and cleanse the said noble River Westward of seventy nine stops or hatches consisting of sundry great stakes and piles purposely erected by Fishermen for their private lucre and standing illfavouredly for passengers near unto the Fair deep but none of them remain now but such as stand out of the passable high stream and can be no prejudice to passers by yet some are permitted to be planted at the waters bottome and so they serve as a great succour to the young brood of fish being placed so remote on the River Nor is this provident care for security of passengers and conservation of the young fry or fish a new thing for it appears that the like course was kept in the Reign of Henry the fourth and after in Henry the eighth as Records and Chronicles do shew Moreover there is a watchful eye that no carren or dead carkasses be thrown into the River to pollute or infect the stream To all these intents and purposes the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen his Brethren with the under Officers do use to meet eight times yearly in the four Counties of Middlesex Surrey Kent and Essex and have a judicial sitting for maintenance of the Rivers Rights and Priviledges where they have power to empanel Juries to make Inquisition after all offences committed upon the River within their extent And as the Verdict given up by the Jury make it appear so they proceed to the punishment of the transgressors according to the quality of the offence and it is worthy the observation to know the manner of their so solemn proceedings whereof this instance shall be produced extracted out of authentick Records Sir Iohn Iolles Knight and Lord Mayor of the City of London and Conservator of the River of Thames and waters of Medway assisted and accompanyed by the Aldermen and two Sheriffs then contemporary and attended by the Recorder and the Sub-conservator or Water-bayly with fifty Officers and servants took their Barges at Belmsgate the third of Iuly 1616 and within few hours arriv'd at Gravesend in Kent where a Session for the conservancy of the said River was kept before the said Lord Mayor and his forenamed Assistants At which time and place a Jury of the Freeholders of the said County being sworn to enquire of all offences committed in any part of the River whatsoever within the said County the Common Sergeant of the City the Recorder being then absent upon extraordinary occasions deliver'd them a charge to this effect That forasmuch as there had not been any Session of Conservancy in many years passed kept by any Lord Mayor of London in that place it was probable and evident they could not be well informed neither of the Lord Mayors jurisdiction and power to reform annoyances and offences there and to inflict due punishments upon the Offendors nor of the nature of the service to be by them performed in the course of their enquiry therefore he thought it convenient to make it known unto them both the one and the other Hereupon he shew'd them The Jurisdiction of the Court of London in the River of Thames from Stanes-bridge Westward unto the points of the River next the Sea Eastward appear'd to belong to the City in manner and form following First In point of right by Praescription as it appeareth by an ancient Book call'd Dunthorne that Civitatis fundationis aedificationis constructionis causa erat Thamesis Fluvius quorum vero Civitatis Fluminis gubernationem tam Duces Majores Custodes Vicecomites Aldr. magnates Civitatis memoratae hucusque obtinuerunt habuerunt Whence he inferr'd that the government of the River hath belong'd to the City time out of mind In 21. Hen. 3. Iorden Coventry one of the Sheriffs of the City was sent by the Mayor and Aldermen to remove certain Kiddles that annoy'd the Rivers of Thames and Medway who ultra Yenland versus Mare did take divers persons that were Offendors and imprison'd them Whereupon complaint being made to the King he took the matter ill at the first and sent for the Lord Mayor and Citizens to Kennington where upon hearing of the matter before the said King the Cityes Jurisdiction over the said River was set forth and allow'd and the Complainants convinc'd and every one of them amerc'd at 10 l. and the amercements adjudged to the City And afterward their Nets were burnt by judgement given by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen in the Hustings Moreover 1. Richardi secundi Writs were directed to the Sheriffs of Essex and Kent reciting the Cities Title with command not to suffer the Citizens of London to be molested contrary to the Liberties formerly granted and allowed unto them Secondly in point of right by allowance in Eire the conservation of the Thames belongs to the City for it was produc'd that 1. Rich. ◠before Hugh Bigot being Justice Itinerant the Sheriffs and Citizens of London were call'd in question for their Jurisdiction exercised on the Thames before whom it was found by a Jury in Southwark Quod nullus habeat aliquid juris in Thamisia usque ad novum gurgitem nisi Cives Londonens In the 14. of Ed. 2. the Constable of the Tower was indited by divers Wards of London before the Justices in Eire at the Tower De muneris et recep cove pro kidellis in Thamisiis et Constabularius ad Kidellas respondet quód Iustic non habent jurisdictionem extra London plitum inde cognoscere cum predict kidelli sunt in aliis comitatibus et Justic. dixerunt Aqua Thamisiae pertinet ad Civitatem London usque mart si velit respondeat who then pleaded Not guilty 3. He went further that this Jurisdiction belonged to the City by ancient Charters 8. R. 1. Dominus Ricardus Rex filius Regis Henrici secundi concessit firmiter praecepit ut omnes Kidelli qui sunt in Thamisia amoveantur ubicunque fuerint in Thamisia 1. Ioh. Rex concessit firmiter praecepit ut omnes kidelli qui sunt in Thamisia vel in Medway amoveantur ne caeteri kidelli alicubi ponantur in Thamisia vel in Medway super sort X. li. sterlingorum Then he urg'd the famous Charter of King Henry the third which ran thus Henry by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine and Earl of Anjou unto all Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Earls Barons Justices Sheriffs Stewards Ministers and to all Bayliffs and to all his true Men Greeting Woreth well that We for the health of our soul and the health of the soul of King John our Fader and the souls of all our Ancestors and also for common profit of our City of London and of all our Realms have granted and steadfastly commanded That all the Weares that be in Thames or in Medway be done away And that from henceforth no Weares be set in Thames or Medway upon the forfeiture of 10. l. Also we claim quit to our Citizens of London
the field one of the fairest rising street in the World From Newgate on the left hand lyeth the Old Bayley and so down by Sea-cole and Fleet-lane we passe then over the common Sewer up to Shooe-lane and so to Fewter-lane now vulgarly called Fetter-lane but betwixt these two Lanes there is another new street butted out by the Company of Goldsmiths called Newstreet where there is a knot of very handsome Buildings Above the Barres there was a House of the Templers but they removed thence to Fleetstreet There was also adjoyning thereunto the Bishop of Lincolns House which was very ancient for the Records say 't was built Anno 1147. But of late years it hath belonged to the Noble Earls of Southhampton And lately it hath bin quite taken down and turned to several private Tenements as Durham House is in the Strand Insomuch that if one should ask what God Almighty doth now in London he might as the pulse of the 〈◊〉 beats give the same answer that was given by the Pagan Philosopher who being demanded what Iupiter did in Heaven he said Magnas ollas rumpâ—t ex frustis earum parvas componit Jupiter breaks great Vessels and makes small ones of their peeces Side long of this ancient House of the Bishop of Lincoln is Newstreet for so it was called at first but now 't is called Chancery-lane where Edward the third annexed the House of converted Jews to the Office of Custos Rotulorum Here the Cursitors Office was built by Sir Nicholas Bacon Lord Keeper of the great Seal Here also is the six Clarks Office which is a fair convenient peece of stone and Brick Building newly erected the old being consumed by a casual fire of late years The Bishop of Chicester Ralph Nevil had much ground given him thereabouts by Henry the third which now is become all Tenements thick built and quite alienated Then is Lincolns Inne very much encreased in building it appertained sometimes to the said Ralph Nevil Bishop of Chicester Lord Chancellor of England having bin before the House of the Black-Fryers and after the decease of the said Bishop Nevil Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln Constable of Chester and Custos of England added much building to this place and Sir Thomas Lovel did also add much thereunto in Henry the eighth's time but now it is one of the foure Inns of Court for the Students in the Law Behind Lincolns Inne Westward is a spacious field where many fair Houses or rather Palaces are taken up by the Gentry Then is there towards Drewry Lane a new Market called Clare Market then is there a street and Palace of the same name built by the Earl of Clare who lives there in a princely manner having a House a street and a Market both for flesh and fish all bearing his name There was something omitted which should have bin spoken of the Church of St. Giles of the Field which is that being a very ancient Church and so decayed that it could not be repaired a new one was erected partly out of the ruines of the old which work was begun and finished in two years and a while after the fair Brick Wall that encompasseth it There were divers well disposed persons who contributed to so pious a work but specially the Lady Alice Duddeley according to that which is engraven upon the North door in pure and ponderous Latine which I thought therefore worthy to be here inserted Quod faelix faustumque sit posteris Hoc Templum loco Veteris ex Annosa vetustate Collapsi mole et splendore auctum multa Paraecorum Charitas Restauravit In quibus pientissimae Heroinae Dom. Aliciae Duddeley Munificentia gratum marmoris hujus meretur eloquium Huc etiam accessit aliorum pletas Quibus provisae sunt grates In Coelo Heus viator an effaetum est bonâ—s Operibus Hoc Saeculum From the North end of Chancery Lane is High Holborn which extends up to St. Giles in the Field where the famous devout Queen Matilda did found an Hospital as she did Eastward St. Katherines beyond the Tower At this Hospital the Prisoners conveyed from London to Tyborn were used to be presented with a Bowl of Ale for their last refreshment in this life and it was commonly called St. Giles's Bowl Then is there a spacious fair street called Long Acre and then Pickadilly full of fair Houses round about Thus have we as succinctly as we could avoiding superfluities and unnecessary trivial things spoken of the Skirts of London and the places thereunto annexed without the Gates and now Navigeâ— hinc alâ—â— jam mihi linter aqua I mean let us steer now to the City of VVestminster Of the Savoy the Dutchy and City of Westminster with the Antiquities the Tribunals of Iustice and Liberties thereunto belonging HAving taken so fair a Prospect and finished the perlustration of London It were a high Incivility and a soloecism in good manners or rather a Piacle not to give VVestminster also a visit being so near and contiguous a Neighborr It is true that they were once above a mile asunder but by insenâ—â—bâ—e coalition and recruit of people they came at last to be united and incorporated into one continued peece in point of posture though not of Government And the Union with Scotland did not a little conduce to make this Union â—twixt London and VVestminster For the Scots multiplying here mightily neasâ—ed themseâ—ves about the Court so that the Strand from mud Walls and thatched Houses came to that perfection of Buildings as now we see Moreover the City of VVestminster hath divers Magnalia's which may deserve as exact a view as any within London for if London of old had her Temple of Diana VVestmâ—nster had one to a greater Deity which was Apollo And since in those very places is St. Paul hath his Church in London St. Peter the Prince of the Apostles hath his in VVestminster which was used to keep the Regalia's and the Crown Add hereunto that if London hath her Guild-hall and the Hustings VVestminster hath the great Praetorian or common Hall where the chief Courts and general Tribunals of Justice do make their Sessions though to her high prayâ—e be it spoken London hath a far more expedite way of doing Justice and determination of cauâ—es then Westminster hath besides in point of safety and strength if London hath her Artillery Garden Westminster hath her Military And in point of Extent and Government if London hath her six and twenty Wards and so many Aldermen Westminster also hath her Twelve Burgesses and so many distinct Wards but for the quality of Inhabitants London muâ—t vayl to her most of the Nobility and Gentry residing in or about her Precincts Moreover in one particular Westminster may claim a great advantage of London in regard as the Royal Court once was so the residence of the Soveraign Magistrate is still there Insomuch that Westminster may well glory of three things That she hath the chiefest
to the roof of Timber well and surely covered with Lead But after an hundred and threescore years King Henry the third subverted this Fabrick of King Edwards and built from the very foundation a new Church of very rare Workmanship supported with sundry rowes of Marble Pillars and the roofe covered over with sheets of Lead a piece of work that cost fifty years labour in building which Church the Abbots enlarged very much toward the West end and King Henry the seventh for the burial of himself and his Children adjoyned thereto in the East end a Chappel of admirable artificial elegancy The Wonder of the Worlde as Leland calleth it for a man would say that all the curious and exquisite work that can be devised is there compacted wherein is to be seen his own most stately magnificial Monument all of solid and massâ—e Copper This Church when the Monks were driven thence from time to time was altered to and fro with sundry changes First of all it had a Dean and Prebâ—ndaries soon after one Bishop and no more namely T. Thurlbey who having wasted the Church Patrimony surrendred it to the spoil of Courtiers and shortly after were the Monks with their Abbot â—et in possession again by Queen Mary and when they also within a while after were by authority of Parliament cast out Queen Elizabeth converted it into a Collegiate Church or rather into a Seminary and Nurse-Garden of the Church appointing twelve Prebendaries there and as many old Souldiers past service for Alms-men fourty Schollars who in their due time are preferred to the Universities and from thence sent forth into the Church and Common-weale c. Over these they placed D. Bâ—ll Dean whose Successor was Gabriel Goodman a right good man indeed and of singular integrity and an especial Patron of Literature Within this Church are intombed that I may note them according to their dignity and time wherein they died Sebert the first of that name and first Christian King of the East-Saxons Harold the bastard Son of Canutus the Dane King of England Edward King and Confessour with his Wife Edâ—th Maud Wife to King Henry the first the Daughter of Malcolme King of Scots King Henry the third and his Son King Edward the first with Eleanor his Wife Daughter to Ferdinando the first King of Castile and of Leon King Edward the third and Philippa of Henault his Wife King Richard the second and his Wife Anne Sister to VVencelaus the Emperour King Henry the fifth with Katherine his Wife Daughter to Charles the sixth King of France Anne Wife to King Richard the third Daughter to Richard Nevil Earl of VVarwick King Henry the seaventh with his Wife Elizabeth Daughter to Kiâ—g Edward the fourth and his Mother Margaret Countesse of Richmond King Edward the sixth Anne of Cleave the fourth Wife of King Henry the eighth Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth Prince Henry eldest Son of King Iames the sixth of Scotland and first of England who lies there also interred with Queen Anne his Wife and lastly the first male born of Charles the first dying an Infant Of Dukes and Earls Degree there lie here buried Edmund Earl of Lancaster second Son of King Henry the third and his Wife Aveline de Fortibus Countesse of Albemarle William and Audomar of Valence of the Family of Lusignian Earls of Pembrooke Alphonsus Iohn and other Children of King Edward the first Iohn of Eltham Earl of Cornwall Son to King Edward the second Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Glocester the youngest Son of King Edward the third with other of his Children Eleanor Daughter and Heir of Humphrey Bohun Earl of Hereford and of Essex Wife to Thomas of VVoodstock the young Daughter of Edward the fourth and King Henry the seventh Henry a Child two Months old Son oâ— King Henry the eighth Sophia the Daughter of King Iames who died as it were in the very first day-dawning of her age Phillâ—ppa Mohun Dutches of Yorke Robert of Hexault in right of his Wife Lord Bourchier Anne the young Daughter and Heir of Iohn Mowbray Duke of Norfolk promised in marriage unto Richard Duke of York younger Son to K. Edward the 4th Sir Giles Daubeny Lord Chamberlain to King Henry the 7th and his Wife of the house of the Arundels in Cornwal I. Viscount VVells Farnces Brandon Dutchess of Suffolk Marry her Daughter Margaret Douglasse Countesse of Lennox Grandmother to Iames King of great Britain with Charles her Sonne VVinifred Bruges Marchionesse of Vâ—inchestèr Anne Stanhope Dutchess of Sommerset and Iane her Daughter Anne Cecill Countesse of Oxford Daughter to the Lord Burleigh Lord High Treasure of England with Mildred Burghley her Mother Elizabeth Berkeley Countesse of Ormond â—Frances Sidney Countess of Sussex Iames Butler Vicount Thurles Son and Heir to the Earl of Ormond Besides these Humphrey Lord Bourchier of Cromwall Sir Humphrey Bourchier Son and Heir to the Lord Bourchier of Beruers both slain at Bernet field Sir Nicholas Carew Baronesse Powisse T. Lord Wentworth Thomas Lord Wharton John Lord Russel Sir T. Bromley Lord Chancellour of England Douglas Howard Daughter and Heir general of H. Vicount Howard of Bindon Wife to Sir Arthur Gorges Elizabeth Daughter and Heir of Edward Earl of Rutland Wife to William Cecill Sir John Puckering Lord Keeper of the great Seal of England Francis Howard Countesse of Hertford Henry and George Cary the Father and Son Barons of Hundsdon both Lords Chamberlains to Queen Elizabeth the Heart of Anne Sophia the tender Daughter of Christopher Harley Count Beaumont Embassador for the King of France in England bestowed within a small gilt Urne over a Pyramid Sir Charles Blunt Earl of Devonshire Lord Livetenant General of Ireland And whom in no wise we must forget the Prince of English Poets Geoffrey Chaucer as also he that for pregnant wit and an excellent gift in Poetry of all English Poets came nearest unto him Edmund Spencer William Cambden Clarencieux King of Arms Causabon the greaâ— French Writer Michael Drayton Then there is George Villers Duke Marquiss and Earl of Buckingham favorite to King James and Charles the first The late Earl of Essex with divers other during the Reign of the long Parliament There was also another Colledge or Free-Chappel hard by consisting of a Dean and twelve Chanons Dedicated to St. Stephen which King Edward the third in his princely Magnificence repaired with curious Workmanship and endowed with fair possessions so as he may seem to have built it new the time as he had with his Victories over-run and subdued all France recalling to mind as we read the Charter of the Foundation and pondering in a due weighty devout consideration the exceeding benefits of Christ whereby of his own sweet mercy and pitty he preventeth us in all occasions delivering us although without desert from sundry pâ—ills and defending us gloriously with his powerful right Hand against the violent assaults of our adversaries with victorious successes and in other
this kind of special Commission of Oier and Terminer and herewith agreeth Pl. Com. in the Earl of Leic ' Case Anno 1 Mar. Reginae And so supream is the Jurisdiction of this Court that if any Record be removed into this Court it cannot being as it were in his Center be remanded back unlesse it be by Act of Parliament And this appeareth by the Judgment of the Parliament in Anno 6. H. 8. but by the authority of that Act Indictments of Fellonies and Murders removed into the Kings Bench may by the Justices of that Court be remanded and this Court may send down aswell the Bodies of all Felons and Murderers as their Indictments into the Counties where the same Murders of Felonies were committed or done c. in such manner c. as if the Indictments had not been brought into the Kings Bench. Out of this Court are other Courts derived as from one Fountain several Springs and Rivers in repect of the multiplicity of Causes which have encreased Jurisdictio istius curiae est originalis seu ordinaria non delegata The Justices of this Court have no Commission Letters Patents or other means to hold Pleas c. but their power is original ordinary They were called ancienlty Iusticiae Justiciarii locum tenentes Domini Regis c. The chief Justice Justicia Angliae Justicia prima Iusticiarius Angliae Capitalis and Iusticiarius noster Capitalis adplacita coram nobis terminand ' To observe the Changes of these names and the reason and Changes thereof is worthy of observation Before the Reign of E. 1. the Chief Justice of this Court was created by Letters Patents and the form thereof taking one example for all was in these words Rex c. Archiepiscopis Episcopis Abbatibus Prioribus Comitibus Baronibus Vicecomitibus Forestariis c. omnibus aliis fidelibus regni Angliae salutem Cum pro conservatione nostra tranquillâ—tatis regni nostri ad justiciam universis singâ—lis de rengo nostro exhibendam constituerimus dilectum et fidelem nostrum Philippum Basset Iusticiarium Angliae quamdiu nobis placuerit capit alem vobis mandamus in fide qua nobis tenemini firmiter insungentes quatenus in omnibus quae ad officium Justitiarii praedicti nec non ad conservationem pacis nostrae et regni nosâ—ri eidem dum in officio praedicto steterit pleniùs sitis intendentes Teste Rege c. The King c. to all Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Earls Barons Vicounts Foresters c. and to all other faithful to the Kingdom of England greeting Whereas for our conservation and the tranquillity of our Kingdom c. for the exhibition of justice to all and every one of our Kingdom We haâ—e constituted our beloved and faithful Philip Basset chief Justice of England as long as we shall please We command you upon the faith you hold unto us and firmly enjoyn you to all things that belong unto the office of Chief Justice aforesaid for the conservation of our Peace and of our Kingdom and that you be very intentive as long as you stand in the said Office Witnesse the King c. This Philip Basset was the last of this kind of creation by any like Letters Patents and he died Chief Justice near to the end of the Reign of H. 3. King E. 1. being a wise and prudent Prince knowing that Cui plus licet quam par est plus vult quà m licet as most of these Summi Iusticiarii did made three alterations 1. By limitation of his authority 2. By changing Summus Iusticiarius to Capitalis Iustic 3. By a new kind of creation viz. By Writ lest if he had continued his former manner of creation he might have had a desire of his former Authority which three do expresly appear by the Writ yet in use c. Rex c. E. C. Militi salutem Sciatis quod constituimus vos Justiciarium nostrum capitalem ad placita coram nobis tenenda durante beneplacito nostro Teste c. The King c. to E. C. greeting Know ye that we have constituted you our Capital or Chief Justice in Pleas held before us during our pleasure Witnesse c. A short Writ but of large extent in point of Authority The rest of the Judges of the Kings Bench have their Offices by Letters Patents in these words Rex omnibus ad quos praesentes literae pervenerint salutem Sciatis quod constituimus dilectum et fidelem Johannem Doderidge Militem unum Justiciariorum ad placita coram nobis tenenda durante beneplacito nostro Teste c. These Justices of the Kings Bench are styled 1. Capitales 2. Generales 3. Perpetui 4. Majores à latere Regis residentes But the Chief Justice is only by the King Capitalis Justiciarius noster They are called first Capitales in respect of their supream Jurisdiction 2. Generales in respect of their general jurisdiction throughout all England c. 3. Perpetui for that they ought not to be removed without just cause 4. Majores à latere Regis residentes for their honor and safety that they should be protected by the King in administration of justice for that they be à latere Regis that is by the Kings fide And vvhereas 5. E. 4. it was holden by all the Justices in the Exchequer Chamber that a man cannot be Justice by Writ but by Patent or Commission it is to be understood of all the Judges saving the Chief Justice of this Court But both the Chief Justice and the rest of the Judges may be discharged by Writ under the Great Seal None can be a Judge of this Court unlesse he be a Serjeant of the degree of the Coif and yet in the Writ or Patent to them made they are not named Sergeants There have been for a long time and still there are great Complaints for multiplicity of Suits in Law and it were a wholsome and happy thing could it be prevented but because a Disease cannot be cured without knowledge of the Cause it is to be observed that there be six Causes of the increase of them whereof two be general the other four particular The general be Peace and Plenty The particular 1. The dissolution of so many Monasteries Chanâ—eries c. and the dispersing of them into so many several hands 2. The swarm of Informers 3. The number of Concealors 4. The multitude of Atturneys For the first general In the Reign of E. 3. R. 2. H. 4. H. 5. and part of the Reign of H. 6. in respect of the wars in France c. in the residue of the Reign of H. 6. in the Reign of E. 4. in respect of the bloody intestine Wars in almost continual Alarms within the bowls of this Kingdom between the Houses of Lancaster York there could not be so many Suits in Law as since this Kingdom hath enjoyed Peace which is
that it may seem sufficient to receive any multitudes of people whatsoever Because therefore Bishop Maurice carried a mind beyond all measure in this project he transmitted the cost and charge of so laborious a piece of work unto those that came after In the end when B. Richard his Successor had made over all the Revenues belonging unto the Bâ—shoprick to the building of this Cathedrall Church sustaining himself and his family otherwise in the mean while he seemed in a manner to have done just nothing notwithstanding that he spent his whole substance thereabout and yet small effects came thereof The West part as also the Cross Isle are very spacious high built and goodly to be seen by reason of such huge Columns and are marvellously beautified with an arch'd rooâ— of stone Where these four parts crosse one another meet in one there ariseth up a mighty large lofty Tower upon which stood a spire Steeple cover'd with lead mounting up to a wonderful altitude for it was no less than five hundred and five and thirty foot high from the ground which in the year 1087 was set on fire by lightning and burnt with a great part of the City but being rebuilt was afterwards fi'rd again with lightening about an hundred and fifty years ago and was not perfectly repair'd ever since The measure and proportion of this stately structure shall be here set down out of an old authentick Writer who saith that Saint Pauls Church containeth in length 690 foot the breadth thereof is 130 foot the height of the West arch'd roof from the ground carrieth 102 foot and the new fabrique from the ground is 88 foot high c. The ground belonging to this great Temple in nature of a Coemitery or Church yard was of vast expansion for it reach'd North as far as St. Nicholas market place West almost as far as Ludgate and South near to Baynards Castle Now as they say that Rome was not built in a day no more was this great and glorious Sanctuary but a long tract of time and some Ages pass'd before it came to be entirely compleated and made a perfect Crosse which is the exact shape of it Nor did there want many advantages according to the Genius of those times to advance the work for persons of good rank besides pecuniary Contributions did labour themselves therein in their own persons thinking to do God Almighty good service to have a hand in rearing up his Temple Besides It was an ordinary thing for the ghostly Father to lay penances upon some penitentiaries as Masons Carpenters Bricklayers Playsterers and others to work so many daies gratis in the building before they could get an absolution Insomuch that it may be said that as Pauls Church was partly â—ailt by the sinnes of the people so it is now destroyed by the sins of the people That there stood in old time a Fane or Pagan Temple to Diana in this place as before was hinted some have more than only conjectur'd for there are Arguments to make this conjecture good Certain old houses adjoyning are in the ancient Records of the Church call'd Diana's Chamber and in the Church-yard while Edward the first raign'd an incredible number of Ox-heads were found as we find in our Annals which the common sort at that time wondred at as the sacrifices of the Gentiles and the learned know that Taurapolia were celebrated to the honour of Diana But ever since this Temple was erected it hath been the See of the Bishops of London and the first Bishop it had under the English some hundred years after Theon the Brâ—tâ—sh Bishop was Melitus a Roman consecrated by Austin Archbishop of Canterbury in honour of which Austin though flat against the Decree of Pope Gregory the great the Ensigns of the Archbishoprick and the Metropolitan See were translated from London to Canterbury Within this grand Cathedral there lieth Saint Erkenwald as also Sebba King of the East Saxons who gave over his Kingdom to serve Christ King Etheldred who was an oppresser rather than a Ruler of this Kingdom cruel in the beginning wretched in the middle and shameful in his end so outragious he was in connivency to parricides so infamous in his flight and effeminacy and so disastrrous in his death Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Sir Simon de Burlie a right noble Knight of the Garter executed by encroch'd authority without the Kings assent Sir Iohn de Beauchamp Lord VVarden of the Cinque-ports Iohn Lord Latimer Sir Iohn Mason Knight William Harbert Earl of Pembrook Sir Nicholas Bacon Lord Keeper of the great Seal of England a man of a deep reach and exquisite judgement Sir Philip Sidâ—ey Sir Francis Walsingham two famous Knights Sir Christopher Hatton Lord Chancellor of England and a great many Worthies more lodge there until the Resurrection Besides this Church there is not any other work of the English Saxons extant in London for why they continued not long in perfect peace considering that the VVest Saxons subdued the East Saxons and London began to be tributary to the Mercians Scarcely were these civil Wars hush'd when a new tempest brake out of the North I mean the Danes who pitiously tore in pieces this whole Countrey and shook this City very sore for the Danes brought her under subjection but Alfred recover'd her out of their hands and after he had repair'd her he gave her unto Ethelred Earl of the Mercians who had married his daughter yet those wastful depopulators did what they could afterwards to win her by siege but Canutus who specially by digging a new Channel attempted to turn away the Thames from her though the labour was lost the Citizens did still manfully repel the force of the enemy yet were they alarm'd and terrified ever and anon by them until they lovingly receiv'd and admitted as their King VVilliam Duke of Normandy whom God design'd to be born for the good of England against those so many spoilers presently whereupon the winds were layed the clouds dispell'd and golden daies shone upon her since which time she never sustain'd any signal calamity but through the special favour and indulgence of Heaven and bounty of Princes obtain'd very large and great immunities for she began to be call'd the Kings Chamber and so flourished anew with fresh Trade and concourse of Marchants that William of Malmsbury who liv'd nere those times term'd it A noble and wealthy City replenish'd with rich Citizens and frequented with the Commerce of Occupiers and Factors coming from all parts Fitz-Stephen living also in those daies hath left in writing that London at that time counted 122 Parish Churches and thirteen Convents or Monasteries of Religious Orders Moreover he relates that when a Muster was made of able men to bear Arms they brought into the field under divers Colours 40000 Foot and 20000 Horsemen London about this time began to display hâ—r wings and spread her train very wide
so to Windlestore or Winsore Eton and then to Chertsey where Erkenwald Bishop of London did erect a Religious house or Cell From Chertsey she directs her course to Stanes and receiving another stream by the way call'd the Cole whereupon Colebrook stands she goes by Kingstone Richmond Sheene Sion Brentford or Bregentford where she meets with the Brane or the Brenâ— another 〈◊〉 descending from Edgworth From Brentford she visits Morlach 〈…〉 Cheisoy Lambeth Westminster and so to London Having accompanied our gentle and smooth-gliding Riâ—â—r now to London she now makes great haste to meet with Neptune her lovely husband the first water she greets is the Brome on Kent side West of Greenwich whose spring is Bromis in Bromley Parish and so goeth thence to Lewshant taking 〈◊〉 from the East The next water she meets withal is on Essex side almost against Woolwich and that is the Lee And being pass'd that the Darwent also dischargeth her self into the Thames on Kent side two miles and more beneath Erith having its rising at Tunbridge or Tanridge The next River that disgorgeth her self into the Thames is West of the Wam Isles a rill of no great note or long course for rising about Coringham it rune not many miles East and by South till it falls into the mouth of this River Last of all the Thames takes acquaintance and mingleth with Medway a conâ—derable River watering all the South parts of Kent This noble navigable River flows and fills all her Channels twice ev'ry natural day by the flux and reflux of the Sea which holdeth on for the space of 70 miles within the main Land the stream or tyde being highest at London when the Moon doth exactly touch the Norh-east and South or West points or the Heavens whereof one is visible the other underneath us These rydes do also differ in their times each one coming later than the other by so many mâ—nutes as passe yet the revolution and natural course of the Heavens do reduce and bring about the said Planet to these her former places whereby the common difference 'twixt one tyde and another is sound to consist of 24 minutes which wanteth but twelve of a whole hour in 24 as experience doth confirm In like manner we daily find that each tyde is not of equal heighth and fulness For at the 〈◊〉 and the Change of the Moon we have the highest â—â—ouds and such is their extraordinary course that as they diminish from their Changes and Fulls unto their first and last Quarters so afterwards they encrease again until they come to the Fall and Change sometimes they rise also â—o high eâ—pecially if the wind be at the North or North-east which brings in the water with more vehemency because the tyde which fills the Channel cometh Northward that the Thames often inounds the bankes about London which happeneth most frequently in Ianuary and February which makes the grounds afterwards more fertiâ—e Neither do the tydes after a whit unlesse some impetuous winds from the West or South-west do keep back and check the stream as the East and North-East do hasten the coming in thereof or else some other extraordinary occasion put by the course of the German Seas which do fill the River by their nâ—tural 〈◊〉 and flowings And the probabiest reason why three or four tydes do chop in in one day is because the winds blowing more strong than ordinarily North or North-east make the Sea to rush in with more speed and abundance or water The Land streams or white waters do oftentimes thicken the finenesse of the River in so much that after a Land floud 't is usual to take up Haddocks with ones hâ—nd beneath the Bridge as they float aloft on the water their eyes being so blinded with the thicknesse of the water that they cannot see whither they swimme and how to make shift for themselves before the poor creaâ—â—re be surpriz'd otherwise the Thames water useth to be as clear and 〈◊〉 as any such great River in the world Having gone along so fat with this great goodly River even from her source until she diâ—â—mboques and payes Tribute to Nepume and cast her self into his imbraces It will be now expedient to go on further and acquaint the Reader with the jurisdiction and Prerogatives of the Thâ—mes with the extent thereof Which begins at a place call'd Colnie ditch a little above Stâ—nes-bridge Weâ—â—ward as far as London-bridge and â—rom thence to a place call'd Yendil 〈…〉 and the waters or Medmay all which extent is under the jurisdiction and conservancy of the Lord Mayor the Comminalty and Citizens of London True it is that there have been some Contests betwixt the Lord Mayor and the Lord high Admiral of England concerning the said Jurisdiction and power but after a fair and judicial Tryal in open Court the controversie was decided in favour of the City and the Lord Mayor adjudged to be Conservator of the Thames There were also some other controversial points about the Rivers of Thames and Medway but all differences were absolutely concluded Anno 1613 Sir Iohn Swinerton being then Lord Mayor and Mr. Sparry being then his Deputy or respective Bayliff for the execution of such a great trust repos'd in him Ever since is well as in former times the Lord Mayor of London hath been styl'd the Conservator of the said River within the forenamed limits and bounds having plenary power to inflict punishments upon all transgressors relating to the said Rivers the Water-Bayly of London being his substitute And whereas there are a company of Fishermen call'd Tinckermen frequenting the River of Thames Eastward who in times pass'd have been reported and found out to make an infinit destruction of the young brood or fry of fish by using unlawful Nets and other Engines feeding their Hoggs with them by the singular care and cost of the Lord Mayor and vigilance of the City those prohibited Engines and Nets are now quite suppress'd and a true and orderly manner of fishing brought into use that such a havock may not be made of the young fry Moreover there are a great number of other kind of Fishermen beside Tinckermen belonging to the Thames call'd Hebbermen Petermen and Trawlermen that had lived in former times by unlawful fishing on the said River to the destruction of the young fish as aforesaid but now they are restrain'd and regulated to a more orderly way of fishing There have bin other kind of abuses reformed herein as upon complaint made to the Lord Mayor concerning certain Timbers standing in Tilbury Hope a matter not only dangerous to the Passengers but a cause also to destroy the young brood of fish by the dammage those Timbers did to the Fishermens Nets in regard of their continual standing in the main course and curâ—ent of the River that great grievance was speedily redressed by the providence and prudence of the Lord Mayor and the Water-Bayly Furthermore there hath been care taken to clear
all that that our Constable of our Tower of London was wont to take of the said Weares Wherefore we will and steadfastly command that no Constable of the aforesaid Tower at any time from henceforth forward any thing ask nor any grievance do to any of the same City by enchesen of the same Weares It is to us known enough and by true men do us to understand that most privacy and most profit might fall into the same City and to the whole Realm by enchesen of the same weares which we make for ever firm and stable unto the same City as the Charter of our Lord King John our Fader which our Barons of London thereof have reasonably witnessed Witnesses Eustace of London Peter of Winchester c. At Westminster the 18. of February the year of our Reign eleven Besides these he produced divers others in this Kings Raign 4. This Jurisdiction belongs to the City of London by Acts of Parliament W. 2. ca. 47. An. 13. No Salmons to be taken from the Nativity of our Lady unto St. Martins day in all points Nor none to be taken in Mill-pools from the midst of April until Midsummer 1. Offence burning of Nets and Engines 2. Offence imprisonment for a quarter of a yeer 3. A whole year 13. R. 2. confirms the restraint of taking Salmons in many waters from the midst of April until Midsommer upon the same pain nor within that time to use any Nets call'd Stalkers nor any other Engine whereby the fry may be destroyed 1â— Eliz None shall with any manner of Net Wee le Butcaining Kepper limecreele rawfagnet trolnet trimnet scalboat weblister sturlamet or with any other device or Engine made of cheare woolbine or Canvas or shall by any heeling Nets or Trimbleboat or any other device Engines Cautâ—lles wayes or meanes soever heretofore made or devised or hereafter to be made or devised take or kill any young brood spawn or fry of Eeles Salmon Pike or Pickrel or of any other Fish or Flud-gate Pipe or tail of any Mill Weare or in any streights streams brooks Rivers salt or fresh 2. None shall take or kill any Salmon and Trouts not being in season being Kepper Salmons or Kepper Trouts or Shedder Salmons or Shedder Trouts c. The Mayor of London inter alia shall have full power and Authority by this Act to enquire of all offences committed contrary thereunto by the Othes of 12 men or more and to hear and determine all and every the same and inflict punishments and impose fines accordingly 5. Then he proceeds to assert the Cities Right to the conservation of the Thames and waters of Medway by way of Inquisition whereof there were two the one taken at Raynam in Essex the other at Gravesend in Kent 9. Hen. 5. before William Grocer then Lord Mayor of London where it was presented That whereas by the ancient Ordinances of London the Mesches of Nets should be two Inches in the forepart and one inch in the hinder part and it being found that the offences according to the said Inquisitions are contra libertates consuetudines Civitatis it was adjudged that the Nets should be burnt according to the ancient custom in that behalf provided 6. He goes on after to prove that this Right belongs to the City by Decrees In 8. Hen. 4. The Mayor and Aldermen did exhibit their humble Petition to the Kings Councel reciting That time out of minde they have had the conservation and correction of the River of Thames of all trinks nets and other Engines whatsoever in the River of Thames and Medway placed and have used to make a sub-Conservator under them and complaining that Alexander Bonner then sub-Conservator having discharg'd his duty in removing Kiddels he was ill entreated by the owners the same owners dwelling in Erith Putriferry Barking Woolwich and other places in the Counties of Kent and Essex and upon hearing of the matter in Camera stellata they were sound guilty and constrained to submit themselves to the Lord Mayor and ordered to bring alwayes their Nets unto him before they should use them And that the Kiddles then taken should be at the disposition of the Lord Mayor so the Offendors made their submission accordingly 7. He proceeds This right appertains to the City of London by Letters Patents which he proved by a grant made by Edward the 4th to the Earl of Pembroke for setting up a Weare in the River of Thames which grant was revok'd and annul'd at the instance of the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen upon shewing their right therefore alledg'd It was contrary to their ancient Customs At which time the Cities Title to the conservacy of the Thames and Medway was at large set forth and recited to have bin shewn to the Lord Chancellour and to the said Earl and his Councel which accordingly was allowed 8. He reinforceth the right of the City by Proclamations whereof one was made by Hen. 8. in 34. of his Raign wherein it is affirmed that the Lord Mayor and his Predecessors have had by divers grants of the Kings of England and by Acts of Parliament enjoyed alwayes the conservacy of the Thames without impediments or interruption By which Proclamation it was commanded that none should resist deny or impugne the Lord Mayor or his Deputy in doing or executing any thing that might conduce to the conservacy of the River and of the fish and fry within the same 9. He produceth Report for in a controversie 'twixt the Lord Admiral and the Lord Mayor for the measuring of Coles and other things upon the Thames it then fell into debate to whom the Conservacy of the River appertain'd which cause was referred by Queen Elizabeths Councel of State 1597. to the Atturney General and Solicitor who joyntly certified among other things that the Conservacy and care of the River did and ought to belong to the City of London 10. By quo Warranto 't was proved that the Conservacy of the Thames belongs to the City for 3. Jacobâ— a quo warranto was brought against the City in the Exchequer to know by what Title she claimed the Conservacy of the River of Thames the waters of Medway whereupon the City made her Title good thereunto by ancient prescription and otherwise so judgement was given in her favour 11. He goes on afterwards to confirm the right of the City by proof of usage in regard the Lord Mayor and Aldermen have time out of minde made Ordinances concerning the good Government of the River of Thames as well for the seasons and manner of fishing beneath London Bridge Eastward upon pain of penalties as it appears from time to time from the Raign of Hen. 3. and so downward the Lord Mayor hath removed Kiddels Weares Trinks and other unlawful Engines and hath reformed the disorders of such as have offended besides in the River of Thames and inflicted punishment upon Offendors accordingly The right of the City appeares also by the
Anno 1289 the Bridge was â—o sore decayed for want of reparations that people were afraiâ— to pass thereon and a subsidy was granted towards the amendment thereof Afterwards Sir Iohn Britain being then Custos of London Anno 1381 a great Collection was made by all the Clergy for the repair of London-Bridge In the year 1381 on St. Georges day was a great solemnity of Justs and Tournements upon London-Bridge between David Earl of Crawford of Scotland and the Lord Wells of England whereby one may infer that the houses were not there so thick at that time The Tower on London-bridge at the North end of the Draw-bridge which was then in a posture to be drawn up was built Anno 1426 in the Majoralty of Iohn Rainwell Anno 1471 a house call'd the Common siege on London-Bridge tumbled down into the Thames by death of diyers persons a little after But in the year sixteen hundred thirty three there happen'd a most raging dismal fire upon the North side of London-bridge which by computation consum'd above the third part of the Buildings thereof But by the commendable care of the City there are other goodly structures rais'd up in some of their rooms of a stronger and more stately way of building and pity it is that the work were not compleated there being no object after the Church of St. Pauls that can conduce more to the glory and Ornament of this renowned City Besides this Bridge that may be call'd the Bridge of the world there are other inferior Bridges which have still the names of Bridges that belong to the City of London the first is Fleet-bridge in the West fenc'd with iron Pikes on which towards the South there be certain Lanthorns of Stones for lights to be placed in Winter Evenings for commodity of passengers Under this Bridge runs a water sometimes call'd the River Wells but since Turn-hill brook and now Fleet Dike because it runs by the Fleet under ground to the River of Thames this Bridge hath been far greater in times pass'd but lessened as the water course hath been narrowed Over the sayd River of Wells northerly stands Oldenbridge now Holborn-bridge so call'd of a boorn that sometimes ran down Holborn hill into the River this Bridge like Fleet-bridge-serves for passage only Then comes Cow-bridge more Northerly over the same water near unto Cow-lane but this Bridge being decayed another of Timber is made more North towards Chicklane There are some other small Bridges over the Town-ditch viz. without Eald-gate without Bishopsgatâ— Mooregate the Postern of Cripplegate as also without Aldersgate the Postern of Christs Hospital Newgate and Ludgate which are now paved eaven with the streets only there remains one of Timber over the River of Wels or Fleet Dike There have 〈◊〉 informer ages divers Bridges in sundry places over the course of Wallbrook but 〈◊〉 they are made levell with the paâ—ements of the Streets so that the water-course can now be hardly discover'd being vaulted over with Brick Of the chief Fortresse or Tower of LONDON ANd now that we are come so near the famous and great Tower Palatine or Citâ—adel of London we will try whether we can get in thither without paying fees and take a view thereof as briefly as we can it being an ill-favoured and tedious thing to stay there long I know it is the current vulgar opinion that Julius Caesar the first Conquerour or rather indeed Discoverer of Britain was the Original Founder thereof but there is â—ery litle probability of truth in that for two Reasons The first is the little stay he made here during which he had other things to think on The second is that he himself who is so exact in his relations specially if they conduce to his honour nor any other Roman Author makes any mention of of such a work or Fabrique Therefore that opinion which approacheth truth the neerest is that William of Normandy the Conqueror was the first tracer and erector of the Tower of London as Edmond de Hadenham an old English Antiquary affirms The first part that was built was the great square and White Tower though black to some which was about the year 1078 whereof Gundulph Bishop of Rochester was principal Superviser and Surveyer who was log'd then in the house of Edmere a Burgesse of London as it stands upon Latine Record in the forenamed Author Now it is to be considered that at first the wall of the City was in many places furnish'd with sundry Bastions and Turrets in due distance one from the other and divers stood on the waters side where some of the said Wall extended at first but the Thames with her ebbings and flowings did as it were corrode and subverâ— those Buildings on the South side Wherefore the Conqueror for then the Art of fortification was come to a greater perfection for defence of the City and River pitch'd upon that place as most convenient to erect a Buâ—wark in the East part of the Wall The White square Tower as was formerly said was first erected and finished in the Conquerors time but stood naked and single without other Buildings a good while and the story â—aith that in William Rufus time it was by the injury of the Heavens and violence of tempest sore shaken and some part tumbled down which was repair'd by the said Rufus and Henry the first who also caused a Castle to be built under the said White Tower on the South side towards the Thames and he surrounded that also with a strong Wall Now Henry of Huntindon relates that VVill. Rufus challeng'd the inveâ—â—iture of Prelates and pill'd the people pitifully to spend the treasure about the Tower of London and the great Hall at VVestminster whereof he was Founder The first Keeper of the Tower of London was call'd Constable Ostowerus Acolinillus Otho and Geoffrey Magnaville were the first four Constables of the Tower of London by succession all which held a portion of Land that appertain'd to the Priory of the Holy Trinity near Algate viz. East Smithfield as belonging to that Office making thereof a Vineyard and would would not part with it till the second year of King Stephen when by judgment of the Court it was restored to the Church The foresaid Geoffery Magnaville was at one time Constable of the Tower Sherif of London Middlesex Essex Hartfordshire as the Chronicles relate He also fortified the Tower of London against King Stephen but the King took him at last at St. Albanes and would not free him till he had surrendred the Tower of London with the Castles of VValden and Plashey in Essex Richard de Lucie was Anno 1155 Constable of the Tower of London and also of Casâ—le the of VVinsore About the beginning of the Raign of Richard the first William Longshank Bishop of Ely and Chancellour of England for some dissentions 'twixt him and John the Kings Brother who was in Rebellion enclos'd the Tower of London with an outward
away at last their own Legions whereupon the Iland being thus grown weak much depopulated and to a long deâ—uetude of Arms the Saxons who are now the English yet keep still their first denomination of Saxons both in the British and Irish Tongues to this day came over with a considerable strength and having in a Parly on Salsbury Plains musiered most of the British Nobility by a stratagem and taken Vortiger the King Prisoner He for his ransom was forc'd to give not only London but most part of the Iland to the Saxons And the chief Magistrate of London they call'd Portreve which is a Gardian or Governour of a Port and that name is yet used in England in some places The Saxons then changed their names into Englishmen yet they continued Pagans a long time after but at last the Britains converted them to Christianity and then the City of London flourished exceedingly for many Ages till there came over a swarm of Danes who proved more fatal to London then any other Nation for by fire and sword they had almost utterly destroyed Her had not the Londoners at last rowz'd up their spirits who making vertue of necessity did fall upon King Swein the insulting Enemy with such a resolution that by a mighty slaughter and extraordinary prowesse they utterly repel'd him The City having recovered her former lustre though 't was a good while first she continued under the English Government and the Magistracy of a Portreve till the Norman rush'd in yet the Title was not alter'd a good while after when at last he came to be call'd Bayliffe and sometimes Provost Richard the first for supporting the Croy sada and his Warres in the Holy Land got great Contributions of monies from the Londoners in lieu whereof he gave them leave to choose two Bayliffs annually King Iohn after him chang'd their Bayliffs into a Maior and two Sheriffs To these Henry the third adds some Aldermen who though yeerly Elegible at first grew afterwards Perpetual Now this Word Alderman is consonant to Senator being both derived from old Age and Gravity The first Alderman we read of in England was in the time of King Edgar about 800 years agoe whose name was Ailwine and was descended of the blood Royal as appeares by his Epitaph in that goodly Monastery in the I le of Ely whereof he was founder himself which Epitaph runs thus Hic requiescit Dom. Ailwinus inclyti Regis Edgari Cognatus totius Angliae Aldermannus hujus Sacri coenobii miraculosus Fundator Here resteth the Lord Ailwine Cousin to Noble King Edgar Alderman of all England which some interpret chief Justice miraculous Founder of this holy Abbey Hence it may be infer'd that the appellation of Alderman is not only venerable but ancient honourable And from this Lord Ailwine it seemes the first Maior of London descended who was Henry Fitz-Alwin Anno 1191. who continued many years in the Office lies buried in St. Mary Bothaw near London-stone and the next Maior to him was Roger Fitz-Alwin after whom he Office grew annual The City being thus in tract of time come to a fixed and setled Government she began to flourish exceedingly And as she increased in Men Manufactures and Merchandizing so the Kings did enlarge their royal favours unto Her Anno 1226. Henry the third confirmed unto the Citizens of London free Warren or liberty to hunt about the City and in the Warren of Stanes Moreover that the Citizens of London should passe Toll-free throughout all England and that the Keddles and Weres in the Rivers of Thames and Medway should be plucked up and destroyed for ever because Navigation to London might be more free Roger Renger was Maior when these Patents were granted A few years after the liberties and franchises of London were ratified by the same King who granted that either Sheriff should have two Clarks and two Sargeants and that the Citizens should have a Common Seal A little after the same King granted that the Maior Elect should be presented to the Barons of the Exchequer and they should admit him Moreover he gave way that the City should be fortified with Posâ—s and Iron Chains drawn athwart over the streets Anno 1326. Edward the third much increased the Immunities of the City and the Authority of the Maior for he granted that the Maior should be Iustice for the Gaol delivery at Newgate and have power to reprieve Prisoners That the Citizens of London should not be constrained to go out of the City of London to any Warre He granted also that the liberties and franchises of the City should not after that time be taken into the Kings hands as it had bin often before when a Custos was put in Moreover He granted by Letters Patents that there should be no other Eschetor in the City but the Maior Anno 1338. He granted that the Sargeants attending the Maior and the Sheriffs should bear Maces silver and gilt with the Royal Arms engraven Anno 1356. The same King ordained that whereas the Aldermen were used to be chang'd yeerly they should not be removed without special cause for the future Then for the higher honour and Authority of the Office the Sword was added with the Cap of Maintenance Thus in proceâ—s of time the Government of London grew to be more and more established Anno 1415. Sir Henry Barton being Maior ordained Lanthorns and Lights to be hang'd out on the Winter Evenings betwixt Alhollontide and Candlemas Sir Iohn Norman being Maior was the first who went upon the River to Westminster having made a stately Barge to that purpose Anno 1453. And the rest of the Companies followed that laudable Example with their Barges also Anno 1473. Sir Iohn Tate being Maior the Sheriffs of London were appointed each of them to have sixteen Serjeants and every Serjeant to have his Yeoman Moreover they were to have six Clerks a Secondary a Clark of the Papers with fower other Clarks besides the Under Sheriffs Clark Anno 1484. It happened that there was successively one after the other three Mayors and three Sheriffs of London in the compasse of one year by reason of the sweating sickness which rag'd so extreamly Anno 1501. Sir John Sha being Maior added some state to the Office for it was ordered that the Aldermen his Brethren should attend him on Horseback from Guild-hall to the Rivers side when he took Barge for Westminster Besides he was the first who kept Court in his own House for redressing of such matters that came before him Sir William Capel being Maior of London caus'd Cages to be set up in every Ward for the punishments of Vagabends and Rogues Anno 1556. Sir Thomas Ossley being Mayor the Night Bel-man was first ordained Queen Elizabeth did much favour the City of London and for the better Government thereof gave way for a Provost Marshal to be appointed Thus have we observed that the Governours in chief of the City of
London have had from time to time differing appellations Under the Britains they were call'd Kings The Romans stiled them Praefects The Saxons Portreves The Norman Kings at their first comming Bayliffs and sometimes Provosts Then came the Office to be established in the Title of Maior which hath continued any time these 467. years though it was interrupted sometimes by a Custos which some of the Kings as Henry the third and Edward the first upon a displeasure against the City were used to appoint This great Urban Magistrate the Maior of London useth to be chosen upon the feast of St. Michael the Archangel every year out of the six and twenty Aldermen who are his Brethren but he takes not his place until the 28. of October next following Touching the State and Authority of the Lord Maior of London there is no Oppidan Magistrate in Christendom all things well considered lives in a greater Let us examine the particulars and first go to his domestical attendance and the Officers thereunto belonging which are 1. A Sword-bearer 2. Common Hunt 3. Common Cryer And 4. Water Bayliffs all Esquires by their places Then is there the Coroner of London three Sergeant Carvers 3. Sargeants of the Chamber Sargeant of the Channel 4 Yeomen of the Water side The Under Water-Bayliffe two Yeomen of the Chamber three Meal-weighets two Yeomen of the Wood-Wharfs and most of these have their Servants allowed them but the common Huntsman and Water-Bayliffe have two a peece some of them have Liveries from the Lord Maior and the rest from the Chamber of London There be divers other great publick Officers belong to the Government of the City of London as the two Sherifâ—s which like the Lord Maior are but annual The Recorder the Chamberlain the Common Sergeant the Town-Clark or common Clark the Remembrancer all Esquires The Sheriffs are chosen upon Midsummer day they formerly were used to be elected out of the Commonalty and sometimes they came to be Aldermen as many Aldermen were made Maiors though not having bin Sheriffs But of latter years the Sheriffs have bin Aldermen before or presently after their Election And 't is remarkable that Nicolas Faringdon was 4 times Maior of London and yet never Sheriff Now touching the Election of these Officers we shall give a brief account the prime Magistrate the Lord Maior and the Aldermen met at Guild-hall at 8. in the morning in their Scarlet Gowns and their Cloaks fur'd riding on Horseback and having bin a while in the Councel Chamber they come forth into the Orphans Court whence they go in their Cloaks to the Chappel to hear Service and Sermon where the Lord Maior with some of the Aldermen take the Communion which being ended and Offrings delivered they return to the Councel Chamber and thence to the Hustings the highest Court where the Recorder makes a Speech touching the business in hand then they go back to the Lord Maiors Court where they remain the doors shut until the Election be brought unto them Then the common Sargeant having the Sheriffs on either side and the Sheriffs other Officers about them makes another Speech touching the Custom of the City in this kind whereupon they choose two whose names are brought up to the Lord Maior and the Aldermen who by scrutiny elect one of those two whom the Commons had nominated before Then the Lord Maior returns to the Hustings and he who is chosen goeth upon his left hand and sitteth next him Then the Recorder speaks again to the Commons nominating the person whom the Lord Maior and the Aldermen had admitted and demands whether it be their free choyce the commons affirming it the Sword-bearer goes to the Lord Maior Elect and taketh off his Tipper which he takes for his fee and puts on his Chain whereupon he making a short Speech of gratitude the Lord Maior and the new Elect go to the Eldest Sheriffs House to dinner After dinner the Lord Elect taking the Common Hunt and other Officers to attend him besides a Company of Aldermen goeth to the Lord Keeper of the great Seal of England where five or six Aldermen present him wearing their Violet Gowns The morrow after Michaelmas day the Lord Maior and the Aldermen go with the two new Sheriffs to the Exchequer-chamber in Westminster where they are presented and sworn and the old Sheriffs are sworn also to their account On Simon and Iudes day the Aldermen and Sheriffs attend the old Lord Maior at his House whence they come in their formalities to the Hustings where being sate the common Cryer commands silence then the Town-Clark exhibites an Oath to the Lord Maior Elect which being done the former Lord Maior giveth place to the New which being done the Chamberlain delivers him the Scepter next the Keyes of the Common Seal and lastly the Seal of the Majoralty Then the Sword-bearer delivers him the Sword On the morrow after all the Aldermen and Sheriffs solemnly meet at the new Lord Maiors House by 8. in the morning whence they go to the Guild-Hall and thence to the Vine-Tree where they take Barge and are rowed in state to Westminster-Hall the rest of the chief Companies attending in their several Barges with their Arms Colours and Streamers in a very gay manner Being come to the Hall they go round about and salute all the Tribunals of justice then they ascend to the Exchequer Chamber to the Barons where after the Recorder hath made a Speech the Oath is administer'd Then they come down to the Hall and go first to the Kings Bench then to the Common Pleas and so to Westminster Abbey where having walk'd about the Kings Tombs they return to their Barge and so to London again where being landed they go to the Guild-hall where a most plentifull dinner is prepared which lasts many hours being called the Lord Mayors feast The Lords of the privy Councel the Judges with other Lords and Ladies of the best quality are thither invited After dinner the Lord Mayor with all the Companies attending ride solemnly to Saint Pauls to do their devotions and so the Ceremony of that great day is concluded Touching the Election of the Sheriffs the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen meet at 8 in the morning at Guild-hall in their violet-colour'd Gowns and their Cloaks of Scarlet lin'd but without horses where from the Counsel-Chamber they go to the Orphans Court so to the Hustings where the Recorder having made a speech touching the present meeting the Mayor Aldermen go to the Mayors Court the dores shut upon them then the Commons fall to the Election of Sheriffs as also a Chamberlain two Bridg-masters the Auditors of the City and Bridg-house Accounts and the Surveyors for Beer and Ale which being done the Sheriffs with the other Officers the Common Cryer going before them with his Mace go up to the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen to cary up the report of what is done at the Hustings whither the Lord
Simon the Sonne of Mary sendeth greeting in our Lord where among other things and before other Lands the high Altitude of the Heavenly Councels marvellously wrought by some readier devotion it ought to be more worshipped of which things the mortal sickness after the fall of our first Father Adam hath taken the beginning of this new repairing therefore forsooth it beseemeth worthy that the place in which the Son of God is become Man and hath proceeded from the Virgins Womb which is increaser and beginning of Mans Redemption namely ought to be with Reverence worshipped and with beneficial Portions to be increased therefore it is that the said Simon Son of Mary having special and singular Devotion to the Church of the glorious Virgin at Bethelem where the same Virgin of Her brought forth our Saviour incarnate and lying in the Cratch and with her own milk nourished and where the same Child to us there born the Chivalry of the heavenly Company sang the new Hymne Gloria in Excelsis Deo The same time the increaser of our health as a King and his Mother a Queen willed to be worshipped of Kings a new Starre going before them as the Honour and Reverence of the same Child and his most meek Mother And to the exaltation of my most Noble Lord Henry King of England whose Wife and Child the foresaid Mother of God and her only Son have in their keeping and protection And to the manifold increase of this City of London in which I was born And also for the health of my soul and the souls of my Predecessors and Successors my Father Mother and my Friends And specially for the souls of Guy of Marlow Iohn Durant Ralph Ashwye Maud Margaret and Dennis Women Have given granted and by this my present Charter here have confirmed to God and to the Church of St. Mary of Bethelem all my Lands which I have in the Parish of St. Buttolph without Bishopsgate of London that is to say whatsoever I there now have or had or in time to come may have in Houses Gardens Pools Ponds Ditches and Pits and all their appurtenances as they be closed in by their bounds which now extend in length from the Kings high street East to the great Ditch in the West the which is called deep Ditch and in breadth to the Lands of Ralph Downing in the North and to the Land of the Church of St. Buttolph in the South To have and to hold the aforesaid Church of Bethelem in freâ— and perpetual Alms And also to make there a Priory and to ordain a Prior and Canons Brothers and also Sisters when Jesus Christ shall enlarge his grace upon it And in the same place the Rule and order of the said Church of Bethelem solemnly professing which shall bear the Token of a Starre openly in their Coapes and Mantles of profession and for to say Divine Service there for the souls aforesaid and all Christian souls and specially to receive there the Bishop of Bethelem Canons Brothers and Messengers of the Church of Bethelem for evermore as often as they shall come thither And that a Church or Oratory there shall be builded as soon as our Lord shall enlarge his grace under such form that the Order Institution of Priors Canons Brothers Sisters of the visitation correction and reformation of the said place to the Bishop of Bethelem and his Successors and to the Charter of his Church and of his Messengers as often as they shall come thither as shall seem them expedient no mans contradiction notwithstanding shall pertain for evermore saving alway the Services of the chief Lords as much as pertaineth to the said Land And to the more surety of this thing I have put my self out of this Land and all mine And Lord Godfrey then chosen of the Nobles of the City of Rome Bishop of Bethelem and of the Pope confirmed then by his name in England in his name and of his Successors and of his Chapter of his Church of Bethelem into bodily possession I have indented and given to his possession all the foresaid Lands which possession he hath received and entred in form abovesaid And in token of subjection and reverence the said place in London without Bishopsgate shall pay yearly in the said City a mark sterling at Easter to the Bishop of Bethelem his Successors or his Messengers in the name of a Pension and if the faculties or goods of the said place our Lord granting happen to grow more the said place shall pay more in the name of Pension at the said terme to the Mother Church of Bethelem This forsooth gift and confirmation of my Deed and the putting to of my Seal for me and mine Heires I have steadfastly made strong the year of our Lord God A thousand two hundred forty seven the VVednesday after the Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist c. King Henry the 8th gave this Hospital unto the City The Church and Chappel were taken down in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and houses builded there by the Governours of Christs Hospital in London In this place people that be distraught in their wits are now by the suit of their friends received and kept as before but not without charges to their bringers in Then is there a fair House of late builded by Iohn Powlet Next to that a far more large and beautiful House with Gardens of pleasure Bowling Allies and such like builded by Iasper Fisher free of the Goldsmiths late one of the six-Clarks of the Chancery and a Justice of Peace It hath since for a time been the Earl of Oxfords place The late Queen Elizabeth hath lodged there it now belongeth to the Earl of Devonshire This House being so large and sumptuously builded by a man of no great Calling Possessions or VVealth for he was indebted to many was mockingly called Fishers folly and a Rithme was made of it and other the like in this manner Kirbyes Castle and Fishers Folly Spinilas pleasure and Megses glory And so of other like Buildings about the City by Citizens men have not forborn to speak their pleasure From Fishers Folly up to the West end of Berwards Lane of old time so called but now Hogge-Lane because it meeteth with Hogge-Lane which commeth from the Barres without Ealdgate as is afore shewed is a continual bnilding of Tenements with Allies of Cottages pestered c. Then is there a large close called Fazel Close sometime for that there were Zazels planted for the use of Cloth-workers since letten to the Crosse-bow Makers wherein they used to shoot for Games at the Popingey Now the same being inclosed with a Brick-wall serveth to be an Artillery-yard or Garden whereunto the Gunners of the Tower weekly do repair namely every Thursday and their levelling certain Bâ—asse-Pieces of great Artillery against a But of Earth made for that purpose they discharged them for their exercise present use is made thereof by divers worthy Citizens Gentlemen and
at every Tyde run according to Covenant four wayes plentifully serving to the Commodity of the Inhabitants near adjoyning in their houses and also cleansed the Channels of the street toward Bishops-gate Aldgate the Bridge and the Stocks Market but now no such matter by what default I know not Then have ye a fair Conduit of sweet water castellated in the midst of that Ward This Conduit was first builded of stone in the year 1282. by Henry VVallis Maior of London to be a Prison for Night-walkers and other suspicious persons and was called the Tunne upon Cornhill because the same was builded somewhat in fashion of a Tunne standing on the one end To this Prison the Night-watchers to this City committed not only Night-walkers but also other persons as well spiritual as temporal whom they suspected of incontinency and punished them according to the customs of this City but complaint therefore being made about the year of Christ 1297. King Edward the first writeth to the Citizens thus Edward by the Grace of God c. VVhereas Richard Gravesend Bishop of London hath shewed unto us that by the great Charter of England the Church hath a privilede that no Clark should be imprisoned by a Lay-man without our Commandment and breach of peace Which notwithstanding some Citizens of London upon meer spight do enter in their vvatches into Clarks Chambers and then â—ike Felons carry them to the Tunne which Henry le Wallis sometime Maior built for Night-walkers wherefore we will that this our Commandment be proclaimed in a full Hustings and that no vvatch hereafter enter into any Clarks Chamber under the forfeit of thirty pounds Dated at Carlile the 18th of March the 25. of our Reign More we read that about the year of Christ 1299. the seven and twentieth of Edward the first certain principal Citizens of London to wit T. Romane Rich Gloucester Nicholas Faringdon Adam Helingbury T. Saly Iohn Dunstable Richard Ashwy John Wade and William Stortforde brake up this Prison called the Tunne and took out certain Prisoners for the which they were sharply punished by long Imprisonment and great fines It cost the Citizens as some have written more than 20000 Marks which they were amerced in before William de March Treasurer of the Kings Exchequer to purchase the Kings favour and the confirmation of their Liberties By the West side of the aforesaid Prison then called the Tunne was a fair Well of Spring water curbed round with hard stone but in the year 1401. the said Prison house called the Tunne was made a Cestern for sweet water conveyed by Pipes of Lead from Tyburne and was from thenceforth called the Conduit upon Cornhil Then was the Well planked over and a strong Prison made of Timber called a Cage with a pair of Stocks therein set upon it and this was for Night-walkers on the top of which Cage was placed a Pillory for the punishment of Bakers offending in the assize of Bread for Millers stealing of Corn at the Mill for Bawds Scholds and other offenders As in the year 1468. the seventh of Edward the fourth divers persons being common Jurors such as at Assizes were forsworn for rewards or favour of parties were judged to ride from Newgate to the Pillory in Corn-hill with Miters of Paper on their heads there to stand and from thence again to Newgate and this judgement was given by the Maior of London On the North side of this street from the East unto the West have ye divers fair houses for Marchants and others amongst the which one large House is called the Wey-house where Marchandizes brought from beyond the Seas are to be weighed at the Kings Beame this House hath a Master and under him four Master-Porters with Porters under them they have a strong Cart and four great Horses to draw and carry the Wates from the Marchants Houses to the Beam and back again Sir Thomas Lovel Knight builded this House with a fair front of Tenements toward tâ—e street all which he gave to the Grocers of London himself being free of the City and a Brother of that Company Then have ye the said Finks Lane the South end of which Lane on both sides is in Corn-hill Ward Then next is the Royal Exchange erected in the year 1566. after this Order viz. certain Houses upon Corn-hill and the like upon the part thereof in the Ward of Broadstreet with three Allies the first called Swan Alley opening into Corn-hill the second New Alley passing through out of Corn-hill into Broadstreet Ward over against St. Bartholomew-Lane the third St. Christophers Alley opening into Broadstreet-Ward and into St. Christophers Parish containing many thick Housholds were first purchased by the Citizens of London for more than 3532. pounds and were sold for 478. pounds to such persons as should take them down and carry them thence Also the ground or plot was made plain at the Charges of the City and then possession thereof was by certain Aldermen in name of the whole Citizens given to Sir Thomas Gresham Knight sometimes Agent to the Queens Higheness thereupon to build a Burse or place for Marchants to assemble in at his own proper charges And he on the seventh of June laying the first stone of the Foundation being Brick accompanied with some Aldermen every of them laid a piece of Gold which the Workmen took up and forthwith followed upon the same such diligence that by the Moneth of November in the year 1567. the same was covered with slate and shortly after fully finished In the year 1570. on the 23. of January the Queens Majesty attended with her Nobility came from her House at the Strand called Sommerset-House and entred the City by Temple-Barre through Fleet-street Cheape and so by the North side of the Burse through Thredneedle-street to Sir Thomas Greshams House in Bishopgate-street where she dined After dinner her Majesty returning through Corn-hill entred the Burse on the South side and after she had viewed every part thereof above the ground especially the Pawne which was richly furnished with all sorts of the finest Wares in the City she caused the same Burse by an Hauraâ—d and a Trumpet to be proclaimed at the Royal Exchange and so to to be called from thenceforth and not otherwise Next adjoyning to this Royal Exchange remaineth one part of a large stone House and is now called the Castle of such a sign at a Tavern door there is a passage thorough out of Cornhill into Threed-needle street the other part of the said stone House was taken down for enlarging the Royal Exchange This stone House was said of some to have been a Church whereof it had no proportion of others a Jewes House as though none but Jewes had dwelt in stone houses but that opinion is without warrant For beside the strong building of stone houses against 〈◊〉 of thieves in the night when no watches were kept In the first year of Richard the first to prevent casualties of fire which
Edmonds bury Lincoln Stanford and Lyn were robbed and spoyled and at York to the number of five hundred besides Women and Children entred a Tower of the Castle profered money to be in surety of their lives but the Christians would not take it whereupon they â—â—t the throats of their own Wives and Children and cast them over the Walls on the Christianâ— heads and then entring the Kings Lodging they burned both the House and themselves King John in the 11th of his Reign commanded all the Jews both Men and Women to be imprisoned and grievously punished because he would have all their Money some of them gave all they had and promised more to escape so many kinds of torments for every one of them had one of their eyes at the least plucked oâ—t Amongst whom there was one which being tormented many wayes would not ransome himself till the King had caused every day one of his great teeth to be plucked out by the space of seven dayes and then he gave the King ten thousand Marks of silver to the end they should pull out no more the said King at that time spoylâ—d the Jews of sixty six thousand Marks The 17th of this King the Barons brake into the Jews Houses rifled their Coffers and with the Stone of their Houses repaired the Gates and Walls of London King Henry the third in the 11th of his Reign granted to Semaine or Ballaster the house of Benomie Mittun the Jew in the Parish of St. Michael Bassing-hanghe in which the said Benomy dwelt with the fourth part of all his Land in that Parish which VVilliam Elie held of the Fee of Hugh Nevel and all the Land in Colemanstreet belonging to the said Benomy and the fourth part of the Land in the Parish of St. Lawrence which was the Fee of Thomas Buckerel and were excheted to the King for the murther which the said Benomy committed in the City of London to hold to the said Semaine and his Heires of the King paying at Easter a pair of gilt Spurs and to do the serviâ—e thereof due unto the Lords Court In the like manner and for like services the King granted to Guso for his Homage the other part of the Lands of the said Benomye in St. Michaels Parish which Law the Painter held and was the Kings Excheter and the Lands of the said Benomye in the said Parish which VValter Turner held and fifteen foot of Land which Hâ—gh Harman held with fifteen Iron Ells of Land and an half in the front of Iron-monger-lane in the Parish of St. Martin which were the said Benomyes of the Fee of the Hospital of St. Giles and which Adam the Smith held with two Stone-Houses which were Moses the Jew of Canterbury in the Parish of St. Olave and which are of the Fee of Arnold de Reus and are the Kings Exchetes as aforesaid The 16th of the said Henry the Jews in London builded a Synagogue but the King commanded it should be dedicated to our blessed Lady and after gave it to the Brethren of St. Anthonies of Vienna and so was it called St. Anthonies Hospital This King Henry founded a Church and House for converted Jews in a new street by the Temple whereby it came to passe that in short time there was gathered a great number of Converts The twentieth of this King Henry seven Jews were brought from Norwich vvhich had stolen a christened Child had circumcised and minded to have cruciâ—â—ed him at Easter vvherefore their Bodies and Goods vvere at the Kings pleasure The six and twentieth the Jews vvere constrained to pay to the King twenty thousand Marks at two Termes in the year or else to be kept in perpetual Prison The five and thirtieth He taketh inestimable sums of money of all rich men namely of Aaron a Jew born at York fourteen thousand Marks for himself and ten thousand Marks for the Queen and before he had taken of the same Jew as much as in all amounted to thirty thousand Marks of Silver and two hundâ—red Marks of Gold to the Queen In the fortieth year vvere brought up to VVestminster two hundred Jews from Lincoln for crucifying a Child named Hugh eighteen of them were hang'd The forty third a Jew at Tewksbury fell into a Privie on the Saturday and would not that day be taken out for reverence of his Sabbath wherefore Richard Clare Earl of Gloucester kept him there till Monday that he was dead The forty seven the Barons slew of the Jews at London seven hundred the rest were spoiled and theiâ—r Synagogue defaced because one Jew would have forced a Christian to have payd more than two shillings for the lone of twenty shillings a week The third of Edward the first in a Parliament at London usury was forbidden to the Jews and that all Usurers might be known the King commanded that every Usurer should weare a Table on his brest the breadth of a Paveline or else to avoid the Realm The sixth of the said King Edward a Reformation was made for clipping of the Kings Coyn for which offence two hundred sixty seven Jews were drawn and hanged three were English Christians and other were English Jews The same year the Jews crucified a child at Northampton for the which fact many Jews at London were drawn at Horses Tayls and hanged The 11th of Edward the first Iohn Perkham Arch Bishop of Canterbury commanded the Bishop of London to destroy all the Jewes Synagogues in his Diocese The 16th of the said Edward all the Jews in England were in one day apprehended by precept from the King but they redeemed themselves for twelve thousand pounds of silver notwithstanding in the nineteenth of his Reign he banished them all out of England giving them only to bear their Charge till they were out of this Realm the number of Jews then expulsed were fifteen thousand and sixty persons the King made a mighty masse of money of their Houses which he sold and yet the Commons of England had granted and gave him a fifteenth of all their Goods to banish them and thus much for the Jewes In this street called the Old Iewry is a proper Parish-Church of St. Olave Upwell so called in Record 1320 John Brian Parson of St. Olave Upwell in the Iewry founded there a Chauncery and gave two Messuages to that Parish the sixteenth of Edward the second and was by the said King confirmed In this Church to the commendations of the Parsons and Parishioners the Monuments of the dead remain lesse defaced than in many other From this Parish Church of St. Olave to the North end of the Old Iewry and from thence West to the North end of Ironmonger-lane almost to the Parish Church of St. Martin was of old time one large building of stone very ancient made in place of Jews Houses but of what antiquity or by whom the same was builded or for what use is not known more than that King Henry the sixth in the sixteenth of his
these new buildings is Cow-bridge street or Cow-lane which turneth toward Holdbourn in vvhich Lane the Prior of Semperingham had his Inne or London Lodging The rest of that West side of Smithfield hath divers fair Inns and other comely Buildings up to Hosier-lane which also turneth down to Houldbourn till it meet with Cowbridge-street from this Lane to Cock-lane over against Pie-Corner In the year 1362 the thirty sixth of Edward the third on the first five dayes of May in Smithfield were Justs holden the King and Queen being present with the most part of the Chivalry of England and of France and of other Nation to the which came Spaniards Cyprians and Armenians Knightly requesting aid of the King of England against the Pagans that invaded their Confines The 48. of Edward the third Dame Alice Perrers or Pierce the Kings Concubine as Lady of the Sun rode from the Tower of London through Cheape accompanied by many Lords and Ladies every Lady leading a Lord by his Horse Bridle till they came into West Smithfield and then began a great Just vvhich endured seven dayes after In the year 1393. the 17th of Richard the second certain Lords of Scotland came into England to get vvorship by force of Arms the Earl of Marre chalenged the Earl of Nottingham to Just vvith him and so they rode together certain Courses but not the full Challenge for the Earl of Marre was cast both Horse and Man and two of his Ribs broken vvith the fall so that he vvas conveighed out of Smithfield and so towards Scotland but dyed by the vvay at York Sir VVilliam Darel Knight the Kings Banner-bearer of Scotland challenged Sir Percey Courtney Knight the Kings Banner-bearer of England and vvhen they had run certain Courses gave over vvithout conclusion of Victory Then Cookborne Esquire of Scotland challenged Sir Nicholas Hawberke Knight and rode five Courses but Cookborne vvas born over Horse and Man Now to return through Gilt-spur-street by Newgate vvhere I first began there standeth the fair Parish Church called St. Sepulchers in the Bayly or by Chamberlain Gate in a fair Church-yard though not so large as of old time for the same is letten out for buildings and a Garden plot This Church vvas newly re-edified or builded about the Reign of Henry the sixth or of Edward the fourth one of the Popham's vvas a great builder there and 't is lately also vvashed over and furbish'd Next to this Church is a fair and large Inne for the receipt of Travellers and hath to signe the Sarasens Head vvhere Oxford men resort There lyeth a street from Newgate West to the end of Turn again-lane and winding North to Oldbourne Conduit but of late a new Conduit vvas there builded in place of the old namely in the year 1577. by VVilliam Lambe sometime a Gentleman of the Chappel to King Henry the eighth and afterward a Citizen and Clothworker of London From the West side of this Conduit is the high way there called Snow-hill stretching out by Oldbourne-bridge over the oft-named Water of Turn-mill-Brook and so up to Old-bourn-hill all replenished with fair Buildings Without Ould-bourn-bridge on the right hand is Gold-lane as is before shewed up higher on the Hill be certain Inns and other fair Buildings amongst the which of old time was a Messuage called Scroops Inne for so we finde the same recorded in the 37. of Henry the sixth This House was sometime letten out to Sergeants at the Law as appeareth and was found by Inquisition taken in the Guild-hall of London before William Purchase Mayor and Escheater for King Henry the 7th in the 14th of his Reign Then is the Bishop of Elies Inne so called of belonging and pertaining to the Bishops of Ely Will de Luda Bishop of Ely deceased 1297 and gave this House by the name of his Mannor with the Appurrenances in Holdbourne to his Successors with condition that his next Successor should pay a thousand Marks towards the finding of three Chaglains in the Chappel there The first in the year 1464. the fourth of Edward the fourth in Michaelmas Terme the Sergeants at Law held their Feast in this House to the which amongst other Estates Matthew Philip Mayor of London with the Aldermen Sheriffs and Commons of divers Crafts being invited did repair but when the Mayor looked to keep the state in the Hall as it had bin used in all places within the City and Liberties out of the Kings presence the Lord Gray of Ruthen then Lord Treasurer of England unwitting the Sergeants and against their wills as they said was first placed whereupon the Mayor Aldermen and Commons departed home and the Mayor made the Aldermen to dine with him howbeit he and all the Citizens were wonderfully displeased that he was so dealt with and the new Sergeants and others were right oâ—ry therefore and had rather then much good as they said it had not so happened Next beyond this Mannor of Ely-house is Lither-lane turning into the Fields Then is Furnivals Inne now an Inne of Chancery but sometime belonging to Sir William Furnival Knight and Thomasin his Wife who had in Holdbourne two Messuages and thirteen Shops as appeareth by Record of Richard the second in the sixth of his Reign Now again from Newgate on the left hand or South side lyeth the Old Baylay which runneth down by the Wall upon the Ditch of the City called Houndsditch to Ludgate we have not read how this street took that name but it is like to have risen of some Court of old time there kept and we finde that in the year 1356. the thirty four of Edward the third the Tenement and ground upon Houndsditch between Ludgate on the South and Newgate on the North was appointed to Iohn Cambridge Fishmonger Chamberlain of London whereby it seemeth that the Chamberlains of London have there kept their Courts as now they do in the Guild-hall and till this day the Mayor and Justices of this City keep their Sessions in a part thereof now called the Sessions Hall both for the City of London and Shire of Middlesex over againâ— the which House on the right hand turneth down St. Georges Lane towards Fleet Lane In this St. Georges Lane on the North side thereof remaineth yet an old wall of stone inclosing a peece of ground up Sea-cole-Lane wherein by report sometime stood an Inne of Chancery which House being greatly decayed and standing remote from other Houses of that Profession the Company removed to a Common Hostery called of the signe out Lady Inne not far from Clements Inne which they procured from Sir Iohn Fineox Lord chief Justice of the Kings Bench and since have held it of the owners by the name of the New Inne paying therefore six pounds Rent by the year as Tenants at their own will for more as is said cannot be gotten of them and much lesse will they be put from it Beneath this Saint Georges Lane is the Lane called Fleet-lane winding
Redcrosse-street and Beech-lane with Golding-lane full of small Tenements Then is there Barbican anciently called Houndsditch all these populous places are within the Precincts of St. Giles Parish Aldersgate Suburb is next where the Parish of St. Buttolph stands and little Britain street on the one side then it stretcheth all along North with very handsome Edifices and a large street as far as Barbican on the one side and Long-lane on the other This street resembleth an Italian street more then any other in London by reason of the spaciousness uniformity of Buildings and streightness thereof with the convenient distance of the Houses on both sides whereof there are divers very fair ones as Peter-House the Palace now and Mansion of the most Noble Marquis of Dorchester Then is there the Earl of Tenets House with the Moon and Sun-Tavern very fair structures Then is there from about the middle of Aldersgate-street a handsome new street butted out and fairly built by the Company of Goldsmiths which reacheth athwart as far as Redcrosse-street At the furthest point of this Suburb Northward there was a Winde-Mill in times past which being blown down by a Tempest Queen Katherine of Aragon first Wife to Henry the 8th erected there a Chappel and named it Mount Calvary which was afterwards suppressed and the place came to be called Mount-mill whereof the Long-Parliament made much use for their fortifications We are going now to Newgate where towards Smithfield I meet with Gilt-spur and Knight-riders-street Then is Smithfield it self which hath bin spoken of before in Faringdon Ward Without Smithfield Barres there is St. Johns street on the right hand whereof stood the Charter-house founded by Sir Walter Manuy Knight of the Garter to Edward the third Hard by is Pardon Church-yard whereas the Annales record above fifty thousand souls were buried in one year who had dyed of a raging great sweeping Pestilence in the Reign of the foresaid Edward the third The Chievalrou and most devoâ—t Knight first buiâ—t a Chappel there then a Monastery of Carthusian Fryers which are the â—evereâ—â— one most rigid of all claustral Societies this Monastâ—ery was called at first the Salutation In this Charter-House was the Monument of the said Sir Walter Mâ—nny and above twenty Knights more besides Ladies and other perâ—ons of high Rank and at the suppression of Abbeys this Monastery had 642 l. yearly Rent a mighty sum in those dayes This demolish'd Charter-House came a while after to the possession of Thomas Earl of Suffolk Lord Treasurer of England in King James his Raign and the place being sweetly scituated with accommodations of spacious Walks Orchards and Gardens with sundry dependencies of Tenements and Lands thereunto belonging gave occasion to that worthy and well disposed Gentleman Mr. Thomas Sutton of Castâ—e Camps in the County of Cambridge Esquire but born at Knayth in Lincolnshire to alter his Resolution of erecting an Hospital at Hallingbury in Essex where he had first pitched his design and to purchase this place of the Earl for 13000 l. first peny payd before the sâ—aling of the Conveyance which charitable great and noble enterprize was countenanced by King James and his privy Councel So having in few years raised up that goodly Fabrique though it pleased God to take him to himself before it was quite finish'd and endowed it with competent allowance by passing away many goodly Mannors he had in Lincoln Wiltshire Middlesex Cambridge and Essex with other goodly possessions the work was compleated and nominated the Hospital of King James which Hospital consisted of a Master a Governor a Preacher a Free School with a Master and Usher 80. poor people and 40. Schollers maintained all by the Revenues of the House Anno 1614. on Munday next after Michaelmas day the Captains Gentlemen and Officers entred into this new Hospital Now there were by Letters Pattents under the great Seal of England divers Governors appointed of this Hospital whereof the Arch Bishop of Canterbury was chief The Lord Chancelor and Treasurer The Bishops of London and Ely the Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas the Attorney General the Dean of Pauls the Dean of Westminster and divers others But the late long Parliament inverting the order and will of the founder did nominate others in their rooms A little without the Barres of West Smithfield is Charter-house Lane but in the large yard before there are many handsome Palaces as Rutland House and one where the Venetian Embassadors were used to lodge which yard hath lately bin conveniently raised and made more neat and comely Then is there St. Johns street with Turnmill-street which stretcheth up West to Clarken-well and it is vulgarly called Turnball-street There is another Lane called St. Peters Lane which turns from St. Johns street to Cow-Crosse The dissolved Priory of St. John of Jerusalem stood on the left hand founded almost 600. years since by Jorden Briset a pious brave man who had founded alâ—o a Priory of Nuns at Clarken-Well The Rebels and Rabble of Kent did much mischief to this House 1381. setting it on fire and letting it burn seven dayes At the suppression of Abbeys this House among the rest felt the fury of fare yet it was not quite demolished but employed as a Store-house for the Kings toyles and tents as well for hunting as for the Warres But in Edward the sixth's time that goodly Church for the most part I mean the body and side Iles with the great Bell-Tower a most curious peece of fabrick being engraven gilt and enamel'd to the great Ornament of City and Suburb was barbarously undermined and blown up with Gunpowder the stones whereof were carried to finish the then Protectors House in the Strand viz. the Duke of Somerset but strange Judgements fell afterwards upon him as is before mentioned Cardinal Pool in Queen Maries Raign closed up again part of the Quire and side Walls on the West side and made Sir Thomas Tresham Prior thereof but thinking to bring the place to its first principles it was suppressed again by Queen Elizabeth A great number of Knights of that Order had Monuments in that Church North from the said House of St. John's was the Priory of Clarken-Well which also was very ancient being built Anno 1100. We must now go back to Giltspur-street where this Suburb first begins where hard by standeth a comely fair Church called St. Sepulcher in the Baylie Hard by is Turnagain-lane Hosier-lane and Cow-lane then you come down Soreâ—hill now vulgarly called Snow-hill to Oldborne now called Holborn-Bridge then you go up by Chick-lane and Lither-lane but before you come thither you passe by the Bishop of Elies great Palace and Hatton-House and Brook-House beyond the Barres there is Postpool-lane and Grayes Inne Lane Southward of this Lane there is a row of small Houses which is a mighty hindrance to Holborn in point of prospect which if they were taken down there would be from Holborn Conduit to St. Giles in
upon the Banks of the Thames were all Episcopal Palaces except the Savoy and Suffolk-house The first for greatness was Excester House now called Essex whereof the chiefest Founder was Edward Stapleton Bishop of that See who was beheaded by the Londoners in Cheap-side and his Body was then brought and buried in a heap of Sand or rubbish in his own House near Temple-barre in the Raign of Edward the second Bishop Edmond Lâ—ey built the great Hall in the Raign of Henry the sixth The same was since called Paget-House being enlarged by William Lord Paget Then was it called Leicester-House of Robert Dudley who was the great Favorite to Queen Elizabeth and then it came to be called Essex-house from Robert Earl of Essex who was also a Favorite of Queen Elizabeth and beheaded in the Tower Opposite to this House standeth the Parish-Church of Saint Clement Danes so called because Harold a Danish King with other of that Nation were buried there Then was the Bishop of Baths Inne or City-House builded by the Lord Thomas Seamer Admiral of England which House came afterwards to be possessed by the Earl of Arundel so it beares the name of Arundel-house neer there adjoyning there was once a Parish-Church called the Nativity of our Lady or the Innocents of the Strand with a fair Coemitery or Church-yard wherein there was a Brother-hood kept called Saint Vrsula of the Strand Near adjoyning to the said Church betwixt it and the Thames there was an Inne of Chancery called Chesters Inne because it belonged to the Bishop of Chester and sometimes 't was called Strand Inne Then was there a House belonging to the Bishop of Landaff which one of those Bishops purchased of the Duke of Lancaster Then was there the Bishop of Chesters Inne or Palace which was first built by Walter Langhton Treasurer of England in the Reign of Edward the first And not far from that was the Bishop of Worcesters Inne or Palace All which viz. The Parish Church called Saint Mary of the Strand Strand Inne with the Bishop of Chester and Bishop of Worcesters Houses with all the Tenements adjoyning were by commandement of Edward Duke of Somerset Uncle to Edward the sixth Lord Protector pull'd down and laid level to the ground Anno 1549. In place whereof he erected that large and goodly House call'd now Somerset House which rose out of the ruines of the Church Therefore the Roman Catholiques observed that an apparent judgement from Heaven fell upon him afterwards being beheaded a little after and he and his Counsel were so infatuated that he forgot to call for his Clergy which he might have claimed by the Law and so sav'd his life Then is there Bedford House which was sometimes the Bishop of Carliles Inne It stretched from the Savoy to Ivie Bridge where Sir Robert Cecill Earl of Salisbury raysed a large and stately House of Brick and Timber Worcester House lies sideling of it and there being a great VValnut tree there growing which much hindred the prospect of Salisbury House Eastward the Earl bargained with one of the Lord Edward of VVorcesters servants that if he could get leave of his Lord to cut down that Tree he would give him 100 li the servanc told his Lord of it who bad him fell down the Tree and take the money but the old Earl there being no good correspondence 'twixt Salisbury and him caused presently a new Brick building to be there erected where the Tree stood We come now to Durham House built by Thomas Hatfield Bishop of that See a very capacious Edifice on the North side whereof stood a row of thatch'd Stables which the Earl of Salisbury purchased and pull'd down and erected in place thereof the New Exchange or Britains Burse which was built with wonderful celerity for the first Stone thereof was â—ayed on the tenth of Iune 1608 and it was fully finished the November next following The Earl did then invite King Iames with the Queen to see his new House where after a rich banquet the King named the place Britains Burse Next beyond Durham House and this new building is another great Palace belonging of old to the Bishop of Norwich but afterwards it came to the Archbishop of Yorke by this occasion When Cardinal Woolsey Arch Bishop of Yorke was Indicted in a premunire whereby the King was entitled to all his Goods and Possessions he among other things seazed upon the said Cardinals House where he then dwelled commonly called York Place and changed the name thereof to White-Hall The Arch-bishops of York having then no House in London or Westminster Queen Mary gave unto Nicholas Heath then Arch-bishop of Yorke Suffolke House in Southwark lately built by Charles Brandon which House the said Arch-bishop sold and in lieu thereof he purchased the Bishop of Norwich's House which ever since hath been called Yorke House though it came afterwards to the possession of the Duke of Buckingham George Villers who added much to the old Edifice and would have had it called Buckingham House which name is engraven upon the watergate in great Letters There was of old an Hospitall of St. Mary Rouncival an order which came from Navarre in Spain by Charing-Crosse where a Fraternity was founded in the fifteenth of Edward the fourth which was afterwards suppressed and turned to Tenements Near unto this Hospital was an Hermitage with a Chappel of St. Katherine over against Charing-Crosse which Crosse was erected by Edward the first to the honor of his Queen as is spoken else-where Eleanor and it was a goodly Monument which was utterly destroyed by the fury of the long Parlâ—ament West of this Crosse stood sometimes another Hospital called St. Iames consisting of two Hides of Land in the Parish of St. Margaret in VVestminster and 〈…〉 by the Citizens of London for 14 Sister-Maidens that were Lepâ—ous then were there added eight Brethren to minister Divine Service there Afterwards there was a great addition of Land made to this Hospital and Edward the first granted a Fair to be kept there every year This Hospital being surrendred to Henry 8. the Sisters were allowed Pensions during their 〈◊〉 and the King erected there a Mannor House with a Park annexed-encompassed about with a Brick Wall But before we advance further Northward towards Westminster we must make a slep backward to Saint Martins Church and Lane where on the West side there are many gentile fair Houses in a row built by the same Earl of Salisbury who built Britains Burse but somewhat before Then have we Bedford Berry commonly called the Coven â—arden because there was a large Convent or Monastery there in times pass'd where there are many good structures cloystered underneath some of them with a large Piazza or Market place and a Church that bears the name of Saint Paul which though within the Precincts of Saint Martins Parish yet by Act of Parliament it is now exempted The Founder who was the Earl of Bedford pâ—ying
businessse aforesaid so that the business may not by any means remain undone for want of such power or by reason of the unprovident Election of the foresaid Knights Burgesses and Citizens But we will not in any case that you or any other Sheriff of our said Kingdom shall be elected And at the day and place aforesaid the said Election being made in a full County Court you shall certifie without delay unto us in our Chancery under your Seal and the Seals of them who shall be present at the Election sending back unto us the other part of the Indenture aforesaid affil'd to these presents ogether with the Writ Witness our Self at Westminster This Commission or Writ is the foundation whereon the whole fabrick of the power and duty of both Houses of Parliament is grounded The first House is to parley or have conference and to treat and consult with the King the other House is to do and consent only unto what the other shall ordain This was the Law and usage in former times but what is the power of the Commons in these dayes now that the Government is altred and cast into another mould the House of Peers being dissolved it is not the intent of this Discourse to determine At the return of the Writs aforesaid the Parliament could not begin but by the Royal presence of the King either in Perâ—on or by Representation By Representation two wayes either by a Gardian of England by Letters Patenrs under the Great Seal when the King was in remotis out of the Realm or by Commission under the Great Seal to certain Lords of Parliament representing the Person of the King he being within the Realm but absent in respect of some infirmity On the first day of the Parliament the King himself or most commonly the Lord Chancellor or Keeper in the presence of the Lords and Commons did shew the causes of the calling of High Court of Parliament but the King might have appointed any other to be his Prolocutor in this case Then the Commons are to choose their Speaker but in regard that after their choyce the King might refuse him for avoiding of time and contestation the use was as in the Congè deslire of a Bishop that the King doth recommend a discreet and learned man whom the Commons elect but without their Election no Speaker can be appointed for them because he is their mouth and intrusted by them and so necessary that the House of Commons cannot sit without him therefore a grievous sickness is a good cause to remove him as in Henry the 4th Raign Iohn Chervy Speaker was for sickness discharged and Sir Iohn Dorewoold chosen in his place but sickness is no cause to remove any Knight Citizen or Burgesse The Speaker being voted in the House was presented to the King where being allowed he made a supplication consisting of three parts First That the Commons in Parliament might have free speech Secondly That in any thing he should deliver in the name of the Commons if he should commit any error no fault should be imputed to the Commons Thirdly That as often as necessity for his Majesties service and the good of the Common-wealth shall require he may by the directions of the House have access to his Royal Person Any of the Peeâ—s by the Kings leave may absent himself and make a proxy to another Lord but a Knight Citizen or Burgess cannot make a Proxy because he is elected and intrusted by multitudes of people And it is to be observed though one be chosen for one particular County or City yet when he is returned and sits in Parliament he serveth for the whole Common-wealth There belongs to Parliament a Prorogation or adjournment which differ in this A Prorogation presupposeth a Session and then such Bills as passed in either House or by both Houses and had no Royal assent unto them must at the next Assembly begin again for every Session in Parliament is in Law a several Parliament but if it be but adjourned then there is no Session When a Parliament is called and doth sit and is dissolved without any Act passed or judgement given it is no Session of Parliament but a Convention Touching the Power and Jurisdiction of Parliament for making of Lawes in proceeding by Bill it is so transcendent and absolute as it cannot be confined within any bounds No Alien is capable to be chosen a Parliament-man nor can any of the Judges of the Kings Bench or Common Pleas or Barons of the Exchequer that have Judicial places or any Church-man that hath care of souls be chosen a member of the House of Parliament For others the King cannot grant a Charter of Exemption to any man to be freed from Election of Knight or Burgesse of the Parliament because the Elections of them ought to be free for the publique service OF THE COVRT OF THE KINGS-BENCH THE Royallest Court in the Land Now called The Upper Bench. THe Lawes of England presuppose the King to be the Fountain and Oracle of Justice and to have special inspirations from Heaven to that purpose therefore all the Tribunals of Judicature were used to be ambulatory with his Court and He was wont to sit in Person in the Upper Bench which is the Supreme Tribunal of the Land The Justices in this Court are the soveraign Justices of Oyer and Terminer Goal-delivery Conservation of the Peace c. in the Realm In this Court the Kings of this Realm have sat as being the highest Bench and the Judges of that Court on the lower Bench at his Feet but Judicature only belongeth to the Judges of that Court and in his presence they answer all Motions c. The Justices of this Court are the soveraign Coroners of the Land and therefore where the Sheriffs and Coroners may receive appeals by Bill à fortiori the Justices of this Court may do it so High is the authority of this Court that when it comes and sits in any County the Justices of Eire of Oier and Terminer Coal-delivery they which have conusance c. do cease without any writing to them But if any Indictment of Treason or Felony in a Forain County be removed before certain Commissioners of Oier and Terminer in the County where this Court sits yet they may proceed because this Court for that this Indictment was not removed before them cannot proceed for that offence But if any Indictment be taken in Midd in the vacation and after this Court sit in the next Term in the same County if this Court be adjourned then may special Commissioners of Oier and Terminer c. in the interim proceed upon that Indictment but the more usual way is by special Commission And this was resolved by all the Judges of England at Winchester Anno 1 ' Iacobi Regis in the Case of Sir Everard Digby and others and so had it been resolved Mich. 25 and 26 Eliz. in the Case of Arden and Somervile for
the first general cause Peace is the Mother of Plenty which is the 2d general cause and Plenty the Nurse of Suits In particulars by the dissolution of Monasteries Chanteries c. and dispersing of them c. upon the Statutes made concerning the same there being such a confluence of Ecclesiastical possessions there aroâ—e many questions and doubts whereupon Suits were greatly increased 2. Informers and Relators raised many Suits by Informations Writs c. in the Kings Courts at Westminster upon penai Statutes many whereof were obsolete inconvenient and not fit for those daies and yet remained as snares upon the Subject so as the Subject might justly say with Tacitus Priùs vitiis laboravimus nunc legibus 3. Concealers Helluones that endeavoured to swallow up Cathedral Churches and the Ecclesiastical possessions of Church-men and the Livings of many others of the Kings Subjects Lastly the multitude of Atturneys more than is limited by Law is a great cause of encrease of Suits Touching the jurisdiction of this Court which was used to be called the King Bench it is of a larger extent of power and more incontroulable than any other Tribunal for the Law presums that the King is there still in Person He being the Lord Chief Justice of England himself as King James gave a check to one who call'd Lord Coke Lord Chief Justice of England saying that he was but Chief Justice of his Bench and that it was his own Office to be Chief Justice of England Yet it is observable that though the King be Chief Justice of England and that he personally sit upon the Bench yet he can passe no sentence of judgment but by the mouths and mediation of his Judges who did use to sit there at his Feet when he was present Of the Court of Chancery or Equity and Conscience IT is taken pro confesso by all Antiquaries that both the Brittish and Saxon Kings had their Chancellors and Court of Chancery the only Court out of which original and remedial Writs do issue as taking some few examples before the Conquest Edward the Confessor had Reinbald his Chancelor this Edward granted many Mannors Lands c. and Franchises to the Abbot of Westminster and endeth his Charter thus Adultâ—mum cartam istam sigillari jussi ipse manu meâ propriâ signum Crucis impressi idonâ—os testes annotari praecepi And amongst those Witnesse this you shall find Swardus Notarius ad vicem Reinbaldi regiae dignitatis Chancellarii hanc cartam scripsi c. subscripsi He had also Lefrick to his Chancelor King Etheldred also had a worthy name and a worthy man to his Chancelor Rex Etheldredus statuit atque concessit quatenus Ecclesiam de Elye ex tunc semper in regis curia Cancellariae ageret dignitatem c. This King began his Reign Anno Domini 978 which albeit it was void in Law to grant the Chancelorship of England in succession yet it proveth then there was a Court of Chancery King Edgar had Adulph King Edred had Thurkettle King Edmond the same King Athelstane Wolsine their Chancelors c. In the Chancery are two Courts one ordinary Coram Domino Rege in Cancellaria wherein the Lord Chancelor or Lord Keeper of the Great Seal proceeds according to the right line of the Laws and Statutes of the Realm Secundum legem consuetudinem Angliae Another extraordinary according to the Rule of equity secundum aquum bonum And first of the former Court He hath power to hold Plea of Scire fac ' for repeal of the Kings Letters Patents of Petitions Monstrans de droite Traverses of office Partitions in Chancery of Scire fac ' upon recognizances in this Court Writs of Audita querela and Scire fac ' in the nature of an Audita querela to avoid Executions in this Court Dowments in Chancery the Writ De dote assignanda upon Offices found Executions upon the Statute Staple or Recognizance in nature of a Stature Staple upon the Act of 23. H. 8. but the Execution upon a Statute Merchant is retornable either into the Kings Bench or into the Common place and all personall actions by or against any Officer or Minister of this Court in respect of their service or attendance there In these if the parties descend to issue this Court cannot try it by Jury but the Lord Chancelor or the Lord Keeper delivereth the Record by his proper hands into the Kings Bench to be tried there because for that purpose both Courts are accounted but one and after trial had to be remanded into the Chancery and there Judgment to be given But if there be a Demurrer in Law it shall be argued and adjuged in this Court Nota the legal proceedings of this Court be not inrolled in Rolls but remain in Filaciis being filed up in the Office of the Peâ—y-bag upon a judgement given in this Court a Writ of Error doth lye retornable into the Kings Bench. The style of the Court of the Kings Bench is Coram Rege as hath been said and the style of this Court of Chancery is Coram domino Rege in Cancellaria and Additio probat minoritatem And in this Court the Lord Chancelor or the Lord Keeper is the sole Judge and in the Kings Bench there are four Judges at the least This Court is Officina Justiciae out of which all original Writs and all Commissions which passe under the Great Seal go forth which Great Seal is Clavis regni and for those ends this Court is ever open And this Court is the rather alwaies open for that if a man be wrongfully imprisoned in the Vacation the Lord Chancellor may grant a Habeas Corpus and do him Justice according to Law where neither the Kings Bench nor Common Pleas can grant that Writ but in the term time but this Court may grant it either in Term time or Vacation so likewise this Court may grant Prohibitions at any time either in Term or Vacation which Writs of Prohibition are not retornable but if they be not obeyed then may this Court grant an Attachment upon the Prohibition retornable either in the Kings Bench or Common Place The Officers and Ministers of this Court of Common Law do principally attend and do their service to the Great Seal as the twelve Masters of the Chanceâ—y whereof the Master of the Rolls is the chief who by their original institution as it is proved before should be expert in the Common Law to see the forming and framing of original Writs according to Law which are not of course whereupon such are called in our ancient Authors Brevia Magistralia Then you have the Clerk of the Crown the Clerk of the Hamper the Sealer the Chafe wax the Controuler of the Chancery twenty four Cursitors for making Writs of course or form'd Writs according to the Register of the Chancery The Clerk of the presentations the Clerk of the Faculties the Clerk Examiner of the Patents
Sheriffs and other Accounts keep their day of prefixion 6. The green Was is certified into this Office and by him delivered to the Clerk of the Estreats 7. There ought to be brought into this Office all the Accounts of Customers Controulers and all other to make an entry of Record in this Office to avoid delay and concealments The Oath of the Barons of the Exchequer consists of ten parts First That he shall well and truly serve in the Office of Baron 2. That truly he shall charge and discharge all manner of people as well poor as rich 3. That for Higness nor for Riches nor for hatred nor for any deed gift or promise of any person which is made unto him nor by craft engine he shall let the Kings right 4. He shall not let disturbe or respite contrary to the Lawes of the Land the Right of any other person 5. He shall not put in respite the Kings Debts where goodly they may be levied 6. That he shall speed the Kings need before others 7. That neither for gift wages nor good deed he shall layn disturb nor let the profit or reasonable advantage of the King in the advantage of any other Person nor of himself 8. That nothing he shall take of any Person to do wrong or right to delay or deliver or to delay the people that have to do before him that as hastily as he may them goodly to deliver without hurt of the King c. 9. Where he may know any wrong or prejudice to be done to the King he shall put and do all his power and diligence that to redresse 10. The Kings Counsel he shall keep and layne in all things In the Exchequer Chamber all cases of difficulty either in the Kings bench or the Common Pleas were used to be debated argued and resolved by all the Judges of England and the Exchequer Barons The Treasurer of the Kings Chamber and the Keeper of the privy purse with such domestick Offices of the Kings House are not subject to this Court of Exchequer This Court was first erected for the particular profit and service of the Soveraign Prince And this profit is mediat or immediat Immediat as of Lands Rents Franchises Hereditaments Debts Duties Accounts Goods Chatrels and other profits and benefits whatsoever due unto the Soveraign Prince Mediate as the priviledge of the Officers and Ministers of the Court for two things do principally support the jurisdiction of a Court as my Lord Coke hath it first the preservation of the dignity thereof and then the due attendance of the Officers and Ministers of the same The chief Baron is created by Letters Patents and the Office is granted Quamdiu se bene gesserit wherein he hath a more fixed estate it being an estate of life than the Justices of other Benches have who are durante beneplacito And in like manner are the rest of the Barons constituted with the Patents of the Attorney General and Solicitor There is a Court called the Court of Equity in the Exchequer Chamber The Iudges of this Court are the Lord Treasurer the Chancelor of the Exchequer and the Barons Their jurisdiction is as large for matter of Equity as the Barons of the Exchequer have for the benefit of the King by the common Law but if in either Court they hold any Plea that doth not concern the profit of the King there lieth a Prohibition To conclude there are seven Courts that belong to the Exchequer 1. The Court of Pleas or of the Barons 2. The Court of Accounts 3. The Court of Receits 4. The Court of the Exchequer Chamber being the Assembly of all the Iudges of England for matters in Law 5. The Court of Exchequer for Errors in the Court of Exchequer 6. A Court in the Exchequer Chamber for Errors in the Kings Bench. 7. The Court of Equity spoken of a little before But touching all the Officers either coordinate or inferior that belong to the Exchequer and the Revenues Customes perquisits of the Soveraign Prince they are very many far more in number than in any other Court as was touched before yet nothing so numerous as those Financiers and swarm of other Officers which belong to the Revenues of France which are so many that their fees being payed there comes not a Quardecu in every Crown clearly to the Kings Coffers which is but the fourth part But there is one publick advantage in it that thousands of younger Brothers and others have a handsome subsistance to carry themselves hereby in the garbe and equipage of men OF THE COURT OF ADMIRALTY HAving thus made some inspections into so many Courts we must not pretermit the Court of Admiralty for Great Britain being an Island which makes the Sea and Woodden Castles to be her chiefest Conservators the Court of Admiralty may be said to be more pertinent and necessary to her then to divers other States therefore the Lord High Admiral is by the Law of England one of the four Officers of the Crown with the Lord Chancelor the Lord Treasurer and Lord privy Seal Some hold the Etymology of Admirall to come from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth Salsugo maris the saltness of the Sea others derive it from Ammir an Arabian word which signifieth a King or Emperor And some would have it to come from the low Dutch Aen-meer-all which signifie on the Sea all The Reader according as his own judgement leads him may adhere to which he please for I know of none that have positively asserted which is the truest But to know the nature and jurisdiction of this Court it will conduce very much if we insert here certain grievances which the Lord Admiral presented in the 8th year of K. Iames concerning Prohibitions granted by the Judges of the Courts of Westminster against the Jurisdiction and Prerogatives of this Court with the answer which the Judges returned to every point 1. The first Objection was that whereas the cognizance of all Contracts and other things done upon the Sea belongeth to the Admirals jurisdiction the same are made tryable at the common Law as if they had bin done in Cheapside and such places The Judges of Westminster-Hall answered that by the Lawes of the Realm the Court of the Admiral hath no cognizance power or jurisdiction of any manner of Contract plea or querele within any County of the Realm either upon the Land or the water but every Contract Plea or querele and all other things arising in any County of the Realm either upon the Land or the water and also Wrecks of the Sea ought to be tryed discussed determined and remedied by the common Lawes of the Land and not before or by the Admiral or his Lieutenant in any manner so that it is not material whether the place be upon the water intra fluxum refluxum aqua or whether it be upon any other water within the precincts of a County But the said
Right and Prerogative due to the Crown in that they have seized and converted to their own use Goods and Chattels of infinite value taken at Sea and other Goods and Chattels which in no sort appertain unto his Lordship by his Letters Patents wherein the said Non obstante is contained and for which he and his Officers remain accountable to his Majesty And they now wanting in this time of peace causes appertaining to their natural jurisdiction do now encroach upon the jurisdiction of the common Law lest they should sit idle and reap no profit They added further That touching their proceedings in granting of Prohibitions concerning any of the said Articles two things were to be considered of first the matter then the manner touching the matter nothing hath bin done therein by the Court of Westminster but by good Warrant of Law and former judicial Precedents And for the manner they granted none in the Vacation time nor in their Terme time in any of their Chambers nor in the Court in the Terme-time ex officio but upon motion made in open Court by learned Councel and after a day prefixed and warning given to the adverse party c. Hereupon they proceeded to prove and confirm their answers by three kind of Authorities in Law First By Authority of High Court of Parliament Secondly By Judgement and judicial Precedents Thirdly By Book-Cases Concerning the Acts of Parliament they urged the Statute of Richard the second viz. That the Admiralls and their Deputies shall not meddle from henceforth with any thing done within the Realm of England but only with things done upon the Sea according to that which hath been duly used in the time of the Noble King Edward Grandfather to Richard the second Concerning the second proof by Judgements and Iudicial Precedents and the third by Book-Cases they alledged divers Cases which are to be seen in that great light and laborious Champion of the Common Law of England the Lord Coke in the third part of his Institutes But the Result of all which the Iudges of the Common Law driv ' at was that the Court of Admiralty was to take no Cognizance nor had power to determine any thing that had happened and should give occasion of Plea upon any Waters either fresh or salt that were within the Precincts of any County but it was tryable by the Common Law of England and by the Empanelment and Verdict of twelve men which is not the way of Tryal of the Civil Law by which the Admiralty is directed By this notable clash and contestation 'twixt the Iudges of Westminster-Hall and the Lord Admiral the Reader may learn what the extent of the Authority of that Court is and that the jurisdiction of the Admiral is confined to the high Sea In times past there were distinct Admirals in point of power as we read in Richard the seconds Raign the Earl of Northumberland was Admiral of the North and the Earl of Devonshire Admiral of the West who were to receive the Subsidy of Poundage and Tonnage for the garding of the Seas Among other Prerogatives which belonged to the Lord Admiral of England one was to erect Beacons upon the Maritim Coasts which word is derived from the old Saxon or Dutch Becnam which signifieth to give a signe as we use the word to becken at to this day Before the Reign of Edward the 3d there were but stakes of Wood set upon high places which were fired upon the discovery of any enemies but in his time pitched Barrels were set up and by the Law of the Land whosoever fired a Beacon commits Felony unless there were Authority and just cause for it In other Countries they are called Phares which are no other then speculatory or maritime monitory fires which serve for two ends as well to direct Seafaring men as to fore-warn the approach of an Enemy which with such wonderful celerity give the whole Land an Alarum and so puts them in a posture of defence But there are three main matters whereof the Lord Admiral is to take Cognizance which are Flotsan Ietsan and Lagan whereof the first is when a Ship is sunk and perished and the Goods floating upon the waters The second is Ietsan when in stresse of weather or other occasions the Goods are thrown over-board The third is when Goods are tyed to a Cork or Cable and may be found again But the Court of Admiralty hath not to do with Wrecks for then the Goods are deposited in the custody of the Officers of the next Town where if the Proprietor come within a twelve moneth and a day he may claim them by Law Henry the sixth did constitute by Charter Iohn Holland Duke of Exceter and Henry his Son to be Admirallos Angliae But the Iudges of the Common Law held that Charter to be invalid and the Reason they alledged was that that Charter being of a Iudicial Office it could not be granted to two When the former contestation happened 'twixt the Court of Admiralty and Westminster-Hall they were choyse powerful men at that time who swayed as Grandees of the Common Law as Sir Edward Coke the Lord Bacon Iudge Doddridge and Hubbard which made them carry the Bucklers from the Civilians at that time But there were some learned Treatises published afterward to vindicate the Right of the Civil Law which without controversie hath more in it of natural equity and reaches of pure Reason then any other It is the Product of that mighty Monarchy of the Romans who though they conquered by the Lance yet they conâ—erâ—ed by their Lawes so many vast distant Territories and Nations which they had subdued leading so many people Captive by their policy as much as by their Prowesse And indeed the Civil Law is fitted for the general Affaires of mankind and for all Nations For though every particular state hath some few municipal Lawes peculiar to it self yet no where beyond the Seas is there any profession or Science of Law but of the Civil nor are there any other studied in Vniversities Only in England there are Inns of Court which are equivalent to an Academy where lex Terrae or the common municipal Law of the Land is studied and Graduates proceed and are made therein accordingly which is no where else But the Civil Law extends to all man-kind And if regard be had to the University of humane Reason it is no where â—o narrowly discussed and eventilated and the judgement rectified by clear notions Moreover there is nothing of what nature soever it be but the Civil Law hath ordained a means to bring it to a Tryal either by giving a speciall action in the case or a general one releeving by ordinary remedies or if those fail by such as are extraordinary helping the Clyent Iure actionis or Officio Iudicis Yet there was one notable Example of one business that not only caused a clash 'twixt the Civilian and Common Lawyer but puzzel'd them both so that
duties touching the execution of the Statute made for punishment of Rogues Vagabonds and sturdy Beggars c. They are to inquire if those to whom the execution of the Statute for the relief of the poor doth appertain be remisse in discharging their duties that way They are to inquire if any Executor or others keep in their hands any Legacy sum of money or other thing given to charitable uses They are to inquire if any that keep Horses in their Houses do lay their Stable dung or such kind of noysome filth in any streets or lanes of the City and do not cause the Dung-cart to be led to the Stable door The Ward-mote Inquest by vertue of their Office are bound to search into all these enormities and to meet once a moneth or oftner if need require to that purpose And whosoever doth judiciously observe these several heads will find there 's nothing wanting to preserve a City or the people thereof in the wayes of neatness safety and industry or for the advancement of Vertue and suppression of Vice By these particulars with what hath bin spoken of formerly in the Body of this Book the Reader may observe how exact the City of London is in her Urban Government 3. Now touching the magnificence gravity and state of the chief Magistrate neither the Pretor of Rome or the Prefect of Milan neither the Proctors of Saint Mark in Venice or their Podestas in other Cities neither the Provost of Paris the Markgrave of Antwerp can compare with the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of London If one go to the variety of their Robes sometimes Scarlet richly fur'd sometimes Purple sometimes Violet and Puke What a goodly Spectacle it is to behold the Lord Mayor and the Companies attending him in so many dainty Barges when he goes to be sworn in Westminster-Hall and what brave shews there are attending him by Land at his return what a plentiful sumptuous Dinner consisting of so many huge Tables is provided for him what a variety of domestick Officers wait upon him perpetually whereof with the Remembrancer there are five of them Esquires by their places as was hinted before what a comely sight it is to see the Lord Mayor Sheriffs and Aldermen going in their Robes upon Festivals to the Cathedral Church of Saint Pauls though they who stand not so well affected to the present Government say that he goeth in now at the wrong end of the Church what a goodly sight it is when he goeth upon Easter Holidayes to the Spittle with the Sword and Cap of Maintenance going before him How his Robes are fitted for the season as from Michaelmas to Whitsontide he weares Violet fur'd from Whitsontide to Michaelmas Scarlet lined And for distinction among the Aldermen they who have bin Lord Mayors have their Cloaks lined with changeable Taffata but those that have not with green Taffata what great places of trust are committed to the Lord Mayor as the keeping of the great Bridge in repair which hath such large Revenues belonging unto it with a particular stately Seal which of old had the Effigies of Thomas of Becket a Londoner born upon it with this Inscription in the name of the City Me quae te peperi ne cesses Thoma tueri But the Seal was altered in Henry the eighths Raign what a great trust is it for the Lord Mayor to have the conservation of the Noble River of Thames from Stanes Bridge till She disgorgeth her self into the Sea How stately is he attended when he goes to take a view of the River or a Swan-hopping and lately what a Noble addition was it for the Lord Mayor to have a Park of Deer of his own so near the City to find him sport and furnish him with Venison what an Honour is it for the Lord Mayor to be accounted the first man of England upon the death of the Soveraign Prince As when King Iames was invited to come and take the Crown of England Robert Lee Lord Mayor of London was the first man who subscribed and then the Officers of the Crown with the chief Noblemen after him The Recorder of London also is primus Consiliarius Angliae and is priviledged to plead within the Barre The Lord Mayors of London have bin called sometime to sit at the Councel Table as Sir Iohn Allen was in Henry the eighths time with others which Allen gave that rich Collar of Gold which the Lord Mayors use to wear and the Aldermen his Brethren were used to be called Barons 4. We are come now to Regulation of Trade wherein London is not inferior to any City whatsoever witness among others what prudential Lawes Restraints and Cautions the Marchant Adventurers who trade in the Golden Fleece of England viz. in Woollen Manufactures have propos'd to themselves as likewise all other Corporations in like manner for the improvement of that particular Trade and preserving it from confusion 5. Touching variety of Artisans London yields to no other 't is true that mingling with Forreiners hath much advantag'd her in this kind but 't is observed and confessed by all Nations that though the Londoners be not so apt to invent yet when they have got the Invention they use alwayes to improve it and bring it to a greater perfection 6. Touching Corporations Halls Fraternities Guilds and Societies London hath not her Fellow witness the twelve Honourable Companies out of one of which the Lord Mayor is yearly chosen The several Societies of those who venter abroad in all parts of the habitable Earth as far as the Antipodes And threescore Companies of Citizens besides whereunto the new Company of Coachmen is lately added who have their Halls their regular Orders and Officers accordingly And touching all sorts of Artificers and variety of industrious wayes to improve all kind of Manufactures and thereby gain an honest Livelihood and so enrich the place London may be called a Hive of Bees as formerly was touched or a Hill of Ants which have bin alwayes made the Emblems of industry and providence 7. Touching plenty and abundance of all kinds of Provision as Flesh Fish Fowle Fruits Fuel variety of Drinks and Wines with any other Commodity that conduceth to pleasure and delight as well as necessity London may glory to be as well served as any City under Heaven A knowing Spaniard said that he thought Eastcheape Shambles alone vends more Flesh in the year then all the Court of Spain Gascon Wines drink better in London then in Bourdeaux and so do all other provided they be not sophisticated Nor doth London abound with all things so plentifully for the belly alone but also for the back either to keep it warm or make it gay what varieties of woollen Stuffs there are in every Shop with broad Cloth equal to the price of Silk being come to that heighth of perfection that some hath bin made of ten pounds a yard in price But the Hollanders and others have now got the art of
representing whereof there were more theaters in London then any where else And it was a true observation that those comical and tragical Histories did much improve and enrich the English Language they taught young men witty Complements and how to carry their Bodies in a handsome posture Add hereunto that they instructed them in the stories of divers things which being so lively represented to the eye made firmer impressions in the memory Lastly They reclaimed many from Vice and Vanity for though a Comedy be never so wanton yet it ends with vertue and the punishment of vice 13. For a stately Cathedral Temple and Dome of devotion the time was that London did not yield to any City under the Sun in this particular Saint Pauls Church being esteemed by all Nations to be one of the eminentest and visiblest Temple one of the most glorious Piles of Stones under Heaven taking all the dimensions together with the chearful conspicuous Site thereof being near the Center of the City and upon a rising ground Being also founded upon Faith's by having a large Church of that name truckling as one may say under her Chancel Add hereunto what a comfortable Object it was to behold above twenty miles distance round about this goodly Structure raysing it self above the rest and serving as it were for a Crest to the whole City But now this famous Fabrick which was accounted the greatest glory of London is become her greatest shame For many Fortainers who are none of those that place any inherent Sanctity in senseless inanimat stones have bin overheard to say that Pauls Church in that posture she now is is the saddest sight and most ruthful Spectacle upon the Surface of the whole Earth nay some have bin heard to say that whereas a Stable became once a Temple in Palestine a Temple among us hath bin made a Stable nay they went further not sticking to say that as Christ was born in a Stable so Antichrist is like to be born in a Stable in England The time was that London was used to have a greater care of this Temple when a solemn Act of the Lord Mayors and Common Councel passed which stands yet upon good Record to this effect and stands still in force Forasmuch as the material Temples of God were first ordained for the lawfull and devout Assembly of people there to lift their hearts and lawd and prayse Almighty God and to hear his Divine Service and his holy Word and Gospel sincerely said sung and taught and not to be used as Markets and other prophane places or thorow faires by carriage of things And for that of late years many of the Inhabitants of the City of London and other people repairing thither do commonly use and accustom themselves very unseemly and unreverently the more the pitty to make their common carriage of great Vessels â—ll of Ale and Beere great Baskets full of Bread Fish Flesh and Fruit â—â—d such other things Fardels of Stuffe and other grosse Wares and things through the Cathedrall Church of Saint Pauls and some in leading Moyles Horses and other Beasts through the same unreverently to the great dishonour and displeasure of Almighty God and the great grief also and offence of all good people Be it therefore for remedy and Reformation thereof â—dained enacted and established c. That no person either fiâ—e or forren of what estate or condition soever do at any time from henceforth carry or convey or cause to be carried and conveyed through the said Cathedrall any manner of great Vessel or Basket with Bread Ale Beer Fish Flesh or any other like thing or things upon pain of forfeiture or loosing for every such his or their offence three shillings four pence for the second six shillings eight pence for the third ten shillings And for every other offence after such third time to forfeit ten shillings and to suffer two dayes and two nights imprisonment without Bayl or Mainprize The one moyety of all which pains and penalties shall be to Christs Hospital within Newgate and the other half to him that will sue for the same in any Court of Record within the City by Bill original Complaint or Information to be commenc'd or sued in the name of the Chamberlain of the said City for the time being wherein no Essoyne or wager of Law for the Defendant shall be admitted or allowed c. Such was the Reverence that London shewed her Cathedral Church not long agoe which may be said to look now like the hulk of a great weather beaten Ship that had cross'd the Line eight times forward and backward to the East Indies and lies rotting upon the Carine such is the condition of this stately Church which is like to be buried shortly in her own ruines and so become a heap of rubbish and then how bâ—ld London will look let them judge who have taken a judicious prospect of Her Moreover there 's another Reason that may induce London to prevent this for if Pauls were down She forfeits the name of a City for all Lawyers concur in this opinion that there can be no City without a Cathedral Church t' is but a Village without one or a Town at most therefore London hath great cause to wish that those unlucky Scismaticks had never bin born who first brought Pauls Church to this pittiful passe for it may well be said that all those casual fires which she suffered whereof there were many did not do her as much mischief as the faruous fires of some fanatical Zelots have done as one said also of the House of Peers that the Long Parliament was more destructive unto it then the Powder-plot had bin if it had taken effect Touching particular appropriated places for the service of God We know there were such from the beginning As soon as Noah got footing on dry ground he erected an Altar which was in liue of a Church the Patriarks had theirs then from Altars they came to have Arks and ambulatory Tabernacles and we read what a conceit of holiness was carried towards them Then Salomon by Instructions from Heaven did build a fix'd and standing material Temple And we well know how highly our Saviour himself was incensed against the money changers and others who prophan'd that place and what sharp reprehensions his Apostle gave afterwards to those who used to eat and drink in those places which were appointed for devotion That Hyperâ—â— or room where our Saviour did please to celebrate the Passe-over and institute his last Supper may well be thought to have more Sanctity in it then an ordinary Chamber considering how many holy things were done there afterwards for our Saviour appeared in that very place twice after his Resurrection the Holy Ghost came down in cloven tongues in that place Iames was created Bishop of Hierusalem and seven Deacons were elected in that place which in regard of so many holy transactions was enlarged and made afterwards a goodly Church long
things both for Church and State in point of piety stately Structures of divers natures for the publick good and deeds of charity would make a large Volume of it self I will conclude for the present with a late worthy man one Mr. Iohn Walter who was Clark of Drapers Hall who having resolved with himself when he had attained a competent subsistence for himself and his Children to employ the rest every year for charitable uses which he did constantly for many years He built two Hospitals near London and it was a great while before the Founder of them was known He used to send a proportion of bread to be distributed among the poor to divers Churches and it was not known who sent it till he was dead and that he was missing It is thought by a computation that was made that he had employed above ten thousand pounds to charitable uses of all sorts private and publick and he was so free from vain-glory that his greatest care was to do them in such a manner that his left hand should not know what his right hand did And in his study after his death there was a bag of 800 l. in Gold with a label in paper upon it This is none of mine but the poor's Lastly for Prerogatives Enfranchisements Immunities Charters and Liberties for Hospitality and plentiful treatments as also for Antiquity the City of London comes not in the arrears to any Touching the last 't is true there are some Cities in the East that have the start of her in point of time yet London was built 354 years before Rome which is a fair Age. Touching the second some call London a lick-peny as Paris is called by some a pick-purse because of feastings with other occasions of expence and allurements which cause so many unthrifts among Countrey Gentlemen and others who flock into her in such excessive multitudes but this must be imputed not to the place but to the persons for one may live in London as frugally if he hath wit to make use of it as in any other City whatsoever T' is true that the prizes of all things use to be enhanc'd by confluences and swarms of people which a judicious Forreiner observing in London said that she bore no proportion with the Iland but might serve a Kingdom thrice as big and that England may be rather said to be in London then London in England which made some compare her to the spleen whose over-swelling make the rest of the body languish but it might be answered that London is rather like the stomack which digests the wealth of the Land and after a good concoction disperseth it again in wholsom nutriment to all parts Touching the third viz. freedom and immunities there 's no City hath more In the Raign of Richard the second it was enacted That the Citizens of London were to enjoy their priviledges and franchises licet usi non fuerint vel abusi fuerint whether they were not us'd or abus'd notwithstanding any Statute to the contrary as the Lord Coke hath it in his Institutes In the Lawes of the Land London is called sometimes Camera Regis Reipublicae Cor totius Regni Epitome the Kings Chamber the heart of the Common-wealth and compendium of the whole Kingdom sometimes she is called Caput Regum Legum The head of Kings and of Lawes nay some of the Roman Emperors in their Edicts called her Augusta which is a name alwayes of magnificence and State And now will I take leave of the Noble Augusta or City of London concluding with this hearty wish couch'd in these two Hexameters and relating to her proportion or shape which is a Laurel leaf as formerly was said Londinum Lauri folio non impare formâ Flore at Urbs sicut Laurus semperque virescat London is like a Laurel leaf may She Be verdant still and flourish like the Tree FINIS AN INDEX POINTING At the chief Passage throughout the whole Book A. fol. AUgusta a name given by the Roman Emperors to London 2. Appellations which forrain Authors give of London 2. Of Algate 5. Of Amwel River brought to London 11. The Lord Ailwine first Alderman in England Anno 851. 34. Of the Authority and State of the Lord Mayor of London 35. His Attendants and Officers with divers Prerogatives 35. Of the ancient Court of the Hustings 37. Austin the Monk the Englishmens Apostle 39. The Arms of all the Companies and Corporations of London blazon'd 41. The antiquity of all the Companies of London 41. Of Allhallowes Barking 48. Of Algate Ward 52. Of St. Andrew Undershaft 55. Of Augustine Fryers 72. St. Albanes a very ancient Church in London 301. Of Aldersgate Ward 306. Of the ancient great Monuments in Christs Church 311. The Antiquities of Southwark 137. An Alderman alotted to every Ward 340. The Abbey of Westminster ◠the greatest Sanctuary 346. Of the Court of Admiralty 373. A Contest 'twixt the Court of Admiralty and Westminster Hall 374. Of Amsterdam 339. Of Auspurg 389. B. fol. The Britains concreated with this Iland 2. The British Etymologies of London 2. The Britains were first Founders and God-fathers of London 3. Of Bainards Castle 5. Of the chief Banner-bearer of the City of London 27. The Black Fryers built of the ruines of the Tower of Monsiquet 29. Bishops have bin good Friends to London 40. Of Barking Church 48. The Bayliff of Rumford strangely executed 56. The common Burse at first in Lombard-street 63 Of Bishopsgate Ward 63 Of Bethlem now called Bedlam and the notable deed of gift that was made thereof 63 Of Broad-street Ward 71 Of Billingsgate Ward 84 Of Billingsgate some things remarkable 85 Of the Bridge-ward within 87 Of Backles-berry 113 Of Basings-Hall Ward 123 Of Backwell-Hall 123 The History of the Black-Fryers 316 Of Breadstreet Ward 318 Of Bridewell 332 Of St. Brides 333 Of the Bridge-House 339 A British Prophecy lately verified 348 Bishop of Chesters Inne 349 Of Bedford York Salisbury Worcester-House with others 349 Of Bedford Berry 350 Of Babylon 382 C. fol Cornelius Tacitus lived seven years in Britain the Epist. The Character which Tacitus gives of London 3 Constantine the Great first Builder of London Walls 4 Contests 'twixt the Lord Admiral and Lord Mayor about the Thames 14 The Conservancy of the Thames belongs de jure to the Lord Mayor 17 The Character of London Bridg in Latine and English verse 1 A City compared to a Ship 33 Of the several Courts belonging to the City of London 37 Ceremonies used in the Election of the Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs 36 The Clashes 'twixt the City of London and divers Kings 40 No City without a Cathedral Church and a Bishops See 40 Of the several Companies and Corporations belonging to the City of London 41 Corporations prejudicial to Monarchy 46 The Custom-house Key called in former times Petty Wales 49 Of the Crouched Fryers 57 Of Cornhill-Ward 77 Of Candlewick-Ward 89 The Charter of the Styliard 98