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
to Christs-Hospital and two hundred pound to the Company of Goldsmiths besides many liberal Gifts to the Poor of his Kindred and many other most Charitable uses He Died the Eighth of September 1613 Aged Sixty Eight Years This is the substance of the Inscription with these Verses Marble nor Touch nor Alabaster can Râ—veal the Worth of the long buryed Man For oft we see Mens Goods when they are gone Do Pious deeds when they themselves did none Mâ—ne while I liv'd no goodness did express 'T is not Inscriptions make them more or less In Christ I hope to rise amongst the Just Man is but Grass all must to Worms and dust There are many other Verses but our intended brevity will not admit of Transcribing them The Repairs of this Church from the Year 1616 to 1631 cost 120 l. 11 s. XLI Next Northumberland-House in Aldgate-Ward is the Parish-Church of St. Katherine Coleman which addition of Coleman was taken of a great Haw-Yard or Garden of old time called Coleman-Haw in Trinity Parish now Christ-Church and in the Parish of St. Katherine and All-Saints called Coleman-Church Sir James Dean hath given two Shillings weekly in Bread to the Poor for ever which is duly performed every Friday and the Parishionners give as much every Sabbath day This Church was Repaired and Beautified Anno 1620. And 1624. their Vestry was built and a Gallery new made for the Poor of the Parish to sit in XLII The Parish-Church of St. Katharine Christs-Church in Aldgate-Ward commonly called Cree-Church stands in the Caemitery of the Dissolved Priory of the Holy-Trinity and is a very fair Church Mr. William Gilborn a Draper gave Four Marks Yearly for ever to be bestowed in one Dozen of Bread and to be distributed on every Sabbath day to the Poor of the said Parish which is duly paid he gave twenty pound towards building a Gallery in the said Church Mr. John Smith Mercer gave three pound yearly for ever to be distributed amongst the Poor every Christmas yearly Mr. George Lee Sadler gave twenty Shillings yearly for ever to the Poor Mrs. Dane a Widdow gave Eight Shillings yearly for ever Mrs. Alice Bateman gave forty two pound six shillings to the Parish the profit to be distributed to the Poor for ever Mr. John Bedow Gent. gave ten pound to be distributed in Bread yearly to the Poor Mr. George Hothersal Merchant-Taylor gave four and twenty shillings yearly for ever out of his Land to the Poor of this Parish Mr. John Waddis Cook born in this Parish gave to the Poor thereof three pound to be distributed among them in Bread yearly for ever Stephen Roberts Cook gave also four and forty shillings yearly for ever to be distributed in Bread These good Persons are remembred as such whose Memories are worthy to be perpetuated and to be upon Record as an Example for others to imitate But more under the head of Benefactors The Foundation of this Church was lay'd the twenty third of June 1628. It is said in Stow's Survey pag. 839. Edit 1633. That digging under the South Row of Pillars they found the Scull of a Man the thickness of which was three quarters of an Inch and better measured by many and admired by all as well they might that saw it The Structure was built of the best Free-stone that could be got and finished anno 1630. There were many bountiful Benefactors and Contributers to it And a curious Table one of the fairest in the City set up as a Monument of our Renowned Queen ELIZABETH but the giver would be concealed XLIII Southwest from Guild-Hall in Cheap-Ward stands the fair and large Church of S. Lawrence-Jewry which addition viz. Jewry was because of old time Many Jews Inhabited thereabouts It had diverse Monuments Mr. Stow tells us That Seventy years before his first Edition of his Survey which was 1598 that is now 163 years ago he saw the Shank-bone of a Man as it was taken twenty five inches long by the Rule and remained before the Fire fastned to a post of timber noted more for the thickness hardness and strength thereof then the length for when it was hanged on the Stone Pillar it fretted with moving the said Pillar and was not it self fretted nor did it grow lighter by remaining dry but how found or discovered we cannot learn Also a Tooth of a very great bigness he says of a mans Fist hanged up for a show in a Chain of Iron upon a Stone Pillar but conveyed from thence long since the credit of this rests upon him This Church was repaired and richly beautified at the Charge of the Parishioners Anno 1618. Amongst other Monuments we must not omit that of our celebrated and most Illustrious Queen Elizabeth in this Church with these Verses Here lyes her Type who was of late The prop of Belgia stay of France Spains foil Faiths Shield the Queen of State Of Arms of Learning Fate and Chance In Brief of Women ne'er was seen So great a Prince so good a Queen Such Vertues her Immortal made Death envying all that cannot Dye Her Earthly parts did so invade As in it Wrackt self Majesty But so her Spirit inspir'd her Parts That she still lives in Loyal hearts c. XLIV The Parish Church of St. Laurence in Candlewick Street and Ward was increased with a Chappel of Jesus by Thomas Cole for a Master and Chaplain which Church and Chappel was made a Colledge of Jesus and of Corpus Christi for a Master and seven Chaplains by Sr. John Poultney Lord Mayor of whom this Church was called St. Laurence Poultney or Pountney Confirm'd by Edward the Third in the Twentieth year of his Reign This College was surrendred in the Reign of Edward the Sixth the Steeple of the Church was new Leaded Five new Bells were hung and the Frames new made all the â—les new raised and levelled and the whole Church within and without most beautifully repaired at the cost of the Parish Anno 1631. and 1632. XLV On Fishstreet-hill in Bridge Ward within is the Parish Church of St. Leonard Milk-Church so termed of one William Melker an especial Builder thereof but commonly called St. Leonard-East-Cheap because it standeth at East-cheap corner The Church and Steeple were repaired and beautified in the Year 1618 1619 1620 and 1621. at the cost of Eight hundred and fifty pounds XLVI On the West-side of Foster-lane in Alders-gate Ward is the Parish Church of St. Leonards called St. Leonards Foster-lane for them of St. Martins le Grand A great number of Houses being built in place of the Great Collegiate Church of St. Martin the Parish is very much increased It was inlarged repaired and adorn'd at the Parish charge Anno 1631. To which John Trot Citizen and Merchant was a bountiful Benefactor the cost amounted to above Five hundred pounds XLVII On the East-side of Bridge-Ward stands the fair Parish Church of St. Magnus in which were buried many Eminent men it had many
together six Dishes each Meal The Moveables of this Wardrobe are at length divided into three parts whereof the Yeoman hath one for his own use the Grooms another and the Pages the third In the Office of the Tents Soyls Hayes and Pavilions are two Masters four Yeomen one Groom one Clerk Comptroller and one Clerk of the Tents The Master of the Revels is to order all things concerning Comedies c. there is one Yeoman one Groom Engraver Sculptor one in each Office In the Office of the Robes besides the Master above-mentioned there is one Yeoman three Grooms one Page two Purveyors one Brusher one Taylor one Dyer one Girdler one Clerk one Lace-man one Cutter and Racer two Embroiderers two Silkmen one Shoemaker one Perfumer one Feather-maker one Millener one Mercer one Hosier one Draper one Surveyor c. Falconer with Thirty three Officers under him Master of the Buck-Hounds with a Sergeant and Thirty four persons under him Master of the Otter-Hounds Master of the Harriers and five under him Master of the Ordnance a Lieutenant and Master Armorer with Seventeen Under-Officers Messengers of the Chamber in Ordinary two Clerks of the Check and Forty more in all Forty two Musitians in Ordinary Sixty two Trumpeters and Kittle-Drummers Fifteen Drummers and Fifes Seven Apothecaries Two one for the King's Person and one for the Houshold Chyrurgeoâ—s two Bâ—rbers two Printers three besides one for the Oriental Tongues Bookseller Stationer and Book-binder Silâ—man Woollen-Draper and two Taylors Post-Masters for all the Port-Towns in England all sworn to and paid by the King A Master of the Game of Cock-fighting One Sergeant Skinner who hath the care of His Majesties Furrs Two Embroiderers Two Keepers of the Privy Lodging Two Gentlemen and one Yeoman of the Bows One Cross-Bow-maker One Fletcher One Cormorant-Keeper One Hand-Gun-maker One Master and Marker of Tennis One Mistriss Semstress and one Laundress One Perspective-Maker One Master-Fencer One Haberdasher of Hats One Comb-maker One Sergeant Painter One Painter One Limner One Picture-Drawer One Silver-Smith One Goldsmith One Jeweller One Peruque-maker One Keeper of Pheasants and Turkies Joyner Copier of Pictures Watch-maker Cabinet-maker Lock-Smith of each one Game of Bears and Bulls one Master one Sergeant one Yeoman Two Operators for the Teeth Two Coffer-bearers for the Back-stairs One Yeoman of the Leash Fifty five Watermen Vpholsterer Letter-Carrier Foreign-Post Coffee-maker of each one Ten Officers beionging to Gardens Bowling-Greens Tennis-Court Pall-Mall Keeper of the Theatre at Whitehall Cutler Spurrier Girdler Corn-cutter Button-maker Embosser Enameler of each one Writer Flourisher and Embellisher Scenographer or Designer of Prospects Letter-Founder of each one Comedians Seventeen Men and Eight Women Actors Gunner Gilder Cleanser of Pictures Scene-keeper Coffer-maker Wax-chandler of each one Keeper of Birds and Fowl in St. James's Park one Keeper of the Volery Coffee-club-maker Sergeant-Painter of each one with divers other Officers and Servants under the Lord Chamberlain to serve His Majesty upon occasion Many of which Offices and Places are of good Credit and great Profit and enjoyed by Persons of Quality As to the Officers under the Master of the Horse there are Twelve Querries so called of the French Escayer derived from Escury a Stable Their Office is to attend the King on Hunting or Progress or on any occasion of Riding abroad to help His Majesty up and down from his Horse c. Four of these are called Querries of the Crown-Stable and the others are called Querries of the Hunting-Stable The Fee to each of these is only 20 l. yearly according to the ancient Custom but they have allowance for Diet to each 100 l. yearly besides Lodgings and two Horse-Liveries Next is the chief Avener from Avena Oats whose yearly Fee is 40 l. There is moreover one Clerk of the Stable four Yeomen-Riders four Child-Riders Yeomen of the Stirrup Sergeant-Marshal and Yeomen-Farriers four Groom-Farriers Sergeants of the Carriage three Surveyors a Squire and Yeomen-Sadlers four Yeomen-Granators four Yeomen-Purveyors a Yeoman-Peckman a Yeoman-Bitmaker four Coach-men eight Litter-men a Yeoman of the Close Wagon Sixty four Grooms of the Stable whereof 30 are called Grooms of the Crown Stable and Thirty four of the Hunting and Pad-Stable Twenty six Footmen in their Liveries to run by the King ' s Horse All these Places are in the Gift of the Master of the Horse There is besides these an antient Officer called Clerk of the Market who within the Verge of the King's Houshold is to keep a Standard of all Weights and Measures and to burn all that are false From the Pattern of this Standard all the Weights and Measures of the Kingdom are to be taken There are divers other considerable Officers not Subordinate to the Three Great Officers as the Master of the great Wardrobe Post-Master Master of the Ordinance Warden of the Mint c. Upon the King are also attending in his Court the Lords of the Privy-Council Secretaries of State the Judges the College of Civilians the King's Council at Law the King's Serjeants at Law the Masters of Requests Clerks of the Signet Clerks of the Council Keeper of the Paper-Office or Papers of State c. There is always a Military Force to preserve the King's Person which are His Guards of Horse and Foot The Guards of Horse are in Number 600 Men well Armed and Equipped who are generally Young Gentlemen of considerable Families who are there made fit for Military Commands They are divided into Three Troops viz. The King's Troop distinguished by their Blew Ribbons and Carbine Belts their Red Hooses and Houlster-Caps Embroidered with His Majesties Cypher and Crown The Queens Troops by Green Ribbons Carbine Belts covered with Green Velvet and Gold Lace also Green Hooses and Houster Caps Embroidered with the same Cypher and Crown And the Dukes Troop by Yellow Ribbons and Carbine Belts and Yellow Hooses Embroidered as the others In which Troops are 200 Gentlemen besides Officers Each of these Three Troops is divided into Four Squadrons or Divisions Two of which consisting of one hundred Gentlemen and Commanded by one Principal Commissioned Officer two Brigadiers and two Sub-Brigadiers with two Trumpets mount the Guards one day in six and are Relieved in their turns Their Duty is always by Parties from the Guard to attend the Person of the KING the Queen the Duke and the Dutchess wheresoever they go near home but if out of town they are attended by Detachments out of the said Three Troops Besides this there is a more strict Duty and Attendance Wâ—â—â—ly on the KING's Person on Foot wheresoever He walks from His Rising to His going to Bed by one of the three Captains who always waits immediatly next the KING 's own Person before all others carrying in his hand an Ebony-staff or Truncheon with a Gold head Engraved with His MAJESTIES Cyper and Crown Near him also attends a Principal Commissioned Officer with an Ebony-staff and Silver head who is ready to Relieve the
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
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
shall therefore only add that England abounding with many rich and useful native Commodities as Woollen-Cloaths of all sorts Broad and Narrow called by several Names in several Shires also Perpetuances Bays Says Serges Cottons Kersies Buffins Mocadoes Grogams Sattins Tabbys Calimancaes Camlets Velvets Plushes Worsteds Fustians Durances Tukes Crapes Flannels and infinite others Furrs and Skins as Coney-skins Squirrel-skins Fitches Calf-skins Hides c. Mines as Tin Lead Allom Copper Iron of all sorts Sea-Cole Salt c. All manner of Grain as Oats Pease Barâ—â—y Rye and Wheat in great plenty c. Also Linnen-Cloath Flâ—x Hemp c. All Iron Wares Tallouâ— Leather Glasses of all sorts and Glass Venice Gold and Silver Train-Oyl Salmons Pilchards Herrings Hâ—ke Conger Haberdine Cod Ling Hops Wood Butter Cheese Beer Cyder Salt-Peter Gunpowder Honey Wax Alabaster and other Stones Woolls Woolfells Yarn Fullers-Earth Saffron Liquoris c. and many other good and rich Commodities too tedious to be enumerated the Merchants of London do yearly export great Quanties of such of these Goods as are not prohibited to Foreign Markets and make good Returns and bring to supply the Kingdom a great deal of Treasure and rich Commodities from all parts of the World to the enriching of themselves unspeakable benefit of the Nation and credit of the English in general who are generally as fair Dealers as any in the World and of as active and undertaking Souls and the Principal Seat or Emporium of this great Trade is the great and famous City of London Of the Corporations of London 5. THe other Traders in London are divided into Companies or Corporations who are as so many Bodies Politique Of these there are Twelve called the Chief Companies and he that is chosen Lord Mayor must be free of one of these Companies which are 1. Mercers 2. Grocers 3. Drapers 4. Fishmengers 5. Goldsmiths 6. Skinners 7. Merchant-Taylors 8. Haberdashers 9. Salters 10. Ironmongers 11. Vintners 12 Clothworkers And if it happen that the Lord Mayor Elect is of any other Company he presently removes to one of the Twelve All these Companies have Assembly-places called Halls which are so many Basilikes or stately and sumptuous Palaces worthy to be view'd by all Strangers It hath been the Custom of our Kings to honour some of these Companies by taking their Freedom thereof and the present King was pleased to be made Free of the Company of Grocers and the present Prince of Orange was not long ago made free of the Company of Drapers Each Company or Mystery hath a Master annually chosen from among themselves and other subordinate Governours called Wardens or Assistants These do exactly correspond with the general Government of the City by a Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Councel who are selected out of these several Companies so excellent a harmony there is in this Government Of the Twelve Chief Companies out of which the Lord Mayor is to be annually Chosen 1. MERCERS The Mercers have been always allowed the first place who were Incorporated into a Society 17 R. 2. Anno 1393. For their Arms they bear Gules a Maiden-head proper crown'd Or Wascot purple issuing out of Clouds proper within a Bordure Nebulee Or. 2. GROCERS The Grocers were at first call'd Pepperers and Incorporated by the name of Grocers Anno 1345. 20 E. 3. They bear a Chevron nine Cloves Sable with this Motto God grant Grace Supporters Helm and Crest granted by Clarencieux in the Reign of H. 8. Anno 1562. 3. DRAPERS The Drapers were Incorporated 17 H. 6. An. 1430. The Arms first granted by Garter Crest and Supporters by Clarencieux The Coat Gules three Triple Crowns Or Capt Gules issuing out of Clouds resting upon Sun-beams their Motto Vnto God only be Honour and Glory 4. FISH MONGERS The Fishmongers were at first two Companies to wit Stock-Fishmongers and Salt-Fishmongers but 28 H. 8. They were imbodied into one Company Their Arms Azure three Dolphins in pale paper crown'd Or betwixt four lives Salterways Argent all crown'd Or on a Chief Gules three Cross-keys Salterways Argent the Motto All Worship be to God only 5. GOLDSMITHS The Goldsmiths were Incorporated 16 R. 2. Their Arms quarterly Gules and Azure two Leopards heads Or two Golden Cups covered 'twixt two Buckles Or the Motto To God only be all Glory 6. SKINNERS The Skinners were Incorporated 1 E. 3. Anno 1327. and made a perfect Fraternity 18 R. 2. Their Arms Ermin on a Chief Gules three Ducal Crowns Or sin'd of the first their Motto the the same with the Goldsmiths To God only be all Glory 7. MERCHANT-TAYLORS The first Patent of these Arms were granted by Clarencieux to the Company of Taylors and Linnen Armourers 21 E. 4. 1480. And Incorporated 17 H. 7. 1501. by the name of Merchant-Taylors Their Arms Argent a Tent two Robes Gules on a Chief Azure a Lyon passant regardant Or the Motto Concordia parvae res crescunt 8. HABERDASHERS The Haberdashers called of old Hurrers were Incorporated a Society of St. Katharines 26 H. 6. Anno 1447. Confirmed 17 H. 7. by the name of Merchant-Haberdashers Their Coat Nebulee Argent and Azure on a Bend Gules a Lyon passant regardant Or the Crest and Supporters granted by Clarencieux Anno 1571. The Motto Serve and Obey 9. SALTERS The Salters had the Arms of â— Society given them 22 H. 8. Anno 1530. the Crest and Supporters by â— Clarencieux 29 Eliz. Anno 1587. The Coat party per Chevron Azure and Gules three Salts covered over-flowing Argent with this Motto Sal sapit omnia 10. IRONMONGERS The Iron-mongers were Incorporated 3 E. 4. 1462. Their Arms Granted by Lancaster King at Arms Marshal to Clarencieux An. 1455. 34 H. 6. Their Coat Argent on a Chevron Gules three Lockets capted Or between three Steel Gads Azure 11. VINTERS The Vintners were Incorporated by E. 3. by the name of Wine-Tonners confirmed 15. H. 6. Anno. 1436. Their Arms first Granted by Clarencieux 6 H. 6. 1427. They bear Sable a Chevron between three Tunns Argent 12. CLOATH-WORKERS The Cloath-Workers grew to be a Company 22 H. 8. Anno 1530. Their Arms then Granted by Clarencieux Sable a Chevron Ermin in Chief two Crabbets Argent in base a Beazel Or Supporters and Crest granted by Clareucieux Anno 1587. The other Corporations besides these Twelve enjoy large Privileges by the King's Charter and they have fair Halls to meet in most of which were consumed in the great Fire Anno 1666. but they are since rebuilt for the most part in a very stately and magnificent manner The Hall belonging to the Company of Dyers was a few weeks ago consumed by an unhappy Fire that happen'd near as were also some Houses in Thames-street Of the other Corporations in London 1. DYERS The Dyers were first Incorporated by a special Charter of H. 6. 16 Feb. in the 49 th of his Reign Their Coat a Chevron Engrail'd between three Woolsacks 2. BREWERS The Brewers were Incorporated 22 d February 6