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
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
Chamberlain of His Maiesties Houshold or by the Clerk of the Check In this Tower is kept the Office of His Majesties Ordnance the standing and grand Magazine of the principal Preparatives Habiliments Utensils and Instruments of War by Sea and Land It is under the Government in chief of the Master of the Ordnance by whom it is committed to principal Officers as a Lieutenant who in the absence of the Master of the Ordnance imparts all Orders and Warrants directed to the Office and is to see them duely executed and to give Order for the discharging great Ordnance when required at Triumphs Festivals c. As also to see the Train of Artillery and all its Equipage fitted for motion upon any occasion The Surveyor is to survey all the Stores and Ordnance to allow Bills of Debt and see that all Provision be good c. The Clerk of the Ordnance Records all Orders and Instructions for the Government of the Office and Patents Grants Names of Officers c. Draw Estimates of Provision and supplys Letters Contracts c. Make all Bills of Imprest and Debentures Keep Journals and Liegers of Receipts and Returns of Stores The Store-keeper takes into his charge the Munitions and Stores and is to look that the Store-houses be kept in due Repair The Clerk of the Deliveries is to draw all Proportions for Deliveries of any Stores or Provisions and to be present at the Delivery There are other Patent Officers as the Master-Gunner of England the Keeper of the small Guns a principal Engineer with divers inferior Attendants and Artificers which for brevity we omit In the Tower is also the Office of Warden of the Mint where is Coined all the Bullion that is minted in England The chief Officer is the Warder of the Mint who receives all the Silver and Gold brought in by Merchants Goldsmiths or others and pays them for it Then the Master-Worker who causes the Bullion to be melted delivers it to the Moneyers and when minted receives it again from them The Comptroller who is to see that all the Money be made according to the just Assize c. The Assay-Master weighs the Bullion and is to see that it be according to the Standard The Auditor passes all Accompts The Surveyor of the Melting is to see the Bullion cast out and not to be altered after it is delivered to the Melter There are several other inferior Officers c. As for the Money c. See the Present State of England p. 10. The first Gold that was Coined in the Tower was in the Reign of Edward III. and the Pieces were called Florences of the value of 6 s. 8 d. All great Sums before were used to be paid by the Weight as so many Pounds or Marks of Silver or Gold but not stampt Lesser Payments in Starlings probably because there was a Star stamped upon them and were called Pence nor can we read of them before the Reign of Henry II. In this Tower only is the Brake or Rack usually called The Duke of Exeter ' s Daughter because he was the first Inventer of it So much of the Tower of London Besides the Towers on the Bridge which have suffered by the Accidents of Fire Antiquaries speak of two Castles that were on the West-part of London one the Castle of Monfiquet built by a Baron of that Name that came over with the Conqueror but since demolished and the Black-Fryars risen out of the Ruines of it The second is Baynard's Castle by Paul's Wharf built by one Baynard who came hither likewise with the Conqueror who being Ennobled the Honour succeeded from Father to Son a long time till it came to Robert Fitz-water a brave and valiant Knight who falling into the displeasure of King John was banished and the Castle ruined but recovering his favor by a notable Combat he perform'd in France against an English Knight Fitz-water being on the French side he was re-invested in his Possessions and so repaired the Castle again He was made chief Bannerer or Banner-bearer of London what his Office was and the Solemnity about it is to be seen in Stowes Survey of London in the Chapter of Towers and Castles When thiâ— Honour fell from the Fitz-Waters or Baynard Castle is uncertain Henry VII repaired this Castle and Queen Mary was proclaimed there We reaâ— of a Tower that stood where Bridewell now stands and a Royal Palace where our Kings kept theâ— Courts and summon'd Parliaments A great parâ— of this on the West-side was given to the Bishop 〈◊〉 Salisbury and thence is derived the Name of Salisbury-Court The Eastern-part was waste till Hen. 〈◊〉 built a stately Palace there and call'd it Bridewelâ— where the Emperor Charles V. was most magnificently entertained Anno 1522. There was a Tower call'd the Royal Tower iâ— the Parish of St. Michael de Pater Noster wherâ— King Stephen kept his Court afterwards call'd Thâ— Queens Wardrobe There was another at Bucklerâ—bury called Serns Tower where King Edward II kept his Court and his Exchange of Money Barbican was likewise another Tower where thâ— City Centinels were wont to Watch but demolisheâ— by King Henry III. Anno 1227. after he was râ—â—conciled to the Barons Sect. 2. Of its Churches and Monuments THE Number of Parish-Churches besides Chapels within the Weekly Bills of Mortality is 132 twice more than any City in Christendom can shew The Cathedral of which is dedicated to the Apostle St. PAVL and the onely Cathedral of that Name in Europe It was founded by Aethelbert King of Kent Anno 610. under whom Segbert a Saxon Reigned in this Tract of Ground in a place where stood a Temple of Diana and afterwards did endow it with Lands and Privileges so did afterwards Athelstan Edgar and Eward the Confessor It was much enlarged by Erkenwald the Fourth Saxon Bishop thereof And being almost destroyed by Fire Anno 1078. Mauritius another of its Bishops began the Foundation of this magnificent Pile and went on about 20 years but the Quire and Tower were not finished till Anno 1221. As to other Casualties we refer you to the Chapter that treats of Fires As to its Dimensions the length of it according to Stow was 240 Taylors Yards or 720 Foot the Breadth 130 Foot the Heighth of the Steeple 520 Foot whereof the Stone Work was 260 and the Spire 260 Foot The Length of it according to others was 690 Foot that is 20 Foot more than St. Peters at Rome It stood upon so much Ground as contained above three Acres and an half Upon the Spire of Timber was a Bowl of Copper Gilt 9 Foot and 1 Inch in compass whereon stood the Cross 15 Foot and an half high and very near 6 Foot across made of Oak covered with Lead and another Cover of Copper over the Lead Above all stood the Eagle or Cock of Copper Gilt 4 Foot long and the Breadth of the Wings 3 Foot and an half It was built in Form of a Cross
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
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
Book of the Exchequer The former was six Years a making by William the Conqueror and is a Cense or compute of all England as it was then viz. all the Lands with the value and Owners and Account of all Cities Towns Villages Families Men Souldiers Husbandmen Bondmen Servants Cattle how much Money Rents Meadow Pasture Woods Tillage Common Marsh Heath every one possessed So that in Disputes about Taxes this determined it without further controversie as the Book of the Great day of Doom will then and therefore so called It is kept under three Locks and not to be lookt into under 6 s. 8 d. And for every Line Transcribed is to be paid 4. d. The Auditor of the Receipts is to File the Bills of The Tellers whereby they charge themselves with all Money Received and to draw all Orders to be Signed by the Lord High Treasurer for Issuing forth all Moneys by Vertue of the Privy Seals which are Recorded and Lodged in his Office He makes all Debentures to the several Persons who have Fees Annuities or Pensions by Letters Patents from the King out of the Exchequer and directs them for payment to the Tellers He receives every Week the state of the Account of each Teller and also Weekly certifies the whole to the Lord High Treasurer who presently presents the Estimate or Ballance to the King He takes the Tellers Account in Gross at Easter and Michaelmas By him are kept the several Registers appointed for paying all Persons in Course upon several Branches of the King's Revenue he is Scriptor Talliorum hath five Clerks to manage the whole Estate of Moneys received disbursed and remaining There are four Tellers who Receive all Moneys due to the King and thereupon throw down a Bill through a Pipe into the Tally-Court where it is received by the Auditors Clerk who there attends to write the words of the said Bill upon a Tally and then delivers the same to be Entred by the Clerk of the Pells or his under Clerk who Enters it in his Book Then the Tally is cloven by the two Deputy Chamberlains who have the Seals and while the Senior Deputy reads one part the Junior Examines the other part with the other two Clerks The Clerk of the Pels Enters every Tellers Bill into a Parchment of Skin in Latin Pellis whence this Office hath its Name all Receipts and Payments for the King for what cause or by whomsoever and is in Nature of a Comptroller hath four Clerks whereof one is for the Introitus and another for the Exitus Moreover he is to make Weekly and half Yearly Books both of the Receipts and Payments which are delivered to the Lord Treasurer He that Pays the King any Moneys receives for his Acquittance a Tally so called from the French Verb Tallier to cut that is one half of a Stick cloven with certain proportionable Notches thereon expressive of the Sum from the said Deputy Chamberlains who keep the other cloven part of the Stick called the Foyl and Delivers it to the Tally-Joyners on the other side of the Exchequer who are also Deputies to the Chamberlains an◠they joyn it with the Foyl which agreeing the◠give it their Test and send it by an Officer of the◠own to the Pipe where their quietus est is Ingrosse◠in Parchment In the Office of the Deputy-Chamberlains Westminster are preserved all the Counterfoyls 〈◊〉 these Tallies so exactly ranged by Months an◠Years that they are to be presently found out t◠be joined with their respective Stock or Tally when required which proving true they deliver it Attested for a Lawful Tally to the Clerk of the Pipe for to be allowed in the great Roll but in Case any Corruption hath been used the same is easily and soon discovered and the Offender severely punished by Fine and Imprisonment This Antient way of striking of Tallies hath been found by long experience to be absolutely the best way that ever was invented for it is Morally impossible so to Falsifie or Counterfeit a Tally but that upon rejoyning it with the Counterfoyl it will be obvious to every Eye either in the Notches or in the Cleaving in the Longitude Latitude Natural growth or shape of the Counterfoyl whereas Acquittances in Writing cannot be so done but that they may be Counterfeited by skilful Penmen and that so exactly as that he who wrote the Original shall not be able to know his own hand from the Counterfeit as hath been frequently seen in all the Courts of Westminster There are two Vshers whose Office it is to secure the Exchequer by Day and Night and all the Avenues leading to the same and to furnish all Necessaries as Books Paper c. There is a Tally-Cutter and four Messengers This Exchequer is the best ordered publick Revenue in the World Court of the Dutchy of Lancaster Before we come to treat of the High Court of Parliament we will give an Account of the Court of the Dutchy of Lancaster kept at Westminster-Hall on the left hand above Stairs which takes Cognizance of all Causes that any way concern the Revenue of that Dutchy which hath been long since Annexed to the Crown The Chief Judge of this Court is the Chancellor of the Dutchy who is assisted by the Attorney of the Dutchy To this Court belong divers other Officers It is kept near the lower Exchequer and at the Office of Sir Gilbert Gerrard at Grays-Inn Of the High Court of PARLIAMENT Sir Richard Baker tell us in his Chronicle that King Henry the I. instituted the Form of the High Court of Parliament and that the first Council of this sort was held at Salisbury on the 19 th of April and the 16 th of his Reign which is 560 and odd Years ago Before the Conquest the great Council of the King consisting only of the Great Men of the Kingdom was called Magnatum Conventus the Convention or Meeting of the Grandees or Great Men or else Prelatorum Procerumque Concilium and by the Saxons in their own Tongue Michel Gemot the great Assembly After the Conquest it was called Parlementum a French word derived of Parler to talk together consisting still only of the great Men of the Nation till the aforesaid King's Reign None but the King hath Authority to Summon a Parliament In the King's absence out of the Realm the Custos Regni in the King's Name doth Summon a Parliament and During the King's Minority within the Realm the Protector Regni doth the same When the King of England is with His Parliament in time of peace He is then said to be in the height of His Royal Dignity as well as when He is at the head of His Army in time of War He can with the concurrence of his Lords and Commons then do any thing in point of Enacting or Repealing Laws Legitimate one that is born Illegitimate Bastardize one that is born Legitimate He can make an Infant of full Age make an Alien or
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
particular Welfare of the Kingdom or Subject And every Parliament may get a Bill drawn and give it to the Speaker or Clerk of the Parliament to be presented in convenient time Whatsoever is proposed for a Law is first put in Writing and called a Bill which being read in a full Assembly it is either unanimously rejected or else allowed to be Debated and then it is Committed to a certain Number of the House presently Nominated and called a Committee After it hath been Amended and twice Read two several Days in the House it is Ingrossed that is Written Fair in a Parchment and Read the Third time another day and then if in the Lords House the Chancellor or if in the House of Commons the Speaker demands if they will have it put to the question whether a Law or no Law If the Major part be for it there is Written on the Bill by the Clerk of the Lords House Soit baille aux Seigneurs or of the House of Commons Soit baille aux Communes retaining the Antient Custom which was to speak in French When the Speaker finds divers Bills prepared to be put to the Question he gives Notice the day beâ— before that to morrow he intends to put such Bills to the passing or third Reading and desires the special attendance of all the Members If a Bill be rejected it cannot be any more proposed during that Session All Bills sent by the Commons to the Lords House are usually attended to shew their respect with several of their Members and as they come up to the Lords Bar the Member that 's to present the Bill maketh three profound Reverences and delivers it to the Lord Chancellor who comes down to the Bar to receive it A Bill sent by the Lords to the Commons is usually by some of the Masters of Chancery or some other whose seat is on the Wool-sacks and by none of the Members who coming up to the Speaker bow thrice and deliver it to him after one of them hath read the Title and desired it might be taken into Consideration If it pass that House then is Written on it Les Communes ont assentez When any Member of the House of Commons speaks to a Bill he stands up uncovered and directs his Speech only to the Speaker then if what he Delivers be confuted by another yet he is not allowed to Answer again the same day lest the whole time should be spent in a Dispute between two talkative persons Also if a Bill be debating in the House no man may speak to it in one day above once If any one speak words of offence which the House takes cognizance of as such he is called to the Bar and sometimes sent to the Tower The Speaker is not allowed to persuade or dissuade in passing of a Bill but only to make a short and plain Narrative nor to Vote except the House be equally Divided In Committees though of the whole House it is allowed to Speak and Reply as often as they please In the House of Lords they give their Suffrages or Votes beginning at the lowest Baron and so to the highest Peer in order every one Answering apart Content or Not content In the House of Commons they Vote by Yea's and No's and if it be doubtful which is the greater Number then the Yea's are to go forth and the No's sit still because these are content with their present condition without any addition or alteration of Laws as the other desire and then some are appointed to Number them But at a Committee though it be of the whole House as it is sometimes the Yea's go on one side and the No's on the other whereby they may be discerned If a Bill pass in one House and being sent to the other House they of the other House Demur upon it then a Conference is demanded in the Painted Chamber where certain deputed Members of each House Meet the Lords sitting covered at a Table and the Commons standing bare the business is then debated If they agree not it is Nulled if they do agree it Passes When Bills have past both Houses they are presented to his Majesty for his Royal assent who comes in his Robes with the Crown on his Head and being Seated in his Chair of State the Lords being all in their Robes the Clerk of the Crown reads the Tiâ—tle of each Bill and as he reads the Clerk of the Parliament according to his Instructions from the King who before hath maturely considered each Bill pronounceth the Royal assent If it be a Publick Bill the Answer is Le Roy le veut and then that Bill becomes a Law If a Private Bill the Answer is Soit fait comms el est desire If it be a Pubblick Bill which the King likes not then the Answer is Le Roy s'avisera which is taken for an absolute Denial in a more Civil way and that Bill wholly nulled So that nothing but what the King confirms by his Royal Assent hath the force of a Law The King can by Commission granted to some of His Nobles give His Royal Assent to any Bill that requires haste If it be a Bill for Monies given to His Majesty then the Answer is Le Roy remercie ses Loyaux Sujets accepte leur Benevolence aussi le veut which is an ancient Ceremony of Thanking the Subjects for parting with their Money The Bill for the King 's General Pardon hath but one Reading in either House because they must take it as the King will please to give it so the Bill of Subsidies granted by the Clergy Assembled in Convocation for the same Reason When the Bill for the General Pardon is passed by the King the Answer is thus Les Prelates Seigneurs Communes en ce Parliament Assemblez au nom de tous vos autre Sujects remercient tres humblement votre Majeste prient Dieu vous donner en sante bonne vie Congue All Acts of Parliament before the Reign of Henry 7. were Passed and Enrolled in French now in English The stile runs thus Be it Enacted by the King 's most Excellent Majesty by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons c. When it pleases the King the Parliament is Adjourned Prorogued or Dissolved thus Adjournments are usually made in the Lords House by the Lord Chancellor in the King's name to what other day and place the King pleases and then all things already Debated and Read in one or both Houses may be resumed because they continue in the same State they were in before to the next Meeting When the Parliament is Prorogued there is a Session and then all Bills and Debates must begin anew at the re-assembling of the Parliament The Speaker of the House of Commons upon notice given that it is the King's pleasure that that House shall also Adjourn doth say with the Assent of the House This House is Adjourned
When the King Prorogues or Dissolves the Parliament He commonly comes in Person to the House of Lords in his Robes with the Crown on his Head and sends by the Vsher of the Black-Rod for all the House of Commons to the Bar of that House and after the King's Answer to each Bill signified as aforesaid his Majesty usually makes a Solemn Speech the Lord Chancellor another and the Speaker of the House of Commons a Third Then the Lord Chancellor by the special Command of the King doth pronounce the Parliament Prorogued or Dissolved The King being Head of the Parliament if his Death doth happen during the Sitting of the Parliament it is ipso facto Dissolved IV. Sommerset-House in the Strand is the Queens Palace In the Year 1549. Edward Duke of Sommerset Uncle to Edward the 6 th and Lord Protector pulled down several adjoyning Buildings to make him a Mansion-House there the Stones of which Houses and some other more remote Buildings which he demollished were converted to this Spatious and Beautiful Palace of which we cannot add much more but that it was the Fatal place where the wicked Romish Assassinates prompted by Hell and their accursed Principles most barbarously Murdered that Noble Patriot and never to be forgotten Knight Sir EDMOND-BERRY GODFREY on Saturday the 12 th of October 1678. The Bloody Villains being enraged at the Discovery of their Execrable Plot in which this brave Gentleman was very active made him a Sacrifice to their Revenge so that he may be truly stiled the Martyr of the English Protestant Interest and deserves a Memorial in all Loyal Christian Hearts The Narrative is published at large to which we refer our Reader only we cannot omit his Majesties Royal act who so resented this Abominable Villany that he issued his Proclamation the 20 th of October promising 500 l. to the Discoverer and a Pardon if one of the Malefactors and another soon after promising on the word of a King not only the said Reward of 500 l but such care for the Security of the Discoverer as he could in Reason propose upon which Captain William Bedlow since Dead and Mr. Miles Praunce a Silver-smith in Princes-street which last confessed to have been in the Fact made the Discovery and upon their clear and undoubted Evidence three of the Wretches were Executed viz. Green Berry and Hill the rest fled from Justice but cannot escape Divine Vengeance Having spoken of these principal Palaces it may be expected that we should speak something of the Great and Famous Houses of the Nobility which are very many and Magnificent not yielding to any in Europe as Clarendon-House which for Situation stately Architecture spacious solid uniform Structure is admirable Berkley-House Wallingford-House Northumberland-House Salisbury and Worcester Houses Bedford Leicester Newport Mountague and Southampton Houses and indeed most Houses of the great Peers But the brevity of our Volume will not admit a large Description only in General we shall say something of them in the Section that Treats of the Fire Anno 1666. and the Rebuilding of the City SECT 5. Of Exchanges and Publick-Halls THe Royal Exchange in Cornhil-Ward was Erected in the Year 1566 just one hundred Years before it was Burnt in this manner Certain Houses upon Cornhil containing Eighty Housholds were purchased by the City of London for above 3532 l. which they sold for 478 l. to such as would take them down and carry them away Then the Ground or Plot was made plain at the Charges of the City and Possession thereof was given to Sir Thomas Gresham Knight a Noble Merchant and Agent to Queen Elizabeth by certain Aldermen in the name of the whole for to Build an Exchange thereon for Merchants to Assemble On the 7 th of June he laid the first Stone in the Foundation being accompanied with some Aldermen where every one of them laid a piece of Gold which the Work-men took up The Work was advanced with such Expedition that in November 1567 it was finished and afterwards in the presence and by the special Command of the Queen it was Proclaimed by a Herald and with sound of Trumpet named The ROYAL EXCHANGE It was Built most of Brick and yet was the most splendid Burse all things considered that was then in Europe The Burse for Merchants was kept before in Lumbard-street In the great and dismal Conflagration Anno 1666. the Royal Exchange was consumed But it is since Rebuilt in a far more stately and Magnificent manner of excellent Portland Stone almost as durable as Marble with such curious and admirable Architecture especially for a Front a Turret and for Arch-work that it surpasseth all other Burses in Europe The Form is Quadrangular with a large Paved Court where the Merchants Meet it is Quadratum Oblongum an Oblong square and on each side are stately Galleries or Portico's Checquered with a smooth and delicate Stone-Pavement the Arches supported with strong Stone Pillars where in case of Rain or extream Heat the greatest part may be sheltered The whole Fabrick cost above 50000 l. whereof one half was disbursed by the Chamber of London and the other by the Company of Mercers And to reimburse them there are to be let 190 Shops above-stairs at 20 l. per annum and 30 l. Fine besides the several Shops below on the several sides and the huge Vaulted Cellars under ground so that it must needs be the richest piece of Ground in the World For The Exact Dimensions of the Ground whereon this Goodly Fabrick is Erected is but 171 Foot from North to South and 203 Foot from East to West and little more than three quarters of an Acre of Ground yet producing above 4000 l. Yearly Rent The New Exchange on the Strand was called Durham-House Built by Thomas Hatfield Bishop of Durham who being made Bishop of that See Anno 1549. continued so 36 Years It was a very Capacious Edifice on the North side stood a row of Thatcht low Stables which the Right Honourable Robert Earl of Salisbury then Lord High Treasurer of England purchased and pulled down Erecting in the room thereof at his own Charge a very goodly and beautiful Building with Cellars underneath and a Walk fairly Paved above it with Rows of Shops and the like above stairs The first Stone was laid the 10 th of June 1608 and it was finished in November following The Shops above and under were curiously adorn'd and in April following the Earl Invited King James the Queen the Prince the Duke of York to come thither who came attended with many of the Nobility where after a Rich Banquet the King named it Britains Burse There are also two Exchanges more viz. The Middle Exchange and Exeter Exchange which last was lately built in both which Goods are sold as at the Royal Exchange Having done with Exchanges we shall proceed to the Publick Halls of Companies As for the Great Guild-Hall for Orders sake the Reader is referred to the Section
sumptuous Fane The Lands Chief Seat that challengeth for hers Kings Coranations and their Sepulchers Then goes along by that more beautious Strand That shews the Wealth and glory of the Land Such sumptuous Seats within so little space Th' all-viewing Sun scarce sees in all his Race By London leads which like a Crescent lies Whose Windows view with the be-spangled Skies Her rising Spires so thick themselves do show As do the Reeds that on her Banks do grow There sees his Wharffs and People-crowded Shores His bosom spread with shoals of labouring Oars With that great Bridge that doth him most Renown By which he puts all other Rivers down This Noble River hath her Original out of the side of an Hill in Cotswold Downs a little above a Village called Winchcomb in Oxfordshire where it was antiently called Isis or the Ouse running to Oxford and by the way receiving many small Rivulets and Brooks joyning at that City with the Charwell then by Abington Dorchester where the River Thame and Isis joyn from whence it is called Thamâ—sis or Thames thence by Reading Maiden-head Windsor Stanes and several other considerable Palaces Towns and stately Houses to London and receives the Medway a considerable River that runs by the City of Rochester and Waters all the Southern parts of Kent The length of it being at least if measured by the Journeys at Land 180 Miles and Ebbs and Flows as before near 80 Miles The Common difference betwixt Tide and Tide is found to consist of 24 Minutes which wanteth but 12 of a whole hour in 24 by which they come later than the other Mr. Stow tells us that in his time the first Edition of his Survey being Printed above 80 years ago there were 2000 Wherries or small Boats whereby 3000 Water-men got their Living their Gains being most in Term-time but now there are a great many more this River being a Nursery to breed young Men sit for the Sea to Serve His Majesty or the Merchants c. Besides these there is an Infinite Number of Wherries Tide-Boats Tilt-Boats Barges Hoys c. for Passengers or to bring necessary Provision of all sorts from all Quarters of Oxfordshire Berkshire Buckinghamshire Bedfordshire Hartfordshire Middlesex Essex Surrey and Kent unto the City but of the Navigation of London we refer to the Chapter of Trade and the Rates of Water-men to a distinct head to be Treated of hereafter The Extent of the Jurisdiction and Prerogative of the Lord Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of London on the River Thames c. THe Lord Mayor of LONDON for the time being and his Successors for ever in that great Dignity have full Power and Authority over the Rivers of Thames and Medway to inflict punishment upon all Transgressors relating to the said Rivers the Water-Bayly of London being his Substitute The Extent of this Jurisdiction begins at a place called Colnie-Ditch a little above Stains-Bridge Westward as far as London-Bridge and from thence to a place called Yendall otherwise Yenland or Yenleete and the Waters of Medway This Authority and Jurisdiction belongs to the Lord Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of London by divers Grants Charters and Confirmations made by the Kings and Queens of England besides sundry Acts of Parliament Yet there have been some contests betwixt the Lord Mayor and the Lord High Admiral of England about it but after a fair and Judicial Tryal in open Court the Controversie was decided in favour of the City and the Lord Mayor was adjudged to be Conservator of the Thames There were also some Controversies about the Rivers of Thames and Medway but all differences were absolutely concluded Anno 1613. Sir John Swinnerton being then Lord Mayor and Thomas Sparry Esq being then his Deputy in that Office So that the Lord Mayor bears always since as in former times the stile of Conservator of the said River within the said Limits and Bounds And whereas there was a Company of Fishermen called Tinckermen that with unlawful Nets and other devices made an infinite destruction of the young Brood or Fry of Fish to feed their Hogs by the singular care and cost of the Lord Mayor and vigilance of the Citizens they were many years ago supprest and a regular and orderly manner of Fishing brought in use that such a havock may not be made of the young Fry As also sundry other abuses by unlawful Fishing and some annoying Timbers in Tilbury-hope dangerous to Passengers and destructive to the young Brood of Fish and Fishermens Nets were also to general benefit reformed Likewise they took care to clear and cleanse the River Westward of about 79 Stops or Hatches consisting of divers great Stakes and Piles erected by Fishermen for their private lucre and standing ill-favouredly for Passengers near the Fair-Deep but none now are left except such as stand out of the passable high stream that can prejudice none The like Course was kept in the time of Henry the 4 th and Henry the 8 ths times There is also a watchful Eye that no Carrion nor Dead Carkasses be thrown into the River to pollute or infect the stream To all these intents and purposes the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen his Brethren with the under Officers meet eight times a year in the four Counties of Middlesex Surrey Kent and Essex and have a Judicial sitting for Maintenance of the Rivers Rights and Priviledges where they have power to Impanel Juries to make Inquisition after all Offences committed upon the River within their Exteâ—â— and as the Verdict given by the Jury makes it appear so they proceed to the punishment of the 〈◊〉 sors according to the quality of the offence whereof it may be proper to give this Memorable Instance as it is Recorded by Mr. Stow in his Survey page 20 Printed Anno 1633. and more briefly delivered by Mr. Howel in his Londinopolis Printed Anno 1657. page 15. Thus. Sir John Rolls Knight and Lord Mayor of the City of London and Conservator of the River of Thames and Waters of Medway assisted and accompanied by the Aldermen and two Sheriffs then contemporary and attended by the Recorder and the Sub-conservation or Water-Bayly with 50 Officers and Servants took their Barges at Billings-gate the third of July 1616. and in a few hours arrived at Graves-end in Kent where a Session for Conservancy of the said River was kept before the said Lord Mayor and his said Assistants at which place and time a Jury of the Free-holders of the said County being sworn to inquire of all Offences committed in any part of the River whatsoever within the said County The Common Sergeant of the City the Recorder being then absent upon extraordinary occasions Delivered them a Charge to this effect That for as much as there had not been any Session of Conservancy in many years passed kept by any Lord Mayor of London in that place it was probable and evident they could not be well informed neither of the Lord Mayor's
Jurisdiction and power to Reform Annoyances and Offences there and to inflict due punishments upon the Offendors nor of the Nature of the Service to be by them performed in the Course of their Inquiry therefore he thought it convenient to make both the one and the other known unto them Hereupon he shewed them that the Jurisdiction of the Court of London in the River of Thames from Stanes Bridge Westward unto the points of the River next unto the Sea Eastward appeared to belong to the City in manner and form following I. First in point of Right by prescription as appears by an ancient Book called Dunâ—horp That Civitatis fundationis aedificationis constructionis causa erat Thamesis Flâ—vâ—us quorum vero Civitatis fluminis gubernationem tam duces Majores Custodes Vicecomites Aldr. Magnates Civitatis Memoratae hucusque obtinuerunt habuerunt Whence he inferr'd that the Government of the River hath belonged to the City time out of mind In 21. H. 3. Jorden Coventry one of the Sheriffs of the City was sent by the Mayor and Aldermen to remove certain Kiddles that Annoyed the Rivers of Thames and Medway who ultra Yenland versus mare did take divers persons that were Offenders and imprisoned them Whereupon complaint being made to the King he took the matter ill at the first and sent for the Lord Mayor and Citizens to Kennington Where upon hearing of the Matter before the said King the Cities Jurisdiction over the said River was set forth and allowed and the Complainants convinced and every one of them Amerced at 10 l. and the Amercements adjudged to the City And afterward their Nets were burnt by Judgment given by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen in the Hustings 1. R. 2. Writs were directed to the Sheriffs of Essex and Kent Reciting the Cities Title with Command not to suffer the Citizens of London to be molested contrary to the Liberties formerly granted and allowed unto them II. Secondly In point of Right by Allowance in Eire the Conservation of the Thames belongs to the City For it was produced that 1 R. 2. before Hugh Bigot Justice Iâ—enerant the Sheriffs and Citizens of London were called in Question for their Jurisdiction exercis'd on the Thames before whom it was found by a Jury in Southwark Quod nullus habet aliquid Juris in Thamisia usque ad Novum Gurgitem nisi Civis London In the 14 E. 2. The Constable of the Tower was Indicted by Divers Wards of London before the Justices in Eire at the Tower De muneris recep Cove pro Kedellis in Thamisiis Constabularius ad Kidellas respondet quod Justic non habent Jurisdictionem extra London prolitum inde cognoscere cum praedict Kidelli sunt in aliis Comitatibus Justic. dixerunt aqua Thamisiae pertinet ad Civitatem London usque Mare si velit respondeat Who then Pleaded Not Guilty III. He went further in point of Right that this Jurisdiction belonged to the City by antient Charters 8 R. 1. that is 480 and odd Years ago Dominus Richardus Rex Filius Regis Henrici secundi concessit firmiter praecepit ut omnes Kidelli qui sunt in Thamisia amoveantur ubicunque fuerint in Thamisia 1. Joh. Rex concessit firmiter praecepit ut omnes Kidelli qui sunt in Thamisia vel in Medway amoveantur ne caeteri Kidelli alicubi ponantur in Thamisia vel in Medway super forf 10 1. sterlingorum Then he urged the Famous Charter of King Henry the III. which ran thus Henry by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland Duke of Normandy and Aquitain and Earl of Anjou unto all Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Earls Barons Justices Sheriffs Stewards Ministers and to all Bayliffs and to all his True Men Greeting wotteth well that we for the health of our Soul and the health of the Soul of King John our Fader and the Souls of our Ancestors and also for the Common profit of our City of London and of all our Realms have Granted and stedfastly Commanded That all the Weares that be in Thames or in Medway be done away and that from henceforth no Weares be set in Thames or Medway upon the forfeiture of 10 1. Also we claim quit to our Citizens of London all that that our Constable of our Tower of London was wont to take of the said Weares Wherefore we will and stedfastly Command that no Constable of the aforesaid Tower at any time from henceforth forward any thing ask nor any Grievance do to any of the same City by Eâ—cheson of the same Weares it is to us known enough and by our true Men do us to understand that most privacy and least profit might fall unto the same City and to the whole Realm by Enchesen of the same Weares which we make for ever firm and stable unto the same City as the Charter of our Lord King John our Fader which our Barons of London thereof have reasonably Witnessed Witnesses Eustace of London Peter of Westminster c. at Westminster the 18th of February in the Year of our Reign Eleven Besides these he produced divers others in this King ' s Reign to the purpose aforesaid and the 7th of E. III. IV. This Jurisdiction belongs to the City of London by Acts of Parliament W. 2. cap. 47. an 13. No Salmons to be taken from the Nativity of our Lady unto St. Martins Day in all points nor none to be taken in Mill-Pools from the midst of April until Midsummer under penalty for the first Offence of burning of Nets and Engines the second Offence Imprisonment for a Quarter of a Year the third Offence for a whole Year 13. R. II. confirms the restraint of taking Salmons in many Waters from the midst of April until Midsummer upon the same pain nor within that time to use any Nets called Stalkers nor any other Engine whereby the Fry may be destroyed He urged likewise 17 R. II. cap. 9. and the 11. H. VII cap. 15. 1 Eliz. cap. 17. Against Nets Wheeles and other Engines for destroying the Fish against killing of Salmon and Trouts out of season against killing Pike or Pickerel not ten Inches long or Salmon not 16 Inches long or Trout not 8 Inches long or Barbel 12 Inches and more nor to Fish with any Nets but such whereof every Meash or Mash shall be two Inches and a half broad Angling excepted This not to extend to Smelts Roches Minoes Bullhead Gudgeons or Eâ—les in place where the same have been used to be taken The Offender to lose for every Offence 20 â—s and the Fish also the unlawful Nets Engines and Instruments The Mayor of London Inter alia hath full Power and Authority by this Act to Inquire of all Offences Committed contrary thereunto by the Oaths of 12 Men or more and to Hear and Determine all and every the same and inflict Punishments and impose Fines accordingly V. He proceeds to assert the Cities
Right to the Conservation of the Thames and the Waters of Medway by way of Inquisition whereof there were two the one taken at Raynam in Essex the other at Gravesend in Kent before Sir William Cambridge Grocer then Lord Mayor of London 9 Henry V. where it was presented that whereas by the antient Ordinances of London the Meshes of Nets should be two Inches in the fore part and one Inch in the hinder part and it being found that the Offences according to the said Inquisitions are Contra libertates consuetudines Civitatis it was adjudged that the Nets should be burnt according to the antient Custom in that behalf provided VI. He goes on after to prove that this Right belongs to the City by Decrees In 8 Henry IV. the Mayor and Aldermen did exhibit their humble Petition to the King's Councel reciting that time out of mind they had the Conservation and Correction of the River of Thames of all Trincks Nets and other Engines whatsoever in the River of Thames and Medway placed and have used to make a Sub-Conservator under them and complaining that Alexander Bonner then Sub-Conservator having discharged his Duty in removing Kiddles he was ill intreated by the owners dwelling in Erith Bratriferry Barking Woolwich and other places in the Counties of Kent and Essex and upon hearing of the matter in Camera Stellata they were found Guilty and Constrained to submit themselves to the Lord Mayor and ordered to bring always their Nets unto him before they should use them and that the Kiddles then taken should be at the disposition of the Lord Mayor so the Offenders made their submission accordingly VII He proceeds This Right appertains to the City of London by Letters Patents which he proved by a Grant made by Edward IV. to the Earl of Pembroke for setting up a Wear in the River of Thames which Grant was Revoked and Cancelled at the Request of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen upon shewing their Right therefore alleaged it was contrary to their antient Liberties At which time the Cities Title to the Conservancy of the Thames and Medway was at large set forth and recited to have been shewn to the Lord Chancellor and to the said Earl and his Counsel which accordingly was also read VIII He reinforceth the Right of the City by Proclamations whereof one was made by H. VIII in the 34 of His Reign wherein it is affirmed that the Lord Mayor and his Predecessors have had by divers Grants of the Kings of England and by Acts of Parliaments enjoyed always the Conservacy of the Thames without Impediments or Interruption By which Proclamation it was Commanded that none should resist deny or impugne the Lord Mayor or his Deputy in doing or executing any thing that might conduce to the Conservacy of the River and of the Fish and Fry within the same IX He produceth Report for in a Controversie betwixt the Lord Admiral and the Lord Mayor for the Measuring of Coals and other things upon the Thames it then fell into Debate to whom the Conservacy of the Thames did belong which cause was referred by Queen ELIZABETH's Councel of State 1597 to the Attorney-General and Solicitor who joyntly Certified amongst other things that the Conservancy and care of the said River did and ought to belong to the City of London X. By quo Warranto it was proved that the Conservacy of the Thames belongs to the City for 3 Jac. a quo Warranto was brought against the City in the Exchequer to know by what Title She claimed the Conservacy of the River of Thames and the Waters of Medway whereupon the City made Her Title Good thereunto by antient prescription and otherwise so Judgment was given in Her Favour XI He goes on afterwards to confirm the Right of the City by Proof of Vsage in regard the Lord Mayor and Aldermen have time out of mind made Ordinances concerning the Good Government of the River of Thames as well for the Seasons and Manner of Fishing beneath London-bridge Eastward upon pain of certain Penalties as appears from time to time from the Reign of Henry III. and so downward The Lord Mayor hath removed Kiddles Wears Trinks and other unlawful Engines and reformed the disorders of such as have offended besides in the River of Thames and inflicted punishment upon Offenders accordingly The Right of the City appears also by the Writs and Preceps under the Teste of the Lord Mayor to the Sheriffs of Kent and Essex for the Returning of Juries before him to inquire of Offences done in the River The same Right of the City appears also by Commissions whereof divers have been directed to the Lord Mayor to put in Execution the Acts of Parliament made for Conservance of the Thames and Medway and to inquire of all Offences made or done in the said Waters and to punish the Deliaquents accordingly Lastly He makes good the Right and Title of the City by the Continual Claim She has made thereunto as appears in those various Contests She had with the Lord Admiral of England wherein after divers Debates and Disputes She still came off well and made Her Title good Which moved King Jamts in the third Year of His Reign to put a Final Determination to the Business by the Letters Patents he passed unto the City wherein he saith That ad omnem Controversiam in hac parte Temporibus tam presentibus quam futuris tollendam omne Dubium amo vendam that to cut off all Controversies as well of the present times as of Future and to remove all Doubts he did Confirm and Ratifie the said Right unto the City of London c. I. This Office of Conservator of so Noble a River is of great Extent for he is to preserve the Currency of the stream on the Banks on both sides II. To preserve the Fish and Fry within the same that no Fishermen use unlawful Nets or Engines or fish at Prohibited Seasons III. To hinder the erection of any Weares Kiddles or Engines and the knocking in of any Posts Piles or Stake which may in any sort hinder the Stream or Navigation and to pull them up if already done and punish the Offenders also to prevent all incroachments upon the Rivers and the Banks thereof likewise to inquire of all Bridges Flood-Gates Mill-dams and such like Annoyances and whether any do hurl in any Soyl Dust or Rubbish or other Filth whatsoever to choak her But for the strength and safety of the River against the Invasion of an Enemy by Block-Houses Forts Bastions or Castles and the securing of the Merchant and Navigation to and fro that Charge belongs to the Soveraign Prince The former Charge Care and Circumspection belongs properly to the City of London which is Seated in a fit place to be watchful over her for which Vigilance the Thames Rewards the City abundantly by bringing her in the Spices of the South the Jewels of the East and the Treasures of the
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
hazard against all the Difficulties Oppositions and Discouragements that attended it though now he hath several Citizens in partnership with him But I am truly informed that the Income does not yet amount to three fourths of the necessary Charge to support it therefore I am persuaded that this Honourable City will employ the Inventers rather than an Invader if ever any such should be And that 't is much below such a Prince as his Royal Highness is to desire the Ruine of such a Family I am the more large upon this Particular because it would be a general Discouragement to the Contrivers of useful and profitable Inventions if others should be encouraged to reap the Crop of what they with so much charge and labor have sown This Penny-Post is thus managed The Principal Office to which all Accompts c. are daily transmitted is in Lyme-street at the Dwelling-house of the said Mr. Dockwra formerly the Mansion-house of Sir Robert Abdy K.nt. There are seven Sorting-houses proper to the seveâ— Precincts into which the Undertakers have divided London Westminster and the Suburbs situated at equal distances for the better maintenance of mutual Correspondence There are about 4 or 500 Receiving-houses to take in Letters where the Messengers call every hour and convey them as directed as also Post-Letters the writing of which are much increased by this Accommodation being carefully convey'd by them to the General Post-Office in Lombard street There are a great Number of Clerks and poor Citizens daily employed as Messengers to Collect Sort Enter Stamp and Deliver all Letters every Person entertained giving Fifty pounds security by Bond for his Fidelity and is to be subject to the Rules and Orders from time to time given by the Undertakers who oblige themselves to make good any thing deliver'd to their Messengers under the value of Ten pounds if Sealed up and the Contents Endorsed And these Messengers have their Wages duly paid them every Saturday night By these are convey'd Letters and Parcels not exceeding One Pound Weight nor Ten Pound in Value to and from all Parts at seasonable times viz. of the Cities of London and Westminster Southwark Redriff Wapping Ratcliff Lyme-house Stepney Poplar and Blackwall and all other places within the weekly Bills of Mortality as also to the four Towns of Hackney Islington South-Newington-Butts and Lambeth but to no other Towns and the Letters to be left only at the Receiving-houses of those four Towns for the said four Towns but if brought home to their Houses a Penny more in those Towns nor any Letter to be deliver'd to them in the Street but at the Receiving-houses They now do use Stamps to mark the hour of the Day on all Letters when sent out from their Office to be deliver'd by which all Persons are to expect their Letters within one hour little more or less from the time marked thereon excepting such Letters as are to be convey'd to the Out-Towns and Remotest parts which will be longer by which the cause of delay of Letters may be easily discern'd viz. whether it be really in the Office or their own Servants or others with whom Letters are left Of which the First signifies Eight in the Morning the Last Four in the Afternoon and the Middlemost is the Letter of the chief Office in Lyme-street each Office having its proper Letter and an Acknowledgment that the Penny-Post is paid to prevent the giving of any thing at the Delivery All Persons are desired not to leave any Town-Letters after Six of the Clock in the Winter and Seven in the Summer on Saturday Nights because the many poor Men employ'd may have a little time to provide for their Families against the Lords-day having no leisure all the week besides Upon three days at Christmas two days in Easter and Whitsontide and upon the 30 of January the Penny-Post does not go To the most Remote places Letters go four or five times of the day to other places six or eight times of the day To Inns of Court and places of business in Town especially in Term or Parliament-time 10 or 12 times of the day For better information of People where the Receiving-houses are there are great Numbers of Printed Tickets dispersed from time to time amongst the Neighborhood and Advertisements in the Publick Intelligences which all concern'd may take Notice of so that any body may be by the Neighborhood immediately inform'd where a Receiving-house is Carriers and Stage-Coach Letters are to have Two-pence inclosed to each Carrier or Coachman because they often reject them for want of money Hundreds of such being return'd which any Inquirer may have again upon notice for they lie Alphabetically disposed of in the chief Office for that end On all Post-Nights due Care is taken to call for and convey to the General Post-house in Lombard-street all Post-Letters whether Foreign or Inland left in any of the Penny-Post Receiving-houses at or before Nine of the Clock at Night And I could wish for Encouragement of the Undertakers that all Persons would so far contribute to the continuance of this useful Design as to send their Post-Letters by this Conveyance to the Post-Office in Lombard-street which they do not Convey by themselves or Servants If any Post-Letters be left without Money that should pay before-hand they will be Returned to the Office therefore such as send Money are to indorse the Postage-money upon their Letters Such as inclose Money in Town-Letters are to Indorse the true Sum on the Outside and to tye fast and seal up under a plain Impression all Parcels which may be one way to prevent Disputes in case any thing be lost The Undertakers will not answer for any Centents unseen unless sealed fast and the Value Indorsed plain to be Read 2. Some brief Hints of the Vsefulness of this Office 1. In and near this great and famous Emporium is the usual Residence of our Kings the High Court of Parliament the fixed Seats of all the Courts of Judicature and in it is managed a vast Trade as was shew'd in the Chapter that Treats of it now a cheap frequent and safe way of Correspondence is very advantageous for all that are concerned in Commerce or Business The principal Trade of London depends upon Navigation and therefore the City and Suburbs are situate along the River of Thames extending in length as was shew'd pag. 5. from Lyâ—ne-house to the end of Tuttle-street 7500 Geometrical Pâ—ces that is seven Miles and an half and from the end of Blackman-street to the end of St. Leonard Shoreditch 2500 Paces in Breadth that is two Miles and the whole Circumference as by Demonstration can be made apparent is above 20 Miles taking in all the Contiguous Suburbs and Westminster so that it is the longest if not the greatest and most populous City in Christendom This extraordinary Length though it adds to its Splendor and Beauty yet it renders speedy Communication and Intercourse in Business very
Stones that immur'd up the Door they were heard to cry seven days after and then perished From the Savoy they went to the Temple where they burnt the Lawyers Lodgings with their Books and Writings and all they could lay hands on They broke up the Fleet Prison and let the Prisoners go where they would The like they did at Newgate and made a most dreadful havock up and down The house of St. Johns by Smithfield they set on fire so that it burnt seven days together After this they came to the Tower where the King was then lodged And though he had at that time 600 armed Men and 600 Archers about him yet he durst not but suffer them to enter where they abused the King's Mother in a rude manner offering to kiss her c. that she fell into a Swoon And finding in the place Simon Theobald Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor and Sir Robert Hale Prior of St. John and Lord Treasurer and one Richard a Carmelite Monk the King's Confessor these they led to Tower-hill and there most cruelly cut off their heads as they served divers others Indeed Polidore Virgil writes That the Rebels were not at all in the Tower but that the King sent these three men to appease them hoping that they would not offer to abuse such eminent Clergy-men For saith he Si vulgus it a concitatus turrem expugnasset non eos utique tres duntaxat uti credere par est sed Regem relquos ommes quos imprimis ad supplicium petebat interfecisset that is If the enraged Common People had taken the Tower by force they would in all probability destroy not only those three but the King also and all the rest whom first of all they demanded to be deliver'd to them â—or punishment They drew Thirteen Flemings out of Austin-Fryers and Beheaded them in the Streets Seventeen more out of another Church And Thirty two out of the Vintry and several out of their own or others whom they Beheaded yet after all these barbarous and bloody Outrages the King proclaimed Pardon to all such as would lay down Arms and go quietly home which the Essex men did but the Kentish men continued still with their Captain Wat-Tyler of Maidstone a crafty Fellow of an acute wit but very graceless Polidore Virgil says He was Manibus promptus ac Consiliis praeceps of a ready hand and hasty or precipitate in counsel To this Ringleader of Mischief the King sent Sir John Newton to understand what his meaning was Wat Tyler was offended because he came on Horse-back telling him It became him to alight from his Horse in his presence and therewith drew out his Dagger to strike him The King perceiving this Noble Knight to be in danger to qualifie the severity of Wat for a time commanded Sir John to alight which did not pacifie but made Wat the more insolent and would have the King's Sword which Sir John carried offering again to assault him But the Lord Mayor of London William Walworth with other Persons of Quality being just come affirm'd it to be an unheard-of Indignity and a most intolerable Disgrace if the King should suffer so Noble a Knight to be basely murdered in his presence Upon which the King commanded the Lord Mayor to arrest him who did it to purpose for being a man of an invincible Courage and a brave Mind he regarded not the hazard that probably would follow his attacking that Darling and Leader of a Rude Numerous and Rebellious Rabble but prefer'd his Duty to his King and Countrey and the Generosity of rescuing an abused Gentleman even before life I insert this as a Remark due to this brave and memorable Action which deserves never to be forgotten The Mayor immediately rides up to Wat and Arrests him with such a salutation of his Mace on his head that he tumbles him down and then he was by some of the King's Servants some say by John Cavendish Esq run through in several places many persons encompassing him so as that he could not be seen by his Plebeian Army and then caus'd his dead Body to be drawn into St. Bartholomews Hospital But the Commons perceiving it they cry'd Their Captain was slain and animated each other to revenge Upon which the King though not above 15 years of age was so Couragious as to ride up to them telling them That now their Leader was dead he would be their Leader himself and if they would follow him into the Fields they should have whatsoever they desired In the mean time the Lord Mayor Walworth with one Servant Rides speedily into the City and raised One thousand armed Men where meeting Sir Robert Knolls a Citizen by accident got him to be their Leader who coming into the Field where the Rebels were so daunted them that throwing down their weapons they cry'd for mercy so that it was a wonderful thing to see how suddenly Fear overtook Presumption and how quickly terms of the most servile Submission succeeded their insolent Brags viz. That they had the King's life in their power c. and what else they would do On the other side 't was as strange to see how quickly Boldness surprized Fear in those about the King for a little before they trembled at the sight of the Rebels but now they are mad to be at them which the King would not suffer but commanded the Charter they had demanded to be scaled and delivered to them because these Commotions might have the speedier End for the Commons in other places were not yet quiet and the King thought it more prudent rather to pacifie than provoke them The Rabble being dispersed the King called for the Mayor and Knighted him in the Field as also five Aldermen his Brethren viz. Nicholas Brember John Philpot Robert Lawnd John Standish Nicholas Twyford and Adam Francis Some affirm that the Dagger was added to the City Arms for this Reason but Antiquaries make out that this Coat with the Sword of St. Paul not a Dagger belonged to the City long before this hapned The Mayor of London after this sate in Judgment upon Offenders where many were found Guilty and were Executed amongst others Jack Straw John Kirby Alane Tredder and John Sterling who gloried that he slew the Archbishop Sir Robert Tresilian the Chief Justice was appointed to sit in Judgment against the Offenders before whom above 1500 were found Guilty and in several places put to Death amongst whom was John Ball the Priest their Incendiary And thus ended that dangerous Rebellion About the Year 1450. 29 H. 6. there was another Insurrection in Kent headed by one Jack Cade who stiled himself John Mortimer Captain Mend-all He marches with a small but well-order'd Number to Black-Heath where he lay about a Month exercising his Men and in the mean time presents several Complaints to the King and Parliament of various Grievances and Oppressions but they were judged too insolent and therefore rejected
which Mr. Bedlow says was a course they much advise him to 6. By firing Hay-lofts as in Smithfield 7. By strangers feigning Eirands as in the Temple 8. By untyling Houses breaking Windows c. and there putting in their Combustibles 9. By getting into empty Houses and setting them on fire as in Budge-row 1670. 10 By creeping into Back-yards and firing stacks of Bavins Reed c. as at Lime-House 11. By going into Victualling-Houses and leaving behind them Trains for firing as at the Cooks in Fetter-lane and in Southwark 12. By Conâ—ederate Servants as lately at the Attorneys in the same Lane Secondly Their Instructions are 1. TO do it in Select places amongst old Buildings and where Engines cannot play 2. To Fire the Water-Houses and get the Newriver-water stopt if they can for that time near that place 3. To have some of their chief Friends thereabouts that may misadvise great persons that they may blow up Houses where it is not necessary or where rather it will do harm by opening a passage for the fire 4. To have some of their active Instruments who under pretence of helping may scatter Fire-halls in contiguous Houses and break down the Windows Roof c. to let in the fire more easily 5. To have others attending that shall cry out against French and Papists and mightily pitty the People thereby getting to be trusted with removing of Goods and so to plunder and steal or if they find an opportunity to fire Houses at a distance 6. Curiously to observe Wind and Tide in all attempts as likewise Frosts and very dry times and chuse Sundays for doing the business because then there is least Water Now whether those wicked Incendiaries have observed these Rules in that monstrous and execrable villany before recited is left at the Tribunal of the Readers Impartial Judgment who may consider the Circumstances following of which they viz. the Papists made a fatal use 1. It was the dead time of the night or rather a little before two in the Morning when all persons gave themselves to their repose and were in a dead â—leep 2. The Dead time of the Week being Saturday night when Traders were retired to their Country-Houses and none but Maid-servants or Apprentices to look after their Houses 3. The Dead time of the Year being then the long Vacation when Tradesmen were generally in the Country to fetch in their Debts 4. The Closeness of the Buildings there facilitated the progress of the Fire and hindred the playing of Engines 5. The Houses were generally Wooden or built of old Timber 6. A very dry preceding Summer made the Timber very apt to take Fire 7. In those parts were the greatest Magazines and Store-houses of the City of Oyls Pitch Tar Rosin Wax Butter Brimstrne Hemp Cordage Cheese Wine Brandy Sugars c. 8. An Easterly Wind continued long before and then blew strongly a fatal help to spread the Fire Westward 9. The Thames-Water-Tower was immediately burnt down being near the place where the fire began so that they could not be supplyed with Waters that way To conclude The same several Testimonies and Depositions taken by a Committtee appointed for that purpose by the House of Commons Tuesday 25 Sept. 1666. viz. That this was acted by a Hellish Combinatâ—on of Papists evidenced by the words of Papists before the Fire by their actual flinging of Fire-balls c. and otherwise promoting the Incendium during the Fire many of which were catched in the Fact but conveyed away by some of their Friends under pretence to secure them The free Confession of the French-man Robert Hubert who was hang'd for it and the Witness of Capt. Bedloe and others who have made out that they were concern'd in it I say all these are enough to satisfie any that will not wink himself blind that London was burnt by Romish Fire-balls which they were wont to call Tewxsbury Mustard-balls thrown by Romish hands But Renowned LONDON notwithstanding those vast losses and the Devouring-Plague the Year before and the chargeable War we had then against three powerful Neighbour Nations lay not long in Rubbish but began Phenix-like to revive out of the ashes of its consumed Predecessor This dismal Calamity gave His Majesty a sad opportunity of exercising hs Compassion and Care towards many distressed Families who lay in the open Fields His Majesty therefore issued Proclamations to Justices of the Peace for causing Provisions to be sent into the Markets and ordered his Sea-store to be opened for a present supply of Bread in Ship-Bisket c. The King passed an Act of Parliament for establishing a Judicature to take Cognizance of and Determine all Differences that might arise among parties concerning burnt or Demollished Houses And by Act of Parliament there was a New-Model of Building appointed which may be worth the Readers perusal It was past Anno 1666. 19 Car. 2. See Kebles Statutes at large p. 1327 to 1335. but 't is too large to be transcribed Purâ—uant to this Act the Citizens betook themselves chearfully to Rebuild and in four years time they erected in the same Streets 10000 Houses and laid out for the same 3000000 of pounds Sterl counting but 300 l. a House one with another besides several large Hospitals divers very stately Halls 19 fair solid Stone Churches that did cost above 100000 l. were all at the same time erecting and soon after finished And since that time they have gone on Chearfully to Rebuild so that there is hardly a vacant place in the City except such as are designed for other uses than Dwelling-Houses And as if the Fire had only purged the City the Buildings are become infinitely more Beautiful more Commodious and more Solid the three main Vertues of all Edifices then before Nay as if the Citizens had not been any was impoverished but rather enricht by that huge Conflagration they may be said to be even rather excessive than otherwise in their Expences upon the stately Italian Faciata's or Fronts of their New Houses Churches and Halls many of excellent Portland-stone upon their richly adorn'd Shops Chambers Balconies Signs Portals c. The publick Halls which are so magnificent and richly adorn'd with excellent and Curious Architecture Carved Work in Stone and Wood with Pictures and Wainscot not only of Firr and Oak but some with sweet-smelling Cedar The Churches beautified with excellent various Towers and Fronts of true Roman Architecture They have made their Streets much more large and streight paved on each-side with smooth-hewen-stone and guarded the same with many Massy Posts for the benefit of Foot Passeugers and whereas before they dwelt in low dark Wooden Houses they now live in lofty lightsome uniform and very stately Brick-buildings A great number of the Halls stately Taverns and magnificent Houses of Merchants and other Wealthy Citizens being fit to receive the greatest Monarch in Europe with a brave Train at an Entertainment Abundance of these are built backwards for the advantage