the foundation of the aforesaid Gate it was much loosned and weakned so that 200 and oddâ— years after viz. Anno 1440. 18 H. 6. It fell down and was never since re-edified There were several other Water-Gates which were purchased by private Men as at Black-frier-stairs a free landing place Puddle-Wharf Pauls-Wharf a free landing place Broken-wharf Queen-Hith a place called Woolf-Gate in the Parish of Aâ—lâ—allows after called Woolf-lane but the lower part being built on by the Earl of Shreâ—sâ—ury and the upper part by the Chamberlain of London it was grown out of use There was also a Gate called Ebgate now the Old Swan There was also a small Gate called Oyster-Gate because Oysters were sold there and other Shell Fish Bridg-gate so called of London-Bridg was reckoned by Fitz-Seephens one of the Principal Gates of the City Next Buttolph-gate so called of St. Buttolphs-Church adjoining Of Billingsgate we have spoke already There was a Water-gate by the Custom-House at the South end of Water-lanâ— and another Water-gate by the Tower Of the Tower of London THe Wall of the City was furnished round about with Towers and Bulworks at due and Regular distances Of which where the Wall ended towards the River on the East-side the most eminent was that which we call the Toâ—â—r of London Built by William the Conqueror about the Year 1078. Some say that Caesar built the White-Tower but that is not so nor does he mention it in his Commentary though an exact Recorder of his own Actions Gundulph Bishop of Rochester being Principal Surveyor and Overseer of the Work This was the great Square Tower now called the White-Tower which has been much inlarged by several Buildings since adjoyned at diverse times and incompassed with a Wall And Anno 1190 in the 2 R. 1. as was said the Bishop of Ely Chancellor of England inclâ—sed it with a thick and strong outward Wall of stone Embattailed and caused a Broad and Deep Ditch to be cast about the same thinking to have Invironed it with the River of Thames so that it is a most Famous Goodly Citadel resembling a big Town Edward the 4 th fortified this Tower inclosing a certain piece of Ground taken from Tower-Hill on the West which is now called the Bulwark Near West-gate opening to the South there is a strong Postern for passengers by the Ward-House over a Drawbridg let down for that purpose On the South side towards the East is a large Water-gate for the Receipt of small Vessels under a store Bridg from the River Thames beyond it 〈◊〉 a small Pâ—stern with a Draw-bridg seldom let down but to receive great Persons that are Prisoners The Lyon-Tower was built by Edward the 4 th This is not only a Fort or Citadel to Defend and Command both City and River but alâ—o a Royal Palace where our Kings with their Courts have Lodged some times 'T is furnished with an Armory and Royal Arsenaf of Arms and Ammunition for 60000 Men. Here are kept the Treâ—sury for the Jewels and Ornaments of the English Crown the only Mint now for Coining Silver and Gold in England And the most Antient Records of the King's Courts of Justice at Westminster This is the Chief Prison for the safe Custody of Great Persons that are Criminals It is out of any County or Parish yet a great part of it is within the liberty of the City For it was the Judges opinion that those that were to be Tried for the Murder of Sir Thomas Overbury must be Tried in the City the Fact being done there The Office of his Majesties Records is of venerable Antiquity And as the Chapel of the Rolls in Chancery-Lane and Petty Bag-Office doth fill with Records out of other Offices they are transmitted into the Tower after some years for preservation and security These Records contain the Foundations and Dissolutions of Abbeys Donation of Land c. These Records at the Rolls being joyned to those in the Tower will make a perfect continuance of all the Antient Rights of England as 1. The Leagues and Treaties of Foreign Princes 2. The Warlike Atchievments of the English in France and other Parts 3. The Original of all the Laws Enacted and Recorded till the Reign of Richard the 3. 4. The Homage and Dependancy of Scotland upon England The Establishment of Ireland in Laws and Dominions 5. The Dominion of the British Seas excluding both French and Dutch from Fishing there without the Kings License proved by Records before the Conquest 6. The Title of the Realm of France and how obtained 7. And all that the Kings or Princes of this Land have until that time done abroad on granted or confirmed unto their Subjects at home or abroad 8. Tenures of all Lands extents of Surveys of Mannors and Land Inquisitions post mortem 9. Libertys and Priviledges Granted to Citys Towns or private Men. 10. Several Writs Bleadings Proceedings c. in Courts of Chancery Common Law Exchequer c. 11. Inspeximus's and Inrollments of Charters and Deeds before the Conquest 12. Metes and Bounds of all Forrests with the respective Rights of the Inhabitants to common pasture besides many other things too tedious to be repeated and are in the Petition of the Commons of England in Parliament Anno 46. E. 3. Num. 43. Said to be the perpetual Evidence of every Mans Right and the Records of this Nation without which no Story of the Nation can be written or proved They are reposited in Wakefield-Tower adjoyning to the Blood-Tower near Traytors-gate It is to be kept open and constantly attended for all Resorters thereto from 7. to 11. of the Clock in the Morning and from 1. till 5. in the Afternoon every Day of the week but in December January and February from 8. in the Morning to 4. in the Afternoon except Holy-days c. The Governor is call'd the Lieutenant of the Tower who ought to be a Person of Worth and Fidelity and by Vertue of his Office is to be a Justice of Peace in Kent Surrey and Middlesex he is High Steward of a Court there held hath a Deputy may refuse an Habeas Corpus and may give Protection to all Debtors belonging to the Tower all England over He can take two Gallons and a Pint of all Wine-Ships that come His Sallary is 200 l. per annum His usual Fee for every Prisoner sent to the Tower who are commonly Men of Estates is 20 l. and 3. l. a week of an Esq 5. l. for a Knight for a Baron or above 5. l. at Entrance to whom the King weekly allows 10 l. whereof two parts to the Prisoner the third to the Lieutenant for Lodging and Dyet and 50 l. to the Lieutenant upon the Prisoners discharge The Gentleman Taylor is put in by the Lieutenant of the Tower and his Fee is 41 s. of a Gentleman and 5 l. of a Knight There are 40 Warders of the Tower accounted the King's Domestick Servants and sworn by the Lord
Protection he Governs the Navy Royal and decides all Civil and Criminal Causes in Sea Affairs whether done upon or beyond Sea in any part of the world on the Sea Coasts in all Ports or Havens and all Rivers beyond the First Bridg next towards the Sea Which Dignity is now executed by Commanders To the ADMIRALTY belong several Courts but this at Doctors Commons is the Principal or Supreme and it may not be improper in Treating of this Colledge to give a brief account of it for the rest the Reader is referred to the Present State of England In this Court called the COURT of ADMIRALTY he hath usually a Lieutenant called Judge of the Admiralty who is commonly some Learned Doctor of the Civil Law The proceedings in all Civil Matters are according to the Civil Law because the Sea is without the Limits of the Common Law and by Libel they proceed to the Action the Plaintiff giving Caution to prosecute the Suit and to pay what shall be Adjudged against him if he fail in the Suit the Defendant on the Contrary securing the Plaintiff by a sufficient Surety or Caution as the Judge shall think meet that he will appear in Judgment and pay what shall be Adjudged against him and that he will ratifie and allow all that his Proctor shall do in his Name whereby the Clients are well assured to obtain that which by Law shall be Adjudged to them let the Cause fall on which side soever They make use also of the Laws of Rhodes and Oleron whereof the former is an Island in the Mediâ—â—rranean Sea about 20 Miles distant from the Continent of Asia Minor and is now under the Turk the antient Inhabitants whereof by their mighty Trade and Power at Sea grew so expert in the Regulation of all Maritime Matters and Differences that their Determinations therein were esteemed so Just and Equitable that their Laws in such Affairs have ever since been observed for Oracles Those Laws were long ago incorporated into the Volumes of the Civil-Law and the Romans who gave Laws to other Nations for their Sea Affairs referred all Debates and Differences to the Judgment of these Rhodian Laws Oleron is an Island antiently belonging to the Crown of England seated in the Bay of Aquitaine not far from the Mouth of the Garonne where our Famous King Richard the first caused to be compiled such Excellent Laws for Sea-Matters that in the Ocean-Sea West ward they had almost as much repute as the Rhodian-Laws in the Mediterranean and these Laws were called La Rool d' Oleron What we have of the Rhodian-Law with the Comments thereon inserted by the old Juris-Consults in the Pandects and the Constitutions made by the Roman Emperors contained in the Code and in the Novelles still hold preheminence of all others Under this Court there is a Court of Equity for Determining Differences between Merchants Former Customs and Decrees are of Force also to decide Controversies The proceeding in Criminal Affairs as about Piracy is according to two Statutes made by H. VIII to be Tried by Witnesses and a Jury by special Commission of the KING to the Lord Admiral wherein some of the Judges of the Realm are ever Commissioners and the Trial according to the Laws of England directed by those Statutes All Causes that happen between the High and Low-Water-Mark are determinable at Common-Law because that place belongs then to the body of the Adjacent Country but when it is Full Sea the Admiral hath Jurisdiction there also so long as the Sea flows over matters done between Low-Water Mark and the Land as appears in Sir Henry Constables Case 5 Report Coke p. 107. For Regulating and Ordering His Majesties Navy Ships of War and Forces by Sea see those excellent Articles and Orders in Stat. 13. Car. 2. Cap. 9. The Writs and Decrees of this Court run in the Name of the Lord High Admiral and are Directed to all Vice Admirals Justices of Peace Mayors Sheriffs Bayliffs Constables Marshals and other Officers and Ministers of our Soveraign Lord the King as well within Liberties â—s without To this Court belongs a Register a Marshall who carries a Silver Oar before the Judge whereon are the Arms of the King and the Lord High Admiral The Lord High Admiral hath here his Advocate and Proctor and all other Advocates and Proctors are presented by them and admitted by the Judge This Court is held on the same day with the Arches but in the afternoon in the same Common-Hall at Doctors Commons But the Admiralty Session is held at St. Margarets-Hill in Southwark where it was antiently kept for the Tryal of Malefactors and Crimes Committed at Sea The Places and Offices of this Court are in the gift of the Lord High Admiral At Doctors Commons is another Court belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury called the Prerogative Court which Judgeth all Estates fallen by Will or by Intestates It is so called because the Archbishop by vertue of his Prerogative hath this Power throughout the whole Province where the Party at the time of Death had 5 l. or above in several Diocesses All Citations and Decrees run in the Name of the Archbishop This Court is kept in the same Common-Hall in the Afternoon next day after the Arches and was heretofore held in the Consistory at Pauls The Judge is attended with a Register who sets down the Decrees and Acts of the Court and keeps the Records all Original Wills and Testaments of Parties Dying having Bona Notabilia c. The place is commonly called the Prerogative Office now kept in the Deans Court near St. Pauls Church-yard where for a Moderate Fee one may search for and have a Copy of any such Testament made since the Rebellion of Wat-Tyler and Jack-Straw which is above 300 years ago in the Reign of Richard the Second for by those Rebels many Records and Writings in London and other places were then burnt and destroyed The Places belonging to this Court are in the Gift of the Archbishop of Canterbury The Court of Delegates who upon every New Business have a New Commission and New Judges according to the Nature of the Affair is kept also in the same Common-Hall in the Afternoon the Day after the Prerogative But of this we have spoken something before the Citations and Decrees here run in the King's Name Of the College of Heralds Not far from the College of Doctors Commons stood the College of Heralds now Rebuilt It was an antient House Built by Thomas Stanley Earl of Derby who Married the Mother of King Henry the VII and was bestowed by Queen Mary on the King's Heralds and Pursuivants at Arms for ever to the end that they and their Successors might dwell together if they so pleased and Assemble Confer and Agree for the good Government of their Faculty and that their Records might there be safely preserved These are to be the Messengers of War and Peace they are skilful in Descents
of the said Doctors in a most Capacious and Beautiful manner where they keep their Courts and pleadings every Term which begins and ends almost at the same time with the Term at Westminster The Chief Court is that of the Arches so called from the Arched Church of St. Mary-le-Bow in Cheapside where this Court was wont to be held but now in the Common-Hall at Doctors Commons the Judge whereof is called the Dean of the Arches having Jurisdiction over a Deanry consisting of thirteen Parishes within London exempt from the Jurisdiction of the Bishop of London Hither are directed all Appeals in Ecclesiastical matters within the Province of Canterbury to this belong divers Advocates all Doctors of the Civil Law two Registers and ten Proctors The Dean or Judge of the Arches sitteth alone without any Assessors and Heareth and Determineth all Causes without any Jury of Twelve Men. The manner is briefly thus Fist goes out a Citation then a Bill and Answer then by Proofs Witnesses and Presumptions the matter is Argued pro and con and the Canon and Civil Laws quoted and then the Definitive Sentence of the Judge passeth and upon that Execution But by Statute 25 Henry the VIII it was provided that it shall be Lawful for any Subject of England in Case of Defect of Justice in the Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury to Appeal to the King's Majesty in His Court of Chancery and that upon such an Appeal a Commission under the Great Seal shall be directed to certain Persons particularly Designed for that business so that from the Highest Court of the Archbishop there lyes an Appeal to this Court and beyond it to none other It is called the Court of Delegates and in Civil Affairs is the Highest Court in England Ecclesiastical Criminal Causes are Tried by way of Accusation Denunciation or Inquisition The first When some one takes upon him to prove the Crime The second When the Church-Wardens Present and are not bound to prove because it is presumed they do it without Malice and that the Crime is Notorious Thirdly By Inquisition when by reason of Common Fame inquiry is made by the Bishop ex Officio suo by calling some of the Neighborhood or the Party Accused to their Oaths But this Oath ex Officio was taken away by Parliament in the time of King Charles the First If the Party Accused after Admonition submits not he is Excommunicated from the Church and is disenabled to be a Plaintiff in a Law Suit c. Which is called Excommunicatio Minor Excommunicatio Major excludes from the Church and from Society in Temporal Affairs and that for Heresie Schism Perjury Incest or such grievous Crimes then a Man cannot be Plantiff or Witness in any Civil or Ecclesiastical Court. And if he continues Excommunicated 40 Days the King 's Writ de Excommunicato capiendo is granted out of the Chancery against him whereupon he is cast into Prison without Bail there to lye till he hath submitted to the Bishop and satisfied for what he is charged with by which many tender Consciences have suffered deeply There is an Anathematismus inflicted upon an obstinate Person that is Judged an Heretick wherein he is Curs'd and Rejected to Damnation There is also an Interdict Prohibiting all Divine Offices to a Place or People if against a People it follows them any where if against a Place the People may go elsewhere to hear Somtimes a Person Adjudged a Delinquent is punished another way which is called Publick Pennance and is to stand in the Church-Porch upon Sunday bare Headed and bare Footed in a White sheet and a White Rod in his Hand then he is to go into the Church and his Crime being publickly repeated and he professing Repentance is Absolved but in some Cases the Party may come off for Money to the Poor or some Pious Use which is not always converted that way Christian Burial is denyed to Persons Excommunicate or Perjured to such as are Hang'd for Felony or Kill themselves to Apostates Hereticks and Extortioners Somtimes the Clergy Men are suspened ab Officio viz. from the Exercise of their Functions somtimes there is a Deprivatio a Beneficio when deprived of their Livings somtimes they are Degraded that is Deprived of their Orders which is commonly for some Heinous Crime So much Briefly of these Censures and Punishments The Office of Actuary attending the Court of Arches is to set down the Judges Decrees Register the Acts of the Court and send them in Books of the Registry The Office of the Register is to Attend the Court by himself or Deputy and receive all Libels or Bills Allegations and Exhibits of Witnesses Files all Sentences and keeps the Records of the Court. The Beadle attends the Court carryeth a Mace before the Judge and calls the Persons Cited to appear The Judge and all the Advocates who are all Doctors of the Civil Law wear Scarlet Robes with Hoods lined with Taffata if they be of Oxford or White Miniver Furr if of Cambridge and the Proctors ought to wear Hoods lined with Lamb skin if not Graduates but if Graduates Hoods according to their Degree The Proctors are Persons that Exhibit their Proxies for their Clients and make themselves Parties for them and draw and give in Pleas or Libels and Allegations in the behalf of their Clients produce the Witnesses prepare the Causes for Sentence and and attend the Advocates with the proceedings All Arguments made by Advocates and all Petitions made by Proctors are to be in Latin All process of this Court runs in the Name of the Judge and returnable before him heretofore in Bow-Church but now in the Common-Hall at Doctors Commons The Places and Offices of this Court are in the Gift of the Archbishop of Canterbury These Ecclesiastical Laws consist of Canons made by General Councels the Opinion of Fathers the Decrees of several Bishops of Rome formerly admitted and our own Constitutions made antiently in several Provincial Synods which by 25 Henry VIII are in Force so far as they are not Repugnant to the Laws and Customs of England or the King's Prerogative Then the Canons made in the Convocations of latter times as Primo Jacobi and confirmed by him some Statutes Enacted by Parliament and divers old Customs not written but yet in use and where these fail the Civil Law takes place Amongst the Great Officers of the Crown which are Nine viz. the Lord High Steward of England the Lord High Chancellor the Lord High Treasurer the Lord President of the KING's Council the Lord Privy Seal the Lord Great Chamberlain the Lord High Constable the Earl Marshal and the Lord High Admiral of England The last only appertains to this place his Trust and Honour is so great that it has been usually given to the KING 's Younger Sons near Kinsmen or some of the Highest and Chiefest of all the Nobility He has the management of all Maritime Affairs as well in respect of Jurisdiction as
George Whitmore Samuel Cranmore Henry Prat. 1632 8 Sir Nicholas Raynton Hugh Perry Henry Andrews 1633 9 Sir Râ—lph Freeman Sir Thomas Mouldston Gilbert Harrison Richard Gurney 1634 10 Sir Robert Parkhurst John Heylord John Cordel 1635 11 Sir Christ Cletherow Thomas Soame John Gayer 1636 12 Sir Edw. Bromfield William Abel John Garret 1637 13 Sir Richard Fen. Thomas Atkin. Edward Rudge 1638 14 Sir Maurice Abot Isaac Pennington John Wollaston 1639 15 Sir Henry Garraway Thomas Adams John Warner 1640 16 Sir Edmund Wright John Towse Abrah Reynardson 1641 17 Sir Richard Gurney George Garret George Clarke 1642 18 Isaac Pennington John Langham Thomas Andrews 1643 19 Sir John Wolaston John Fowke James Bunce 1644 20 Thomas Atkin. William Gibbs Richard Chambly 1645 21 Thomas Adams John Kendrick Thomas Foot 1646 22 Sir John Gayer Thomas Cullam Simon Edmonds 1647 23 Sir John Warner Samuel Avery John Bide 1648 24 Sir Abra Reinardson Thomas Andrews in his Room Thomas Viner Richard Brown King CHARLES the II. began His Reign the Thirtieth of January 1648. 1649 1 Thomas Foot Christopher Pack Rowland Wilsen John Dethick 1650 2 Thomas Andrews Robert Tichborn Richard Chiverton 1651 3 John Kendrick Andrew Richards John Ireton 1652 4 John Fowke Stephen Eastwick William Vnderwood 1653 5 Thomas Viner James Philips Walter Bigge 1654 6 Christopher Pack Edmund Sleigh Thomas Aleyn 1655 7 John Dethick William Thompson John Detherick 1656 8 Robert Tichborn Tempest Milner Nathaniel Temms 1657 9 Richard Chiverton John Robinson Tho. Chandler died Richard King 1658 10 John Ireton Anthony Bateman John Lawrence 1659 60 11 12 Sir Thomas Aleyn Knight and Bar. Francis Warner William Love Esq 1660 61 12 â—3 Sir Richard Brown Baronet Sir Will. Bolton Knt. Sir William Peâ—k Kt. 1661 2 13 14 Sir John Frederick Francis Menil Esq Samuel Starling Esq 1662 3 14 15 Sir Joh. Robinson Bar. Sir Thom. Bludworth Sir Wilâ—iam Turner 1663 4 15 â— Sir Anthon. Bateman Sir Richard Food Sir Richard Rives 1664 â— 16 17 Sir John Lawrence Sir George Waterman Sir Charles Doe 1665 6 17 â— Sir Thom. Bludworth Sir Robert Hanson Sir William Hooker 1666 7 18 â—9 Sir William Boulton Sir Robert Viner Sir Joseph Sheldon 1667 â— 19 20 Sir William Peake Sir Dennis Gauden Sir Thomas Davies 1668 9 20 21 Sir William Turner John Forth Esq Sir Francis Chaplain 1669 70 21 22 Sir Samuel Starling Sir John Smith Sir James Edwards 1670 71 22 23 Sir Richard Ford. Samuel Forth Esq Patience Ward Esq 1671 2 23 24 Sir George Waterman Sir Jonat Daws died Sir Robert Clayton Sir John Moore 1672 3 24 25 Sir Robert Hanson Sir Will. Pritchard Sir James Smith 1673 4 25 â—6 Sir William Hooker Sir Henry Tulse Sir Robert Jeffry 1674 5 26 7 Sir Robert Viner Knt. and Barronet Sir Nathan Herne Sir John le Thuilâ—er 1675 6 27 â— Sir Joseph Sheldon Sir Thomas Gold Sir John Shorter 1676 7 28 9 Sir Thomas Davies Sir John Peak Sir Thomas Stamp 1677 8 29 30 Sir Francis Chaplain Sir William Royston Sir Thomas Becâ—ford 1678 9 30 31 Sir James Edwards Sir Richard How Sir John Chapman 1679 80 31 2 Sir Robert Clayton Sir Jonath Raymond Sir Simon Lewis 1680 1 32 3 Sir Patience Ward Slingsby Bethel Esq Henry Cornish Esq Having given a Catalogue of all the Mayors and Sheriffs that have been in London to this present year we shall proceed to give a brief Account of this great Magistrate for to give a full and distinct Account of all things relating to that high Place quadrates not with the intended bulk of this little Memorial The Lord Mayor of London upon the Death of the King is the prime Person of England and therefore when King James came to take possession of the English Crown Sir Robert Lee then Lord Mayor of London subscribed before all the great Officers of the Crown and all the Nobility He is always for his great Dignity Knighted before the Year of His Mayoralty be expired unless Knighted before whilst Alderman which of 〈◊〉 hath been usual He keeps a Table so richly and plentifully furnished where all strangers or others that are of any quality are nobly entertained at all times of the year that it is fit to receive the greatest Subject of England or of other Monarchs Nay it is Recorded that in the 31. E. 3. Henry Picard Lord Mayor of London Feasted Four Kings viz. The King of England the King of France the King of Cyprus and the King of Scotland with other great Estates all in one day And their Present Majesties of Great Britain have been by some of the late Lord Mayors Treated at their Table There is also for the Grandeur of the Lord Mayor 1000 l. a year allowed for his Sword-bearer's Table in the Lord Mayor's House His Domestick attendance is very honourable He hath Four Officers that wait on him who are reputed Esquires by their places that is the Sword-Bearer the Common-Hunt the Common-Cryer and the Water-Bayliff there is also the Coroner three Sargeants Carvers three Sergeants of the Chamber a Sergeant of the Channel four Yeomen of the Water-side one Vnder-WaterBayliff two Yeomen of the Chamber three Meal-Weighers two Yeomen of the Wood-Wharffs most of which have their Servants allowed them and have Liveries for themselves c. His State and Magnificence is remarkable when he appears abroad which is usually on Horse-back with rich Caparisons himself always in long Robes sometimes of fine Scarlet Cloath richly Furr'd sometimes Purple sometimes Puke and over his Robes a Hood of Black Velvet which is said to be a Badge of a Baron of the Realm with a great Chain of Gold about his Neck or Collar of SS's with a great rich Jewel Pendant thereon with many Officers walking before and on all sides of him He is usually Chosen on Michaelmas-day by the Livery-men or Members of the several Companies in London out of the twenty-six Aldermen all persons of great Wealth and Wisdom in which Election the Senior Alderman hath usually the precedence yet in this particular the said Electors are at their liberty On the 29 th of October there is a most Magnificent Cavalcade when the Lord Mayor attended with all the Aldermen all his Officers all the several Companies or Corporations rides to the Water-side where they enter their stately Barges with their Arms Colours and Streamers and go to Westminster to be sworn to be true to the King c. in the Exchequer Chamber after which he returns in the same manner to Guild-Hall that is the great Common-Hall of Guilds or Incorporated Fraternities where is prepared for him and his Brethren a most sumptuous Dinner to which many of the Great Lords and Ladies and all the Judges of the Land are invited And the King and Queens Majesties the Duke of York and Prince Rupert did lately honour that Feast with their presence The Lord Mayor on the Day of the King's Coronation is Chief Bâ—tler and bears the Kings Cup
a fair Room over it appointed for a Treasury for the Books and Records of the City and another Room underneath for necessary use and Employment was begun Anno 1614. and finished Michaelmas 1615. at the charge of 1740 l. which was well well bestowed The Kitchins c. were built about Anno 1501. for accommodation of the Lord Mayors Feast by means of Sir John Shaa Goldsmith Lord Mayor who kept the first Lord Mayors Feast there which were wont to be kept before in Merchant-Taylors or Grocers-Hall c. The adjoyning Chappel or College of Mary Magdalen and All-Saints was called London-College built Anno 1299. which had a Custos seven Chaplains three Clerks and four Quiristers Adjoying to this Chappel was a fair and large Library pertaining to the Guild-Hall and College but the Books to the quantity of three-score Cart-loads * Howel p. 118. in Edw. 6. time were sent for by Edw. Duke of Somerset with promise to restore them but they were never return'd The Library was built by the Executors of Sir Richard Whittington aforesaid and by W. Bury This great Guild-Hall was destroyed by the great Fire 1666 but very Magnificently rebuilt In the great Hall on the East-end it is very Richly hung with the lively Effigies of His Majesty and the Duke of York and round about on all sides it is adorn'd with the costly and lively Pictures of the great Ministers of State and Judges of the Land There are many large and spacious Courts and Offices where the Respective Affairs of the City are managed as before in the Section of the Civil-Government of London Of Blackwell-Hall THis place was purchased by the Lord Mayor and Commonalty for 50 l. 20. R. 2. and employed as a Weekly Market-place for all sorts of Woollen-Cloaths broad and narrow brought from all parts of the Kingdom there to be sold 21 R. 2. It was Decreed that no Foreigner or Stranger should sell any Woollen-Cloath but in Blackwell-Hall upon pain of forfeiture thereof It was Rebuilt being decayed Anno 1558. at the charge of 2500 l. to which Richard May Merchant-Taylor gave 300 l. at his Decease It was destroyed by the great Fire 1666 but rebuilt in a very capacious manner and is the greatest Market and Store-house for all sorts of Woollen-Cloath c. Of Leaden-Hall ANno 1411. This Hall was confirm'd unto the City by Sir Richard Whittington and others who purchased it Anno 1443. 21 H. 6. Sir John Hatherly Lord Mayor purchased License of the King to take up 200 fodder of Lead for the building of Water-Conduits a Common Granary and the Cross in Cheap-side more beautifully for the honour of the City This Granary was built by the honourable and famous Merchant Simon Eyre the words of the Grant be Cum Nobilis potens vir c. Whereas the Noble and powerful man c. sometime an Vpholsterer and then a Draper Anno 1419. He built it of square Stone as it now sheweth having escaped the fury of the great Fire with a fair and large Chappel on the East-side of the Quadrant over the Porch he caused to be Written Dextra Domini exaltavit me The Lords Right hand exalted me Within the Chappel was written Honorandus famosus Mercator Simon Eyre hujus operis c. In English thus The honourable and famous Merchant Simon Eyre Founder of this Work once Mayor of this City Citizen and Draper of the same Departed out of this Life 18 Sept. 1459. 38 H. 6. He was buried in the Church of St. Mary Wolnoth in Lumbard-street He gave very many large and bountiful Legacies to be read in Stow page 163. This Hall was Burnt Anno 1484. but Rebuilt again in a very stately and capacious manner There were kept the Artillery Guns and other Armour of the City The Store of Timber for the necessary reparations of the Tenements belonging to the Chamber of London It was a Free Market for Victuallers There were the Common Beams for weighing of Wools and other Wares the Scales to weigh Meal there were made the Pageants for the Midsummer-Watches In other parts Woolsacks were stowed Abovestairs the Painters workt upon the Pageants the Residue were let to Merchants c. Now there is kept the greatest Flesh-Market about the City And a great Magazine of Corn. In speaking of Halls it may not be impertinent to remember the Right honourable Baptist Lord Hicks Viscount Cambden who besides many noble and charitable acts of Piety in King James his time recorded by Stow p. 760 761. built the Sessions-House for the Justices of Middlesex in St. Johns-street at the charge of 600 l. called after his Name Hicks's-Hall which was a great convenience they sitting before in a common Inn called the Castle As for the particular Halls of Companies we have spoke of them Generally before which is all that appears at present necessary SECT 7. Of the Custom-House THe House where this great Office was kept a little below Billingsgate was destroyed by the great Fire but is Rebuilt in a much more magnificent uniform and commodious manner by the King which hath cost His Majesty 10000 l. Here is received and managed all the Impositions laid on Merchandize Imported or Exported from this City which are so considerable that of all the Customs of England which amount to about 600000 l. a year divided into three parts the Port of London pays two thirds that is about 400000 l. per annum A great Number of Officers are here Employ'd whereof divers are of considerable quality and ability There are at present Five Commissioners who have the charge and oversight of all His Majestics Customs in all Ports of England Viz. Sir Richard Temple Bar. Sir George Downing Kt. Charles Cheney Esq Francis Millington Esq John Vpton Esq The Sallaries to each of these is 1200 l. a Year they have many Deputies or Waiters in the Port of London and also in all the Out-Ports Then there are Customers Collectors Comptrollers Surveyors Searchers Waiters c. Sir John Shaw Collector Inwards and for the Act of Navigation Fee 966. l. 13. s. 4. d. Sir Nicholas Crisp Collector Outwards Sallary 276 l. Alderman Edward Backwell Comptroller Sallary 255 l. George Nicholas Esq Surveyor-General Sallary 500 l. The Searchers Office is managed by a Chief and five Under-Searchers Clerks c. Since the happy Restoration of His Majesty there has been in all Eleven Persons Under-Searchers in that Office viz. Six who have all except one disposed of their place by His Majesties grace and favours Mr. Daniel Colwall Rob. Forster Leonard Scot. Will. Dockwra Tho. Hampson John Seymour Esq The Five Undersearchers now in Possession are Mr. Tho. Burton John Evans Richard Goodlad Charles Beauvoir Richard Pierce The Chief Searcher has 120 l. per annum The Undersearchers have each 12 l. And sundry Fees settled upon them by Authority of Parliament which are paid them by Masters of Ships and Merchants c. Having always been Officers