Lord Mayor to Windsor Castle and others to other Places and then seized the Liberties of the City into his hands declaring that no Lord Mayor should for the future be Elected any more but that the King should at his Pleasure appoint a Warden or Governour over the City And this Office was first committed to Sir Edward Darlington who for his kindness toward the City was soon removed and Sir Baldwin Radington put in his place The King was likewise perswaded by Arundel Archbishop of York to remove the Terms and Courts that is the Chancery Exchequer Kings Bench the Hamper Office and the Common-pleas from London to York where they continued from Midsummer 1393. till Christmas next following to the great dammage and loss of the City of London But at last upon the earnest intreaty of the Dukes of Lancaster and Glocester his Uncles the King sent for the Londoners before him to Windsor where having first terrified them with the sight of a great Number of Souldiers he caused all the Priviledges and Charters of the City both old and new to be produced some of which he restored to them and detained others Yet were not the Citizens received fully into favour neither did they recover the Person or Dignity of their Lord Mayor at that time Shortly after the King went to London at whose coming the Citizens turned all their Greif into Joy the Vulgar being without measure in both entertaining him with such joyful Triumphs and Rich Presents as if it had been the day of his Coronation thinking by all these costly preparations to have pacified all former Anger and displeasure against them but they found themselves much deceived there being no Reconciliation to be made without Money for they were not absolutely restored to their Liberties till they had paid Ten Thousand pound to the King as a Fine Thus did the Londoners shew a strange diversity of Disposition in rashly committing an Offence and patiently induring punishment yet upon this Account as soon as the first occasion was offered against King Richard they shewed themselves either his earnest Enemies or faint Friends as by the sequel appears In 1387. King Richard II. held his Feast of Christmas in the Tower of London And in the year 1399 the same King was sent Prisoner to the Tower which being a very remarkable Transaction it may be necessary to give a breif Account thereof Richard the II. was the only Son of a Renowned Father Edward Sirnamed the Black Prince who died before his Father Edward III. and thereupon Richard was by his Grandfather in his Life-time declared to be his Heir and lawful Successor and accordingly after his Death was Crowned King of England at Westminster July 16. 1377. But being of tender age only eleven years old several Persons were commissioned to be his Protectors or Guardians and soon after a Parliament was called at Westminster wherein Alice Peirce the late Kings Concubine was banished and all her Goods Confiscate and two Tenths of the Clergy and two Fifteenths of the Temporality were granted but so as that two Citizens of London William Walworth and John Philpot should receive and keep it to see it bestowed for defence of the Realm At which time Sir Hugh Calverly Deputy of Callice burnt 26 French Ships in the Haven of Bulloigne But one Mercer a Scottish Pyrate came to Scarborough and took divers Ships committing likewise many Outrages and no Order being taken to repel them John Philpot set out a Fleet at his own Charge and encountring him in his own Person took Mercer and all his Ships and returning home instead of being rewarded for his Service he was questioned for presuming to fit out a Navy without Advice of the Kings Council While the King was in his Minority matters were carried indifferent well but in the year 1387 King Richard begins to enter as we
parts of the known world now for the preservation of the River Thames there is a Court of conservacy kept by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London under whom is a VVater Bayliff and other Officers they commonly fish eight times every year in the four Counties of Middlesx Surrey Kent and Essex where they have power to Impanel Juries and to make Inquisition into and punish all Offences committed upon the River within their Jurisdiction and Extent which begins at a place called Colny Ditch a little above Stanes-bridge Westward and from thence all along through London Bridge to a place called Yendal alias Yenleet and the waters of Medway near Chatham in Kent Eastward This River as we have say'd is full of all sorts of Excellent Fish as sweet Salmons after the time of the Smelt is past wherein no River in Europe exceeds it It hath likewise store of Barbels Trouts Chevins Pearches Smelts Breams Roches Daces Gudgeons Flounders Shrimps Eels c. only it seems not to be so stored with Carps except that by Land-Flonds they are sometimes brought out of Gentlemens Ponds There are great numbers of Swans dayly seen upon this River and above Two Thousand Wherries and small Boats whereby Three Thousand poor Watermen are maintained by carrying Goods and Passengers thereon besides those large Tilt-boats Tyde-boats and Barges which either carry People or bring Provision from all parts of the Counties of Oxford Berks Buchingham Bedford Hertford Middlesex Essex Surry and Kent to the City of London To conclude this famous River of Thames taking all her advantages together surpasseth all others that pay Tribute to the Ocean if we consider the streightness of its course the stilness of its streams considering its bredth as also its length running above Ninescore Miles before it comes into the Sea and the conveniency of its situation being toward the middle of England It hath likewise one peculiar property more that the entrance into this River is safe and easy to Englishmen and Natives but difficult and hazardous to Strangers either to go in and out without a Pilot insomuch that in the whole the Thames may be said to be Londons best Friend as may appear by a passage in the Reign of King James who being displeased with the City because they would not lend him a sum of money which he required and the Lord Mayor and Aldermen attending him one day being somewhat transported with Anger the King said He would remove his own Court with all the Records of the Tower and the Courts of Westminster Hall to another place with further expressions of his Indignation The Lord Mayor calmly heard all and at last Answered Your Majesty hath power to do what you please and your City of London will obey accordingly but she humbly desires that when your Majesty shall remove your Courts you would please to leave the River of Thames behind you having been thus long upon the Water 't is now time to Land and take a view of the great and stupendious Bridge which if the scituation and structure thereof be well considered may be said to be one of the Wonders of the World of which an Ingenious Gentleman deceased made this Poem When Neptune from his Billows London spy'd Brought proud'y thither by a High Spring Tyde As through a floating Wood he steer'd along And dancâ—â—g Castles clustered in a Throng When he beheld a mighty Bridge give Law Unto his Surges and their Fury awe When such a Shelf of Cataracts did roar As if the Thames with Nyle had chang'd her Shore When he such Massy Walls such Towers did eye Such Posts such Irons on his back to lye When such vast Arches he observ'd that might Nineteen Rialto's make for depth and height When the Cerulean God these things surveyed He shook his Trident and astonisht said Let the whole world now all her wonders count This Bridge of wonders is the Paramount At first there was only a Ferry kept where the Bridge now is and the Ferry-man and his Wife dying left it to their only Daughter a Maiden named Mary who with the profits thereof and money left her by her Parents built a House for Nuns in the place where the East part of St. Mary Overies Church now stands above the Quire where she was buried and unto those Nuns she bequeathed the benefit and oversight of the Ferry but that being afterwards turned to a House of Priests they built a Bridge of Timber which they kept in good repair till at length considering the vast charge thereof by the contribution of the Citizens and others a Bridge was built of Stone Several Accidents have happened concerning this Bridge of which we shall mention some hereafter in the Reign of the several Kings In the first year of King Stephen a Fire began near London-stone and burnt stands in the Quire wher of she was buried to those Nuns she bequeathed the benefit and oversight of the Ferry but that being afterwards turned to a House of Priests they built a bridge of Timber which they kept in good repair till at length considering the vast charge thereof by the contribution of the Citizens and others a Bridge was built of Stone Several Accidents have happened to this Bridge In the first year of King Stephen a Fire began near London Stone and burnt East to Algate and West to St. Paul's Church the Bridge of Timber upon the Thames was also burnt but afterward repaired In 1163 it was rebuilt all of new Timber by Peter of Cole-Church a Priest which shews that there was a Timber Bridge 215 years before the Bridge of Stone was erected which was maintained partly by Gifts and partly by Taxes in every Shire In 1176 the Foundation of the Stone-Bridge was laid by the aforesaid Peter near the place of the Timber-Bridge but somewhat more to the West for we read that Buttolph's Wharf was at the end of London-Bridge the King assisted in the work to perform which the course of the River Thames was turned another way about by a Trench cast up for that purpose beginning in the East about Rotherhith and ending in the West at Battersea This Bridge with the Arches Chappel c. was 33 years in building and finished in 1209 by the worthy Citizens W. Serle Mercer W. Alman Senedict Botecorite who were Overseers of it for Peter of Cole-Church died four years before and as he principal Benefactor being buried in the Chappel on London-Bridge a Mason who was Master-workman of the Bridge built this large Chappel from the Foundation at his own Charge was which endowed for two Priests and four Clerks after the finishing the Chapel which was the first building on those Arches divers Mansion Houses were erected and many Lands Tenements and sums of Money were given toward the maintenance of the Bridge all which were â—ormerly registred in a Table for Posterity and bung up in the Chappel till it was turned into a dwelling House and was then
Thomas Becket that proud and insolent Archbishop of Canterbury a Londoner by birth The King requiring to have it ordained That the Clergy who were malefactors should be tried before the Secular Magistrate This Becket opposed it alledging it was against the Liberty of the Church and therefore against the honour of God Many Bishops stood with the King and some few with Becket the Contention grew long and hot so that the King being extreamly disturbed said on a time Shall I never be at quiet for this Priest If I had any about me that loved me they would find some way or other to rid me of this trouble Which complaint four of his Knights that stood by hearing they presently went to Canterbury and finding Becket in the Cathedral they struck him on the head and felling him down killed him in the place But this created more trouble for though with much Intercession the Pope pardoned the four Knights being onely enjoined Pennance to go on Pilgrimage to Jerusalem Yet the Kings was more severe for going to Canterbury as soon as he came in sight of Beckets Church alighting off his Horse and putting off his Hose and Shoes he went barefoot to the Tomb and for a further Penance suffered himself to be beaten with rods upon his bare skin by every Monk in the Cloister This King Henry first ordained that the Lions should be kept in the Tower of â—â—ndon In the tenth Year of his Reign London Bridge was new built with Timber by Peter of Colechurch a Priest And in his twenty second Year after the foundation of St. Mary Overies Church in Southwark the Stone Bridge began to be founded toward which a Cardinal and an Archbishop of Canterbury gave a thousand Marks This King had many Concubines and among the rest Rosamond daughter of Walter Lord Clifford whom he kept at Woodstock in Lodgings so cunningly contrived 〈◊〉 â—o Stranger could find the way in Yet Queen Eleanor did by a clew of silk fallen from Rosamonds â—ap as she sate to take the Air who suddenly flying from the sight of her Pursuer the end of the silk fastned to her foot and the Clew still unwinding remained behind which the Queen followed till the found her whom she sought for in her Labyrinth So much is the Eye of Jealousie â—uicker in finding out than the Eye of Care is in hiding What the Queen did to Rosamond when she came to her is uncertain but this is certain that Rosamond lived but a short time after King Henry had two sons by her William called Long-Sword Earl of Salisbury and Jeffery Archbishop of York In the sixteenth year of his Reign King Henry caused his eldest son Henry to be crowned at Westminster by the hands of Roger Archbishop of York and caused all the Lords to swear Allegiance to him as having found by Experience That Oaths for Succession are commonly eluded but Oaths for present Allegiance can have no evasion At the Feast of this Solemnity King Henry to honour his son would needs carry up the first dish to his Table Whereupon Archbishop Roger standing by and saying merrily to the new King What an honour is this to you to have such a Waiter at your Table He briskly replied Why what a matter is it for him that was but the son of a Duke to do service to me that am the son of a King and a Queen Which the old King hearing began to repent of what he had done yet he passed it over and set the best side outward This young King died before his Father so that Richard the First the eldest son then living succeeded his Father in the Throne and was crowned at Westminster 1189. He drained great sums of money from the Londoners and made them recompence in Franchises and Liberties And indeed the Laws and Ordinances in his time were chiefly made for the Meridian of London For whereas before his time the City was governed by Portgraves this King granted them to be governed by two Sheriffs and a Mayor as it is now And to give the first of these Magistrates the honour to be remembred the names of the Sherifts were Henry Cornhill and Richard Reyner and the name of the first Lord Mayor was Henry Fitz-Alwin who continued Mayor during his life which was four and twenty Years But Fabian who was himself Sheriff of London and therefore most likely to know the truth affirmeth That the Officers ordained now by K. Rich. were but only 2 Bailiffs and that there was no Mayor nor Sheriffs till the tenth of King John But however the City now began first to receive the Form and State of a Common-wealth saith the Historian and to be divided into Fellowships and Corporations as at this day and this Priviledge was granted the first of Richard 1. 1189. This King left no Children behind him that we have any certain account of unless we reckon as a Popish Priest did who coming to King Richard told him that he had three very wicked Daughters which he desired him to bestow or else Gods wrath would attend him But the King denying he had any Daughters at all Yes saith the Priest thou cherishest three Daughters Pride Covetousness and Lechery The King apprehended his meaning and smiling thereat called his Lords attending and said My Lords this Hypocritical Priest hath descovered that I maintain three Daughters Pride Covetousness and Lechery which he would have me bestow in Marriage and therefore if I have any such I have found out very fit Husband for them all My Pride I bequeath to the haughty Templers and Hospitallers who are as proud as Lucifer himself my Covetousness I give to the White Monks of the Cistercian Order for they covet the Devil and all but for my Lechery I can bestow it no where better than on the Priests and Bishops of our times for therein they place their greatest felicity and happiness In this Kings time for three or four years together there happened so great a drougth that a Quarter of Wheat was sold for eighteen shillings eight pence and thereupon followed so great a Mortality of People that the living scarce sufficed to bury the dead King Richard being dead the Right of Succession remained in Arthur son of Jeffery Duke of Anjou elder brother to E. John but John thinking Arthurs Title but a Criticism of State and not so plain to common capacities as his own who was Son of a King and Brother to a King ascended the Throne as confidently as if he had no Competitor onely Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury made an Oration on his behalf wherein waving the Right of Succession he insisted wholly upon the Right of Election by the People whereby it would follow that those who brought him in might throw him out Of which the Bishop being told said He did it on purpose to cause King John to be more careful of his Government by making him sensible upon what an uncertain foundation his Regality stood King
John took notice of this but since it would serve his present purpose he let it pass knowing that his turn once served he could afterward carve out what Title he pleased and so upon Ascension day 1199. he was crowned King at Westminster But Constantia the Mother of Arthur applies her self to Lewis the French King on behalf of her son who promised his assistance but yet afterwards a Peace was made between King John and Lewis After which King John being at leisure gave himself wholly up to pleasure and committed many extravagancies which so far disobliged some of his Lords that they joined with the French King to assist Prince Arthur but King John coming upon them unawares routed their Forces and took Arthur Prisoner who died soon after The Death of whom and also of Geoffry Fitz-Peter who while the King lived kept him in some awe left the King at full liberty to his own wild desires For at the first hearing of Geoffries death he swore By the Feet of God that now at length he was King of England and with great rejoicing said to some Lords about him Now when this man comes into Hell let him salute the Archbishop Hubert whom certainly he shall find there After this the Lords of the Realm having often required their Ancient Rights and Liberties and finding nothing but delusions they would no longer endure to be abused but meeting together they consider of some remedy and conclude to go to the King themselves in person and make their demands producing likewise a Charter which had been granted in Henry the First 's time Whereupon coming to the King after Christmas lying then in the New Temple in London and acquainting him with their demands he answers That within a few days he will give them satisfaction and causeth the Bishops of Canterbury and Ely and William Maâ—sha Earl of Glocester to pass their words for him that it should be performed But the King never intending to do as he said falls presently to raise Souldiers which the Lords understanding they all did the like and going to the Bishop of Canterbury they deliver him a Copy of their demands and require the Kings Answer who shewed it to the King with a Message of their Resolutions That if he did not presently seal the Charter then delivered to him they would compel him thereto with forcible entrance into all his Possessions The King being highly offended asked Why they did not also require his Kingdom these their demands being grounded on no colour of Reason and then swore a great Oath That be would die before he would enslave himself to them by such Concessions The Lords by this answer knowing what they must trust to appointed Robert Fitzwater to be their General whom they stiled The Marshal of Gods Army and Holy Church Then they besieged Northampton and Bedford and the Governour of the last being a Confederate delivered it up to them But the Londoners displeased with the King for burthening them with Taxes not onely admitted them but invited them to enter the City by night The Lords having now this key of the Land at their dispose sent such threatning Letters and Messages abroad that they drew most of the Nobility from the King who being at Windsor providing an Army And having notice thereof and that the Londoners were joined with them he thought good to proceed rather by Fraud than Force and thereupon sends to the Lords That if they would come to him to Windsor he would grant their demands The Lords coming thither but in a Military manner for they durst not trust his word the King saluted them all kindly and promised to give them satisfaction in all they demanded And so in a Meadow between Windsor and Stanes called Running Mead and afterward Council Mead he freely consented to confirm their former Liberties contained in Magna Charta and Charta Forestae and likewise that there should be Twenty five Peers Elected who should have a sway in the Government and whose commands all the rest of the Barons were bound by Oath to obey and he was contented some grave Personages should be chosen to see it performed But the next day when it should be done the King goes privately the night before to Southampton and from thence to the Isle of Wight where advising with his Council It was concluded he should send to the Pope to acquaint him with this Mutiny of the Lords and require his help while the King in the mean time lived skulking up and down in corners that no man might know where to find him or which is worse as some write roving about and Practising pyracy And now the Lords begin to suspect fraud when shortly after the Kings Messengers who were Walter and John Bishops of Worcester and Norwich return with the Popes Decree whereby the Barons Charter was by definitive Sentence cancelled and made void and the King and Barons accursed if either of them observed the Composition This Decree the King after he had staid three Moneths in the Isle of Wight coming back to Windsor acquaints the Lords with but they accusing the Messenger for falsly informing the Pope and the Pope also for making a Decree without hearing of both sides betake themselves to Arms and swear by the holy Altar to be revenged for this injurious dealing The Ting finding the Lords nothing moved upon the Popes Decree sends again to him to acquaint him with it who being mightily incensed to have his Decree so slighted adjudgeth the Lords to be Enemies of Religion and gives power to Peter Bishop of Winchester and the Abbot 〈◊〉 Râ—dding to Excommunicate them Whereby a 〈…〉 a Child in England K. Willi Rufus Kild in Hunting 〈…〉 k to Wind 〈…〉 they ac 〈…〉 the Pope 〈…〉 without 〈…〉 to Arms 〈…〉 for 〈…〉 〈…〉 moved up 〈…〉 to ac 〈…〉 incensed 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 power 〈…〉 Abbot o◠〈…〉 hereby al◠〈…〉 with the City of 〈◊〉 〈…〉 still stand on these 〈…〉 London scorning and defying the Popes 〈…〉 and Decreeing that neither themselves 〈…〉 Londoners should observe them nor the 〈…〉 dare to denounce them alledging That it 〈…〉 to the Pope to deal in Temporal Affairs 〈…〉 Peter received power of our Saviour onely in 〈…〉 matters and why should the Roman 〈…〉 coverousness extend it self hither to us 〈…〉 have Bishops to do to intermedale in Wars 〈◊〉 are Constantines Successors not St. Peters â—â—om as they represent not in good actions so neither do they in authority Fie upon such mercenary Rascals who having little knowledge of Ingenuity or Art being 〈◊〉 wretched Vsurers and Simoniacks that they would dare by their Excommunications to domineer 〈◊〉 the World O how unlike they are to St. Peter 〈◊〉 have usurped St. Peters Chair With these Remonstrances the Lords went on â—olvedly in their course In the mean time King 〈◊〉 with the assistance of some Forces which 〈◊〉 had hired beyond Sea had within half a year 〈◊〉 all the Castles of the Barons into
should wear any Hood except striped with divers colours nor Furs but Garments turned the wrong side outward This King confirmed the Liberties of the City of London and ordained that the L. Mayor should sit in all places of Judgment within the Liberty of the same as chief Justice the Kings person only excepted and that every Alderman that had been Mayor should be Justice of Peace in all London and Middlesex and every Alderman that had not been Mayor should be Justice of Peace in his own Ward Also he granted to the Citizens of London that they should not be forced without their own consent to go out of the City to fight or defend the Land and likewise that after that day the Charter and Franchises of the City should not be seized into the Kings hands but onely for Treason and Rebellion done by the whole City Likewise that Southwark should be under the Government of the City and the Lord Mayor to chuse a Bailiff there as he pleased He also granted to the Citizens of London that the Officers of the Mayor and Sheriffs should from that day forward use Maces of silver parcel gilt In the twenty second year of his Reign a contagious Pestilence arose in the East and South parts of the World and coming at last into England it so wasted the people that scarce the tenth person of all sorts were left alive There died in London some say in Norwich between the first of January and the first of July 57374 persons This Plague lasted nine Years In the thirty fifth year of his Reign another Plague happened which was called the second Pestilence in which died many Lords and Bishops In this Kings time a Frost lasted from the midst of September to the Moneth of April In the fourth year of his Reign a solemn Just or Turnament was held in Cheapside London between the great Cross and the great Conduit In the eleventh year of his Reign was so great plenty that a Quarter of Wheat was sold at London for 2 s. a fat Ox for a noble a fat Goose for 2 d. a Pig for a penny and other things after that rate But in his 27 year there was a great scarcity by reason there fell little or no Rain from the end of March to the end of July and was therefore called the Dry Summer John Barns Mayor of London gave a chest with three Locks and a thousand Marks to be lent to young men upon security and for the Use of it if learned they were to say the Psalm De Profundis c. for the soul of John Barns if otherwise to say a Pater Noster but however the money is lent the cheft stood long after in the Chamber of London without money or security In the time of the Princes sickness the King calls a Parliament at Westminster and demands supplies upon which they demand redress of the Grievances of the Subjects and among the rest that John Duke of Law after and Alice Perice the Kings Concubine with others might be removed from the Court this Woman presuming so much upon the Kings favour that she grew very insolent and intermedled with Courts of Justice and other Offices where she her self would sit to countenance her Causes And this was so vehemently urged by the Speaker of the House of Commons that the King rather than want Supplies gave way to it and so they were all presently put from Court But the Prince dying soon after they were all recalled to Court again and restored to their former plâ—ces and Sir Peter de la More the Speaker was at the sâ—â—t of Alice Perice confined to perpetual Imprisonment though by making great Friends he got his Liborty in two years About this time John Wickliff bringeth in a new Doctrine inveighing against the abuses of Church-men Monks and other Religious Orders whom the Duke of Lancaster favoured Whereupon a great contention arose between him and the Bishop of London the Londoners take the Bishops part and set upon the Duke of Lancasters house at the Savoy upon which the Duke after the Tumult caused the Mayor and Aldermen to be displaced and others put in their rooms and Wickliff is banished to Bohemia where his Doctrine continues in great veneration to this day among that People King Edward died in the 64 year of his age and fiftieth of his Reign and his Grandchild Richard the second succeeded of whose unfortunate Reign and Deposition you have heard before we shall therefore onely add a few particulars more In his thirteenth year a Royal Just or Turnament was proclaimed to be holden in Smithfield London and at the day appointed about three of the clock in the Afternoon there issued out of the Tower threescore fine Horses apparelled for the Justs and upon every one an Esquire of Honour riding a soft pace after them came four and thirty Ladies of Honour mounted on Palfreys and every Lady led a Knight with a chain of gold These Knights being on the Kings side had their armour and apparel garnished with white Harts and Crowns of gold upon their heads and so they came riding through the streets of London to Smithfield This Just lasted twenty four days all which time the King and Queen lay at the Bishops Palace by S. Pauls Church and kept open house to all comers In the year 1â—89 whilest the King was at Sheen near London there swarmed in his Court such a multitude of Flies and Gnats skirmishing one with another that they were swept away with Brooms by heaps and Bushels were filled with them In the one and wentieth year of his Reign King Richard caused the great Hall at Westminster to be repaired both with Walls Windows and Roofs In his twelfth year in March there were terrible Winds and afterward a great Mortality and Dearth A Dolphin was likewise taken at London Bridge being ten foot long and very big Also in Parliament time an Image made by Necromancy in Wax as it is said at an hour appointed uttered these words The Head shall be cut off the Head shall be lifted up aloft the Feet shal be lift up above the head This hapned in that called the Marvellous Parliament not long before that called the Parliament that wrought wonders Henry IV. his Uncle succeeded K. Rich. against whom several Rebellions were raised especially one Henry Piercy called Hotspur and others who were overthrown King Henry himself killing thirty six with his own hands the Earl of Worcester among the rest was taken and beheaded with many others whose Heads were set on London Bridge In his time a Parliament was called at Westminster in which the Commons presented a Petition to the King and the House of Peers desiring that the King might have the Temporal Possessions of the Bishops and Clergy affirming that they would maintain 150 Earls 1500 Knights 6200 Esquires and 100 Hospitals for maimed Souldiers They desired likewise that Clerks Convict should not be delivered into the Bishops Prison
London Mercer who first practised the same in the Abby of Westminstor 1471. This King Henry lost his Kingdom when he had reigned thirty eight years six months and odd days The day after he was murdered he was brought to St. Pauls Church in an open Coffin bare-faced where he bled and from thence carried to Black Fryars where he also bled and lastly was buried at Windsor In the first year of King Edward the fourth Walter Walker Grocer living in Cheapside was beheaded for speaking some words against King Edward In his fourth year there was a great Pestilence and the Thames was frozen over In his 14 year John Grose was burnt on Tower-hill for Religion The same year King Edward in his Progress hunting in Sir Thomas Burdels Park slew many Deer and among the rest a white Buck which Sir Thomas hearing of wished the Bucks head horns and all in his belly who moved the King to kill him Upon which words he was condemned to die and being drawn from the Tower of London to Tyburn was there beheaded Next year George D. of Clarence K. Ed. Brother was drowned in the Tower in a But of Malmsey In his twenty second year some Thieves for Robbery in St. Martins le Grand were drawn to Tower-hill and there hanged and burnt and others were pressed to death In this Kings time Richard Rawson one of the Sheriffs of London caused a House to be built at St. Mary Spittle for the Lord Mayor and Aldermen to hear Sermons in the Easter Holy-days King Edward the fourth being dead his eldest Son Edward not above eleven years old was proclaimed King but never crowned for the Duke of Glocester hearing of his Brothers death comes to London and having gotten the King and his Brother the Duke of York into his hands sends them to the Tower and murders the Lord Hatings who was true to Edward and then endeavours to prove the two children of Edward Illegitimate whereby he at last attained the Crown by the name of Richard the third and afterwards persuades Sir James Tyril to murder the two young Princes in the Tower who getting two other Villains as bad as himself they come to the childrens chamber in the night and suddenly wrapping them up in their cloths and keeping down by force the Feather-bed and Pillows hard upon their mouths so stifled them that their breath being gone they surrendred up their innocent souls and when the Murtherers perceived first by their strugling with the pains of death and then by their long lying still that they were throughly dead they laid their bodies out and then called Sir James Tyril to see them who presently caused their bodies to be buried under the Stairs But these Murderers came all to miserable ends and King Richard himself after this abominable Fact never had a quiet mind but was troubled with fearful dreams and would sometimes start out of his bed and run about the chamber in a great fright as if all the Furies in Hell were about him as he did the night before the Battle at Bosworth Field where he was slain by King Henry the seventh who succeeded to the Crown King Richard took away from Jane Shore one of King Edwards Concubines all her Goods to the value of above 3000 Marks and afterward caused her to do Pennance before the Cross for her Incontinency with a Taper in her hand when though undressed yet she appeared so fair and lovely and likewise so modest that many who hated her course of life yet pitied her course usage since she used all the favour she had with King Edward to the good of many but never to the hurt of any And truly she had cause to complain against Richard for being so severe for her offending against the seventh Commandment onely when he did no pennance for offending heavily against all Ten. But perhaps he got some Good Fellow to be his Confessor After Richard called Crook-back was slain Henry the seventh was proclaimed King In whose time were made several general Laws as that for admitting poor people to sue in Forma Pauperis without paying Fees to Attorney Counsellor or Clerk Another that no person that shall assist by Arms or otherwise the King in being shall ever after be impeached thereof or attainted by course of Law or act of Parliament and that if any such Act of Attainder did happen to 〈◊〉 made it should be void and of none effect In his fifth year it was ordained by Parliament that the Mayor of London should have the conservation oâ— the River of Thames from Stanes-bridge to the Waters of Yeudale and Medway In his seventeenth year John Shaw Lord Mayor of London caused his Brethren the Aldermen to ride from Guildhall to the Water-side when he went to Westminster to be presented to the Exchequer He also causeâ— Kitchins and other Conveniences to be built it Guild-hall This King was the first that ordaine a Company of tall proper men to be Yeomen 〈◊〉 the Guard and to attend the person of the King to whom he appointed a Livery and a Captaâ—â— over them In his eighteenth year King Heâ—â—â— himself being Free of the Tailors Company 〈◊〉 divers Kings before had been namely Richard tâ— second Henry the fourth fifth and sixth Edwarâ— the fourth and Richard the third as also eleveâ— Dukes twenty eight Earls and forty eight Lord He therefore now gave them the name of Mâ—â—chant-Taylors as an honourable Title to end 〈◊〉 for ever The 22 of August 1485. the very day King Henâ— got the Victory over King Richard a great Fiâ— happened in Bredstreet London in which was burnt the Parson of St. Mildreds and one person more In his tenth year in digging a new Foundation in the Church of St. Mary-hill in London the body of Alice Hackny who had been buried 175 years before was found whole of skin and the joints of her arms pliable the Corps was kept above ground four days without annoyance and then buried again In his twelfth year on St. Bartholomews day there fell Hail-stones measured twelve Inches about The great Tempest which drove King Philip of Spain into England blew down the Golden Eagle from the Spire of St. Pauls and in the fall it fell upon the sign of the Black Eagle in St. Pauls Church-yard where the school-School-house now is and broke it down This King was frugal from his Youth the City of London was his Paradice for what good fortune soever befel him he thought he enjoyed it nor till he acquainted them with it His Parliament was his Oracle for in all matters of Importance he would ask their advice yea he put his Prerogative many times into their hands After he had lived fifty two years and reigned twenty three years he died April 22. 1508. Henry the eighth his only Son succeeded him In the ninth year of his reign on May Eve there was an Insurrection of the Young men and Apprentices of London against Foreigners for which Riot several
1. And in the Civil VVars between K. John and his Barons 1215. the Londoners were on the Barons part who then besieged Northampton and after came to Bedford Castle where they were well received by William Beauchamp Captain thereof and having then secret Notice that if they pleased they might enter the City they removed their Camp to Ware and from thence coming to London in the Night they entred by Aldgate and placing Guards at the Gates they disposed of all things at their pleasure They spoiled the Fryers Houses and searcht their Coffers after which Robert Fitzwater Jeffery Magnaville the Earl of Essex and the Earl of Glocester cheif Commander in the Army applied themselves to repair the Gates and VValls of the City with stones taken from the Jews Houses as aforesaid and Aldgate being most ruinous and having given them an easie entrance they repaired or rather new built it after the manner of the Normans with strong Arches and Bulwarks of Stone small brick and Flanders Tile In the 11 of Edw. 4. 1471 Thomas Bastard Fauconbridge having Assembled a Riotous Company of Seamen and others in Essex and Kent came with a great Navy of Ships up to the Tower of London whereupon the L. Mayor and Aldermen with consent of the Common Council fortified the Thames sides with Armed Men Guns and other warlike weapons from Baynards Castle to the Tower to prevent their Landing But the Rebels being denied passage that way they fell upon Aldgate Bishopsgate Cripplegate Aldersgate London Bridge and along the Bankside shooting Arrows and Guns into the City and burning above threescore houses in the Suburbs And upon Sunday May 11 1471. Five thousand of them assaulting Aldgate won the Bulwarks and entred the City but the Portcullice being let down those that were in were slain And Robert Basset Alderman of that Ward commanded them in the name of God to draw up the Portcullice which being done the Londoners issued out of the Gate and couragiously beat back their Enemies to St. Buttolphs Church by which time the Earl Rivers and the Lieutenant of the Tower coming with fresh Forces joined them and then they soon routed the Rebels and made them fly Alderman Basset and other Citizens chasing them to Miland and from thence pursued some of them to Poplar and others to Stratford killing many and taking divers Prisoners In the mean time Fauconbridge their Commander having in vain assaulted other Places on the Waterside fled to his Ships Thus much of Aldgate as it was of old we shall speak of the rebuilding when we come to Aldgate Ward The third Gate toward the North is BISHOPSGATE supposed to be built by some Bishop of London though now unknown But the occasion thereof was for the ease of Passengers especially to Norfolk Suffolk Cambridgshire c. who before were forced to go much about yet it is somewhat Ancient for we read that in the year 1210 some Land was sold to the Procurators or Wardens of London Bridge situate in the Parish of St. Buttolph without Bishopsgate And in a Charter dated 1235. It is writt That Walter Brume and Rosia his Wife having founded the Priory or New Hospital of our Blessed Lady since called St. Mary Spittle without Bishopsgate have confirmed the same to the Honour of God and our Blessed Lady for Canons Regular Also in 1247 Simeon Fitz Mary Sheriff of London the 29 Hen. 3. founded the Hospital of St. Mary called Bethlem without Bishopsgate And for repairing this Gate Hen. 3. confirmed certain Liberties to the Merchants of the Haunce to keep it in repair which they did for many years But in the year 1551 having prepared Stone and a new Gate to be set up at the Complaint of the English Merchants their Charter was taken from them so that the Old Gate remained Next to this upon the Northside of the City is MOREGATE of which we read that in the 3d of Hen. 5. 1415 Thomas Faulconer Mayor caused the VVall of the City to be broken through near Coleman-street and there builded a Postern now called Moregate of a Moory ground hard by which is now drained and made fair and firm and turned into several Feilds and delightful VValks with Trees set in curious Order for the Accommodation of the Citizens This Gate since the dreadful Fire of London in 1666 has been new built and is made very Noble with a great Arch and two Posterns so that it now equals if not excels any other Gate of the City Between this Gate and Cripplegate there have been lately made two Posterns through the VVall for the better ease of Passengers and several new Houses built near them CRIPPLEGATE is next which is of great Antiquity being so called before the Conquest for we read that in 1010 the Danes spoiling the Kingdom of the East-Angles Alwyn Bishop of Helinham caused the body of King Edmund the Martyr to be brought from Bredisworth now called St. Edmunds Bury through the Kingdom of the East-Saxons and so to London in at Cripplegate Some say it was so named from Cripples begging there and that when the body of St. Edmund passed through it many Miracles were wrought thereby as that some of the Lame were cured praising God c. This Body continued three years in St. Gregories Church near St. Pauls And further William the Conquerour in his Charter for Confirming the Foundation of the Colledge in London called St. Martins le Grand saith thus I do give and grant to the same Church and Canons serving God therein all the Lands and the Moor without the Postern which is called Cripplegate on either part of the Postern VVe read likewise That Alfune builded the Parish Church of St. Giles nigh a Gate of the City called Porta Contractorum or Cripples-gate about the year 1090. This Gate was formerly a Prison for Citizens for Debt or otherwise like one of the Counters It was new built in 1244 by the Brewers of London and Edmund Shaw Goldsmith in 1483. gave by his VVill 400 Marks and the stuff of the the old Gate called Cripplegate to build the same again which was accordingly done in 1491. ALDERSGATE or Aeldersgate is next not so called from Aldwich or of Elders or Ancient men building the same nor of Elder Trees growing more plentifully there than in other places as some have fancied but only from the Antiquity thereof it being one of the four first Gates of this City serving for the Northern as Aldgate doth for the Eastern Parts and being both Old Gates for distinction one is called Aldersgate and the other Aldgate This Gate hath had several Additional buildings to it as on the Southside where several large Rooms and Lodgings of Timber have been made And on the Eastside a Great Timber building with one large Room paved with Stone or Tile there is likewise a well curbed with Stone and of a great depth which rises into that Room though two Stories high from the Ground which is very
VVhen this Gate was quite taken down and nobly Rebuilt with the Images of K. Lud and others on the East-side and Q. Elizabeth on the VVest which was done at the City Charge being above 1500 pounds In 1463. Stephen Foster Fishmonger and Dame Agnes his VVife added several large Rooms to Ludgate and gave other releif to the Prisoners who are only such Citizens as are Debtors All Persons for Treasons Felonies and other Criminal Offences being committed to Newgate In one of these rooms there was a Copper Plate hanging with the following Rhimes ingraven thereon Devout Souls that pass this way For Stephen Forster late Mayor heartily pray And Dame Agnes his Spouse to God Consecrate That of pity this House made of London in Ludgate So that for lodging and water Prisoners here nought pay As their keepers shall all answer at dreadful Doomsday This Gate as well as Newgate in the late dismal Fire in 1666 was burnt down but since they are both repaired and very curiously Beautified having a new Postern for Foot Passengers added thereto with several other Conveniencies Thus much for Ludgate Next to this before the late Fire there was only a breach in the VVall of the City and a Bridge of Timber over Fleet Ditch directly against Bridewell Hospital but since it is all laid open and a handsome Bridge of Stone built in that Place the Ditch being very much enlarged and a VVharf made of Stone and cleared from all Houses on each side up to Holborn Bridge The Bridge likewise at the lower end of Ludgate Hill being nobly rebuilt or rather new built and made much broader and another Gallant Bridge is built upon the same Ditch almost over against the Fleet Prison All this has been done since the dismal Fire to the very great Charge of the City And so much for the Gates in the Wall Now for the VVatergates on the Banks of the River Thames which formerly have been many though most or all of them have been ruined by the late Fire however take a breif Account of what they were Black Fryers Stairs is a free landing place now gallantly rebuilt with a useful Bridge by Sir Tho. Fitch who has built a very curious house upon the VVharf and cleared it so that now the Lord Mayor when he comes from Westminster to be sworn Lands there instead of Pauls Wharf as being much more convenient Then there is Puddle Wharf Pauls Wharf Broken Wharf besides divers others all along the River which are made by the Citizens for their Private use Next is Ripa Regina the Queens Bank or Queen Hyth which was accounted the Cheif and Principal VVatergate of this City far exceeding Billings-Gate as it appears in Queen-hithe VVard Wat Tyler kild by the Lord Mayor K Richard 2. Resigns his Crown King Richard 2. Murdered The next was called Wolfes Gate in the Ropary afterward called Wolfes lane but now out of use The next was called Ebgate of old time as appeareth by Ancient Records and stood near St. Lawrence Pountneys Church it is now a narrow Lane and called Ebgate lane but usually the Old Swan There was another Gate at the Bridgfoot called Oyster Gate of Oysters that were there sold that being the Market-place for them and other small Fish But now there standeth an Engine to carry up the water into the City in the place thereof Then there is the BRIDG-GATE so called of London Bridge whereon it standeth This long before the Conquest was one of the four first or Principal Gates of the City where there was only a Bridge of Timber and is the seventh and last Principal Gate mentioned by Fitz Stephen when the Bridge was new built of Stone this Gate was rebuilt again In the year 1436 this Gate with the Tower upon it fell down and two of the furthest Arches of the Bridg Southward fell therewith yet none were killed or hurt thereby to the repairing whereof several Citizens gave very Liberally When the Bastard Fauconbridg aforenamed came with the Kentish Mariners into this City they burnt this Gate and thirteen Houses besides on the Bridge and likewise the Brewhouses at St. Katherines and many others in the Suburbs Next hereunto was a Gate commonly called Buttolphs Gate of the Parish Church adjoyning This was given or confirmed by William the Conquerour to the Monks of Westminster Then there is Billingsgate which is much used by small Ships Barges so that Queen Hyth is almost forsaken It is somewhat uncertain why this Gate was so named only Jeffry of Monmouth writes that Belin a King of the Brittains about 400 years before Christs Nativity built this Gate and called it after his own name that when he was dead his Body was burned and the Ashes were put into a vessel of Brass and set over that Gate upon an High Pinacle of Stone yet it doth not seem to be so Ancient but rather to have taken the name from some late Owner called it may be Beling or Billing as Somers Key Smarts Key Fresh Warf and others have done Then there was a Watergate on the South-end of Water-lane by the custom-Custom-house Key but of all these more hereafter One other Watergate there was more by the Bulwark of the Tower and this is the last and farthest Gate Eastward on the River of Thames as far as the City of London extends within the Walls Besides these Common Water Gates there were formerly divers private Wharfs and Keys all along from the East to the West of this City on the Thames side where Merchants of all Nations landed their Goods and had Warehouses Cellars and Stowage form them And in the 42 of Hen. 3. 1258. it was appointed that the Ports of England should be strongly Guarded and the Gates of London should be newly repaired and diligently kept in the night for fear of French deceits CHAP. III. Of the Tower of London and other Ancient Towers and Castles of this City with several Remarkable Accidents happening therein THe City of London saith Fitz Stephen hath in the East a very Great and most Strong Palatine Tower whose Turrets and Walls do rise from a deep Foundation the Mortar thereof being tempered with the Bloud of Beasts It is the Common Opinion that Julius Caesar the first Conquerour or indeed Discoverer of Brittain was the Original Founder thereof and of many other Towers Castles and Great Houses But there is little Reason for it in regard of his short stay here having other things to think on designing only to dispatch his Conquest over this Barbarous Countrey and then to perform greater Enterprizes Neither do the Roman Historians mention any such Buildings erected by him here The more probable Opinion therefore is That William the Conquerour built the Great white and square Tower there about the year of our Lord 1078 as appears by Ancient Records and that made Gundulph Bishop of Rochester Principal Surveyor of the work The Wall of the City of London as it is aforementioned
give it him but that not sufficing he pulled out an handfull of Angels and gave him a good many a Knight that was in his Company telling him that he was glad to see him have so many Angels Yes answered he I love to carry my Friends always about me Not long after the Lady Jane was beheaded there and upon the Scaffold she made a most ingenious Speech full of Pity That she came thither to serve for an Example to Posterity that Innocence cannot be any Protection against Greatness and that she was come thither not for aspiring to a Crown but for refusing one when it was offered her In King James his time there was no Blood spilt in the Tower or upon Towerhill only Sir Gervase Elways was hanged there when he was Lieutenant about the Murder of Sir Thomas Overbury and one remarkable passage there was in his Speech upon the Ladder That being in the Low-Countreys and much addicted to Gaming he made a serious wish that if ever he played more above such a sum he might be hanged but he Violated the Oath and so the just Judgment of Heaven fell upon him according to his words The Earl of Castle haven in the year 1631 was brought from the Tower to be Executed for Horrid Crimes and divers others since have been Executed there as the Earl of Strafford Arch-Bishop Laud and many more This stately Tower serves not only for a Goal to detain Prisoners but for many other uses it is a strong Fort or Citadel which secures both City and River It is the Treasury of the Jewels and Ornaments of the Crown It conserves all the Old Records of the Courts of Justice at Westminster it is the place for the Royal Mint and the Coynage of Gold and Silver it is the chief Magazine and Armory of the whole Land for Martial Engines and Provision and there only is the Brahe or Rack usually called the Duke of Exeters Daughter because he was the first Inventor of it and Lastly it is a great Ornament by the situation of it both to the River and City This City hath had divers other Towns besides one at the North End of London-Bridge which is now utterly demolished and the other at the South End which hath suffered many Accidents of Fireing and otherwise and was still repaired at the charge of the City Upon this Gate the Heads of Traytors are commonly placed and some there are thereon at this day Historians mention two Castles that were built in the West part of the City one called the Castle of Montfiquet built by a Lord of that name which is now demolished and the Black Fryers rose up instead of it the other called Baynards Castle from one Baynard whose Family long enjoyed it and after that Robert Fitz-Walter who was called Banner Bearer of the City of London and had great Priviledges This Castle fell afterwards to the Earl of March who was Crowned there by the Title of Edward the Fourth to whom this City always stuck very close but in the Seventh Year of his Reign many of the greatest men in London were accused of High Treason and divers Aldermen whereof they were acquitted yet did they forfeit their Goods to the value of Forty Thousand Marks and among them Sr. Thomas Cook formerly Lord Mayor without Hawkins were committed to the Tower neither could be discharged without paying Eight Thousand Marks to the King Henry the Seventh repaired Baynards Castle and rid through the City in State with all the Knights of the Garter from the Tower to St. Paul's Church where they heard Mass and Lodged that Night at Baynards Castle Queen Mary was likewise proclaimed at Baynards Castle though the Lady Jane had been proclaimed a little before There was also another Tower or Castle near Baynards Castle but there is now no sign of it remaining And another in the place where Bridewell now stands which being demolished yet there was a Royal Palace left where the Kings of England kept their Courts and King John summoned a Parliament there and afterwards Henry the Eight repaired it and made it much more stately for the entertainment of his Nephew Charles the Fift Emperour and King of Spain who in the year 1522 was Magnificently Treated there There was another Tower called the Tower Royal where King Stephen kept his Court Barbican was likewise another Tower There was another called Sernes Tower in Bucklersbury where we read Edward the III. kept his Court and gave it afterward to his free Chappel of St. Stephens in Westminster now called Henry the sevenths Chappel who spent fourteen thousand pound in building of it and about the same time he built a Great Ship which cost just so much Thus much for the Towers and Castles of London CHAP. IV. The Rivers Wells Conduits Ditches and Bridges c. in and about this City IN former times before William the Conquerour and long after the City was watered besides the famous River of Thames in the South with the River of Wells as it was then called and in the West with a water called Walbrook running through the midst of the City into the River of Thames There was also another Water which ran within the City through Langbourn Ward watering that part in the East There were three Principal Fountains or Wells in the other Suburbs that is Holywell Clements Well and Clarkes Well and near to the last were divers other Wells as Skinners Well Fogs Well Todewell and Radwell all which flowing into the River afore-mentioned much increased the stream and gave it the name of Wells It is recorded that in West-Smithfield there was a Pool called Horse-pool and another in the Parish of St. Giles Besides which they had in divers streets and Lanes of the City fair Wells and fresh Springs by which the City was served with sweet Water and many Conduits were built in divers Streets which continued till the dreadful Fire in 1666. Since which time for the Conveniency and enlargement of the Streets and likewise by reason of the new River Water contrived by Sir Hugh Middleton most of these Conduits are taken down and removed For Queen Elizabeth having before granted to the Citizens of London by Act of Parliament Liberty for cutting and conveying a River from any part of Middlesex or Hertfordshire to the City of London with a limitation of Ten years time her life ended before any would undertake it whereupon the like Act was passed by King James but without Date of time and when all others refused it Sir Hugh Middleton undertook to bring a River from Chadwell and Amwell to the Northside of London near Islington where he built a large Cistern to receive it This work was begun Feb. 20. 1608 and in the five years space was fully accomplished though with great difficulty by reason of the difference and unevenness of the Ground the depth of the River in some places being Thirty Foot and in other places the water is carryed
through a Wooden Trough and advanced above the Valley near Three and Twenty Foot When the Water was brought to the Cistern but not as yet let in upon Michaelmas Day 1613. in the afternoon Sir Thomas Middleton brother to Sir Hugh being that day Elected Lord Mayor for the year ensusuing he together with the present Lord Mayor Sir John Swinerton Sir Thomas and Sir Henry Montague the Recorder with divers other Aldermen and Citizens rid to see the Cistern and the Water first issuing therein at which time a Troop of about Three score Labourers well apparel'd and wearing greeâ— Monmouth Caps all alike Armed with Spades Shovels pick-axes and such Instruments of Labour marched twice or thrice round the Cistern the Drums beating before them and then presented themselves before the Mount where the Lord Mayor and Aldermen stood to behold them and after one of them had made a handsome Speech upon the occasion the Flood Gates flew open and the stream ran chearfully into the Cistern Drums and Trumpets sounding all the while in a Triumphant manner and a brave peal of Muskets concluded the entertainment But above all the City owns its Glory and Riches and many other Blessings to the excellent River of Thames whose head or first stream issueth out of the side of a Hill upon Cotswold Downs about a Mile from Tethury near to Foss a High Road so called in former times and was sometimes named Isis or the Ouse from hence it runs to the East as all good Rivers should though not without some turnings and meets with the Cirne or Chiurn a brook whereof Cirencester which is near it is supposed to take the name From hence it hasteth to Creeklade Lechlade Radcotbridge Newbridge and Evesham receiving by the way abundance of small Streams Brooks and Rivulets And on this side the Town devideth it self into two Streams the one goes directly to Hinckly and Botly and the other to Godstow this latter spreadeth it self for a while into divers small streams which run not far before they meet again and then encompassing divers Fruitful Meadows it passeth at length by Oxford which some imagine should rather be called Ouseford of this River and there it meeteth with the River Charnel a little from whence the Original Branches Join again and keep Company to Abington though no part of it did formerly come so near the Town as now it doth till a branch thereof was led thither by the main stream through the Industry of the Monks as also by the decay of Caerdoure now called Dorchester sometimes the high Road from from Wales and the West Countrey to London From thence it goeth to Dorchester and so into Thame where joining to a River of that name it is called no more Ouse but Thames from thence it goeth to Wallingford and so to Reading which was formerly called Pontium because of the number of Bridges There it joins with the River Kenet which comes from the Hills West of Marleborough and soon after with the Thetis commonly called the Tyde which comes from Thetisford It goes from thence to Sudlington or Maidenhead and so to Windlestore or Windsor Eaton Chertsey Stanes and there receiving another Stream by the way called Cole where Colebrook stands it proceeds to Kingston Richmond Sheen Sion and Brentford where it meets with another stream called the Brene coming from Edgworth It runs then by Moreclack Putney Falham Battersey Chelsey Lambeth Westminster and so to London And passing through the Bridge the first water that fall into it is Brome West of Greenwich whose spring comes from Bromley in Kent The next is River on Essex side over against Woolwich which is called Lee and falls into it and a while after the River Derwent on Kent side falls therein having its rise from Tunbridg The next water that falls into the Thames is a Rivulet of no great note West of the Wain Isles Last of all the River of Thames mingleth with the River Medway which comes out of Kent by Rochester Chatham and divers other Places and waters all the South parts of Kent This Noble River for its bredth depth gentle streight even Course extraordinary wholsom Waters and Tides is more commodious for Navigation than perhaps any other River in the World The Sea flows gently up this River fourscore Miles that is almost to Kingston twelve miles above London by Land and twenty by Water bringing the greater Vessels to London and the smaller beyond and then Boats are drawn to Oxford against the Stream and many miles higher As oft as the Moon comes to the Northeast and Southwest Points of Heaven it is high Water at the City the one Point in our Hemisphere and the other in the other The Highest Tides are upon a Land-floud the Wind Northwest at the Equinoctial and the Moon at full when these four Causes concur which is very rare than the Thames overflows its Banks in some places and Westminster is somewhat endamaged in their Cellars but not in their upper Rooms This River opening Eastward toward France and Germany is much more advantagious for Traffick then any other River in England wherein there is contained variety of Excellent Fish and on both sides thereof lyes a Fruitful Fat Soyl pleasant rich Meadows and innumerable Stately Palaces So that the Thames seems to be the radical Moisture of the City and in some sence the Natural heat too for almost all the Fuel for Firing is brought up this River from Newcastle Scotland Kent Essex and other parts From this River the City by water Engines is in many Places supplyed with excellent wholsome water and also from almost twenty Conduits which are yet remaining of pure spring Water as well as by the New River aforementioned of which River we shall add That it comes from Amwell and Chadwell two Springs near Ware in Hertfordshire from whence in a turning and winding Course it runs threescore Miles before it reaches Islington Over this River are made 800 Bridges some of Stone some of brick and some of Wood 600 men were at once imployed in this Great work It is carried in Pipes of wood under gronnd into most Streets of this City and from thence with Pipes of Lead into Houses it serves the highest parts of London in their lower Rooms and the lower parts in their highest room This City likewise is so Scituated that in all parts though in the highest ground it is abundantly served with Pump Water and these Pumps in many places not six foot deep in the ground The vast Traffick and Commerce whereby this City doth flourish may be guessed at chiefly by the cuâ—ioâ—â—s which are paid for all Merchandize Imported or Exported which in the Port of London only amounts to above Three Hundred Thousand Pounds a Year and by the vast number of Ships which by their Masts resemble a Forrest as they lye along the stream besides many that are sent forth every year to carry and fetch Commodities to and from all
removed to the Bridge-house and it 's recorded that all the Revenues belonging to to London-Bridge in King Henry VII time amounted to 8 15 l. 17 s. 2d a year by which we may partly guess at the Incomes of this Bridge and what vast increase is made of it by this time But this noble Bridge like other earthly things hath suffered many disasters since for some years after the finishing thereof that is 1212. on the 10th of July at Night the Burrough of Southwark and St. Mary Overies Church being on fire and a multitude of People passing the Bridge either to quench or gaze upon it on a sudden the North part of it by the blowing of the South wind was set on fire and when the People would have returned they were stopped by the Fire and as they stayed in a consternation the South end of the Bridge sell on fire so that the People thronging between two raging Fires expected present death whereupon there came many Boats and Vessels to save them into which the multitude rushed so unadvisedly that the boats being thereby sunk they were all drowned above Three thousand Persons being destroyed by the Fire and Water part of whose Bodies were found half burned besides those burnt to Ashes which could not be found In 1282. after a great Frost and deep Snow five Arches of London-Bridge were carried away In 1289. the Bridge was so much decayed that People were afraid to go over it but by a subsidy granted it was repaired In 1595. on St. George's Day there was a great Justing on London-Bridge between David Earl of Crawford of Scotland and the Lord Wells of England which shews that the Bridge was then only coaped in but not built with Houses as it is now The next year Novem. 30. the young Queen Isabel Wife to Richard II. commonly called the little Queen for she was but 8 years old was brought from Kenington over the Bridge to the Tower of London such a muâ—â—itude of People went upon the Bridge to see her that nine Persons were crouded to death among the rest the Pâ—â—or of Tiptree in Essex and an ancient Matron in Cornhill In 1633 there happened a great Fire on London Bridge but was again repaired In the dreadful Fire 1666 a great part of the North Buildings of the Bridge were burnt down but are wholly rebuilt with much Advantage To conclude this Bridge for admirable Workmanship vastness of Foundation and Dimensions and for stately Houses and rich Shops built thereon surpasseth all others in Europe it hath nineteen Arches founded in a deep River made of square Stone sixty Foot in height and Thirty in breadth distant 20 foot one from another joined together with Vaults and Cellars and built as some say upon Ozy soft ground being Eight hundred Foot in length and 30 foot broad and a Draw-bridge almost in the middle Besides this noble Bridge there are others belong to the City as three stately Bridges of Stone built since 1666 over Fleet Ditch and also Holborn Bridge the Ditch being enlarged cleansed and fenced of each side with Stone and Rails and Store-Houses for Coals on each side it is likewise freed from Houses for twenty Foot on each side and made exceeding handsome to the great charge of this City there were likewise some small Bridges over the Town Ditch but now it is arched over with Brick and doth no where appear being paved even with the Street CHAP. V. The Government of the City of London THE Civil Government of this City is not as it is in Rome Paris Madrid Vienna and other Cities by a chief Magistrate or some noble Man set over it as it was here in the time of the Romans when the chief Magistrate was called the Prefect of London or in the time of the Saxons when he was called the Portrieve Custos or Guardian and sometimes Provost of London but after the coming in of the Normans the cheif Magistrate was called Bailive from the French or Commissarie one that hath a Commission to govern and there were sometimes two Bailiffs of London till Rich. I. 1189. changed the name of Bailiff into Mayor which hath held ever since The Mayor is a Citizen chosen every year by the Citizens evcept when their Priviledges and Franchises have been taken from them as in the time of Henry III. Edward I. and King Charles II. The Mayor tho' always a Citizen or Tradesman hath been of such high repute that in writing and speaking to him the Title of Lord is prefixt as to Noble Men Bishops or Judges and of late to the Mayor of York or some of the highest Officers of the Realm he is likewise usually Knighted his Table and also the two Sheriffs is open to all that are of any Quality but so well furnished that it is always fit to receive the greatest Subject in England nay it is recorded that a Lord Mayor of London feasted four Kings at once at his Table His Officers are eight of them Esquires by their places that is the Sword-bearer the Common Hunt who keeps a Kennel of Hounds for the Lord Mayor's Recreation the Common Cryer and four Water-Bailiffs there is also the Coroner three Sergeants Carvers three Serjeants of the Chamber a Serjeant of the Channel four Yeomen of the Water-side one Under Bailiff two Yeomen of the Chamber three Meal Weighers two Yeomen of the Wood Wharfs most of which have their Servants allowed them and Liveries for themselves The State of the Lord Mayor appears when he goes abroad which is usually on Horseback with rich Caparisons himself always in long Robes either of Scarlet richly surred People or Puke with a Chain of Gold about his Neck many Officers walking before and on all sides of him but espâ—cially on the 29th of October when he goes 〈◊〉 Westminster in his Barge with the Aldermen attended by all his Officers and the Liverymen of the several Companies in their stately Barges with their Arms Colours and Streamers and having in the Exchequer Chamber before the Judges taken his Oath to be true to the King and Government he returns in like manner to Guild-hall that is the Great Hall of Guilds oâ— Incorporated Confraternities where is prepared a sumptuous Dinner the Kings Queens Noblemen and Persons of Honour have of late years been pleased to dine there with him with the Forreign Ambassadors and all the Judges This great Magistrate upon the Death of the King is said to be the Prime Person in England and therefore when King James was invited to come and take the Crown of England Robert Loe then Lord Mayor of London subscribed in the first place before the great Officers of the Crown and the Nobility he is usually chosen on Michaelmas day out of 26 Aldermen all Wealthy Men. His Authority reaches over all this great City part of the Suburbs and likewise to the River of Thames with power to punish all that annoy the Stream Banks or Fish only the safety
wear the English Crown But Harold being destinated to destruction would neither accept the counsels of his Friends nor the offers of his Enemies but referred the decision to Heaven saying That it should be tried the next day with more Swords than one Next day was the 14 of October which upon a credulous Errour he always held to be fortunate to him it being his Birth-day and therefore he greatly desired to engage in fight His Souldiers likewise dreaming of nothing but Spoil and Victory and that their heads should be crowned with Lawrel spent the preceding night in all manner of Jollity Banquetting Revelling and Noise whereas on the contrary the Normans wisely and seriously considering the great importance of the work they were to engage in applied themselves to their Prayers and Vows for the safety of their Army and its victorious sucâ—ess And in the morning as soon as it was light they were all in Battle Aray and ready prepared to fight Harold likewise with all expedition marshalled his Souldiers placing the Kentish men in the Van according to an ancient custom with their heavy Axes and Halberts the Londoners and the Middlesex men were in that Squadron which he himself and his Brother led The Normans advancing forward discharged a fierce Volley of Arrows like a Tempestuous Hail which was a kind of Weapon the English never understood and therefore thought their Enemies had been in the midst of them already Soon after the Battle began in earnest King Harold like an expert General had placed his men in so firm a Body that no force of the Normans could disorder their Ranks till Duke William used a stratagem commanding his men to sound a Retreat and counterfeit flight though he still kept them in good order The English supposing the Normans to have been fled and themselves Masters of the Field carelesly broke their ranks when suddenly the Normans came on again and fell upon them before they could put themselves in a posture of defence whereby multitudes of them were slain on every side not being able to make head again Yet did not the English leave the Field but resolved rather to maintain their honour in Arms and casting themselves into a Round they preferred dying for their Country rather than to forsake the Standard of their King and thereupon encouraging one another they made resistance for a long time but showers of Arrows like a mighty storm falling among them one of them most fatally and unhappily for the English Nation wounded King Harold into the Brains through the left Eye so that falling from his Horse he was slain under his own Standard and an Ambush of Horsemen cut many others to pieces Duke William fought so valiantly that he had this day three Horses slain under him and King Harold shewed no less courage in killing many Normans with his own hands The Mother of Harold named Thyra offered a great sum of mony for the Kings body which falling among such a multitude it being reckoned that there died about threescore thousand men that day it could by no means be found for it was despoiled of all its Royal Ornaments by the plundering Souldiers so that King Harold lying stript wounded bemangled and gored in his bloud could not be known from another man till a Lady named Editha was sent for who for her extraordinary beauty was called Swans Neck she having been very familiar with him before he was King knew some secret mark in his body by which she discovered him After which the Duke freely delivered it to his Mother and it was buried in Waltham Abby This Battle was fought October 14. 1066. a doleful day of destruction to the English when the Royal bloud of the Saxons perished who first divided this Land into seven Kingdoms and afterwards made of them one glorious Monarchy not inferiour to any in Europe and whose Kings for Valour and Magnanimity were ranked with the greatest in the World But the over-ruling providence of Heaven which sets up and pulls down at pleasure was pleased at this time for the sins of the English or some other cause unknown to us to put the Scepter into the hands of another Family and another Nation Morcar and Edwin Brethren to the unfortunate Queen escaped by night out of the Râ—â—le and came to London where consulting with the rest of the Lords they began to revive their hopes and posted Messengers from thence to raise new Forces And because the English were struck into a dreadful astonishment at the news of this great â—oss they to keep them from despair sent them Word That the chance of War was uncertain the number of the English yet many and there were Commanders enough left to try another Battle Alfred Archbishop of York being President of the Assembly very couragiously and prudently advised â—hat they should immediately proclaim and crown Edgar Atheling the true Heir for their King to which the Londoners and divers Sea Captains agreed But the Queens brethren and likewise the Earls of Yorkshire and Cheshire being themselves â—mbitious of the Crown though their Country was in such a deplorable condition hindered this wise and noble design In the twentieth Year of William the Conqueâ—our there happened so great a Fire in London â—hat from the West Gate to the East it consumed Houses and Churches all the way and among the â—est St. Pauls as much as was combustible was â—urnt to ashes and most of the principal Cities in England were much damaged by Fire Other great calamities likewise happened as Burning Fevers Murrains upon Cattle abundance of Rain and Water-flouds insomuch that the Hills seemed to â—e softned to the very foundation and with their â—all overwhelmed many Villages there was likewise such a dearth in London and England that â—en eat Horses Cats Dogs and mans flesh In 1077. upon Palm Sunday about Noon a blaâ—ing Star appeared nigh the Sun yea which is â—â—range tame Fowls such as Hens Geese Peaâ—cks and the like fled into Forests and Woods becaâ—â—â— wild There was likewise a great Forst which lasted from the middle of November to the midst of March There was also a greaâ— Wind on Christmas day accompanied with a terrible Earthquake This King William seized all the Lands between Barnee and London-stone which belonged to the Abby of St. Albans and also all the Treasure Chalices and Shrines of all the Abbies and Monasteries in England He likewise laid great Taxes upon the Land and caused an exact Survey to be taken of the whole Kingdom so that he knew the value of all the Rents and Profits of the Lands and likewise of all Cities Towns Villages Hamlets Monasteries and Religious Houses causing all the People in England to be numbred and their names taken with an account what every one could spend in the Year After which be exacted fix shillings upon every hide of Land which amounted to a vast sum of money The Book which contained this Actual Survey was called by the English
Doomsday-book and is kepâ— to this day in the Kings Exchequer at Westminster Yet he was kind to the Londoners suffering then to enjoy their Rights and Priviledges which the had in Edward the Confessors time by the procurement of William Bishop of London who waâ— buried in St. Pauls Church and this Epitaph pâ—â— upon his Grave-stone in Latine and English To William a man famous in wisdom and holiness of life who first with St. Edward the King and Confessor being familiar of late preferred to be Bishop of London and not long after for his prudence anâ— sincere fidelity admitted to be of Council with 〈◊〉 most victorious Prince William King of England of that name the first who obtained of the same greâ— and large Priviledges to this famous City The Senâ— and Citizens of London of him having well deserâ—ave made this He continued Bishop twenty Years â—nd died in the Year after Christs Nativity 1070. These Marble Monuments to thee Thy Citizens assign Rewards O Father far unfit To those deserts of thine Thee unto them a faithful Friend Thy London People found And to this Town of no small weight A stay both sure and sound Their Liberties restor'd to them By means of thee have been Their publick weal by means of thee Large Gifts have felt and found The Riches Stock and Beauty brave One hour hath them supprest Yet these thy Vertues and good deeds With us for ever rest The Lord Mayor of London and Aldermen upon the day of his coming into his Office used â—ll of late days to walk round the Grave-stone â—f this Bishop in remembrance of their former Priviledges obtained by him And there was â—n Inscription fastned to a Pillar near his Grave â—ntituled The Recital of a most worthy Prelates Reâ—embrance which was erected at the charge of Sir Edward Barkham Lord Mayor 1622. which speaks thus to the Walkers in S. Pauls Walkers whosoe're you be If it prove your chance to see Vpon a solemn Scarlet day The City Senate pass this way Their grateful memory to shew Which they the Reverend ashes owe Of Bishop Norman here inhum'd By which this City hath assum'd Large Priviledges those obtain'd By him when Conquerour William reign'd This being by Barkhams thank ful mind renew'd Call it The Monument of Gratitude King William brought with him from Roan in Normandy certain Jews whose posterity inhabiting in London and several other chief Cities they were accused that they used to steal Christian male children from their Neighbours which they would circumcise crown with thorns whip torture and crucifie in mockery despite and scorâ— of our Lord Jesus Christ William Rufus his Son appointed a Disputation to be held in London between the Christians and the Jews but before the day came the Jewâ— brought the King a present to the end they might be heard impartially The K. received their gift encouraging them to quit themselves like menâ— and swore by S. Lukes face his usual Oath Theâ— of they prevailed in Disputation he would himself turâ— Jew and be of their Religion A young Jew was as that time converted to the Christian Faith whose father being much troubled at it he presented thâ— King with threescore Marks intreating him tâ— perswade his son to return to his Judaisin where upon the King sent for his son and commandeâ— him without more ado to return to the Religioâ— of his Nation But the young man answered Hâ— wondred His Majesty would use such words for beinâ— a Christian he should rather perswade him to Christiâ—nity with which answer the King was so confourâ—ded that he commanded the young man out of hâ— presence But his father finding the King could do no good upon his son required his money aâ— gain Nay saith the King I have taken pains enough for it and yet that thou mayest see how kindly I will deal you shall have one half and you cannot in conscience deny me the other half and so dismist him And now we are Treating of the Jews it may not be amiss to add all at once what we read concerning them in this City In the year 1235. the 19 of H. 3. seven Jews were brought before the King at Westminster who had stolen a Boy and kept him private from the sight of any but their own Nation for a whole year and had circumcised him intending also to have crucified him at the solemnity of Easter as they themselves confest before the K. upon which they were convicted and their bodies and goods remained at the Kings pleasure In the 39 of this K. Nov. 22. 102 Jews were brought from Lincoln to Westminster and there accused for crucifying a child of 8 years old named Hugh These Jews were upon examination sent to the Tower of London the murther being discovered by the diligent search of the Mother of the child Upon which eighteen of them were hanged and the other remained long in Prison In the Reign of Henry 2. the number of the Jews throughout England was very great yet whereforever they dwelt they were commanded not to bury their dead any where but in London which being many times inconvenient to bring dead bodies from remote Places the K. gave them liberty to bury in the same place where they lived In 1189. at the Coronation of R. 1. Son of H. 2. at Westminster a great disaster befel the Jews for King Richard not favoring them as his Father had done had given a strict charge that no Jew should be spectator of the solemnity yet several Jews as though it had been the Crowning of King Herod would needs be pressing in and the Officers appointed refusing they should enter there arose a Quarrel which proceeded from words to blows whereby many Jews were hurt and some slain and thereupon a report was suddenly spread abroad that the King had commanded to have all the Jews destroyed upon which it is incredible what rifling there was in an instant of the Jews Houses and cutting their throats and though the King fignified by publick Declaration that he was highly displeased with what was done yet there was no quieting of the multitude till next day and many of the Mutineers were afterward punished by the Law In the Reign of King John 1202. Great sums of money were exacted and gathered from the Jews among whom there was one who would not pay the money charged upon him till the King caused one of his great Teeth to be pulled out every day for seven days together upon which he was at last compelled to give the King Ten Thousand Marks of silver that no more might be pulled out since he had but one left in his head K. Henry 3. being very profuse was brought so low for want of money that he was forced to borrow nay almost beg it of his Subjects but the Jews who were ever exposed to his will felt the weight of his necessities and one Abraham a Jew in London being found a Delinquent was constrained to redeem himself for
King John went with a full Resolution having now got a very great Army together to give present Battle to Lewis but as he was passing the Washes of Lincolnshire which are always dangerous all his Carriages Treasure and Provision were irrecoverably lost in the the Sands himself and his Army hardly escaping The kingdom was now made the Stage of all manner of Rapine and Cruelty having two Armies in it at once each of them seeking to prey upon the other and both of them upon the Country Which the Lords seriously reflecting upon and finding likewise their faithful Services to Lewis little regarded since he bestowed all places that were conquered upon French men onely they began to consider how they might free themselves from these Calamities But that which startled them most was that a Noble French man called Viscount de Melun whâ— was very much in esteem with Lewis being upon his death-bed in London desired to have somâ— private conference with those English Lords and Londoners to whom Lewis had committed the Custody of that City to whom he discovered That lamentable desolation and secret and unsuspected ruine and destruction hung over their heads since Lewis with sixteen others of his chief Earls and Lords of whom himself was one had taken an Oath that if ever the Crown of England were setled on his head they would condemn to perpetual banishment all such as now adhered to him against King John as being Traitors to their own Sovereign and that all their Kindred and Relations should be utterly rooted out of the Land This he affirmed to be true as he hoped for the salvation of his now departing soul and thereupon counselling them timely to prevent their approaching miseries and in the mean while to lock up his words under the Seal of Secresie he soon after departed this life These dreadful Tidings strangely amazed the Auditors and though many of the Lords doubted whether if they returned to their Allegiance toward King John he would ever accept of their Repentance since they had so highly provoked him Yet forty of them immediately sent submissive Letters to the King therein expressing their sorrow and hoping that true Royal Bloud would be ever ready to yield mercy to such as were ready to yield themselves prostrate to intreat for it But these solicitors for mercy came too late for King John through vexation of mind for the loss of his Carriages fell into a high Fever whereof within few days he died Though the manner of his death is otherwise reported by other Authors one of whom saith he was poisoned at Swinshead Abby by a Monk of that Covent upon the following account The King being told that Corn was very cheap said That it should be dearer ere long for he would make a penny loaf to be sold for a shilling At which Speech the Monk was so offended that he put the poison of a Toad into a Cup of Wine and brought it to the King telling him There was such a cup of Wine as he had never drank in all his life and therewithal drank first of it himself which made the King drink more boldly of it but finding himself very ill upon 〈◊〉 he asked for the Monk and when it was told him that he was fallen down dead Then saith the King God have mercy upon me I doubted as much Others say Poison was given him in a dish of Pears and add that this was judged such a meritorious act that the Monk had a Mass appointed to be said for his soul for ever after by his Fellow-Monks This King is charged with Irreligion by the Monks of those times who did not love him and therefore we know not how far they are to be believed And among other Speeches That having been a little before reconciled to the Pope and afterward receiving a great overthrow from the French he in great anger cried out That nothing had prospered with him since he was reconciled to God and the Pope And that at another time being a hunting â—e merrily said at the opening of a fat Buck See how this Deer hath prospered and how fat he is and yet I dare swear he never heard Mâ—ss He is likewise charged that being in some distress he sent Thomas Hardington and Ralph Fitz-Nichols Knights Ambassadors to Miramâ—malim King of Africa and Morocco with offer of his kingdom to him if he would assist him and that if he prevailed he himself would become a Turk and renounce the Christian Religion To this time the City of London had been governed by two Bailiffs but the King in his tenth Year taking displeasure against them for denying his Purveyors Wheat he imprisoned them till 35 of the chief Citizens repaired to him and acquainted him with what small store the City had and how the Commons were ready to make an Insurrection about it he was then satisfied and likewise at their suit he by a New Charter granted â—o the Citizens to elect a new Mayor and 2 Sheriffs to be chosen yearly nine days before Michaelmas which Order hath continued to this day though with some alteration as to time In this Kings time likewise five and thirty of the most substantial Citizens were chosen out and called the Common Council of the City In this Kings time there fell Hail as big as Goose eggs with great Thunder and Lightning so that many Men Women and Cattle were destroyed Houses overthrown and burned and Corn in the Fields beaten down In 1202. and the 4. of King John there began a Frost the 14. of January which continued to the 22. of March that the Ground could not be tilled so that in the Summer following a Quarter of Wheat was sold for a Mark which in the days of Henry the second was sold for twelve pence and a Quarter of Beans or Oats for a Groat and why the disproportion in the prices is now so great since the price of Silver is much less altered for an ounce of Silver was then valued at twenty pence which is now valued at five shillings must be left to Philosophers to give the reason for since scarcity makes things dear why should not plenty make them cheap About this time Fishes of strange shape were taken armed with Helmets and Shields like armed men onely they were much bigger A certain Monster was likewise found stricken with Lightning not far from London which had an head like an Ass a belly like a Man and all other parts far differing from any other Creature And in another place a Fish was taken alive in the form of a Man and was kept six Months upon Land with raw flesh and fish and then because they could not make it speak they cast it into the Sea again In the ninth of King John the Arches and Stone bridge over the Thames at London was quite finished by Serle Mercer and William Alman then Procurators and Masters of the Bridge-house and soon after a great Fire happened there of which
you have already an account After the death of King John his eldest Son Henry being not above ten years old succeeded him and was therefore very unfit to govern in such a distracted time when a great part of the kingdom had sworn Allegiance to Prince Lewis However upon October 8. 1216. he was crowned at Glocester by the name of Henry the Third where besides the usual Oath taken by all Kings he did Homage also to the Church of Rome and to Pope Innocent for the kingdoms of England and Ireland and promised the true payment of the Thousand Marks a year which his Father had granted to the Church of Rome And then William Marshal Earl of Pembroke was by general consent made Protector of the Realm during the Kings Minority In the mean time Lewis who thought himself sure of the kingdom by the death of King John now hearing of the solemn Crowning of the young King with such unanimous consent he begins to grow jealous of the English Lords who indeed had some conflicts in their minds whom they should obey they thought it great ingratitude to forsake Prince Lewis whom they themselves had invited to come and yet it seemed extream disloyalty to stand in opposition to Henry their innocent natural Soveraign but the discovery of Viscount Melun that Lewis intended to extirpate all the English Nobility and the curse of Wallo the Popes Legate against all who should join with Lewis with divers other reasons caused the principal of them to shrink from Lewis and join with King Henry as thinking no obligation so great as Allegiance many others staid with Lewis as thinking none greater than an Oath And now Prince Lewis fearing that his enemies having gotten an head should likewise gather a head and draw more Forces together staying himself in London sent his Lieutenant with an Army of Twenty thousand to take in what Towns he could get some of which they took with small resistance but William Earl of Pembroke the Protector coming against them with an Army utterly routed Lewis and took most of the Lords that adhered to him Prisoners and though his Father Philip sent him more Forces yet they were defeated at Sea so that Lewis upon payment of some monies and other conditions returned into France and King Henry took an Oath and for him the Popes Legate Wallo and the Protector That he would restore to the Barons of the Realm and other his Subjects all their Rights and Priviledges for which the discord began between the late King and his People And afterward he confirmed the two Charters of Magna Charta and Charta Forestae granted by his Father King John In the Tenth year of King Henries Reign and the nineteenth of his Age he claimed to take the Government upon himself and no longer to be under a Protector after which there presently appeared the difference between a Prince that is ruled by good counsel and one that will do all of his own will and take no Advice For thirteen years he was ruled by a Protector and then all passed as it were in a calm without noise or clamour but as soon as he took upon him the Government storms and tumults presently arose neither was there any quietness with the Subject nor himself nothing but Grievances all the long time of his Reign For as soon as he was crowned again he presently cancels and annuls the Charter of the Forests as granted in his Nonage and therefore not bound to observe it and then makes a new Seal forcing all that had Grants by the former to renew them whereby he got abundance of money After which he goes over into France to recover his Rights there to which purpose he raises great sums of money from the Londoners for Redemption of their Liberties About which time Constantine Fitz-Arnulf a Citizen of London upon a tumult which arose in the City at a Wrestling which he purposely appointed endeavoured to set up Lewis again and in the heat of the disturbance he traiterously cried out Mountjoy Mountjoy God for us and our Lord Lewis And though the Lord Mayor who was a very discreet person earnestly persuaded them to be quiet yet Constantine by his seditious Orations had made the people incapable of good counsel so that there was little hope of appeasing them The Lord Chief Justice having notice hereof presently raised Forces and entered the Tower of London and sent for the principal men of the City to come before him who all disclaimed their being concerned therein and charged Fitz Arnulph to be the chief Author thereof But he resolutely answered That he had not done so much therein as he ought Whereupon he was condemned to die together with the Crier who published the Proclamation and his Nephew and was accordingly executed though when he saw the Halter about his neck he offered Fifteen thousand Marks for the saving of his life This Execution being done without noise or the knowledge of the Londoners the Lord Chief Justice comes into the City and apprehending several who where guilty of this Tumult he causeth their hands and feet to be cut off for a terrour to the rest and then set them at liberty The King likewise deposed several of the Magistrates but afterwards finding that the baser sort of People onely were concerned in the Disorder he thereupon was reconciled to the City About this time an Execrable Impostor was brought before the Archbishop of Canterbury who observing how easily the People were deluded in those times of Darkness and Superstition he impudently caused himself to be wounded in his hands feet and sides that by the resemblance of these bloudy Impressions he might be acknowledged for their very Saviour who was thereupon deservedly immured up between four Walls and with him a wretched Woman who pretended to be Mary the Mother of this Christ and some say another who called her self Mary Magdalene this punishment being thought fittest for such Miscreants as Monsters too impious and unworthy to die by Humane hands though it is very remarkable that this man should have such a severe judgment at Oxford and yet St. Francis who was guilty of the same Imposture as to the wounds of Christ though not the name should soon after be canonized at Rome for the chief of Saints and perhaps if this Monster had been at Rome he had been likewise Sainted and if Saint Francis had been at Oxford he had been immured King Henry returning from France brought over many French men with him which he puts in places of Trust and Profit and removes and fines his old Officers The Lords could no longer endure so many indignities to see themselves slighted and Strangers advanced their Persons likewise exposed to danger and their Estates to ruine for which they could find no remedy but the Kings confirming their Charter of Liberties wherein it is strange to see upon what different grounds the King and the Lords went It seems the King thought that to
Charity is in the sighâ— of God Several poor people plucked the ears of Corn while they were green in the common Fields meerly to keep themselves from starving at which the Owners being much offended desired the Priest of the Parish to curse and excommunicate them all the next Sunday but one in the Company adjured the Priest in the Name of God to exempt his Corn from the Sentence saying That it pleased him well that the Poor being pinched with Famine had taken his Corn and so commended what was left to the blessing of God The Priest being compelled by the importunity of the others had no sooner begun the Sentence but a sudden Tempest of Thunder Lightning Wind Hail and Rain interrupted him whereby all the Corn-fields thereabout were laid waste and destroyed as if they had been trodden under foot with Cart and Horses yea no kind of Fowl nor Beast would feed upon it But this honest tender-hearted man found all his Corn and Ground though mingled among theirs altogether untouched and without the least harm Awhile after the K calls another Parl. at London in order to the raising of more mony having tried before to borrow of the Londoners and found them to incline to the Lords To this Parliament the Lords come armed for their own defence and make Richard the Kings Brother Spokesman wherein they aggravate his breach of promise since neither were Strangers removed from about him but taken more into favour than before Nor was the former money disposed of according to appointment but the King made bold to make use of it at his own pleasure the Earl of Provence the Young Queens Father and Simon Montford a new Favourite and a French man born now made Earl of Leicester having a good share of the money collected they acquaint him also with all the rest of the disorders of the kingdom The King was so moved at this their Remonstrance that taking his Oath to refer the matter to divers grave men of the kingdom Articles were drawn sealed and publickly set up to the view of all And soon after the Earl of March solicites the King to make another journey into France whereupon he calls a Parliament at London and demands Aid which was not onely opposed but an account required of all the Taxations hitherto given with an absolute denial of any more Upon which the King comes to the Parliament in Person earnestly and indeed humbly craving their Aid for this once But all prevailed not for they had made a Vow to the contrary and the King is driven to get what he can of particular men of whom partly by Gift and partly by Loan he gets so much that he carries over with him thirty Barrels of Sterling money This Expedition had no better success than the former for after a whole years stay the King was forced to make a dishonourable Truce with the French and upon his return home he laid new Exactions on the Jews and the Londoners In the next Parliament at Westminster enquiry was made how much money the Pope had yearly out of England and it was found to be annually threescore thousand Marks which was more than the Revenue of the Crown which the King ordered an account to be taken of and sent it to the Council at Lyons This so vexed the Pope that he said It is time to make an end with the Emperour with whom he was then at variance that we may crush these petty Kings for the Dragon once appeased or destroyed these lesser Snakes will soon be trodden down Upon which it was absolutely ordained that the Pope should have no more money out of England But the King being of an irresolute and wavering nature and afraid of Threats soon gave over and the Pope continued his former Rapine The King had now abundance of Grandees come to see him from Foreign parts and having called a Parliament at London he is sharply taxed for his Expences and severely reprehended for his breach of promise having vowed and declared in his Charter never more to injure the State again also for his violent taking up Provisions of Wax Silk Robes and especially of Wine contrary to the will of the Seller and many other Grievances they complain of All which the King hears patiently in hope of obtaining Supplies which yet they would not give and thereupon the Parliament is prorogued till Midsummer following and the King growing more furious than before it was then dissolved in discontent But the Parliament not supplying him he is advised to supply his wants with sale of his Plate and Jewels of the Crown being told That though they were sold yet they would revert again to him And having with great loss received money for them he asked who had bought them Answer is made The City of London That City said he is an inexhaustible Gulph if Octavius Treasure were to besold they would surely buy it In his two and fortieth year another Parliament is held which by some was called Insanum Parliamentum the Mad Parliament because at this Parliament the Lords came with great Retinues of armed men and many things were enacted contrary to the Kings Prerogative And now to vex the City the King commands a Fair to be kept at Westminster forbidding under great penalties all exercise of Merchandize within London for fifteen days But this Novelty came to nothing for the inconvenience of the place as it was then and the foulness of the Weather brought more damage to the Traders than benefit At Christmas likewise he demands New-years-gifts of the Londoners and shortly after writes unto them his Letters imperiously commanding them to aid him with money and thereby gets twenty thousand pound of them for which the next year he craves pardon of them But notwithstanding his continual taking up of all Provisions for his house without money yet he lessens his House-keeping in no honourable manner Now seeing he could get nothing of the States assembled in Parliament he sends or writes to every Nobleman in particular declaring his Poverty and how he was bound by Charter in a debt of thirty thousand pound to those of Burdeaux and Gascoign who otherwise would not have suffered him to come back to England But failing of any relief from the Temporal Lords he addresseth his Letters to the Bishops of whom he finds as little relief yet by much importunity and his own presence he got an hundred pound of the Abbot of Ramsey but the Abbot of Burrough had the confidence to deny him though the King told him It was more charity to give money to him than to a Beggar that went from door to door The Abbot of St. Albans was yet more kind and gave him threescore Marks to such lowness did did the profuseness of this indigent King bring him But now the Lords assemble again at London and press him with his promise that the Lord Chief Justice Châ—ncellor and Treasurer should be appointed by the General Council of
people went over the Thames and played thereon from London Bridge to Westminster On the third of January it begun to thaw and on the fifth no Ice was to be seen In the twentieth year of her Reign a Blazing Star was seen with a long stream About this time one Simon Pembroke of Southwark being suspected to be a Conjurer was ordered to appear in St. Mary Overies Church which he did and leaning his head against a Pew the Proctor lifted up his head and found him dead and ratling in the throat and being searched several Devilish Books of Conjuration were found about him In her thirty fifth year there was so great a drougth that not only the Fields but the Springs themselves were dried up and many Cattle died every where for want of water The River of Thames likewise failed so that a Horse-man might ride over at London Bridge In her thirty sixth year was a great Plague in London and the Suburbs whereof died 17890. besides the Lord Mayor and three Aldermen About this time Edmund Coppinger and Henry Arthington Gentlemen came into Cheapside and there in a Cart proclaimed as they said News from Heaven that one William Hacket represented Christ by partaking of his glorified Body and that they were the two Prophets one of Mercy the other of Judgment sent of God to help him in this great work These men were apprehended and Hacket was arraigned and found guilty of speaking divers false and traiterous words against the Queen and to have raced and defaced her Pictures thrusting an iron Instrument into the place of the heart and brest for which he was brought from Newgate to Cheapside and being moved to ask God and their Queen forgiveness he fell to cursing and railing against the Queen and made a blasphemous Prayer against the divine Majesty of God and was therefore hanged and quartered Coppinger starved himself wilfully in Bridewel and Arthington made a Recantation In the forty third year of her Reign Robert Devereux Earl of Essex assisted by divers Noblemen and Gentlemen entered the City of London in Warlike manner at Temple Bar crying For the Queen till they came to the Sheriffs House in Fanchurch-street who finding himself not Master of his own house escaped out at a Back-door and went to the Lord Mayor And Essex finding the Citizens in Arms against him endeavoured to fortifie his own House but hearing that some great Guns were sent for to beat it down he surrendred himself and was sent to the Tower where he was afterward beheaded but might have kept his head longer on had he not been betrayed by the Lady Walsingham to whom after his condemnation he sent a Ring which the Queen had given him in token that she would stand by him in any danger the Lady delivered not this Ring but being a little after upon her Death-bed she desired to speak with the Queen to whom having disburthened her conscience the Queen flung away in extream rage and fury and never enjoyed her self well after that time but would often break out into a passion and wring her hands crying O Essex Essex and died not long after After her death King James succeeded in the third year of whose Reign was contrived the Powder Treason Plot for which Sir Edward Digby Robert Winter Graunt and Bates were drawn hanged and quartered at the West end of St. Pauls and Winter Keys Rookwood and Fawks at the Parliament Yard at Westminster A while after the King attended with divers Lords dined with the Lord Mayor Sir John Watts who after dinner presented his Majesty with a Purse of Gold desiring he would please to be made Free of the Company of Clothworkers to which the King consented and calling to the Master of the Company he said Stone Give me thy hand I am now a Clothworker and in token of my special favour to this Fraternity I do here give to this Company a Brace of Bueks yearly for ever at the Election of Master and Wardens And a Moneth after the King and the Prince dined at Merchant Taylors Hall where the Prince was made Free of that Company and had likewise a Purse of Gold presented him by the Master In 1609. the New Exchange being newly finished was first opened and named by King James Brittains Burse In 1612. Edward Wightman was burnt for an Heretick and one Legat burnt in Smithfield for an Arian In 1615. Sir Thomas Overbury was poisoned in the Tower for which the the Earl of Somerset and his Lady were arraigned and condemned and Sir Gervase Elvis Lieutenant of the Tower Mistris Turner and divers others executed In 1618. the famous Sir Walter Rawleigh was beheaded in the New Pallace Yard Westminster Next year Queen Anne died at Hampton Court In 1623. a Popish Priest being at Mass in Black Fryars in an Upper Room it fell down and many were killed and hurt In 1625. King James died having reigned 22. years King Charles his Son succeeded him and was married to Henrietta Maria of France In his first year was a great Plague whereof there died in London 35417. In 1628. Doctor Lamb was murdered in the streets of London for which the City was fined six thousand pound the same year John Felton was hanged at Tyburn for murdering the Duke of Buckingham In 1633. the King and Queen were magnificently entertained at Guild-hall In 1640 the Long Parliament began and in 1642. Posts and Chains were ordered to be set up in the City But having already given a particular account of all Passages in this Kings Reign and till the Restoration of his present Majesty King Charles the second in a little Book called The Wars of England Scotland and Ireland I shall omit repeating any thing here but shall onely add That in the year 1659. General Monk marching from Scotland came to London and after having pulled down the Gates and Portcullises of the City by Order of the Remnant of the Long Parliament he afterwards grew dissatisfied at their proceedings and going into the City was received with Bonfires and soon after that Parliament was dissolved and his Majesty happily restored May 29. 1660. In October following several of the Regicides of the late King were executed at Charing Cross that is Harrison Carew Cook Scot Hugh Peters Clement Scroop Jones and Hacket and Axtel at Tyburn In January one Venner a Wine Cooper and some others of Enthusiastick Principles made an Insurrection in London their Leader persuading them that one should chase a thousand They first marched to St. Thomas Apostles and from thence to Bishopsgate Whitecross-street and from thence they went to Highgate and Canewood And three days after they came again into the City being not above thirty or forty in number but armed with Blunderbusses and Headpieces and the Trained-bands and some of the Kings Guards fell upon them and routed them about five or six of them were killed others fled and the rest were taken Prisoners Their Word it is said was THE