Zeal of the King was as he said himself so astonished That he could not tell what to say But after some pause said That he thought at this present for some entrance to be had it were good to practise with the City of London because the Number of the Poor there are very great and the Citizens also very many and wise and he doubted not but they were also both pitiful and merciful as the Mayor and his Brethren and other the Worshipful of the said City And that if it would please the Kings Majesty to direct His Gracious Letters unto the Mayor of London willing him to call unto him such Assistants as he should think meet to consult of this matter for some Order to be taken therein he doubted not but good would follow thereon and he himself promised the King to be one himself that should earnestly travel therein The King forthwith not only Granted his Letter but made the Bishop tarry until the same was written and his Hand and Signet set thereto and commanded the Bishop not only to deliver the said Letter himself but also to signifie unto the Mayor that it was the Kings especial Request and express Commandment that the Mayor should therein travel and so soon as he might conveniently give him knowledge how far he had proceeded therein The Bishop was so joyous at the having this Letter that now he had occasion to travel in so good a matter wherein he was marvellous zealous that nothing could have more pleased and delighted him wherefore the same Night he came to the Lord Mayor of London who was then Sir Richard Dobbs Kt. and delivered the King's Letter and shewed his Message with effect The Lord Mayor not only joyfully received this Letter but with all speed agreed to set the matter forward for he also favoured it very much And the next day being Monday he desired the Bishop of London to dine with him and against that time the Mayor promised to send for such men as he thought meetest to talk of this matter and so he did He sent first for two Aldermen and six Commoners and afterwards more were appointed to the number of 24. In the end after sundry Meetings for by the means and good diligence of the Bishop it was well followed they agreed upon a Book that they had devised wherein first they considered on Nine special kinds and sorts of poor People and those they brought into these Three degrees 1. The Poor by Impotency 2. The Poor by Casualty 3. The Thriftless Poor 1. The Poor by Impotency are also divided into three kinds viz. 1. The Fatherless Poor Mans Child 2. The Aged Blind and Lame 3. The Diseased Person by Leprosie Dropsie c. 2. The Poor by Casualty are likewise of 3 kinds that is to say 1. The Wounded Soldier 2. The Decayed Housholder 3. The Visited with any grievous Disease 3. The Thriftless Poor are three kinds in like manner viz. 1. The Rioter that consumeth all 2. The Vagabond that will abide in no place 3. The Idle Person as Strumpets and others For these three sorts of Poor three several Houses were provided 1. For the Innocent and Fatherless which is the Beggars Child and is indeed the Seed and Breeder of Beggary they provided the House that was the late Gray-Fryers in London and called it by the Name of Christs-Hospital where poor Children are trained up in the knowledge of God and some virtuous Exercises to the overthrow of Beggary For the 2 Degree was provided the Hospitals of St. Thomas in Southwark and St. Bartholomew in West-Smithfield where are continually at least 200 Diseased Persons which are not only there lodged and Cured but also fed and nourished For the 3 Degree they provided Bridewell where the Vagabond and idle Strumpet is chastised and compelled to labour to the overthrow of the vicious life of Idleness They provided also for the honest decayed Housholder that he should be relieved at home at his House and in the Parish where he dwelt by a Weekly Relief and Pension And in like manner they provided for the Lazer or Leprous Person to keep him out of the City from Clapping of Dishes and Ringing of Bells to the great trouble of the Citizens and also to the dangerous Infection of many that they should be relieved at home at their Houses by several Pensions Now after this good Order taken to the Eternal Honour of this Noble City and the Citizens willing to further the same the Report thereof was made to the King And His Majesty for the Advancement thereof was not only willing to grant such as should be Overseers and Governors of the said Houses a Corporation and Authority for the Government of them but also required that he might be accounted as the Chief Founder and Patron thereof And for the furtherance of the said Work and continual maintenance of the same He of his meer Mercy and Goodness granted that whereas before certain Lands were given to the maintaining of the House of the Savoy founded by King Henry VII for the Lodging of Pilgrims and Strangers and that the same was now made but a Lodging for Loyterers Vagabonds and Strumpets that lay all day in the Fields and at night were harboured there the which was rather the maintenance of Beggary than any Relief to the Poor gave the same Lands being first surrendred by the Master and Fellows there which Lands were of the yearly value of 600 l. unto the City of London for the maintenance of the Foundation aforesaid And for a further Relief a Petition being made to the King's Majesty for a Licence to take in Mortmaine or otherwise without Licence Lands to a certain yearly value and a space left in the Patent for His MAJESTY to put in what Sum He pleased He looked on the void place called for Pen and Ink and with His own Royal Hand wrote this Sum 4000 Marks by the year which is 2666 l. 13 s. 4 d. and with the former 600 l. makes in all 3266 l. 13 s. 4 d. and then said in the hearing of his Council Lord I yield thee most hearty thanks that thou hast given me life thus long to finish this work to the Glory of thy Name After which Foundation established he lived not above two days whose life would have been wished equal to the Patriarchs if it had pleased God so to have prolonged it He dyed at Greenwich the 6th of July Anno 1553. He was in Body beautiful of a sweet Aspect and specially in his Eyes which seemed to have a starry liveliness and lustre in them For his pregnancy of Wit and Knowledge in all kinds of Learning Cardan who coming into England had often conference with him reporteth of him that he was extraordinary skilful in Languages and in the Politicks well seen in Philosophy and in Divinity and generally indeed a very Miracle of Art and Nature He would answer Ambassadors sometimes upon the sudden either in
9 28. Rutland 2 29. Shropshire 12 30. Somersetshire 18 31. Southampton Or Southamptonshire 26 32. Staffordshire 10 33. Suffolk 16 34. Surrey 14 35. Sussex 20 36. Warwickshire 6 37. Westmorland 4 38. Wiltshire 34 39. Worcestershire 9 40. Yorkshire 30 BARONS of the CINQUE-PORTS Port of Hastings 2 Town of Winchelsey 2 Town of Rye 2 Port of new Rumney 2 Port of Hieth 2 Port of Dover 2 Port of Sandwich 2 Port of Seaford 2 WALES 1. Anglesey 1 Bewmaris 1 2. Brecon 1 Town of Brecon 1 3. Cardigan 1 Town of Cardigan 1 4. Carmarthen 1 Town of Carmarthen 1 5. Carnarvan 1 Town of Carnarvan 1 6. Denbigh 1 Town of Denbigh 1 7. Flint 1 Town of Flint 1 8. Glamorgan 1 Town of Cardiff 1 9. Merioneth 1 10. Pembrook 1 Town of Haverford-west 1 Town of Pembrook 1 11. Montgomery 1 Town of Montgomery 1 12. Radnor 1 Town of Radnor 1 The Barons of the Cinque-Ports are at this Day only as Burgesses in Parliament yet they are still called Barons after the antient manner because heretofore they got Renown by their Exploits at Sea in defending the Kingdom in Memory whereof they have yet the priviledge to send Burgesses to bear the Cloth of State over the King's Head on the day of His Coronation and to Dine that Day in the King's presence The Writ or Summons to the Sheriff for Election of Members to Serve in the House of Commons runs to this purpose The KING to the Sheriff c. Greeting WHereas by the Advice and Assent of our Council for certain arduous and urgent Affairs concerning Vs the State and Defence of our Kingdom of England and the Church of England We have Ordamed a certain Parliament of Ours to be held at this Our City of the Day of next Ensuing and there to have Conference and to Treat with the Prelates Great Men and Peers of Our said Kingdom We command and strictly enjoyn you that making Proclamation at Our next County Court after the Receipt of this Our Writ to be holden the day and Place aforesaid you cause two Knights girt with Swords the most fit and discreet of the County aforesaid and of every City of that County two Citizens of every Burrough two Burgesses of the discreetest and most sufficient to be freely and indifferently chosen by them who shall be present at such Proclamation according to the Tenor of the Statutes in that Case made and provided and the Names of the said Knights Citizens and Burgesses so châ—sen to be inserted in certain Indentures to be then made between you and those that shall be present at such Election whether the Parties so Elected be present or absent and shall make them to come at the said Day and Place so that the said Knights for themselves and the County aforesaid and the Citizens and the Burgesses for themselves and the Commonalty of the said Cities and Boroughs may have severally from them full and sufficient Power to do and to consent to those things which then by the Favour of GOD shall happen to be Ordained by the Common Councel of Our said Kingdom concerning the businesses aforesaid so that the business may not by any means remain undone for want of such Power or by reason of the improvident Election of the foresaid Knights Citizens and Burgesses But we will not in any Case that you or any other Sheriff of Our said Kingdom shall be Elected and at the Day and Place aforesaid the said Election being made in a full County Court you shall certify without Delay unto Vs in Our Chancery under your Seal and the Seals of them who shall be present at the Election sending back unto Vs the other part of the Indenture aforesaid affixed to these presents together with the Writ Witness Our Self at c. The King is in the sence of Law the Fountain of Justice He is Lord Chief Justice of England and therefore all the Laws of the Realm are called His Laws for He is Caput principium finis Parliamenti that is the head beginning and end of Parliament and nothing can have the Force of a Law but what has His Royal Assent The highest Court of Judicature in England is the House of Lords in Parliament who are assisted with the most Grave and Eminent Lawyers of England both in Common and Civil Law who are only Ministerial there and have no Voices but to give their Opinions in matters of Law which become doubtful To the Judicature of this Supreme and most Honorable Court all other Courts and Persons that are Subjects of England are accountable for all Crimes not properly Tryable Remediable or Punishable in other inferiours Courts of Justice and to this Court all last Appeals are made from whose Sentence there lies no Appeal but to a succeeding Parliament and this Supreme Judicatory or Judicial Power lies only in the King and House of Lords and at the Bar of this High Court may the House of Commons as the Grand Inquest of the Nation Impeach the Highest Subject of England whether of the Clergy or of the Laity and prosecute them till it come to a Sentence All Members of Parliament both Lords and Commons that they may attend the publick Service of their Country are priviledged with their Menial Servants attending on their Persons together with all their necessary Goods brought along with them from all Attachments and Imprisonments for Debts Trespasses Account or Covenant all the time that they are on the way to the Place of Parliament all the time that they tarry there and return Eundo Morando ad propria redeundo but not from Arrests for Treason Felony or breach of the Peace The place of Meeting for this High and Honorable Assembly is in whatsoever City Town or House the King pleaseth but most usually at Westminster All the Lords Sit in a fair Room by themselves and the Commons not far from them in another Fair Room heretofore the antient Free Chappel of St. Stephen The King as oft as he comes which is usually at the opening of Parliaments passing of Bills or Solemn Debates is placed at the upper end of the Room in a Chair of State under a Cloth of State under which on either hand sit none but the King's Children On the King 's right hand is a Seat for the Prince of Wales on His left hand is a Seat for the Duke of York On the King 's right hand next the Wall are placed on a Form the two Archbishops next below on another Form the Bishops of London Durham and Winchester Upon other Forms on the same side the rest of the Bishops sit according to the Priority of their Consecration On the King 's left hand upon Forms are placed the Lord Chancellor Treasurer President of the King's Council the Lord Privy Seal if they are Barons above all Dukes except those of the Royal Family if they are not Barons then they Sit uppermost on the Wool-sacks On the same side Sit
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
and beautified Anno 1609. In the South Isle there hung a very fair Picture of King James with the Figures of Peace and Plenty on either side of him Peace with her Olive Branch and Plenty with her Sheaf of Wheat in her hands being the Gift of Robert Plonker then Church-Warden LXII The Parish-Church of St. Mary Sommerset at the South-end of St. Mary Mounthaw-lane over against Broken-Wharf is also in Queen-Hith-Ward and a proper Church it was repaired and beautified Anno 1624. LXIII The Parish-Church of St. Mary called Stayning because it standeth at the North-end of Stayning-lane in Aldersgate-Ward was repaired and beautified at the cost of the Parish Anno 1630. LXIV Near Stocks-Market in Walbrook-Ward is the Parish-Church called St. Mary Wooll-Church so called of a Beam placed in the Church-yard which was thereof called Wooll-Church Haw of the weighing of Wooll there used for amongst the Customs of London written in French in the Reign of Edward II. there is to be found a Chapter intituled Les Customes de Wooll-Church Haw Wherein is set down what was there to be paid for every parcel of Wooll weighed This weighing of Wooll was there continued till the 6th of Richard II. till John Churchman built the Custome-House upon Wooll-Key to serve for the said purpose This was and is now a fair and large Church LXV The Parish-Church of St. Mary Wolnoth in Langborn-Ward was a proper handsom Church with some few Monuments in it LXVI In Ironmonger-lane in Cheap-Ward is the Parish-Church of St. Martin formerly called Pomary possibly of Apples growing where now Houses are built It was repaired and beautified at the Parish-charge Anno 1629. LXVII The Parish-Church of St. Martin by Ludgate in Farringdon-Ward-within was a proper Church to which Anno 1437. viz. 15th of H. 6. Sir John Michael Lord Mayor and the Commonalty granted a parcel of Ground containing 28 Foot in length and 24 in breadth to build their Steeple upon LXVIII The Parish-Church of St. Martin Orgar in Candlewick-street-ward is a small Church Sir William Crowmer Lord Mayor built a handsom Chapel on the South-side thereof and was buried there in an ancient Tomb Anno 1533. it was repaired 1630. at the cost of 122 l. 6 s. 6 d. There was a rich and very beautiful Monument in the Chancel of Sir Allen Cotton Knight and Alderman of London and sometimes Lord Mayor who dyed the 24th of December Anno 1628. with a large Inscription concluding with these Verses When he left Earth Rich Bounty Dy'd Mild Courtesie gave place to Pride Soft Mercy to bright Justice said Oh Sister we are both Betray'd While Innocence lay on the Ground By Truth and wept at eithers Wound The Sons of Levi did lament Their Lamps went out their Oyl was spent Heaven hath his Soul and only we Spin out our Lives in misery So Death thou missest of thy End And kill'st him not but kill'st his Friend There was also a delicate Monument of our famous Queen Elizabeth LXIX The Parish-Church of St. Martin Outwich is on the South-part of Threadneedle-street in Broad-street-ward it is so called of Martin de Oteswitch Nicholas de Oteswich William Oteswich and John Oteswich Founders thereof and all buried there as appeared by their ancient Monument There was Interred Richard Staper Elected Alderman of London Anno 1594. the greatest Merchant in his time and the chiefest Actor in the discovery of the Trades of Turkey and the East-India He was prosperous wealthy bountiful and a good man he died Anno 1608. Sir Henry Row gave 5 l. yearly for Ever to the Poor of this Parish to be bestowed in Bread and Coals And Mrs. Sotherton yearly for Ever in Bread 50 s. LXX The Fair Parish-Church called St. Martin Vintrey in Vintrey-Ward was sometimes called St. Martin de Beremand Church It was new built Anno 1399. by the Executors of Matthew Columbars a Stranger born and a French Merchant LXXI The Parish-Church of St. Matthew Friday-street Farringdon-ward-within had divers Monuments in it It was repaired and beautified at the cost of the Parish Anno 1633. AS TO LXXII The Parish-Church of St. Michael called St. Michael at Basing-hall in Basing-hall-ward LXXIII The Parish-Church of St. Michael Cornhil in Cornhil-ward LXXIV St Michaels Crooked-lane in Candleweek-street-ward LXXV St. Mich. Queenhith in Queenhith-ward The are handsom Churches affording no Remarkables but what will fall under other Heads LXXVI St. Michael ad Bladum or at the Corne corruptly called St. Michael Querne is in Farringdon-ward-within and was a fair Church with divers Monuments in it amongst the rest one for John Leland the famous Antiquary and others as John Banks Esq Mercer who by his last Will written with his own hand gave to pious and charitable Uses 6000 l. which his Executor Robert Tichburn carefully discharged LXXVII St. Michael Royal in Vintrey-ward is a fair Parish-Church It was new built and made a Colledge by Sir Richard Whittington Mercer and four times Lord Mayor for a Master four Fellows Masters of Art Clerks Conducts Chorists c. There was also an Alms-house for thirteen poor men The College was suppressed in the time of Edward the Sixth the Alms-houses with the poor men do remain and are paid by the Mercers This Church was beautified at the proper cost of the Parish Anno 1630. at the charge of 130 l. 9 s. LXXVIII The Parish-Church of St. Michael in Wood-street in Cripplegate-ward was a proper Church in which were divers Monuments Here was Interred the Head of James the Fourth King of Scots of that name slain at Flodden-field Here was also a Monument of Queen Elizabeth LXXIX The Parish-Church called St. Mildred Bread-street in Bread-street-ward had divers Monuments amongst the rest one for Sir John Chadworth or Shadworth Kt. some time Mercer and Lord Mayor of London who gave a Vestry to this Church an House for the Pastor to dwell in and a Church-yard to the Parishioners wherein to bury their dead He deceased the 7th of May An. 1401. In Memorial of whom there was a fair Inscription on the Wall in these words Here lies a Man that Faith and Works did even Like Fiery Chariots mount him up to Heaven He did adorn this Church When words were weak And men forget the living stones will speak He left us Land This little Earth him keeps These black words Mourners and the Marble weeps At the upper end of the Chancel was a fair Window full of cost and beauty which being divided into five parts carried in the first of them a very artful and curious Representation of the Spaniards great Armado and the Battel in 1588. In the 2d the Monument of Queen Elizabeth In the 3d of the Gun-powder Plot. In the 4th of the lamentable time of Infection 1625. In the 5th the view and lively portraicture of that worthy Gentleman Captain Nicholas Crisp at whose sole cost among other this beautiful piece of Work was erected as also the Figures of his virtuous Wife
sorts of Weapons for War than they drew out of these only such able Men as had White Harness and them all to appear in White Coats with Breeches and white Caps and Feathers and because Notice was given that the King himself would see them Muster they all prepared to appear as splendidly as they could and to that end the Lord Mayor Aldermen Recorder and Sheriffs and all who had been Sheriffs had all white Harness and over that Coats of black Velvet with the Arms of the City Embroidered thereon each one a great Gold Chain and Mounted on a goodly Horse with rich Trappings on their Heads Velvet Caps in their Hands Battle-Axes gilt Each Alderman and the Recorder had four Halberdiers in white Silk or else Buff-Coats waiting on them with gilt Halberds and the Lord Mayor and sixteen tall men apparrelled in white Sattin Doublets Caps and Feathers Chains of Gold and other Gorgeous Attire with long gilt Halberds following his Lordship at a distance But next to him he had four Footmen in white Sattin then two Pages cloathed in Crimson-Velvet and Cloath of Gold riding on Gallant Horses richly furnisht one of them carrying the Lord Mayors Helmet and the other his Pole-Ax both richly gilt and adorn'd Most of the Citizens of any Quality or Office were in white Sattin or white Silk Coats with Chains of Gold and some with rich Jewels what the Number of Men in Arms was is not recorded but it may be guessed at by what follows They Mustered in Mile-end-Fields and before Nine of the Clock in the Morning began to March entring at Aldgate in excellent order down to Westminster where the King and Court stood to view them passing by thence they Marched about St. James's-Park so through Holborn up to Leaden-Hall and there Disbanded immediately and yet this was not done till five of the Clock in the Evening which was Eight hours continual March At His Majesties Return to his Government there were in London and the Liberties six Regiments of Trained-Bands and six Regiments of Auxiliaries and one Regiment of Horse these thirteen Regiments about six Weeks before his Majesties arrival Mustered in Hyde-Park being then drawn out for promoting and securing his Majesties Return These twelve Regiments of Foot were 18000 Men compleat Eight of these Regiments had seven Companies in each and the other four had six Companies in each in all Eighty Companies The Regiment of Horse of six Troops and 100 in each Troop this considerable Army drawn together before the 20 th of May was Judged to be highly useful for facilitating that great Work Some Months after the King sent to the City a Commission of Lieutenancy appointing several persons as his Lieutenants in London giving them the same power that the Lords Lieutenants have in their respective Counties and in pursuance of that Commission the Regiments were new settled There were six Regiments of Train-Bands commanded by six Citizens Knights and their Lieutenant-Colonels were all Knights and there were six Regiments of Auxiliaries In all these twelve Regiments were 20000 Men then were listed two Regiments of Horse each consisting of five Troops in all 800 Horse these were all Drawn into Hide-Park where His Majesty was pleas'd to take a view of them But in case of need it is certain that in London and within the Liberty there may in few days be raised 400000 Men Besides Southwark one Regiment of Train'd-Bands 1500 Men The Hamlets of the Tower two Regiments in all 3000 Men then Holborn Regiment and Westminster Regiment 2000 each and in case of necessity they can raise 20000 more that is in all 66500 Men and in case of absolute need they can double that Number and yet leave enough to manage Trade c. To demonstrate this we shall look back into former times when London was far less populous and of less dimensions then Now and produce what we find Recorded of its Military power Stow in his Survey p. 85. saith that Anno 1539 31. H. VIII a great Muster was made of the Citizens on the 8 th of May at Mile-end all in bright Harness with Coats of white Silk or Cloath and Chains of Gold in three great Battels to the Number of 15000 which passed through London to Westminster and round St. James's Park and so home through Holborn This was for the Midsummer Watch which custom was discontinued till 1548. 2 E. 6. and then revived with an Addition of above 300 Demi-Laâ—ces and light Horsemen prepared by the City for Scotland for the Relief of the Town of Haddington kept by the English The like Marching Watch hath not been used since though some attempts have been made in order to its continuation as Anno 1585. A Book was written by a grave Citizen Mr. John Mâ—ntgomery Dedicated to Sir Thomas Pullison then Lord Mayor and the Aldermen containing the Manner and Order of a Marching-Watch on the accustomed way wherein he used this Motive That Artificers of sundry sorts were thereupon set to Work none but rich men charged poor men helped old Souldiers Trumpets Drummers Fifes and Ensign-beâ—rers with such like men meet for the Princes Service kept in ure wherein theâ— safety and defence of every Common-Wealth consisteth Armor and Weapons being yearly used thereby the Citizens had of their own ready prepared for any need whereas by intermission hereof Armourers are out of Work Souldiers out of ure Weapons over-grown withfoulness few or none good being provided c. Mr. Howel in his Londinopolis Printed 1657. Writes thus p. 398. For strength Defensive and Offensive for Arms of all sorts for Artillery Amunition for Arsenals and Docks on both sides the River for Castles and Block-houses c. London is not inferiour to any she hath 12000 Trained-Band Citizens perpetually in a Readiness excellently Armed c. The City of London hath sent out strong Fleets in former times to scoure and secure the Four Seas from Depredations and Pyracy Anno 1293 She was able to set forth a Fleet of 95 Ships Another Record shews that in King Stephens Reign the City raised 60000 Foot and 20000 Horse for Land Service which is about 500 years ago No place is better furnished with Magazines of Corn and Arms against a Famine for besides that at Leadeâ—-Hall and the Bridge-House How many Halls have Store-Houses of this kind By the Computation of humane Souls in this great City may be guessed what Military force may be raised of which the said Author says thus In the year 1636. King Charles the First sending to the Lord Mayor to make a Scrutiny what Number of Papists and Strangers were in the City the Lord Mayor Sir Edward Bromfield took occasion thereby to make a cense or computation of all the people and there were of Men Women and Children above 700000 that lived within the Bars of his Jurisdiction alone and this being so long ago viz. 45 years 't is judged by all probable computation that London hath more by a third
remarkable for their Industry and great Integrity who have a continual attendance incumbent on them from Morning to Night and who discharge the Duty of their Places with a very clear Reputation And Maugre all the Malice and Envy that has many times been making attempts upon them their honesty has verified the Proverb proved the best Policy to defend them from all their open and secret Enemies There is also Five Deputy Searchers under the Commissioners or Farmers for the time being who do assist the Five Undersearchers in Shipping goods and doing other business by Bills and Copies of the Original Warrants which are by Law directed to the King's Searchers These Deputies because there is no Fee due to them have 80 l. per annum Sallary but are no Patent Officers Surveyors Mr. Daniel Ford. Thomas Fownes Tho. Cooke Hew Cheely Sallary 150 l. per annum Six Tyde Surveyors Mr. Simon Tomlins Jones Tombes Steph. Chusman Edm. Clark Sumpter Sallary 80 l. per annum 19 Kings-Waters Sallary to each 80 l. 40 Land-Waiters Sallary to each 80 l. 80 Tyde-Waiters in Fee 5 l. per annum and 2 s. 6 d. per Day 50 Ditto Extraordinary no Sallary 2 s. 6 d. per Day There are many other Officers as Richard Kent Esq Receiver-General of the Revenue of the Customs Giles Lidcot Esq Accomptant-General there is a Customer of Cloath and petty Customs Fee 277 l. Two Customers of the great Customs Sallary 50 l. Comptroller of the Cloath and petty Customs Fee 30 l. Register of the Seizures Sallary 106 l. Surveyor of the Out-Ports Sallary 250 l. A Secretary Ware-house-keeper Surveyor of the Ware-house c. Besides there are several persons Commissioned to Seize Goods uncustomed either inward or outward bound There are also Noontenders Watchmen and several inferiour Officers Note that the due perquisites belonging to these Officers are very considerable and to some are much more than their Respective Sallaries Of Docks THese Docks or Harbours are cut into the Land without further Current and are useful for the convenient lying of Vessels Hoys Lighters Barges Boats c. in order to the convenient Delivery of Provision as Victual Fuel c. to the adjacent Inhabitants They are in number very many Some of the chief are Scotland-Dock adjoyning to White-Hall White-Fryars-Dock Puddle-Dock at the West-end of Thames-street Queen-Hith-Dock a place of much Trade for ground Corn or Meal which is brought out of the West Country thither in great Quantities Billingsgate-Dock a place of great Trade and where ships of considerable Burthen may Harbour Sabbs-Dock Tower-Dock St. Katharines-Dock Hermitage-Dock Execution-Dock which though it be of later years fitted up retains to this day the former name which it received because it was the only place for Executing Pyrats and Sea-Robberts which is usually done by Hanging them on a Gibbet erected at Low-water-mark Limehouse-Dock And on the South-shore are Clink-Dock and St. Saviours-Dock There are besides these many Docks for private use as for repairing of Ships and Vessels which we omit Under this head of TRADE and in this place it may not be improper to give a Brief Account of the Porters of London who are not incorporate Companies but Brotherhoods whose Original and Government are by Acts of Common-Councel They are of two sorts 1. Ticket-Porters who do take up weigh load and ouse all Merchants Goods as Cloath Fruit Sugars Oyls Wines Mettals c. and have to their Governour Sir Thomas Allen These are very numerous their Quarteridge is 4 d. each 2. Fellowship Porters To these belong the shoring or landing housing carrying or recarrying all measurable Goods as Corn Salt Coals c. Their chief Governour is the Alderman of Billingsgate Ward who is at present Sir John Peak These are in Number about 700 and their Quarterige is 12 d. each These and the former have very good Government and Orders among themselves and before any is admitted to that Employ among them they pay a Fine The Ticket-Porters give good security for their Honesty and Fidelity so that no more need be done but to take notice of his Name which is sâ—ampt on his Ticket that hangs at his Girdle and repairing to their Governor satisfaction may be had for any wrong or mis-behaviour c. There is a very remarkable Custom among the Fellowship Porters as an Ingenious person that belongs to their Society informed me which is thus The next Sunday after every Midsummer-day they have a Sermon preached to them so order'd by an Act of Common-Councel in the Parish-Church of St. Mary-On-the-Hill preparative to which this Order is observed they furnish the Merchants and their Families about Billings-gate with Nosegâ—ys or Posies over-night and in the morning they go from their Common-Hall or place of Meeting in good Order each having a Posie or Nosegay in his hand They walk through the middle Isse to the Communion-Table where are two Basons and every one offers something to the Relief of the Poor and towards the Charges of the Day After they have all past the Deputy the Merchants their Wives Children and Servants do all come in Order from their Seats and bestow their Offerings also which is a Ceremony of much variety I am certainly informed that the very charges of their Nosegays cost them in one year not long ago near 20 l. Coal-Market AT the head of Billingsgate-Dock is a square Plot of ground compassed with Posts known by the Name of Roomland which with the Adjacent part of the street hath been the usual place where the Ship-Masters Coal-Merchants Woodmongers Lightermen and Labourers do meet every Morning in order to the Buying Selling Delivering and taking up of Sea-Coals and Scotch-Coals as the principal Market This Coal-Market was kept on Great Tower-hill in the time of the Cities late Desolation Corn-Market UPon Bear-key between Sabs-Dock and Porters-key is the usual place or Chief Market for Corn which is bought and sold there every day but principally Mondays Wednesdays and Frydays which are the Market-days where great Quantities of all kind of Grain are bought and sold by small Examples commonly called Samples whether it be lying in Granaries or Ships and it viz. Bear-key is the principal place where the Kentish and Essex Corn-Vessels do lie Fish-Market THe Fresh Fish-Market is kept at Billings-Gate Mondays Wednesdays and Frydays Of the Navy-Office where the whole Business concerning the King's Ships of War is managed FIrst there is the Treasure of the Navy his Office is to receive out of the Exchequer by Warrant from the Lord Treasurer of England and to pay all Charges of the Navy by Warrant from the principal Officers of the Navy for which he had formerly Sallary 220 l. 13. s. 4 d. besides 3 d. in the pound for all Money paid by him but hath now an honourable allowance certain from His Majesty in lieâ— thereof Next the Comptroller of the Navy whose Office to attend and Controll all payments of Wages to know the Market-Rates of