tres plus compleverat annis Nam tribus octensis Regia Sceptra tulit Quindecies Domini centenus fluxerat annus Currebat nonus cum venit atra Dies Septima termensis lux tunc fulgebat Aprilis Cum Clausit summam tanta Corona Diem Nulla Dedere prius tantum tibi saecula Regem Anglia vix similem posteriora Dabunt This Church is famous for the Monuments and Tombs of our Kings Queens Nobility and other eminent Men as Sebert the first Christian King of the Eastâ— Saxons Harold the Bastard Son of Canutus the Dane King of England King Edward the Confessor and his Queen Edith Maud Wife to King Henry the First the Daughter of Malcolm King of Scots Henry the 3. and his Son King Edward the 1. with Eleanor his Wife daughter to Ferdinando the first King of Castile and Leon. King Edward the 3. and Philippa of Henault his Wife King Henry the 5. with Katherine his Wife Daughter to King Charles the 6. of France Anne Wife to King Richard 3. Daughter to Richard Nevil Earl of Warwick King Henry the 7. with his Wife Elizabeth Daughter to King Edward the 4. and his Mother Margaret Countess of Richmond King Edward the sixth that most Religious and truly Vertuous Prince who lyeth under the Brass richly Gilded Altar most curiously wrought with Excellent Workmanship Anne of Cleave the 4 th Wife of King Henry the Eight Queen Mary and the Renowned Queen Elizabeth upon the Remove of whose Body from Richmond where She Dyed to White-Hall by Water these Lines were Written which may for their Elegancy and in Remembrance of that most Illustrious Protestant Queen be inserted The Queen was brought by Water to White-Hall At every stroake the Oars their tears let fall More clung about the Barge Fish under water Wept out their Eyes of Pearl swam blindly after I think the Barge-men might with easier Thighs Have row'd her thither in her Peoples Eyes For howsoe'er thus much my thoughts have scann'd Sh 'ad come by Water had she come by Land Prince Henry eldest Son of King James the First Monarch of Great Britain King James Himself and Queen Ann his Wife and the first Male born of King Charles the First dying an Infant Of Dukes and Earls and Lords Degree Edmund Earl of Lancaster second Son of King Henry the Third and his Lady Aveline de fortibus Countess of Albemarle William and Andomar of Valente of the Family of Lusignian Earls of Pembrooke Alphonsus John and other Children of King Edward the first John of Eltham Earl of Cornwall Son to King Edward the Second Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Glocester the youngest Son of Edward the Third with other of his Children Eleanor Daughter and Heir of Humphry Bâ—hun Earl of Hereford and of Essex Wife to Thomas of Woodstock The young Daughter of Edward the Fourth And King Henry the Seventh Henry a Child of two months old Son of King Henry the Eighth Sâ—phia the Daughter of King James who died as it were in the first Day-dawning of her Age. Philippa Mohun Dutchess of York Robert of Henault in right of his Wife Lord Bourchier Ann the young Daughter and Heir of John Mowbraâ— Duke of Norfolk promised in Marriage unto Richard Duke of York younger Son to King Edward the Fourth Sir Giles Dawbny Lord Chamberlain to King Henry the Seventh and his Wife of the House of the Arundels in Cornwall John Viscount Wells Frances Brandon Dutchess of Suffolk Mary her Daughter Margaret Douglas Countess of Lenex Grandmother to James King of Great Britain with Charles her Son Winefrid Bruges Marchioness of Winchester Ann Stanhope Dutchess of Somerset and Jane her Daughter Ann Cecil Countess of Oxford Daughter to the Lord Burleigh Lord High-Treasurer of England with Mildred Burghley her Mother Elizabeth Berkly Countess of Ormond Frances Sidney Countess of Sussex James Butler Viscount Thurles Son and Heir to the Earl of Ormond Besides these Humphry Lord Bourchier of Cornwall Sir Humphry Bourchier Son and Heir to the Lord Bourchier of Berners both slain at Barnetfield Sir Nicholas Carew Baron Powis Thomas Lord Wentworth Thomas Lord Wharton John Lord Russel Sir Thomas Bromley Lord Chancellor of England Douglas Howard Daughter and Heir General of Henry Viscount Howard of Bindon Wife to Sir Arthur Gorges Elizabeth Daughter and Heir of Edward Earl of Rutland Wife to William Cecil Sir John Puckering Lord-Keeper of the Great Seal of England Frances Howard Countess of Hartford Henry and George Cary the Father and Son Barons of Hunsdon both Lords Chamberlains to Queen Elizabeth The Heart of Ann Sophia the Daughter of Christopher Harley Count Beaumont Ambassador for the King of France in England bestowed within a small Gilt Urn over a Pyramid Sir Charles Blunt Earl of Devonshire Lord-Lieutenant-General of Ireland Geoffrey Chaucer the Prince of English Poets in his time Edmund Spencer an eminent Poet. William Cambden Clarencieux King of Arms. Causabon the Famous French Writer Michael Drayton c. Then there is George Villiers Duke Marquiss and Earl of Buckingham Favourite to King James and King Charles the First Also the Earl of Essex and several others Interr'd there during His present Majesties Absence from His Government There is also Interr'd George Duke of Albemarle Father to his Grace the present Duke whose Funerals were Solemnly performed the Thirtieth of April 1670. The Dutchess of Albemarle was also Interr'd in King Henry the Sevenths Chappel the twenty eighth of February 1669. in Westminster Church There is likewise Interr'd that Celebrated Poet Mr. Abraham Cowley under a Monument of Exquisite Curiosity at the Charges of his Grace the Noble Duke of Buckingham Having done with Westminster-Abby we shall give a Brief account of the other Churches Alphabetically as they were before the Fire And of such as are Re-built which are now far more Durable and Stately than before the Reader may expect an Account hereafter I. St. Albans Church in Woodstreet is of great Antiquity being Dedicated to St. Albans the first Martyr of England Another mark of Antiquity was to be seen in the manner of the turning the Arches in the Windows and heads of the Pillars There were also Roman Bricks found inlay'd here and there among the Stones of the Building it was Anno 1632. being wonderfully decay'd pull'd down in order to be Re-built In it were diverse Monuments which for brevity sake are omitted II. On the North side of the East end of Tower-street is the Parish-Church called All-hallows Barkin a very fair Church standing in a large Church-Yard on the North side whereof was built a fair Chappel by King Richard the first whose heart 't is said was buryed there under the high Altar This Chappel was Augmented by King Edward the first And a fraternity setled there by King Edward the fourth King Richard the third new Built it and founded therein a Colledge of Priests which was suppressed in the Year 1548. in the Second of Edward the sixth and the Ground made
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
Right to the Conservation of the Thames and the Waters of Medway by way of Inquisition whereof there were two the one taken at Raynam in Essex the other at Gravesend in Kent before Sir William Cambridge Grocer then Lord Mayor of London 9 Henry V. where it was presented that whereas by the antient Ordinances of London the Meshes of Nets should be two Inches in the fore part and one Inch in the hinder part and it being found that the Offences according to the said Inquisitions are Contra libertates consuetudines Civitatis it was adjudged that the Nets should be burnt according to the antient Custom in that behalf provided VI. He goes on after to prove that this Right belongs to the City by Decrees In 8 Henry IV. the Mayor and Aldermen did exhibit their humble Petition to the King's Councel reciting that time out of mind they had the Conservation and Correction of the River of Thames of all Trincks Nets and other Engines whatsoever in the River of Thames and Medway placed and have used to make a Sub-Conservator under them and complaining that Alexander Bonner then Sub-Conservator having discharged his Duty in removing Kiddles he was ill intreated by the owners dwelling in Erith Bratriferry Barking Woolwich and other places in the Counties of Kent and Essex and upon hearing of the matter in Camera Stellata they were found Guilty and Constrained to submit themselves to the Lord Mayor and ordered to bring always their Nets unto him before they should use them and that the Kiddles then taken should be at the disposition of the Lord Mayor so the Offenders made their submission accordingly VII He proceeds This Right appertains to the City of London by Letters Patents which he proved by a Grant made by Edward IV. to the Earl of Pembroke for setting up a Wear in the River of Thames which Grant was Revoked and Cancelled at the Request of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen upon shewing their Right therefore alleaged it was contrary to their antient Liberties At which time the Cities Title to the Conservancy of the Thames and Medway was at large set forth and recited to have been shewn to the Lord Chancellor and to the said Earl and his Counsel which accordingly was also read VIII He reinforceth the Right of the City by Proclamations whereof one was made by H. VIII in the 34 of His Reign wherein it is affirmed that the Lord Mayor and his Predecessors have had by divers Grants of the Kings of England and by Acts of Parliaments enjoyed always the Conservacy of the Thames without Impediments or Interruption By which Proclamation it was Commanded that none should resist deny or impugne the Lord Mayor or his Deputy in doing or executing any thing that might conduce to the Conservacy of the River and of the Fish and Fry within the same IX He produceth Report for in a Controversie betwixt the Lord Admiral and the Lord Mayor for the Measuring of Coals and other things upon the Thames it then fell into Debate to whom the Conservacy of the Thames did belong which cause was referred by Queen ELIZABETH's Councel of State 1597 to the Attorney-General and Solicitor who joyntly Certified amongst other things that the Conservancy and care of the said River did and ought to belong to the City of London X. By quo Warranto it was proved that the Conservacy of the Thames belongs to the City for 3 Jac. a quo Warranto was brought against the City in the Exchequer to know by what Title She claimed the Conservacy of the River of Thames and the Waters of Medway whereupon the City made Her Title Good thereunto by antient prescription and otherwise so Judgment was given in Her Favour XI He goes on afterwards to confirm the Right of the City by Proof of Vsage in regard the Lord Mayor and Aldermen have time out of mind made Ordinances concerning the Good Government of the River of Thames as well for the Seasons and Manner of Fishing beneath London-bridge Eastward upon pain of certain Penalties as appears from time to time from the Reign of Henry III. and so downward The Lord Mayor hath removed Kiddles Wears Trinks and other unlawful Engines and reformed the disorders of such as have offended besides in the River of Thames and inflicted punishment upon Offenders accordingly The Right of the City appears also by the Writs and Preceps under the Teste of the Lord Mayor to the Sheriffs of Kent and Essex for the Returning of Juries before him to inquire of Offences done in the River The same Right of the City appears also by Commissions whereof divers have been directed to the Lord Mayor to put in Execution the Acts of Parliament made for Conservance of the Thames and Medway and to inquire of all Offences made or done in the said Waters and to punish the Deliaquents accordingly Lastly He makes good the Right and Title of the City by the Continual Claim She has made thereunto as appears in those various Contests She had with the Lord Admiral of England wherein after divers Debates and Disputes She still came off well and made Her Title good Which moved King Jamts in the third Year of His Reign to put a Final Determination to the Business by the Letters Patents he passed unto the City wherein he saith That ad omnem Controversiam in hac parte Temporibus tam presentibus quam futuris tollendam omne Dubium amo vendam that to cut off all Controversies as well of the present times as of Future and to remove all Doubts he did Confirm and Ratifie the said Right unto the City of London c. I. This Office of Conservator of so Noble a River is of great Extent for he is to preserve the Currency of the stream on the Banks on both sides II. To preserve the Fish and Fry within the same that no Fishermen use unlawful Nets or Engines or fish at Prohibited Seasons III. To hinder the erection of any Weares Kiddles or Engines and the knocking in of any Posts Piles or Stake which may in any sort hinder the Stream or Navigation and to pull them up if already done and punish the Offenders also to prevent all incroachments upon the Rivers and the Banks thereof likewise to inquire of all Bridges Flood-Gates Mill-dams and such like Annoyances and whether any do hurl in any Soyl Dust or Rubbish or other Filth whatsoever to choak her But for the strength and safety of the River against the Invasion of an Enemy by Block-Houses Forts Bastions or Castles and the securing of the Merchant and Navigation to and fro that Charge belongs to the Soveraign Prince The former Charge Care and Circumspection belongs properly to the City of London which is Seated in a fit place to be watchful over her for which Vigilance the Thames Rewards the City abundantly by bringing her in the Spices of the South the Jewels of the East and the Treasures of the
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
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
French or Latin He knew the state of Foreign Princes perfectly and his own more He could call all Gentlemen of Account through his Kingdom by their Names And all this when he had scarce yet attained to the Age of Fifteen Years and dyed before Sixteen That from hence we may gather It is a sign of no long Life when the Faculties of the Mind are ripe so early His Pious and Religious Life was Remarkable as may be seen in the whole series of it and his Death was no less for the hour before he dyed he was over-heard to pray thus by himself O Lord God deliver me out of this miserable and wretched life O Lord thou knowest how happy it were for me to be with thee yet for thy Chosen's sake if it be thy Will send me life and health that I may truly serve thee O Lord God save thy chosen People in England and defend this Realm from PAPISTRY and maintain thy true Religion that I and my People may praise thy Holy Name for thy Son Jesus Christ's sake So turning his Face and seeing some by him he said I thought you had not been so nigh Yes said Dr. Owen we heard you speak to your self Then said the King I was praying to God I am faint Lord have mercy upon me and receive my Spirit And in so saying his blessed Spirit departed to take possession of an heavenly Crown when he had enjoyed an earthly Crown six years five months and nine days He was buried the 9th of August in Henry the Seventh's Chappel at Westminster near the Body of the said King Henry the Seventh his Grandfather This small Digression I hope will not be unacceptable to all true Christians being in memorial of that Peerless and Never-enough Bewailed Prince but he was too good for the World and rests now in endless Happiness In the year 1552 began the Repairing of the Gray-Fryers House for the poor Fatherless Children and in the month of November the Children were taken in to the same to the Number of almost 400. On Christmas-day in the Afternoon while the Lord Mayor and Aldermen Rode to Pauls the Children of Christs-Hospital from St. Lawrence-lane end in Cheapside towards Pauls all in one Livery of Russet-Cotton Three hundred and forty in Number and at Easter next they were in Blue at the Spittle and so they have continued ever since but they were this Year at St. Sepulchres This indeed was a work of extraordinary Piety and in my judgment it is a very Comely Sight to see the Poor Boys when they Sup all together with what Decency Order and Neatness they are serv'd and Governed by the respective Persons in that Office how plentifully they are provided with good Dyet Washing Lodging and Learning to fit them for business which the City takes care to settle them in according to their respective Capacities and it is known that many of them came to be Men of Note Wealth and great Usefulness in their Countrey Christs-Hospital Bridewel and St. Thomas are Incorporated by the Names of the Mayor Commonalty and Commons of the City of London Governors of the Possessions Revenues and Goods of the Hospitals of Edward King of England the Sixth oâ— Christ Bridewel and St. Thomas the Apostleâ— c. St. Bartholomew-Hospital is Incorporated by thâ— Name of the Mayor Commonalty and Citizens 〈◊〉 the City of London Governors of the Hospital 〈◊〉 the Poor called Little Saint Bartholomews near to West-Smithfield of the Foundation of King Henry the Eighth In the Year 1533 the 10th of April Sir George Barnâ— being Mayor of this City was sent for to the Court at Wâ—itehall where the King gave him 〈◊〉 was said his House of Bridewel and 700 Marks of Land late belonging to Savoy Hospital and all the Bedding and other Furniture c. for Bridewel and St. Thomas in Southwark The Gift was confirmed by Charter dated June 26. following And in the Year 1555 Sir William Gerrard Lord Mayor and the Aldermen entred Bridewel and took possession thereof according to the Gift of the said King Edward the same being confirmed by Queen Mary This Bridewel is now buâ—lt in a very curious and stately manner To reckon up the several Eminent and Bountiful Benefactors to these Hospitals would be endless they except some that would be concealed are to be found in the Records of those places to which the Reader is referred Only it being a very singular Example of Honesty Industry and Piety not to detract in the least from any Worthy and Bountiful Benefactor I will Remark one Richard Castel oâ— Castellâ—r Shoemaker dwelling in Westminster a Man of great labour and care in his Faculty with his own hands so that he was called the Cock of Westminster because both Winter and Summer he was at his Work before Four a Clock in the morning This Man thus honestly and painfully labouring for his Living God blessed and increased his Labours so â—bundantly that he purchased Lands and Tenements â—n Westminster to the yearly value of 44 l. And having no Child with the consent of his Wife who survived him and was a virtuous good Woman gave the same Lâ—â—ds wholly to Christs-Hospital aforesaid to the Relief of the Innocent and Fatherless Children and for the Succor of the Miserable Sore and Sick harboured in other Hospitals about London Sir William Chester Kt. and Alderman of London and John Calthrop Citizen and Draper of the same City at their own proper Costs and Charges â—â—ade the Brick-Walls and Way on the Back-side which leadeth from the said New Hospital unto the Hospital of St. Bartholomew and also covered and vaulted the Town-Ditch from Aldersgate to Newgate which before was very Noisom and Contagiouâ— to the said Hospital Sir Rowland Hill Lord Mayor in the 3d Year of this King besides many large and bountiful Charities on other things gave this Hospital 500 l. in his Life and 100 l. at his Death In the Year 1552 the Citizens of London having purchased the void suppressed Hospital of St. Thomas in Southwark in the Month of July began the Reparations thereof for Poor Impotent Lame and Diseased People so that in November following the Sick and Lame were taken in II. Of all the Hospitals that ever were Founded in Christendom there is none can parallel that of Thomas Sutton Esq called Sutton's Hospital which will commend to all succeeding Posterity the duely deserved Praises of that truely Worthy and Never-to-be-forgotten Gentleman the Phoenix of Charity in our Times The Dissolved Charter-house by West-Smithfield belonging to the Right Honourable Thomas Earl of Suffolk after Lord Treasurer of England is sufficiently known to be a very large and goodly Mansion beautified with spacious Gardens Walks Orchards and other Pleasures Enriched with divers Dependencies of Lands and Tenements thereunto belonging and very aptly seated for wholesom Air and several other Commodities All which Commodiousness of Situation and largeness of Circuit gave occasion to this well minded Gentleman
When the King Prorogues or Dissolves the Parliament He commonly comes in Person to the House of Lords in his Robes with the Crown on his Head and sends by the Vsher of the Black-Rod for all the House of Commons to the Bar of that House and after the King's Answer to each Bill signified as aforesaid his Majesty usually makes a Solemn Speech the Lord Chancellor another and the Speaker of the House of Commons a Third Then the Lord Chancellor by the special Command of the King doth pronounce the Parliament Prorogued or Dissolved The King being Head of the Parliament if his Death doth happen during the Sitting of the Parliament it is ipso facto Dissolved IV. Sommerset-House in the Strand is the Queens Palace In the Year 1549. Edward Duke of Sommerset Uncle to Edward the 6 th and Lord Protector pulled down several adjoyning Buildings to make him a Mansion-House there the Stones of which Houses and some other more remote Buildings which he demollished were converted to this Spatious and Beautiful Palace of which we cannot add much more but that it was the Fatal place where the wicked Romish Assassinates prompted by Hell and their accursed Principles most barbarously Murdered that Noble Patriot and never to be forgotten Knight Sir EDMOND-BERRY GODFREY on Saturday the 12 th of October 1678. The Bloody Villains being enraged at the Discovery of their Execrable Plot in which this brave Gentleman was very active made him a Sacrifice to their Revenge so that he may be truly stiled the Martyr of the English Protestant Interest and deserves a Memorial in all Loyal Christian Hearts The Narrative is published at large to which we refer our Reader only we cannot omit his Majesties Royal act who so resented this Abominable Villany that he issued his Proclamation the 20 th of October promising 500 l. to the Discoverer and a Pardon if one of the Malefactors and another soon after promising on the word of a King not only the said Reward of 500 l but such care for the Security of the Discoverer as he could in Reason propose upon which Captain William Bedlow since Dead and Mr. Miles Praunce a Silver-smith in Princes-street which last confessed to have been in the Fact made the Discovery and upon their clear and undoubted Evidence three of the Wretches were Executed viz. Green Berry and Hill the rest fled from Justice but cannot escape Divine Vengeance Having spoken of these principal Palaces it may be expected that we should speak something of the Great and Famous Houses of the Nobility which are very many and Magnificent not yielding to any in Europe as Clarendon-House which for Situation stately Architecture spacious solid uniform Structure is admirable Berkley-House Wallingford-House Northumberland-House Salisbury and Worcester Houses Bedford Leicester Newport Mountague and Southampton Houses and indeed most Houses of the great Peers But the brevity of our Volume will not admit a large Description only in General we shall say something of them in the Section that Treats of the Fire Anno 1666. and the Rebuilding of the City SECT 5. Of Exchanges and Publick-Halls THe Royal Exchange in Cornhil-Ward was Erected in the Year 1566 just one hundred Years before it was Burnt in this manner Certain Houses upon Cornhil containing Eighty Housholds were purchased by the City of London for above 3532 l. which they sold for 478 l. to such as would take them down and carry them away Then the Ground or Plot was made plain at the Charges of the City and Possession thereof was given to Sir Thomas Gresham Knight a Noble Merchant and Agent to Queen Elizabeth by certain Aldermen in the name of the whole for to Build an Exchange thereon for Merchants to Assemble On the 7 th of June he laid the first Stone in the Foundation being accompanied with some Aldermen where every one of them laid a piece of Gold which the Work-men took up The Work was advanced with such Expedition that in November 1567 it was finished and afterwards in the presence and by the special Command of the Queen it was Proclaimed by a Herald and with sound of Trumpet named The ROYAL EXCHANGE It was Built most of Brick and yet was the most splendid Burse all things considered that was then in Europe The Burse for Merchants was kept before in Lumbard-street In the great and dismal Conflagration Anno 1666. the Royal Exchange was consumed But it is since Rebuilt in a far more stately and Magnificent manner of excellent Portland Stone almost as durable as Marble with such curious and admirable Architecture especially for a Front a Turret and for Arch-work that it surpasseth all other Burses in Europe The Form is Quadrangular with a large Paved Court where the Merchants Meet it is Quadratum Oblongum an Oblong square and on each side are stately Galleries or Portico's Checquered with a smooth and delicate Stone-Pavement the Arches supported with strong Stone Pillars where in case of Rain or extream Heat the greatest part may be sheltered The whole Fabrick cost above 50000 l. whereof one half was disbursed by the Chamber of London and the other by the Company of Mercers And to reimburse them there are to be let 190 Shops above-stairs at 20 l. per annum and 30 l. Fine besides the several Shops below on the several sides and the huge Vaulted Cellars under ground so that it must needs be the richest piece of Ground in the World For The Exact Dimensions of the Ground whereon this Goodly Fabrick is Erected is but 171 Foot from North to South and 203 Foot from East to West and little more than three quarters of an Acre of Ground yet producing above 4000 l. Yearly Rent The New Exchange on the Strand was called Durham-House Built by Thomas Hatfield Bishop of Durham who being made Bishop of that See Anno 1549. continued so 36 Years It was a very Capacious Edifice on the North side stood a row of Thatcht low Stables which the Right Honourable Robert Earl of Salisbury then Lord High Treasurer of England purchased and pulled down Erecting in the room thereof at his own Charge a very goodly and beautiful Building with Cellars underneath and a Walk fairly Paved above it with Rows of Shops and the like above stairs The first Stone was laid the 10 th of June 1608 and it was finished in November following The Shops above and under were curiously adorn'd and in April following the Earl Invited King James the Queen the Prince the Duke of York to come thither who came attended with many of the Nobility where after a Rich Banquet the King named it Britains Burse There are also two Exchanges more viz. The Middle Exchange and Exeter Exchange which last was lately built in both which Goods are sold as at the Royal Exchange Having done with Exchanges we shall proceed to the Publick Halls of Companies As for the Great Guild-Hall for Orders sake the Reader is referred to the Section
all Stores belonging to Shipping to examine and audit Treasurers Victuallers and Score-keepers Accounts his Sallary is 500 l. yearly Surveyor of the Navy whose Office is Generally to know the state of all Stores and see the Wants supplyed to sind the Hulls Masts and Yards and estimate the Value of Repairs by Indenture to charge all Boat-swains and Carpenters of His Majesties Navy with what Stores they Receive and at the end of each Voyage to state and audit their Accounts his Sallary is 490 l. Clarks of the Acts whose Office is to Record all Orders Contracts Bills Warrants and other business transacted by the Principal Officers and Commissioners of the Navy c. the Sallary of the Commissioners of the Navy is 500 l. yearly to each There are two Commissioners whose particular work is to be at Portsmouth and Chatham always in readiness to give Orders for the better Management of His Majesties Affairs in his Yards or Store-houses there Sallary to each is 350 l. Yearly Each of these Officers above-named have two Clarks and some of them more all paid by the Treasurer of the Navy all hold their places by Patent from the King and most of them during pleasure The King hath for his Navy Royal and Stores four great Yards or Store-houses viz. at Chatham Deptford Woolwich and Portsmouth where his Ships are Built Repaired and laid up after their Voyages In which yards are Employed Divers Officers whereof the six principal are Clerks of the Check Store-keeper Master Attendants two at Chatham Master-Shipwright Clark of the Control Clark of the Survey Note that the Charges of the Clarks and Instruments are included in the afore-mentioned Sallaries Besides these four Yards his Majesty hath divers Rope-Yards as at Chatham Woolwich and Portsmouth where are made all his Cables and Cordage for his Navy Also in time of Sea-War the King hath another Yard at Harwich where there is out of War time continued an Officer at the charge of 100 l. yearly The ordinary Charge of his Majesties Navy in times of Peace continuing in Harbour is so well regulated that it amounts to scarce 7000 l. Besides all Charges of Building of Ships c. or setting forth any Fleets which some years even in peaceable times amounts to 12 or 13000 l. more as may easily be conjectured by the Charges of Building and Rigging of Ships and of one Months expence at Sea Of the Post-Office THis Office is now kept in Lumbard-street formerly in Bishops-gate-street the Profits of it are by Act of Parliament settled on his Royal Highness the Duke of York But the King by Letters Patents under the great Seal of England constitutes the Post-Master-General From this General Office Letters and Packets are dispatched On Mondays To France Spain Italy Germany Flanders Sweedland Donmark Kent and the Downs On Tuesdays To Holland Germany Sweedland Denmark Ireland Scotland and all parts of England and Wales On Wednesdays To all parts of Kent and the Downs On Thursdays To France Spain Italy and all parts of England and Scotland On Frydays To Flanders Germany Italy Sweedland Denmark Holland Kent and the Downs On Saturdays All parts of England Wales Scotland and Ireland Letters are returned from all parts of England and Scotland certainly every Monday Wednesday and Friday from Wales every Monday and Fryday and from Kent and the Downs every day But from other parts more uncertainly in regard of the Sea A Letter containing a whole sheet of Paper is convey'd 80 Miles for 2 d. two sheets for 4 d. and an Ounce of Letters for 8 d. and so propoâ—tionably a Letter containing a sheet is conveyed above 80 Miles for 3 d. two sheets for 6 d. and every Ounce of Letters for 12 d. A sheet is conveyed to Dublin for 6 d. two for a shilling and an Ounce of Letters for 12 d. This Conveyance by Post is done in so short a time by night as well as by day that every 24 hours the Post goes 120 Miles and in five days an answer of a Letter may be had from a Place 300 Miles distant from the Writer Moreover if any Gentlemen desire to ride Post to any Principal Town of England Post-horses are always in readiness taking no Horse without the consent of his owner which in other Kings Reigns was not duly observed and only 3 d. is demanded for every English Mile and for every Stage to the Post-Boy 4 d. For conducting Besides this Excellent convenience of conveying Letters and Men on Horse-back there is of late such and admirable commodiousness both for Men and Women of better rank to travel from London and to almost all the Villages near this great City that the like hath not been known in the World and that is by Stage-Coaches wherein one may be transported to any place sheltred from foul Weather and foul ways free from endamaging ones Health or Body by hard jogging or over violent motion and this not only at a low price as about a shilling for every five Miles but with such velocity and speed as that the Posts in some Foreign Countries make not more Miles in a day for the Stage-Coaches called Flying-Coaches make forty or fifty Miles in a day as from London to Oxford or Cambridge and that in the space of twelve hours not counting the time for Dining setting forth not too early nor coming in too 〈◊〉 The several Rates that now are and have been taken for the Carriage of Letters Packquets and Parcels to or from any of His Majesties Dominions to or from any other parts or places beyond the Seas are as followeth that is to say s. d. MOrlaix St. Maloes Caen New-haven and places of like distance Carriage paid to Rouen Single 0 6 Double 1 0 Treble 1 6 Ounce 1 6 Hamburgh Colen Frankfort Carriage paid to Antwerp is Single 0 8 Double 1 4 Treble 2 0 Ounce 2 0 Venice Geneva Legorn Rome Naples Messina and all other parts of Italy by way of Venice Franct pro Mantua Single 0 9 Double 1 6 Treble 2 3 Ounce 2 8 Marseilles Smirna Constantinople Aleppo and all parts of Turky Carriage paid to Marselles Single 1 0 Double 2 0 3 4 Oun. 2 9 Ounce 2 8 And for Letters brought from the same places to England Single 0 8 Double 1 4 Treble 2 0 Ounce 2 0 The Carriage of Letters brought into England from Calice Diep Bulloign Abbeville Amiens St. Omers Montrel Single 0 4 Double 0 8 Treble 1 0 Ounce 1 0 Roven Single 0 6 Double 1 0 Treble 1 6 Ounce 1 6 Genoua Legorn Rome and other parts of Italy by way of Lyons Franct pro Lyons Single 1 0 Double 2 0 3 4 Ounce 2 9 Ounce 3 9 The Carriage of Letters Outwards To Bourdeaux Rochel Nants Orleans Bayon Tours and places of like distance Carriage paid to Paris Single 0 9 Double 1 6 Treble 2 3 Ounce 2 0 Letters brought from the same places into England Single 1 0 Double 2 0 3 4 Oun.
3 0 Ounce 4 0 The Carriage of Letters Outwards To Norembourgh Bremen Dantzick Lubeck Lipswick and other places of like distance Carriage paid to Hamburgh Single 1 0 Double 2 0 3 4 Oun. 3 0 Ounce 4 0 Paris Single 0 9 Double 1 6 Treble 2 3 Ounce 2 0 Dunkirk Ostend Lisle Ipers Cambrary Ghent Bruxels Bruges Antwerp and all other parts of Flanders Shâ—â—e Flushing Middleburgh Aâ—â—sterâ—am Rotterdam Delph Hague and all other parts of Holland and Zealand Single 0 8 Double 1 4 Treble 2 0 Ounce 2 0 All Merchants Accounts not exceeding a Sheet Bills of Eâ—change Invoices Bills of Lading shall â—e allowed without rate in the price of the Letters and also the Covers of the Letters not exceeding a Sheet to Mâ—rseilles Venice or Legorn towards Turkie The said Office is managed by a Deputy and other Officers to the Number of seventy seven persons who give their actual attendance respectively in the dispatch of the business Upon this Grand Office depends one hundred eighty two Deputy-Post-Masters in England and Scotland most of which keep Regular Offices in their Stages and Sub-Post-Masters in their Branches and also in Ireland another General Office for that Kingdom which is kept in Dublin consisting of Eighteen like Officers and Forty-five Deputy Post-Masters The Present Post-Master-General keeps constantly for the transport of the said Letters and Pacquets Between England and France two Pacquet-Boats Flanders two Pacquet-Boats Holland three Pacquet-Boats Ireland three Pacquet-Boats And at Deal two Pacquet-Boats for the Downs All which Officers Post-Masters Pacquet-Boats are maintained at his own proper Charge And as the Master-piece of all those good regulations established by the present Post-Master-General for the better Government of the said Office he hath annexed and appropriated the Market-Towns of England so well to their Respective Post-Stages that there is no Considerable Market-Town but hath an easie and certain Conveyance for the Letters thereof to and from the said Grand Office in the due course of the Males every Post Though the Number of Letters Missive in England were not at all Considerable in our Ancestors days yet it is now so prodigiously great since the meanest People have Generally learnt to write that this Office is Farmed for above 40 rather 50000 l. a Year Of the PENNY-POST THis Ingenious Vndertaking being so extraordinary useful in the facilitating of Commerce and mutual Correspondence and consequently very serviceable to Traders c. shall be briefly handled and I hope that what proceeds from me who am no interessed Person will be resented Candidly and Examined as to the Argumentative part according to the Solidity and Strength of the Reasons produced I have heard this Undertaking disparaged by some Censorious Persons and have examined the Reasons with the quality of the Objectors and have found it all along opposed by none but the Ignorant or such as preferred some particular Ends before Publick Utility To my knowledge I never saw nor corresponded directly nor indirectly with any of the Undertakers till being very desirous to insert this Affair of the Penny-Post in this Book for Publick Information I made an Address to one of the Gentlemen concern'd who Courteously supply'd me with some particular Informations which I wanted and for which I am beholding to him This I speak to satisfie the Objectors that I do voluntarily and not by any inducement of theirs mention this Affair which in my opinion is so far from being a prejudice that the City as well as the whole Nation is beholding to them for their Ingenious Contrivance and their Constancy and Generosity in minding the Publick Good so much as they have done for 't is certain that they have been at very great Expence to hold it up under the Discouragements that some Persons have thrown upon them and the necessary Charge to support it is yet very considerable But to be more particular 1. I will give some Hints of what this Undertaking is in Point of Practice 2. It s general and particular Usefulness 3. I will consider an Objection or two 1. What I can say of this Undertaking in Point of Practice is briefly what follows only I would premise a few words as my opinion and the opinion of impartial Persons of my acquaintance as to the thing in general This useful Invention is little more than a year old being begun in April 1680. The chief Undertaker that introduc'd it into Practice is one Mr. William Dockwra Merchant a Native and Citizen of London formerly one of His Majesties Sub-Searchers in the Custom-House of London as in the List of those Officers appears A Person whose approved Reputation for Industry and Fidelity was well known to all for above ten years in that Office And to whom the Publick is obliged he having with his Partners spent much time and a great Sum of money to bring this Undertaking on foot wherein they encounter'd with no small Difficulties not only by Affronts and Indignities from the Vulgar sort who seldom weigh any Publick or Generous Designs but at the Beam of Little Selfish By-Ends but also by more dangerous Attaques for there have been Attempts made by some Persons to persuade his Royal Highness the Duke of York that it intrench'd upon the General Post-Office and damnifi'd it whereupon many Actions were brought and a chargeable Suit of Law follow'd But questionless the Duke is better inform'd now for it is most certain that this does much further the Revenue of the Grand Post-Office and is an universal Benefit to all the Inhabitants of these Parts so that whoever goes about to deprive the City of so useful a thing deserves no thanks from the Duke nor any Body else but to be Noted as an Enemy to Publick and Ingenious Inventions It is with all Humility submitted to the Consideration of all worthy Citizens that happen to peruse this small Tract that it becomes not the Honour of the City to suffer any of its Ingenious Natives especially Persons who have lived and do live in good Fashion and Repute to sink under the carrying on of an Undertaking so advantageous not only to the Publick but also to private Persons since their industrious Service to their Generation deserves encouragement from their Fellow-Citizens and all others viz. 1. To discountenance petty Persons that would for the profit of running of Errands rob the Community if they could of this more than ordinary convenience for safe cheap and necessary Dispatches 2. To reject any INTRUDER that may attempt to set up another Penny-Post because if the thing be hereafter profitable all the Reason and Equity in the world will plead for the Inventers viz. that they ought to reap the Benefit And it is a Note of Consideration That Mr. Dockwra has a numerous Family of eight young Children who being forsaken by some others soon after it began and left to shift for himself carried on this Undertaking singly for above half a year at his own proper charge and