Judges the Barons of the Exchequer the Aldermen of the City and several Eminent Persons Merchants and Publick Officers and many Gentlemen of Quality There were brought to the Slaughter-House 24 great Beefs at 26 s. 8 d. a piece from the Shambles one Carkass of an Oxe at 24 s. One hundred Fat Muttons at 2 s. 10 d. a piece 51 great Veals at 4 s. 8 d. a piece 34 Porks at 3 s. 8 d. a piece 91 Piggs at 6 d. each 10 Dozen of Capons of one Poulterer for they had three at 20 d. a piece Capons of Kent 9 Dozen and a half at 12 d. a piece Capons Course Nineteen Dozen at 6 d. a piece Cocks of Gross 7 Dozen and 9 at 8 d. a piece Cocks Course 14 Dozen and 8 at 3 d. a piece Pullets the best 2 d half penny other Pullets two pence Pigeons 37 Dozen at 10 d. the Dozen Swans 14 Dozen Larks 340 Dozen at 5 d. the Dozen c. with all other Appurtenances needful for a Splendid and Magnificent Entertainment Which is mentioned the rather to shew the Change of Prices this being but 150 Years ago The two Temples near Temple-Bar were formerly the dwelling of the Knights Templers who founded them in the Reign of Henry the II. These Templers took beginning about the Year 1118. Their first profession was for safeguard of Pilgrims coming to visit the Sepulchre at Jerusalem and increased mightily They bare Crosses of red Cloth on their uppermost Garments to be known from others they were called Templers or Knights of the Temple because their first Mansion was near the Temple in Jerusalem granted to them by King Baldwin Many Noblemen afterwards in all parts of Christendom became Brethren of this Order and built themselves Dwellings in every great Town but this at London was their chief Dwelling in England Matthew Paris Reports that they were first so Poor that they had but one Horse to Serve two of them but they became very Rich and Pompous afterwards and entertained the Nobility and Foreign Ambassadors and the Prince Himself frequently their Seal for the reason aforesaid was two Men riding upon one Horse Many Parliaments and Great Councels have been there kept as appears in our Historys In the Year 1308. all the Templers in England and all Christendom were apprehended and committed to divers Prisons for Heresie and other Articles by means of Philip King of France who procured them to be Condemned by a General Councel whose Lands were given by a Councel at Vienna Anno 1324 to the Knights Hospitallers called the Order of St. John of Jerusalem who took the Island of Rhodes from the Turk and bravely maintained it till the time of Solyman the Magnificent who after a most sharp and tedious Siege of six Months took it when they had Valorously kept it about 200 Years and made a dismal slaughter in Solymans great Army consisting of about 200000 Men and 300 Gallies c. These Knights have since Inhabited Malta another Island in the Mediterranean Sea given them by the King of Spain In the Reign of Edward the III. this Temple was purchased by the Students of the Common Law which is above 300 Years ago they are called the Inner and Middle Temple in Relation to Essex-House which was part of the Knights Templers and called the Outer-Temple because Sealed without Temple-Bar As to the Casualties of Fire and Tumults by which this Temple suffered but now restored in a Beautiful and Stately manner we refer to the Chapter that particularly Treats of such things The Inns of CHANCERY are Cliffords-Inn in Fleet-street somtimes belonging to the Lord Clifford but afterwards let to Students of Law Thavies-Inn in Holborn begun in the Reign of Edward the III and since purchased by Lincolns-Inn as was also Furnivals-Inn in Holborn Bernards-Inn and Staple-Inn belonging to the Merchants of the Staple These Five Inns of Chancery are within the Liberties of the City And Clements-Inn so called because it stands near St. Clements Church without Temple-Bar New-Inn so called because of a Newer Foundation than the others and Lyons-Inn antiently a Common-Inn with the Sign of the Lyon which three last are without the City Liberties These were heretofore Preparatory Colledges for Younger Students and many were entred here before Admitted to the Inns of Courts But now they are for the most part taken up by Attornies Solicitors and Clerks who have here their Chambers apart and their Diet at a very easie rate in a Hall together where they are obliged to appear in Grave long Robes and Black round knit Caps These Colledges belong all to some Inns of Court who send Yearly some of their Barristers to Read to these In each of which one with another there are about 60 or 70 Persons There are two Inns of Court without the City Liberties called Lincolns-Inn which antiently belonged to the Earls of Lincoln and Greys Inn belonging to the Noble Family of the Greys These two Inns are very Capacious and Stately Colleges with very lovely Walks and Gardens Greys-Inn especially being Seated upon the very Edge or Skirt of the Subâ—rbs in Holborn yeilds a most Gallant Prospect into the Country and in its Beautiful Walks one may partake of the fresh Country Ayr as well as if in the Country In these two Inns and in the two Temples which are our four Inns of Court as was said the Gentlemen that are Studious of the Common Law reside in a Collegiate manner And in the Reign of Henry the VI they florished so that there were in each about 200 Students each expending Yearly about 20 l. which was as much as 200 l. now and were as Fortescue saith Vltra Studium legum quasi Gymnasia omnium morum that is Besides the Studies of the Law as it were Schools of all sorts of Civility and Good breeding or manners These Societies are no Corporations nor have any Judicial Power over their Members but have certain Orders among themselves which have by consent the Force of Laws For lighter offences they are Excommoned or put out of Commons not to eat with the rest and for greater Offences they lose their Chambers and are expelled the College and being once expelled they are never received by any of the three other Societies Which deprivation of Honour to Young generous Spirits is more grievous than perhaps Deprivation of life They wear a Grave black Robe and Cap when they meet at Chappel at the Hall or at Courts of Justice and at other times walk with Cloak and Sword or what they please These Colleges have no Lands nor Revenues because being no Corporations they cannot purchase but the charges of the House are defray'd by what is paid at Admittances and Quit-Rents for their Chambers The whole Company of Gentlemen in each Society may be divided into 4 parts Benchers Vtter-Barristers Inner-Barristers and Students Benchers are the Seniors to whom is Committed the Government and ordering of the whole House and out of these
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
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
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
the Lord Steirard in the Compting-house is the Treasurer of the Houshold the Comptroller the Cofferer the Master of the Houshold the two Clerks of the Green Cloth the two Clerks Comptrollers one Sergeâ—nt two Yeomen the Cofferers Clerks or Clerks of the Assignments the Groom two Messengers The Compting-house is so called because the Accompts for all Expences of the King's Houshold are theâ—e daily taken by the Lord-Steward the Treasurer Comptroller the Cofferer the Master of the Houshold the two Clerks of the Green Cloth and the two Clerks Comptrollers who also there make Provisions for the Houshold according to the Law of the Land and make Payments and Orders for the Well-governing of the Servants of the Houshold In the Compting-house is the Green-Cloth which is a Court of Justice continually sitting in the King's House composed of the Persons last mentioned whereof the three first are usually of the King 's Privy Council To this Court being the first and most ancient Court of England is committed the charge and over-sight of the King's Court Royal for matters of Justice and Government with Authority for maintaining the Peace within 12 Miles distance wheresoever the Court shall be and within the King's House the power of correcting all the Servants therein that shall any way offend It is called the Green-Cloth of a Green-Cloth whereat they 〈◊〉 over whom are the Arms of the Compting-house bearing Vert a Key or and a Staff Argent Saultier signifying their power to Reward and Correct as Persons for their great Wisdom and Experience thought fit by His Majesty to exercise both these Functions in His Royal House The Treasurer of the King's House is always of the Privy Council and in absence of the Lord Steward hath power with the Comptroller and Steward of the Marshalsea to hear and determine Treasons Felonies and other Crimes committed within the King's Palace and that by Verdict of the King's Houshold If any Servants within the Check-Roll be found Guilty of Felony they are to have no Benefit of Clergy allowed them The Comptrollers Office is to Controul the Accompts and Reckonings of the Green-Cloth His Fee is Annually 107 l. 12 s. 4 d. A Table of 16 Dishes each Meal He bears a White Staff c. The Cofferer is a principal Officer and hath especial Charge and Over-sight of other Officers of the House for their good Demeanor and Carriage in their Offices and is to pay the Wages of the King's Servants above and below Stairs And for Provisions by the Direction and Allowance of the Green-Cloth His Annual Fee is 100 l. and a Table of seven Dishes each day The Office of the Master of the Houshold is to survey the Accompts of the House His Fee is 100 Marks and seven Dishes daily All Bills of Comptrolment Parcels and Brievements are lotted and allowed by the Clerks Comptrollers and summed up by the Clerks of the Green-Cloth ☞ Note That though the King pays still the ancient Fees which at first were above ten times the value they are now yet the Perquisites in many Oâ—fices make sometimes a place of 10 l. Fee to be worth near 500 l. per Annum ☞ Note also That in each Office there is a Succession from one to another the inferior Degree still coming into the place of the next above if he dyes as one of the Children may come to be Groom then Yeoman then Gentleman then Sergeant c. as he happens to out-live them above him The Chief Clerk waits upon and appoints the Kings Queens and Houshold Dyets every third Month waits upon all Foreign Princes Strangers and Ambassadors when His Majesty gives them Entertainment He keeps all the Records Leger-Books and Papers relating to that Office makes up all Bills Parcels and Debentures for Board-Wages and Provisions and Necessaries issuing from the Offices of the Pantery Buttery and Cellar Keeps Accompt of and makes up the Remains with several other Duties which oblige him to constant Waiting He appoints Scowrers Turn-Brochers and Porters in his turn with the Master Cook in the several Kitchens and hath a Fee equal to an Officer of the Green-Cloth and Diet of seven Dishes each Meal The second and third Clerks wait upon the Diet as abovesaid each of them one month in three and attend the King and Queen in their Progresses when appointed by the Green-Cloth and have a Table of five Dishes There are three Master Cooks for the King Queen and Houshold who have each a Table of five Dishes There is a Knight Harbinger three Gentlemen Harbingers and seven Yeomen Harbingers The Office is given to the Knight-Harbinger by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England during Life When the King goes on Progress in England or Beyond the Seas he does by himself or his Deputy provide and appoint all Lodgings and Harbingage for all great Persons all Noblemen Bishops all His Majesties Servants and Attendants c. For all Ambassadors and Foreigners c. His Salary is 20 Marks per Annum and 10 s. a day out of the Exchequer besides Fees for Honours given by the King and Homage done to His Majesty and divers other Perquisites In the Court the Officers according to their several Degrees are called either Lords Knights Esquires Sergeants Gentlemen Clerks Yeomen Grooms Pages or Children There are two Lords viz. the Lord Steward and the Lord Chamberlain Two Knights viz. the Knight Marshal and the Knight Harbinger Four Esquires of the Body c. The Knight Marshal called Mareschalus Hospitii Regis hath Jurisdiction and Cognizance of all Crimes within the Royal Palace whereunto one of the Parties is the King's Servant He is one of the Judges of the Court called the Marshalsea or Marshal-Seat of Judicature which is held in Southwark and hath there a Prison belonging to the same Upon Solemn Occasions he Rides before the King with a short Baston tipt at both ends with Gold and hath six Provost Marshals or Virgers in Scarlet Coats to wait on him and to take care of the Royal Palace that no Beggars Vagabonds Common Women that prostitute their Bodies Malefactors c. come within or near the Court. There are divers other Officers below Stairs under the Lord Steward as also the Officers belonging to the Queens Kitchin Cellar Pantery c. and to the Lords Kitchin together with Children Scowrers Turn-Broaches c. His Majesties Servants in Ordinary above-stairs are as followeth THE Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber whereof the first is called the Groom of the Stole as it were Servant of the Robe or Vestment he having the Office and Honour to Present and Put on His Majesties first Garment or Shirt every morning and to order the things of the Bed-Chamber The Gentlemen are usually of the prime Nobility of England Their Office is each one in his Turn to wait a Week in every quarter in the King's Bed-Chamber there to lie by the King in a Pallet-Bed all Night and in the absence of the Groom
next he distributes to 24 poor men named by the Parishioners of the Parish adjacent to the King's place of Residence to each of them four pence in money a Two-penny Loaf and a Gallon of Beer or in stead thereof three pence in money equally to be divided among them every morning at seven of the Clock at the Court-gate The Sub-Almoner is to scatter New-coined Two-pences in the Towns and Places where the King passes through in his Progresses to a certain Sum by the year Besides there are many poor Pensioners either because so old that they are unfit for service or the Widows of any of the King's Servants that dyed poor who have a Competency duly paid them Besides there are distributed among the Poor the large Offerings which the King gives in Collar days The magnificent and abundant plenty of the King's Tables hath caused amazement in Foreigners In the Reign of King Charles I. there were daily in his Court 86 Tables well furnished each Meal whereof the King's Tables had 28 Dishes the Queens 24 4 other Tables 16 Dishes each 3 other 10 Dishes 12 other 7 Dishes 17 other 5 Dishes 3 other 4 32 had 3 and 13 had each two in all about 500 Dishes each Meal with Bread Beer Wine and all other things necessary There was spent yearly in the King's House of gross meat 1500 Oxen 7000 Sheep 1200 Veals 300 Porkers 400 Sturks or young Beefs 6800 Lambs 300 Flitches of Bacon and 26 Boars Also 140 dozen of Geese 250 dozen of Capons 470 dozen of Hens 750 dozen of Pullets 1470 dozen of Chickens for Bread 36400 Bushels of Wheat and for Drink 600 Tun of Wine and 1700 Tun of Beer Moreover of Butter 46640 together with the Fish and Fowl Venison Fruit Spice proportionably This prodigious plenty in the King's Court caused Foreigners to put a higher value upon the King and was much for the Honor of the Kingdom The King's Servants being Men of Quality by His Majesties special Order went to Westminster-Hall in Term-time to invite Gentlemen to eat of the King 's Acates or Viands and in Parliament-time to invite the Parliament-men thereto On the Thursday before Easter called Maunday Thursday the King or his Lord Almoner was wont to wash the Feet of as many poor Men as His Majesty had Reigned years and then to wipe them with a Towel according to the Pattern of our Saviour and then to give every one of them two Yards and a half of Woollen Cloth to make a Suit of Cloaths also Linnen Cloth for two Shirts and a pair of Stockings and a pair of Shoes three Dishes of Fish in Wooden Platters one of Salt Salmon a second of Green Fish or Cod a third of Pickle-Herrings Red Herrings and Red Sprats a Gallon of Beer a Quart Pottle of Wine and four six-penny Loaves of Bread also a Red Leather-purse with as many single Pence as the King is years old and in such another Purse as many shillings as the King hath reigned years The Queen doth the like to divers poor Women The Form of Government is by the wisdom of many Ages so contrived and regulated that it is almost impossible to mend it The Account which is of so many Natures and is therefore very difficult must pass through many hands and is therefore very exact is so wisely contrived and methodized that without the Combination of every one of these following Officers viz. the Cofferer a Clerk of the Green Cloth a Clerk Comptroller a Clerk of the Kitchin of the Spicery or Avery or a particular Clerk together with the conjunction of a Purveyor and Waiter in the Office it is impossible to defraud the King of a Loaf of Bread of a Pint of Wine a Quart of Beer or Joint of Meat or Money or any thing else Having given this brief Abstract if any would be more curious to read it more at large or about the Courts of the Queen and Royal Family they are referred to the Present State of England II. West from Charing-Cross there stood sometimes an Hospital of St. James founded by the Citizens of London before the time of any Mans memory for 14 Sisters Maidens that were Leprous This Hospital was surrendred to King Henry VIII in the 23 of his Reign The Sisters being compounded with were allowed Pensions for term of their Lives and the King built there a goodly Mannor now the Duke of York's Palace annexing thereunto the beautiful Park called St. James's inclosed with a Wall of Brick serving indâ—â—â—erently for that Palace and the Court or Palace of Whitehall which in a word for extraordinary Commodiousness Conveniency and Situation being seated between a Noble Navigable River and a most Deiectable and Spacious Park full of great and rare Varieties as hath been hinted for the Great Chamber there called the Banquetting-House the like whereof for Spaciousness Beauty Peinture and exact Proportion no King in Europe can parallel deserves the View and Notice of all Strangers III. Although it might seem more proper to treat of Westminster-Hall under the Head or Chapter of Publick Halls or Courts yet being a Place so Eminent above any other in this Renowned City and formerly a Royal Palace we shall leave our Remarks upon it with the Reader in this place and give a brief Account 1 of its Foundation and Antiquity 2 of the Courts held there especially the High Court of Parliament which we hope will be acceptable 1. Many Eminent Authors do affirm That this Great Hall was built by William Rufus about the year of our Lord 1097. amongst whom Roger of Windover and Matthew Paris write that King William being returned out of Normandy into England kept his Feast of Whitsontide very Royally at Westminster in the New-Hall which he had lately built This Hall for all Dimensions is not to be equalled by any Hall in Christendom It is say some 270 Foot in length and 74 broad It is reported that the King should say to one that thought the Hall too big That it was not big enough by one half and was but a Bed-chamber in comparison of what he meant to make This Palace was Repaired Anno 1163. by Thomas Becket Chancellor of England with exceeding great celerity and speed being before ready to have fallen down It hath been the principal Seat and Palace of all the Kings of England since the Conquest where they kept Coronation and other Solemn Feasts till the time of King Henry VIII In this Palace by a marvelous Inundation or Overflowing of the River of Thames in the year 1236 which drowned many Cattle and Men Women and Children Men did Row with Wherries in the midst of the Hall The like or rather more dreadful Inundation hapned in the year 1242. the Thames overflowing the Banks about Lambeth In the year 1299 27 Edw. 1. this Palace was burnt by a vehement Fire kindled in the lesser Hall of the King's House by which the same with many other Houses adjoining together with
called Six-Clerks-Office in Chancery-Lane they keep Commons together in Term time The Three Clerks of the Petty-Bag are under the Master of the Rolls they make all Patents for Customers Comptrollers all Congeâ—d ' Estires first Summons of Nobility Clergy Knights Citizens and Burgesses to Parliament From the Subpoena-Office are Issued Writs to Summon Persons to appear in Chancery There are two Examiners who are to examin Witnesses upon upon their Oaths in any suit on both sides The Curssiters Office is to make out Original Writs they were antiently called Clerici de Cursu They are in Number 24 whereof each one hath certain Counties and Cities allotted to him They are a Corporation of themselves c. IV. EXCHEQVER Within the Port or Entry into the Hall on either side are ascendings up into large Chambers without the Hall adjoyning thereunto wherein certain Courts be kept namely on the Right hand is the Court of Exchequer which is so called as some think from a Chequer-wrought-Carpet covering the great Table in that Court or else from the French word Exchequer a Chess Board because the Accomptants in that Office were wont to use such Boards in their Calculation Here are Tried all Causes that belong to the King's Treasury or Revenue as touching Accounts Disbursements Customs and all Fines imposed upon any Man In this Court do Sit the Lord Treasurer the Chancellor of the Exchequer the Lord Chief Baron and Four other Learned Judges called Barons of the Exchequâ—r and one other Cursitor-Baron but the two first â—â—â—dom Sit and the five last seldom fail The first of these five is the Principal Judge of this Court which is a place of High Honour and Profit he iâ— stiled Lord Chief Baron is created by Letters Paâ—tents to hold this Dignity quam diu bene se gesseriâ— wherein he hath a more fixed Estate than the Chiâ— Justices of either Bench for the Law intends this aâ— Estate for Life In the absence of the Lord Chieâ— Baron the other three Barons supply his place acâ—cording to their Seniority but the 5 th is said to bâ— Cursitor of the Court and Administers the Oaths tâ— the Sheriffs under-Sheriffs Bayliffs Searchers Surveyors c. of the Custom-House In the Exchequer are held two Courts one oâ— Law another of Equity all Judicial proceedings according to Law are Coram Baronibus before the Barons but the Court of Equity held in the Exchequer-Chamber is Coram Thesaurario Cancellario Baronibus before the Treasurer Chancellor and Barons The Authority of this Court is of Original Jurisdiction without any Commission All the Twelve Judges belonging to these High Tribunals sit in Robes and Square Caps like Doctors of Divinity because as some say they were in old times most commonly Clergy Men. There are divers Officers belonging to the upper Exchequer as the King's Remembrancer in whose Office are Eight Sworn Clerks All Accounts pass there that concern the King's Revenue for Customs Excise Hearth-Money Subsidies and all aids granted to the King in Parliament and all other Accounts of what nature soever concerning the King's Revenue either Certain or Casual all Securities whether by Bond or Recognizances to the King for any of His Debts are taken here All proceedings upon any Statute by information for Custom Excises or any other Penal Law All proceedings upon the said Bonds or Recognizances or any other Bonds taken in the King's Name by Officers appointed thereunto under the Great Seal of England and transmitted into this Office for Recovery thereof From whence Issue forth Process to cause all Accountants to come in and Account c. This Office is in the King's Gift The Office of the Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer is to make Process against all Sheriffs Receivers Bayliffs c. for their Accounts and many other things of Moment as Estreal Rules all Charters and Letters Patents whereupon any Rents are reserved to the King This also is in the KING's Gift The Clerk of the Pipe hath all the Accounts and Debts due to the King drawn down out of the Remembrancers Office and chargeth them down out of the Remembrancers Office and chargeth them down in the Great Roll or Pipe and therefore probably called the Pipe-Office he hath under him Eight Sworn Clerks Here Accountants have their quietus est and here are made Leafes of extended Lands The Comptroller of the Pipe writes out all Summons twice every Year to the High Sheriffs to Levy the Farms and Debts of the Pipe He keeps a Roll of the Pipe-Office Accounts whereby to discover any thing that shall be amiss In the Office of the Clerk of the Pleas all the Officers of the Exchequer and other priviledged Persons as Debtors to the King c. are to have their Priviledge to Plead and be Impleaded as to all matters at the Common Law And the Proceedings are accordingly by Declarations Pleas and Trials as at the Common Law because they should not be drawn out of their own Court where their attendance is Required In this Office are four Sworn Attorneys To the Forâ—ign Opposers-Office all Sheriffs repair to be by him opposed of their Green-Wax and from thence is drawn down a Charge upon the Sheriffs to the Clerk of the Pipe This Office is kept in Grays-Inn The Office of the Clerk of the Estreats is to receive every Term the Estreats or Extracts out of the Office of the Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer and to write them out to be Levied for the King Also to make Schedules for such Sums as are to be discharged The Auditors of the Imprest Audit the Great accounts of the King's Customs Wardrobe Mint First Fruits and Tenths Naval and Military Expences Moneys imprested c. The Auditors of the Revenue Audit all the accounts of the King 's other Revenue that arise by Aids granted in Parliament The Remembrancer of the first Fruits and Tenths takes all Compositions for first Fruits and Tenths and makes Process against such as pay not the same This Office is kept in Hatton-Garden c. As to the other part of the Exchequer where the King's Revenue is received and disbursed the Principal Officer is the Lord Treasurer whose place is somtimes and is at this present managed by Commissioners appointed by His Majesty The next is the Chancellor of the Exchequer who is an Officer of great Account and Authority He hath a Principal Power not only in the Exchequer-Court but also here in the managing and disposing of the King's Revenue he hath the Custody of the Exchequer-Seal He hath the Gift of the Comptroller or Clerk of the Pipe of the Clerk of the Pleas of the Clerk of the Nichils and of the Seal of the Court He is also under Treasurer and hath the Gift of the two Praisers of the Court. Then there are two Chamberlains of the Exchequer in whose Custody are many ancient Records Leagues and Treaties with Foreign Princes the Standards of Moneys Weights and Measures those antient Books called Dooms-Day and the Black
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
And by Charter of Ed. 6. The Lord Mayor Recorder and Aldermen that are Justices of the Peace in London are to be Justices of the Peace in Southwark All Forfeited Recognizances about Ale-houses Inmates Bastard Children Appearance at Sessions of Goal-Delivery Fines and Issues of Jurors except Fines or Issues Royal c. Granted to the City by Charter of King Charles 1. Chart. 1. That no Aliens are to keep Houses in London nor be Brokers by Charter of E. 3 ch 5. That no Citizen shall wage Battel H. 1. H. 2. R. 1. ch 1. John ch 1. H. 3. ch 4. ch 9. No Stranger is to buy Goods before they be weighed by the King's Beam H. 3. ch 9. The Inhabitants of Black-Fryers to be exempted from Taxes and Fifteenths King James ch 2. By Letters Patents of King Henry the VIII Dated at Westminstor Jan. 13. In the 28 th Year of his Reign he did give and grant unto the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London and their Successors the Keeping Ordering and Governing of the House and Hospital called Bethlehem situate without and near Bishops-gate and all Mannors Lands Tenements Possessions Revenues and Hereditaments whatsoever and wheresoever lying and being belonging or appertaining unto the said Hospital or House called Bethlem and Made and Constituted by the same his Letters Patents these the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London and their Successors Masters Keepers and Governours of the said House and Hospital called Bethlem and of the said Mannors Lands Tenements and other premisses belonging to the same House or Hospital to have hold and enjoy the said Custody Order and Government of the said House or Hospital called Bethlem c. for ever c. London is by King James Char. 3. stiled his Royal Chamber who not only confirmed the Charters of his Predecessors but did give grant and confirm unto the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of London and to their Successors the weighing of all Coals called Stone-Coals weighable Earth-Coals and all other Coals weighable of what kind soever in or at the said Port of London coming or brought up the said River of Thames in any Ship Boat or Barge or other Vessel whatsoever floating or being in any Port of the same Water of Thames and upon whatsoever Bank Shore or Wharf of the same Water of Thames from the Bridge of Stanes to London-Bridge and from thence to a place called Yendal or Yenland towards the Sea For which the Duties Payable to the Mayor Commonalty and Citizens c. is Eight pence for every Tunn none is to unlade Coals till the Mayor has Notice and of the quantity because the Mayor c. should be capable at any time when required to inform His Majesty c. what quantity of Coals of what sort soever from time to time is brought into the City c. and how the City and Adjacent places are supplied No Markets of Coals to be in any Boats Lighters or other Vessel whatsoever except in the Ship that first brought in the Coals no Forestalling Ingrossing Regrating upon pain of incurring such Pains and Punishments as the Law provides for contemners and neglecters of Royal Mandates By Charter of Ed. IV. ch 4. In consideration of 7000 l. c. was granted to the Mayor c. the Offices or Occupations of Packing all manner of Woollen Cloaths Sheep-Skins Calves-Skins Goat-Skins Vessels of Amber and all other Merchandizes whatsoever to be Packed Tunned Piped Barrelled or any wise to be included with the oversight of opening all manner of Customable Merchandizes arriving at the Port of Safety as well by Land as by Water within the Liberties and Franchises of the said City and Suburbs c. And alsâ— the Office of Carriage and Portage of all Woolâ— Sheep-Skins Tynn-Bails and other Merchandizes whatsoever which shall be carryed in London from the Water of Thames unto the Houses of Strangers and contrariwise from the said Houses to the same Water or of other Merchandizes which ought to be carryed being in any House for a time And also the Office c. of Garbling of all manner of Spices and other Merchandizes coming to the said City at any time which ought to be Garbled Also the Office of Gager Office of Wine-Drawers c. to be exercised by them or their Deputies The Office of Coroner to beat the Mayors c. disposal Severed them from the Office of Chief-Butler c. Witness the King at Westminster the 20 th of June Anno Regni 18. By Charter of E. III. ch 1. It is granted thus Whereas in the Great Charter of the Liberties of England it is contained that the City of London may have all their antient Liberties and Customs and the same Citizens at the time of the making of the Charter from the time of Saint Edward King and Confessor and William the Conqueror and of other our Progenitors had divers Liberties and Customes as well by the Charters of those our Progenitors as without Charter by Antient-Customs whereupon in divers the Circuits and other the Courts of our said Progenitors as well by Judgments as by Statutes were Invaded and some of them Adjudged We Will and Grant for us and our Heirs that they may have the Liberties according to the Form of the above-said Great Charter and that Impediments and Usurpations to them in that behalf made shall be revoked and Annulled c. That the Mayor be one of the Justices of Goal-Delivery of Newgate and to be Named in every Commission thereof to be made That the Citizens may have Infangtheft This is a Saxon word signifying a Liberty Granted to certain Lords of Mannors to Judge any Thief taken within their Fee And Outfang-theft that is a Liberty Granted to the Lord to try any Thief taken out of his Fee and Chattels of Felons of all those which shall be Adjudged before them within their Liberties c. Citizens may Devise Lands in London in Mortmain or otherwise Merchant Strangers to Sell Goods within Fourty Days and may not keep Houses but are to be with Hosts that is Lodgers The KING 's Marshall Steward or Clerk of the Market of the King's Houshold may not Sit within the City Liberties No Citizen is to be drawn to Plead without the Liberties of the City about any thing that happens within the Liberties thereof No Escheator may Exercise that Office in the City but the Mayor for the time being is to do it Citizens to be Taxed in Subsidies as other Commoners not as Citizens To be quit of all Tallages this word is derived from the French word Taille a piece cut out of the whole signifying the paying a part or share of a Mans substance by way of Tribute Tax or Toll and that the Liberty of the said City shall not be taken into the hands of us or our Heirs for any Personal Trespass or Judgment of any Minister of the said City Neither shall a keeper in the said
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
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.
Re-built about the Reign of Henry the V. or Edward the IV. one of the Pophams was a great Builder there namely of one Fair Chappel on the South-side of the Quire as appeareth by his Arms there c. Here are divers Monuments There has been much money spent in Repairs upon this Church In it there is an Excellent Organ and a very good Ring of Bells It is in Farringdon-Ward-without XV. Anno 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 next following the Sick and Poor People were taken in The Church of this Hospital remaineth as a Parish-Church for the Inhabitants thereabout by the Name of St. Thomas Southwark The Steeple was Repaired New Leaded and from the Ground to the Top Coated with a Beautiful Rough-Cast and Inriched with a very Fair Turret in the Year 1633. It is in Bridge-Ward-without XVI In Portsoken-Ward is the small Parish-Church called Trinity Minories there was first a Monastery of Nuns of the Order of Sancta-Clara called the Minories Founded by Edmond Earl of Lancaster Leicester and Derby Brother to Edward the I. Anno 1293. Which was Demolished in King Henry the Eighths Thirtieth Year Anno 1539. There were built Store-Houses for Armour and other Martial Habiliments with divers Work-Houses for that purpose and near it this Church for the Inhabitants who at several times Repaired and Beautified it In the Body of this Church is a Monument with this Inscription Vivere Cornices multos dicuntur in annos Cur vos Angusta conditione sumus We shall now proceed to the out Parishes in Middlesex and Surrey I. As to Christ's-Church we refer the Reader to another place where he shall have a fuller account than we can give here II. The Parish-Church of St. John at Hackney is an antient and handsom Church and kept in good Repair there are divers Monuments in it but our Discourse being Principally of the City of Londoâ— it cannot be expected that we should enlarge much more than the bare mention of generals having things much more Material that require our dispatch But the Fair Parish-Church of III. St. Giles in the Fields is a very Neat and well built Parish-Church in a handsom Church-Yard It was formerly an Hospital Founded by Queen Matilda Wife to King Henry the I. about the Year 1117. at which Prisoners convey'd from London to Tyburn to be Executed were presented with a great Bowl of Ale thereof to Drink at pleasure as to be their last Refreshing in this Life In this Church are several Monuments It began to be Raised a New Anno 1623 and was Finished in two Years and incompass'd with a Fair Brick-Wall in the Year 1631. To which there were many good and great Benefactors many of whom would be concealed This is a very large Parish and next to St. Giles Cripple-gate and Stepney is reputed to be the most Populous in England if not in Europe it being thought by such as have made an Estimate that it contains above 100000 Souls besides Strangers who are very Numerous IV. The Parish-Church called St. James Clerkenwell in the North-West Suburbs was formerly a Priory so called of Clark's Well adjoyning It is a handsom large Church with divers Antient and some Modern Monuments And it had sundry Benefactors William Hern a Master of Defence and Yeoman of the Guard 1580 gave Lands and Tenements to the Cloathworkers in London they to pay Yearly for ever fourteen pound to the Church-Wardens of Clerkenwel and fourteen pound to the Church-wardens of St. Sepulchres towards Reparation of those Churches and Relief of Poor Men. More he gave after the Death of one Man eight pound a Year for ever to the mending of High-Ways Thomas Sackford Esq one of the Masters of Requests gave to the Poor of that Parish forty shillings a Year for ever out of his Alms-House at Woodbridge in Suffolk where he is buried Henry Stoke Gardiner buried there gave twenty shillings a Year for ever towards Reparation of that Church The Priory was valued to dispend 262 l. 9. s. per annum and was surrendred 30 H. VIII and is now a Parish-Church It was Repaired after the fall of its Steeple which spoil'd a great part of the Church and finished Anno 1627. at the cost of 1400 l. V. The Parish-Church called St. Katharine-Tower because near the Tower of London On the East-side was an Hospital of St. Katharine Founded by Queen Matilda Wife to King Stephen There lye buryed besides many others in this Church the Countess of Huntington Countess of the March in her time 1429. John Holland Duke of Exeter and Earl of Huntington 1447 and his two Wives in a Fair Tomb Thomas Walsingham Esq and Thomas Ballard Esq by him 1465. This Church was Repaired and throughout Trimmed and Beautified Anno 1618. Inlarged with a Fair Gallery 1621. The Walls and out-side cloathed with a Beautiful Rough-Cast at the Charge of Sr. Julius Caesar Anno 1626. Mr. Stephen Scudamore Citizen and Vintner of London gave 20 s. per annum to be bestowed in Fuel amongst the Poor for ever Mr. John Boum Baker gave 5 l. per annum to be bestowed in Bread among the Poor for fourty Years VI. In the Church at Lambeth are very many Monuments which for brevity we pretermit VII The Arch-Deacon of London is always Parson of St. Leonard Shore-Ditch and the Cure is served by a Vicar There were divers Honorable Persons buried there and there were many Bountiful Benefactors to the Church and Poor John Fuller of Bishops-Hall Esq gave a Sum of Money for the Building of twelve Alms-Houses for twelve Poor Widdows of this Parish who receive fifty pound per annum of his Gift William Peak Esq gave two shillings a Week to be distributed in Bread for ever on Sundays Robert Brainforth Gentleman gave eight pound Yearly for ever to the Poor Thomas Russel Draper gave twelve pence Weekly for ever to be paid by the Drapers George Clark gave to the Poor one hundred Marks in Money c. VIII The Parish-Church of St. Magdalen Bermondsey was built by the Priors of Bermondsey near the Abby of Bermondsey which was surrendred to King Henry the VIII it was much enlarged Anno 1608 at the Charge of 860 l. so that it became and is a Fair Church IX The Church of St. Mary Istington And X. The Parish-Church of St. Mary Newington are Fair Parishes with some Monuments but being so Remote we pretermit them XI St. Mary White-Chappel is as it were a Chappel of Ease to Stepney-Parish and the Parson of Stepney hath the Gift of it 't is a handsom Church and in good Repair There are some few handsom Monuments in it XII The Parish-Church of St. Pauls in upper Shadwel was also lately made a Parish-Church the Parish being too Numerous for the Church of Stepney It is a handsom
the very greatest and most bountiful Gift that ever was given in England no Abbey at the first Foundation thereof excepted or therewith to be compared being the Gift of one man only He gave to the Poor in Barwick 100 Marks To the Poor of Stoke-Newington 10 l. To the Poor Fishermen of Ostend in Flanders 100 l. To the mending of the High-Ways between Islington and Newington in the County of Middlesex 40 Marks or 26 l. 13 s. 4 d. To the mending the High-Ways between Ashden and Walden called Walden-lane in Essex 100 l. To the mending the High-Ways between Great Lynton in the County of Cambridge and the said Town of Walden 60 l. 13 s. 4 d. Towards the mending of Horseth-lane 60 l. To the mending of the Bridges and ordinary High-Ways between South-Minster and Malden in Essex 100 l. To the Chamber of London 1000 l. to be Yearly lent to Ten young Merchants not having any great Stocks of their own and those Ten to be appointed by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City for the time being and the Dean of Pauls they are 〈◊〉 to pay any Interest for it nor any to enjoy it but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Poor People of Hadstock 20 l. To the Poor of Littlebury and Balsham 40 l. To the Parson and Church-Wardens of Balsham for the time being towards the buying a Bell to be hanged up in the Steeple to amend the Ring there 20 l. To the Poor of South-minster 20 l. To the Poor of little Halâ—enbury 20 l. To the Poor of Dunsby in the County of Lincoln 20. l. To the Poor Priâ—â—ers in the Prisons of Ludgate Newgate the two â—ompters in London the King 's Bench the 〈◊〉 2000 l. to be paid and divided among the same Prisoners by even and equal portions To the Master Fellows and Scholars of the Corporation of Jesus College in Cambridge 500 Marks To the Master Fellows and Scholars of the Corporation of Magdalen Colledge in Cambridge 500 l. To every one of his Feâ—ffees put in trust about his 〈◊〉 26 l. 13 s. 4 d. To the Poor of Beverly a 〈◊〉 in Cottingham To the Poor of Lincoln a Remainder of Years in the Rectory of Glentham in the County of Lincoln To Mr. Hutton Vicar of Littlebury 20 l. To the Poor of â—â—mps Castle 10 l. To the Poor of Elcomb 10. l. To Mr. Floud Parson of Newington 13 l. 6 s. 8 d. To the Poor of the Parish of Hacknâ—y 10 l. with several others c. And so much for Famous SVTTON and his Hospital which deserves an Eternal MEMORIAL III. The Hospital of St. Mary of Bethlem vulgarly called Bedlam was Founded by Simon Fitz-Mary one of the Sheriffs of London Anno 1246. He Founded it to have been a Priory of Câ—â—ons with Brethren and Sisters and King Edward the III. granted a Protection for the Brethren Militiae Beatae Mariae de Bethlem within the City of London in the Fourteenth of his Reign But it was 〈◊〉 an Hospital for Distracted People Stephenâ—â—â—â—â—nings Merchant-Taylor gave 40 l. towards 〈◊〉 chase of the Patronage by his Testament Anno 1523. The Mayor and Commonalty purchased it with all the Lands and Tenements thereunto belonging in the Year 1546. The same Year King Henry the VIII gave this Hospital unto the City The Church and Chappel thereof were taken down in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and Houses built there by the Governors of Christ's Hospital in London In this Place People that be Distracted of their Wits were received and kept at the Suit of their Friends but not without Charges to their bringers in This Place being old narrow and not very pleasant the City of London resolved to build a New Hospital which in April 1675 was begun and to the great Glory and Ornament of the City and the great benefit of the Poor Lunaticks was finished July 1676 in so Stately and Beautiful a manner that the whole World can hardly Parallel it It is of a great Length reaching from Moor-gate to the Little-Postern leading out of the North-East part of Moor-Fields into the City near the City Walls with a most Glorious Front towards those Delicate Walks of Moor-Fields the Architecture is very Regular Exquisite and Rich with a Stately Turret in the midst of a Curious Form and Fair green Courts part of which are Paved with broad Stone for walks Environ'd with a very hansom Brick-Wall there are two Stately Galleries reaching from one end to the other on the sides of which are the Lodgings of the Distracted People which are very neat and convenient they are carefully and very decently served with plenty of good wholsom Dyet and very well attended by Persons appointed to that purpose This Work cost above 18000 l. to which many Noble Citizens c. were Benefactors 〈◊〉 is indeed a Work very well becoming the Magâ—â—â—nce of this Renowned City who in all their undertakings and in all Publick Acts of Ornament to the City or Charity to the Poor have demonstrated themselves to be Peerless WESTMINSTER HALL THE ROYALL EXCHANGE CLARENDON HOVSE COVENT GARDEN There was of old an Hospital of St. Mary Rouncival by Charing-Cross but suppressed and turned to Tenements So much for the Hospitals SECT 4. Palaces and Houses of the Nobility WE will begin with the Royal Palaces as White-Hall where the Court is kept when the King is in the City In antient times Westminster-Palace was the habitation of the Kings of England from the time of Edward the Confessor which was by casual Fire burnt down in the time of Henry the VIII This was a very large and stately Palace and for the building in that Age incomparable In the Remains of which the High Court of Parliament Sits but more of that hereafter King Henry the VIII translated his Seat to a House not far of built by Cardinal Wolsey and is called White-Hall This Place formerly belonged to Hubert de Burgh Earl of Kent by whom it was given to the Gray-Friers and of them bought by Walter Gray Archbishop of York and called York-place but Anno. 1529 the King took it from Wolsey and the Archbishop and named it White-Hall this King built there a Sumptuous Gallery and a very Beautiful Gate-House thwart the High-street to St. James's Park In this Gallery the Princes with their Nobility used to stand or sit to behold all Triumphant or Military Exercises To Describe all particularities relating to this Royall-Seat would be too tedious Take a few short Remarks There is a most Magnificent and Stately Banquetting-House built by King James And the Delicate Privy-Garden was lately enlarged towards the South with a Pond of an Oval form supplied with Water from Hide-Park where you may see the Water shot or forced up to a great height from the surface of the Pond and by its winding-fall delights the Eye and the Ear with its pretty murmur Although this Palace of White Hall makes not so Glorious a shew on the out-side as some other stately
the Queens Chamber was consumed but after that repaired In the year 1397 King Richard II. caused the Walls Windows and Roof to be taken down and new made with a stately Porch and divers Lodgings of a marvelous Work and with great Costs which being finished Anno 1399. He kept a most Royal Christmas there with daily Justings and Runnings at Tilt whereunto resorted such a number of People that there was every day spent 28 or 26 Oxen 300 Sheep and Fowl without number He caused a Gown to be made for himself of Gold garnished with Pearl and precious Stones to the value of 3000 Marks There daily fed there 10000 People as appeareth by the Messes told out from the Kitchin to 300 Servitors A great part of this Palace was burnt Anno 1512 the 4th of Henry VIII since which time it hath not been Re-edified Only the Great Hall with the Offices near adjoining are kept in good Reparations and serveth as afore for Feasts at Coronations Arraignments of Great Persons charged with Treason and keeping of the Courts of Justice For whereas formerly the Courts and Benches followed the King wheresoever he went before and since the Conquest but being found to be troublesom chargeable and inconvenient to the People it was Anno 1224 9 H. 3. agreed that theâ—e should be a standing place appointed where Matters should be heard and judged which was in the Great Hall at Westminster I. The Court of COMMON-PLEAS Where he appointed Three Judgment-Seats viz. at the Entry on the Right-hand the Court of Common-Pleas So called because there are debated the usual Pleas between Subject and Subject as about Tenures of Lands and Civil Actions None but Sergeants at Law may plead in this Court and so many of them as the King shall appoint are bound by Oath to assist all that have any Cause depending in that Court Pleas are distinguished into Pleas of the Crown as Treason and Felony with Misprision of Felony which belong to the Kings-Bench and Common or Civil Pleas whereof this Court takes Cognizance This Court may grant Prohibitions as the Kings-Bench doth The Chief Judge is called the Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas or de Communi Banco the Common Bench who holds his place by Letters Patents Durante Beneplacito and so do the other inferior Judges of this Court whereof there are commonly Three Here all Civil Causes Real and Personal are usually Tryed according to the strict Rule of the Law Real Actions are pleadable in no other Court nor Fines levied or Recoveries suffered but only in this Court The King allows to the Lord Chief Justice of this Court a Fee Reward Robes and two Tun of Wine Also to the other Judges of this Court and to four Sergeants is allow'd Fees Reward and Robes to each one The Officers are many Custos Brevium three Protonatories Clerk of the Warrants Clerk of the Kings Silver four Exigenters fourteen Filazers Clerk of the Juries Clerk of the Essoignes Clerk of the Outlawries which belongeth to the Attorney General who exercises it by Deputy c. For which at large see the Present State of England Pag. 102. Edit 1679. II. KINGS-BENCH At the upper End of the Hall on the Right-hand or South-east Corner the Court of Kings-Bench was appointed which is of a larger Extent of Power and more Uncontroulable than any other Tribunal For the Law presumes that the King is there still in Person He being Lord Chief Justice of England Himself yet it is observable that though He should personally sit upon the Bench He can pass no Sentence of Judgment but by the Mouths of His Judges who did use to sit there at His Feet when He was present After the House of Lords in Parliament this is the Highest Court in England and the Judicature in the Absence of the King belongs to His Judges In this Court are handled the Pleas of the Crown all things that concern loss of Life or Member of any Subject for then the King is concern'd because the Life and Limb of the Subject in the sense of the Law belong only to the King so that the Pleas here are between the King and the Subject Here are handled all Treasons Felonies Breach of Peace Oppression Misgovernment c. This Court hath power to Examine and Correct all Errors in Facto and in Jure of all the Judges and Justices of England in their Judgments and Proceedings and this not only in Pleas of the Crown but in all Pleas Real Personal and Mixt except only in the Exchequer In this High Court sit commonly four Grave Reverend Judges whereof the first is stiled The Lord Chief Justice of the Kings-Bench and is Created not by Patent but by a short Writ yet of large Extent in point of Authority thus Rex c. Mathaeo Hale Militi salutem Sciatis quod constituimus vos Justiciarium nostrum Capitalem ad placita coram nobis tenenda Durante beneplacito nostro teste Me Ipso apud Westm c. That is in English The King c. To Sir Matthew Hale Kt. Greeting Know ye That we have Constituted you our Capital or Chief Justice in Pleas held before Vs during Our Pleasure Witness My Self at Westminster c. The rest of the Judges of the Kings-Bench hold their Pleas by Letters Patents in these words Rex omniblis ad quos praesentes literae pervenerint Salutem Sciatis quod Constituimus Dilectum Fidelem nostrum A. B. Militem unum Justiciariorum ad placita coram nobis tenenda Durante beneplacito nostro Teste c. These Judges and all the Officers belonging to this Court have all Salaries from the King and the chief of them have Robes and Liveries out of the great Wardrobe In this Court all young Lawyers that have been called to the Bar are allowed to plead and practise This Court may grant Prohibitions to keep other Courts both Ecclesiastical and Temporal within their due Bounds and Jurisdiction The Jurisdiction of this Court is general extending to all England as before None can be a Judge in this Court unless he be a Sergeant of the Degree of the Coif that is a Sergeant at Law and yet in the Writ or Patent to them made they are not called Sergeants who upon taking this high Degree is obliged to wear a Lawn Coif under his Cap for ever after For the Officers of this Court see the Present State of England of the same Edition Pag. 98. III. CHANCERY On the Left-hand or South-west Corner sitteth the Lord Chancellor accompanied with the Master of the Rolls and eleven other Men learned in the Civil Law and called Masters of Chancery which have the King's Fee This Court is placed next the Kings-Bench to mitigate the Rigor of it It is Curia Cancellariae because as some think the Judge of this Court sate anciently intra Cancellos or Lattices as the East-end of Churches are separated per Cancellos from the Body of the Church as
peculiarly belonging to the Priest and were thence called Chancels This Court is Officina Justitiae the Fountain of all our Fundamental Laws and Proceedings in Law and the Original of all other Courts It is as antient as the Civility of the Nation though perhaps by another Name This Court proceeds either ordinarily according to the Laws Statutes and Customs of the Nation and in Latin granting out Writs Mandatory and Remedial Writs of Grace or else according to Equity and Conscience and by English Bill so that the Chancery hath two Courts in one The Equitable part is by Bills Answers and Decrees to Examin Frauds Combinations Trusts Secret Vses c. To moderate the Rigour of the Laws and Rescue Men out of the hands of their Oppressors To Relieve a Man especially in three things viz. against Cheats unfortunate Accidents and Breaches of Trust Out of this Court Issue out Writs or Summons for Parliaments Edicts Proclamations Charters Protections safe Conducts Writs of Moderata Misericordia when any Person hath been Amerced too high are for a reasonable part of Goods for Widows and Orphans Patents for Sheriffs Writs of Certiorari to remove Records and false Judgments in inferior Courts Writs of Audita Querela and Scire Facias here are Sealed and Inrolled Letters Patents Treaties and Leagues with Foreign Princes Deeds between Party and Party touching Lands Estates or Purchasers taking Recognizances and making Extents upon Statutes and Recognizances for Payment of Money or securing of Contracts Writs Remedial or Magisterial Commissions of Appeal Oyer and Terminer c. The Court of Common Pleas which are between Subject and Subject hath its Original and Commission from the Chancery and cannot hold Pleas without it For the Latin part of this Court are the 24 Cursitors and for the English part are the Six Clerks The Court of Equity that proceeds not according to Law is no Court of Record and therefore binds only the Person not his Lands or Goods The Judge of this Court is the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England He is here the Sole Judge whereas in other Courts there are three or four Judges But he may and doth often in Cases of greater Weight and Difficulty in Cases of Law call some of the other Judges to his assistance and therefore it is said this Office may be discharged by one that is no professed Lawyer as it has been frequently to their great Praise It is the highest Dignity in England that a Lay-Man is capable of it is Summum ambientis animi quasi solstitium and the Chancellor is Magistratum omnium Antistes Antiently the Lord Chancellor had somtimes his Vice-Chancellor commonly called Keeper of the Great Seal but of latter times they differ only in Name The Chancellor is said to be Keeper of the King's Conscience to Judge secundum aequum bonum according to Equity and Conscience he is to moderate the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the exact Rigor and Letter of the Law whereunto other Judges are exactly tyed For the Princes of this Realm in imitation of the KING of Kings governing the Woâ—ld by Justice and Mercy have Erected two Supreâ—m Tribunals together at the upper end of Westminster-Hall one of Justice wherein nothing but the strict Letter of the Law is observed and the other of Mercy where in the Rigor of the Law is tempered with the sweetness of Equity which is nothing else but Mercy qualifying the sharpness of Justice This Court being a Court of Conscience the less it is perplexed with the Quirks of Lawyers the more it is guided by Conscience and Equity The manner of proceeding in this Court is thus the Action is by Bill or Plaint the Witnesses Examined in private the Decrees in English or Latin not in French No Jury of Twelve Men but all Sentences are given by the Judge of the Court. The place of Master of the Rolls is of great Dignity in the Gift of the King for life or during pleasure This Officer hath Jure Officii the Gift of those considerable Officers of the Six Clerks in Chancery hath the keeping of the Rolls and in the absence of the Chancellor hears Causes and makes Orders by Vertue of a Commission with two Masters and that Jure Officii by right of Office This Court is always open whereas all the others are shut but only in Term time so that if a Man be wrongfully Imprisoned in the Vacation time out of Term the Lord Chancellor may Grant his Writ of Habeas Corpus and do him Justice according to Law so likewise may this Gourt Grant Prohibitions in time of Vacation as well as in Term time The Defendant is to Answer Bills and Interrogatories upon Oath though to the accusing of himself in divers matters Dammageable and Penal the Witnesses are to Depose upon Interrogatories and in perpetuam rei Memoriam by the Term and use of Final Decree agreeable with the Civil Law In the Master of the Rolls Office are kept all the Rolls since the beginning of King Henry the VII the rest are kept in the Tower of London In this Gift are besides the Six Clerks Office the Offices of the Examiners and three of the Clerks of the Petty-Bag-Office The Office of Clerk of the Crown is of High importance he is either by himself or Deputy continually to attend the Lord Chancellor for special matters of State and hath place in the Higher House of Parliament He makes all Writs for Election of Members of Parliament Sitting in Parliament upon Warrant directed to him upon the Death or Removal of any Member and also Commissions of Oyer and Terminer Goal-Delivery Commissions of Peace and many other Commissions distributing Justice to His Majesties Subjects The Office of the Protonotary of this Court is chiefly to expedite Commissions for Embassies The Office of the Clerk of the Hanaper or Hamper is to receive all the Money due to the King for the Seals of Charters Patents Commissions and Writs and to attend the Keeper of the Seal daily in Term time and at all times of Sealing with Leather Bags now but antiently probably with Hampers wherein are put all the Sealed Charters Patents c. And then those Bags delivered to the Comptroller of the Hamper The Office of Warden of the Fleet or Keeper of the Fleet-Prison is very Considerable He is to take care of the Prisoners there who are commonly such as are sent thither from this Court for contempt of the King or His Laws on such as will not pay their Debts c. The Sergeant at Arms Office is to bear a Gilt Mace before the Lord Chancellor or Keeper for the time being The Six Clerks are Officers of great account next in Degree to the Twelve Masters in Chancery whose Office is to Inroll Commissions Pardons Patents Warrants c. that are passed the Great Seal They are Attorneys for Plaintiffs and Defendants in Causes depending in this Court Their Offices are at a place
Foreigner an English Man can Attaint a Man of Treason when he is Dead and when he is no more a Man c. A Parliament is Summoned in manner following About fourty Days before the Parliament doth Assemble the King Issues out His Writ out of the Chancery cum advisamento Consilii sui with the advice of His Council and the Warrant is per ipsum Regem Consilium by the King Himself and His Council The King's Writ which is a short Letter or Epistle is directed and sent to every particular Person of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal commanding the Lords Spiritual in Fide Dilectione in Faith and Love and the Lords Temporal per fidem allegantiam by their Faith and Allegiance to appear at a certain time and place to Treat and give their Advice in some certain Important Affairs concerning the Church and State c. Other Writs are sent to the High Sheriff of each County to Summon the People to Elect two Knights for each County two Citizens for each City and one or two Burgesses for each Burrough according to Statute Charter or Custom In these Elections antiently all the People had their Votes and most Votes carried it but for avoiding of Tumults and Trouble it was Enacted by Henry the VI. that none should have any suffrage in the Election of Knights of the Shire but such as were Free-holders did Reside in the County and had of Yearly Revenue 40 s. which till the discovery of Gold and Silver in America was as much as 30 or 40 l. now The Persons Elected for each County are to be Milites Notabiles or at least Esqs or Gentlemen fit to be made Knights as it is in the Statutes of Henry the VI. they ought to be de discretionibus Militibus ad laborandum potentioribus of the discreetest Knights and most able to endure Labour of age viz. 21 Years at least and Experience without Rancor Malice Heat and Envy to be constant so as not to be swerved from Right by Fear Reward or Favour and in Judgment no respecters of Persons of a ripe and good Memory that remembring Perils past they may prevent Dangers to come They are to be Vigorous Active and Temperate and content to give their Attendance for Publick Good with which they are Intrusted Men of Noble Spirits and good Estates to prevent their being Mercenary or Bribed to betray their great Trust Men well verst in National and Political Affairs and of Capacious Understandings that so they might not be imposed upon ' by the Subtilty of such as would over-reach them They ought also to be well acquainted with the Laws of the Land and the Transactions of former Parliaments in order to the Repeal of Old Laws which though fit for the times they were made may not be so for the present times the Circumstances of things being varyed much from what they were by divers Revolutions and to Enact New Laws for general Good And indeed we have had of late Parliaments of this Character Men of such brave Spirits such Sagacity Prudence and Integrity to promote the General Welfare of that Great Body Politick whose Worthy Representatives they were as have exceeded their Predecessors and will hardly be out-done in succeeding times They ought to be Native English Men or at least such as have been Naturalized by Act of Parliament No Alien or Denizen none of the twelve Judges no Sheriff of a County no Ecclesiastical Person that hath curam animarum the cure or care of Souls may be chosen to Serve for any County City or Burrough This Grand and Illustrious Senate Consists of the three great Estates of the Kingdom the King 's most Excellent Majesty being the head viz. The Prelates and the Peers of the Realm and the Commons in which is such a Co-ordination of Power such a Wholsom mixture betwixt Prince and Commonalty during the time of Consultation that they make but one Body Politique their Results when they concur being as so many Harmonious Diapasons arising from the Touch of different Strings This Great Council is the great Bulwark of the English Liberty Property and Religion and the great Bank that keeps them from Slavery and the Inundations of Tyrannical Incroachments and unbounded Will-Government The People are lyable to no Laws but what they themselves make and are subject to no Contribution Tax Assessment or Pecuniary Leveys whatsoever but what they themselves Vote and Voluntarily yield to For there all Degrees of People be Represented the Yeoman Merchant Tradesman Mechanick c. have their inclusive Votes as well as the Gentry and Free-holders their Burgesses and Knights The House of Lords consists of Eleven Dukes whereof two are of the Royal Family viz. the Duke of York and Prince Rupert then the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper of the Great Seal the Lord Treasurer and the Lord Privy Seal takes Place before all Dukes not of the Royal Blood There are two Marquesses the Lord High Chamberlain of England the Lord Steward of the King's Houshold and the Lord Chamberlain of the King's Houshould in respect of their Offices takes place of all Earls who at present are in Number viz. such as may Sit in the House of Lords 64. Then there are 7 Viscounts and 60 Barons according to the Printed List of the last Parliament that met at Oxford March 21. this present Year 1681. Then there are two Archbishops and twenty four Bishops so that the whole Number may be about 176 some of which Lords are under Age some Employed abroad by the King some Sick or Infirm so that the ordinary Number that Sits besides the Peers in the Tower and such as are Excluded by Act of Parliament for Recusancy c. may be about one hundred The House of Commons consists of two Knights for each of the 40 Shires in England being 80. One for each County in Wales being 12 Knights Two for each of the 25 Cities in England and four for London in all 52. Sixteen Barons for the Cinque-Ports Two Burgesses for each of the two Vniversities About 330 Burgesses for 168 Burroughs in England of which some few send but one Burgess a piece Lastly of twelve Burgesses viz. one for one Burrough in each County of Wales so that the Total according to the aforesaid List is 513. Of which many are absent somtimes by permission of the House upon business or because of Sickness c. The Number of the Parliament Men that each County sends are as followeth 1. Bedfordshire 4 2. Berkshire 9 3. Buckinghamshire 14 4. Cambridgeshire 6 5. Cheshire 4 6. Cornwall 44 7. Cumberland 6 8. Derbyshire 4 9. Devonshire 26 10. Dorsershire 20 11. Durham 4 12. Essex 8 13. Glocestershire 8 14. Herefordshire 8 15. Hartfordshire 6 16. Huntingtonshire 4 17. Kent 10 18. Lancashire 14 19. Leicestershire 4 20. Lincolnshire 12 21. Middlesex 8 22. Monmouthshire 3. 23. Norfolk 12 24. Northamptonshire 9 25. Northumberland 8 26. Nottinghamshire 8 27. Oxfordshire
the Dukes Marquesses and Earls according to their Creations Upon the first Form across the House below the Woolsacks sit the Viscounts and upon the next Forms the Barons all in Order The Lord Chancellor or Keeper if the King be present stands behind the Cloth of Estate otherwise sits on the first Woolsack thwart the Chair of State his Great Seal and Mace by him he is Lord Speaker of the Lords House Upon other Woolsacks sit the Judges the Privy Counsellors and Secretaris of State the King's Council at Law the Masters of Chancery who being not Barons have no suffrage by Voâ—ce in Parliament but only sit as was said to give Advice when required The Reason of their sitting upon Woolsacks is thought to be to put them in mind of the Great Importance of our Woollen Manufactories which is the Grand Staple Commodity of England and so not to be by any means neglected On the Lowermost Woolsack are placed the Clerk of the Crown and Clerk of the Parliament whereof the former is concern'd in all Writs of Parliament and Pardons in Parliament The other Recordeth all things done in Parliament and keepeth the Records of the same This Clerk hath also two Clerks under him who kneel behind the same Woolsack and write thereon Without the Bar of the Lords House sits the King 's first Gentleman Usher called the Black-Rod from a Black-staff he carries in his hand under whom is a Yeoman Usher that waits at the Door within a Cryer without and a Serjeant at Mace always attending the Lord Chancellor When the King is present with His Crown on his Head none of the Lords are covered The Judges stand till the King gives them leave to sit When the King is absent the Lords at their entrance do Reverence to the Chair of State as is or should be done by all that enter into the King's Presence Chamber The Judges then may sit but may not be covered till the Chancellor or Keeper signifies unto them the leave of the Lords The King's Council and Masters of Chancery sit also but may not be covered at all The Commons in their House sit Promiscuously only the Speaker hath a Chair placed in the middle and the Clerk of that House near him at the Table They never had any Robes as the Lords ever had but wear every one what he fancyeth most The time of Sitting in Parliament is on any day in the Morning or before Dinner When the day prefixt by the King in His Writs of Summons is come the KING usually in his Royal Robes with His Crown on His Head declares the cause of their being Assembled in a short Speech leaving the rest to the Lord Chancellor who then stands behind His MAJESTY the Commons in the mean time standing bare at the Bar of the Lords House who are Commanded to chuse then a Speaker which without the KING's Command they may not do whereupon they Return to their own House and choose one of their own Members whom they present on another Day to the KING and being approved of by His MAJESTY sitting in His Chair and all the Lords in their Scarlet Robes he makes a modest refusal which not allowed he Petitioneth His Majesty That the Commons may have during their Sitting 1. A free Access to His Majesty 2. A freedom of Speech in their own House 3. Freedom from Arrests Which the King Grants Before they enter upon Affairs all the Members of the House of Commons take the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy in the presence of an Officer appointed by the KING And since the Papists have been found by the Wisdom of the KING and Parliament to be Plotting and Contriving to introduce the pretended Supremacy of their Pope and inslave the Nation to their Tyrannical Anti-spiritual Jurisdiction by Horrid Projections Plots Intrigues c. to prevent any such from Voting in either House it was thought meet though no Oaths can bind such who profess the Impious Doctrine of Equivocation that all are to declare their Opinion against the Doctrines of Transubstantiation Invocation and Adoration of Saints the Sacrifice of the Mass which Test the Lords also are Obliged to take in their House before they can Sit and Debate upon any Affair The Lords House hath a power not only in Making and Repealing Laws but also in tractando Consilium impendendo that is in Treating and Counselling c. as the words of the Writ are also in Judging of Controversies Judging in the Arraignment of any Peer of the Realm putting Men to their Oaths especially in matters of Importance as the Corruption of Judges and Magistrates in Illegal proceeding in other Courts in Appeals from Decrees in Chancery No Papist is to Sit or have Suffrage in the Lords House The Lords in case of necessary or unavoidable absence may make their Proxies to Vote in their place after License obtained under the KING's Signet The Commons as was said have a power in Making and Repealing Laws they have a Negative Voice as the KING and Lords have for nothing can pass into a Law without the joint concurrence of the King and both Houses Bills for Levying of Mony upon the Subject begin in the House of Commons because the greater part of the same arises from them The Commons have a power to Supplicate and propose Laws and as before to Impeach publick Delinquents of the Highest Quality that are Subjects for they are the Grand Inquest of the Nation and are to present Publick Grievances to be Redressed and Delinquents to be punished To this end the Lords sit in their Robes on the Bench covered they Swear and Examine Witnesses and at last pass Sentence the Members of the House of Commons stand bare at the Bar of the Lords House produce Witnesses manage Evidences c. Though every Member of the House of Commons is chosen to Serve for one particular County City or Borough yet he Serves for the whole Kingdom and his Voice is equal to any other his power is absolute to consent or dissent They are to make it their special care to promote the good of that County City or Borough for which they Serve so as that no particular benefit may interfere with or be prejudicial to the Good of the whole Kingdom The Lords are to bear their own Charges because they Represent only themselves The Commons usually had their Reasonable expences In the 17 of Ed. II. they had Ten Groats for Knights and Five Groats for Burgesses a day and not long after Four s. a day for Dubbed Knights and Two s. for all others which in those days as appears by the Prices of all things was a considerable Sum above Twenty times more than it is now So that some decayed Boroughs finding the expence heavy Petitioned that they might not be obliged to send Burgesses to Parliament and so were Vnburgessed c. It is the Practice of each House to debate all publick Affairs relating to the general or
Houses were burnt for there hapned many grievous Fires there of which and other Accidents more hereafter it lookt more like a stately and Continued Street than a Bridge The Charges of keeping this Bridge in Repair are so great that there is a large House a vast Revenue in Lands and Houses and Divers considerable Officers set apart for the constant care and Repair thereof The principal whereof are the two Bridge-Masters chosen out of the Body of the Liveries upon Midsummer-day after the Sheriffs and the Chamberlain Concerning this Bridge and the stupendious site and structure thereof take the ingenious fancy of Mr. James Howel in imitation of Sannazarius the famous Venetian Poet who writ the like about that City and the Rialto the prime Bridge there Cum Londinensem Neptunus viderat Vrbem Vectus ibi propriis atque revectus Aquis Dum Densam penetrat sylvam lucosque ferentes Pro Ramis funes pro foliisque cruces Cum superimpositum torrenti flumine Pontem Viderat Rapido ponere jur freto Cum tantos Muros ferrumina Castra tot Arcus Vidit haec tergo cuncta jacere suo Arcus qui possunt totidem formare Rialtos Metiri siquis summa vel ima Cupit Haec Deus undarum aspiciens fluxusque retrorsum Tundere horrendos inde Boare sonos Nunc mihi quanta velis terrae miracula pandas Est primus Mundi pons ait iste Stupor The same Paraphas'd in English When Neptune from his billows London spy'd Brought proudly thither by a high Spring-Tide As through a floating Wood he steer'd along And moving Castles cluster'd in a throng When he beheld a mighty Bridge give Law Vnto his Surges and their fury awe When such a shelf of Cataracts did roar As if the Thames with Nile had chang'd her shoar When he such Massy Walls such Towers did eye Such Posts such Irons on his back to lie When such vast Arches he observ'd that might Nineteen Rialto's make for depth and height When the Cerulean God these things survey'd He shook his Trident and astonish'd said Let the whole Earth now all her Wonders count This Bridge of Wonders is the Paramount There was first a Ferry where this Bridge is built and the Ferry-man and his Wife Dying his only Daughter a Maid named Mary with what her Parents left her and the profits of this Ferry built a House for Nuns where the East part of St. Mary-Overy's Church now stands and gave them the oversight and profits of the Ferry This Nunnery was afterwards converted into a Coâ—lege of Priests who built the Bridge of Timber but the time when is uncertain but mention is made of it Anno 994. when the Londoners overthrew a part of Sweyn King of Denmark's Army who besieged them many of the Danes being Drowned in the Thames because in their hasty flight they took no heed of or could not recover the Bridge This Bridge was burnt Anno 1136. It was afterwards new built but the Charges of continual Reparation being so great it was by the Aid of the Citizens and others built of Stone as beforesaid the Timber Bridge having been maintain'd partly by the proper Lands thereof partly by Legacies and Libâ—rality of Divers Persons and partly by Taxations in divers Shires at least 215 years before the Bridge of Stone was built And that we may give an Estimate of the Payments and Allowances belonging to this great Bridge it is recorded that in Henry the 7 th's time it amounted in one year to above 815 l. by which may be guessed what improvement and increase it is come to by this time the prices of things being so vastly altered Besides this Bridge there are three other curious Sone-Bridges over that mighty Chargeable and beautiful work or Channel rendring Navigable the Fleet Brook from the River Thames to Holborn-Bridge which is 100 Foot Broad on the sides of which are many huge Vaults to treasure up Coals for the use of the poor c. About the middle of this Channel stands Fleet-Bridge being considerably advanced though it lies in a level with Fleet-street and the bottom of Ludgate-Hill so that all Waggons Coaches Carmen c. pass over it the other two Bridges viz. Bridewell-Bridge and Fleet-laneBridge are raised 14 Steps or Stairs above the Streets on each side of the said Channel in order to the admittance or giving passage to all Lighters Barges Boats Hoys c. which bring in plentifully every Tide Coals for which and other Goods brought there are certain Duties paid to the City which were granted to the City by an Act of Parliament This Channel was finished Anno 1676. at the Cost of above 74000 l. And by the same Act of Parliament Hâ—lborn-Bridge at the North-end of this Channel was ordered to be enlarged which is very commodiously done to the great advantage of Passengers Theâ—e were several other inferiour Bridges mentioned by Stow and others but being of no great eminency and can hardly now be discovered we pass them by Of Rivers Aqueducts c. The Great and famous River of Thames deserves precedency not only of all other Rivers in England but perhaps of the World because it 's breadth depth gentle strait and even Course extraordinary wholsome Water and Tides render it more commodious for Navigation than any other that we read of The Sea Flows up this River near fourscore miles that is almost to Kingstone 12 miles above London by Land and 20 by Water bringing the greater Vessels to London and the smaller beyond then against the stream Boats are drawn to Oxford and higher many miles It is High Water at this City when the Moon comes to the North-East and South-West points of Heaven the one in our Hemisphere and the other in the opposite Hemisphere The highest Tides are upon a Land Flood the Wind Northwest at the Equinoctial and the Moon at Full When these Four Causes concur which is very rare the River over-flows its Banks in some places endamaging Westminster in their Cellars This Noble River opening Eastward towards Germany and France is much more advantageous for Traffique then any other River of England There is a variety of excellent Fish especially incomparable Salmon and along its Banks on either side a fat and fruitful Soyl pleasant with Meadows and innumerable Palaces and stately Buildings of the Nobility Gentry and great Citizens that it yields as beautiful a sight as can any where be met withal Which may be thus Described only from Windsor to London with a little alteration of Mr. Draytons Lines But now this Flood upon his Voyage prest That finds with strength his beauty still increast Where Windsor stood on Tip-toe to behold The Goodly Thames so far as e're he could With Royal Houses Crown'd of stately pride On either Bank as he along doth glide With sweet Delight doth his long Course pursue Doth Oatlands Hampton-Court and Richmond view Then Westminster great Thames doth entertain That vaunts her Palace and her
the Consent of the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Bishop of London and by his Majesties Approbation shall be thought necessary to be laid into the Streets and Markets for Enlargement and Accommodation thereof and for publick Store-places c. This Brief account we hope is not impertinent and being pursuant to our promise page 27. and for common information we could not well omit it These Parish-Churches are for the most part Built or a Building in a very stately and beautiful manner far excelling their former Conditior So much for the Etclesiastical Government I will only add That for the sincere and pure Worship of God and Profession of the Reformed Religion there is no City or place in the World can compare with London There being besides the Learned Divines of the Established Church of England a great Number of very Pious Learned and Reverend Ministers of the Gospel who are called Dissenters and I wish some peevish persons would forbear Nicknames because they disapprove some things with respect to Discipline and some Opinions of the Church of England But it is my hearty wish that since they all agree in the Fundamentals of Religion that there may be no clashing or disunion in point of Brotherly Love and Charity betwixt them for so God Commands and the times call for it the common Enemy like the Kite in Esop hovering for an opportunity to Devour us all To prevent which next the Divine Providence there cannot be used a more certain Medium then for all Protestants to Joyn with heart and hand together against their combining and united Foes of whose temper they have had instruction enough by Plots Massacres Fires and other Barbarous Actions of which all Protestants but such as are Masqueraded are convâ—nced by demonstrations as clear as any Geometry can afford a Mathematician But though I am no professed Divine yet I have admired why men will be so angry with others for not agreeing with them in some Point or Opinion in Religion not Fundamental that is not absolutely necessary to salvation yea so Barbarous and Inhumane are some grown as to reproach disgrace yea persecute each other because one will not be persuaded to see with the others Eyes Which is certainly a most irrational and Unchristian if not Antichristian practise and I cannot but suspect such a persons Religion to be no other then humour and fancy acted by pride and spight to such as perhaps cannot in Conscience agree with them A thing may be clear to one man that would fain impose it but it may be doubtful to him on whom it is imposed which no man can help Must he therefore be persecuted If the point be clear in Scripture what needs any new Article of Faith to impose it If only deduc'd what one thinks clearly deduced another as learned and able as he may think not to be so Mens understandings are as various as their speech or faces and is it just for one man to quarrel with another because different from him in either of these or to put him upon a Rack in order to stretch him to his own Dimensions if not so tall as he certainly that man is defective in charity that thinks all Dissenters are either maliciously or wilfully blind No man can be forced to believe he may be compelled to say this or that but not to belive it His brains may be sooner knockt out then made clear and able to see or perform an action morally beyond his power A man may as easily make a man stark blind to read Greek or distinguish Colours as an unbeliver to believe for that is God's Gift Arguments are good inducements but force has no countenance in the Gospel much less a Command John 20. 31. 5. 39. 2 Tim. 3. 15. Deut. 12. 32. Force may make one blind but never to see clearer it may make a Hypocrite but no true Convert The Magistrate is and ought to punish evil doers but not evil believers God reserves that to himself And man can never have a right cognizance of evil thoughts in another for the greatest Professor may be the greatest Atheist Nothing is more derogatory to the honour of God than for men to think that he wants their help to defend him Nor can any thing more affront him than for any one to intrude into his Tribunal and usurp his Soveraignty Christ conquered his Enemies by Preaching and Suffering And he that takes up Arms to preserve himself from Persecution is either a stark Atheist because he believes there is no such Reward as Mat. 5. 12. or a stark fool or mad-man to reject the opportunity of gaining it In a word what to me seems clear which I humbly submit to the consideration of others is 1. That none ought to be persecuted for Religion whose Principles are consistent with humane Society and behave themselves according to the Established Laws of the Land quietly and peaceably but are to be won by the mild ways of the Gospel 2. That if under pretence of Religion they disturb the common peace or wrong any other or be seditious and unquiet they ought to be punished by the Magistrate because Religion teaches no such things but the contrary 3. That where we agree in Fundamentals we should have mutual Christian Fellowship without wrangling about Circumstantials and that for this Reason which to me is instar â—mnium I would ask the sober Reader whether he thinks his Brother that agrees with him in Fundamental Articles of Faith which I could wish were rightly stated and lives soberly has Communion with God or no If he says No he has no Charity and his own Religion is become as sounding brass or a tinkling Symbal 1 Cor. 13. 1. If he believe that he hath Communion with God how dares he deny him his Communion is he better than God or where is his Warrant for so doing 4. That when we have done our endeavour to convince such a dissenting or doubting person in a Christian way by Scripture we have then clear'd our selves and therefore ought to leave the rest to God who only is his Judge and takes cognizance of such things yet still to walk in love with him as far as we agree always provided the erroâ—s he holds are not expresly against the Faith and Order prescribed by God but things dubious and capable of debate 5. Lastly we ought to have no Religious Communion with Atheists Infidels Papists or Idolaters prophane or ill livers or Hereticks who err in Fundamentals yet not to persecute any of them meerly for their Principles but where they transgress the Temporal Laws let them as others ought suffer accordingly though it is absolutely necessary for the Magistrate to restrain the spreading of such blasphemies and immoralities c. as direly affront the Divine Majesty I beg the Readers pardon for this little digression which my zeal for the Union of Protestants though I would not have any to give up or lose Divine Truths with the
each other in which is manifest the Infinite Wisdom of the Soveraign Disposer of all things who has order'd Human Affairs to so due and regular a Subordination to each other and so necessary a Concatenation among themselves that by a perfect Symmetry or Symphony of Parts they conclude in a perfect Harmony of General Good to Mankind which Superlative Blessing should be improved to mutual Advantage and the Glory of the Supreme Author of it In this Chapter we Design to produce some Remarks with respect to Trade in some Particulars as 1. The Particular Advanges of London with Respect to Trade 2. Its Merchants 3. It s Trade into the Country 4. It s Trade to Foreign Parts 5. Of the twelve Principal Companies with their Coats of Arms c. 6. Of the other Corporations with their Coats of Arms. 7. Of the Custom-House 8. Of the Post-Office 9. Of Of the Rates or Fares of Watermen Carmen Coachmen 10. Of the Carryers Waggoners and Stage-Coaches that come to the Principal Inns with the Days of their coming in and setting forth to all the Principal Parts of England SECT 1. SOme of the Advantages of this great City were hinted Page third and fourth to which we shall add that one of the Supreme Advantages is by the goodly River of Thames which opening Eastward towards Germany and France is much more Advantageous for Traffick than any other River in England and it may be said without Vanity that no River in the World can shew a Braver sight of Ships than are commonly to be seen like a Floating Forrest from Black-Wall to London-Bridge which in continual Voyages Import all sorts of Goods either for Need or Ornament and Export our Superfluities to the extraordinary Advantage of all sorts of People high or low of this see more in the Section of the River Thames Another Advantage that London hath is its being Situate so farwithin the Land that it is plentifully supplyed with all necessary Provision from the Country at easie and indifferent Rates and the Manufactures of the Respective Counties which the City disperses to Markets beyond Seas in Recompence the Country is supplyed by the City with all sorts of necessary Merchandizes wanting there c. Insomuch that London is a large Magazine of Men Money Ships Horses Ammunition of all sorts of Commodities necessary or expedient for the Use or Pleasure of Mankind It is the mighty Rendezvous of Nobility Gentry Courtiers Divines Lawyers Physitians Merchants Seamen and all kind of Excellent Artificers of the most Refined Wits and most Excellent Beauties for it is observed that in most Families of England if there be any Son or Daughter that Excells the rest in Beauty or Wit or perhaps Courage or Industry or any other rare Quality London is their Pole-Star and they are never at rest till they point directly thither which vast Confluence besides being the Kings Chief and Imperial Seat where Parliaments and the Principal Courts of Justice are held where the Inns or Colledges of the Municipial Laws are Seated with the Great Houses of the Nobility and Ministers of State must needs bring a vast Advantage and Increase to Trade besides the most Exquisite Ornament and Gallantry that any Place in the World can shew SECT 2. Of the Merchants of London MErchandizing may be said to be an Art or Science invented by Ingenious Mankind for the Publick Good and Profit of all supplying as was said the Native wants of one Place by the abundance of others that do not Consume their own Growths Products or Manufactures Such as Negotiate and Traffick this way are called Merchants The things Sold or Exchanged are two First Wares or Goods And Secondly Moneys or Coyn which are usually Contracted or Bargained for three ways First When Goods are Exchanged for Goods that is so much of one Sort for like value of another and this is called Bartering usual here in old times and in many places of America Asia and Affrica in these days but in Process of time Men finding it too difficult and troublesom to carry about them all things thus Bargained and Truckt for from place to place invented a common Standard or Measure that should countervail and be in Value as all other things and be Accounted in Payments Satisfaction and Equivalency to all others and this is called Money of Gold Silver or other Mettals This Use of Money is as old as Abraham but it was not then Coyned but only in Pieces Unstampt and since by Authority of Princes it was divided into great and small Pieces and into several and Distinct parts and Denominations and Stampt or Coyned with several Characters denoting the true Weight and Value of the same This was done first by Servius in Rome of Brass whereon was Imprinted the Image of Sheep and Oxen betokening the Wealth and Riches of those days ten of those Pieces made a Denier or Penny and were called by Latines Denarii This was the Original of Money which afterward came to be Coyned of Silver and Gold Secondly The Second way is of Goods for Money and this is Termed Bargaining or Buying and Selling this Facilitates Merchandizing and to prevent the Inconvenience and Danger of the Carriage of Money about a Man another Medium was found and that was Thirdly Exchanging which is the giving of so much Money in one Place to one who should cause it to be again repay'd in another place by another for him In all Exchanges there is concluded two Payments two places and four distinct Persons viz. he that Payeth in one place and Receiveth in another and he that Receiveth in the one place and Payeth in the other and so no Man can Remit except there be another to Draw nor can any Receive except there be another Authorized to Pay The first of these ways was taught to Maâ—kind by Necessity the second was found out to Facilitate the first and the third to Facilitate the second Thus was the Original of Exchanges to Accommodate Commerce which was first Practized without Benefit or Loss or any other Consideration they using to Pay the Value of the very Sum Received but in time it came to be considered that the Party Paying loses time and runs a hazard and therefore it was held reasonable that he should have some benefit Hence Exchanges are converted to an Art or Mystery Moneys being remitted for benefit without so much respect to the end of its Original Institution In the first sort the Merchant ought to know the Commodities delivered and received the present Value of both the quality viz. whether lasting or perishable the property viz. whether of Natural growth or Artificial and lastly the quantity viz. whether plentifulâ— or scarce and in few Lands In the second sort the same things are necessary and also a knowledge how the things are bought and sold whether by weight as ponderous Goods by concave or long measures as Commodities of length or such as are Solid or Liquid A knowledge
Mr. Sutton to affect that House as the only Place whereon to build the Foundation of his Religious Purpose For among other his Christian Determinations he had formerly intended to build an House at Hallingbury-Bouchers in Essex to be an Hospital for such Poor Men and Children as he himself in his life time or future Governors for the same to be Deputed should think fit to be Lodged and Relived there Also for a School-Master and Vsher to Teach Children to Read and Write and instruct them in the Latin and Greek Grammar with a Learned Divine likewise to Preach the Word of God to them all And a Master beside to Govern all those People belonging to that House But finding this Goodly Mansion of the Charter-House to be much more convenient for the purpose he became an earnest Suitor to the Earl of Suffolk to purchase that House of him acquainting his Honour with the alteration of his mind concerning Hallingbury and his earnest Desire to make the Charter-House the Hospital The Earl being Honorably inclin'd to so Godly a motion the Price being concluded on the Bargain and Sale was assured The Sum disburs'd for this purpose amounted to 13000 l. which was Paid down in hand before the unsealing of the Conveyance Then he became Suitor again to his Majesty to perform all that at the Chartor-House which he had formerly intended at Hallingbury Whereto the King readily yielded being Graciously affected to so Charitable a Work and Granted His Letters Patents to the same effect This Gentleman lived always a Batchelor and by sundry Employments and Parsimony grew to great Wealth which he well Employed to his immortal honnour He endowed 〈◊〉 Hospital with above 3000 l. a Year in Land viz. All and singular the Mannors Lordships Messuages Lands Tonements Reversions Services Meadows Pastures Woods Advowsons Patronages of Churches and Hereditaments of the said Thomas Sutton whatsoever Situate lying and being within the County of Essex Lincoln Wilts Cambridg and Middlesex or in any of them with all and every of their Rights Members and Appurtenances whatsoever Except all his Mannors and Lordships of Littlebury and Haddestock with their Appurtenaâ—ces in the County of Essex In this Hospital he placed Fourscore Poor Men with convenient Lodging Dyet and Allowance of Money for Apparel also Forty Poor Children with the like Provision and a Grammar School with a Master and an Vsher to Teach them over all whom he ordained a Learned Man to be Master of the Houshold to be chosen by the Governors whom he appointed for the present by the Authority of the Kings Letters Patents to be George Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Lord Elsemore Lord Chancellor Robert Earl of Salisbury Lord Treasurer John Bishop of London Lancelot Bishop of Ely Sir Edward Cook Chief Justice of the Common Pleas Sir Thomas Foster a Judg of the Common-Pleas Sir Henry Hubbard the Kings Attorney-General Doctor Overal Dean of Pauls Doctor Mountain Dean of Westminster Henry Thursby Esq Master of the Chancery Richard Sutton Esq Auditor of the Impress Geoffery Nightingale Esquire John Low Gentleman Thomas Brown Gentleman and Master of the Houshold for the time being to be always one and as any of those Sixteen Governors should die the Survivors to make present Additions of others Towards the building of this Hospital Chappel and School-House he gave 5000 l. but he lived not to see it performed but what Death bereft him of he left to the performance of his Faithful Executors Mr. Richard Sutton and Mr. John Low Men of Religious and upright Souls who carefully accomplished the Work so that the Monday after Michâ—â—â—mas day being the 3 d of October Anno Dom. 1614. The Captains Gentlemen and Officers entered into their Famous prepared Hospital to the Glory of God Honour of the King's Majesty Credit of the Governors and Joy of Honest minds and the Eternal Fame of the Noble Founder who is laid in a goodly Tomb in the Chappel of his own Hospital With this Inscription Sacred to the Glory of God in Grateful Memory of Thomas Sutton Esquire Here lieth buried the Body of Thomas Sutton late of Castel Camps in the County of Cambridge Esq at whose only Costs and Charges this Hospital was Founded and Endued with large Possessions for the Relief of Poor Men and Children He was a Gentleman born at Knayth in the County of Lincoln of Worthy and Honest Parentage He lived to the Age of 79 Years and Deceased the 12th Day of December Anno Domini 1611. Though we Design to avoid all Prolixity yet 't is hoped it will be Pardoned if we Transcribe an Epitaph made upon this Worthy Man by a Friend to Piety and Goodness for he being a Rare Example challenges as his due Merit a more than ordinary mention When bad Men die the Memory Remains Of their Corruptions and ungodly ways As Merit to their mis-applyed pains Out of ill actions forming as ill praise For Vertue wounded by their deep disgrace Leaves Fame to their posterity and Race When Good Men die the Memory remains Of their true Vertue and most Christian ways As a due Guerdon to their Godly gains Out of good Actions forming as good praise For Vertue cherish'd by their Deeds of Grace Leaves Fame to their Posterity and Race Among these Good if Goodness may be said To be among the seed of Mortal Men In upright Ballance of true Merit weigh'd Needs must we reckon Famous SUTTON then In whom as in a Mirror doth appear That Faith with Works in him did shine most clear And let us not as is a common use Measure him by a many other more In Death to cover their bad lifes abuse To lanch out then some bounty of their store No SUTTON was none such his Hospital And much more else beside speaks him to all For as God blest him with abundant Wealth Like to a careful Steward he emplo'd it And order'd all things in his best of health As glad to leave it as when he enjoy'd it And being prepared every hour to die Disposed all his Gifts most Christianâ—y In Abrahams bosome sleeps he with the blest His Works they follow him his worth survives Good Angels guide him to eternal rest Where is no Date of time for Years or Lives You that are Rich do you as he hath done And so assure the Crown that he hath woâ—â— To conclude in a word this Famous Hospital with the value of the Lands laid into it the Purchase of the House Stock laid in which he hath given into the Treasury or Store of the said Hospital to begin with and to defend the Rights of the House being 1000 l. and Allowance towards the Building also the Remainder of his Goods unbequeathed his large Gifts and Legacies to divers Honorable and Worthy Friends besides great store of far more inferior account which would puzle me to number and the residue of 20000 l. left to the discretion of his Executors may truly and deservedly be said to be