diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/51175-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/51175-0.txt | 8058 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 8058 deletions
diff --git a/old/51175-0.txt b/old/51175-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 1b5528c..0000000 --- a/old/51175-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8058 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Source Book of London History, by P. Meadows - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Source Book of London History - From the earliest times to 1800 - -Author: P. Meadows - -Release Date: February 11, 2016 [EBook #51175] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOURCE BOOK OF LONDON HISTORY *** - - - - -Produced by Richard Tonsing, The Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - A SOURCE BOOK OF - LONDON HISTORY - - FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES - TO 1800 - - - - - EDITED BY - - P. MEADOWS, M.A. - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - - LONDON - G. BELL AND SONS, LTD. - 1914 - - - - - PREFACE - - -If the study of History is to be made really valuable from either the -recreative or the educational point of view, it is necessary to have -frequent recourse to original sources and contemporary writings; they -introduce a certain quality of reality and vividness, a kind of -historical atmosphere, which is most essential to a true appreciation of -the subject. This fact is now generally recognised, and many collections -of sources are available for the student of English History. In this -volume will be found a selection of passages, generally from -contemporary sources, relating to the history of London. It is quite -impossible, of course, in a small book to do justice to every aspect of -the subject; and it has seemed best to give special prominence to those -events which concern the City as a whole, its growth, its corporate -life, and its connection with national affairs. - -Besides a vast mass of general contemporary literature, a large number -of the most important and interesting documents dealing with London -history have already been printed; but all this material is very -scattered, and frequently rather inaccessible to the general reader. The -Histories by Maitland and Noorthouck, published in the eighteenth -century, contain translations of charters and other documents; Riley's -"Memorials" is invaluable for the fourteenth century; and many useful -suggestions have been derived from Besant's "Survey of London." - -The spelling of the extracts has generally been modernised, but in a few -cases the original text has been exactly followed. - -It is hoped that the chronological arrangement of the passages, the care -which has been taken in selecting them so as to illustrate events or -circumstances of definite importance in the history of the City, and the -introductory remarks attached to each extract, will save this volume -from being merely a collection of historical scraps, and will enable it -to be of real use to all who are interested in the story of London. - - P. M. - - - - - CONTENTS - - - DATE PAGE - - TO 1066. LONDON BEFORE THE CONQUEST 1 - - 1066. THE CONQUEROR'S CHARTER 4 - - 1085. LONDON ENVIRONS IN DOMESDAY 4 - - _c._ 1130. HENRY I.'S CHARTER 8 - - 1141. MATILDA IN LONDON 10 - - _c._ 1173. A NORMAN PICTURE OF LONDON 12 - - 1177. DISTURBANCES IN THE CITY 17 - - 1189. ORDINANCES CONCERNING BUILDING 19 - - 1191. THE LIBERTIES OF THE CITY CONFIRMED 22 - - 1199. JOHN'S THIRD CHARTER 23 - - 1202. LONDON BRIDGE 25 - - 1249. OPPRESSION BY HENRY III. 27 - - 1258. INTERFERENCE BY BARONS 29 - - 1282. THE STEELYARD 31 - - 1282. THE PRESERVATION OF PEACE AND ORDER 33 - - 1311. THE CITIZENS AND EDWARD II. 36 - - 1319. CONSTITUTIONS FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY 37 - - 1326. A REVOLT AGAINST EDWARD II. 40 - - 1329. A PROCLAMATION OF EDWARD III. 42 - - 1347. ARTICLES OF THE HEAUMERS AND OF THE HATTERS 44 - - 1350. REGULATIONS CONCERNING WAGES AND PRICES 46 - - 1364. THE CHARTER TO THE DRAPERS 49 - - 1365. A LETTER FROM EDWARD III. 51 - - 1374. A LEASE TO GEOFFREY CHAUCER 52 - - 1375. THE CITY ARMS 54 - - 1381. WAT TYLER IN LONDON 56 - - _c._ 1400. LONDON LICKPENNY 62 - - 1406. WHITTINGTON'S SECOND MAYORALTY 66 - - 1413. THE PERSECUTION OF THE LOLLARDS 68 - - 1415. IMPRISONMENT FOR REFUSING OFFICE 70 - - 1419. OATHS OF THE MAYOR AND ALDERMEN 72 - - 1450. JACK CADE IN LONDON 74 - - 1464. THE MAYOR'S DIGNITY 78 - - 1485. REGULATIONS CONCERNING STRANGERS 79 - - 1510. THE MARCHING WATCH 82 - - 1514. DESTRUCTION OF FENCES 84 - - 1517. MORE'S DESCRIPTION OF LONDON 85 - - 1517. EVIL MAY DAY 88 - - 1519. THE PAPAL LEGATE IN THE CITY 91 - - 1525. WOLSEY AND THE CITIZENS 93 - - 1527. THE APPRENTICES 95 - - 1533. A WATER PAGEANT 98 - - 1549. LATIMER'S EXHORTATION TO LONDON 100 - - 1553. MARY'S SPEECH TO THE CITIZENS 102 - - 1554. SORANZO'S REPORT ON LONDON 105 - - 1566. THE ROYAL EXCHANGE 106 - - 1575. A LORD MAYOR'S SHOW 107 - - 1587. LONDON AND THE ARMADA 110 - - 1592. THE CITY'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE STAGE 111 - - 1593. A PLAGUE ORDER 115 - - 1598. LONDON SCHOOLS 121 - - 1600. A GERMAN VIEW OF LONDON 123 - - 1609. LONDON AND ULSTER 125 - - 1626. THE DEMANDS OF CHARLES I. 129 - - 1629. THE KEEPING OF THE SABBATH 131 - - 1640. THE CITY'S PETITION TO CHARLES I. 132 - - 1642. LONDON UNDER THE EARLY STUARTS 134 - - 1643. A PROCLAMATION AGAINST THE CITY 136 - - 1653. CROMWELL IN LONDON 138 - - 1660. LONDON AND THE RESTORATION 140 - - 1661. STATE OF LONDON BEFORE THE PLAGUE 144 - - 1665. THE PLAGUE 146 - - 1666. THE FIRE 148 - - 1666. A PROCLAMATION OF CHARLES II. 156 - - 1667. EVELYN'S PLANS FOR REBUILDING 159 - - 1671. AN ACT CONCERNING THE STREETS 162 - - 1679. A LORD MAYOR'S PROCLAMATION 164 - - 1681. THE POPISH PANIC 169 - - 1681. POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS 169 - - 1688. LONDON AFTER JAMES II.'S ABDICATION 172 - - 1689. A LORD MAYOR'S DAY 174 - - 1716. GAY'S "TRIVIA" 177 - - 1720. THE SOUTH SEA BUBBLE 179 - - 1725. DEFOE'S DESCRIPTION OF LONDON 181 - - 1733. A PETITION AGAINST THE EXCISE BILL 183 - - 1741. THE LONDON STREETS 185 - - 1743. THE LOYALTY OF THE LONDON MERCHANTS 187 - - 1780. THE GORDON RIOTS 188 - - 1791. LONDON'S TRADE 191 - - HISTORY OF LONDON - - - - - LONDON BEFORE THE CONQUEST. - - -References to London in the early chronicles are comparatively few; -under Roman rule it took the place for which it was fitted by its -geographical situation—a commercial port, and it flourished or decayed -as trade prospered or declined. The Saxon invaders did not care for -walled towns, and London was neglected; moreover, they did not care for -commerce, and there was no need for a commercial centre or port. The -unsettled condition of the country made it impossible for the city to -prosper, and the invasions of the Danes further interfered with its -growth. But in spite of all these drawbacks, London was definitely -marked out from the first as the best and most convenient centre for -trading and commercial activity; and Alfred fully realised the -importance of the city not only for purposes of trade, but as a bulwark -of national defence. - -The following are the most important passages in the Anglo-Saxon -Chronicle relating to London. Its importance as a military station -appears to have been very great in the time of Cnut, to judge by the -efforts he made to capture the town; and the proportion of tribute paid -in 1018 seems to show that the population and wealth of the city must -have been very considerable. - - - =Source.=—_The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle._ - -AN. 457. Hengist and Æsc his son fought against the Britons at the place -called Cregan Ford, and there slew four thousand men; and the Britons -then forsook Kent and in great terror fled to London. - -AN. 886. In this year the army again went west, which had before landed -in the east, and then up the Seine, and there took winter-quarters at -the city of Paris. In the same year king Ælfred restored London; and all -the Angle-race turned to him that were not in the bondage of the Danish -men; and he then committed the burgh to the keeping of the aldorman -Æthered. - -AN. 894.... Then those who dwell with the Northumbrians and with the -East Angles gathered some hundred ships, and went south about, and -besieged a work in Devonshire by the north sea; and those who went south -about besieged Exeter. When the King heard that, he turned west towards -Exeter with all the force, save a very powerful body of the people -eastwards. These went on until they came to London, and then, with the -townsmen and with the aid which came to them from the west, marched east -to Benfleet. Hæsten was then come there with his army, which had -previously sat at Middleton (Milton); and the great army also was come -thereto, which had before sat at the mouth of the Limen, at Appledore. -Hæsten had before wrought the work at Benfleet, and was then gone out -harrying, and the great army was at home. They then marched up and put -the army to flight, and stormed the work, and took all that there was -within, as well money, as women and children, and brought all to London; -and all the ships they either broke in pieces, or burned, or brought to -London, or to Rochester. - -AN. 994. In this year came Olaf (Anlaf) and Svein to London, on the -Nativity of St. Mary (Sept. 8th), with ninetyfour ships, and they were -obstinately fighting against the town, and would also have set it on -fire. But they there sustained more harm and evil than they ever weened -that any townsmen could do to them. For the holy mother of God, on that -day, manifested her mercy to the townsmen, and delivered them from their -foes. - -AN. 1016.... And the ætheling Eadmund went to London to his father. And -then, after Easter, King Cnut went with all his ships towards London. -Then it befell that King Æthelred died before the ships came. He ended -his days on St. George's mass day (April 23rd): and he held his kingdom -with great toil and difficulty, while his life lasted. And then, after -his end, all the "witan" that were in London, and the townsmen, chose -Eadmund for King; and he boldly defended his kingdom while his time was. -Then came the ships to Greenwich in the Rogation days (May 7th); and -within a little space they went to London, and they then dug a great -ditch on the south side, and dragged their ships to the west side of the -bridge, and afterwards ditched the town without, so that no one could -pass either in or out; and they repeatedly fought against the town, but -they boldly withstood them. Then before that, King Eadmund had gone out; -and he rode over Wessex, and all the folk submitted to him. And shortly -after that, he fought against the army at Pen by Gillingham. And a -second battle he fought after Midsummer at Sherston (Sceorstân), and -there was great slaughter made on each side, and the armies of -themselves separated. In that battle the aldorman Eadric and Ælmær -Dyrling gave aid to the army against king Eadmund. And then a third time -he gathered a force and went to London, all north of the Thames, and so -out through Clayhanger, and saved the townsmen, and drove the army in -flight to their ships. And then, two nights after, the king went over at -Brentford, and then fought against the army, and put it to flight; and -there were drowned a great many of the English folk, by their own -carelessness, those who went before the force, and would take booty. And -after that, the king went into Wessex, and collected his force. Then the -army went forthwith to London, and beset the city around, and -obstinately fought against it, both by water and by land. And Almighty -God saved it. - -AN. 1018. In this year the tribute was paid over all the Angle-race: -that was in all two and seventy thousand pounds, exclusive of what the -townsmen of London paid, which was ten and a half thousand pounds. - - - - - THE CONQUEROR'S CHARTER (1066). - - -William of Normandy might be able, by force of arms, to make himself -master of England, but not until London opened her gates to him could he -be really King. He preferred negotiation to attack, and in return for -the support of the citizens he promised to abide by the laws of Edward -the Confessor, and maintain the rights of the City. Shortly after his -coronation he gave the citizens his famous Charter, the first of a long -series of charters; in it are conveyed in the fewest possible words the -largest possible rights and privileges. The Charter, which is really a -compact between the King and the citizens rather than a grant from the -former to the latter, indicates three all-important points with the -greatest clearness and precision. They are, first, the rights of a -freeman, as understood at the time, and according to the English -customs, were to be secured to every man; second, every man was to have -the right of inheritance; and third, no one was to stand between the -City and the King. - - William the King friendly salutes William the Bishop, and Godfrey - the portreve, and all the burgesses within London, both French and - English. And I declare, that I grant you to be all law-worthy, as - you were in the days of King Edward; and I grant that every child - shall be his father's heir, after his father's days; and I will not - suffer any person to do you wrong. God keep you. - - - - - LONDON ENVIRONS IN DOMESDAY (1085). - - -In 1085 William the Conqueror, according to the Chronicle, "sent over -all England into every shire his men, and let them inquire how many -hundred hides were in each shire, and what land and cattle the King -himself had in the shire, and what rent he ought to receive yearly in -each. He let them also inquire how much land his archbishops had, and -his other bishops and his abbots, and how much every man had who held -land within the kingdom, as well on land as on cattle, and how much each -was worth." - -This Domesday Survey did not include the City of London, but the suburbs -are described as in Middlesex. The most striking fact with regard to -these suburbs is that nearly the whole of the land immediately bordering -the City was in the hands of the Church; all round London was a broad -belt of ecclesiastical manors, and this fact interfered considerably -with the extension of the City. The privileges of London citizens were -confined rigidly to the town within the walls; we notice that at the -time of Domesday Book the adjacent country was very sparsely inhabited, -and the expansion of the residential area outside the City boundaries -was a slow process, often hindered by the ecclesiastical authorities. - - _Stepney._—In Osuluestan (Ossulston) hundred, the Bishop of London - holds Stibenhede (Stepney) for thirty-two hides. There is land to - twenty-five ploughs. Fourteen hides belong to the demesne, and there - are three ploughs there; and twenty-two ploughs of the villanes. - There are forty-four villanes of one virgate each; and seven - villanes of half a hide each; and nine villanes of half a virgate - each; and forty-six cottagers of one hide; they pay thirty shillings - a year. There are four mills of four pounds and sixteen shillings - save fourpence. Meadow sufficient for twenty-five ploughs. Pasture - for the cattle of the village, and fifteen shillings. Pannage for - five hundred hogs and forty shillings. Its whole value is - forty-eight pounds; and it was worth the same when received; in King - Edward's time fifty pounds. This manor was and is part of the see. - - _Fulham._—In Fvleham (Fulham) the Bishop of London holds forty - hides. There is land to forty ploughs. Thirteen hides belong to the - demesne, and there are four ploughs there. Among the freemen (franc) - and the villanes are twenty-six ploughs; and ten more might be made. - There are five villanes of one hide each; and thirteen villanes of - one virgate each; and thirty-four villanes of half a virgate each; - and twenty-two cottagers of half a hide; and eight cottagers with - their own gardens. Foreigners and certain burgesses of London hold - amongst them twenty-three hides of the land of the villanes. - Thirty-one villanes and bordars dwell under them. Meadows for forty - ploughs. Pasture for the cattle of the village. For half the stream - ten shillings. Pannage for one thousand hogs, and seventeen pence. - Its whole value is forty pounds; the like when received; in King - Edward's time fifty pounds. This manor was and is part of the see. - - _St. Pancras._—The canons of St. Paul hold four hides to Sem - Pancratium (St. Pancras). There is land to two ploughs. The villanes - have one plough, and another plough may be made. Wood for the - hedges. Pasture for the cattle, and twenty pence. There are four - villanes who hold this land under the canons, and seven cottagers. - Its whole value is forty shillings; the same when received; in King - Edward's time sixty shillings. This manor was and is in the demesne - of St. Paul. - - _Islington._—In Isendone (Islington) the canons of St. Paul have two - hides. Land to one plough and a half. There is one plough there, and - a half may be made. There are three villanes of one virgate. Pasture - for the cattle of the village. This land is and was worth forty - shillings. This laid and lies in the demesne of the church of St. - Paul. - - In the same village the canons themselves have two hides of land. - There is land there to two ploughs and a half, and they are there - now. There are four villanes who hold this land under the canons; - and four bordars and thirteen cottagers. This land is worth thirty - shillings; the same when received; in King Edward's time forty - shillings. This laid and lies in the demesne of the church of St. - Paul. - - _Hoxton._—In Hochestone (Hoxton) the canons of St. Paul have one - hide. Land to one plough, and it is now there; and three villanes - hold this land under the canons. Pasture for the cattle. This land - was and is worth twenty shillings. This laid and lies in the demesne - of the church of St. Paul. - - _Manor._—The canons hold Hochestone (Hoxton) for three hides. There - is land to three ploughs, and they are there; and seven villanes who - hold this land; and sixteen cottagers. It is worth in the whole - fifty-five shillings; the same when received; in King Edward's time - sixty shillings. This manor belonged and belongs to the church of - St. Paul. - - _Westminster._—In the village where the church of St. Peter is - situate, the abbot of the same place holds thirteen hides and a - half. There is land to eleven ploughs. Nine hides and one virgate - belong to the demesne, and there are four ploughs therein. The - villanes have six ploughs, and one plough more may be made. There - are nine villanes of one virgate each; one villane of one hide; and - nine villanes of half a virgate each; and one cottager of five - acres; and forty-one cottagers who pay forty shillings a year for - their gardens. Meadow for eleven ploughs. Pasture for the cattle of - the village. Pannage for one hundred hogs. And twenty-five houses of - the knights of the abbot and of other vassals, who pay eight - shillings a year. Its whole value is ten pounds; the same when - received; in King Edward's time twelve pounds. This manor was and is - in the demesne of the church of St. Peter, of Westminster. - - _Hampstead._—The Abbot of St. Peter holds Hamestede (Hampstead) for - four hides. Land to three ploughs. Three hides and a half belong to - the demesne, and there is one plough therein. The villanes have one - plough, and another may be made. There is one villane of one - virgate; and five bordars of one virgate; and one bondman. Pannage - for one hundred hogs. In the whole it is worth fifty shillings; the - same when received; in King Edward's time one hundred shillings. - - In the same village Rannulf Pevrel holds under the abbot one hide of - the land of the villanes. Land to half a plough, and it is there. - This land was and is worth five shillings. This manor altogether - laid and lies in the demesne of the church of St. Peter. - - _Tyburn._—The abbess of Berking holds Tiburne (Tyburn) of the King; - it answered for five hides. Land to three ploughs. There are two - hides in the demesne, and there is one plough therein. The villanes - have two ploughs. There are two villanes of half a hide; and one - villane of half a virgate; and two bordars of ten acres; and three - cottagers. Pasture for the cattle of the village. Pannage for fifty - hogs. For herbage forty pence. It is worth in the whole fifty-two - shillings; the same when received; in King Edward's time one hundred - shillings. This manor always belonged and belongs to the church of - Berking. - - - - - THE CHARTER OF HENRY I. (_circa_ 1130). - - -In William I.'s Charter the laws and customs of Edward the Confessor -were confirmed. This was perhaps all that the citizens wanted at the -time, but after a lapse of sixty years they desired a more explicit -definition of their laws and liberties, and obtained it from Henry I. In -his Charter the rights conferred by the Conqueror are not -recited—probably they were taken as a matter of course—but for the rest, -the citizens obtained all that they could reasonably ask or obtain by -purchase. In one respect only was their freedom limited: the King -reserved to himself the right of taxation, and in a medieval kingdom -this was only to be expected. The City was encouraged to grow strong and -wealthy, and the King might take its money freely for himself. - -Among the more important points of this Charter may be noted the freedom -of toll to assist the development of trade; the permission to refuse -lodging to the King's household; the right of the citizens to appoint -their own Justiciar; and the grant that they should not plead without -the City walls, obviating the necessity of following the King's Court in -its travels. Altogether, this is a most important Charter, both on -account of the privileges it grants, and the light it throws on the -government of the City. - - Henry, by the grace of God, King of England, to the archbishop of - Canterbury, and to the bishops and abbots, earls and barons, - justices and sheriffs, and to all his faithful subjects of England, - French and English, greeting. - - Know ye that I have granted to my citizens of London, to hold - Middlesex to farm for three hundred pounds, upon accompt to them and - their heirs; so that the said citizens shall place as sheriff whom - they will of themselves; and shall place whomsoever, or such a one - as they will of themselves, for keeping of the pleas of the crown, - and of the pleadings of the same, and none other shall be justice - over the same men of London; and the citizens of London shall not - plead without the walls of London for any plea. And be they free - from scot and lot and danegeld, and of all murder; and none of them - shall wage battle. And if any one of the citizens shall be impleaded - concerning the pleas of the crown, the man of London shall discharge - himself by his oath, which shall be adjudged within the city; and - none shall lodge within the walls, neither of my household, nor any - other, nor lodging delivered by force. - - And all the men of London shall be quit and free, and all their - goods, throughout England, and the ports of the sea, of and from all - toll and passage and lestage, and all other customs; and the - churches and barons and citizens shall and may peaceably and quietly - have and hold their sokes with all their customs, so that the - strangers that shall be lodged in the sokes shall give custom to - none but to him to whom the soke appertains, or to his officer, whom - he shall there put: And a man of London shall not be adjudged in - amerciaments of money but of one hundred shillings (I speak of the - pleas which appertain to money); and further there shall be no more - miskenning in the hustings, nor in the folkmote, nor in any other - pleas within the city, and the hustings may sit once in a week, that - is to say on Monday: And I will cause my citizens to have their - lands, promises, bonds and debts, within the city and without; and I - will do them right by the law of the city, of the lands of which - they shall complain to me: - - And if any shall take toll or custom of any citizen of London, the - citizens of London in the city shall take of the borough or town, - where toll or custom was so taken, so much as the man of London gave - for toll, and as he received damage thereby: And all debtors, which - do owe debts to the citizens of London, shall pay them in London, or - else discharge themselves in London, that they owe none; but, if - they will not pay the same, neither come to clear themselves that - they owe none, the citizens of London, to whom the debts shall be - due, may take their goods in the city of London, of the borough or - town, or of the country wherein he remains who shall owe the debt: - And the citizens of London may have their chaces to hunt, as well - and fully as their ancestors have had, that is to say, in Chiltre, - and in Middlesex and Surrey. - - Witness the bishop of Winchester, and Robert son of - Richier, and Hugh Bygot, and Alured of Toteneys, - and William of Alba-spina, and Hubert the king's - Chamberlain, and William de Montfichet, and - Hangulf de Taney, and John Bellet, and Robert - son of Siward. At Westminster. - - - - - MATILDA IN LONDON (1141). - - -The power and influence of the City are well illustrated by the part -which it took in the struggles between Stephen and Matilda for the -throne of England. The Londoners at first supported Stephen; but the -party of the Empress Matilda proved to be the stronger, and for some -time everything appeared to be in her favour. But she ruined her cause -by her foolish behaviour towards the Londoners. She gave grants to a -feudal nobleman, Geoffrey de Mandeville, which practically placed the -City at his mercy, and she made unreasonable demands for subsidies from -the citizens, besides treating them in a very contemptuous fashion. -Finally, when they asked for a renewal of the laws of Edward the -Confessor, she refused, and the citizens rose in revolt and compelled -Matilda to withdraw from the City. The opposition of the Londoners at -that particular time completely altered the aspect of affairs, and -Stephen was shortly afterwards restored to the throne. - - - =Source.=—_Gesta Stephani._ - - Having now obtained the submission of the greatest part of the - kingdom, taken hostages and received homage, and being, as I have - just said, elated to the highest pitch of arrogance, she came with - vast military display to London, at the humble request of the - citizens. They fancied that they had now arrived at happy days, when - peace and tranquillity would prevail.... She, however, sent for some - of the more wealthy, and demanded of them, not with gentle courtesy, - but in an imperious tone, an immense sum of money. Upon this they - made complaints that their former wealth had been diminished by the - troubled state of the kingdom, that they had liberally contributed - to the relief of the indigent against the severe famine which was - impending, and that they had subsidised the King to their last - farthing: they therefore humbly implored her clemency that in pity - for their losses and distresses she would show some moderation in - levying money from them.... When the citizens had addressed her in - this manner, she, without any of the gentleness of her sex, broke - out into insufferable rage, while she replied to them with a stern - eye and frowning brow "that the Londoners had often paid large sums - to the King; that they had opened their purse-strings wide to - strengthen him and weaken her; that they had been long in - confederacy with her enemies for her injury; and that they had no - claim to be spared, and to have the smallest part of the fine - remitted." On hearing this, the citizens departed to their homes, - sorrowful and unsatisfied. - - - - - A NORMAN PICTURE OF LONDON (_circa_ 1173). - - -William Fitz-Stephen was a native of London, and lived there much of his -life. This description of his birthplace is prefixed to his "Life of -Thomas Becket," perhaps because he did not wish Canterbury to eclipse -London in his narrative. This account of the capital city is clearly a -fanciful picture, containing much exaggeration; but apart from its -quaintness, it is interesting as showing how a medieval writer treated a -subject which would now be discussed precisely and minutely, with -accurate details and statistics. - - - =Source.=—William Fitz-Stephen's _Descriptio Nobilissimæ Civitatis - Londonæ_. - - - _Of the Site Thereof._ - - Among the noble cities of the world that Fame celebrates the City of - London, of the Kingdom of the English, is the one seat that pours - out its fame more widely, sends to farther lands its wealth and - trade, lifts its head higher than the rest. It is happy in the - healthiness of its air, in the Christian religion, in the strength - of its defences, the nature of its site, the honour of its citizens, - the modesty of its matrons; pleasant in sports; fruitful of noble - men. Let us look into these things separately.... - - - _Of Religion._ - - There is in the church there the Episcopal Seat of St. Paul; once it - was Metropolitan, and it is thought will again become so if the - citizens return into the island, unless perhaps the archiepiscopal - title of St. Thomas the Martyr, and his bodily presence, preserve to - Canterbury, where it is now, a perpetual dignity. But as Saint - Thomas has made both cities illustrious, London by his rising, - Canterbury by his setting, in regard of that saint, with admitted - justice, each can claim advantage of the other. There are also, as - regards the cultivation of the Christian faith, in London and the - suburbs, thirteen larger conventual churches, besides lesser parish - churches one hundred and twenty-six. - - - _Of the Strength of the City._ - - It has on the east the Palatine Castle, very great and strong, of - which the ground plan and the walls rise from a very deep - foundation, fixed with a mortar tempered by the blood of animals. On - the west are two towers very strongly fortified, with the high and - great wall of the city having seven double gates, and towered to the - north at intervals. London was walled and towered in like manner on - the south, but the great fish-bearing Thames river which there - glides, with ebb and flow from the sea, by course of time has washed - against, loosened, and thrown down those walls. Also upwards to the - west the royal palace is conspicuous above the same river, an - incomparable building with ramparts and bulwarks, two miles from the - city, joined to it by a populous suburb. - - - _Of Gardens._ - - Everywhere outside the houses of those living in the suburbs are - joined to them, planted with trees, the spacious and beautiful - gardens of the citizens. - - - _Of Pasture and Tilth._ - - Also there are, on the north side, pastures and a pleasant - meadowland, through which flow river streams, where the turning - wheels of mills are put in motion with a cheerful sound. Very near - lies a great forest, with woodland pastures, coverts of wild - animals, stags, fallow deer, boars, and wild bulls. The tilled lands - of the city are not of barren gravel but fat plains of Asia, that - make crops luxuriant, and fill their tillers' barns with Ceres' - sheaves. - - - _Of Springs._ - - There are also about London, on the north side, excellent suburban - springs, with sweet, wholesome, and clear water that flows rippling - over the bright stones; among which Holy Well, Clerken Well, and - Saint Clements are frequented by greater numbers, and visited more - by scholars and youth of the city when they go out for fresh air on - summer evenings. It is a good city indeed when it has a good master. - - - _Of Honour of the Citizens._ - - That City is honoured by her men, adorned by her arms, populous with - many inhabitants, so that in the time of slaughter of war under King - Stephen, of those going out to muster twenty thousand horsemen and - sixty thousand men on foot were estimated to be fit for war. Above - all other citizens, everywhere, the citizens of London are regarded - as conspicuous and noteworthy for handsomeness of manners and of - dress, at table, and in way of speaking.... - - - _Of Schools._ - - In London three principal churches have by privilege and ancient - dignity famous schools; yet very often by support of some personage, - or of some teachers who are considered notable and famous in - philosophy, there are also other schools by favour or permission. On - feast days the masters have festival meetings in the churches. Their - scholars dispute, some by demonstration, others by dialectics; some - recite enthymemes, others do better in using perfect syllogisms. - Some are exercised in disputation for display, as wrestling with - opponents; others for truth, which is the grace of perfectness. - Sophists who feign are judged happy in their heap and flood of - words. Others paralogise. Some orators, now and then, say in their - rhetorical speeches something apt for persuasion, careful to observe - rules of their art, and to omit none of the contingents. Boys of - different schools strive against one another in verses, and contend - about the principles of grammar and rules of the past and future - tenses.... - - - _Of the Ordering of the City._ - - Those engaged in the several kinds of business, sellers of several - things, contractors for several kinds of work, are distributed every - morning into their several localities and shops. Besides, there is - in London on the river bank, among the wines in ships and cellars - sold by the vintners, a public cook shop; there eatables are to be - found every day, according to the season, dishes of meat, roast, - fried and boiled, great and small fish, coarser meats for the poor, - more delicate for the rich, of game, fowls, and small birds. If - there should come suddenly to any of the citizens friends, weary - from a journey and too hungry to like waiting till fresh food is - brought and cooked, with water to their hands comes bread, while one - runs to the river bank, and there is all that can be wanted. However - great the multitude of soldiers or travellers entering the city, or - preparing to go out of it, at any hour of the day or night,—that - these may not fast too long and those may not go supperless,—they - turn hither, if they please, where every man can refresh himself in - his own way.... Outside one of the gates there, immediately in the - suburb, is a certain field, smooth (Smith) field in fact and name. - Every Friday, unless it be a higher day of appointed solemnity, - there is in it a famous show of noble horses for sale. Earls, - barons, knights, and many citizens who are in town, come to see or - buy.... In another part of the field stand by themselves the goods - proper to rustics, implements of husbandry, swine with long flanks, - cows with full udders, oxen of bulk immense, and woolly flocks.... - To this city from every nation under heaven merchants delight to - bring their trade by sea.... This city ... is divided into wards, - has annual sheriffs for its consuls, has senatorial and lower - magistrates, sewers and aqueducts in its streets, its proper places - and separate courts for cases of each kind, deliberative, - demonstrative, judicial; has assemblies on appointed days. I do not - think there is a city with more commendable customs of church - attendance, honour to God's ordinances, keeping sacred festivals, - almsgiving, hospitality, confirming, betrothals, contracting - marriages, celebration of nuptials, preparing feasts, cheering the - guests, and also in care for funerals and the interment of the dead. - The only pests of London are the immoderate drinking of fools and - the frequency of fires. To this may be added that nearly all the - bishops, abbots, and magnates of England are, as it were, citizens - and freemen of London; having there their own splendid houses, to - which they resort, where they spend largely when summoned to great - councils by the king or by their metropolitan, or drawn thither by - their own private affairs. - - - _Of Sports._ - - Let us now come to the sports and pastimes, seeing it is fit that a - city should not only be commodious and serious, but also merry and - sportful; ... but London ... hath holy plays, representations of - miracles which holy confessors have wrought, or representations of - torments wherein the constancy of martyrs appeared. Every year also - at Shrove Tuesday, that we may begin with children's sports, seeing - we all have been children, the schoolboys do bring cocks of the game - to their master, and all the forenoon they delight themselves in - cock-fighting: after dinner, all the youths go into the field to - play at the ball. - - The scholars of every school have their ball, or baton, in their - hands; the ancient and wealthy men of the city come forth on - horseback to see the sport of the young men, and to take part of the - pleasure in beholding their agility. Every Friday in Lent a fresh - company of young men comes into the field on horseback, and the best - horseman conducteth the rest. Then march forth the citizen's sons, - and other young men, with disarmed lances and shields, and there - they practise feats of war. Many courtiers likewise, when the king - lieth near, and attendants of noblemen, do repair to these - exercises; and while the hope of victory doth inflame their minds, - do show good proof how serviceable they would be in martial affairs. - - In Easter holidays they fight battles on the water; a shield is hung - upon a pole, fixed in the midst of a stream, a boat is prepared - without oars, to be carried by violence of the water, and in the - fore part thereof standeth a young man, ready to give charge upon - the shield with his lance; if so be he breaketh his lance against - the shield, and doth not fall, he is thought to have performed a - worthy deed; if so be, without breaking his lance, he runneth - strongly against the shield, down he falleth into the water, for the - boat is violently forced with the tide; but on each side of the - shield ride two boats, furnished with young men, which recover him - that falleth as soon as they may. Upon the bridge, wharfs, and - houses, by the river's side, stand great numbers to see and laugh - thereat. - - In the holidays all the summer the youths are exercised in leaping, - dancing, shooting, wrestling, casting the stone, and practising - their shields; the maidens trip in their timbrels, and dance as long - as they can well see. In winter, every holiday before dinner, the - boars prepared for brawn are set to fight, or else bulls and bears - are baited. - - When the great fen, or moor, which watereth the walls of the city on - the north side, is frozen, many young men play upon the ice; some, - striding as wide as they may, do slide swiftly; others make - themselves seats of ice, as great as millstones; one sits down, many - hand in hand to draw him, and one slipping on a sudden, all fall - together; some tie bones to their feet and under their heels; and - shoving themselves by a little picked staff, do slide as swiftly as - a bird flieth in the air, or an arrow out of a crossbow. Sometime - two run together with poles, and hitting on the other, either one or - both do fall, not without hurt; some break their arms, some their - legs, but youth desirous of glory in this sort exerciseth itself - against the time of war. Many of the citizens do delight themselves - in hawks and hounds; for they have liberty of hunting in Middlesex, - Hertfordshire, all Chiltern, and in Kent to the water of Cray. - - - - - DISTURBANCES IN THE CITY (1177). - - -The following story is not altogether free from suspicion, but it was -probably inspired by accounts of the depredations of the young bloods of -the City. Nocturnal disturbances were by no means unknown as late as the -eighteenth century, and the Mohocks were following a tradition which was -as old as the City itself. - - - =Source.=—Translated from _Benedict of Peterborough_, vol. i., p. 155. - - During this council the brother of earl Ferrers was slain by night - in London. When the King heard this he was greatly distressed, and - swore that he would take vengeance on the citizens of London. For it - was the custom then in London for a hundred or more of the sons and - relations of the citizens to make nocturnal assaults on the houses - of the rich, and rob them; and if they found anybody wandering about - the streets they would kill him without pity; so that very few dared - to walk through the city at night for fear of them. Three years - before this the sons of the "nobility" of London assembled by night - for purposes of robbery, and attacked the house of a certain rich - citizen; having broken down the wall with iron bars they entered - through the aperture thus made. But the occupier of the house had - been forewarned of their arrival; he donned a coat of mail and - collected several trusty armed servants, with whom he waited in a - corner of the house. Soon he saw one of the robbers, named Andrew - Bucquinte, who was eagerly leading the rest; he hurled at him a pan - full of hot coals and rushed on him fiercely. When Richard Bucquinte - saw this, he drew his dagger and struck the citizen, but he received - no injury because of his coat of mail; he drew his sword and cut off - the right hand of Richard Bucquinte. Then he raised a cry, "Thieves, - thieves!" and on hearing it all the robbers fled except the one who - had lost his hand, and the citizen captured him. Next day he was - brought before Richard de Lucy, the King's justiciar, and was - imprisoned. This thief, being promised pardon, informed against his - companions, many of whom were taken, although many escaped. Among - those who were taken was a certain John, an old man, the noblest and - wealthiest of the citizens of London. He offered five hundred marks - of silver to the King in return for his life, but the King would not - take the fine, and ordered justice to be carried out, so he was - hanged. - - - - - ORDINANCES CONCERNING BUILDING - (1189, 1212). - - -The documents quoted below give good evidence of the style in which the -better class of houses was built during the twelfth and thirteenth -centuries. The greater part of the city was built of wood, the houses -being roofed with straw, reeds, and similar materials. The frequent -fires which took place owing to this manner of building, especially the -great fire of 1135 which destroyed a great part of the City, compelled -the citizens to take some precautions against the recurrence of such a -calamity. Stone was used to a larger extent, and various privileges were -conceded to those who used stone in the construction of their houses. -This material was made compulsory in the party-walls, but the rest of -the buildings might be made of anything, and was usually constructed of -wood. The regulations of 1189 did not produce any great or immediate -effect on the style of building, and a further ordinance was issued in -1212, after a disastrous fire had destroyed London Bridge and a large -number of houses. - - - =Source.=—The London Assizes of 1189 and 1212, quoted in Hudson - Turner's _History of Domestic Architecture_. - - (_a_) In the year of the Lord 1189, in the first year of the reign - of the illustrious King Richard, in the mayoralty of Henry - Fitz-Aylwin, who was the first Mayor of London, these provisions and - ordinances were made by the wise men of the City, for appeasing the - contentions which sometimes arise among neighbours touching - boundaries made or to be made between their lands, so that such - disputes might be settled according to that which was then provided - and ordained. And the said provision and ordinance was called an - Assize. - - When two neighbours shall have agreed to build between themselves a - wall of stone, each shall give a foot and a half of land, and so - they shall construct, at their joint cost, a stone wall three feet - thick and sixteen feet in height. And, if they agree, they shall - make a gutter between them, to carry off the water from their - houses, as they may deem most convenient. But if they should not - agree, either of them may make a gutter to carry the water dripping - from his house on to his own land, except he can convey it into the - high street. - - They may also, if they agree, raise the said wall as high as they - please, at their joint expense; and if it shall happen that one - shall wish to raise the wall, and the other not, it shall be lawful - for him who is willing, to raise his own part as much as he please, - and build upon it, without damage of the other, at his own cost. - - And if any one shall build his own stone wall, upon his own land, of - the height of sixteen feet, his neighbour ought to make a gutter - under the eaves of the house which is placed on that wall, and - receive in it the water falling from that house, and lead it on to - his own land, unless he can lead it into the high street. - - Also, no one of two parties having a common wall built between them, - can, or ought, to pull down any portion of his part of the said - wall, or lessen its thickness, or make arches in it, without the - assent and will of the other. - - And if any one shall have windows looking towards the land of a - neighbour, and although he and his predecessors have long been - possessed of the view of the aforesaid windows, nevertheless his - neighbour may lawfully obstruct the view of those windows, by - building opposite to them on his own ground, as he shall consider - most expedient; except he who hath the windows can shew any writing - whereby his neighbour may not obstruct the view of those windows. - - Let it be borne in mind that in former times a great part of the - city was built of wood, and the houses were roofed with straw, reeds - and such things; so that when any house caught fire, a great part of - the city was destroyed by that fire; as happened in the first year - of the reign of King Stephen. For it is written in the chronicles - that in a fire which began at London Bridge, St. Paul's Church was - burnt down, and the fire proceeded thence, burning all the houses - and buildings as far as St. Clement Danes. Therefore many citizens, - to avoid such danger, built according to their means, on their - ground, a stone house covered and protected by thick tiles against - the fury of fire, whereby it often happened that when a fire arose - in the city and burnt many edifices, and had reached such a house, - not being able to injure it, it became there extinguished, so that - many neighbours' houses were wholly saved from fire by that house. - - (_b_) A decree made by the counsel of the citizens, for the setting - into order of the city and to provide, by God's help, against fire. - - First, they advise that all ale-houses be forbidden, except those - which shall be licensed by the common council of the city at - Guildhall, excepting those belonging to persons willing to build of - stone, that the city may be secure. And that no baker bake, or - ale-wife brew, by night, either with reeds or straw or stubble, but - with wood only. - - They advise also that all the cook-shops on the Thames be - whitewashed and plastered within and without, and that all inner - chambers and hostelries be wholly removed, so that there remain only - the house (hall) and bed-room. - - Whosoever wishes to build, let him take care, as he loveth himself - and his goods, that he roof not with reed, nor rush, nor with any - manner of litter, but with tile only, or shingle, or boards, or, if - it may be, with lead, within the city and Portsoken. Also all houses - which till now are covered with reed or rush, which can be - plastered, let them be plastered within eight days, and let those - which shall not be so plastered within the term be demolished by the - aldermen and lawful men of the venue. - - All wooden houses which are nearest to the stone houses in Cheap, - whereby the stone houses in Cheap may be in peril, shall be securely - amended by view of the mayor and sheriffs, and good men of the city, - or, without any exception, to whomsoever they may belong, pulled - down. - - The watches, and they who watch by night for the custody of the city - shall go out by day and return by day, or they by whom they may have - been sent forth shall be fined forty shillings by the city. And let - old houses in which brewing or baking is done be whitewashed and - plastered within and without, that they may be safe against fire. - - Let all the aldermen have a proper hook and cord, and let him who - shall not have one within the appointed term be amerced by the city. - Foreign workmen who come into the city, and refuse to obey the - aforesaid decree, shall be arrested until brought before the mayor - and good men to hear their judgment. They say also that it is only - proper that before every house there should be a tub full of water, - either of wood or stone. - - - - - THE LIBERTIES OF THE CITY CONFIRMED - (1191). - - -When Richard I. set out on his crusade, he left the government of -England in the hands of William Longchamp, as Chancellor. This man made -himself most unpopular by his tyrannical acts, and John, the King's -brother, for purposes of his own, joined the malcontents. Longchamp -attempted to gain the support of London, and at a meeting of citizens in -the Guildhall he denounced John as aiming at the crown, and prayed them -to uphold the King. The citizens, however, received John with welcome, -and he was given to understand that he would receive the support of the -City on certain terms, to which, of course, he agreed. This "commune," -which was granted by John and the barons, was the first public -recognition of the citizens of London as a body corporate. - - - =Source.=—Translated from _Benedict of Peterborough_, - vol. ii., p. 213. - - John, with almost all the bishops and barons of England in - attendance on him, entered London on that day (October 7, 1191), and - on the following day John and the Archbishop of Rouen and all the - bishops and barons, and with them the citizens of London, met in St. - Paul's church, and accused the chancellor of many things, especially - with regard to the injuries which he had wrought to the Archbishop - of York, the Bishop of Durham, and his son Henry. Moreover the - colleagues of the chancellor, whom the King had associated with him - in the government of the country, accused him of many crimes, saying - that he had performed everything without their counsel and consent. - Then the Archbishop of Rouen and William Marshall showed to the - assembly the King's letter, by which it was ordered that if the - chancellor did any foolish thing to the harm of the King or the - realm, the said Archbishop of Rouen was to be appointed in his - stead.... Therefore John the King's brother, and all the bishops and - barons and the citizens of London, decided that the chancellor - should be deposed from the government of the kingdom.... John and - the Archbishop of Rouen, and all the bishops and barons of the - kingdom who were present, granted to the citizens of London their - commune, and swore that they would guard it and the liberties of the - city of London, as long as it pleased the King; and the citizens of - London and the bishops and barons swore allegiance to King Richard, - and to John the King's brother, and undertook to accept John as - their lord and King, if the King died without issue. - - - From _Richard of Devizes_, vol. iii., p. 416. - - On that day was granted and confirmed the commune of London, to - which the barons of the whole kingdom and the bishops of every - diocese gave their consent. On that occasion for the first time - London realized that the kingdom was without a king, by this - conspiracy which neither Richard himself nor his father Henry would - have allowed to take place for a million marks. A commune puffs up - the people, threatens the kingdom, and weakens the priesthood. - - - - - JOHN'S THIRD CHARTER (1199). - - -John granted five charters to the City, and in this third charter he -restored to the citizens two privileges, of which they had been deprived -by Matilda and Henry II. The latter, wishing to bring the City under the -direct supervision of the Crown, had retained the appointment of -sheriffs in his own hands; Matilda had annulled the arrangement by which -the citizens were to have the farm of Middlesex on payment of £300 every -year. The restoration of the right of electing the sheriffs was not of -very great importance, for during the period which had elapsed since -Henry II. assumed this privilege the office of Mayor had become -established, and this had considerably lessened the importance of the -sheriffs. - - John, by the grace of God, king of England, lord of Ireland, duke of - Normandy and Aquitaine, and earl of Anjou; to his archbishops, - bishops, abbots, earls, barons, justices, sheriffs, rulers, and to - all his bailiffs and loving subjects. - - Know ye, that we have granted, and by this our present writing - confirmed, to our citizens of London, the sheriffwicks of London and - Middlesex, with all the customs and things to the sheriffwick - belonging, within the city and without, by land and by water, to - have and to hold, to them and their heirs, of us and our heirs, - paying therefor three hundred pounds of blank sterling money, at two - terms in the year; that is to say, at the Easter exchequer, one - hundred and fifty pounds; and at the Michaelmas exchequer, one - hundred and fifty pounds; saving to the citizens of London all their - liberties and free customs. - - And further, we have granted to the citizens of London, that they - amongst themselves make sheriffs whom they will; and may amove them - when they will; and those whom they make sheriffs, they shall - present to our justices of our exchequer, of these things which to - the said sheriffwick appertain, whereof they ought to answer us; and - unless they shall sufficiently answer and satisfy, the citizens may - answer and satisfy us the amerciaments and farm, saving to the said - citizens their liberties as is aforesaid; and saving to the said - sheriffs the same liberties which other citizens have: so that, if - they which shall be appointed sheriffs for the time being, shall - commit any offence, whereby they ought to incur any amerciament of - money, they shall not be condemned for any more than to the - amerciament of twenty pounds, and that without the damage of other - citizens, if the sheriffs be not sufficient for the payment of their - amerciaments: but, if they do any offence, whereby they ought to - incur the loss of their lives or members, they shall be adjudged, as - they ought to be, according to the law of the city; and of these - things, which to the said sheriffs belong, the sheriffs shall answer - before our justices at our exchequer, saving to the said sheriffs - the liberties which other citizens of London have. - - Also this grant and confirmation we have made to the citizens of - London for the amendment of the said city, and because it was in - ancient times farmed for three hundred pounds: wherefore we will and - steadfastly command, that the citizens of London and their heirs may - have and hold the sheriffwick of London and Middlesex, with all - things to the said sheriffwick belonging, of us and our heirs, to - possess and enjoy hereditarily, freely and quietly, honourably and - wholly, by fee-farm of three hundred pounds; and we forbid that none - presume to do any damage, impediment or diminishment to the citizens - of London of these things, which to the said sheriffwick do or were - accustomed to appertain: Also we will and command, that if we or our - heirs, or any of our justices, shall give or grant to any person any - of those things which to the farm of the sheriffwick appertain, the - same shall be accounted to the citizens of London, in the acquittal - of the said farm at our exchequer. - - - - - LONDON BRIDGE (1202). - - -It is possible that there was a London Bridge in Roman times, and there -certainly was one, built of wood, before the Conquest. The modern -structure was finished in 1831, and this replaced the old bridge, which -was built between 1176 and 1209, about 200 feet east of the present one. -It consisted of twenty arches, a drawbridge for large vessels, and a -chapel and crypt in the centre, dedicated to St. Thomas of Canterbury. -It was afterwards covered with houses and shops on both sides, like a -street. The last of these buildings was removed in 1757. - -The following letter was written by King John to the citizens of London -during the construction of the bridge, and shows that the erection and -maintenance of this important means of communication was a matter for -royal and national, as well as local, consideration. - - - =Source.=—Document quoted by Maitland, vol. i., p. 45. - - John, by the Grace of God, King of England, etc. - - To his faithful and beloved the Mayor and Citizens of London, - greeting. - - Considering how the Lord in a short time has wrought, in regard to - the Bridges of Xainctes and Rochelle, by the great care and pains of - our faithful, learned and worthy clerk Isenbert, Master of the - Schools of Xainctes: We therefore, by the advice of our Reverend - Father in Christ, Hubert, Archbishop of Canterbury, and that of - others, have desired, directed and enjoined him to use his best - endeavour in building your bridge, for your benefit, and that of the - public: For we trust in the Lord, that this bridge, so necessary for - you, and all who shall pass the same, will, through his industry, - and the Divine blessing, soon be finished: Wherefore, without - prejudice to our right, or that of the City of London, We will and - grant, that the rents and profits of the several houses that the - said Master of the Schools shall cause to be erected upon the bridge - aforesaid, be for ever appropriated to repair, maintain and uphold - the same. - - And seeing that the necessary work of the said bridge cannot be - accomplished without your aid, and that of others; We charge and - exhort you kindly to receive and honour the above-named Isenbert, - and those employed by him, who will perform everything to your - advantage and credit, according to his directions, you affording him - your joint advice and assistance in the premises. For whatever good - office or honour you shall do to him, you ought to esteem the same - as done to us. But should any injury be offered to the said - Isenbert, or the persons employed by him (which we do not believe - there will), see that the same be redressed, as soon as it comes to - your knowledge. - - Witness myself at Molinel, the eighteenth day of - April (1202). - - - - - OPPRESSION BY HENRY III. (1249). - - -Perhaps no monarch was ever more detested by the citizens of London than -was Henry III.—a weak and foolish ruler, who subjected every class to -his exactions and oppressions. He was himself preyed upon by swarms of -favourites, and enticed into all manner of expensive projects, and could -only free himself from his debts and difficulties by abusing his royal -prerogative. On one occasion he sold his plate and jewels to the -Londoners. "These clowns," he said, "who assume to themselves the name -of barons, abound in everything, while we are reduced to necessities." -Henry certainly seemed to regard their resources as inexhaustible; false -charges were repeatedly made against them, for the purpose of exacting -money; exorbitant sums were demanded for purchasing the King's -good-will, and for the granting of charters; no occasion of soliciting -presents was allowed to pass by; schemes of begging and robbing were -carried on so assiduously by this infatuated monarch that the citizens -were driven, in the end, to offer and render active assistance to the -barons who leagued themselves against him. During this disturbed period -the City did not prosper; it needed a firm and steady Government, and -not till Edward I. ascended the throne did London resume its career of -progress. - - - =Source.=—Matthew Paris, _History_. - - The King began now sedulously to think how he could entirely dry up - the inexhaustible well of England. For, on meeting with a just - repulse from the community of nobles, as above mentioned, who stated - that they would no longer lavish their property to the ruin of the - kingdom, he studied, by other cunning devices, to quench the thirst - of his cupidity. Immediately after the festivities of the said - season, he entered upon the following plan of harassing the citizens - of London: he suspended the carrying on of traffic in that city, as - has been before mentioned, for a fortnight, by establishing a new - fair at Westminster, to the loss and injury of many; and immediately - afterwards he sent letters by his agents, containing subtle and - imperious entreaties, asking them for pecuniary aid. On receipt of - this message, the citizens were grieved to the heart, and said: "Woe - to us, woe to us; where is the liberty of London, which is so often - bought; so often granted; so often guaranteed by writing; so often - sworn to be respected? For each year almost, like slaves of the - lowest condition, we are impoverished by new talliages, and - injuriously harassed by fox-like arguments; nor can we discover into - what whirlpool the property of which we are robbed is absorbed." At - length, however, although immense sums were demanded, the citizens, - although unwillingly and not without bitterness of heart, yielded - their consent to a contribution of two thousand pounds, to be paid - to the King at a brief period.... - - About the same time, the City of London was excited in no slight - degree, because the King exacted some liberties from the citizens - for the benefit of the abbot of Westminster, to their enormous loss, - and the injury of their liberties. The mayor of the city and the - whole of the community in general, as far as lay in their power, - opposed the wish (or rather violence and raving) of the King; but he - proved harsh and inexorable to them. The citizens, therefore, in a - state of great excitement, went with sorrowful complaints to Earl - Richard, the earl of Leicester, and other nobles of the Kingdom, - telling them how the King, perhaps bent into a bow of wickedness, by - the pope's example, shamelessly violated their charters, granted to - them by his predecessors. The said nobles were much disturbed at - this, fearing that the King would attempt a similar proceeding with - them; they therefore severely reproached him, adding threats to - their reproaches, and strongly blamed the abbot, who, they believed, - was the originator and promoter of this wrong, heaping insult upon - insult on him; which, however, it does not become us to relate, out - of respect to the order. Thus the prudence of the nobles happily - recalled the King from his conceived design. - - - - - INTERFERENCE BY BARONS (1258). - - -When, in medieval England, the central authority was weak, injustice and -oppression were rife throughout the country, and at such times the men -of London were often hard pressed to maintain intact their privileges. -Under the feeble and vacillating Henry III. there was little restraint -upon corrupt and unscrupulous barons, such as the Hugh Bygot of the -following passage. The right to attend to the administration of justice -within the borders of the City was one of the most essential elements of -the citizen's freedom; no interference in this direction could possibly -be tolerated if the hardly won charters were to be of any avail. It is -not surprising, therefore, that the arbitrary conduct of this justiciar, -who pretended to act by royal authority, being a King's servant, aroused -great resentment among the citizens. - - - =Source.=—Fitz-Thedmar's _Chronicle of the Mayors and Sheriffs_, - edited by Riley, p. 42. - - This year, John de Gizors was chosen Mayor, and that too, even in - his absence. This year, after a Parliament held by the Barons at - Westminster, Hugh Bygot, the Justiciar, went to Saint Saviour's, and - having Roger de Turkelby for his associate, held there all the Pleas - which pertain unto the Justiciars Itinerant in the County of Surrey; - and not only did he there amerce several bailiffs and others who had - been convicted of offences committed against those subject to them, - but he caused them to be imprisoned, clerks as well as laymen. And - yet he ransomed one person for twenty marks, and certain others for - forty marks, and more; while several others, for but trifling - reasons, he immoderately aggrieved. - - In these pleas the men of Southwark and others of the County of - Surrey made complaint against the Sheriffs and citizens of London, - that they unjustly took custom without the Stone Gate on the Bridge, - seeing that they ought to possess no such rights beyond the - Drawbridge Gate. The citizens, coming with their Sheriffs who had - been summoned by the Justiciars, appeared at Saint Saviour's, before - the Justiciars, and bringing with them their Charters, said that - they were not bound to plead there, nor would they plead without the - walls of the City; but without formal plea, they were willing to - acknowledge that it was quite lawful for the Sheriffs of London to - take custom without the gate aforesaid, and that too, even as far as - the staples placed there, seeing that the whole water of Thames - pertains unto the City, and always did pertain thereto; and that - too, sea-ward as far as the New Weir. At length, after much - altercation had taken place between the Justiciars and the citizens, - the Justiciars caused inquisition to be made, on the oath of twelve - knights of Surrey—and this, although the citizens had not put - themselves on such inquisition—whether the Sheriffs of London had - taken any custom beyond their limits. Who said, upon oath, that the - Sheriffs aforesaid might rightfully take custom there, for that as - far the staples before-mentioned, the whole pertains unto the City, - and no one has any right upon the Thames, as far as the New Weir, - save and except the citizens of London. - - After this, the Justiciar before-mentioned, having as his associate - Roger before-named, came to the Guildhall of London, and there held - Pleas from day to day, as to all those who wished to make plaint; - and at once, without either making reasonable summons or admitting - any lawful excuses, determined the same, observing no due procedure - of justice; and that too against the laws of the City, as also - against the laws and customs of every freeman of the English realm. - This, however, the citizens persistently challenged, saying that no - one except the Sheriffs of London ought to hold pleadings in the - City as to trespasses there committed; but to no purpose. Still - however, the citizens had judgment done upon all persons abiding in - the City, who had been convicted, or had been cast in making a false - charge. At the same time also, the Justiciar summoned before himself - and before the Earl of Gloucester all the bakers of the City who - could be found, together with their loaves; and so, by some few - citizens summoned before them, judgment was given in reference to - their bread; those whose bread did not weigh according to the assay - of the City, not being placed in the pillory, as they used to be, - but, at the will of the Justiciar and Earl aforesaid, exalted in the - tumbrel, against the ancient usage of the City and of all the realm. - - - - - THE STEELYARD (1282). - - -The Steelyard was the residence of the Hanse Merchants, who obtained a -settlement in London as early as 1250. Valuable privileges were granted -to them by Henry III., and these were renewed and confirmed by Edward -I., who was anxious to encourage the trade of the City by all possible -means. Many privileges were also conceded to the Steelyard merchants by -the City, in return for which they undertook to maintain Bishopsgate in -good repair and to assist in its defence when necessity arose. In spite -of the jealousy of the English merchants, the foreigners flourished -exceedingly, but towards the end of the sixteenth century their power -began to fail. As English traders became more enterprising, the monopoly -of the Steelyard merchants disappeared, and finally, in 1598, Elizabeth -expelled them from the country. - - - =Source.=—Stow's _Survey_, p. 234. - - Next to this (Cosin) lane on the east, is the steelyard (as they - term it) a place for merchants of Almaine, that used to bring - hither, as well wheat, rye and other grain, as cables, ropes, masts, - pitch, tar, flax, hemp, linen cloth, wainscots, wax, steel, and - other profitable merchandizes: unto these merchants in the year 1259 - Henry the third, at the request of his brother Richard earl of - Cornwall, king of Almaine, granted that all and singular the - merchants, having a house in the City of London, commonly called - Guilda Aula Theutonicorum, should be maintained and upholden through - the whole realm, by all such freedoms, and free usages or liberties, - as by the King and his noble progenitors time they had, and enjoyed, - etc. Edward the first renewed and confirmed that charter of - Liberties granted by his Father. And in the tenth year of the same - Edward, Henry Wales being Mayor, a great controversy did arise - between the said Mayor, and the merchants of the Haunce of Almaine, - about the reparations of Bishopsgate, then likely to fall, for that - the said merchants enjoyed divers privileges, in respect of - maintaining the said gate, which they now denied to repair: for the - appeasing of which controversy the king sent his writ to the - Treasurer and Barons of his Exchequer, commanding that they should - make inquisition thereof, before whom the merchants being called, - when they were not able to discharge themselves, since they enjoyed - the liberties to them granted for the same, a precept was sent to - the Mayor, and sheriffs, to distrain the said merchants to make - reparations, namely Gerard Marbod Alderman of the Haunce, Ralph de - Cussarde a citizen of Colen, Ludero de Deneuar, a Burgess of Triuar, - John of Aras, a Burgess of Triuon, Bartram of Hamburdge, Godestalke - of Hundondale, a Burgess of Triuon, John de Dele a Burgess of - Munstar, then remaining in the said City of London: for themselves, - and all other merchants of the Haunce, and so they granted 210 marks - sterling to the Mayor and Citizens, and undertook that they and - their successors should from time to time repair the said gate, and - bear the third part of the charges in money, and men to defend it - when need were. And for this agreement, the said Mayor and Citizens - granted to the said merchants their liberties which till of late - they have enjoyed, as namely amongst other, that they might lay up - their grain which they brought into this realm, in Inns, and sell it - in their garners, by the space of forty days after they had laid it - up: except by the Mayor and Citizens they were expressly forbidden, - because of dearth or other reasonable occasions. Also they might - have their Aldermen as they had been accustomed, forseen always that - he were of the City, and presented to the Mayor and Aldermen of the - City, so oft as any should be chosen, and should take an oath before - them to maintain justice in their courts, and to behave themselves - in their office according to law, and as it stood with the customs - of the City. Thus much for their privileges: whereby it appeareth, - that they were great merchants of corn brought out of the East parts - hither, in so much that the occupiers of husbandry in this land were - enforced to complain of them for bringing in such abundance, when - the corn of this realm was at an easy price: whereupon it was - ordained by Parliament, that no person should bring into any part of - this realm by way of merchandise, wheat, rye or barley, growing out - of the said realm, when the quarter of wheat exceeded not the price - of 6 shillings 8 pence, rye 4s. the quarter, and barley 3s. the - quarter, upon forfeiture the one half to the King, the other half to - the seizer thereof. These merchants of Haunce had their Guild hall - in Thames street in place aforesaid, by the said Cosin lane. Their - hall is large, builded of stone, with three arched gates towards the - street, the middlemost whereof is far bigger than the other, and is - seldom opened, the other two be mured up, the same is now called the - old hall. - - - - - THE PRESERVATION OF PEACE AND ORDER - (1282). - - -It would appear from contemporary evidence that the Londoners must have -been somewhat turbulent during the thirteenth century. Owing to the -smallness of the houses and the insufficient accommodation for families, -the greater part of the population constantly filled the streets; and, -although the watch and ward arrangements for the protection of the City -may have been sufficient in quiet times, they were quite inadequate when -troubles arose. In spite of stringent regulations frequent quarrels and -riots occurred in the crowded streets, and punishments, fines, and -imprisonments were common. The commonest offences, to judge by the -records of trials, were night-walking after curfew, robbery with -violence, frequenting taverns, and gambling. The following passages -illustrate some of the efforts which were continually being made to -devise improvements in the administration of the City and the -safeguarding of its inhabitants: - - - =Sources.=—(_a_) "Provisions for the Safe-Keeping of the City"; - (_b_) "A Royal Mandate for the Preservation of the Peace." - Riley's_Memorials_, pp. 21, 36. - - (_a_) On Wednesday next before the Feast of Pentecost, in the 10th - year of the reign of King Edward, by Henry le Galeys, Mayor, the - Aldermen, and the then Chamberlain of Guildhall, the following - provisions were subscribed:— - - As to the trades: that every trade shall present the names of all - persons in that trade, and of all who have been serving therein; - where they dwell, and in what Ward. - - Also, each Alderman, with two of the best men of his Ward, shall - make inquisition as to persons keeping hostels, and the persons - lodging in the same, making enquiry one by one, and from house to - house; that so he may know how many, and who, and of what kind or - condition they are, clerks or laymen, who are residing in his Ward, - of the age of twelve years and upwards. - - To be remembered:—as to provision made how suspected persons, when - found, ought to be removed, or under what security to remain. - - Secondly, as to the safe-keeping of the City:—All the Gates of the - City are to be open by day; and at each Gate there are to be two - serjeants to open the same, skilful men, and fluent of speech, who - are to keep a good watch upon persons coming in and going out; that - so no evil may befall the City. - - At every Parish Church, curfew is to be rung at the same hour as at - St. Martin's le Grand; so that they begin together, and end - together; and then all the Gates are to be shut, as well as all - taverns for wine or for ale; and no one is then to go about the - streets or ways. Six persons are to watch in each Ward by night, of - the most competent men of the Ward thereto; and the two serjeants - who guard the Gates by day, are to lie at night either within the - Gates, or near thereto. - - The serjeants of Billingsgate and Queen Hythe are to see that all - boats are moored on the City side at night, and are to have the - names of all boats; and no one is to cross the Thames at night. And - each serjeant must have his own boat with four men, to guard the - water by night, on either side of the bridge. - - The serjeants at the Gates are to receive four pence each per day, - and the boatmen at night, one penny each. - - (_b_) Henry le Galeys, Mayor of the City of London, presented a writ - of our Lord the King, in these words:— - - Edward by the grace of God, etc., to the Mayor and Sheriffs of - London, greeting. Forasmuch as we have heard that the bakers, and - brewsters, and millers, in the city aforesaid, do frequently - misconduct themselves in their trades, and that misdoers by night - going about the city aforesaid with swords and bucklers, and other - arms, as well at the procuration of others as of their own malice, - do beat and maltreat other persons, and are wont to perpetrate many - other offences and enormities, to no small damage and grievance of - our faithful subjects: We, of our counsel, wishing to apply a - fitting remedy to all the premises, and to strike both them and - others with fear of so offending, do command you, and strictly - enjoin, that you will so chastise such bakers, brewsters, and - misdoers, with corporal punishments, and so visit the other - offences, at your discretion, that they may excite in others in like - case a fear of so offending. And that all corn to be ground at mills - within the city aforesaid, and without, shall be weighed by the - millers, and that such millers shall answer in like weight in the - flour coming therefrom. And the matters aforesaid, and all other - things which unto the office of the Mayoralty of the same city, and - to the preservation there of our peace, do pertain, you are to cause - to be inviolably observed. Witness myself, at York, the 28th day of - May, in the 26th year of our reign. - - - - - THE CITIZENS AND EDWARD II. (1311). - - -The attitude of the City towards the Sovereign was invariably determined -by the respect which the latter paid to the liberties and privileges of -the citizens, who were generally disposed to be loyal enough if they -were treated with proper consideration. The change from the powerful and -competent rule of Edward I. to the feeble government of his son produced -its inevitable effect on London as well as on the kingdom; but the -letter quoted below shows that the citizens were prepared to support the -King during the early years of his reign. Later, however, his arbitrary -measures and foolish actions led to a complete revulsion of feeling, -which expressed itself in actual revolt. - - - =Source.=—Riley's _Memorials_, p. 84. - - To the most noble Prince, and their very dear liege lord, our Lord - the King of England, his lieges, Richer de Refham, Mayor of his city - of London, and the commonalty of the same city, all manner of - reverence, service, and honour, as unto their liege lord. Whereas, - Sire, we have heard good news of you, Sire, and of your successful - prosecution of your war in Scotland, God be thanked; we do send you, - by the bearers of these letters, one thousand marks, in aid and in - prosecution of your war; and we do pray you, as being our most dear - lord, that you will be pleased to accept the same; and that, if - aught shall please you as regards your said city, you will signify - your will unto us, as being your liege men. Our Lord have you in his - keeping, body and soul; and may he give you a good life, and long. - - - - - CONSTITUTIONS FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF - THE CITY (1319). - - -These articles were drawn up by the citizens and submitted to Edward II. -for his approval, which he duly gave in exchange for £1,000. It is clear -that there had been dissensions in the city; the officials had been -endeavouring to obtain favour at Court, and in doing so they had acted, -as the citizens alleged, against their interests. The mayor, when it -suited the interests of the City magistrates, was re-elected at -pleasure; the citizens were taxed in an oppressive manner while the -magistrates are stated to have lowered their own assessments. The -citizens were unable to obtain satisfactory redress from the King's -judges, and proposed these new constitutions, which were accepted by the -King and afterwards incorporated into the charter of Richard II. It is -to be noted that henceforth the only way to the civic franchise was by -becoming a member of the civic gilds. - - Edward, by the grace of God, king of England, lord of Ireland, and - duke of Aquitaine, to all to whom the present letters shall have - come, greeting. - - Know ye, that whereas our beloved and faithful the mayor and - aldermen, and the other citizens of our city of London, had lately - ordained and appointed among themselves, for the bettering of the - same city, and for the common benefit of such as dwell in that city, - and resort to the same, certain things to be in the same city - perpetually observed, and had instantly besought us that we would - take care to accept and confirm the same. - - We having seen certain letters, patentwise, signed with the common - seal of that city, and the seal of the office of the mayoralty of - that city, upon the premises, and to us exhibited, have caused - certain articles to be chosen out of the foresaid letters, and - caused them in some things to be corrected, as they are underneath - inserted, viz. - - 1. That the mayor and sheriffs of the same city be elected by the - citizens of the said city, according to the tenor of the charters of - our progenitors, heretofore kings of England, made to them thereby, - and not otherwise. - - 2. That the mayor remain only one year together in his mayoralty. - - 3. That sheriffs have but two clerks and two serjeants; and that - they take such for whom they will answer. - - 4. That the mayor have no other office belonging to the city, but - the office of mayoralty; nor draw to himself the sheriff's plea in - the chamber of London, nor hold other pleas than those the mayor, - according to ancient custom, ought to hold. - - 5. That the aldermen be removed from year to year, on the day of St. - Gregory the Pope, and not re-elected; and others chosen by the same - wards.... - - 7. That no stranger be admitted into the freedom of the city in the - husting; and that no inhabitant, and especially English merchant, of - any mistery or trade, be admitted into the freedom of the city, - unless by surety of six honest and sufficient men of the mistery or - trade that he shall be of, who is so to be admitted into the - freedom; which six men may undertake for him, of keeping the city - indemnified in that behalf. And that the same form of surety be - observed of strangers to be admitted into the freedom in the - husting, if they be of any certain mistery or trade. And if they are - not of some certain mistery, then that they be not admitted into the - freedom without the assent of the commonalty. And that they who have - been taken into the freedom of the city (since we undertook the - government of the realm) contrary to the forms prescribed, and they - who have gone contrary to their oath in this behalf, or contrary to - the state of the city, and are thereof lawfully convicted, lose the - freedom of the said city. - - Saving always, that concerning apprentices the ancient manner and - form of the said city be observed. - - 8. That each year in the same city, as often as need shall be, - inquiry be made, if any of the freedom of the same city exercise - merchandises in the city, of the goods of others not of the same - freedom, by calling those goods their own, contrary to their oath, - and contrary to the freedom of the said city; and they that are - lawfully convicted thereof to lose the freedom of the said city.... - - 12. That weights and scales of merchandises to be weighed between - merchants and merchants, the issues coming of which belong to the - commonalty of the said city, remain in the custody of honest and - sufficient men of the same city, expert in that office, and as yet - to be chosen by the commonalty, to be kept at the will of the same - commonalty; and that they be by no means committed to others than - those so to be chosen.... - - 14. Merchants who are not of the freedom of the city, not to sell, - by retail, wines or other wares, within the city or suburbs.... - - 16. That the common harbourers in the city and suburbs, although - they are not of the freedom of the same, be partakers of the - contingent burdens for maintaining the said city, according to the - state of it, as long as they shall be so common harbourers, as other - like dwellers in the city and suburbs shall partake, on account of - those dwellings. Saving always, that the merchants of Gascony, and - other foreigners, may, one with another, inhabit and be harboured in - the said city, as hitherto they have accustomed to do. - - 17. That the keeping the bridge of the said city, and the rents and - profits belonging to that bridge, be committed to be kept to two - honest and sufficient men of the city, other than the aldermen, to - be chosen to this by the commonalty, at the will of the said - commonalty, and not to others, and who may answer thereupon to the - said commonalty.... - - 20. That the goods of the aldermen, in aids, tallages, and other - contributions, concerning the said city, be taxed by the men of the - wards in which those aldermen abide, as the goods of other citizens, - by the said wards. - - Which articles, as they are above expressed, and the matters - contained in the same, we accept, approve and ratify; and we yield - and grant them, for us and our heirs, as much as in us is, to the - aforesaid citizens, their heirs and successors, in the aforesaid - city and suburbs, for the common profit of those that inhabit - therein, and resort thither, to obtain the same, and to be observed - perpetually. - - Moreover, we, willing to show ampler grace to the mayor, aldermen - and citizens, at their request have granted to them, for us and our - heirs, that the mayor, aldermen, citizens and commonalty of the - commoners of the city, and their heirs and successors, for the - necessities and profits of the same city, may, among themselves of - their common assent assess tallages upon their own goods within that - city, as well upon the rents as other things; and as well upon the - misteries as any other way, as they shall see expedient, and levy - them, without incurring the danger of us or our heirs, or our - ministers whomsoever. And that the money coming from such tallages - remain in the custody of four honest and lawful men of the said - city, to be chosen to this by the commonalty, and be laid out, of - their custody, for the necessities and profits of the said city, and - not otherwise. In witness whereof, etc. - - Witness the King, at York, the eighth day of June, - in the twelfth year of our reign. - - - - - A REVOLT AGAINST EDWARD II (1326). - - -Although the citizens were at first sufficiently well disposed towards -Edward II., his misgovernment led ultimately to grave dissatisfaction, -which expressed itself in riots and revolt. The King was induced by his -worthless advisers to make claims and attacks upon the rights of the -citizens. He was always in want of money, and believed, like many other -Kings, that the wealth of the City was inexhaustible. In 1321 he -deprived the citizens of their cherished right of electing their own -Mayor, and from that time the condition of the City was perfectly -wretched until the close of his reign. There was no proper authority at -all; the King deposed one Mayor and set up another; the city generally -supported Queen Isabella, and received her and Mortimer with enthusiasm. -All who were thought to favour the King were in danger, and the attitude -of the City was to a considerable extent responsible for the unhappy -King's deposition. - - - =Source.=—Aungier, _French Chronicle_, edited by Riley, p. 262. - - At this time, at Saint Michael, Lady Isabele, the Queen, and Sir - Edward, her son, sent their letters to the commons of London, to the - effect that they should assist in destroying the enemies of the - land; but received no answer in return, as to their wishes thereon, - through fear of the King. Wherefore a letter was sent to London by - the Queen and her son, and was fixed at daybreak upon the Cross in - Chepe, and a copy of the letter on the windows elsewhere, upon - Thursday, that is to say, the Feast of Saint Denis [October 9], to - the effect that the commons should be aiding with all their power in - destroying the enemies of the land, and Hugh le Despencer in - especial, for the common profit of all the realm; and that the - commons should send them information as to their wishes thereon. - Wherefore the Commonalty proceeded to wait upon the Mayor and other - great men of the City, at the Black Friars Preachers in London, upon - the Wednesday before the Feast of Saint Luke [October 18] which then - fell on a Saturday; so much so, that the Mayor, crying mercy with - clasped hands, went to the Guildhall and granted the commons their - demand, and cry was accordingly made in Chepe, that the enemies to - the King, and the Queen, and their son, should all quit the City - upon such peril as might ensue. It happened also on the same day, at - the hour of noon, that some persons had recourse to arms, and seized - one John le Marchal, a burgess of the City, in his own house near - Wallbrook, who was held as an enemy to the City and a spy of Sir - Hugh le Despencer; and he was brought into Chepe, and there - despoiled and beheaded. - - - - - A PROCLAMATION OF EDWARD III. (1329). - - -The frequent proclamations for the preservation of peace and order in -the City seem to show that some difficulty was experienced in this -direction; it is, at any rate, interesting to note that the authority of -the King is invoked to assist in the discipline and control of lawless -inhabitants. The restriction as to the bearing of arms is very -significant, and the instructions regarding night-walkers and -tavern-keepers, which continually recur in similar documents, show -whence arose the greatest dangers to life and property. - - - =Source.=—Riley's _Memorials_, p. 172. - - This proclamation was ordered by the Mayor and Aldermen, on Saturday - the morrow of St. Dunstan [May 19], in the 3rd year of the reign of - King Edward the Third; and on the Sunday following throughout the - City proclaimed; our said Lord the King being about to cross over to - the parts of France on the Friday next ensuing, there to do his - homage; and to the end that, while the King was there, his peace - might be the more strictly observed.— - - We do command, on behalf of our Lord the King, that his peace shall - be preserved and kept between both denizens and strangers, - throughout all the franchise of this city. - - Also,—that no person, native or stranger, shall go armed in - the same city, or shall carry arms by night or by day, on pain - of imprisonment, and of losing his arms; save only, the - serjeants-at-arms of our Lord the King, and of my Lady the - Queen, and the vadlets of the Earls and Barons; that is to - say, for every Earl or Baron one vadlet, carrying the sword of - his lord in his presence; and save also, the officers of the - City, and those who shall be summoned unto them, for keeping - and maintaining the peace of the City. - - We do also forbid, on behalf of our said Lord the King, that anyone - shall be so daring, on pain of imprisonment, as to go wandering - about the City, after the hour of curfew rung out at St. Martin's le - Grand; unless it be some man of the City of good repute, or his - servant; and that, for reasonable cause, and with light. - - And that no one shall hold covin or congregation, to make persons - pay fine, by imputing to them that they have committed against them - divers grievances or offences: but let those who feel themselves - aggrieved, shew their grievances unto the officers of the City, and - they will do them speedy right, according as the law demands. And - that no one of the City, of whatsoever condition he be, shall go out - of this city, to maintain parties, such as taking seisins, or - holding days of love, or making other congregations, within the City - or without, in disturbance of the peace of our Lord the King, or in - affray of the people, and to the scandal of the City. And if any - person, of whatsoever condition or estate he be, shall from - henceforth be found guilty thereof, let him be taken and put in the - Prison of Newgate; and let him remain for a year and a day, without - being reprieved; and if he be free of the City, let him for ever - lose his freedom. - - And whereas misdoers, going about by night, have their resort more - in taverns than elsewhere, and there seek refuge, and watch their - time for misdoing; we do forbid that any taverner or brewer keep the - door of his tavern open after the hour of curfew aforesaid, on the - pain as to the same ordained; that is to say, the first time, on - pain of being amerced in the sum of 40d.; the second time, half a - mark; the third time, 10s.; the fourth time, 20s.; the fifth time, - let him forswear the trade for ever. - - - - - THE ARTICLES OF THE HEAUMERS AND OF - THE HATTERS (1347). - - -The organisation of industries is a most important and interesting -feature of medieval London history, and during the fourteenth century -the craft gilds played a prominent part in the life of the City. The -story of the development of the various gilds, fraternities, and -misteries, and their connection with the later Livery Companies, has -been the subject of considerable research, and it seems probable that -the origin of most of the City Companies of to-day can be connected with -the medieval organisations. These articles will be found to be -noteworthy chiefly for the information they give regarding the craft -organisations of the time; it is clear that it was considered to be of -the highest importance that the work should be of good quality, and -great care is taken that workmen shall be as skilful as possible in -their trades. The interference of strangers is, as usual, resented, and -every effort is made to strengthen and encourage the native crafts. - - - =Source.=—Riley's _Memorials_, pp. 237, 239. - - The points of the Articles touching the trade of helmetry, accepted - by Geoffrey de Wychingham, Mayor, and the Aldermen, at the suit and - request of the folks of the said trade.— - - In the first place, that no one of the said trade shall follow, or - keep seld of, the trade aforesaid within the franchise of the City - of London, until he shall have properly bought his freedom, - according to the usage of the said city; on pain of losing his - wares. - - Also,—forasmuch as heretofore some persons coming in, who are - strangers, have intermeddled, and still do intermeddle, in the - making of helmetry, whereas they do not know their trade; by reason - whereof, many great men and others of the realm have been slain - through their default, to the great scandal of the said trade; it is - ordained that no person shall from henceforth intermeddle with, or - work at, helmetry, if he be not proved to be a good, proper, and - sufficient workman, by the Wardens of the said trade, on pain of - forfeiture to the use of the Chamber. - - Also,—that three, or four, if need be, of the best workmen of the - said trade shall be chosen and sworn to rule the trade well and - properly, as is befitting; for the security and safety of the great - men and others of the realm, and for the honour and profit of the - said city, and of the workers in the said trade. - - Also,—that no apprentice shall be received by any master of the said - trade for a less term than seven years; and that, without collusion - or fraud; on pain of paying to the said Chamber 100 shillings. - - Also,—that no one of the said trade, or other person of the - franchise, shall set any stranger to work, who is of the said trade, - if he be not a proper and lawful person, and one for whom his master - will answer as to his good behaviour; on pain of paying to the said - Chamber 20 shillings. - - Also,—that no one of the said trade shall receive or set to work the - apprentice or serving-man of another, until the term of his master - shall have been fully ended; on pain of paying to the said Chamber - 20 shillings. - - The points of the Articles touching the trade of Hat-makers, - accepted by Thomas Leggy, Mayor, and the Aldermen of the City of - London, at the suit, and at the request, of the folks of the said - trade. - - In the first place,—that six men of the most lawful and most - befitting of the said trade shall be assigned and sworn to rule and - watch the trade, in such manner as other trades of the said city are - ruled and watched by their Wardens. - - Also,—that no one shall make or sell any manner of hats within the - franchise of the city aforesaid, if he be not free of the same city; - on pain of forfeiting to the Chamber the hats which he shall have - made and offered for sale. - - Also,—that no one shall be made apprentice in the said trade for a - less term than seven years, and that, without fraud or collusion. - And he who shall receive any apprentice in any other manner, shall - lose his freedom, until he shall have bought it back again. - - Also,—that no one of the said trade shall take any apprentice, if he - be not himself a freeman of the said city. - - Also,—that the Wardens of the said trade shall make their searches - for all manner of hats that are for sale within the said franchise, - so often as need shall be. And that the aforesaid Wardens shall have - power to take all manner of hats that they shall find defective and - not befitting, and to bring them before the Mayor and Aldermen of - London, that so the defaults which shall be found may be punished by - their award. - - Also,—whereas some workmen in the said trade have made hats that are - not befitting, in deceit of the common people, from which great - scandal, shame, and loss have often arisen to the good folks of the - said trade, they pray that no workman in the said trade shall do any - work by night touching the same, but only in clear daylight; that - so, the aforesaid Wardens may openly inspect their work. And he who - shall do otherwise, and shall be convicted thereof before the Mayor - and Aldermen, shall pay to the Chamber of the Guildhall, the first - time 40d., the second time half a mark, and the third time he shall - lose his freedom. - - - - - REGULATIONS CONCERNING WAGES AND - PRICES (1350). - - -The Black Death, which broke out in England in 1348, was a terrible -calamity, and it is estimated that at least half of the population of -the country perished by the pestilence, including a large proportion of -the inhabitants of London. The churchyards were speedily filled, and -additional pieces of land were given by the Bishop of London and other -persons for the burial of the victims of this fearful plague. The most -important result of the pestilence was the dearth of labour which was -immediately caused, and the consequent rise in wages was a source of -considerable trouble to the legislature and to all employers of labour. -Parliament passed the Statutes of Labourers, which were intended to fix -the wages of workpeople at the rates which had been customary before the -plague, and in London an attempt was made towards the same object by -this Proclamation, in which wages are laid down "to be observed for -ever." It seems strange that in a commercial city like London it should -be considered possible to regulate wages and prices by an arbitrary -enactment of this kind, and it does not appear that the ordinance was -obeyed. There is little doubt that it was generally ignored, and the -craftsmen continued to make the most of the situation, just as the -agricultural labourers and craftsmen in the country were able, on the -whole, to set at defiance the Statutes of Labourers. - - - =Source.=—Riley's _Memorials_, p. 253. - - To amend and redress the damages and grievances which the good folks - of the City, rich and poor, have suffered and received within the - past year, by reason of masons, carpenters, plasterers, tilers, and - all manner of labourers, who take immeasurably more than they have - been wont to take, by assent of Walter Turk, Mayor, the Aldermen, - and all the Commonalty of the City, the points under-written are - ordained, to be held and firmly observed for ever; that is to say.— - - In the first place,—that the masons, between the Feasts of Easter - and St. Michael [September 29], shall take no more by the - working-day than 6d., without victuals or drink; and from the Feast - of St. Michael to Easter, for the working-day, 5d. And upon - Feast-days, when they do not work, they shall take nothing. And for - the making or mending of their implements they shall take nothing. - - Also,—that the carpenters shall take, for the same time, in the same - manner. - - Also,—that the plasterers shall take the same as the masons and - carpenters take. - - Also,—that the tilers shall take for the working-day, from the Feast - of Easter to St. Michael 5½d., and from the Feast of St. Michael to - Easter 4½d. - - Also,—that the labourers shall take in the first half year 3½d., and - in the other half 3d. - - Also,—that the master daubers (layers on) shall take between the - Feasts of Easter and St. Michael 5d., and in the other half year - 4d.; and their labourers are to take the same as the labourers of - the tilers. - - Also,—that the sawiers shall take in the same manner as the masons - and carpenters take. - - Also,—that no one shall pay more to the workmen aforesaid, on pain - of paying 40s. to the Commonalty, without any release therefrom; and - he who shall take more than the above, shall go to prison for forty - days.... - - Also,—that one person of every company may see that the vessel into - which their wine is drawn is clean, and from what tun their wine is - drawn; on pain of imprisonment, and of paying to the Chamber, for - the first time, half a mark; for the second time, one mark; for the - third time, 20s.; and every other time a person shall be found in - like default, let his fine be increased by half a mark. - - Also,—that the measures shall be standing upright, and sealed with - the seal of the Alderman of the Ward; and he who shall sell by other - measures, let him go to prison, and further, be amerced in half a - mark. - - Also,—that the pelterers shall make their furs according to the - ancient ordinances, of olden time ordained, and according to the - purport of their Charter; on pain of forfeiture and punishment for - the same, as of old ordained. - - Also,—that no one should go to meet those who are bringing victuals - or other wares by land or by water to the City for sale, for the - purpose of buying them or bargaining for them, before that they - shall have come to certain places assigned thereto, where they ought - to be sold; on pain of forfeiture of the victuals and other wares, - and of their bodies being committed to prison, until they have been - sufficiently punished, at the discretion of the Mayor and Aldermen. - - - - - THE CHARTER TO THE DRAPERS (1364). - - -"Draper" originally meant a cloth-maker, not, as now, a dealer in cloth. -In the Middle Ages the drapers both made it and sold it, but gradually -their particular work was confined to supervising the manufacture and -selling the finished article. The Drapers' Gild must have been one of -the earliest associations of craftsmen, and was incorporated by royal -charter in 1364. One of the most important features of this charter -seems to be the instruction that the mistery of drapery should be -definitely separated from those of the tenterers, tellers, and fullers; -it appears to have been impossible to exercise proper supervision in a -trade which involved so many different operations, and the remedy was -obviously to split it up into several trades, each of which might have -its own organisation. - - - =Source.=—Herbert, _Livery Companies_, vol. i., p. 480. - - The King, to the Mayor and Sheriffs of London, greeting. Whereas, - amongst other things ordained in our last parliament, it was for - certain causes proposed, and in the same parliament ordained, that - no English merchant should use merceries or merchandizes by himself - or another by any manner of covine, unless one only, and which he - should choose before the feast of Candlemas last past, as in the - said ordinances is more fully contained. - - * * * * * - - And whereas it has been shown to us and to our council, that people - of divers misteries of the city of London intermix themselves with - the mistery of Drapery, and cause divers deceits and frauds in the - use of the same mistery,—to the great damage of us and of our - people, and contrary to the ordinances aforesaid. - - We, willing the said ordinances should be kept and maintained in all - points, accordingly have, by the assent of the great and others of - our council, ordained and granted, that none shall use the Mistery - of Drapery in the city of London, nor in the suburbs of the same, - unless he has been apprenticed in the same mistery, or in other due - manner been admitted by the common assent of the same mistery. And - that each of the misteries of tenterers, tisters, and fullers, keep - himself to his own mistery, and in no way meddle with the making, - buying, or selling of any manner with cloth or drapery, on pain of - imprisonment and loss of all the cloth so by them made, bought, or - sold, or the value thereof to us. - - And that none who has cloth to sell in the said city, or in the - suburbs, do sell the same unless to drapers enfranchised in the said - mistery of drapery, or that it be in gross to the lords and others - of the commons, who will buy the same for themselves or servants by - retail, under the same penalty. - - And that the drapers enfranchised in the mistery of drapery in the - said city, may elect each year four of their own mistery, who may be - sworn twice a year in the presence of the Mayor, to oversee that no - default or deceit be used or committed in the mistery aforesaid, and - to rule and govern the said mistery of drapery in the same city, to - the common profit of the people, and that due punishment be done on - them in whom defaults shall be found, according to the advice and - discretion of the said four persons, by the aid of the Mayor and - Sheriffs when need is; the which Mayor and Sheriffs we will shall be - intendants to the said four persons, when they shall be required by - them. - - And we also will and give power to the said four persons who may be - elected and sworn, to take an oath of all those who shall be - received into the said mistery of drapery in the same city, to use - and do whatever appertains to the same mistery well and lawfully, - without fraud, evil design, or subtle management against the points - and ordinances aforesaid. - - Saving always to our beloved in God the prior of St. Bartholomew, in - Smithfield, and other lords who have fairs in the said suburbs by - grant of our progenitors, their fairs, franchises, and free-customs, - which they have exercised in their said fairs, from the time of the - said grants, so that no damage or prejudice shall be done to them in - any way under colour of this our ordinance and grant; and saving the - franchises by us granted to the merchants, vintners of England and - Gascoigny, which we will shall remain in force in all points in - manner as in our letters patent to the said drapers is more fully - contained. - - * * * * * - - Wherefore we command and firmly enjoin you forthwith that at your - peril you cause to be proclaimed and published in the said city and - suburbs, and all places where it should be done, that all the said - things so by us granted may be firmly held and kept in form - aforesaid. - - And hereof in no manner fail. - - Given at Westminster the 14th day of July (1364). - - - - - A LETTER FROM EDWARD III. (1365). - - -The Battle of Crecy had first demonstrated the immense superiority of -archers over mounted knights in battle. It became necessary to insist -that Englishmen should be fully and properly trained in the use of the -bow and arrow, if this superiority was to be maintained. The youths of -London appear to have been addicted at this time to more exciting and -less serviceable sports than the old exercise of archery, and Edward -III.'s letter is at once a reprimand and an instruction. - - The King to the Sheriffs of London, greeting. - - Because the people of our realm, as well of good quality as mean, - have commonly in their sports before these times exercised the skill - of shooting arrows; whence it is well known, that honour and profit - have accrued to our whole realm, and to us, by the help of God, no - small assistance in our warlike acts; and now the said skill being, - as it were, wholly laid aside, the same people please themselves in - hurling of stones and wood and iron; and some in hand-ball, - foot-ball, bandy-ball, and in Cambuck, or Cock fighting; and some - also apply themselves to other dishonest games, and less profitable - or useful: whereby the said realm is likely, in a short time, to - become destitute of archers. - - We, willing to apply a seasonable remedy to this, command you, that - in places in the foresaid City, as well within the liberties as - without, where you shall see it expedient, you cause public - proclamation to be made, that every one of the said City, strong in - body, at leisure times on holidays, use in their recreations bows - and arrows, or pellets, or bolts, and learn and exercise the art of - shooting; forbidding all and singular on our behalf, that they do - not after any manner apply themselves to the throwing of stones, - wood, iron, hand-ball, foot-ball, bandy-ball, cambuck, or - cock-fighting, nor such other like vain plays, which have no profit - in them, or concern themselves therein, under pain of imprisonment. - - Witness the King at Westminster, the twelfth day of - June (1365). - - - - - A LEASE TO GEOFFREY CHAUCER (1374). - - -Modern English poetry may be said to have begun in London. Chaucer was -born in London, was the descendant of a long line of Londoners, and -lived in London the greater part of his life. Many of his -contemporaries, including Gower, Occleve, and Lydgate, were connected -with London, and spent much of their time there. - -Chaucer's father was a citizen and vintner of London, and owned a house -in Thames Street, close to Walbrook. Geoffrey Chaucer was in all -probability born in this house; it became his own property, and he -parted with it in 1380. Six years before this he acquired the lease of -the dwelling-house above the city-gate of Aldgate, on condition that he -kept it in good repair; he seems to have made this his usual residence -till 1385. In it he must have composed several of his poems, including -_The Parlement of Foules_, _The House of Fame_, and _Troilus_. He did -not commence the _Canterbury Tales_ until the following year. - - - =Source.=—Riley's _Memorials_, p. 377. - - To all persons to whom this present writing indented shall come, - Adam de Bury, Mayor, the Aldermen, and the Commonalty of the City of - London, greeting. Know ye that we, with unanimous will and assent, - have granted and released by these presents unto Geoffrey Chaucer - the whole of the dwelling-house above the Gate of Aldgate, with the - rooms built over, and a certain cellar beneath, the same gate, on - the South side of that gate, and the appurtenances thereof; to have - and to hold the whole of the house aforesaid, with the rooms so - built over, and the said cellar, and the appurtenances thereof, unto - the aforesaid Geoffrey, for the whole life of him, the same - Geoffrey. And the said Geoffrey shall maintain and repair the whole - of the house aforesaid, and the rooms thereof, so often as shall be - requisite, in all things necessary thereto, competently and - sufficiently, at the expense of the same Geoffrey, throughout the - whole life of him, the same Geoffrey. And it shall be lawful for the - Chamberlain of the Guildhall of London, for the time being, so often - as he shall see fit to enter the house and rooms aforesaid, with - their appurtenances, to see that the same are well and competently, - and sufficiently, maintained and repaired, as aforesaid. And if the - said Geoffrey shall not have maintained or repaired the aforesaid - house and rooms competently and sufficiently, as is before stated, - within forty days after the time when by the same Chamberlain he - shall have been required to do so, it shall be lawful for the said - Chamberlain wholly to oust the before-named Geoffrey therefrom, and - to re-seise and resume the same house, rooms, and cellar, with their - appurtenances, into the hand of the City, to the use of the - Commonalty aforesaid; and to hold the same in their former state to - the use of the same Commonalty, without any gainsaying whatsoever - thereof. And it shall not be lawful for the said Geoffrey to let the - house, rooms, and cellar, aforesaid, or any part thereof, or his - interest therein, to any person whatsoever. And we, the Mayor, - Aldermen, and Commonalty aforesaid, will not cause any gaol to be - made thereof, for the safe-keeping of prisoners therein, during the - life of the said Geoffrey; but we and our successors will warrant - the same house, rooms, and cellar, with their appurtenances unto the - before-named Geoffrey, for the whole life of him, the said Geoffrey, - in form aforesaid: this however excepted, that in time of defence of - the city aforesaid, so often as it shall be necessary, it shall be - lawful for us and our successors to enter the said house and rooms, - and to order and dispose of the same, for such time, and in such - manner, as shall then seem to us to be most expedient. And after the - decease of the same Geoffrey, the house, rooms and cellar aforesaid, - with their appurtenances, shall wholly revert unto us and our - successors. In witness whereof, as well the Common Seal of the City - aforesaid as the seal of the said Geoffrey, have been to these - present indentures interchangeably appended. - - Given in the Chamber of the Guildhall of the city - aforesaid, the 10th day of May, in the 48th year - of the reign of King Edward, after the Conquest - the Third. - - - - - THE CITY ARMS (1375). - - -Beneath Pierce's statue of Walworth in Fishmongers' Hall is an -inscription: - - "Brave Walworth, Knight, Lord Mayor, y^t slew - Rebellious Tyler in his alarmes; - The King, therefore, did give in liew - The dagger to the City armes. - - "In the 4th year of Richard II., Anno Domini 1381." - -It seems that it has always been a popular belief that the weapon -represented in the arms of the City is "Walworth's dagger"; but, as Stow -points out, it is intended to represent the sword of St. Paul, who was -the patron saint of this Corporation. - - - =Source.=—Stow's _Survey_, p. 222. - - It hath also been, and is now grown to a common opinion, that in - reward of this service done, by the said William Walworth against - the rebel, King Richard added to the arms of this City, (which was - argent, a plain cross gules) a sword or dagger, (for so they term - it) whereof I have read no such record, but to the contrary. I find - that in the fourth year of Richard the second in a full assembly - made in the upper chamber of the Guildhall, summoned by this William - Walworth, then Mayor, as well of Aldermen as of the common Council - in every ward, for certain affairs concerning the king, it was there - by common consent agreed and ordained, that the old seal of the - office of the Mayoralty of the city being very small, old, - unsuitable, and uncomely for the honour of the city, should be - broken, and one other new should be had, which the said Mayor - commanded to be made artificially, and honourable for the exercise - of the said office thereafter in place of the other: in which new - Seal, besides the images of Peter, and Paul, which of old were - rudely engraven, there should be under the feet of the said images, - a shield of the arms of the said City perfectly graved, with two - lions supporting the same with two sergeants of arms, on either part - one, and two tabernacles, in which above should stand two Angels, - between whom above the said images of Peter and Paul, shall be set - the glorious virgin: this being done, the old seal of the office was - delivered to Richard Odiham Chamberlain, who brake it, and in place - thereof, was delivered the new seal to the said Mayor to use in his - office of Mayoralty, as occasion should require. This new seal - seemeth to be made before William Walworth was knighted, for he is - not here entitled Sir, as afterwards he was: and certain it is that - the same new seal then made, is now in use and none other in that - office of the Mayoralty, which may suffice to answer the former - fable, without shewing of any evidence sealed with the old seal, - which was the Cross, and sword of Saint Paul, and not the dagger of - William Walworth. - - - - - WAT TYLER IN LONDON (1381). - - -Froissart's description of the Peasants' Revolt is one of our main -sources of information concerning this important event, and seems likely -to be fairly accurate. He himself was, of course, an aristocrat, and was -in no way disposed to be favourable to the "wicked rebels"; but he seems -anxious to represent their case as fairly as possible, although he is -plainly out of sympathy with the ideas and arguments of the rebels. It -is noteworthy that the rising was almost simultaneous in many parts of -the country, but its chief headquarters were in Kent, one of the most -prosperous counties in the kingdom, where actual distress was least -likely to be prevalent; and it is probable that the peasants in this -county had benefited to no small extent by the economic changes which -succeeded the Pestilence of 1349, and had improved both their material -conditions and their intellectual outlook. The ideas of liberty which -formed the motive of the revolt were somewhat vague, but were -strengthened by numerous concrete instances of injustice and injury; and -the concentration of the insurgents upon London forms one of a long -series of indications of the importance of the city as the determining -factor in vital issues. - - - =Source.=—Froissart's _Chroniques_. - - In the mean season there fell in England great mischief and - rebellion of the common people, by which deed England was at a point - to have been lost without recovery.... - - It was a marvellous thing, and of poor foundation, that this - mischief began in England, and to give ensample to all manner of - people, I will speak thereof as it was done, as I was informed, and - of the incidents thereof. There was an usage in England, and yet is - in divers countries, that the noblemen have great franchises over - the commons, and keep them in servage, that is to say, their tenants - ought by custom to labour their lords' lands, to gather and bring - home their corn, and some to thresh and to fan, and by servage to - make their hay and to hew their wood and bring it home. All these - things they ought to do by servage, and there be more of these - people in England than in any other realm. Thus the noblemen and - prelates are served by them, and specially in the counties of Kent, - Essex, Sussex, and Bedford. These unhappy people of these said - counties began to stir, because they said they were being kept in - great servage, and in the beginning of the world, they said, there - were no bondmen, wherefore they maintained that none ought to be - bond, without he did treason to his lord, as Lucifer did to God.... - And of this imagination was a foolish priest in the county of Kent, - called John Ball, for which foolish words he had been three times in - the Bishop of Canterbury's prison: for this priest used oftentimes - on the Sundays, after mass, when the people were going out of the - minster, to go into the cloister and preach, and made the people to - assemble about him, and would say thus: "Ah, ye good people, the - matters goeth not well to pass in England, nor shall not do till - everything be common, and that there be no villains nor gentlemen, - but that we may be all united together, and that the lords be no - greater masters than we be. What have we deserved, or why should we - be kept thus in servage? We be all come from one father and from one - mother, Adam and Eve: whereby can they say or show that they be - greater lords than we be, saving by that they cause us to win and - labour for that they dispend. - - "They are clothed in velvet and camlet furred with grise, and we be - vestured with poor cloth: they have their wines, spices, and good - bread, and we have the rye, the bran, and the straw, and drink - water: they dwell in fair houses, and we have pain and travail, rain - and wind in the fields: and by that that cometh of our labours they - keep and maintain their estates: we be all called their bondmen, - and, without we do readily them service, we be beaten: and we have - no sovereign to whom we may complain, nor that will hear us, nor do - us right. Let us go to the king, he is young, and show him what - servage we be in, and show him how we will have it otherwise, or - else we will provide us of some remedy; and if we go together, all - manner of people that be now in any bondage will follow us to the - intent to be made free; and when the king seeth us, we shall have - some remedy, either by fairness or otherwise." - - Thus John Ball said on Sundays, when the people issued out of the - churches in the villages: wherefore many of the mean people loved - him, and such as intended to no goodness said, how true; and so they - would murmur one with another in the fields, and in the ways as they - went together, affirming how John Ball said truth. - - Of his words and deeds there was much people in London informed, - such as had great envy at them that were rich and such as were - noble; and then they began to speak among them, and said how the - realm of England was right evil governed, and how that gold and - silver was taken from them by them that were named noblemen: so thus - these unhappy men of London began to rebel, and assembled them - together, and sent word to the foresaid counties that they should - come to London, and bring their people with them, promising them how - they should find London open to receive them, and the commons of the - city to be of the same accord, saying how they would do so much to - the king that there should not be one bondman in all England. - - This promise moved so them of Kent, of Essex, of Sussex, of Bedford, - and of the counties about, that they rose and came towards London to - the number of 60,000. And they had a captain called Walter Tyler, - and with him in company was Jack Straw and John Ball: these three - were chief sovereign captains, but the head of all was Walter Tyler, - and he was indeed a tiler of houses, an ungracious patron. When - these unhappy men began thus to stir, they of London, except such as - were of their band, were greatly affrayed. Then the Mayor of London - and the rich men of the city took counsel together, and when they - saw the people thus coming in on every side, they caused the gates - of the city to be closed, and would suffer no man to enter into the - city. But when they had well imagined, they advised not so to do, - for they thought they should thereby put their suburbs in great - peril to be brent; and so they opened again the city, and there - entered in at the gates in some places a hundred, two hundred, by - twenty or thirty; and so when they came to London, they entered and - lodged: and yet, of truth, most of their people could not tell what - to ask or demand, but followed each other like beasts. In like wise - these villains and poor people came to London, a hundred miles off, - sixty mile, fifty mile, forty mile, and twenty mile off, and from - all counties about London, but the most part came from the counties - before named, and as they came they demanded ever for the king. - - The gentlemen of the counties, knights and squires, began to doubt - when they saw the people began to rebel; so the gentlemen drew - together as well as they might. - - This rebellion was well known in the king's court ere any of these - people began to stir out of their houses; but the king nor his - council did provide no remedy therefor, which was great marvel. - - In the morning on Corpus Christi Day King Richard heard mass in the - Tower of London, and all his lords, and then he took his barge with - the Earl of Salisbury, the Earl of Warwick, the Earl of Oxford, and - certain knights, and so rowed down along the Thames to Rotherhithe, - where were descended down the hill 10,000 men to see the king and - speak with him. And when they saw the king's barge coming, they - began to shout, and made such a cry, as though all the devils of - hell had been among them. And they had brought with them Sir John - Newton, to the intent that, if the king had not come, they would - have stricken him all to pieces, and so they had promised him. And - when the king and his lords saw the demeanour of the people, the - best assured of them were in dread; and so the king was counselled - by his barons not to take any landing there, but so rowed on down - the river. And the king demanded of them what they would, and said - how he was come thither to speak with them, and they said all with - one voice: "We would that ye should come aland, and then we shall - show you what we lack." Then the Earl of Salisbury answered for the - king, and said: "Sirs, ye be not in such order nor array that the - king ought to speak with you." And so with these words no more was - said: and then the king was counselled to return to the Tower of - London, and so he did. - - And when the people saw that, they were inflamed with ire, and - returned to the hill, where the great band was, and then showed them - what answer they had, and how the king was returned to the Tower of - London. Then they all cried out: "Let us go to London," and so they - took their way thither: and in their going they beat down abbeys and - houses of advocates and of men of the court, and so came into the - suburbs of London, which were great and fair, and there beat down - divers fair houses, and specially they brake up the king's prisons, - as the Marshalsea and others, and delivered out all the prisoners - that were within: and then they did much hurt; and on the bridge - foot they threatened them of London because the gates of the bridge - were closed, saying how they would bren all the suburbs and so - conquer London by force, and slay and bren all the commons of the - city. There were many within the city of their accord, and so they - drew together and said: "Why do ye not let these good people enter - into the city? They are our fellows, and that that they do is for - us." So therewith the gates were opened, and then these people - entered into the city, and went into houses and sat down to eat and - drink. They desired nothing but it was incontinent brought to them, - for every man was ready to make them good cheer, and to give them - meat and drink to appease them. - - Then the captains, as John Ball, Jack Straw, and Wat Tyler, went - throughout London, 20,000 with them, and so came to the Savoy on the - way to Westminster, which was a goodly house, and it pertaineth to - the Duke of Lancaster. And when they had entered, they slew the - keepers thereof, and robbed and pillaged the house; and when they - had so done, then they set fire on it, and clean destroyed and brent - it. And when they had done that outrage, they left not therewith, - but went straight to the fair hospital called St. John's, and there - they brent house, hospital, minster, and all. Then they went from - street to street and slew all the Flemings that they could find in - church or in any other place, there was none respited from death. - - And they brake up divers houses of the Lombards, and robbed them and - took their goods at their pleasure, for there was none that durst - say them nay. And they slew in the city a rich merchant called - Richard Lyon, whom before that time Wat Tyler had served in France; - and on a time this Richard Lyon had beaten him, while he was his - varlet, which Wat Tyler then remembered, and so came to his house - and strake off his head, and caused it to be borne on a spear-point - before him all about the city.... - - The Saturday the king went to Westminster and heard mass in the - church there, and all his lords with him; and then he leapt on his - horse, and all his lords, and so the king rode toward London; and - when he had ridden a little way, on the left hand there was a way to - pass without London. - - The same morning Wat Tyler, Jack Straw, and John Ball had assembled - their company together in a place called Smithfield, where every - Friday there is a market of horses; and there were together all of - one affinity more than 20,000, and yet there were many still in the - town, drinking and making merry in the taverns, and paying nothing, - for they were happy that made them best cheer. - - And therewith the king came the same way unaware of them, for he had - thought to have passed that way without London, and with him forty - horse.... The mayor of London came to the king with twelve horsemen - well armed under their coats, and so he broke the press and saw and - heard how Wat Tyler demeaned himself, and said to him: "Ha, thou - knave, how art thou so hardy in the king's presence to speak such - words? It is too much for thee to do so." Then the king began to - chafe and said to the mayor: "Set hands on him." And while the king - said so, Tyler said to the mayor: "A God's name, what have I said to - displease thee?" "Yes, truly," quoth the mayor, "thou false knave, - shalt thou speak thus in the presence of the king, my natural lord?" - And with these words the mayor drew out his sword and strake Tyler - so great a stroke on the head, that he fell down at the feet of his - horse, and as soon as he was fallen, they environed him all about, - whereby he was not seen of his company. Then a squire of the king - alighted, called John Standish, and he drew out his sword and put it - through Wat Tyler's body, and so he died. - - Then the ungracious people there assembled, perceiving their captain - slain, began to murmur among themselves and said: "Ah, our captain - is slain, let us go and slay them all;" and therewith they arrayed - themselves on the same place in manner of battle, and their bows - before them. Then the king began a great deed; howbeit, all turned - to the best: for as soon as Tyler was on the earth, the king - departed from all his company, and all alone he rode to these - people, and said to them: "Sirs, what aileth you? Ye shall have no - captain but me: I am your king: be all in rest and peace." And so - the most part of the people that heard the king speak and saw him - among them, were shamefast and began to wax peaceable and depart. - - - - - LONDON LICKPENNY (EARLY FIFTEENTH CENTURY). - - -This poem is generally ascribed to John Lydgate, a disciple of Chaucer, -but the authorship is doubtful. Whatever its poetical merit may be, it -is full of interest as a picture of contemporary life in London, and the -description of the adventures of the poor countryman, endeavouring to -obtain legal justice in the metropolis, lacks neither pathos nor humour. - - - =Source.=—_Minor Poems of Lydgate_, edited by Halliwell, p. 103. - - To London once my stepps I bent, - Where trouth in no wyse should be faynt, - To Westmynster-ward I forthwith went, - To a man of law to make complaynt, - I sayd, "For Marys love, that holy saynt! - Pity the poore that wold proceede;" - But for lack of mony I could not spede. - - And as I thrust the prese amonge, - By froward chaunce my hood was gone, - Yet for all that I stayd not longe, - Tyll to the kyngs bench I was come. - Before the judge I kneled anone, - And prayd hym for Gods sake to take heede; - But for lack of mony I myght not speede. - - Beneth them sat clarkes a great rout, - Which fast dyd wryte by one assent, - There stoode up one and cryed about, - Rychard, Robert, and John of Kent. - I wyst not well what this man ment, - He cryed so thycke there indede; - But he that lackt mony myght not spede. - - Unto the common place I yode thoo, - Where sat one with a sylken hoode; - I dyd hym reverence, for I ought to do so, - And told my case as well as I coode, - How my goods were defrauded me by falshood. - I gat not a mum of his mouth for my meed, - And for lack of mony I myght not spede. - - Unto the Rolls I gat me from thence, - Before the clarkes of the chauncerye, - Where many I found earnying of pence, - But none at all once regarded mee. - I gave them my playnt uppon my knee; - They lyked it well, when they had it reade: - But lackyng money I could not be sped. - - In Westmynster hall I found out one, - Which went in a long gown of raye; - I crowched and kneled before hym anon, - For Maryes love, of help I hym praye. - "I wot not that thou meanest," gan he say: - To get me thence he did me bede, - For lack of mony I cold not speed. - - Within this hall, neither rich nor yett poore - Wold do for me ought, although I shold dye. - Which seing, I gat me out of the doore, - Where Flemynges began on me for to cry, - "Master, what will you copen or by? - Fyne felt hattes, or spectacles to reede? - Lay down your sylver, and here you may speede." - - Then to Westmynster-Gate I presently went, - When the sonn was at hyghe pryme; - Cookes to me, they tooke good entente, - And proffered me bread, with ale and wyne, - Rybbs of befe, both fat and ful fyne. - A fayre cloth they gan for to sprede; - But wantyng mony I myght not then speede. - - Then unto London I dyd me hye, - Of all the land it beareth the pryse: - Hot pescodes, one began to crye, - Strabery rype, and cherryes in the ryse; - One bad me come nere and by some spyce, - Peper and safforne they gan me bede, - But for lack of mony I myght not spede. - - Then to the Chepe I began me drawne, - Where mutch people I saw for to stande; - One ofred me velvet, sylke, and lawne, - An other he taketh me by the hande, - "Here is Parys thred, the fynest in the land;" - I never was used to such thyngs indede, - And wantyng mony I myght not spede. - - Then went I forth by London stone, - Throughout all Canwyke streete; - Drapers mutch cloth me offred anone; - Then comes me one cryed hot shepes feete; - One cryde makerell, ryster grene, an other gan greete; - One bad me by a hood to cover my head, - But for want of mony I myght not be sped. - - Then I hyed me into Est-Chepe; - One cryes rybbs of befe, and many a pye; - Pewter pottes they clattered on a heape; - There was harpe, pype, and mynstrelsye. - "Yea, by cock! nay, by cock!" some began crye; - Some songe of Jenken and Julyan for their mede; - But for lack of mony I myght not spede. - - Then into Corn-Hyl anon I yode, - Where was mutch stolen gere amonge; - I saw where honge myne owne hoode, - That I had lost amonge the thronge: - To by my own hood I thought it wronge, - I knew it well as I dyd my crede, - But for lack of mony I could not spede. - - The taverner took mee by the sleeve, - "Sir," sayth he, "wyll you our wyne assay?" - I answered, that can not mutch me greve, - A peny can do no more then it may, - I drank a pynt and for it dyd paye; - Yet sone a hungerd from thence I yode, - And wantyng mony I cold not spede. - - Then hyed I me to Belyngsgate; - And one cryed, "hoo! go we hence!" - I prayd a barge man, for God's sake, - That he wold spare me my expence. - "Thou scapst not here," quod he, "under ij. pence; - I lyst not yet bestow any almes dede." - Thus lackyng mony I could not speede. - - Then I convayd me into Kent; - For of the law wold I meddle no more; - Because no man to me tooke entent, - I dyght me to do as I dyd before. - Now Jesus, that in Bethlem was bore, - Save London, and send trew lawyers there mede! - For who so wantes mony with them shall not spede. - - - - - WHITTINGTON'S SECOND MAYORALTY (1406). - - -Richard Whittington was the son of a Gloucestershire knight, and was -born in 1350. The familiar stories of his roadside adventure in Highgate -and of his fortune-making cat are, in common with many other delightful -and picturesque incidents of history, rejected by historians; but he is -certainly a great and famous man, even when his story is robbed of these -interesting particulars. He was four times Mayor, and his justice and -patriotism became proverbial. He vigorously opposed the admission of -foreigners to the freedom of the City; he was exceedingly generous, and -performed many deeds of charity. The following account of his second -election to the highest dignity of the City illustrates the form and -manner in which the appointment was made in the Middle Ages. - - - =Source.=—Riley's _Memorials_, p. 565. - - On Wednesday, the Feast of the Translation of St. Edward the King - and Confessor [October 13], in the 8th year etc., John Wodecok, - Mayor of the City of London, considering that upon the same day he - and all the Aldermen of the said city, and as many as possible of - the wealthier and more substantial Commoners of the same city, ought - to meet at the Guildhall, as the usuage is, to elect a new Mayor for - the ensuing year, ordered that a Mass of the Holy Spirit should be - celebrated, with solemn music, in the Chapel annexed to the said - Guildhall; to the end that the same Commonalty, by the grace of the - Holy Spirit, might be able peacefully and amicably to nominate two - able and proper persons to be Mayor of the said city for the ensuing - year, by favour of the clemency of Our Saviour, according to the - customs of the said city. - - Which Mass having in the said Chapel been solemnly celebrated, there - being present thereat the said John Wodecok, the Mayor, John - Prestone, Recorder, Nicholas Wottone and Geoffrey Broke, Sheriffs, - the Prior of the Holy Trinity, John Hadlee, William Staundone, - Richard Whytyngtone, Drew Barentyn, Thomas Knolles, John Shadworth, - William Askham, William Bramptone, John Warner, William Walderne, - William Venour, Robert Chychely, Thomas Fauconer, Thomas Polle, - William Louthe, William Crowmere, Henry Bartone, and Henry - Pountfreyt, Aldermen, and many reputable Commoners of the City - aforesaid; the same Mayor, Recorder, Sheriffs, Aldermen, and - Commoners, entered the Guildhall, where the precept of the said - Mayor and Aldermen, as the cause of the said congregation, was - becomingly set forth and declared by the said Recorder to the - Commoners aforesaid; to the end that such Commoners should nominate - unto the said Mayor and Aldermen such able and proper persons as had - before filled the office of Sheriff in the City aforesaid; it being - for the said Commoners to take no care which one of the persons so - to be nominated should be chosen by the Mayor and Aldermen to be - Mayor for the ensuing year. Which being done, the said Mayor, - Recorder, Sheriffs, and Aldermen, went up into the Chamber of the - Mayor's Court, within the Guildhall aforesaid, there to await the - nomination of such two persons. Whereupon, the Commoners peacefully - and amicably, without any clamour or discussion, did becomingly - nominate Richard Whytyngtone, mercer, and Drew Barentyn, goldsmith, - through John Westone, Common Countor of the said city, and presented - the same. - - And hereupon, the Mayor and Aldermen, with closed doors, in the said - chamber chose Richard Whytyngtone aforesaid, by guidance of the Holy - Spirit, to be Mayor of the City for the ensuing year: after which, - the Mayor and Aldermen, coming down from the Chamber into the Hall, - to the Commoners there assembled as the custom is, notified by the - Recorder unto the same Commoners, how that, by Divine inspiration, - the lot had fallen upon the said Richard Whytyngtone, as above - stated. - - - - - THE PERSECUTION OF THE LOLLARDS (1413). - - -The Lollards were disciples of Wyclif, and increased very considerably -in numbers and in power at the beginning of the fifteenth century. A -large number of the citizens of London appear to have become attached to -the new doctrines, which repudiated some of the most important dogmas of -the Church. The clergy were active in their efforts to suppress the new -beliefs, and applied to the King for assistance. Whatever may have been -the personal views of Henry IV. and Henry V. on the matter, they were -compelled by force of circumstances to keep on good terms with the -Church, and measures of repression were adopted. The leader of the -Lollards, Sir John Oldcastle, a man of distinguished military ability, -was imprisoned, but rescued from the Tower by a band of Londoners. A -huge meeting was held in St. Giles's Fields, but was prevented from -doing any damage by Henry V.'s vigilance; the party was vigorously -persecuted, and Oldcastle was captured and hanged. After this Lollardry -languished, and gradually disappeared. - - The King to the Mayor and Sheriffs of London: Greeting. - - Inasmuch as we have been given to understand that certain priests, - not privileged by law for this purpose, nor licensed by the diocesan - of the place, nor permitted by the Church, who are said to be of - this new sect of the Lollards, have been preaching in public places - within the aforesaid city, and in the suburbs and vicinity thereof, - in order to excite and win over some who are ill disposed to the - Catholic faith and the doctrine of holy mother Church; and by their - own rashness, and contrary to the laws and ordinances of the Church, - they have preached, nay, rather have profaned the Word of God; or at - least under pretext of preaching they have in such places been - emboldened to propagate discord among our people on the pestiferous - seeds of Lollardism and evil doctrine, after the manner of - preachers; and as some of our people of our said city and its - vicinity, under pretence of hearing such preaching, have assembled - to those places, and have congregated together in large multitudes; - and, in consequence, murmurs and seditions have in part arisen, and - will probably arise, to the disturbance and no small marring of our - peace, unless a remedy be more quickly applied to abolish such - meetings and pull down such conventicles: - - We, desiring especially to provide for the defence of the Catholic - faith, the laws and ordinances of the Church, and for preserving our - peace, command you, that you cause proclamation publicly to be made, - within our city aforesaid, and its suburbs, in every place where you - shall find it expedient: - - That no chaplains, of whatsoever degree, state, or condition they - may be, shall henceforward hold, cherish, affirm, preach, or defend - such opinions, heresy, or error, contrary to the decision of holy - mother Church; and that none other our lieges and subjects in this - matter adhere to or abet them, or lend them counsel or assistance, - under penalty of imprisonment of their bodies, and the forfeiture of - all their goods and chattels, to our will and disposal. We further - command and positively enjoin you that, if henceforth you shall be - able to find within your bailiwick any such chaplains preaching and - affirming publicly or secretly, contrary to the aforesaid rescript, - or any other our lieges and subjects making conventicles and - meetings, or receiving the same chaplains, or being under probable - or great suspicion concerning the premises, or in any way - counselling, favouring, or helping such chaplains in this matter, - then arrest ye them without delay, and commit them to prison, there - to remain, until they shall obey the commands of the diocesan in - whose diocese they may have preached.... - - Witness the King, at Westminster, the 21st day of - August, 1413. - - - - - IMPRISONMENT FOR REFUSING OFFICE (1415). - - -Reluctance to accept positions of dignity and importance is rarely met -with nowadays; we are accustomed to witness keen competition for the -honour and privilege—even if there be no more solid advantage—of a seat -in Parliament or a civic office. But in medieval times there was -frequently considerable unwillingness to hold these now coveted posts; -most men had their own affairs to attend to, and these were almost -certain to be seriously prejudiced by the distractions of public life. -More especially was this the case where Parliamentary representation of -a remote constituency was concerned. The danger, expense, and time -involved in the necessary journeys to the capital were a very serious -consideration, and fines had to be imposed frequently upon burgesses or -knights of the shire, who resented the greatness which their -constituents thrust upon them. The following instance shows that even in -London pressure had to be applied in order to induce the acceptance of -an important office; and it was not until the holders of such posts -began to realise the possibility of deriving profit from them, as, for -example, by exempting their own property from taxation, that these -difficulties were entirely overcome. - - - =Source.=—Riley's _Memorials_, p. 601. - - Forasmuch as a laudable custom which has hitherto prevailed in the - City of London, has so prescribed and ordained, that the inhabitants - of each of the Wards of the said city are at liberty to elect an - Alderman whensoever they need one, to rule them in their own Ward; - provided always, that the person so elected is presented to the - Mayor and Aldermen, for the time being, and by them is deemed worthy - to be admitted and approved.—And whereas, on the 3rd day of January, - in the 2nd year of the reign of King Henry etc. one Ralph Lobenham, - late Alderman of the Ward of Farndone Without, having voluntarily - resigned the rule of that Ward, the inhabitants of the Ward - thereupon, according to the usual custom, met together at the usual - place within the Ward, for the purpose of electing an Alderman - thereof, and there unanimously chose one John Gedeney, citizen and - draper, to hold the office of Alderman of the Ward aforesaid.... - - The said John Gedeney appeared before the Mayor and Aldermen, in the - Chamber aforesaid, and after the reason for his being summoned had - been first stated to him, precept was given to him forthwith to take - his seat there in Court, that he might take the oath that pertains - unto the office and rank of Alderman. Whereupon, the same John - Gedeney, after first setting forth his excuses on the ground of his - inability, and his insufficiency for the office, wholly refused to - accept it: upon which, he was informed by the Court that he could - not refuse this office, to which, as being a fit person, he was - admitted by the Court, without breach of his freedom, and of the - oath which by him, when he was admitted to the freedom of the City, - had been made; and this the more especially, as every freeman is - bound to be a partaker in Lot, which is liability to hold office, - and in Scot, which means contribution to taxes and other charges, by - reason of such oath. - - But all and singular the matters before stated notwithstanding, he - altogether refused to accept the office, like a person who was - utterly obdurate. And hereupon, the matter having been considered by - the Mayor and Aldermen, because that it appeared to them that if any - one, when elected to such office, should be at liberty at his own - will and pleasure to refuse the post, and pass it by, not improbably - the City before long would be left destitute, as it were, of all - rule and governance whatsoever; the same John Gedeney was by the - said Mayor and Aldermen committed to prison, there to remain until - the Court should be better advised what to do as to the matters - aforesaid. - - - - - OATHS OF THE MAYOR AND ALDERMEN (1419). - - -The following extracts are from the _Liber Albus_, a book on the -government of the City of London, by John Carpenter, who was Town Clerk -from 1417 to 1438. It contains a complete description of the -administration of the City at this interesting point in its history, and -gives particulars of the duties and responsibilities of all the civic -officers. The author explains that before the office of Mayor was -established, the chief person in the City was the Portreeve, who was -also the King's representative and justiciar. Then the "Barons of the -City," who may have been the Aldermen, obtained the privilege of -electing their own Mayor every year; and gradually a custom arose for -the Mayor, Aldermen, Sheriffs, and certain chosen commoners to meet for -the purpose of choosing a new Mayor. At first the same Mayor was -frequently re-elected, so long as there was no expense attached to the -office; but when it became customary for him to give feasts and -liveries, the cost was generally too great for him to continue in office -for more than one year, and the practice arose for the Mayor to retire -at the end of his term, when the Aldermen might offer him a second year. -The Aldermen held their office for life, and had almost despotic -authority in their ward, having their own serjeants to attend them. - - - =Source.=—_Liber Albus_, translated by Riley. - - You shall swear, that well and lawfully you shall serve our lord the - King in the office of the Mayoralty of the City of London, and the - same City you shall surely and safely keep to the behoof of the King - of England, and of his heirs, Kings of England; and the profit of - the King you shall do in all things that unto you belong to do, and - the rights of the King, in so far as unto the Crown they belong - within the said City, you shall lawfully keep. You shall not assent - unto the decrease, or unto the concealment of the rights or of the - franchises of the King; and where you shall know the rights of the - King or of the Crown, be it in lands, or in rents, or in franchises, - or in suits, to be concealed or withdrawn, to your utmost power you - shall do to repel it; and if you cannot do it, you shall tell it - unto the King, or unto them of his Council, of whom you shall be - certain that they will tell it unto the King. And that lawfully and - rightfully you will treat the people of your bailiwick, and right - will do unto everyone thereof, as well unto strangers as to - denizens, to poor as to rich, in that which belongeth unto you to - do; and that neither for highness, nor for riches, nor for promise, - nor for favour, nor for hate, wrong you shall do unto any one; nor - the right of anyone shall you disturb, nor shall you take anything - whereby the King may lose, or by which his right may be disturbed. - And that in all things which unto the Mayor of the said City it - pertaineth to do, as well in the regulation of victuals as in all - other things, well and lawfully you shall behave yourself. - - So God you help, and the Saints. - - * * * * * - - You shall swear, that well and lawfully you shall serve our lord the - King in the City of London, in the office of Alderman in the Ward of - N, wherein you are chosen Alderman, and shall lawfully treat and - inform the people of the same Ward of such things as unto them - pertain to do, for keeping the City, and for maintaining the peace - within the City; and that the laws, usages, and franchises of the - said City you shall keep and maintain, within town and without, - according to your wit and power. And that attentive you shall be to - save and maintain the rights of orphans, according to the laws and - usages of the said City. And that ready you shall be, and readily - shall come, at the summons and warning of the Mayor and ministers of - the said City, for the time being, to speed the Assizes, Pleas, and - Judgments of the Hustings, and other needs of the said City, if you - be not hindered by the needs of our lord the King, or by other - reasonable cause; and that good lawful counsel you shall give for - such things as touch the common profit in the same City. And that - you shall sell no manner of victuals by retail; that is to say, - bread, ale, wine, fish or flesh, by you, your apprentices, hired - servants, or by any other; nor profit shall you take of any such - manner of victuals sold during your office. And that well and - lawfully you shall (behave) yourself in the said office, and in - other things touching the City. So God you help, and the Saints. - - - - - JACK CADE IN LONDON (1450). - - -The rebellion headed by Cade was a manifestation of discontent at the -incompetence of the Government. An expensive and unsuccessful war had -been carried on in France, and there was very little disposition in -England to aid the inadequate resources of the royal treasury, or to -relieve the King from the load of debt which had been contracted. The -King's Ministers were forced to have recourse to arbitrary measures, and -the affections of the people were completely estranged. Cade was able, -by holding out the prospect of redress of grievances, to collect about -him a formidable body of malcontents. They were admitted into the City, -where at first they conducted themselves with comparative moderation; -but very soon indications of violence showed themselves, and the -citizens realised their danger and were able to hold the rebels at bay -until, dispirited by the opposition which they encountered, they -dispersed. - - - =Source.=—Hall's _Chronicle_. - - The captain being advised of the King's absence, came first into - Southwark, and there lodged at the White Hart, prohibiting to all - men, Murder, Rape, or Robbery: by which colour he allured to him the - hearts of the common people. But after that he entered into London, - and cut the ropes of the drawbridge, sticking his sword on London - stone, saying: Now is Mortimer lord of this city, and rode in every - street like a lordly Captain. And after a flattering declaration - made to the Mayor of the city of his thither coming, he departed - again to Southwark. And upon the third day of July, he caused Sir - James Fynes, Lord Say, and Treasurer of England, to be brought to - the Guildhall of London, and there to be arraigned: which being - before the King's justices put to answer, desired to be tried by his - peers, for the longer delay of his life. - - The captain perceiving his dilatory plea, by force took him from the - officers, and brought him to the standard in Cheape, and there - before his confession ended, caused his head to be cut off, and - pitched it on a high pole, which was openly borne before him through - the streets. And this cruel tyrant not content with the murder of - the Lord Say, went to Mile end, and there apprehended Sir James - Cromer, then sheriff of Kent, and son in law to the said Lord Say, - and him without confession or excuse heard, caused there likewise to - be beheaded, and his head to be fixed on a pole, and with these two - heads, this bloody butcher entered into the city again, and in - despite caused them in every street to kiss together, to the great - detestation of all the beholders. - - After this shameful murder, succeeded open rapine and manifest - robbery in divers houses within the City, and in especial in the - house of Philip Malpas, Alderman of London, and divers others: over - and beside ransoming, and fining of divers notable merchants, for - the security of their lives and goods, as Robert Horne alderman, who - paid 500 marks, and yet neither he, nor any other person was either - of life or substance in a surety or safeguard. He also put to - execution in Southwark divers persons, some for infringing his rules - and precepts, because he would be seen indifferent, others he - tormented of his old acquaintance, lest they should blaze and - declare his base birth, and lousy lineage, disparaging him from his - usurped surname of Mortimer, for the which, he thought and doubted - not, both to have friends and fautors, both in London, Kent, and - Essex. The wise Mayor, and sage magistrates of the City of London, - perceiving themselves neither to be sure of goods nor of life well - warranted, determined with fear to repel and expulse this - mischievous head, and his ungracious company. And because the Lord - Scales was ordained Keeper of the Tower of London, with Matthew - Gough, the often named captain in Normandy, (as you have heard - before), they purposed to make them acquainted both of their intent - and enterprise. The Lord Scales promised them his aid, with shooting - of ordinance, and Matthew Gough was by him appointed to assist the - Mayor and the Londoners; because he was both of manhood, and - experience greatly renowned and noised. So the Captains of the City - appointed, took upon them in the night to keep the bridge of London, - prohibiting the Kentish men, either to pass or approach. The rebels, - which never soundly slept, for fear of sudden chances, hearing the - bridge to be kept and manned, ran with great haste to open their - passage, where between both parties was a fierce and cruel - encounter. Matthew Gough, more expert in martial feats than the - other chieftains of the City, perceiving the Kentish men better to - stand to their tackling than his imagination expected, advised his - company no further to proceed, toward Southwark, till the day - appeared: to the intent, that the citizens hearing where the place - of the jeopardy rested, might occur their enemies, and relieve their - friends and companions. But this counsel came to small effect: for - the multitude of the rebels drave the citizens from the staples at - the bridge foot, to the draw bridge, and began to set fire in divers - houses. Alas what sorrow it was to behold that miserable chance: for - some desiring to eschew the fire, leapt on his enemies weapon, and - so died; fearful women with children in their arms, amazed and - appalled, leapt into the river: others doubting how to save - themselves between fire, water, and sword, were in their houses - suffocated and smouldered. Yet the Captains nothing regarding these - chances, fought on the draw bridge all the night valiantly, but in - conclusion, the rebels held the draw bridge, and drowned many, and - slew John Sutton alderman, and Robert Heysande a hardy citizen, with - many other, beside Matthew Gough, a man of great wit, much - experience in feats of chivalry, the which in continual wars, had - valiantly served the King and his father, in the parts beyond the - sea (as before you have heard). But it is often seen that he, which - many times hath vanquished his enemies in strange countries, and - returned again as a conqueror, hath of his own nation afterward been - shamefully murdered, and brought to confusion. This hard and sore - conflict endured on the bridge, till 9 o'clock in the morning, in - doubtful chance, and fortunes balance: for some time the Londoners - were beaten back to the stulpes at Saint Magnes corner, and suddenly - again the rebels were repulsed and driven back, to the stulpes in - Southwark, so that both parties, being faint, weary and fatigued, - agreed to desist from fight, and to leave battle till the next day, - upon condition: that neither Londoners should pass into Southwark, - nor the Kentishmen into London. - - After this abstinence of war agreed, the lusty Kentish Captain, - hoping on more friends, broke up the gaols of the Kings Bench and - Marshalsea, and set at liberty a swarm of galants, both meet for his - service and apt for his enterprise. The Archbishop of Canterbury, - being then Chancellor of England, and for his surety lying in the - Tower of London, called to him the Bishop of Winchester, which also - for fear, lurked at Halywell. These two prelates seeing the fury of - the Kentish people, by reason of their beating back, to be mitigate - and minished, passed the River of Thames from the Tower, into - Southwark, bringing with them under the King's great seal, a general - pardon unto all the offenders: which they caused to be openly - proclaimed and published. Lord how glad the poor people were of this - pardon (the more than of the Jubilee of Rome) and how they accepted - the same, in so much that the whole multitude, without bidding - farewell to their captain, retired the same night, every man to his - own home, as men amazed, and stricken with fear. - - But John Cade desperate of help, which by the friends of the duke of - York, were to him promised, and seeing his company thus without his - knowledge suddenly depart, mistrusting the sequel of the matter, - departed secretly in habit disguised into Sussex: but all his - metamorphoses or transfiguration little prevailed. For after a - Proclamation made, that whosoever could apprehend the aforesaid Jack - Cade should have for his pains a thousand marks, many sought for - him, but few espied him, till one Alexander Iden, esquire of Kent - found him in a garden, and there in his defence, manfully slew the - catiff Cade, and brought his dead body to London, whose head was set - on London Bridge. This is the success of all rebels, and this - fortune chanceth ever to traitors. For where men strive against the - stream, their boat never cometh to his pretenced port. - - - - - THE MAYOR'S DIGNITY (1464). - - -One of the privileges of the Mayor which has been very jealously guarded -is that upon which is founded his claim to supremacy in the City; only -the Sovereign takes precedence, and from very early times the Mayors -have insisted upon this pre-eminence. It was not often that their right -was challenged in the City itself, but occasionally there was friction -concerning the Mayor's position in places which were supposed to be -outside his jurisdiction. The instance mentioned below is interesting, -as showing the importance which a fifteenth-century Mayor attached to -his office. - - - =Source.=—Gregory's _Chronicle_. - - Thys yere (1464) abute mydsomyr, at the royalle feste of the - Sargentys of the Coyfe, the Mayre of London was desyride to be at - that feste. And at denyr time he come to the feste with his - offecers, agreyng and acordyng to hys degre. For withyn London he ys - next unto the Kyng in all maner thynge. And in tyme of waschynge the - Erle of Worseter was take before the mayre and sette down in the - myddis of the hy tabelle. And the mayre seynge that hys place was - occupyd hylde hym contente, and went home agayne with-out mete or - drynke or any thonke, but rewarde hym he dyd as hys dygnyte requyred - of the cytte. And toke with hym the substance of hys bretheryn the - aldyrmen to his place, and were sette and servyd also sone as any - man couthe devyse, bothe of sygnet and of othyr delycatys i-nowe, - that alle the howse mervelyd howe welle alle tynge was done in soo - schorte a tyme, and prayde alle men to be mery and gladde hit shulde - be a-mendyd a-nothyr tyme. - - Thenn the offesers of the feste, fulle evylle a-schamyd, informyd - the maysters of the feste of thys mysse-happe that ys be-falle. And - they consyderynge the grete dygnyte and costys and change that - longgyd unto the cytte, and anon sende unto the mayre a present of - mete, brede, wyne, and many dyvers sotelteys. But whenn they that - come with the presentys saw alle the gyftys, and the sarvyse that - was at the borde, he was fulle sore a-schamyd that shulde doo the - massage, for the present was not better thenn the servyse of metys - was byfore the mayre, and thoroughe-owte the hyghe tabylle. But hys - demenynge was soo that he hadde love and thonke for hys massage, and - a grette rewarde with-alle. And thys the worschippe of the cytte was - kepte, and not loste for hym. I truste that nevyr hyt shalle, by the - grace of God. - - - - - REGULATIONS CONCERNING STRANGERS (1485). - - -These regulations are taken from Henry VII.'s charter, which cost the -citizens no less than five thousand marks. The main object of the -charter was to protect the City from the encroachments of foreigners and -strangers, who appear to have been unusually active about this time in -their attempts to gain a footing in the rapidly expanding trade of -London. Their efforts met with great hostility on the part of the -citizens, and these enactments are indicative of the general attitude of -the Londoners towards strangers either from other towns or from across -the sea. - - - =Source.=—From the Charter of Henry VII. - - Of all time, of which the memory of man is not to the contrary, for - the commonweal of the realm and city aforesaid, it hath been used, - and by authority of parliament approved and confirmed, that no - stranger from the liberty of the city may buy or sell, from any - stranger from the liberties of the same city, any merchandise or - wares within the liberties of the same city, upon forfeiture of the - same. The said mayor and commonalty, and citizens, and their - predecessors by all the time aforesaid, have had and received, and - have been accustomed to receive, perceive, and have, to the use of - the said mayor, commonalty, and citizens, all and all manner of - merchandises and wares bought and sold within the liberties of the - same city as aforesaid, and forfeitures of the same merchandises and - wares, until of late past time they were troubled or molested. - - The same lord Henry the seventh, by his letters patent as aforesaid, - for pacifying and taking away from henceforth controversies and - ambiguities in that behalf, and to fortify and by express words to - explain and declare the liberty and custom aforesaid to them the - said mayor and commonalty and citizens, and their heirs and - successors, and willing the said liberties to be peaceably and - quietly had, possessed, and enjoyed to the said mayor and commonalty - and citizens, and their successors, with the forfeitures aforesaid, - against the said late lord King Henry, his heirs and successors - granted, and by his said charter confirmed to the same mayor and - commonalty and citizens, and their successors, that no stranger from - the liberties of the same city may buy or sell from any other - stranger to the liberty of the same city, any merchandises or wares - within the liberties of the same city; and if any stranger to the - liberty of the same city shall sell or buy any merchandises or wares - within the liberty of the same city of any other stranger to the - liberty of the same city, that the same mayor, commonalty and - citizens, and their successors, may have, hold, and receive all and - all manner of such like merchandises and wares, so bought and to be - bought, sold or to be sold, within the liberty of the said city, - between whatsoever strangers to the liberty of the same city, as - forfeited; and all the forfeitures of the same, and also the - penalties, fines, and redemptions whatsoever anyways forfeited, lost - or to be lost, or to be forfeited or due thereon, to the use and - profit of the same mayor and commonalty and citizens, and their - heirs and successors, without hindrance of the same late king, his - heirs or successors, and without any account or any other thing to - be rendered or paid thereof to the late king, his heirs and - successors, any statute, act, or ordinance of us or our progenitors - made to the contrary notwithstanding; although the same mayor and - commonalty, and citizens of the said city, or their predecessors, - have before that time used, abused, or not used those customs and - liberties: Saving always, that the great men, lords, and nobles, and - other English and strangers, of what condition they shall be, may - freely buy whatsoever merchandises in gross for their families and - proper uses within the liberties of the said city, without any - forfeiture, loss, or hindrance whatsoever, so that they do not sell - again the said merchandises to any other. - - And further, the same late king, of his ample grace, by his said - letters patent, amongst other things, did give and grant to the - mayor, commonalty, and citizens of the same city of London, and - their successors, the office of gauger within the said city, and the - disposing, ordering, surveying, and correcting of the same, to have, - hold, exercise, and occupy the said office, and other premises, with - all fees, profits, and emoluments to the said office in any manner - belonging or appertaining, to the same mayor and commonalty, and - citizens, by themselves, or by their sufficient deputy or deputies, - from the twenty-second day of August, in the first year of his - reign, for ever, without any account to be made thereof, or any - other thing rendering or paying to the said lord Henry the seventh, - his heirs or successors, as by the said letters patent doth more - plainly appear. - - - - - THE MARCHING WATCH (1510). - - -The Marching Watch was a kind of annual military muster of the citizens, -embodying all the companies, for the purpose of forming a regular guard -for the City during the ensuing year. The contest for magnificence on -the occasion described in the following extract created an expense so -great and detrimental that Henry VIII. prohibited the show, and confined -the citizens to the proper object of the assembly. It was afterwards -revived on a more economical plan, and continued under the name of the -"Standing Watch," till the force was finally superseded by the City -Trained Bands. - - - =Source.=—Stow's _Survey_, p. 102. - - Besides the standing watches all in bright harness, in every ward - and street in this city and suburbs, there was also a marching watch - that passed through the principal streets thereof, to wit, from the - little conduit by Paul's gate to West Cheap, by the stocks through - Cornhill by Leadenhall to Aldgate, then back down Fenchurch Street - by Grace Church, about Grace church conduit and up Gracechurch - Street into Cornhill, and through it into West Cheap again, and so - broke up. The whole way ordered for this marching watch extendeth to - three thousand two hundred taylor's yards of assize; for the - furniture whereof with lights, there were appointed seven hundred - cressets, five hundred of them being found by the Companies, the - other two hundred by the Chamber of London. - - Besides the which lights every constable in London, in number more - than two hundred and forty, had his cresset; the charge of every - cresset was in light two shillings and fourpence, and every cresset - had two men, one to bear or hold in, another to bear a bag with - light, and to serve it, so that the poor men pertaining to the - cressets, taking wages, besides that every one had a straw hat, with - a badge painted, and his breakfast, amounted in number to almost two - thousand. The marching watch contained in number about two thousand - men, part of them being old soldiers, of skill to be captains, - lieutenants, serjeants, corporals, etc., wiflers, drummers, and - fifes, standard and ensign bearers, demilances on great horses, - gunners with hand guns, or half hakes, archers in coats of white - fustian, signed on the breast and back with the arms of the city, - their bows bent in their hands, with sheafs of arrows by their - sides; pikemen in bright corslets, burganets, etc. halbards, the - like the billmen in almain rivets, and aprons of mail in great - number. There were also divers pageants, morris dancers, constables, - the one-half which was one hundred and twenty on Saint John's Eve, - the other half on St. Peter's Eve, in bright harness, some over - gilt, and every one a jornet of scarlet thereupon, and a chain of - gold, his henchman following him, his minstrels before him, and his - cresset light passing by him, the waits of the city, the Mayor's - officers for his guard before him, all in a livery worsted, or sea - jackets parti-coloured, the Mayor himself well mounted on horseback, - the sword-bearer before him in fair armour well mounted also, the - Mayor's footmen, and the like torch bearers about him, henchmen - twain upon great stirring horses following him. The Sheriffs' - watches came one after the other in like order, but not so large in - number as the Mayor's; for where the Mayor had, besides his giant, - three pageants, each of the Sheriffs had, besides their giants, but - two pageants; each their morris dance, and one henchman, their - officers in jackets of worsted or sea, parti-coloured, differing - from the Mayor's and each from other, but having harnessed men a - great many. - - This midsummer watch was thus accustomed yearly, time out of mind, - until the year 1539, the 31st of Henry VIII., in which year, on the - 8th of May, a great muster was made by the citizens at the Mile's - End, all in bright harness, with coats of white silk; or cloth and - chains of gold, in three great battels, to the number of fifteen - thousand, which passed through London to Westminster, and so through - the Sanctuary, and round about the Park of St. James, and returned - home through Oldborne. King Henry, then considering the great - charges of the citizens for the furniture of this unusual muster, - forbad the Marching watch provided for at midsummer for that year; - which being once laid down, was not raised again till the year 1548, - the 2nd of Edward VI., Sir John Gresham then being Mayor, who caused - the marching watch, both on the eve of St. John Baptist and of St. - Peter the Apostle, to be revived and set forth in as comely order as - it hath been accustomed, which watch was also beautified by the - number of more than three hundred demilances and light horsemen, - prepared by the citizens to be sent into Scotland for the rescue of - the town of Haddington, and others kept by the Englishmen. - - - - - DESTRUCTION OF FENCES ABOUT THE - CITY (1514). - - -It has already been noticed that the City was surrounded by -ecclesiastical manors in the time of Domesday, and this was still the -case at the beginning of the sixteenth century. It would appear from the -following extract that the practice of enclosure, which at this time was -being extensively adopted in many parts of England, was being attempted -in the neighbourhood of London itself, greatly to the disgust of the -Londoners, who naturally resented the proposed restrictions on their -accustomed liberty. - - - =Source.=—Hall's _Chronicle_. - - Before this time the towns about London as Islington, Hoxton, - Shoreditch and other, had so enclosed the common fields with hedges - and ditches, that neither the young men of the city might shoot, nor - the ancient persons might walk for their pleasure in the fields - except either their bows and arrows were broken or taken away, or - the honest and substantial persons arrested or indited, saying that - no Londoner should go out of the city but in the highways. This - saying sore grieved the Londoners, and suddenly this year a great - number of the city assembled themselves in a morning, and a turner - in a fool's coat came crying in the city, Shovels and spades, and so - many people followed that it was wonder, and within a short space - all the hedges about the towns were cast down, and the ditches - filled, and every thing made plain, the workmen were so diligent. - The King's Council hearing of this assembly came to the Gray Friars, - and sent for the mayor and the council of the city to know the - cause, which declared to them the nusiance done to the Citizens, and - their commodities and liberties taken from them, though they would - not yet the commonalty and young persons which were dampnified by - the nusiance would pluck up and remedy the same. And when the King's - council had heard the answer, they dissimuled the matter and - commanded the Mayor to see that no other thing were attempted, and - to call home the citizens, which when they had done their - enterprise, came home before the King's council and the Mayor - departed without any more harm doing, and so after, the fields were - never hedged. - - - - - MORE'S DESCRIPTION OF LONDON (1517). - - -Although the City of Amaurote in "Utopia" is not to be identified -exactly with London, it seems very likely that More had London in his -mind while he was writing this description, which is generally regarded -as drawn, to some extent, from the capital as it was in his day. - - - =Source.=—More's _Utopia_. - - The River Anyder riseth four and twenty miles above Amaurote, out of - a little spring: but being increased by other small floods and - brooks that run into it: and, among others, two somewhat bigger - ones. Before the City, it is half a mile broad (hardly so much now - as it was in former days, being pent in and straitened to a narrower - space, by the later buildings on each side): and further, broader. - By all that space that lieth between the Sea and the City, and a - good sort of land also above, the water ebbs and flows six hours - together, with a swift tide; when the sea flows in to the length of - thirty miles, it fills all the Anyder with salt water, and drives - back the fresh water of the river; and somewhat further, it hangeth - the sweetness of fresh water with saltness: but a little beyond - that, the river waxeth sweet, and runneth foreby the City fresh and - pleasant; and when the sea ebbs and goes back again, this fresh - water follows it almost to the very fall into the sea. - - They have also another river, which indeed is not very great, but it - runneth gently and pleasantly: for it riseth even out of the same - hill that the City standeth upon, and runneth down slope through the - midst of the City into Anyder. And because it ariseth a little - without the City, the Amaurotians have enclosed the head spring of - it with strong fences and bulwarks; and so have joined it to the - City: this done, to the intent that the waters should not be stopped - nor turned away, nor poisoned, if their enemies should chance to - come upon them. From thence the water is derived and brought down in - channels or brooks divers ways into the lower parts of the city. - Where that cannot be done by reason that the place will not suffer - it, then they gather the rain water in great cisterns which doth - them as good service. Then next for the situation and walls. That it - stood by the side of a low hill, in fashion almost square. The - breadth of it began a little beneath the top of the hill, and still - continued by the space of two miles, until it came to the river - Anyder. The length of it, which lieth by the river-side, was - somewhat more. - - The City is compassed about with an high and thick wall, full of - turrets and bulwarks. A dry ditch, but deep and broad and overgrown - with bushes, briers, and thorns, goeth about three sides or quarters - of the City. To the fourth side, the river itself serveth for a - ditch. - - The streets be appointed and set forth very commodious and handsome, - both for carriage and also against the winds. The streets be full - twenty foot broad. The houses be of fair and gorgeous buildings: and - in the street-side, they stand joined together in a long row through - the whole street, without any partition or separation. On the - backside of the houses, through the whole length of the street, lie - large gardens which be closed in round about with the back parts of - the street. Every house hath two doors, one to the street, and a - postern door on the backside into the garden. These doors be made - with two leaves, never locked nor bolted: so easy to be opened, that - they will follow the least drawing of a finger, and shut again of - themselves. - - They set great store by their gardens. In these they have vineyards - and all manner of fruits, herbs, and flowers, so pleasant, so well - furnished, and so finely kept, that I never saw anything more - fruitful, nor better trimmed in any place: and their study and - diligence herein cometh not only of pleasure, but also of a certain - strife and contention that is betwixt street and street, concerning - the trimming, husbanding, and flourishing, of their gardens, every - man for his own part: and verily, you shall not lightly find in all - the City anything that is more commodious, either for the profit of - the citizens, or for pleasure. And therefore it may seem, that the - first founder of the city minded nothing more so much as he did - these gardens. They say, that King Utopus himself, even at his first - beginning, appointed and drew forth the platform of the City into - this fashion and figure that it hath now, by his gallant garnishing - and the beautiful setting forth of it. Whereunto he saw that one's - man age would not suffice, that he left to his posterity. - - Their chronicles, which they keep written with all diligent - circumspection, containing the history of 1760 years, even from the - first conquest of the Island, record and witness, that the houses in - the beginning were very low, and likely homely cottages, or poor - shepherds' houses, made at all adventures of every rude piece of - wood that came first to hand: with mud-walls, and ridged roofs - thatched over with straw. But now the houses be curiously builded - after a gorgeous and gallant sort, with three stories, one over - another. - - The outside of the walls be made of either hard flint, or of - plaster, or else of brick: and the inner sides be well strengthened - with timber-work. - - The roofs be plain and flat, covered with a certain kind of plaster - that is of no cost: and yet so tempered that no fire can hurt or - perish it: and it withstandeth the violence of the weather, better - than any lead. - - They keep the wind out of their windows with glass: for it is there - much used; and some were also with fine linen dipped in oil or - amber: and that for two commodities: for by this means more light - cometh in, and the wind is better kept out. - - - - - EVIL MAY DAY (1517). - - -Riots were by no means infrequent in the City in the Middle Ages, and -here is an account of a typical disturbance, in which, of course, the -young and hot-headed apprentices took their share. Just at this time -there was intense animosity against the foreign merchants and artisans; -the citizens thought that the presence of the foreigners, pursuing their -occupations within the walls, was not only harmful to their own -interests, but a violation of their charters which had given them the -privilege of exclusive trade. At last the common indignation broke out -in the great riot of May Day, 1517, which was long remembered as Evil -May Day. It had been for centuries a practice of the citizens to collect -in bands on May Day to hold high holiday, and they would sally forth, -headed by mock officers, into the neighbouring fields to indulge in -various sports; on this particular occasion the holiday spirit was not -turned to such innocent and harmless purposes. - - - =Source.=—Hall's _Chronicle_. - - The young and evil disposed people said, they would be revenged on - the merchant strangers, as well as on the artificers strangers. On - Monday the morrow after, the King removed to his manor of Richmond. - - Upon this rumour the 28th day of April, divers young men of the City - assaulted the Aliens as they passed by the streets, and some were - stricken and some buffeted, and some thrown in the canal. Wherefore - the Mayor sent divers persons to ward, as Stephen Studley skinner, - and Bettes and Stephenson and divers other, some to one counter, and - some to another and some to Newgate. Then suddenly was a common - secret rumour, and no man could tell how it began, that on May day - next, the City would rebel and slay all aliens, insomuch as divers - strangers fled out of the City.... - - Then in all haste, every Alderman sent to his Ward that no man - should stir after 9 of the clock out of his house but to keep his - doors shut, and his servants within till 7 of the clock in the - morning. After this commandment, Sir John Monday, Alderman, came - from his Ward, and found two young men in Cheap playing at Bucklers, - and a great company of young men looking on them for the commandment - was then scarce known, for then it was but 9 of the clock. Master - Monday seeing that, bade them leave, and the one young man asked him - why? and then he said Thou shalt know, and took him by the arm to - have had him to the counter. Then all the young men resisted the - Alderman and took him from Master Monday, and cried 'Prentices and - clubs. Then out at every door came clubs and weapons and the - Alderman fled, and was in great danger. Then more people arose out - of every quarter, and out came serving men, and water men and - courtiers, and by 9 of the clock there were in Cheap 6 or 7 hundred. - And out of Paul's Churchyard came 3 hundred, which wist not of the - other, and so out of all places they gathered, and brake up the - counters, and took out the prisoners, that the Mayor had thither - committed for hurting of the strangers, and came to Newgate and took - out Studley and Petyt, committed thither for that cause. The Mayor - and Sheriffs were there present, and made proclamation in the King's - name, but nothing was obeyed. Thus they ran a plump through Saint - Nicholas Shambles, and at Saint Martins gate, there met with them - Sir Thomas Moore and other, desiring them to go to their lodgings: - And as they were entreating, and had also brought them to a stay: - The people of Saint Martins threw out stones and bats and hurt - divers honest persons, that were persuading the riotous people to - cease, and they bade them hold their hands, but still they threw out - bricks and hot water. Then a sergeant of arms called Nicholas - Dounes, which was there with Master Moore, entreating them, being - sore hurt, in a fury cried Down with them. Then all the misruled - persons ran to the doors and windows of Saint Martin, and spoiled - all that they found, and cast it into the street, and left few - houses unspoiled. And after that they ran heading into Cornhill by - Leadenhall to the house of one Mutuas a Frenchman or Picardy born, - which was a great bearer of Frenchmen, where they pick purses, or - how evil disposition soever they were of, and within his gate, - called Grenegate, dwelled divers Frenchmen that calendared worsted, - contrary to the King's laws: and all they were so born out by the - same Mutuas, yet no man durst meddle with them, wherefore he was - sore hated, and if the people had found him in their fury, they - would have stricken off his head: but when they found him not, the - watermen, and certain young priests that were there fell to rifling: - some ran to Blanche-chapelton, and brake the strangers houses, and - threw shoes and boots into the street. This from 10 or 11 of the - clock, continued these riotous people during which time a knight - called Sir Thomas Parr, in great haste went to the Cardinal and told - him of this riot, which incontinent strengthened his house with men - and ordnance. And after, this knight rode to the King to Richmond, - and made the report much more than it was. Wherefore the King - hastily sent to London and was truly advised of the matter, and how - the riot was ceased, and many of the doers apprehended. But while - this ruffling continued, Sir Richard Cholmeley knight, Lieutenant of - the Tower, no great friend to the City, in a frantic fury loosed - certain pieces of ordnance, and shot into the City, which did little - harm, howbeit his good will appeared. About 3 of the clock, these - riotous persons severed and went to their places of resort, and by - the way they were taken by the Mayor and the heads of the City, and - some sent to the Tower, and some to Newgate, and some to the - Counters, to the number of 300; some fled, and specially the - watermen and priests, and serving men, but the poor prentices were - taken. About five o'clock, the Earls of Shrewsbury and Surrey, which - had heard of this riot, came to London with such strength as they - had, so did the Inns of Court, and divers noble men: but before they - came all the riot was ceased, and many taken as you have heard. - - - - - THE PAPAL LEGATE IN THE CITY (1519). - - -Campeggio is well known in connection with the part which he played in -the divorce proceedings between Henry VIII. and his first wife Catherine -of Aragon in 1529. That occasion was not his first visit to England; he -had previously been entrusted with a mission from the Pope to Henry, and -the reception of himself and his train is described in the passage -below. The subject of this embassy of 1519 was to urge Henry to assist -in waging war on the Turks, who were apparently endeavouring to push -their way into Europe; and similar messages were conveyed at the same -time to the other powerful rulers on the Continent. The incident of the -opening of the chests must have created considerable amusement among the -onlookers, and would hardly add to the popular estimation of a Papal -embassy. - - - =Source.=—Hall's _Chronicle_. - - When the Cardinal of York knew, that there was coming a legate into - England, which should have a greater pre-eminence than a Cardinal, - he whose ambition was never satisfied, caused a Bishop and certain - Doctors to pass the sea to Calais to welcome him, and to show him - that if he would have the Popes purpose, to take any effect in - England, he should in any wise send in post to Rome, to have the - said Cardinal of York to be legate also, and to be joined in - commission with him, which thing was done (not without good rewards) - so that in thirty and five days, the bull was brought to Calais. - During which time the Cardinal of York sent to the Legate to Calais, - red cloth to clothe his servants, which at their coming to Calais, - were but meanly appareled. And when all things were ready he passed - the sea and landed at Dover, and so kept forth his journey toward - London. At every town as they passed, he was received with - Procession, and accompanied with all the Lords and gentlemen of - Kent. And when he came to Blackheath, there met him the Duke of - Norfolk, with a great number of prelates, knights and gentlemen, all - richly appareled. And in the way he was brought into a rich tent of - cloth of gold, where he shifted himself into a robe of a Cardinal, - edged with ermine, and so took his mule riding toward London. - - The night before he came to London the Cardinal of York, to furnish - the carriages of the Cardinal Campeius, sent to him twelve mulettes - with empty coffers covered with red, which twelve mulettes were led - through London, amongst the mulettes of Campeius, which were but - eight and so these twenty mulettes passed through the streets, as - though they had been full of treasures, apparel and other - necessaries. And when they came into Chepe, one of the mulettes - brake from her keeper, and overthrew the chests, and overturned two - or three other mulettes carriages, which fell with such violence, - that divers of them unlocked, and out of some fell old hosen, broken - shoon, and roasted flesh, pieces of bread, eggs and much vile - baggage; at which sight the boys cried, See, see my Lord Legates - treasure, and so the muleteers were ashamed, and took up all their - stuff and passed forth. And about three o'clock in the afternoon on - the 29th day of July the said legate entered the city, and in - Southwark met him all the clergy of London with crosses, censors and - copes and 'censed him with great reverence. The Mayor and Aldermen, - and all the occupations of the city in their best liveries stood in - the streets, and him highly honoured: to whom Sir Thomas More made a - brief oration in the name of the city. And when he came to St. - Pauls, there he was received by bishops mitred, and under a canopy - entered the church: which canopy his servants took for their fees. - And when he had offered, he gave his benediction to all the people, - and took again his mule, and so was with all his train aforesaid, - conveyed to Bath place, and there rested: where he was welcomed of - the Cardinal of York. And on Sunday next ensuing these two Cardinals - as legates, took their barges and came to Greenwich, each of them - had beside their cross two pillars of silver, two little axes gilt, - and two cloke bags embroidered, and the Cardinals hats borne before - them. And when they came to the kings hall, the Cardinal of York - went on the right hand; and there the King royally appareled and - accompanied, met them even as though both had come from Rome, and so - brought them both up into his chamber of presence, and there was a - solemn oration made by an Italian, declaring the cause of the legacy - to be in two articles, one for aid against God's enemies, and the - second for reformation of the Clergy. And when Mass was done, they - were had to a chamber, and served with lords and knights, with much - solemnity: and after dinner they took their leave of the king and - came to London and rode through the city together, in great pomp and - glory, to their lodgings. - - - - - WOLSEY AND THE CITIZENS (1525). - - -The incidents related in the following passage are concerned with one of -the periodical efforts of Henry VIII. to raise money in irregular ways. -He seems to have left the matter on this occasion to Wolsey, who issued -commissions for levying the sixth part of the goods of the laity and the -fourth of those of the clergy. This proceeding caused great alarm, and -rebellions appeared imminent in all parts of the country. Whereupon -Henry disavowed the whole business, and told the citizens of London that -he would not exact anything by compulsion, but merely ask for a -benevolence. This was, of course, recognised as an artifice to obtain -the same results by different means, and the citizens sturdily -protested, arguing that benevolences had been declared illegal. Wolsey -experienced very great difficulty in his dealings with the Londoners, -who well maintained their reputation for guarding their independence and -liberty, even when faced with threats and menaces. - - - =Source.=—Hall's _Chronicle_. - - And now since God hath given us victory, the King remembering the - saying of the Poet that sayeth: It is more mastery to use victory - gotten, than to get it, thinketh it necessary now in all haste, to - make an army royal, and he in person to pass the seas, and to - recover his right inheritance, both of the Crown of France as of - Normandy, Guyen, Gascony, Aniowe and Mayne, the writings whereof - comprehending the very title, you may see here present if ye list, - but I doubt not but you know them well enough. And now I ask you - this question, whether that you think it convenient, that the King - should pass with an army or not, for the King will do by the advice - of his subjects: to the which many said yea. - - Well said the Cardinal, then must he be made able to go like a - Prince, which cannot be without your aids, and for to shew you what - the Archbishop of Canterbury and I, which be primates of the realm - hath done, we have given of our lands, and all lands appertaining to - the church, the third part, and the temporal lords have given of - lands and goods, the sixth part, and to jeopard their bodies in pain - and travail, and now since they which shall adventure their lives, - doth proffer the sixth part, what should they give which abide at - home? Forsooth I think that half your substance were too little, not - meaning that the King so asketh. For he demandeth only no more, of - fifty pound, the sixth part, and so upon every pound above fifty, to - what sum soever it amount to, the sixth part that is 3s. and 3 pence - of the pound and from 20 pound to fifty pound, and so upward. 2s. - and 8 pence of the pound, and from 20 pound to 20s. 12 pence of the - pound, and this to be levied according to the first valuation, as - appeareth by your own valuation, which is but a small matter, to the - thing that is meant. Then they being astonished, at last one said, - My lord since the last valuation divers merchants be decayed by the - seas, and suretyship, and other ways, so that valuation cannot be - had. Then answered the Cardinal, Sirs, speak not to break the thing - that is concluded, for some shall not pay the tenth part, and some - more, it were better that some should suffer indigence, than the - King at this time should lack, and therefore beware and resist not, - nor ruffel not in this case, for it may fortune to cost some their - heads: but I will speak to the King, to be good to you, so that if - he go not over the sea in person, then you shall have your money - redelivered, but first let the money be gathered, and lay it where - you will, and if the King need it not, you may take it again. - - When the Cardinal had thus persuaded the Mayor, and his brethren and - other head commoners, they took their leave and every day after by - the space of fortnight, he sent for a certain number of Commoners, - and told them like tale, but some spake such words to him, and some - going from him, that they were sent to ward. - - - - - THE APPRENTICES (1527, ETC.). - - -During the Tudor period the apprentice was a prominent feature of London -life, and is chiefly famous for his prowess as a disturber of the peace. -The apprentice system was of considerable importance, and many -regulations and ordinances were passed from time to time to govern the -conditions under which apprentices were to be bound and treated during -their term. The story of "Evil May Day," already given, illustrates the -turbulence of the apprentices and the relaxation of discipline in the -City during this period. The Regulations of 1582 show clearly that they -were getting out of hand, and in 1595 further troubles induced Elizabeth -to issue further instructions of a drastic nature. - - - =Sources.=— - (_a_) An Act of Common Council, 1527, quoted by Maitland, i. 230; - (_b_) _ibid._, 1582, Maitland, i. 267; - (_c_) Strype's edition of Stow's _Survey_, vol. ii. - - (_a_) [_Admonition to the Apprentices_].—Ye shall constantly and - devoutly on your knees, every day, serve God, morning and evening; - and make conscience in the due hearing of the Word preached, and - endeavour the right practice thereof on your life and conversation. - You shall do diligent and faithful service to your master for the - time of your apprenticeship, and deal truly in what you shall be - trusted. You shall often read over the covenants of your indenture, - and see and endeavour yourself to perform the same, to the utmost of - your power. You shall avoid all evil company, and all occasions - which may tend to draw you to the same; and make speedy return when - you shall be sent of your masters' and mistresses' business. You - shall be of fair, gentle, and lowly speech and behaviour to all men, - and especially to all your governors; and according to your - carriage, expect your reward, for good or ill, from God and your - friends. - - (_b_) Henceforth no apprentice whatsoever shall presume: 1. To wear - any apparel but what he receives from his master. 2. To wear no hat - within the city and liberty thereof, nor anything instead thereof - than a woollen cap, without any silk in or about the same. 3. To - wear no ruffles, cuffs, loose collar, nor other thing than a ruff at - the collar, and that only of a yard and a half long.... 10. To wear - no sword, dagger, or other weapon, but a knife; nor a ring, jewel of - gold, nor silver, nor silk in any part of the apparel. - - It was likewise further enacted that every apprentice offending - against any of the above-mentioned items was for the first offence - to be punished at the discretion of his master; for the second to be - publicly whipped at the hall of his company; and for the third to - serve six months longer than specified in his indentures. It was - also further ordained that no apprentice should frequent or go to - any dancing, fencing, or musical schools; nor keep any chest, press, - or other place for the keeping of apparel or goods, but in his - master's house, under the penalties aforesaid. - - (_c_) The ancient habit of the apprentices of London was a flat - round cap, hair close cut, narrow falling bands, coarse side coats, - close hose, cloth stockings, and other such severe apparel. When - this garb had been urged by some to the disparagement of - apprentices, as a token of servitude, one, many a year ago, - undertaking the defence of these apprentices, wrote thus, that this - imported the commendable thrift of the citizens, and was only the - mark of an apprentice's vocation and calling (and which anciently, - no question, was the ordinary habit of a citizen), which point of - ancient discipline, he said, the grave common lawyers do still - retain in their profession; for the professors of that learning, we - see, do at this present retain the parti-coloured coats of - serving-men at their serjeants' feasts; and he wished, that the - remembrance of this ancient livery might be preserved by the grave - citizens, in setting apart a particular time or day for the feast of - their apprenticeship, when they should wear their former - apprentice's garb; making profession in this way, that they gloried - in the ensigns of their honest apprenticeship. - - In the time of Queen Mary, the beginning of Queen Elizabeth, as well - as many years before, all apprentices wore blue cloaks in the - summer, and blue gowns in the winter. But it was not lawful for any - man, either servant or other, to wear their gowns lower than the - calves of their legs, except they were above threescore years of - age; but, the length of cloaks being not limited, they made them - down to their shoes. Their breeches and stockings were usually of - white broad cloth, viz. round slops, and their stockings sewed up - close thereto, as if they were all but one piece. They also wore - flat caps both then and many years after, as well apprentices as - journey-men and others, both at home and abroad; whom the pages of - the court in derision called flat-caps. - - When apprentices and journeymen attended upon their masters and - mistresses in the night they went before them carrying a lanthorn - and candle in their hands and a great long club on their necks; and - many well-grown sturdy apprentices used to wear long daggers in the - day time on their backs or sides. - - Anciently it was the general use and custom of all apprentices in - London (Mercers only excepted, being commonly merchants, and of - better rank, as it seems) to carry water tankards, to serve their - masters' houses with water, fetched either from the Thames, or the - common conduits of London. - - It was a great matter, in former Times, to give £10 to bind a youth - apprentice; but, in King James the First's time, they gave 20, 40, - 60 and sometimes £100 with an apprentice; but now these prices are - vastly enhanced, to 500, 600, or £800. - - - - - A WATER PAGEANT (1533). - - -The reign of Henry VIII. is famous for the number and splendour of its -pageants. The Field of Cloth of Gold is familiar to all, and every event -of any importance was made the occasion of a display of splendid -clothing, tapestry, jewels, and allegorical groups. The fashion of -extravagance and love of show, which was set by the King, was followed -by all who could afford, and the City was in no way behindhand in taking -part in these functions. The coronation in 1509, the reception of the -French ambassadors in 1518, that of the Legate Campeggio, that of the -Emperor Charles, the coronation of Anne Boleyn—all these afforded an -occasion for a pageant, and the opportunity was never lost. The -following description is of a water pageant in honour of Anne Boleyn. - - - =Source.=—Grafton's _Chronicles_, vol. ii., p. 448. - - The xix day of May the Mayor and his brethren all in scarlet, and - such as were knights had collars of Esses and the remnant having - good chains, and the council of the City with them assembled at - Saint Mary Hill, and at one of the clock descended to the New stair - to their barge, which was garnished with many goodly banners and - instruments, which continually made good harmony. After that the - Mayor and his brethren were in their barge seeing that all the - companies to the number of fifty barges were ready to wait upon - them. They gave commandment to the companies that no barge should - row nearer to another than twice the length of the barge upon a - great pain. And to see the order kept, there were three light - wherries prepared, and in every one of them two officers to call on - them to keep their order, after which commandment given they set - forth in order as hereafter is described. First before the Mayor's - barge was a foyst or wafter full of ordinance, in which foyst was a - great dragon continually moving, and casting wild fire: and round - about the said foyst stood terrible monsters and wild men casting - fire, and making hideous noises: next after the foyst a good - distance came the Mayor's barge, on whose right hand was the - Batchelors' barge, in the which were trumpets and divers other - melodious instruments. The decks of the said barge and the sailyards - and the top castels were hanged with rich cloth of gold and silk. At - the foreship and the stern were two great banners rich beaten with - the arms of the King and Queen, and on the top castell also was a - long streamer newly beaten with the said arms. - - At three of the clock the Queen appeared in rich cloth of gold and - entered into her barge accompanied with divers ladies and - gentlewomen, and incontinent the citizens set forwards in their - order, their musicians continually playing and the batchelors' barge - going on the Queen's right hand, which she took great pleasure to - behold. About the Queen's barge were many noblemen, as the Duke of - Suffolk, the Marquis Dorset, the Earl of Wiltshire her father, the - Earls of Arundel, Derby, Rutland, Worcester, Huntington, Sussex, - Oxford, and many Bishops and noblemen, every one in his barge which - was a goodly sight to behold. She thus being accompanied rowed - toward the Tower, and in the mean way the ships which were commanded - to lie on the shore for letting of the barges shot divers peals of - guns, and ere she landed there was a marvellous shot out of the - Tower as ever was heard there. And at her landing there met with her - the Lord Chamberlain with the officers of arms and brought her to - the King, which received her with loving countenance at the postern - by the waterside, and kissed her, and then she turned back again and - thanked the Mayor and the citizens with many goodly words and so - entered the Tower. - - - - - LATIMER'S EXHORTATION TO LONDON (1549). - - -Quite early in his career Latimer earned considerable fame as an -eloquent preacher, but the boldness with which he proclaimed his -religious views, and his denunciations of ecclesiastical abuses, -frequently placed him in difficult positions. He lost favour towards the -end of the reign of Henry VIII., but on the accession of Edward VI. he -regained his old position of importance, and devoted himself to the work -of an itinerant preacher. In this character his popular preaching -talents exerted a much wider and more permanent influence in the spread -of his opinions than his work as Bishop of Worcester could have done; -and it is certain that his labours contributed very largely to fix the -doctrines of the Reformation in the minds of the people. - - - =Source.=—Latimer's _Sermon on the Ploughers_. - - Now what shall we say of these rich artisans of London? What shall I - say of them? Shall I call them proud men of London, malicious men of - London, merciless men of London? No, no, I may not say so, they will - be offended with me then. Yet must I speak. For is there reigning in - London as much pride, as much covetousness, as much cruelty, as much - oppression, as much superstition, as was in Nebo? Yes, I think so - and much more too. Therefore I say, repent, O London! repent, - repent! Thou hearest thy faults told thee; amend them, amend them. - And you rulers and officers, be wise and circumspect, look to your - charge and see you do your duties and rather be glad to amend your - ill living than to be angry when you are warned or told of your - fault.... But London cannot abide to be rebuked; such is the nature - of men. If they be pricked, they will kick. If they be rubbed on the - gall, they will wince. But yet they will not amend their faults, - they will not be ill spoken of. But how shall I speak well of them? - If you could be content to receive and follow the word of God and - favour good preachers, if you could bear to be told of your faults, - if you could amend when you hear of them: if you would be glad to - reform what is amiss: if I might see any such inclination in you, - that leave to be merciless and begin to be charitable, I would then - hope well of you, I would speak well of you. But London was never so - ill as it is now. In times past men were full of pity and compassion - but now there is no pity; for in London their brother shall die in - the streets for cold, he shall lie sick at the door between stock - and stock, I cannot tell what to call it, and perish there for - hunger. In times past when any rich men died in London, they were - wont to help the poor scholars of the university with exhibitions. - When any man died, they would bequeath great sums of money towards - the relief of the poor. When I was a scholar at Cambridge myself, I - heard very good report of London and knew many that had relief of - the rich men of London; but now I can hear no such good report and - yet I inquire of it and hearken for it; but now charity is waxed - cold, none help the scholar nor yet the poor. And in those days what - did they when they helped the scholars? Many they maintained and - gave them living that were very papists and professed the pope's - doctrines; and now that the knowledge of God's word is brought to - light, and many earnestly study and labour to set it forth, now - almost no man helpeth to maintain them. Oh! London! London! repent, - repent, for I think God is more displeased with London than ever he - was with the city of Nebo. Amend therefore; and ye that be prelates, - look well to your office, for right prelating is busy labouring and - not lording. Therefore preach and teach, and let your plough be - doing; ye lords, I say, that live like loiterers, look well to your - office; the plough is your office and charge. If you live idle and - loiter, you do not your duty, you follow not your vocation; let your - plough therefore be going and not cease, that true ground may bring - forth good fruit. - - - - - MARY'S SPEECH TO THE CITIZENS (1553). - - -The project of the marriage between Mary and Philip of Spain caused -profound uneasiness throughout England, and the fear of persecution and -the anxiety of the nobles for their possessions brought about a -formidable conspiracy. The standard of revolt was raised in many parts -of the country, but only Sir Thomas Wyatt achieved any success. He was -soon at the head of fifteen hundred Kentish men, and his avowed object -was to save England from Spain. A force of soldiers sent against him -deserted to his side, and he marched upon London. The situation was -saved by Mary's coolness and courage; she showed no signs of fear, -refused to take refuge in flight, and addressed the citizens of London -assembled in the Guildhall. Her resolute bearing and discreet promises -aroused enthusiasm among her hearers, who had heard of Jack Cade, and -did not wish to see their city in the hands of an armed mob. Men were -hastily enrolled, the drawbridge on London Bridge was raised, and Wyatt -was unable to enter the City. He crossed the river at Kingston, but his -men began to drop away, and he surrendered at Temple Bar. He was -executed shortly afterwards. - -This incident, like many others, illustrates the immense importance of -London in connection with political affairs; over and over again the -destinies of the kingdom have been settled by the attitude of the -citizens of London. - - - =Source.=—Speed's _History_, book ix., chap. xxiii. - - In my own person I am come unto you, to tell you that which - yourselves already do see and know; I mean, the traitorous and - seditious number of the Kentish Rebels, that are assembled against - us and you. Their pretence, as they say, is to resist a marriage - between us and the Prince of Spain. Of all their plots, pretended - quarrels and evil-contrived articles, you have been made privy; - since which time our Council have resorted to the rebels, demanding - the cause of their continued enterprise; by whose answers the - marriage is found to be the reason of their quarrel; or rather, a - cloak to cover their pretended purposes against our religion; for - swerving from their former articles, they now manifestly betray the - inward treason of their hearts, most arrogantly demanding the - possession of our person, the keeping of our Tower, and not only the - placing and displacing of our Counsellors, but also to use them and - us at their pleasures: what I am, loving Subjects, you right well - know—your Queen, to whom at my Coronation, when I was wedded to the - Realm, and to the laws of the same, (the spousal ring whereof I have - on my finger, which never hitherto was, nor hereafter shall be left - off) ye promised your allegiance and obedience unto me; and that I - am the right and true inheritor to the English Crown, I not only - take all Christendom to witness, but also your Acts of Parliament - confirming the same. - - My Father, as you all know, possessed the Regal estate by right of - inheritance, which now by the same right, is descended unto me: to - him you always shewed yourselves both faithful and loving subjects, - as to your liege Lord and King, and therefore I doubt not, but you - will shew yourselves so to me his Daughter which if you do, then may - you not suffer any rebel to usurp the government of our person, or - interpose our estate, especially so presumptuous a traitor as this - Wyat hath shewed himself to be; who most certainly, as he hath - abused our ignorant subjects to be adherents to his traitorous - quarrel, so doth he intend by the colour of the same to subdue the - laws to his will, and to give scope to the rascal and forlorn - persons, to make general havoc and spoil of your goods. - - And this I say further unto you in the word of a Prince, I cannot - tell how naturally a mother loveth her children, for I was never the - mother of any; but certainly, if a Prince and Governour may as - naturally love their subjects, as the mother doth her child, then - assure yourselves, that I, being your Sovereign Lady and Queen, do - as earnestly and tenderly love and favour you; and I, thus loving - you, cannot but think, that you as heartily and faithfully love me - again; and so, this love bound together in the knot of concord, we - shall be able, I doubt not, to give these rebels a short and speedy - overthrow. - - Now, as concerning my intended marriage, you shall understand, that - I entered not into the Treaty thereof without the advice of our - Privy Council, yea, and by the assent of those to whom my Father - committed his trust, who have so considered the great commodities - that may thereof ensue, as they not only have thought it very - honourable, but also expedient both for the wealth of our realm, and - also to our loving subjects. - - But as touching myself, I assure you, I am not so desirous of - wedding, neither am I so precisely wedded to my will, that either - for mine own pleasure I will choose where I list, or else so - amorous, as needs I must have one; for I thank God, to whom be the - praise, I have hitherto lived a Virgin, and doubt not but, with - God's grace to be able to live so still. - - But if, as my progenitors have done before, it might please God that - I might leave some fruit of my body to be your governour, I trust, - you would not only rejoice thereat, but also I know, it would be to - your great comfort; and certainly, if I either did know or think, - that this marriage should either turn to the danger or loss of any - of you, my loving subjects, or to the detriment of any part of the - Royal estate of the English realm, I would never consent thereunto, - neither would I ever marry, whilst I lived; and in the word of a - Queen, I promise and assure you, if it shall not probably appear - before the nobility and commons in the High Court of Parliament, - that this marriage shall be for the singular benefit and commodity - of the whole realm, that then I will abstain, not only from this - marriage, but also from any other. - - Wherefore, good subjects, pluck up your hearts, and, like true men, - stand fast with your lawful Prince against these rebels, both ours - and yours, and fear them not, for I assure you, I do not, and will - leave with you my Lord Howard and my Lord Treasurer, to be assistant - with my Lord Mayor, for the safeguard of the City from spoil and - sackage, which is the only scope of this rebellious company. - - - - - SORANZO'S REPORT ON LONDON (1554). - - -The following is the impression of a Venetian Ambassador, contained in -his report to the Senate: - - - =Source.=—_Calendar of State Papers, Venetian, 1534-1554_, No. 934. - - The principal cities of the kingdom are London and York, but London - is the most noble, both on account of its being the royal residence, - and because the river Thames runs through it, very much to the - convenience and profit of the inhabitants, as it ebbs and flows - every six hours like the sea, scarcely ever causing inundation or - any extraordinary floods; and up to London Bridge it is navigable - for ships of 400 butts burden, of which a great plenty arrive with - every sort of merchandise. This bridge connects the city with the - borough, and is built of stone with twenty arches, and shops on both - sides. On the banks of the river there are many large palaces, - making a very fine show, but the city is much disfigured by the - ruins of a multitude of churches and monasteries belonging - heretofore to friars and nuns. It has a dense population, said to - number 180,000 souls; and is beyond measure commercial, the - merchants of the entire kingdom flocking thither, as, by a privilege - conceded to the citizens of London, from them alone can they - purchase merchandise, so they soon became very wealthy; and the same - privileges placed in their hands the government of the city of - London, which is divided into 24 trades or crafts, each of which - elects a certain individual, styled alderman, the election being - made solely in the persons of those who are considered the most - wealthy, and the office is for life; the which aldermen, after - assembling these trades, create annually a person as their head for - the current year entitled Mayor. - - - - - THE ROYAL EXCHANGE (1566). - - -Sir Thomas Gresham, a wealthy and munificent London merchant, offered in -1563 to build, at his own expense, a Bourse or Exchange, if the City -would provide the ground. The need for some such building was becoming -rather serious; the commerce of the country was growing very rapidly, -and Lombard Street had long been too small for the business of London. -Men were exposed there to all weathers, and had to crowd into small -shops. For twenty or thirty years there had been talk of making a new -place of resort for the merchants, and the example of Antwerp, London's -great rival in trade, inspired Gresham to make his magnificent gift to -his fellow-citizens. - -Gresham's building was destroyed in the Fire of 1666, and its successor -was burned down in 1838. - - - =Source.=—Stow's _Survey_, p. 193. - - Then next is the Royal Exchange, erected in the year 1566, after - this order, viz., certain houses upon Cornhill, and the like upon - the back thereof, in the ward of Broad street, with three alleys, - the first called Swan Alley, opening into Cornhill, the second New - Alley, passing throughout of Cornhill into Broad-street ward, over - against Saint Bartholomew lane, the third Saint Christophers Alley, - opening into Broad street ward, and into Saint Christophers parish, - containing in all fourscore households: were first purchased by the - Citizens of London, for more than £3532, and were sold for £478, to - such persons as should take them down and carry them thence, also - the ground or plot was made plain at the charges of the City, and - then possession thereof was by certain Aldermen, in name of the - whole Citizens, given to Sir Thomas Gresham, Knight, Agent to the - Queen's Highness, thereupon to build a Bourse, or place for - merchants to assemble in, at his own proper charges: and he on the - seventh of June laying the first stone of the foundation, being - brick, accompanied with some Aldermen, everyone of them laid a piece - of gold, which the workmen took up, and forthwith followed upon the - same with such diligence, that by the month of November, in the year - 1567, the same was covered with slate, and shortly after fully - finished. - - In the year 1570, on the 23. of January, the Queen's Majesty, - attended with her nobility, came from her house at the Strand called - Somerset house, and entered the City by Temple Bar, through Fleet - Street, Cheap, and so by the north side of the Bourse through - Threadneedle Street, to Sir Thomas Gresham's in Bishopsgate Street, - where she dined. After dinner her Majesty returning through - Cornhill, entered the Bourse on the south side, and after that she - had viewed every part thereof above the ground, especially the pawn, - which was richly furnished with all sorts of the finest wares in the - City: she caused the same Bourse by an herald and a trumpet, to be - proclaimed the Royal Exchange, and so to be called from thenceforth, - and not otherwise. - - - - - A LORD MAYOR'S SHOW (1575). - - -It is supposed that the annual pageant connected with the election of -the Mayor had its origin in an old custom that the newly-elected officer -should be presented to the King or his justiciar; we have, however, -little information concerning the earlier processions, and they are -hardly noticed by chroniclers until the fifteenth century. It appears -that the practice of proceeding to Westminster on horseback was started -in 1415, but an infirm Mayor in 1453 introduced the custom of making the -progress by barge on the river; this lasted until the middle of the -seventeenth century, but there was, in addition, always the ride on -horseback from the Guildhall to the point of embarkation. The fashion -for pageantry and display, which was so prominent a feature of Henry -VIII.'s reign, influenced this annual function, which tended to become -more and more elaborate. - - - =Source.=—William Smith's _Brief Description of London_ (1575). - - The day of St. Simon and Jude, he (the Mayor) entered into his - estate and office; and the next day following he goeth by water to - Westminster in most triumphlike manner. His barge being garnished - with the arms of the city; and near the said barge goeth a ship boat - of the Queen's Majesty, being trimmed up, and rigged like a ship of - war, with divers pieces of ordinance, standards, pennons, and - targets of the proper arms of the said Mayor, the arms of the City, - of his company; and of the merchants adventurers, or of the staple, - or of the company of the new trades; next before him goeth the barge - of the livery of his own company, decked with their own proper arms, - then the bachelors' barge, and so all the companies in London, in - order, every one having their own proper barge garnished with the - arms of their company. And so passing along the Thames, landeth at - Westminster, where he taketh his oath in the Exchequer, before the - judge there (which is one of the chief judges of England), which - done, he returneth by water as aforesaid, and landeth at Powles - wharf, where he and the rest of the Aldermen take their horses, and - in great pomp pass through the great street of the City, called - Cheapside. And first of all cometh two great standards, one having - the arms of the City, and the other the arms of the Mayor's Company; - next them two drums and a flute, then an ensign of the City, and - then about xx or xxx poor men marching two and two together in blue - gowns, with red sleeves and caps, with every one bearing a pike and - a target, whereon is painted the arms of all them that have been - Mayor of the same company that this new mayor is of. Then two - banners, one of the King's arms, the other of the Mayor's own proper - arms. Then a set of hautboys playing, and after them certain - wyfflers, in velvet coats, and chains of gold, with white staves in - their hands, then the pageant of triumph richly decked, whereupon by - certain figures and writings, some matter touching justice, and the - office of a magistrate is represented. Then sixteen trumpeters, - eight and eight in a company, having banners of the Mayor's company. - Then certain wyfflers in velvet coats and chains, with white staves - aforesaid. Then the bachelors two and two together, in long gowns - with crimson hoods on their shoulders of satin; which bachelors are - chosen every year of the same Company that the Mayor is of (but not - of the livery) and serve as gentlemen on that and other festival - days, to wait on the Mayor, being in number according to the - quantity of the company, sometimes sixty or one hundred. After them - twelve trumpeters more, with banners of the Mayor's Company, then - the drum and flute of the city, and an ensign of the Mayor's - company, and after, the waits of the city in blue gowns, red sleeves - and caps, every one having his silver collar about his neck. Then - they of the livery in their long gowns, every one having his hood on - his left shoulder, half black and half red, the number of them is - according to the greatness of the company whereof they are. After - them follow Sheriffs' officers, and then the Mayor's officers, with - other officers of the city, as the common serjeant, and the - chamberlain, next before the Mayor goeth the sword-bearer, having on - his head the cap of honour, and the sword of the city in his right - hand, in a rich scabard, set with pearl, and on his left hand goeth - the common crier of the city, with his great mace on his shoulder, - all gilt. The Mayor elect in a long gown of scarlet, and on his left - shoulder a hood of black velvet, and a rich collar of gold of SS. - about his neck, and with him rideth the old Mayor also, in his - scarlet gown, hood of velvet, and a chain of gold about his neck. - Then all the Aldermen two and two together (amongst whom is the - Recorder) all in scarlet gowns; and those that have been Mayors, - have chains of gold, the other have black velvet tippets. The two - Sheriffs come last of all, in their black and scarlet gowns and - chains of gold. - - In this order they pass along through the city, to the Guildhall, - where they dine that day, to the number of 1000 persons, all at the - charge of the Mayor and the two Sheriffs. This feast costeth £400, - whereof the Mayor payeth £200 and each of the Sheriffs £100. - Immediately after dinner, they go to the church of St. Paul, every - one of the aforesaid poor men bearing staff torches and targets, - which torches are lighted when it is late, before they come from - evening prayer. - - - - - LONDON AND THE ARMADA (1587). - - -The threatened invasion by the "Grand Fleet" of Philip of Spain was the -occasion of a splendid manifestation of loyalty throughout the kingdom. -The royal fleet contained only thirty-four ships, but every seaport made -its contribution, and every man between the ages of eighteen and sixty -was enrolled for defence, in the event of the successful landing of the -enemy. The instructions conveyed in the Queen's letter to the citizens -of London are an indication of the friendly relations between the City -and the Sovereign, and serve also to show the wealth and power which -London possessed at the time. - - - =Source.=—Document quoted by Maitland, vol. i., p. 272. - - Trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well. - - Whereas upon information given unto us of great preparations made in - foreign parts with an intent to attempt somewhat against this our - realm, we gave present order that our said realm should be put in - order of defence; which we have caused to be performed in all parts - accordingly, saving in the City of London. - - We therefore knowing your readiness, by former experience, to - perform any service that well-affected subjects ought to yield to - their Prince and Sovereign, do let you understand, that within our - said City our pleasure is, that there be forthwith put in a - readiness to serve for defence of our own person, upon such - occasions as may fall out, the number of ten thousand able men, - furnished with armour and weapons convenient; of which number, our - meaning is, that six thousand be enrolled under Captains and - Ensigns, and to be trained at times convenient, according to such - further direction as you shall receive from our Privy Council, under - six of their hands, which our pleasure is you do follow from time to - time in the ordering and training of the said numbers of men. - - And these our letters shall be your sufficient warrant for the doing - of the same. - - Given under our Signet at our Manor of Greenwich, - the 8th of March, 1587, in the thirtieth year of - our Reign. - - - - - THE CITY'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE STAGE - (1592). - - -The drama experienced an extraordinary development during the latter -half of the sixteenth century, and its growth was altogether -irresistible. In spite of the opposition of moralists and preachers the -theatre flourished more and more; and the mayors and aldermen of London -were faced with a somewhat serious problem. They looked upon the play -with disfavour; the actors were men of no trade or position, they were -merely vagabonds. All the idlers in the town would assemble to see a -play, and where there was a crowd there was danger to peace and order. -Brawls and disorders would frequently arise, and the thieves and rogues -of the city would take every advantage of the throng. Urged partly by -fear of disorder, partly by the spirit of Puritanism which was rapidly -gaining ground, the city officials did their best to drive out plays and -players from their boundaries; and the theatres had at first to be set -up outside the city jurisdiction. The ordinances of 1574 set forth in -lurid terms the evils which theatres were alleged to bring in their -train, and strict regulations were made, providing that only properly -licensed players should act, in such places as might be approved. The -following documents show how the trouble still continued, and was the -source of great anxiety. - - - =Source.=—Malone Society, _Collections_, 1., i., xviii, xxvi: - (_a_) The Lord Mayor to Archbishop Whitgift (1592); - (_b_) An Order of the Privy Council (1600). - - (_a_) Our most humble duties to your Grace. Whereas by the daily and - disorderly exercise of a number of players and playing houses - erected within this City, the youth thereof is greatly corrupted and - their manners infected with many evil and ungodly qualities, by - reason of the wanton and profane devices represented on the stages - by the said players, the prentices and servants withdrawn from their - works and all sorts in general from the daily resort unto sermons - and other Christian exercises, to the great hindrance of the trades - and traders of this City, and profanation of the good and godly - religions established among us. To which places also do resort great - numbers of light and lewd disposed persons as cutpurses, cozeners, - pilferers and such like, and there under the colour of resort to - those places to hear the plays devise divers evil and ungodly - matches, confederacies, and conspiracies, which by means of the - opportunity of the place cannot be prevented nor discovered, as - otherwise they might be. In consideration whereof we most humbly - beseech your Grace for your godly care for the reforming of so great - abuses tending to the offence of Almighty God, the profanation and - slander of his true religion, and the corrupting of our youth, which - are the seed of the Church of God and the common wealth among us, to - vouchsafe us your good favour and help for the reforming and - banishing of so great evil out of this city, which ourselves of long - time though to small purpose have so earnestly desired and - endeavoured by all means that possibly we could. And because we - understand that the Queen's Majesty is and must be served at certain - times by this sort of people, for which purpose she hath granted her - Letters Patent to Mr. Tilney, Master of her Revels, by virtue - whereof he being authorised to reform, exercise, or suppress all - manner of players, plays and playing-houses whatsoever, did first - license the said playing-houses within the city for Her Majesty's - said service, which before that time lay open to all the statutes - for the punishing of these and such like disorders. We are most - humbly and earnestly to beseech your Grace to call unto you the said - Master of Her Majesty's Revels, with whom also we have conferred of - late to that purpose, and to treat with him, if by any means it may - be devised that Her Majesty may be served with these recreations as - hath been accustomed, which in our opinions may easily be done by - the private exercise of Her Majesty's own players in convenient - place, and the city freed from these continual disorders, which - thereby do grow and increase daily among us. Whereby your Grace - shall not only benefit and bind unto you the politic state and - government of this city, which by no one thing is so greatly annoyed - and disquieted as by players and plays and the disorders which - follow thereon, but also to take away a great offence from the - Church of God and hindrance to His gospel, to the great contentment - of all good Christians, specially the preachers and ministers of the - Word of God about this city, who have long time and yet do make - their earnest continual complaint unto us for the redress hereof. - And thus recommending our most humble duties and service to your - Grace we commit the same to the grace of the Almighty. - - (_b_) An order set down by the Lords and others of Her Majesty's - Privy Council, the 22 of June 1600 to restrain the excessive number - of play-houses and the immoderate use of stage plays in and about - the city. - - Whereas divers complaints have been heretofore made unto the Lords - and others of Her Majesty's Council of the manifold abuses and - disorders that have grown and do continue by occasion of many houses - erected and employed in and about the city of London for common - stage plays; and now very lately by reason of some complaint - exhibited by sundry persons against the building of the like house - in or near Golding Lane by one Edward Allen, a servant of the right - honourable the Lord Admiral, the matter as well in generality - touching all the said houses for stage plays and the use of playing - as in particular concerning the said house now in hand to be built - in or near Golding Lane hath been brought into question and - consultation among their Lordships; forasmuch as it is manifestly - known and granted that the multitude of the said houses and the - misgovernment of them hath been made and is daily occasion of the - idle, riotous and dissolute living of great numbers of people, who, - leaving all such honest and painful course of life as they should - follow, do meet and assemble there; and of many particular abuses - and disorders that do thereupon ensue. And yet nevertheless it is - considered that the use and exercise of such plays not being evil in - itself may with a good order and moderation be suffered in a - well-governed estate, and that Her Majesty being pleased at some - times to take delight and recreation in the sight and hearing of - them, some order is fit to be taken for the allowance and - maintenance, of such persons as are thought meetest in that kind, to - yield Her Majesty recreation and delight, and consequently of the - houses that must serve for public playing to keep them in exercise. - To the end therefore that both the greatest abuses of the plays and - playing houses may be redressed and the use and moderation of them - retained, the Lords and the rest of Her Majesty's Privy Council have - ordered in manner and form as followeth. - - First, that there shall be about the city two houses and no more - allowed to serve for the use of the common stage plays; of the which - houses one shall be in Surrey, in that place which is commonly - called the Bankside, or thereabouts, and the other in Middlesex.... - It is likewise ordered that the house of Allen shall be allowed to - be one of the two houses, and namely for the house to be allowed in - Middlesex. And for the other, allowed to be on Surrey side, their - Lordships are pleased to permit to the company of players that shall - play there, to make their own choice which they will have, choosing - one of them and no more. And especially is it forbidden that any - stage plays shall be played (as sometimes they have been) in any - common inn for public assembly in or near about the city. - - Secondly, forasmuch as these stage plays by the multitude of houses - and company of players have been too frequent, not serving for - recreation, but inviting and calling the people daily from their - trade and work to misspend their time; it is likewise ordered that - the two several companies of players, assigned unto the two houses - allowed, may play each of them in their several house twice a week - and no oftener; and especially that they shall refrain to play on - the sabbath day, upon pain of imprisonment and further penalty; and - that they shall forbear altogether in the time of Lent and likewise - at such time and times as any extraordinary sickness or infection of - disease shall appear to be in or about the city. - - Thirdly, because these orders will be of little force and effect - unless they be duly put into execution, it is ordered that several - copies shall be sent to the Lord Mayor of London and to the Justices - of the Peace of the counties of Middlesex and Surrey, and that - letters should be written to them straightly charging them to see - the execution of the same by committing to prison the owners of - playhouses and players who shall disobey and resist these orders. - - - - - A PLAGUE ORDER (1593). - - -Since the Great Plague of 1665 there has been no similar outbreak in -this country, but before that year plagues were of comparatively -frequent occurrence. Despite the enormous loss of life which these -pestilences caused, no effective measures were taken to prevent their -recurrence. Although the outbreaks were by no means confined to the -towns, they appear invariably to have commenced there, and the blame was -usually attached to immigrants, or to the importation of infected -foreign goods. The conditions in the towns, particularly London, were so -utterly insanitary that infectious diseases were positively encouraged, -and the annals of London contain periodical accounts of disastrous -visitations such as the one described by Stow as occurring in 1603. The -early literature concerning the Plague is not very illuminating, and we -get very few details as to treatment. The chief points of the -regulations which were issued on the occasion of every serious outbreak -appear to be isolation of infected persons and special attention to -sanitation. These measures, of course, are exactly those which are -adopted at the present day; but it seems that, excellent though the -regulations themselves might be, they were very imperfectly enforced, -and we are almost entirely in the dark as to the treatment accorded to -the sufferers and the remedies, if any, which were found to prove at all -effective. - - - =Sources.=—(_a_) Lansdowne MSS., - Malone Society, _Collections_, 1., ii., xix; - (_b_) Stow,_Annals_, p. 857. - - (_a_) 1593. Orders to be sett downe by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen - of London for taking awaie such enormities as be meanes not only to - continue but increase the plague and disorders of the Citie; being - taken out of the proclamations set out by the Citie and the articles - sett downe for providing for the poor and setting them to work. - - - _Aldermen or their Deputies._ - - 1. To give charge to Churchwardens, Constables, Parish Clerks and - Bedells to enquire what houses be infected. - - 2. To visit the ward often to see orders observed, especially - touching cleanness in the streets. - - 3. The Aldermen or their deputies in their own persons to appoint - Surveyors monthly in every parishe. - - 4. To appoint that certificate may be made to them what houses be - infected. - - 5. To give charge to all teachers of children that (as nere as they - can) they permit no children to come to their scoles from infected - houses, especiallie till such houses have bene clere by the space of - 28 daies, and that none kepe a greater number than their Roomes - shall be thought fit by the Aldermen or their deputies to conteyne. - - - _Surveyours._ - - 1. To see the orders for the sick executed daylie and diligentlie, - upon knowledge from the Aldermen what houses be infected. - - 2. To appoint purveyours of necessaries for infected houses (being - of the same houses), and deliver them reed rods to carry, and see - that none other resort to their houses. - - - _Constables._ - - 1. To bring every daie notice in writing to the Aldermen or their - deputies what houses be infected. - - - _Constable and Churchwarden._ - - 1. To provyde to have in readiness women to be providers and - deliverers of necessaries to infected houses, and to attend the - infected persons, and they to bear reed wandes, so that the sicke - maie be kept from the whole, as nere as maie be, nedefull attendance - weighed. - - - _Constable and Bedell._ - - 1. To inquire what houses be infected. - - 2. To view dailie that papers remaine upon doors xxviii daies or to - place newe. - - - _Clarkes and Sextons._ - - 1. To understand what houses be infected. - - 2. To see bills set upon the doors of houses infected. - - 3. To suffer no corpses infected to be buried or remain in the - churche during prayer or sermon, and to keep children from coming - nere them. - - - _Scavengers and Rakers._ - - 1. To see the streets made cleane every daie saving Sunday and the - soile to be carried away. - - 2. To warn all inhabitants, against their houses to keep channels - clere from fylth (by only turning it aside) that the water maie have - passage. - - - _Common Hunt._ - - 1. To kyll dogs, etc., or to lose his place. - - - _Householders and Houses._ - - 1. Houses having some sicke though none die, or from whence some - sicke have bene removed, are infected houses, and such are to be - shut up for a month. - - 2. The whole familie to tarry in xxviii days. - - 3. To keep shut the lower rooms for the like space. - - 4. One licensed to go for provision, etc. - - 5. No clothes hanged into the streets. - - 6. Such as have wells or pumpes, every morning by six and every - evening after eight a clocke, shall cause ten bucketts full to run - into the streets. - - 7. Every evening at that hour the streets and channels to be made - cleane, the water not swept out of the channell, nor the streets - overwett but sprinkled, etc. - - 8. The houses infected and things in them to be aired in the xxviii - days and no clothes or things about the infected persons to be given - awaie or sold, but either destroyed or sufficientlie purified. - - 9. Owners of houses infected with their familie, may within the - month depart to any their houses in the countrye, or to any other - house in the Cyttye without being shut up, so that they abstain from - returning to the Cyttye, or from going abroad out of house in the - Cyttye, for a month. - - 10. None shall keep dogg or bitche abroad unled nor within howling - or disturbing of their neighbours. - - 11. To have no assembly at funeral dynners or usual meeting in - houses infected. - - 12. None shall for a month come into infected houses but such as be - of the house and licensed to do service abroad. - - 13. No donghills out of stables, Bearhouses or other places to be - made in the strete. - - 14. To have double time of Restraint for consenting to pull down - bills, and the taker awaie to suffer imprisonement for viii days. - - - _Two Viewers of Dead Bodies, - Two Viewers of sick suspected_, - - Shall be appointed and sworne. - - These viewers to report to the Constable, he to the Clarke, and he - to the chief of Clarkes, all upon pain of imprisonment. - - A pain of standing on the pillory for false reports by the viewers. - A loss of pension to such as shall refuse. - - - _Mendinge of Pavements._ - - That diligent care be had, that pavements be amended where nede is, - and that principall paviers be appointed to survey the wants of - paving, especiallie in Channels, and that the dwellers against such - may be forced to amend them. - - - _Interludes and Plaies._ - - If the increase of the sicknes be feared, that Interludes and plaies - be restrained within the libertyes of the Cyttye. - - - _Phisicions and Surgeons._ - - That skilful and learned physicions and surgeons may be provided to - minister to the sicke. - - - _Vagrant, Masterless, and poore people._ - - 1. That all such as be diseased be sent to St. Thomas or St. - Bartylmewes hospitall, there to be first cured and made cleane, and - afterwards those which be not of the Cyttye to be sent awaie - according to the statute in that case provided, and the other to be - sett to worke, in such as are least used by the Inhabitants of the - Cyttye, for the avoyding of all such vagrant persons as well as - children male and female, soldiers lame and maymed, as other idle - and loytering persons that swarme in the streets and wander up and - downe begging to the great daunger and infecting of the Cyttye for - th' increase of the plague and annoyance to the same. - - 2. That all maisterless men who live idlie in the Cyttye without any - lawfull calling, frequenting places of common assemblies, as - Interludes, gaming houses, cockpitts, bowling allies, and such other - places, may be banished the Cyttye according to the laws in that - case provyded. - - (_b_) In the former year, 1603, the plague of pestilence being great - in Ostend, and divers other parties of the Low countries, and many - soldiers returning thence into England, and many ships of war lying - long at Sea became also infected, who in their return, brought that - contagion into divers parts of this land, chiefly into the City of - London: by reason whereof many citizens, and other inhabitants - thereof, for their better safety went into most shires of this - kingdom, where in divers places they were kindly entertained, and - entreated, and in many places most unchristianly, and despitefully - reviled, and not suffered to have relief, neither for love, nor - money, saying God must needs plague you, for your monstrous - wickedness etc. many died in high-ways, fields and barns, near unto - good towns, and villages, where too many of them were let remain too - long unburied, but God whose mercy is above all his works, stayed - his visitation in London, to the honour of his own name, and - admiration of all men. - - The City of London, the year ensuing viz. 1604, was cleared of all - infection, and the other cities of this kingdom, most villages, and - towns corporate, more extremely visited, and some by proclamation - prohibited from coming to London: and it was Christianly observed in - the year 1604, in the which it pleased Almighty God to visit the - whole land with pestilence (London only excepted) that all those - places were least, or not at all visited, which the year before had - relieved the distressed. There died in London, and the liberties - thereof, from the 23rd of December 1602, unto the 22nd of December - 1603, of all diseases, 38,244, whereof of the plague, 30,578: the - next March following, against the time the King should ride in - triumph through London, to behold the state and beauty thereof - besides the Clergy, Nobility, and chief gentry, of every country, - and great numbers of strangers from beyond seas, there repaired - thither such great multitudes of people from all places, as the like - in London was never seen until that day, all which notwithstanding, - there died that year of all diseases within London, and the - liberties of London but 4,263. - - - - - LONDON SCHOOLS (1598). - - -During the Middle Ages there was little provision for education; the -monasteries and the Universities kept alive such learning as existed, -and it was not until the sixteenth century that the revival of learning -affected England and brought about a widespread interest in education -and the pursuit of knowledge. It is well known that Wolsey and Henry -VIII. at first proposed to divert some of the wealth of the monasteries -to educational purposes, such as the endowment of schools and colleges -in the Universities; and although this intention was not fully carried -out, the cause of education in London was advanced by some of the City -Companies and by private benefactions. The following passage from Stow -gives an entertaining description of the educational methods of his day. - - - =Source.=—Stow's _Survey_, p. 74. - - But touching schools more lately advanced in this City, I read that - King Henry the fifth having suppressed the priories aliens whereof - some were about London, namely one Hospital, called Our Lady of - Rouncivall by Charing Cross: one other Hospital in Oldborne - [Holborn]: one other without Cripplegate: and the fourth without - Aldersgate, besides other that are now worn out of memory, and - whereof there is no monument remaining more than Rouncivall - converted to a brotherhood, which continued till the reign of Henry - the 8. or Edward the 6., this I say, and their schools being broken - up and ceased: King Henry the sixth in the 24. of his reign, by - patent appointed that there should be in London, Grammar schools, - besides St. Paul's, at St. Martin's le Grand, S. Mary le Bow in - Cheap, S. Dunstans in the west and S. Anthony's. And in the next - year, to wit, 1394, the said King ordained by Parliament that four - other grammar schools should be erected, to wit, in the parishes of - Saint Andrew in Holborn, All Hallows the great in Thames Street, S. - Peters upon Cornhill, and in the Hospital of S. Thomas of Acons in - west Cheap, since the which time as divers schools by suppressing of - religious houses, whereof they were members, in the reign of Henry - the 8. have been decayed, so again have some others been newly - erected, and founded for them: as namely Paul's school, in place of - an old ruined house, was built in most ample manner, and largely - endowed in the year 1512 by John Collet Doctor of Divinity, Dean of - Pauls, for 153 poor mens children: for which there was ordained a - master, surmaster, or usher, and a chaplain. Again in the year 1553 - after the erection of Christ's Hospital in the late dissolved house - of the Grey Friars, a great number of poor children being taken in, - a school was also ordained there, at the Citizens charges. Also in - the year 1561 the Merchant Tailors of London founded one notable - free Grammar-School in the Parish of St. Laurence Poulteney by - Candlewick street, Richard Hills late master of that Company, having - given £500 toward the purchase of an house, called the Manor of the - Rose, sometime the Duke of Buckingham's, wherein the school is kept. - As for the meeting of the Schoolmasters, on festival days, at - festival Churches, and the disputing of their Scholars logically, - etc., whereof I have before spoken, the same was long since - discontinued: but the arguing of the school boys about the - principles of grammar, hath been continued even till our time: for I - my self in my youth have yearly seen on the Eve of S. Bartholomew - the Apostle, the scholars of divers grammar schools repair unto the - Churchyard of S. Bartholomew, the Priory in Smithfield, where upon a - bank boarded about under a tree, some one scholar hath stepped up, - and there hath opposed and answered, till he were by some better - scholar overcome and put down: and then the overcomer taking the - place, did like as the first: and in the end the best opposers and - answerers had rewards, which I observed not but it made both good - schoolmasters, and also good scholars, diligently against such times - to prepare themselves for the obtaining of this garland. I remember - there repaired to these exercises amongst others the masters and - scholars of the free schools of Saint Pauls in London: of Saint - Peters at Westminster: of Saint Thomas Acons Hospital: and of Saint - Anthony's Hospital: whereof the last named commonly presented the - best scholars, and had the prize in those days. - - - - - A GERMAN VIEW OF LONDON (1600). - - -The author of the following passage was a German lawyer who visited -England while on a three years' tour as tutor to a young Silesian -nobleman, from 1597 to 1600. On his return to Germany he published a -description of his travels, written in Latin, under the title of -"Itinerarium Germaniæ, Galliæ, Angliæ, Italiæ." - - - =Source.=—Paul Hentzner's _Travels in England_. - - This most ancient city is in the county of Middlesex, the - fruitfullest and wholesomest soil in England.... The city being very - large of itself, has very extensive suburbs, and a fort called the - Tower, of beautiful structure. It is magnificently ornamented with - public buildings and churches, of which there are above one hundred - and twenty parochial. On the south is a bridge of stone eight - hundred feet in length of wonderful work; it is supported upon - twenty piers of stone, sixty feet high and thirty broad, joined by - arches of about twenty feet diameter. The whole is covered on each - side with houses so disposed as to have the appearance of a - continued street, not at all of a bridge. Upon this is built a - tower, on whose top the heads of such as have been executed for high - treason are placed on iron spikes; we counted above thirty. - - The wealth of the world is wafted to London by the Thames, swelled - by the tide; and navigable to merchant ships through a safe and deep - channel, for sixty miles, from its mouth to the city; its banks are - everywhere beautified with fine country seats, woods and farms.... - - The government of the city is lodged by ancient grant of the Kings - of England in twenty-five aldermen, that is, seniors; these annually - elect out of their own body a mayor and two sheriffs, who determine - causes according to municipal laws. - - It is worthy of observation, that every year, upon St. Bartholomew's - Day, when the fair is held, it is usual for the mayor, attended by - the twelve principal aldermen, to walk in a neighbouring field, - dressed in his scarlet gown, and about his neck a golden chain, to - which is hung a golden fleece, and besides, that particular ornament - which distinguishes the most noble order of the garter. During the - year of his magistracy he is obliged to live so magnificently, that - foreigner or native without any expense, is free, if he can find a - chair empty, to dine at his table, where there is always the - greatest plenty. When the mayor goes out of the precincts of the - city, a sceptre, a sword and a cap are borne before him, and he is - followed by the principal aldermen in scarlet gowns, with gold - chains; himself and they on horseback. Upon their arrival at a place - appointed for that purpose, where a tent is pitched, the mob begin - to wrestle before them, two at a time; the conquerors receive - rewards from the magistrates. While we were at this show, one of our - company, Tobias Salander, doctor of physic, had his pocket picked of - his purse, with nine crowns du soleil, which, without doubt, was so - cleverly taken from him by an Englishman who always kept very close - to him, that the doctor did not in the least perceive it.... - - The Mint for coining money is in the Tower. It is to be noted that - when any of the nobility are sent hither, on the charge of high - crimes such as treason, they seldom or never recover their - liberty.... On coming out of the Tower we were led to a small house - close by, where are kept variety of creatures, viz.—three lionesses; - one lion of great size, called Edward VI. from his having been born - in that reign; a tiger; a lynx; a wolf excessively old—this is a - very scarce animal in England, so that their sheep and cattle stray - about in great numbers, free from any danger. Near to this Tower is - a large open space; on the highest part of it is erected a wooden - scaffold, for the execution of noble criminals; upon which, they - say, three princes of England, the last of their families, have been - beheaded for high treason. - - The next thing worthy of note is the Royal Exchange, so named by - Queen Elizabeth, built by Sir Thomas Gresham, citizen, for public - ornament and the convenience of merchants. It has a great effect, - whether you consider the stateliness of the building, the assemblage - of different nations, or the quantities of merchandise.... - - The streets in this city are very handsome and clean; but that which - is named from the goldsmiths who inhabit it surpasses all the rest; - there is in it a gilt tower, with a fountain that plays. Near it, on - the farther side, is a handsome house built by a goldsmith and - presented by him to the city. There are besides to be seen in this - street, as in all others where there are goldsmiths' shops, all - sorts of gold and silver vessels exposed to sale, as well as ancient - and modern metals, in such quantities as must surprise a man the - first time he sees and considers them. - - - - - LONDON AND ULSTER (1609). - - -The growth of colonisation which marked the beginning of the seventeenth -century is one of the most notable features of our commercial history, -and the plantation of Ulster was in accordance with the new spirit. This -province had become depopulated and almost entirely forfeited to the -Crown, by reason of the frequent rebellions which had occurred there -during the previous century. On the presentation of the following report -a charter was received by the Corporation of London, granting powers to -raise a sum of money and take measures for the plantation of the -province. The first arrangement was that the bulk of the land should be -assigned to the twelve great livery companies, while the City of Derry -and the town of Coleraine should be handed over to a society which was -formed by City merchants for the purpose of exploiting the new colony. - - - =Source.=—_Calendar of State Papers (Ireland)_, 1608-1610, p. 207. - - The late ruined city of Derry, situate upon the river of Lough - Foyle, navigable above Derry, and another place near the Castle of - Coleraine, situate on the river Ban, navigable with small vessels - only, by reason of the bar a little above Coleraine, seem to be the - fittest places for the City of London to plant. - - 2. With small charges, these places (especially Derry) may be made - impregnable. - - 3. His Majesty offers to grant to these two places charters of - incorporation; the whole territory betwixt them, however, which is - above 20 miles in length, bounded by the sea on the north, by the - Ban on the east, and the river Derry or Lough Foyle on the west (out - of which 3,000 acres or more may be allotted to each of the towns - for their commons), to be planted with such undertakers as the City - of London shall think fit, paying only for the same the easy rent of - the undertakers. - - 4. These towns to have the benefit of all the customs on goods - imported or exported, as also tonnage and poundage, and the great - and small customs, for 21 years, paying yearly 6s. 8d. Irish as an - acknowledgment. - - 5. That His Majesty would be pleased to buy from the possessors the - salmon fishing of the Ban and Lough Foyle, and bestow the same upon - these towns. - - 6. Also license for free export of all goods growing on their own - lands. - - 7. That the Admiralty jurisdiction in the coasts of Tyrconnell now - supposed to be in the Lord Deputy by the Lord High Admiral's grant, - may be transferred to them for 21 years. - - - _The Land Commodities which the North of Ireland affords._ - - 1. The country is well watered, and supplied with fuel either of - trees or turf. - - 2. It supplies such abundance of provisions as may not only sustain - the plantation, but may furnish provisions yearly to the City of - London, especially for their fleets, as beeves, pork, fish, rye, - peas, and beans, and in some years will help the dearth of the city - and country about, and the storehouses appointed for the relief of - the poor. - - 3. It is fit for breeding of mares and for cattle, and thence may be - expected store of hides, tallow, &c. - - 4. The soil is suited for English sheep, and if need were, wool - might be had cheaply out of the West of Scotland. - - 5. It is fit in many parts for madder, hops, and woad. - - 6. It affords fells of red deer, foxes, sheep and lambs, cony, - martens, squirrels, etc. - - 7. It grows hemp and flax better than elsewhere, and thus might - furnish materials for canvas, cables, cordage and such like - requisites for shipping. Also for thread, linen cloths, and stuffs - made of linen yarn, which is finer there and more plentiful than in - all the rest of the kingdom. - - 8. Timber, stone, lime, and slate, and building materials are to be - had, and the soil is good for making bricks and tiles. - - The goodliest timber in the woods of Glanconkein and Melleitragh may - be had, and may compare with any in his Majesty's dominions, and may - be brought to the sea by Lough Eagh and the Ban. Fir masts of all - sorts may be had out of Loughnaber in Scotland (not far from the - north of Ireland) more easily than from Norway. - - 9. All materials for building of ships (except tar) is there to be - had in great plenty, and in countries adjoining. - - 10. There is wood for pipe staves, hogshead staves, barrel staves, - hop staves, clap boards, wainscot, and dyeing ashes, glass and iron - work; copper and iron ore are there found abundantly. - - 11. The country is fit for honey and wax. - - - _The Sea and River Commodities._ - - 1. The harbour of Derry is very good, and the roads at Portrush and - Lough Swilly (not far distant from Derry) tolerable. - - 2. The sea fishings are plentiful of all manner of fishes, - especially herrings and eels. Yearly, after Michaelmas, above seven - or eight score of sail of the King's subjects and strangers are - there for loading, beside an infinite number for fishing and - killing. - - 3. There are great fishings in the adjacent islands of Scotland, - where many Hollanders do fish all the summer, and plentifully vent - their fishes into Spain and within the Straits. - - 4. Much train and fish oil may be made upon the coast. - - 5. As the sea yieldeth fish, so the coast affords abundance of sea - fowl, and the rivers great store of fresh fishes, more than any of - the rivers of England. - - 6. There be store of good pearls upon the coast, especially within - the river of Loughfoyle. - - 7. These coasts are ready for traffic with England and Scotland, and - lie open and convenient for Spain and the Straits, and fittest and - nearest to Newfoundland. - - - _The Profits that London shall receive by this Plantation._ - - If multitudes of men were employed proportionally to these - commodities, many thousands would be set at work, to the great - service of the King, the strength of his realm, and the advancement - of several trades. It might ease the city of an insupportable - burthen of persons, which it might conveniently spare, all parts of - the city being so surcharged that one tradesman is scarce able to - live by another; and it would also be a means to free and preserve - the city from infection, and consequently the whole kingdom, which - of necessity must have recourse hither, and being pestered and - closed up together can never otherwise or very hardly avoid - infection. - - These colonies may be a means to utter infinite commodities from - London to furnish the whole North of Ireland and Isles of Scotland, - which may be transported by means of the river Ban and Loughfoyle - into the counties of Coleraine, Donegal, Tyrone, Armagh, and Antrim. - - The city of Dublin being desolate by the slaughter of the - Easterlings, who were the ancient inhabitants thereof, was given by - King Henry the Second to the city of Bristol to be inhabited, which, - without any charge to the King, Bristol performed, whose posterity - continues there to this day. - - The plantation, thus performed to the eternal commendation of - Bristol, was not the least cause of civilizing and securing that - part of the country. - - It were to be wished this noble precedent were followed by the City - of London in these times, with so much the more alacrity as they - excel Bristol in ability and means. And so much the rather, since - the commodities which the City of London will reap hereby far - surpass the profits which could redound to Bristol by the other. - - - - - THE DEMANDS OF CHARLES I. (1626). - - -At the very outset of his reign Charles I. had to face an angry and -discontented City; the late King had shown little respect for the -ancient liberties of London, and the citizens were prepared to find the -same attitude on the part of his successor. The Parliament of 1626 -refused to grant supplies until grievances had been redressed, and -Charles dissolved it, determining to raise money without its help. He -began by calling on the City for £100,000, which was refused. There had -been a severe outbreak of the Plague, and London was in a somewhat -impoverished condition. Next came the demand for men and ships for the -projected expedition to Cadiz. The citizens complied with obvious -reluctance, and Charles's habitual disregard of their feelings gradually -estranged their affections and caused them later to give their hearty -support to the Parliamentary cause. - - - =Source.=—Rushworth's _Collections_, i. 415. - - His Majesty demanded of the City of London the Loan of an Hundred - thousand pounds. But the peoples excuses were represented to the - Council Table by the Magistrates of the City. Immediately the - Council sent a very strict command to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, - wherein they set forth the enemies strong preparations as ready for - an invasion, and the Kings great necessities, together with his - gracious and moderate proposals in the sum required, and the - frivolous pretences upon which they excuse themselves: Wherefore - they require them, all excuses being set apart, to enter into the - business again, and to manage the same, as appertaineth to - Magistrates so highly entrusted, and in a time of such necessities, - and to return to his Majesty a direct and speedy answer, that he may - know how far he may rely upon their faith and duty; or in default - thereof, may frame his counsels as appertaineth to a King in such - extreme and important occasions. - - Lord Mayor and Commonalty of London petitioned the Council for an - abatement of the twenty ships rated upon them, unto ten ships and - two pinnaces, alleging disability; whereunto the Council gave this - following answer, That the former commandment was necessary, the - preservation of the State requiring it; and that the charge imposed - on them was moderate, as not exceeding the value of many of their - private estates: That petitions and pleadings to this command, tend - to the danger and prejudice of the Commonwealth, and are not to be - received: That as the commandment was given to all in general, and - every particular of the City; so the State will require an account - both of the City in general, and of every particular. - - And whereas they mention precedents, they might know, that the - precedents of former times, were obedience, not direction; and that - precedents were not wanting for the punishment of those that disobey - his Majesty's commands, signified by that Board, which they hope - shall have no occasion to let them more particularly understand. - - Hereupon the Citizens were glad to submit, and declared their - consent to the King's demands, and by petition to the Council had - the favour to nominate all the officers of those twenty ships, the - captains only excepted, the nomination of whom appertained to the - Lord High Admiral of England. - - - - - THE KEEPING OF THE SABBATH (1629). - - -The following Order of the Lord Mayor is an example of that Puritan -spirit which exercised such a powerful influence on the lives of -Englishmen during the first half of the seventeenth century. During -Elizabeth's reign many serious and earnest attempts were made to effect -certain changes in the doctrines and practices of the Established -Church, with the idea of introducing a "purer" form of worship and -ceremonial; and the Puritan spirit generally, although open to the -charge of narrowness and intolerance, was based upon a sincere desire to -bring the law of God into closer touch with life. It was characterised -by a hearty hatred of that moral laxity and freedom which the Roman -Church had frequently permitted, and consequently much of its activity -appeared to depend upon various prohibitions and restrictions in matters -of conduct, which frequently proved very irksome to those who did not -sympathise with the Puritan ideals. London contained a strong Puritan -element, and the Order for the better keeping of the Lord's Day well -illustrates the typical activities of the City and the attitude of its -rulers. - - - =Source.=—Rushworth's _Collections_, part ii., p. 22. - - Whereas I am credibly informed, that notwithstanding divers good - Laws provided for the keeping of the Sabbath-day holy, according to - the express commandment of Almighty God, divers inhabitants and - other persons of this City, and other places, having no respect of - duty towards God, and his Majesty, or his Laws, but in contempt of - them all, do commonly and of custom greatly profane the Sabbath-day, - in buying, selling, uttering and vending their wares and commodities - upon that day for their private gain: also innholders suffering - markets to be kept by carriers, in most rude and profane manner, in - selling victuals to hucksters, chandlers, and all other comers: also - carriers, carmen, cloth-workers, water-bearers, and porters carrying - of burdens, and watermen plying their fares; and divers others - working in their ordinary callings: and likewise, that I am further - informed, that vintners, alehouse-keepers, tobacco and strong-water - sellers, greatly profane the Sabbath-day, by suffering company to - sit drinking and bibbing in their houses on that day; and likewise - by cursing and swearing and such-like behaviour, contrary to the - express commandment of Almighty God, his Majesty's Laws in that - behalf, and all good government: For the reformation whereof, I do - hereby require, and in his Majesty's name straightly command all his - Majesty's loving subjects whatsoever, and also all constables, - head-boroughs, beadles, and all other officers whatsoever, to be - aiding and assisting to J. S. the bearer hereof, in finding out and - apprehending all and every such person and persons, as shall be - found to offend in any of these kinds; and them and every of them to - bring before me, or some other of his Majesty's Justices of the - Peace, in answer to all such matters as shall be objected against - them, and to put in good security for their good behaviour. Whereof - fail you not, as you or any of you will answer at your peril. - - _April 20, 1629._ - - - - - THE CITY'S PETITION TO CHARLES I. (1640). - - -The arbitrary government of Charles I. during the "eleven years' -tyranny" sorely tried the loyalty of the citizens of London. We find -that they were, as a rule, quite disposed to support the King's -government, so long as their interests were safeguarded and their -privileges maintained. But they could not tolerate the illegal exactions -and unreasonable demands of the King without vigorous protest. The -Petition of 1640 is particularly interesting as embodying the grievances -which affected not only the trading and commercial interests of the -capital, but indirectly the welfare of the whole country. It is pointed -out that the ship-money had not been applied to its proper purpose of -protecting the coasts and the merchant fleets, while royal interference -continually hampered trade. The prevalent ill-feeling against Roman -Catholics finds expression, and the Petition in general shows that the -City was experiencing considerable difficulty in sustaining its position -of loyal respect for the monarch. - - - =Source.=—Rushworth's _Collections_, part ii., p. 1263. - - MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN. - - Being moved with the duty and obedience, which by the laws your - petitioners owe unto your sacred Majesty, they humbly present unto - your princely and pious wisdom the several pressing grievances - following, viz. - - 1. The pressing and unusual impositions upon merchandize, importing - and exporting, and the urging and levying of Ship-money, - notwithstanding both which, merchant ships and goods have been taken - and destroyed both by Turkish and other pirates. - - 2. The multitude of monopolies, patents, and warrants, whereby trade - in the City, and other parts of the kingdom is much decayed. - - 3. The sundry innovations in matters of religion. - - 4. The Oath and Canons lately enjoyned by the late Convocation, - whereby your petitioners are in danger to be deprived of their - Ministers. - - 5. The great concourse of Papists, and their inhabitations in - London, and the Suburbs, whereby they have more means and - opportunities of plotting and executing their designs against the - Religion established. - - 6. The seldom calling, and sudden dissolutions of Parliaments, - without the redress of your Subjects grievances. - - 7. The imprisonment of divers Citizens for non-payment of - Ship-money, and impositions; and the prosecution of many others in - the Star-Chamber, for not conforming themselves to Committees in - Patents of Monopolies, whereby trade is restrained. - - 8. The great danger of your sacred person is exposed unto in the - present War, and the various fears that seized upon your petitioners - and their families by reason thereof; which grievances and fears - have occasioned so great a stop and distraction in trade, that your - petitioners can neither buy, sell, receive nor pay as formerly, and - tends to the utter ruin of the inhabitants of this City, the decay - of navigation, and clothing, and the manufactures of this kingdom. - - Your humble petitioners conceiving, that the said grievances are - contrary to the Laws of the kingdom, and finding by experience that - they are not redressed by the ordinary course of Justice, do - therefore most humbly beseech your most sacred Majesty, to cause a - Parliament to be summoned with all convenient speed, whereby they - may be relieved in the premises. - - And your Petitioners and loyal Subjects shall ever - pray, &c. - - - - - LONDON UNDER THE EARLY STUARTS (1642). - - -The following passage from Clarendon's _History_ states very clearly the -relations between Charles I. and the City in 1642, when the King's -general attitude was anything but conciliatory, and London was -definitely attaching itself to the Parliamentary cause. The royal policy -was not in the least calculated to induce a friendly feeling on the part -of the metropolis; neither Charles nor his father appeared to have -realised the immense importance of gaining the good-will of the -citizens, and Clarendon quite fairly and impartially sets forth the -facts when he refers to the wealth of the City, and the unjust treatment -which it experienced at the hands of the first Stuart monarchs. - - - =Source.=—Clarendon's _History of the Great Rebellion_, iv. 178. - - The city of London, as the metropolis of England, by the situation - the most capable of trade, and by the not [un]usual residence of the - Court, and the fixed station of the courts of justice for the public - administration of justice throughout the kingdom, the chief seat of - trade, was by the successive countenance and favour of princes - strengthened with great charters and immunities, and was a - corporation governed within itself; the mayor, recorder, aldermen, - sheriffs, chosen by themselves; several companies incorporated - within the great incorporation; which, besides notable privileges, - enjoyed lands and perquisites to a very great revenue. By the - incredible increase of trade, (which the distractions of other - countries, and the peace of this, brought,) and by the great license - of resort thither, it was, since the access of the crown to this - King, in riches, in people, in buildings, marvellously increased, - insomuch as the suburbs were almost equal to the city; a reformation - of which had been often in contemplation, never pursued, wise men - foreseeing that such a fulness could not be there without an - emptiness in other places, and whilst so many persons of honour and - estates were so delighted with the city, the government of the - country must be neglected, besides the excess and ill husbandry that - would be introduced thereby. But such foresight was interpreted a - morosity, and too great an oppression upon the common liberty; and - so, little was applied to prevent so growing a disease. - - As it had these, and many other, advantages and helps to be rich, so - it was looked upon too much of late time as a common stock not easy - to be exhausted, and as a body not to be grieved by ordinary acts of - injustice; and therefore it was not only a resort in all cases of - necessity for the sudden borrowing great sums of money, (in which - they were commonly too good merchants for the Crown,) but it was - thought reasonable upon any specious pretences to avoid the security - that was at any time given for money so borrowed. - - So, after many questions of their charter, (which were ever removed - by considerable sums of money,) a grant made by the King in the - beginning of his reign, in consideration of great sums of money, of - good quantities of land in Ireland, and the city of Londonderry - there, was avoided by a suit in the Star-Chamber, all the lands - (after a vast expense in building and planting,) resumed into the - King's hands, and a fine of £50,000 imposed upon the city. Which - sentence being pronounced after a long and public hearing, during - which time they were often invited to a composition, both in respect - of the substance and the circumstances of proceeding, made a general - impression in the minds of the citizens of all conditions much to - the disadvantage of the Court; and though the King afterwards - remitted to them the benefit of that sentence, they imputed that to - the power of the Parliament, and rather remembered how it had been - taken from them than by whom it was restored: so that at the - beginning of the Parliament the city was as ill affected to the - Court as the country was, and therefore chose such burgesses to sit - there as had either eminently opposed it or accidentally been - oppressed by it. - - - - - A PROCLAMATION AGAINST THE CITY (1643). - - -On the outbreak of civil war it soon became clear that many of the -trading centres of the country, including London, would take up arms -against the King. The commercial interests of the country had been so -persistently assailed, royal interference in matters of trade had been -so marked, that this situation was not at all surprising. It is hardly -necessary to point out that the King, in the preamble to this -proclamation, shows either insincerity or ignorance. The citizens of -London and of the other towns had no particularly strong object in their -resistance beyond obtaining reasonable security for their interests, and -the attempt to isolate London from intercourse with the rest of the -country was as ill-advised as it was futile. - - - =Source.=—Rushworth's _Collections_, part iii., vol. ii., p. 365. - - His Majesty having, with unwearied patience, hitherto expected that - the City of London, and the Citizens and inhabitants thereof, should - at last return to their obedience; having used all the endeavours he - could to reduce them thereunto; but finding that, by the malice of - their misleaders, they are so obdurate, that the very name of peace - and reconciliation is with them accounted a crime, and that that - City is both the seat of rebellion, and the pattern to all - ill-affected subjects of the kingdom, by whose example and - assistance some other cities and towns do also stand out against his - Majesty in open rebellion, not only to the disturbance, but even to - the destruction of the whole kingdom, if God in his mercy do not - entirely timely it; his Majesty therefore, by his Royal - Proclamation, dated at Oxford the seventh day of July now last past, - for the many reasons in that proclamation mentioned, did prohibit - all persons, with any of their goods, victuals, or merchandize - whatsoever, to travel to or from the City of London, or suburbs - thereof, without his Majesty's express licence for the same, under - his Sign Manual, under the pains and penalties in the said - Proclamation mentioned. - - And his Majesty now perceiving, that, notwithstanding that - Proclamation, that rebellious City, by continuing their trade, as - well at home, as also from foreign parts, do hereby drain their - monies from all other parts of the kingdom, and traitorously dispose - of the same to the maintenance of this unnatural War against their - Sovereign and fellow-subjects; and that many of the Freemen and - Citizens of that City, and some of the Aldermen and Trained-bands of - the City, in their own persons, have lately gone from the said City - to assail his Majesty, and to fight with him, and were in the late - Battle near Newbury; and that many of the said City are - involuntarily compelled to take up Arms, and to expose their lives - to the slaughter, for the maintenance of the malice of a few; and - the fuel for all this unnatural fire is taken from the City, who - spare neither their own persons, estates or fortunes, nor the - persons or estates of the inhabitants of the neighbouring counties, - but either persuade or compel them to contribute to this horrid and - barbarous war: - - Now his Majesty, being moved with a just indignation against that - City, and some few other Cities and Towns, who in like manner do - obstinately stand out in rebellion, doth hereby prohibit all - persons, and straitly charge and command them, upon the severest - penalties and punishments, which by the law can be inflicted upon - them as Traitors, aiders, and assisters unto traitors, that from and - after the time of publishing this proclamation, they, or any of - them, do not presume, without the King's special Warrant under his - Sign Manual, either by land or water, to drive, carry, or convey any - manner of victuals, alive or dead, or any sort of provision for man - or horse, or any goods or merchandize of any kind whatsoever, - directly or indirectly, or wilfully suffer the same to be carried or - conveyed unto or from the City of London, or City of Westminster, or - suburbs thereof; or to or from the Cities of Gloucester and - Coventry; or to or from the Towns of Kingston upon Hull, Warwick, - Northampton, Portsmouth, Southampton, Poole and Lyme-Regis, or any - of them; or to or from any Cities or Towns within this Kingdom, - being in rebellion against his Majesty; until they and every of them - respectively shall return to their obedience; nor do presume to - trade, or traffick, or buy or sell with the Citizens or Townsmen of - or in the said Cities or Towns, or any of them, or any other Persons - inhabiting or residing in any of the said Cities or Towns, until the - said Cities and Towns respectively shall conform themselves to their - loyalty and due obedience. - - - - - CROMWELL IN LONDON (1653). - - -Throughout the Civil War the influence of the citizens had been very -great. They had contributed money and troops for use against the royal -forces, and both sides frequently appealed to them for support; but the -Corporation continued true to the Parliamentary interest until matters -were complicated by the rise to power of the independent party and -Cromwell. As soon as it became plain that the army was the supreme head -of authority, the City was by no means enthusiastic in its favour; the -citizens had not calculated on this result of the conflict, and Cromwell -never had their confidence. They appeared to acquiesce in his -government, but he never secured their hearty support. Several of the -aldermen refused to proclaim a Commonwealth, and considerable difficulty -was experienced by the Protector in enforcing his legislative measures -in the City; nevertheless, the citizens never openly opposed him, and -even received him with outward manifestations of honour. - - - =Source.=—Clarendon's _History_, xiv. 25. - - Proclamation was made by a herald, in the Palace-yard at - Westminster, That the late Parliament having dissolved themselves - and resigned their whole power and authority, the government of the - commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, by a Lord Protector, - and successive triennial Parliaments, was now established: and - whereas Oliver Cromwell, captain general of all the forces of the - commonwealth, is declared Lord Protector of the said nations, and - had accepted thereof, publication was now made of the same; and all - persons, of what quality and condition soever in any of the said - three nations, were strictly charged and commanded to take notice - thereof, and to conform and submit themselves to the government so - established; and all sheriffs, mayors, &c. were required to publish - this proclamation to the end that none might have cause to pretend - ignorance therein. Which proclamation was at the same time published - in Cheapside by the Lord Mayor of London, and with all possible - expedition by the sheriffs and other officers throughout England, - Scotland, and Ireland. And in few days after the city of London - invited their new Protector to a very splendid entertainment at - Grocers' Hall, the streets being railed, and the solemnity of his - reception such as had been at any time performed to the King; and - he, as like a King, graciously conferred the honour of knighthood - upon the Lord Mayor at his departure. - - - - - LONDON AND THE RESTORATION (1660). - - -It is not difficult to believe that the City was glad to be freed from -the unconstitutional and distasteful Protectorate, but the universal joy -with which it accepted General Monk's application for assistance in -restoring Charles II. was most remarkable, and the pomp and pageantry of -the King's welcome to London, as detailed below, were clearly a sincere -indication of the general feeling of relief and satisfaction. It was -surely not surprising that Charles, on witnessing this outburst of -loyalty, wondered where his enemies were concealed, and why he had -delayed so long in repairing to his friends. - - - =Sources.=—(_a_) Clarendon's _History_, xvi. 240, 246; - (_b_) _The Public Mercury_, May, 1660. - - (_a_) The city of London had too great a hand in driving the King - from thence not to appear equally zealous for his return thither. - And therefore they did at the same time send fourteen of their most - substantial citizens to assure his Majesty of their fidelity and - most cheerful submission, and that they placed all their felicity - and hope of future prosperity in the assurance of his Majesty's - grace and protection, for the meriting whereof their lives and - fortunes should be always at his Majesty's disposal; and they - presented to him from the city the sum of ten thousand pounds. The - King told them he had always had a particular affection for the city - of London, the place of his birth, and was very glad that they had - now so good a part in his restoration, of which he was informed, and - how much he was beholding to every one of them; for which he thanked - them very graciously, and knighted them all; an honour no man in the - city had received in near twenty years, and with which they were - much delighted.... - - On Monday he went to Rochester, and the next day, being the 29th of - May and his birthday, he entered London, all the ways from Dover - thither being so full of people and exclamations as if the whole - kingdom had been gathered. About or above Greenwich the Lord Mayor - and aldermen met him, with all those protestations of joy which can - hardly be imagined; and the concourse so great that the King rode in - a crowd from the bridge to Temple Bar. All the companies of the city - stood in order on both sides, giving loud thanks for his Majesty's - presence. And he no sooner came to Whitehall but the two Houses of - Parliament solemnly cast themselves at his feet, with all the vows - of affection and fidelity to the world's end. In a word, the joy was - so unexpressible and so universal, that his Majesty said smilingly - to some about him, that he doubted it had been his own fault that he - had been absent so long, for he saw nobody that did not protest he - had ever wished for his return. - - (_b_) At Blackheath the army was drawn up, where his Majesty viewed - them, giving out many expressions of his gracious favour to the - army, which were received by loud shoutings and rejoicings; several - bonfires were made as his Majesty came along, and one more - remarkable than the rest for its bigness, where the States arms were - burned. - - Thence the army being placed according to his Excellencies order, - his Majesty marched towards London: and now because God himself, - when he would set a mark of observance upon his own magnalia, hath - taken notice of the circumstance of time, it is very considerable - here that it was his Majesties birth-day. He was heir-apparent when - first born, but had _jus in re_ now when entering the metropolis of - his kingdom, he took possession. All lets and hinderances, which - have interven'd since his Majesties just right, are now so many - arguments of his future fix'd and peaceable enjoyment. This the - ancients intimate, when they tell us, Jupiter himself was not quiet - in heaven till after a long war with the giants; may that God, by - whom kings reign, long preserve him and the nation, a mutual - blessing to each other! - - When his Majesty came to St. George's field, the Lord Mayor and the - Aldermen were in a tent ready to receive him: there the Lord Mayor - delivered unto his Majesty his sword upon his knees, which his - Majesty gave back to him. After a repast taken there, his Majesty - came to Whitehall in this manner: all the streets being richly - hang'd with tapestry, and a lane made by the militia forces to - London-bridge, from London-bridge to Temple-bar by the trained bands - on one side, and the several companies in their liveries, and the - streamers of each company, of the other side, by the rails; from - Temple-bar to Westminster by the militia forces, regiments of the - army, and several gentlemen formerly officers of the king's army, - led by sir John Stawell; first marched a troop of gentlemen, led by - major-general Brown, brandishing their swords, in clothes of silver - doublet, in all about 300, besides their servants; then another - troop, of about 200, in velvet coats, the footmen and liveries in - purple; then another troop, led by alderman Robinson, with buff - coats, silver sleeves, and green scarfs; after this, a troop with - blue liveries, and silver lace, colours red, fringed with silver, - about 130; after that, a troop, 6 trumpets, 7 footmen in sea-green - and silver, their colours pink, fringed with silver; then a troop, - with their liveries gray and blue, with silk and silver laces, 30 - footmen, 4 trumpets, consisting of about 220, their colours sky, - fringed with silver; another of gray liveries, 6 trumpets, colours - sky and silver, of about 105 gentlemen; another troop of 70 - gentlemen, 5 trumpets, colours sky and silver; another troop, led by - the lord Clevland, of about 200 noblemen and gentlemen, colours - blue, fringed with gold; another troop of about 100, black colours, - fringed with gold; another troop of about 300. - - After these came two trumpets, with his Majesties arms, the sheriffs - men in red cloaks and silver lace, with half pikes, 79 in number; - then followed the several companies of London, with their several - streamers, all in black velvet coats with gold chains, every company - having their footmen of their several liveries, some red and white, - some pink and white, some blue and yellow, etc.; three trumpets in - liveries richly laced and cloth of silver sleeves, went before the - company of the Mercers. After all these, came a kettle-drum, five - trumpets, and three streamers, and very rich red liveries, with - silver lace. The number of the citizens were about 600. After these, - 12 ministers, another kettle-drum, four trumpets, then his Majesties - life-guard, led by the lord Gerrard; another party, led by sir - Gilbert Gerrard, and major Rosecarron, and the third division by - colonel Pragues; then three trumpeters in rich coats and satin - doublets; the city marshal, with 8 footmen, in French green, trimmed - with crimson and white; the city waits, the city officers in order, - Dr. Warmstry, the 2 Sheriffs, and all the Aldermen of London, in - their scarlet gowns, and rich trappings, with footmen in liveries, - red coats, laced with silver, and cloth of gold; the heralds and - maces in their rich coats; the Lord Mayor, bare, carrying the sword; - his Excellency and the duke of Buckingham bare; and then, the glory - of all, his sacred Majesty rode between the dukes of York and - Gloucester; afterwards followed a troop bare, with white colours, - then the generals lifeguard; after which, another company of gentry, - sky, fringed with gold; after which, five regiments of the army - horse, led by colonel Knight, viz. his Excellencies regiment, - colonel Knight's, colonel Cloberrie's, lord Fauconberg's, lord - Howard's; after whom, came two troops of nobility and gentlemen, red - colours, fringed with gold. There was never such a sight of noblemen - and gentlemen that marched then, brandishing their swords all along. - Soon after his Majesty was passed, all the musketeers that lined the - streets gave many volleys of shot. - - Thus was his Majesty conducted to his royal palace at Whitehall; - where after the lord mayor had took his leave, his Majesty went to - the Lords, where was a speech made to his Majesty, and another in - the Banqueting-house by the Speaker of the House of Commons, which - is printed at large by the printers of the said house: which done, - his Majesty retired himself, and supped with the two dukes in the - Chast chamber. This day his Majesty dined in the Presence chamber. - - The solemnity of this day was concluded by an infinite number of - bonfires; it being observable, that, as if all the houses had turned - out their chimneys into the streets (the weather being very warm) - there were almost as many fires in the streets, as houses, - throughout London and Westminster; and among the rest in - Westminster, a very costly one was made, where the effigy of the old - Oliver Cromwell was set up upon a high post, with the arms of the - Commonwealth; which having been exposed there a while to the public - view, with torches lighted, that everyone might take better notice - of them, were burnt together. - - The foreign ambassadors and public ministers here did likewise - highly express their joy for his Majesties happy arrival here on - Tuesday last, by their bonfires and other public demonstrations; - specially the ambassadors of France and Portugal, and the - plenipotentiaries of the king of Sweden; in particular, his - plenipotentiary lying at Charing-cross, besides his bonfires, giving - of wine and throwing of money among the people, made very gallant - emblems upon the business of the day. - - - - - STATE OF LONDON BEFORE THE PLAGUE - (1661). - - -Besides the insanitary conditions which rendered the City so liable to -outbreaks of infectious disease, there were other nuisances which -afflicted the inhabitants of the City. It is rather difficult to imagine -what John Evelyn would have said about a Black Country town of the -present day, where the effects of smoke must be much more noticeable -than in the London of 1661. But his indictment, although severe, is in -the main true; the smoke nuisance has not decreased since the -seventeenth century, and probably we tolerate it only because we are -accustomed to it. It must be remembered that in Evelyn's day the use of -coal for fuel, although not great, was rapidly increasing; and a tax on -coal was often a source of considerable revenue. - - - =Source.=—John Evelyn, _Fumifugium_. - - That this glorious and ancient city, which from wood might be - rendered brick, and (like another Rome) from brick made stone and - marble; which commands the proud ocean to the Indies, and reaches - the farthest Antipodes, should wrap her stately head in clouds of - smoke and sulphur, so full of stink and darkness, I deplore with - just indignation. That the buildings should be composed of such a - congestion of misshapen and extravagant houses; that the streets - should be so narrow and incommodious in the very centre, and busiest - places of intercourse; that there should be so ill and uneasy a form - of paving under foot, so troublesome and malicious a disposure of - the spouts and gutters overhead, are particulars worthy of reproof - and reformation; because it is hereby rendered a labyrinth in its - principal passages, and a continual wet day after the storm is over. - - The immoderate use of, and indulgence to seacoal alone in the city - of London, exposes it to one of the foulest inconveniences and - reproaches, that can possibly befall so noble, and otherwise - incomparable a city: and that, not from the culinary fires, which - for being weak, and less often fed below, is with such ease - dispelled and scattered above, as it is hardly at all discernible, - but from some few particular tunnells and issues, belonging only to - brewers, dyers, lime-burners, salt, and soap-boilers, and some other - private trades, one of whose spiracles alone, does manifestly infect - the air, more than all the chimneys of London put together besides. - And that this is not the least hyperbole, let the best of judges - decide it, which I take to be our senses: whilst these are belching - forth from their sooty jaws, the city of London resembles the face - rather of mount Ætna, the court of Vulcan, Stromboli, or the suburbs - of hell, than an assembly of rational creatures, and the imperial - seat of our incomparable monarch. For when in all other places the - air is most serene and pure, it is here eclipsed with such a cloud - of sulphur, as the sun itself, which gives daily to all the world - besides, is hardly able to penetrate and impart it here; and the - weary traveller, at many miles distance, sooner smells, than sees - the city to which he repairs. - - This is that pernicious smoke which sullies all her glory, - superinducing a sooty crust or furr upon all that it lights, - spoiling the moveables, tarnishing the plate, gildings, and - furniture, and corroding the very iron bars and hardest stones with - those piercing and acrimonious spirits which accompany its sulphur; - and executing more in one year, than exposed to the pure air of the - country it could effect in some hundreds. It is this horrid smoke, - which obscures our churches, and makes our palaces look old, which - fouls our clothes, and corrupts the waters, so as the very rain and - refreshing dews which fall in the several seasons, precipitate this - impure vapour, which with its black and tenacious quality, spots and - contaminates whatever is exposed to it. - - - - - THE PLAGUE (1665). - - -Pepys and Evelyn give descriptions of the scenes in London during the -terrible visitation of 1665; and Defoe's narrative is extremely vivid -and circumstantial, although he was only four years old at the time and -must have derived much of his information from other sources. The -following account by Vincent is contemporary: - - - =Source.=—Rev. T. Vincent, _God's Terrible Voice in the City_. - - Now the citizens of London are put to a stop in the career of their - trade; they begin to fear whom they converse withal, and deal - withal, lest they should have come out of infected places. Now roses - and other sweet flowers wither in the gardens, are disregarded in - the markets, and people dare not offer them to their noses lest with - their sweet savour, that which is infectious should be attracted: - rue and wormwood are taken into the hand; myrrh and zedoary into the - mouth; and without some antidote few stir abroad in the morning. Now - many houses are shut up where the plague comes, and the inhabitants - shut in, lest coming abroad they should spread infection. It was - very dismal to behold the red crosses, and read in great letters, - LORD HAVE MERCY UPON US, on the doors, and watchmen standing before - them with halberts; and such a solitude about those places, and - people passing by them so gingerly, and with such fearful looks as - if they had been lined with enemies in ambush, that waited to - destroy them. - - Now rich tradesmen provide themselves to depart; if they have not - country-houses they seek lodgings abroad for themselves and - families, and the poorer tradesmen, that they may imitate the rich - in their fear, stretch themselves to take a country journey, though - they have scarce wherewithal to bring them back again. The ministers - also (many of them) take occasion to go to their country-places for - the summer time; or (it may be) to find out some few of their - parishioners that were gone before them, leaving the greatest part - of their flock without food or physic, in the time of their greatest - need. (I don't speak of all ministers, those which did stay out of - choice and duty, deserve true honour.) Possibly they might think God - was now preaching to the city, and what need their preaching? or - rather did not the thunder of God's voice affrighten their guilty - consciences and make them fly away, lest a bolt from heaven should - fall upon them, and spoil their preaching for the future; and - therefore they would reserve themselves till the people had less - need of them. I do not blame any citizens retiring, when there was - so little trading, and the presence of all might have helped forward - the increase and spreading of the infection; but how did guilt drive - many away, where duty would have engaged them to stay in the place? - Now the highways are thronged with passengers and goods, and London - doth empty itself into the country; great are the stirs and hurries - in London by the removal of so many families; fear puts many - thousands on the wing, and those think themselves most safe, that - can fly furthest off from the city. - - In August how dreadful is the increase: from 2010, the number - amounts up to 2817 in one week; and thence to 3880 the next; thence - to 4237 the next; thence to 6102 the next; and all these of the - plague, besides other diseases. - - Now the cloud is very black, and the storm comes down upon us very - sharp. Now Death rides triumphantly on his pale horse through our - streets; and breaks into every house almost, where any inhabitants - are to be found. Now people fall as thick as leaves from the trees - in autumn, when they are shaken by a mighty wind. Now there is a - dismal solitude in London's streets, every day looks with the face - of a Sabbath day, observed with greater solemnity than it used to be - in the city. Now shops are shut in, people rare and very few that - walk about, insomuch that the grass begins to spring up in some - places, and a deep silence almost in every place, especially within - the walls; no rattling coaches, no prancing horses, no calling in - customers, nor offering wares; no London Cries sounding in the ears: - if any voice be heard, it is the groans of dying persons, breathing - forth their last: and the funeral knells of them that are ready to - be carried to their graves. Now shutting up of visited houses (there - being so many) is at an end, and most of the well are mingled among - the sick, which otherwise would have got no help. Now in some places - where the people did generally stay, not one house in a hundred but - is infected; and in many houses half the family is swept away; in - some the whole, from the eldest to the youngest; few escape with the - death of but one or two; never did so many husbands and wives die - together; never did so many parents carry their children with them - to the grave, and go together into the same house under earth, who - had lived together in the same house upon it. Now the nights are too - short to bury the dead; the long summer days are spent from morning - unto the twilight in conveying the vast number of dead bodies unto - the bed of their graves. - - - - - THE FIRE (1666). - - -By the terrible conflagration of 1666, the whole of the City was -destroyed, except a narrow circle round its boundaries. It is not at all -difficult to account for the outbreak: the closeness of the streets, the -wooden structure of the houses, the number of families occupying the -same house, the common use of wood for fuel—all these circumstances were -favourable to the origin and spread of the flames. But obvious as these -causes were, there was evidenced an enormous anxiety to fix the blame -upon some unpopular party, and wildly improbable and grossly exaggerated -accounts were given. The republican party were first charged with the -crime of setting fire to the City; then the Dutch were believed to be -the authors. In neither case was there any shadow of reasonable proof. -In the end it was fixed upon the Papists, on the strength of a single -confession of a mad Frenchman, who told a ridiculous and contradictory -story of a Roman Catholic conspiracy; only the extraordinary temper of -the times can explain the credulity with which this story in common with -many others concerning Roman Catholics was received. Although the -slander could not stand examination, it was inscribed on the Monument, -and remained there during the whole of the eighteenth century. (_See_ -1681, Popish Panic.) - - - =Sources.=—(_a_) Pepys' _Diary_; - (_b_) _London Gazette_, September 8, 1666. - - (_a_) _September 2, 1666._—Some of our mayds sitting up late last - night to get things ready against our feast to-day, Jane called us - up about three in the morning, to tell us of the great fire they saw - in the city. So I rose and slipped on my nightgowne, and went to her - window, and thought it to be on the back-side of Marke-lane at the - farthest; but, being unused to such fires as followed, I thought it - to be far enough off; and so went to bed again and to sleep. About - seven rose again to dress myself, and there looked out of the - window, and saw the fire not so much as it was and further off. So - to my closett to set things right after yesterday's cleaning. By and - by Jane comes and tells me that she hears that above 300 houses have - been burned down to night by the fire we saw, and that it is now - burning down all Fish-Street by London Bridge. So I made myself - ready presently, and walked to the Tower; ... and there I did see - the houses at the end of the bridge all on fire, and an infinite - great fire on this and the other side the end of the bridge; which, - among other people, did trouble me for poor little Michell and our - Sarah on the bridge. So down, with my heart full of trouble, to the - Lieutenant of the Tower, who tells me it begun this morning in the - King's baker's house in Pudding Lane, and that it hath burned St. - Magnus's Church and most part of Fish-Street already. So I down to - the waterside, and there got a boat and through bridge, and there - saw a lamentable fire. Poor Michell's house, as far as the Old Swan, - already burned that way, and the fire running further, that in a - very little time it got as far as the Steele-yard, while I was - there. Everybody endeavouring to remove their goods, and flinging - into the river or bringing them into lighters that lay off; poor - people staying in the houses as long as till the very fire touched - them, and then running into boats, or clambering from one pair of - stairs by the water side to another. And among other things, the - poor pigeons, I perceive, were loth to leave their houses, but - hovered about the windows and balconys till they burned their wings, - and fell down. - - Having staid, and in an hour's time seen the fire rage every way, - and nobody, to my sight, endeavouring to quench it, but to remove - their goods, and leave all to the fire, and having seen it get as - far as Steele-yard; and the wind mighty high and driving it into the - City; and everything, after so long a drought, proving combustible, - even the very stones of the churches, and among other things, the - poor steeple by which pretty Mrs. ⸺ lives, and whereof my old - school-fellow Elborough is parson, taken fire in the very top, and - there burned till it fell down: to White Hall ... and there up to - the King's closett in the Chappell, where people come about me, and - I did give them an account that dismayed them all, and word was - carried in to the King. So I was called for, and did tell the King - and the Duke of York what I saw, and that unless his Majesty did - command houses to be pulled down nothing could stop the fire. They - seemed much troubled, and the King commanded me to go to my Lord - Mayor from him, and commanded him to spare no houses, but to pull - down before the fire every way. The Duke of York bid me tell him - that if he would have any more soldiers he shall; and so did my Lord - Arlington afterwards, as a great secret. Here meeting with Captain - Cocke, I in his coach, which he lent me, and Creed with me to - Paul's, and there walked along Watling-street as well as I could, - every creature coming away loaden with goods to save, and here and - there sicke people carried away in beds. Extraordinary good goods - carried in carts or on backs. At last met my Lord Major in - Canning-street, like a man spent, with a handkercher about his neck. - To the King's message he cried, like a fainting woman, "Lord, what - can I do? I am spent; people will not obey me. I have been pulling - down houses; but the fire overtakes us faster than we can do it." - That he needed no more soldiers; and that, for himself, he must go - and refresh himself, having been up all night. So he left me, and I - him, and walked home, seeing people all almost distracted, and no - manner of means used to quench the fire. The houses, too, so very - thick thereabouts, and full of matter for burning, as pitch and tar, - in Thames-street; and ware houses of oyle, and wines, and brandy, - and other things. Here I saw Mr. Isaake Houblon, the handsome man, - prettily dressed and dirty, at his door at Dow-gate, receiving some - of his brother's things, whose houses were on fire; and, as he says, - have been removed twice already; and he doubts (as it soon proved) - that they must be in a little time removed from his house also, - which was a sad consideration. And to see the churches all filling - with goods by people who themselves should have been quietly there - at this time. By this time it was about twelve o'clock; and so - home.... - - While at dinner Mrs. Batelier came to enquire after Mr Woolfe and - Stanes ... whose houses in Fish-Street are all burned, and they in a - sad condition. She would not stay in the fright. Soon as dined, I - and Moone away, and walked through the City, the streets full of but - people and horses and carts loaden with goods, ready to run over one - another, and removing goods from one burned house to another. They - now removing out of Canning-Street (which received goods in the - morning) into Lumbard-Street, and further; and among others I now - saw my little gold-smith, Stokes, receiving some friends goods, - whose house itself was burned the day after. - - We parted at Paul's; he home, and I to Paul's Wharf, where I had - appointed a boat to attend me, and took in Mr. Carcasse and his - brother, whom I met in the streete, and carried them below and above - bridge to ... see the fire, which was now got further, both below - and above, and no likelihood of stopping it. Met with the King and - Duke of York in their barge, and with them to Queenhithe, and there - called Sir Richard Browne to them. Their order was only to pull down - houses apace, and so below bridge at the water side; but little was - or could be done, the fire coming upon them so fast. Good hopes - there were of stopping it at the Three Cranes above, and at - Buttolph's Wharf below bridge, if care be used; but the wind carries - it into the City, so as we know not by the water-side what it do - there. River full of lighters and boats taking in goods, and good - goods swimming in the water, and only I observed that hardly one - lighter or boat in three that had the goods of a house in, but there - was a pair of Virginalls in it. - - Having seen as much as I could now, I away to Whitehall by - appointment and there walked to St. James's Parke, and there met my - wife and Creed and Wood and his wife and walked to my boat; and - there upon the water again, and to the fire up and down, it still - increasing, and the wind great. So near the fire as we could for - smoke; and all over the Thames, with one's face in the wind, you - were almost burned with a shower of fire-drops. This is very true; - so as houses were burned by these drops and flakes of fire, three or - four, nay, five or six houses, one from another. When we could - endure no more upon the water, we to a little ale-house on the - Bankside, over against the three Cranes, and there staid till it was - dark almost, and saw the fire grow; and, as it grew darker, appeared - more and more, and in corners and upon steeples, and between - churches and houses, as far as we could see up the hill of the City, - in a most horrid malicious bloody flame, not like the fine flame of - an ordinary fire.... We staid till, it being darkish, we saw the - fire as only one entire arch of fire from this to the other side of - the bridge, and in a bow up the hill for an arch of above a mile - long; it made me weep to see it. The church, houses, and all on fire - and flaming at once; and a horrid noise the flames made, and the - cracking of houses at their ruine. So home with a sad heart, and - there find everybody discursing and lamenting the fire: and poor Tom - Hater come with some few of his goods saved out of his house, which - is burned upon Fish-Street Hill. I invited him to lie at my house, - and receive his goods, but was deceived in his lying there; so as we - were forced to begin to pack up our owne goods, and prepare for - their removal; and did by moonshine (it being brave dry, and - moonshine, and warm weather) carry much of my goods into the garden, - and Mr. Hater and I did remove my money and iron chests into my - cellar, as thinking that the safest place. And got ready my bags of - gold into my office, ready to carry away, and my chief papers of - accounts also there, and my tallys into a box by themselves. So - great was our fear, as Sir W. Batten hath carts come out of the - country to fetch away his goods this night. We did put Mr. Hater, - poor man, to bed a little; but he got but very little rest, so much - noise being in my house, taking down of goods. - - _September 3rd._—About four o'clock in the morning, my Lady Batten - sent me a cart to carry away all my money, and plate, and best - things, to Sir W. Rider's at Bednall Green, which I did riding - myself in my night-gowne in the cart; and, Lord! to see how the - streets and highways are crowded with people running and riding, and - getting of carts at any rate to fetch away things. I find Sir W. - Rider tired with being called up all night, and receiving things - from several friends. His house full of goods, and much of Sir W. - Batten's and Sir W. Penn's. I am eased at my heart to have my - treasure so well secured. Then home, with much ado to find a way, - nor any sleep at all this night to me nor my poor wife. - - (_b_) On the second instant, at one of the clock of the morning, - there happened to break out, a sad and deplorable fire, in - Pudding-lane near Fish Street, which falling out at that hour of the - night, and in a quarter of the town so close built with wooden - pitched houses, spread itself so far before day, and with such - distraction to the inhabitants and neighbours, that care was not - taken for the timely preventing the further diffusion of it, by - pulling down houses, as ought to have been; so that this lamentable - fire in a short time became too big to be mastered by any engines or - working near it. It fell out most unhappily too, that a violent - easterly wind fomented, and kept it burning all that day, and the - night following, spreading itself up to Gracechurch Street, and - downwards from Cannon Street to the water-side, as far as the Three - Cranes in the Vintrey. - - The people in all parts about it distracted by the vastness of it, - and their particular care to carry away their goods, many attempts - were made to prevent the spreading of it by pulling down houses, and - making great intervals, but all in vain, the fire seizing upon the - timber and rubbish and so continuing itself, even through those - spaces, and raging in a bright flame all Monday and Tuesday, - notwithstanding his majesties own, and his royal highness's - indefatigable and personal pains to apply all possible remedies to - prevent it, calling upon and helping the people with their guards, - and a great number of nobility and gentry unwearied assisting - therein, for which they were requited with a thousand blessings from - the poor distressed people. By the favour of God, the wind slackened - a little on Tuesday night and the flames meeting with brick - buildings at the Temple, by little and little it was observed to - lose its force on that side, so that on Wednesday morning we began - to hope well, and his royal highness never despairing or slackening - his personal care, wrought so well that day, assisted in some parts - by the lords of the council before and behind it, that a stop was - put to it at the Temple-Church, near Holborn-Bridge, Pie-corner, - Aldersgate, Cripplegate, near the lower end of Coleman-Street, at - the end of Basinghall Street, by the Postern, at the upper end of - Bishopsgate street, and Leadenhall-street, at the standard in - Cornhill, at the church in Fenchurch street, near Clothworkers-Hall - in Mincing Lane, at the middle of Mark-lane, and at the Tower-dock. - - On Thursday by the blessing of God it was wholly beat down and - extinguished. But so as that evening it unhappily burst out again - afresh at the Temple, by the falling of some sparks (as is supposed) - upon a pile of wooden buildings; but his royal highness, who watched - there that whole night in person, by the great labours and diligence - used, and especially by applying powder to blow up the houses about - it, before day most happily mastered it. - - Divers strangers, Dutch and French were, during the fire, - apprehended, upon suspicion that they contributed mischievously to - it, who are all imprisoned, and informations prepared to make a - severe inquisition thereupon by my lord chief justice Keeling, - assisted by some of the lords of the privy-council, and some - principal members of the city, notwithstanding which suspicions, the - manner of the burning all along in a train, and so blown forwards in - all its way by strong winds, makes us conclude the whole was an - effect of an unhappy chance, or to speak better, the heavy hand of - God upon us for our sins, shewing us the terror of his judgment in - thus raising the fire, and immediately after his miraculous and - never enough to be acknowledged mercy in putting a stop to it when - we were in the last despair, and that all attempts for the quenching - it however industriously pursued, seemed insufficient. His Majesty - then sat hourly in council, and ever since hath continued making - rounds about the city in all parts of it where the danger and - mischief was greatest, till this morning that he hath sent his grace - the duke of Albemarle, whom he hath called for to assist him in this - great occasion, to put his happy and successful hand to the - finishing this memorable deliverance. - - - - - A PROCLAMATION OF CHARLES II. (1666). - - -It seems clear from this proclamation that the King and his advisers not -only realised the faults and dangers of the recently destroyed City, but -entertained worthy and lofty ideals for its re-erection. Ingenious -schemes were not lacking, and only a strong and firm and enthusiastic -government was required to insure the building of a beautiful, safe, and -convenient city to replace the old picturesque, but dangerous, -unhealthy, and crowded buildings. However, royal favour and public -convenience could not prevail against "vested interests"; and most of -the pious hopes of Charles, and the plans of enlightened architects and -others, were not fulfilled. - - Charles, R.—As no particular man hath sustained any loss or damage - by the late terrible and deplorable fire in his fortune or estate, - in any degree to be compared with the loss and damage we ourself - have sustained, so it is not possible for any man to take the same - more to heart, and to be more concerned and solicitous for the - rebuilding this famous city with as much expedition as is possible; - and since it hath pleased God to lay this heavy judgment upon us all - in this time, as an evidence of his displeasure for our sins, we do - comfort ourself with some hope, that he will, upon our due - humiliation before him, as a new instance of his signal blessing - upon us, give us life, not only to see the foundations laid, but the - buildings finished, of a much more beautiful city than is at this - time consumed. - - In the first place, the woeful experience in this late heavy - visitation hath sufficiently convinced all men of the pernicious - consequences which have attended the building with timber, and even - with stone itself, and the notable benefit of brick, which in so - many places hath resisted and even extinguished the fire: and we do - therefore hereby declare our express will and pleasure that no man - whatsoever shall presume to erect any house or building, great or - small, but of brick or stone; and if any man shall do the contrary, - the next magistrate shall forthwith cause it to be pulled down, and - such further course shall be taken for his punishment as he - deserves. And we suppose that the notable benefit many men have - received from those cellars which have been well and strongly - arched, will persuade most men, who build good houses, to practise - that good husbandry, by arching all convenient places. - - We do declare, that Fleet Street, Cheapside, Cornhill, and all other - eminent and notorious streets, shall be of such a breadth, as may, - with God's blessing, prevent the mischief that one side may suffer - if the other be on fire, which was the case lately in Cheapside; the - precise breadth of which several streets shall be, upon advice with - the lord mayor and aldermen, shortly published, with many other - particular orders and rules, which cannot yet be adjusted: in the - mean time we resolve, though all streets cannot be of all equal - breadth, yet none shall be so narrow as to make the passage uneasy - or inconvenient, especially towards the water-side; nor will we - suffer any lanes or alleys to be erected, but where, upon mature - deliberation, the same shall be found absolutely necessary; except - such places shall be set aside, which shall be designed only for - buildings of that kind, and from whence no public mischief may - probably arise. - - The irreparable damage and loss by the late fire being, next to the - hand of God in the terrible wind, to be imputed to the place in - which it first broke out, amongst small timber houses standing so - close together, that as no remedy could be applied from the river - for the quenching thereof, to the contiguousness of the buildings - hindering and keeping all possible relief from the land-side, we do - resolve and declare, that there shall be a fair key or wharf on all - the river-side; that no house shall be erected within so many feet - of the river, as shall be within few days declared in the rules - formerly mentioned; nor shall there be in those buildings which - shall be erected next the river, which we desire may be fair - structures, for the ornament of the city, any houses to be inhabited - by brewers, or dyers, or sugar-bakers; which trades, by their - continual smokes, contribute very much to the unhealthiness of the - adjacent places; but we require the lord mayor and aldermen of - London, upon a full consideration, and weighing all conveniences and - inconveniences that can be foreseen, to propose such a place as may - be fit for all those trades which are carried on by smoke to inhabit - together, or at least several places for the several quarters of the - town for those occupations, and in which they shall find their - account in convenience and profit, as well as other places shall - receive the benefit in the distance of the neighbourhood; it being - our purpose, that they who exercise those necessary professions, - shall be in all respects as well provided for and encouraged as ever - they have been, and undergo as little prejudice as may be by being - less inconvenient to their neighbours. - - In the mean time, we do heartily recommend it to the charity and - magnanimity of all well-disposed persons, and we do heartily pray - unto Almighty God, that he will infuse it into the hearts of men, - speedily to endeavour by degrees to re-edify some of those many - churches, which, in this lamentable fire, have been burned down and - defaced; that so men may have those public places of God's worship - to resort to, to humble themselves together before him upon this his - heavy displeasure, and join in their devotion for his future mercy - and blessing upon us; and, as soon as we shall be informed of any - readiness to begin such a good work, we shall not only give our - assistance and direction for the model of it, and freeing it from - buildings at too near a distance, but shall encourage it by our own - bounty, and all other ways we shall be desired. - - Lastly, that we may encourage men by our own example, we will use - all the expedition we can to re-build our custom-house in the place - where it formerly stood, and enlarge it with the most conveniences - for the merchants that can be devised; and, upon all the other lands - which belong unto us, we shall depart with any thing of our own - right and benefit, for the advancement of the public service and - beauty of the city; and shall further remit, to all those who shall - erect any buildings according to this declaration, all duties - arising to us upon the hearth-money for the space of seven years. - - Given at our court at Whitehall the thirteenth day of September, one - thousand six hundred and sixty-six, in the eighteenth year of our - reign. - - - - - EVELYN'S PLANS FOR REBUILDING THE CITY - (1667). - - -After the Fire had demolished a considerable portion of the City, many -plans and suggestions were submitted for its reconstruction, and those -of Sir Christopher Wren and of John Evelyn were distinguished by their -excellence and thoroughness. The occasion offered a magnificent -opportunity for a wise and far-seeing scheme of town-planning, and the -ingenious ideas of Evelyn are particularly interesting in view of the -attention which is now being given to the subject. - - - =Source.=—_London Restored_, quoted by Maitland, vol. i., p. 447. - - It might haply be thought fit to fill up, or at least give a partial - level to some of the deepest valleys, holes and more sudden - declivities within the City, for the more ease of commerce, - carriages, coaches and people in the streets; and not a little for - the more handsome ranging of the buildings: for instance, that from - about the Fleet to Ludgate; which yet should be no more than might - only afford a graceful and just ascent from thence up towards St. - Paul's; the only spot in the whole city, where I would plant that - ancient and venerable Cathedral again: but here is to be considered - the Channel running thence through Holborn, which would be so - enlarged, as not only to be preserved sweet (by scouring it through - flood-gates into the Thames on all occasions) but commodious for the - intercourse of considerable vessels thwart this portion of the town; - and which therefore should be accordingly wharfed on both sides to - the very key of the river, and made contiguous to the streets by - bridges arched to a due level, as it might easily be contrived, (and - with passage sufficient for lusty barges and lighters under them) - were the valley so elevated as it is projected. There is only this - care incumbent; that all foundations upon this new ground be - searched to the old and more solid basis; from whence they may also - store themselves with vaults and cellarage in abundance: The same - might be considered in some sort from the descent of the hill - towards Thames-Street, so as to come down upon the future key by a - far less declivity, which would give those houses that should be - built fronting to the river a more becoming aspect, and an easier - footing to the ranges above them, which would peep over one another - successively; with a far better grace, than those do at Genoa, where - the ascent is too precipitious. - - These considerations and employments would greatly forward the - prompt and natural disposal of the more useless and cumbersome - rubbish; unless it might be thought more expedient (if there should - not be sufficient for both) to design it rather towards the - enlargement of a new and ample key; which I wish might run parallel - from the very Tower to the Temple at least, and, if it were possible - (without augmenting the rapidity of the stream) extend itself even - as far as the very low-water mark; the basin by this means kept - perpetually full, without Slub or annoyance, and to the infinite - benefit and ease of access, like that of Constantinople, than which - nothing could be imagined more noble: what fractions and confusions - our ugly stairs, bridges and causeways make, and how dirty and nasty - it is at every ebb, we are sufficiently sensible of; so as, next to - the hellish smoke of the town, there is nothing doubtless which does - more impair the health of its inhabitants.... - - For the rest of those necessary evils, the brew-houses, bake-houses, - dyers, salt, soap and sugar-boilers, chandlers, hat-makers, - slaughter-houses, some sort of fish-mongers, etc. whose - neighbourhood cannot be safe, (as I have elsewhere shewed, and a sad - experience has confirmed) I hope his Majesty will now dispose of to - some other parts about the river; towards Bow and Wandsworth on the - water; Islington and about Spital-Fields, etc. The charge of - bringing all their commodities into the City would be very - inconsiderable, opposed to the peril of their being continued - amongst the inhabitants, and the benefit of the carriage, which - would employ a world of people, both by land and water, without the - least prejudice. - - I suppose the Custom-house cannot be better situated than where it - was, and as it may hold communication with the Tower: here might the - Admiralty and Navy-Office be fitly placed. - - I have not forgotten the hospitals, public workhouses to employ the - poor in, and prisons; which being built and re-endowed at the common - charge, should be disposed of in convenient quarters of the City: - the hospitals would become one of the principal streets: but the - prisons, and tribunal for trial of criminal offenders, might be - built (as of old) near some entrance of the City; about Newgate were - a fitting place, as my plate represents it. - - The College of Physicians would be in one of the best parts of the - town, encircled with an handsome Piazza for the dwelling of those - learned persons, with the Chirurgeons, Apothecaries and Druggists in - the streets about them; for I am greatly inclined to wish, that all - of a mystery should be destined to their several quarters: those of - the better sort of shop-keepers, who sell by retail, might be - allotted to the sweetest and most eminent streets and piazzas: the - artificers to the more ordinary houses, intermediate and narrower - passages (for such will hardly be avoided) that the noise and - tintamar of their instruments may be the less importunate: the - taverns and victualling houses sprinkled amongst them, and built - accordingly: but all these too, even the very meanest, should - exactly respect uniformity, and be more substantially built than - those in Covent-Garden, and other places; where once in twenty or - thirty years they had need be built again, and therefore to be - indulged a longer term. - - Spaces for ample courts, yards and gardens, even in the heart of the - City there may be some to the principal houses, for state and - refreshment; but with great reservation, because of the fractions - they will make; and therefore rarely towards any principal street: - and I hope it will please his Majesty to prescribe by a public and - irreversible edict, that no houses whatsoever, may for the future - presume to be erected, not only about this City, but all the Nation - besides, within such a distance from magazines, places of public - records and Churches, which should be preserved as sanctuaries. - - The gates and entries of the City, which are to be rebuilt, might be - the subjects of handsome architecture, in form of triumphal arches, - adorned with statues, relievo's and apposite inscriptions, as - prefaces to the rest within, and should therefore by no means be - obstructed by sheds, and ugly shops, or houses adhering to them: and - I wish this reformation, and the infinite danger of their being - continued, might extend to the demolishing those deformed buildings - on London-Bridge; which not only endanger all the rest, but take - away from the beauty of it, and indeed of the whole City near the - Thames: instead of them, if there went a substantial baluster of - iron, decorated with statues upon their pedestals at convenient - distances, and the footway on each side, it would be exceedingly - convenient; whilst, to secure the passengers by night, it might be - guarded by responsible house-keepers in their turns: or, if they - will need have shops, let them be built of solid stone, made narrow - and very low, like to those upon the Rialto at Venice; but it were - far better without them. - - - - - AN ACT CONCERNING THE STREETS (1671). - - -Such statutes as the following are particularly useful in enabling us to -understand in detail the conditions which governed matters of everyday -life in the City. The fact that certain proceedings are forbidden -implies that it was found necessary to issue the prohibition by reason -of the common occurrence of such proceedings. From this statute and from -similar sources we obtain the inevitable impression that the streets of -London during the seventeenth century must have been dangerous and -disagreeable places. These instructions, of course, were issued at a -time when special attention was being directed to the care of the city -from reasons of health and safety. - - I. Item, That hereafter all streets within this city, called, known, - or set down to be High Streets, shall be paved round, or causeway - fashion: and upon notice given to the commissioners of any defective - pavements in any of the streets, lanes, and passages within this - city and liberties, the same shall be forthwith made good and - amended, unless by general consent some better expedient be found - and published. - - II. That inasmuch as it hath been found by common experience that - the paviours, to hide and cover their bad workmanship, have - oftentimes spread and laid great quantities of gravel over their - pavements, to greater charge of the persons setting them on work - than was needful, and which, upon a sudden rain, did either choke - the common sewers, or turn to dirt and mire in the streets; - therefore the said paviours are required, that hereafter they do - forbear to lay or spread any more gravel on the pavements than will - only fill up the joints of their work, and cause the same to be - swept and well rammed, and leave the pavements bare of gravel, and - keep a regular method of paving, not paving one door higher than - another, upon pain of paying five shillings for every complaint. - - III. That the breadth of six foot at the least from the foundation - of the houses, in such of the said High Streets which shall be - allowed to be posted, shall be paved by the inhabitants or owners - with flat or broad stone for a foot passage; unless such parts - thereof as shall lie before any gateway, which may be done with - square rag by the said breadth of six feet, upon pain of paying five - shillings for every week the same shall be omitted to be done after - notice given. - - VIII. That the several inhabitants within this city and liberties, - or their servants, do take care that the dirt, ashes, and soil of - their houses be in readiness for the carmen, their agents, or - servants, either by setting out the same over night in tubs, boxes, - baskets, or other vessel, near and contiguous to their houses, or by - bringing out the same within convenient time, before the hours for - their departure as aforesaid. - - XIII. That the said carmen undertakers, their agents or servants, - shall give notice of their being in the street with their tumbrels - or cars by loudly knocking a wooden clapper, especially in courts, - alleys, and other back passages, upon pain to forfeit three - shillings and fourpence upon every complaint duly proved. - - XX. That no man shall cast or lay in the streets, lanes, or common - passages, or channels within this city or liberties, any dogs, cats, - inwards of beasts, cleaves of beasts feet, bones, horns, dregs or - dross of ale or beer, or any noisome thing, upon pain of ten - shillings for every offence. - - XXVI. That no artificer, labourer, or other person, shall make any - stop or dam in any channel, nor shall slake any lime in the streets, - lanes, or passages, upon pain to pay two shillings for every - offence. - - XXVII. That no man shall feed any kine, goats, hogs, or any kind of - poultry, in the open streets, upon pain to forfeit three shillings - and fourpence for every offence. - - XXVIII. That no man shall cast into the ditches or sewers, grates or - gullets of the city, any manner of carrion, stinking flesh, rotten - oranges or onions, rubbish, dung, sand, gravel, or any other thing - that may stop the course of the same, upon pain of forfeiting forty - shillings for every offence. - - XXXI. That no tyler, bricklayer, or other person, do throw out of - gutters, or off roofs or other parts of houses, any tyles, loam, or - rubbish, into any street, lane, or common passage; but do bring down - the same in baskets or trays; upon pain to forfeit three shillings - and four pence for every offence. - - - - - A LORD MAYOR'S PROCLAMATION (1679). - - -Among documents relating to the City there are many of a similar nature -to the following proclamation. Many of the Mayors and Corporations -appear to have been of opinion that although they might be unable to -organise an efficient government of the City, which should definitely -prevent crime and disorder, at any rate they might draw up elaborate -codes of rules and instructions, as a manifestation of their earnestness -of purpose. Many of these rules and orders are proclaimed and enacted -over and over again; the precautions and the measures taken against the -flagrant evils which existed were very often utterly futile, and -improvement was extremely slow. - - - BY THE MAYOR. - - The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor having taken into his serious - consideration the many dreadful afflictions which this City hath of - late years suffered, by a raging plague, a most unheard-of devouring - fire, and otherwise; and justly fearing that the same have been - occasioned by the many heinous crying sins and provocations to the - Divine Majesty: and his Lordship also considering the present - dangers of greater mischiefs and misery which seem still to threaten - this City, if the execution of the righteous judgments of God - Almighty be not prevented by an universal timely repentance and - reformation: he hath, therefore, thought it one duty of his office, - being intrusted to take all possible care for the good government, - peace and welfare of this City, first, to pray and persuade all and - every the inhabitants thereof to reform, themselves and families, - all sins and enormities whereof they know themselves to be guilty; - and if neither the fear of the Great God, nor of his impending - judgments, shall prevail upon them, he shall be obliged to let them - know, that, as he is their Chief Magistrate, he ought not to bear - the sword in vain; and therefore doth resolve, by God's grace, to - take the assistance of his brethren the Aldermen, and to require the - aid of all the Officers of this City in their several places, to - punish and suppress, according to the laws of the land, and the good - customs of this City, those scandalous and provoking sins which have - of late increased and abounded amongst us, even without shame, to - the dishonour of Christianity, and the scandal of the government of - this City, heretofore so famous over the world for its piety, - sobriety, and good order. - - To the end therefore that the laws may become a terror unto - evil-doers, and that such, in whose hearts the fear of God, and the - love of virtue, shall not prevail, being forewarned, may amend their - lives for fear of punishment, his Lordship hath thought fit to - remember them of several penalties provided by law against notorious - offenders; as also of all Constables and Public Officers (who are to - put the said laws in execution) of their duty therein. - - First, Every profane curser and swearer ought to be punished by the - payment of twelve pence for every oath; and if the same cannot be - levied upon the offenders goods, then he is to sit three hours in - the stocks. - - Secondly, Every drunkard is to pay for the first offence five - shillings; and in default thereof to sit six hours in the stocks, - and for the second offence, to find sureties for his good behaviour, - or to be committed to the common gaol; and the like punishment is to - be inflicted upon all common haunters of ale-houses and taverns, and - common gamesters, and persons justly suspected to live by any - unlawful means, having no visible way to support themselves in their - manner of living. And no person is to sit or continue tippling or - drinking more than one hour, unless upon some extraordinary - occasion, in any tavern, victualling-house, ale-house, or other - tippling-house, upon the penalty of ten shillings for every offence - upon the master of such house; and upon the person that shall so - continue drinking, three shillings four pence.... - - Fourthly, All persons using any unlawful exercises on the Lord's - day, or tippling in taverns, inns or ale-houses, and coffee-houses, - during divine service on that day, are to forfeit three shillings - four pence for every offence, to be levied by distress, and where - none can be had, to sit three hours in the stocks; and every - vintner, innkeeper, or ale-house keeper that shall suffer any such - drinking or tippling in his house, is to forfeit ten shillings for - every offence; and no person may sit in the streets, with herbs, - fruits, or other things, to expose them to sale, nor no hackney - coachman may stand or ply in the streets on that day. - - And therefore all Constables and other Officers, whom it doth or may - concern, are required, according to their oaths solemnly taken in - that behalf, to take care for discovering and bringing to punishment - whosoever shall offend in any of the premises; and for that end they - are to enter into any suspected houses before mentioned to search - for any such disorderly persons as shall be found misbehaving - themselves, or doing contrary to the said laws, and to levy the - penalties, and bring the offenders before some of his Majesties - Justices of the Peace of this City, to be dealt withall according to - law. - - And whereas there are other disorders of another nature, very - dishonourable, and a great scandal to the government of this City, - and very prejudicial to the trade and commerce of the same; his - Lordship, therefore, is resolved by God's blessing, with the - assistance of his brethren the Aldermen, to use his utmost endeavour - to prevent the same, by putting in execution the good and wholesome - laws in force for that purpose, with all strictness and severity; - some of which he hath thought fit to enumerate, with the duties and - penalties upon every Constable and other officer concerned therein. - - As first, the great resort of rogues, vagrants, idle persons, and - common beggars, pestering and annoying the streets and common - passages, and all places of public meetings and resort, against whom - very good provision is made by the law, viz. - - That all such persons shall be openly whipped, and forthwith sent - from parish to parish to the place where he or she was born, if - known; if not, to the place where he or she last dwelt for the space - of one year, to be set to work; or not being known, where he or she - was born or dwelt, then to be sent to the parish where he or she - last passed through without punishment. - - That every Constable that shall not do his best endeavour for the - apprehension of such vagabond, rogue or sturdy beggar, and cause him - or her to be punished or conveyed according to law, shall forfeit - ten shillings for every default. - - Secondly, The not paving and cleansing of the streets: the - redressing whereof being by a late act of Parliament put into - Commissioners appointed by Common Council, his Lordship doth hereby - recommend the same to the Deputies and Common Council of the several - wards within this City, to use their utmost diligence in that - affair, and especially to mind their respective Commissioners of the - duty incumbent upon them, and of the daily damage which the City - suffers by the neglect thereof. And his Lordship doth declare he - will appear at the said Commission of Sewers as often as his more - urgent occasions will give him leave, and doth expect such - attendance of the other Commissioners as may render the act more - effectual than hitherto it hath been. - - Thirdly, The neglect of the inhabitants of this City in hanging and - keeping out their lights at the accustomed hours, according to the - good and ancient usage of this City, and acts of Common Council in - that behalf. - - Fourthly, the not setting and continuing the watches at such hours, - and in such numbers, and in such sober and orderly manner in all - other respects, as by the acts of Common Council in that behalf is - directed and appointed. - - And his Lordship doth strictly require the Fellowship of Carmen to - be very careful in the due observance of the good and wholesome - rules and orders which have been made for their regulation: his - Lordship intending severely to inflict the penalties imposed in - default thereof. - - And to the end that no Constable or other Officers or Ministers of - Justice may be any ways discouraged in their lawful, diligent, and - vigorous prosecution of the premises, it is provided, that if they - or any of them shall be resisted, in the just and lawful execution - of their charge and duty, or in any wise affronted or abused, they - shall be encouraged, maintained, and vindicated by the justice, - order, and authority of his Lordship and the Court of Aldermen, and - the offenders prosecuted and punished according to law. - - Dated at the Guildhall, London, the 29th day of November 1679, in - the 31 year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles the Second, - by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, - King, defender of the faith, etc. - - GOD SAVE THE KING. - - - - - THE POPISH PANIC (1681). - - -The Monument, in commemoration of the Great Fire of 1666, was erected in -1671 near Pudding Lane, where the fire began, and the following -inscription was added in 1681. The suspicion, which was attached to the -Roman Catholics, of deliberately setting fire to the City was altogether -unreasonable and baseless, but the people who had listened to Titus -Oates were ready to believe anything, and the inscription is sufficient -indication of the prevalent feeling against Papists. It is referred to -by Pope—himself a Roman Catholic—in the lines: - - "Where London's column, pointing to the skies, - Like a tall bully, lifts its head and lies." - -The inscription was effaced during the reign of James II., was again -placed on the base of the column in the reign of William III., and was -finally removed in 1831. - - This Pillar was set vp in Perpetvall Remembrance of that most - dreadful burning of this Protestant city, begun and carryed on by ye - treachery and malice of ye Popish faction, in ye beginning of Septem - in ye year of our Lord 1666, in order to ye carrying on their horrid - Plott for extirpating the Protestant Religion and old English - liberty, and the introducing Popery and Slavery. - - - - - POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS (1681). - - -The Government monopoly of Post Office business dates back to the reign -of James I., who appointed a Postmaster to have the "sole taking up, -sending, and conveying of all packets and letters concerning our service -or business to be despatched to foreign parts," others being forbidden -to convey letters; and our postal system was first really founded by an -Act of Parliament in 1656 "to settle the postage of England, Scotland, -and Ireland." It ordered the erection of one general post office, and -one officer styled the Postmaster-General of England and Comptroller of -the Post Office. Private individuals occasionally attempted to establish -postal services, and in 1680 William Dockwra set up a profitable penny -post for London. This, like Povey's halfpenny post in 1708, was -suppressed by a lawsuit, and the management and profits of the Post -Office were definitely attached to the Government. - - - =Source.=—Delaunay's _Present State of London_, p. 345. - - This Office is now kept in Lombard Street, formerly in Bishopsgate - Street; the profits of it are by Act of Parliament settled on his - Royal Highness the Duke of York. But the King, by Letters Patents, - under the Great Seal of England, constitutes the Postmaster General. - - From this General Office, letters and packets are despatched— - - - _On Mondays._ - - To France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Flanders, Switzerland, Denmark, - Kent, and the Downs. - - - _On Tuesdays._ - - To Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Ireland, Scotland, and - all parts of England and Wales. - - - _On Wednesdays._ - - To all parts of Kent and the Downs. - - - _On Thursdays._ - - To France, Spain, Italy, and all parts of England and Scotland. - - - _On Fridays._ - - To Flanders, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Denmark Holland, Kent, and - the Downs. - - - _On Saturdays._ - - All parts of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. - - Letters are returned from all parts of England and Scotland, - certainly every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; from Wales every - Monday and Friday; and from Kent and the Downs every day; but from - other parts more uncertainly, in regard of the sea. - - A letter containing a whole sheet of paper is convey'd 80 miles for - 2d., two sheets for 4d., and an ounce of letters for 8d., and so - proportionably; a letter containing a sheet is conveyed above 80 - miles for 3d., two sheets for 6d., and every ounce of letters for - 12d. A sheet is conveyed to Dublin for 6d., two for 1^s/-, and an - ounce of letters for 12d. - - This conveyance by post is done in so short a time, by night as well - as by day, that every twenty-four hours the post goes 120 miles, and - in five days an answer of a letter may be had from a place 300 miles - distant from the writer. - - Moreover, if any gentleman desire to ride post, to any principal - town of England, post-horses are always in readiness (taking no - horse without the consent of his owner), which in other Kings' - reigns was not duly observed; and only 3d. is demanded for every - English mile, and for every stage to the post-boy, 4d. for - conducting. - - Beside this excellent convenience of conveying letters, and men on - horseback, there is of late such an admirable commodiousness both - for men and women of better rank, to travel from London, and to - almost all the villages near this great City, that the like hath not - been known in the world, and that is by stage-coaches, wherein one - may be transported to any place, sheltered from foul weather, and - foul ways, free from endamaging one's health or body by hard - jogging, or over-violent motion; and this not only at a low price, - as about a 1^s/- for every 5 miles, but with such velocity and - speed as that the posts in some foreign countries make not more - miles in a day; for the stage-coaches, called the flying-coaches, - make 40 or 50 miles in a day, as from London to Oxford or Cambridge, - and that in the space of twelve hours, not counting the time for - dining, setting forth not too early, nor coming in too late. - - - - - LONDON AFTER JAMES II.'s ABDICATION (1688). - - -The citizens of London took a prominent part in the exciting events of -the years 1688-89. In no part of the country was there a stronger -anti-Popish feeling, and none of the believers and propagators of the -notorious Popish Plot of Titus Oates had been so conspicuous as the -Londoners. They took the lead in the demonstrations which attended the -issue of the famous trial of the seven Bishops, and were foremost in -suggesting the practicability of expelling James from the throne. As -soon as the King realised his danger, he sent for the Lord Mayor and the -Aldermen, and informed them of his determination to restore the City -Charter and privileges, which had been confiscated by Charles II. He -hoped by this to gain the powerful support of the citizens, who, -however, were not to be bought by this tardy act of justice. The Court -of Common Council sent an address to the Prince of Orange, promising him -a welcome reception; and the Corporation waited on him, on his arrival -in London, with an ardent address of congratulation. - -The feelings of the mob, always fierce when roused by any unusual event, -appear to have led them to somewhat violent measures in their -expressions of hatred towards Roman Catholics. A similar panic, attended -by similar outbreaks, was witnessed in 1780, when proposals to grant -some relief to Papists caused the "Gordon Riots." - - - =Source.=—_The London Mercury_, December 12, 1688. - - No sooner was the King's withdrawing known, but the mob consulted to - wreak their vengeance on papists and popery; and last night began - with pulling down and burning the new-built Mass-house near the - arch, in Lincoln's Inn Fields: thence they went to Wild-house, the - residence of the Spanish Ambassador, where they ransacked, destroyed - and burnt all the ornamental and inside part of the chapel, some - cartloads of choice books, manuscript, etc. And not content here, - some villanous thieves and common rogues, no doubt, took this - opportunity to mix with the youth, and they plunder'd the - Ambassador's house of plate, jewels, money, rich goods, etc.: and - also many other who had sent in there for shelter their money, - plate, etc.: among which, one gentleman lost a trunk, in which was - £800 in money, and a great quantity of plate. Thence they went to - the Mass-house, at St. James's, near Smithfield, demolished it - quite; from thence to Blackfriars near the Ditchside, where they - destroyed Mr. Henry Hill's printing-house, spoiled his forms, - letters, etc., and burnt 2 or 300 reams of paper, printed and - unprinted: thence to the Mass-house in Bucklersbury and Lime-street, - and there demolished and burnt as before: and this night they went - to the Nuncio's, and other places at that end of the town; but - finding the birds flown, and the bills on the door, they drew off: - thence they went into the City, threatening to pull down all - papists' houses, particularly one in Ivy Lane, and the market house - upon Newgate Market, for no other reason but that one Burdet, a - papist, was one of the farmers of the market; but by the prudence of - the citizens and some of their trained bands, they were got off - without mischief doing anywhere. - - Tuesday night last, and all Wednesday, the apprentices were busy in - pulling down the chapels, and spoiling the houses of papists; they - crying out the fire should not go out till the Prince of Orange came - to town. There were thousands of them on Wednesday at the Spanish - Ambassador's, they not leaving any wainscot withinside the house or - chapel, taking away great quantities of plate, with much money, - household goods and writings, verifying the old proverb "All's fish - that came to the net." The spoil of the house was very great, divers - papists having sent their goods in thither, as judging that the - securest place. - - Then they went to the Lord Powis's great house in Lincoln's Inn - Fields, wherein was a guard, and a bill upon the door, "This house - is appointed for the Lord Delameer's quarters:" and some of the - company crying, "Let it alone, the Lord Powis was against the - Bishops going to the Tower," they offered no violence to it. - - Afterwards they marched down the Strand with oranges upon their - sticks, crying for the Prince of Orange, and went to the Pope's - Nuncio's, but finding a bill upon the door, "This house is to be - let," they desisted. Lastly, they did some damage to the house of - the resident of the Duke of Tuscany, in the Haymarket, carrying away - some of his goods, when one Captain Douglas, coming thither with a - company of trained bands to suppress them, a soldier, unadvisedly - firing at the boys with ball, shot the Captain through the back, of - which he lies languishing. They also went to the houses of the - French and other Ambassadors, but finding them deserted and the - landlords giving them money, they marched off. - - On Thursday, an order of the Lords coming forth, warning all persons - to desist from pulling down any house, especially those of the - Ambassadors, upon penalty of the utmost severity of the law to be - inflicted on them: since which they have been very quiet. - - - - - LORD MAYOR'S DAY (1689). - - -The following passage indicates the good-will which existed between the -citizens and their new Sovereigns. The Lord Mayor invited their -Majesties to witness the festivities, and the King expressed his -satisfaction by knighting the sheriffs. Just before this the King had -allowed the Grocers' Company to choose him as their Master, and when, -some days after the pageant described below, some disaffected person -expressed his disapproval of these manifestations of cordiality between -the King and the City by cutting away the crown and sceptre from the -King's picture in the Guildhall, the Lord Mayor offered a reward of £500 -for the discovery of the perpetrator. These civilities were preliminary -to the complete restoration of all the corporate rights of the citizens, -which had been seized by Charles II. The Act of 1690, declaring the -franchises, rights, and liberties of the City of London to be fully -restored, was the last of the long series of confirmations of these -treasured privileges. - - - =Source.=—_London Gazette_, October 28, 1689. - - This day Sir Thomas Pilkington being continued Lord Mayor for the - year ensuing was, according to custom, sworn before the Barons of - the Exchequer, at Westminster, whither he went by water, accompanied - by the Aldermen and the several companies, in their respective - barges, adorned with flags and streamers; passing by Whitehall they - paid their obeisance to their Majesties, who were in their apartment - by the water-side. The river was covered with boats, and the noise - of drums and trumpets, and several sorts of music, with the firing - of great guns, and the repeated huzzas of such a multitude of - people, afforded a very agreeable entertainment. - - And their Majesties, the Prince and Princess of Denmark, and the - Lords spiritual and temporal and Commons assembled in Parliament, - having been pleased to accept of an humble invitation from the Lord - Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council, to dine in the city on this - day, about noon their Majesties came, attended by his Royal - Highness, all the great officers of the Court, and a numerous train - of nobility and gentry in their coaches, the militia of London and - Westminster making a lane for them, the balconies all along their - passage being richly hung with tapestry, and filled with spectators, - and the people in great crowds expressing their joy with loud and - continued acclamations. Their Majesties were pleased from a balcony - prepared for them in Cheapside to see the show; which, for the great - numbers of the citizens of the several guilds attending in their - formalities, the full appearance of the artillery company, the rich - adornment of the pageants, and hieroglyphical representations, and - the splendour and good order of the whole proceeding, outdid all - that has been heretofore seen in this city upon the like occasions; - but that which deserves to be particularly mentioned was the royal - city regiment of volunteer horse, which being richly and gallantly - accoutred, and led by the Right Honourable the Earl of Monmouth, - attended their Majesty's from Whitehall into the city. - - The cavalcade being passed by, the King and Queen were conducted by - the two Sheriffs to the Guildhall, where their Majesties, both - Houses of Parliament, the Privy Councillors, the Judges, the Ladies - of the Bedchamber, and other ladies of the chiefest quality, dined - at several tables; and the grandeur and magnificence of the - entertainment was suitable to so august and extraordinary a - presence. Their Majesties were extremely pleased, and as a mark - thereof, the King conferred the honour of Knighthood upon - Christopher Lithiullier and John Houblon, Esquires, the present - Sheriffs, as also upon Edward Clark and Francis Child, two of the - Aldermen. - - In the evening their Majesties returned to Whitehall with the same - state they came. The militia again lined the streets, the city - regiments as far as Temple-bar, and the red and blue regiments of - Middlesex and Westminster from thence to Whitehall, the soldiers - having, at convenient distances, lighted flambeaux in their hands; - the houses were all illuminated, the bells ringing, and nothing was - omitted through the whole course of this day's solemnity, either by - the magistrates or people, that might show their respect or - veneration, as well as their dutiful affection and loyalty to their - Majesties, and the sense they have of the happiness they enjoy under - their most benign and gracious government. - - - - - GAY'S "TRIVIA" (1716). - - -_Trivia_ was one of the earliest productions of John Gay, and although -its poetical merit is by no means conspicuous, it is one of the poet's -most notable productions, as a vivid description of the streets of -London two hundred years ago. The piece is too long to print in full, -but the extracts which are given are typical and representative of the -general style and matter of the poem. - - But when the swinging signs your ears offend - With creaking noise, then rainy floods impend; - Soon shall the kennels swell with rapid streams, - And rush in muddy torrents to the Thames. - The bookseller, whose shop's an open square, - Forsees the tempest, and with early care - Of learning strips the rails; the rowing crew, - To tempt a fare, clothe all their tilts in blue; - On hosier's poles depending stockings ty'd, - Flag with the slacken'd gale from side to side; - Church-monuments foretell the changing air, - Then Niobe dissolves into a tear, - And sweats with sacred grief; you'll hear the sounds - Of whistling winds, ere kennels break their bounds; - Ungrateful odours common-shores diffuse, - And dropping vaults distil unwholesome dews, - Ere the tiles rattle with the smoking shower, - And spouts on heedless men their torrents pour. - - If cloth'd in black you tread the busy town, - Or if distinguish'd by the reverend gown, - Three trades avoid: oft in the mingling press - The barber's apron soils the sable dress; - Shun the perfumer's touch with cautious eye, - Nor let the baker's step advance too nigh. - Ye walkers too, that youthful colours wear, - Three sullying trades avoid with equal care: - The little chimney-sweeper skulks along, - And marks with sooty stains the heedless throng; - When small-coal murmurs in the hoarser throat, - From smutty dangers guard thy threaten'd coat; - The dustman's cart offends thy clothes and eyes, - When through the street a cloud of ashes flies; - But, whether black or lighter dyes are worn, - The chandler's basket, on his shoulder borne, - With tallow spots thy coat; resign the way, - To shun the surly butcher's greasy tray. - - If drawn by business to a street unknown, - Let the sworn porter point thee through the town; - Be sure observe the signs, for signs remain, - Like faithful landmarks, to the walking train. - Seek not from 'prentices to learn the way, - Those fabling boys will turn thy steps astray; - Ask the grave tradesmen to direct thee right, - He ne'er deceives—but when he profits by't. - - O bear me to the paths of fair Pall-mall! - Safe are thy pavements, grateful is thy smell! - At distance rolls along the gilded coach, - Nor sturdy carmen on thy walks encroach; - No lets would bar thy ways were chairs deny'd, - The soft supports of laziness and pride: - Shops breathe perfumes, through sashes ribbons glow, - The mutual arms of ladies and the beau. - Yet still e'en here, when rains the passage hide, - Oft the loose stone spirts up a muddy tide - Beneath thy careless foot; and from on high, - Where masons mount the ladder, fragments fly, - Mortar and crumbled lime in showers descend, - And o'er thy head destructive tiles impend. - - Where Covent-garden's famous temple stands, - That boasts the work of Jones' immortal hands; - Columns with plain magnificence appear, - And graceful porches lead along the square: - Here oft my course I bend; when, lo! from far - I spy the furies of the foot-ball war: - The 'prentice quits his shop, to join the crew, - Increasing crowds the flying game pursue. - Thus, as you roll the ball o'er snowy ground, - The gathering globe augments with every round. - But whither shall I run? the throng draws nigh, - The ball now skims the street, now soars on high: - The dext'rous glazier strong returns the bound, - And jingling sashes on the pent-house sound. - - Where Lincoln's-inn, wide space, is rail'd around, - Cross not with venturous step; there oft is found - The lurking thief, who, while the daylight shone, - Made the walls echo with his begging tone: - That crutch, which late compassion mov'd, shall wound - Thy bleeding head, and fell thee to the ground. - Though thou art tempted by the link-man's call, - Yet trust him not along the lonely wall; - In the mid-way he'll quench the flaming brand, - And share the booty with the pilfering band. - Still keep the public streets, where oily rays, - Shot from the crystal lamp, o'erspread the ways. - - - - - THE SOUTH SEA BUBBLE (1720). - - -The scenes in 'Change Alley during the period of the rise and fall of -South Sea Company shares have often been described. The mad spirit of -speculation which seized all classes alike, the foolish and unreasoning -belief in the possibility of realising fabulous wealth, the floating of -innumerable companies, many of which were of a most absurd character, -the panic which followed inevitably on the inflation of prices—all these -things were witnessed in London, the centre of the financial affairs of -the nation. There was great indignation against the Ministers and -directors who had made large profits, and a parliamentary inquiry -disclosed the fact that there had been bribery and corruption on an -extensive scale. The distracting effect of events of this kind was -extremely injurious to the City, and the attitude of the citizens is set -forth in their petition to the House of Commons. - - - =Source.=—_The Journal of Common Council_, quoted by Maitland, - vol. i., p. 530. - - Your petitioners beg leave to return their most humble thanks to - this honourable House for the great pains they have taken to relieve - the unhappy sufferers, by compelling the offenders to make - restitution; as likewise for their continued application to lay open - this whole scene of guilt, notwithstanding the industrious artifices - of such sharers in the common plunder, as have endeavoured to - obstruct the detection of fraud and corruption. And your petitioners - doubt not, but the same fortitude, impartiality and public spirit - wherewith this Honourable House have hitherto acted, will still - animate them in the pursuit of those truly great and noble ends. - - We are too sensible of the load of public debts, not to wish that - all proper methods may be taken to lessen them: and it is an - infinite concern to us, that the payment of a great sum towards them - (which was expected from the late scheme) is now rendered extremely - difficult, if not impracticable; and yet, as a cloud, hanging over - the heads of the present unfortunate proprietors of the South-Sea - Company, and a great damp to public credit. We will not presume to - mention in what manner relief may be given in this arduous affair; - but most humbly submit it to the consideration of this Honourable - House. Your petitioners therefore most humbly pray this Honourable - House will be pleased to take such farther measures as they, in - their great wisdom, shall judge proper, that trade may flourish, - public credit be restored, and justice done to an injured people. - - - - - DEFOE'S DESCRIPTION OF LONDON (1725). - - -This account of the capital is useful, as indicating its extent and -dimensions two centuries ago. Defoe was an accurate observer, and had -noticed the rapid expansion which had taken place even during his own -day. As trade and commerce increased, the boundaries of London were -extended farther and farther, and it would appear that the questions -with which this extract concludes are as far from being answered as they -were when Defoe asked them. - - - =Source.=—_A Tour through the Whole Island of Great Britain_, - 1724-1727, vol. ii., pp. 94-97. - - _London_, as a City only, and as its Walls and Liberties live it - out, might, indeed, be viewed in a small Compass; but, when I speak - of _London_, now in the Modern Acceptation, you expect I shall take - in all that vast Mass of Buildings, reaching from _Black Wall_ in - the _East_ to _Tothill Fields_ in the _West_; and extended in an - unequal Breadth, from the Bridge, or River, on the _South_, to - _Islington North_; and from _Peterburgh House_ on the Bank Side in - _Westminster_, to _Cavendish Square_, and all the new Buildings by, - and beyond _Hanover Square_, by which the City of _London_, for so - it is still to be called, is extended to _Hyde Park Corner_ in the - _Brentford Road_, and almost to _Maribone_ in the _Acton Road_, and - how much farther may it spread, who knows? New Squares, and new - Streets rising up every Day to such a Prodigy of Buildings, that - nothing in the world does, or ever did, equal it, except old _Rome_ - in _Trajan's_ time, when the walls were Fifty Miles in Compass, and - the Number of Inhabitants Six Millions Eight Hundred Thousand Souls. - - It is the Disaster of _London_, as to the Beauty of its Figure, that - it is thus stretched out in Buildings, just at the pleasure of every - Builder, or Undertaker of Buildings, and as the Convenience of the - People directs, whether for Trade, or otherwise; and this has spread - the Face of it in a most straggling, confus'd Manner, out of all - Shape, uncompact, and unequal; neither long nor broad, round or - square; whereas the City of _Rome_, though a monster for its - Greatness, yet was, in a manner, round, with very few Irregularities - in its Shape. - - At _London_, including the Buildings on both Sides the Water, one - sees it, in some Places, Three Miles broad, as from _St. George's_ - in _Southwark_, to _Shoreditch_ in _Middlesex_; or Two Miles, as - from _Peterburgh House_ to _Montague House_; and in some Places, not - half a Mile, as in _Wapping_; and much less, as in _Redriff_ - [Rotherhithe]. - - We see several Villages, formerly standing, as it were, in the - County and at a great Distance, now joyn'd to the Streets by - continued Buildings, and more making haste to meet in the like - Manner; for Example, 1. _Deptford_, This Town was formerly reckoned - at least Two Miles off from _Redriff_, and that over the Marshes - too, a Place unlikely ever to be inhabited; and yet now, by the - Encrease of Buildings in that Town itself, and by the Docks and - Buildings-Yard on the River Side, which stand between both the Town - of _Deptford_, and the Streets of _Redriff_ (or Rotherhith as they - write it) are effectually joyn'd, and the Buildings daily - increasing; so that _Deptford_ is no more a separated Town, but is - become a Part of the great Mass, and infinitely full of People also; - Here they have, within the last Two or Three Years, built a fine new - Church, and were the Town of Deptford now separated, and rated by - itself, I believe it contains more People, and stands upon more - Ground, than the City of _Wells_. - - The Town of _Islington_ on the _North_ side of the City, is in like - Manner joyn'd to the Streets of _London_, excepting one small Field, - and which is in itself so small, that there is no Doubt, but in a - very few years, they will be intirely joyn'd, and the same may be - said of _Mile-End_, on the _East_ End of the Town. - - _Newington_, called _Newington Butts_, in _Surrey_, reaches out her - Hand _North_, and is so near joining to _Southwark_, that it cannot - now be properly called a Town by itself, but a Suburb to the - Burrough, and if, _as they now tell us is undertaken_, _St. George's - Fields_ should be built with Squares and Streets, a very little Time - will shew us _Newington_, _Lambeth_, and the _Burrough_, all making - but one _Southwark_. - - Westminster is in a fair Way to shake Hands with Chelsea, as _St. - Gyles's_ is with _Marybone_; and Great _Russel_ Street by _Montague - House_, with _Tottenham Court_: all this is very evident, and yet - all these put together are still to be called _London_: Whither will - this monstrous City then extend? and where must a Circumvallation or - Communication Line of it be placed? - - - - - A PETITION AGAINST THE EXCISE BILL (1733). - - -The equitable distribution of taxation is a problem which no financial -minister has ever solved to the satisfaction of all the interests in the -country, and Walpole, one of the ablest of financiers, was unable to -effect an adjustment of the burden which would please everybody. In the -reign of William III. a land-tax had been imposed to meet the expenses -of the French war, and this was alleged to press heavily and unfairly on -the country gentry, who demanded that the wealthy trading interests -should pay more. Walpole tried a salt-tax, which, of course, was very -hard on the poorer classes; and in 1733 he proposed to turn the Customs -levied at the ports on wine and tobacco into an excise levied on these -articles in the possession of the traders. His reason was that owing to -the prevalence of smuggling the Customs did not produce as much as they -ought, and he thought that the excise duties would be more efficiently -collected. The proposal was violently opposed; it was stated that the -necessary inspection of warehouses was a violation of liberty, and -Walpole was forced to give way. The citizens of London shared the -general hatred of the measure, and set forth their reasons in a petition -to the House of Commons. - - - =Source.=—Document quoted by Maitland, vol. i., p. 560. - - Your petitioners observe in the votes of this Honourable House, that - a Bill has been brought in, pursuant to the resolutions of the - sixteenth day of March, for repealing several subsidies, and an - impost now payable on tobacco of the British plantations, and for - granting an Inland-duty in lieu thereof. - - That they presume therefore, in all humility, by a respectful - application to this Honourable House, to express, as they have - already done in some measure by their representation to their - members, the universal sense of the City of London, concerning any - further extension of the laws of excise. - - That the burden of taxes already imposed on every branch of trade, - however cheerfully borne, is severely felt; but that your - petitioners apprehend this burden will grow too heavy to be borne, - if it be increased by such vexatious and oppressive methods of - levying and collecting the duties, as they are assured, by - melancholy experience, that the nature of all Excises must - necessarily produce. - - That the merchants, tradesmen, and manufacturers of this Kingdom - have supported themselves under the pressure of the excise-laws now - in force, by the comfortable and reasonable expectation, that laws, - which nothing but public necessity could be a motive to enact, would - be repealed in favour of the trade of the nation, and of the liberty - of the subject, whenever that motive should be removed, as your - petitioners presume it effectually is, by an undisturbed - tranquillity at home, and a general peace so firmly established - abroad. - - That, if this expectation be entirely taken away; if the Excise - laws, instead of being repealed, are extended to other species of - merchandizes not yet excised, and a door opened for extending them - to all; your petitioners cannot, in justice to themselves, to the - merchants, tradesmen, and manufacturers of the whole kingdom, and to - the general interest of their country, conceal their apprehensions, - that the most fatal blow which ever was given, will be given on this - occasion to the trade and navigation of Great Britain; that great - spring, from which the wealth and prosperity of the public flow, - will be obstructed; the mercantile part of the nation will become - not only less able to trade to advantage, but unwilling to trade at - all; for no person, who can enjoy all the privileges of a British - subject out of trade, even with a small fortune, will voluntarily - renounce some of the most valuable of those privileges, by - subjecting himself to the laws of excise. - - That your petitioners are able to shew, that these their - apprehensions are founded both on experience and reason; and - therefore your petitioners most humbly pray, That this Honourable - House will be pleased to hear them by their Counsel against the said - bill. - - - - - LONDON STREETS (1741). - - -We have abundant evidence from many sources as to the deplorable -condition of the streets of London down to comparatively recent times. -It is somewhat surprising that this neglect should continue, while the -danger was thoroughly understood. In the days of the Plague, John Evelyn -was fully aware of the horrible conditions, and strongly inveighed -against the nuisances of smoke and dirt. It was recognised that the -existence of these filthy conditions had contributed to the spread of -the Plague, and that there was an ever-present danger so long as these -conditions remained; and yet, in spite of this knowledge, we find it -possible for an indictment such as this to be made as late as 1741: - - - =Source.=—Speech by Lord Tyrconnel, January 27, 1741, quoted - by Maitland, vol. i., p. 593. - - The filth, Sir, of some parts of the town, and the inequality and - ruggedness of others, cannot but in the eyes of foreigners disgrace - our nation, and incline them to imagine us a people, not only - without delicacy, but without Government—a herd of barbarians, or a - colony of Hottentots. The most disgusting part of the character - given by travellers, of the most savage nations, is their neglect of - cleanliness, of which, perhaps, no part of the world affords more - proofs than the streets of London, a city famous for wealth, - commerce, and plenty, and for every other kind of civility and - politeness; but which abounds with such heaps of filth, as a savage - would look on with amazement. If that be allowed, which is generally - believed, that putrefaction and stench are causes of pestilential - distempers, the removal of this grievance may be pressed from - motives of far greater weight than those of delicacy and pleasure; - and I might solicit the timely care of this assembly, for the - preservation of innumerable multitudes; and intreat those who are - watching against slight misfortunes, to unite their endeavours with - mine, to avert the greatest and most dreadful calamities. - - Not to dwell, Sir, upon dangers which may perhaps be thought only - imaginary, I hope that it will be at least considered how much the - present neglect of the pavement is detrimental to every carriage, - whether of trade or pleasure, or convenience; and that those who - have allowed so much of their attentions to petitions relating to - the roads of the kingdom, the repair of some of which is almost - every session thought of importance sufficient enough to produce - debates in this House, will not think the streets of the capital - alone unworthy of their regard. That the present neglect of - cleansing and paving the streets is such as ought not to be borne; - that the passenger is everywhere either surprised and endangered by - unexpected chasms, or offended and obstructed by mountains of filth, - is well known to everyone that has passed a single day in this great - City; and, that this great grievance is without a remedy, is a - sufficient proof that no magistrate has, at present, power to remove - it; for every man's private regard to his own ease and safety would - incite him to exert his authority on this occasion. - - - - - THE LOYALTY OF THE LONDON MERCHANTS - (1743). - - -The position of the mercantile interests on occasions of political or -dynastic complications is made quite clear by the following letter. The -merchants of London were in no way influenced by the sentimental or -other considerations which induced a number of Englishmen to support a -Stuart Pretender at a time when the country had experienced half a -century of steady and prosperous government, free from the difficulties -which had always been associated with the Stuart monarchs; and the -protestations of personal loyalty to George II. may be understood to -signify a determination to adhere to the established system of -aristocratic government, and to run no risk of a return to the -disturbances and distractions which marked the seventeenth century. - - - =Source.=—Document quoted by Maitland, vol. i., p. 634. - - We, your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the merchants of - your City of London, having observed, by your Majesty's most - gracious message to your parliament, that designs are carrying on by - your Majesty's enemies, in favour of a popish pretender, to disturb - the peace and quiet of these your Majesty's kingdoms, think it our - indispensable duty, not to omit this opportunity of expressing our - just resentment and indignation at so rash an attempt. - - We have too lively a sense of the happiness we enjoy in our religion - and liberties under your Majesty's mild and auspicious reign, and of - the flourishing condition of our trade and commerce, even in the - midst of war, under your paternal care and vigilance, not to give - your Majesty the strongest assurance of our highest gratitude for - such invaluable blessings; nor can we doubt, but by the blessing of - God upon your Majesty's arms, and the unanimous support of your - faithful subjects, the attempts of your enemies will recoil upon - themselves, and end in their own confusion. - - We therefore humbly beg leave to declare to your Majesty our - unshaken resolution, that we will, on this critical conjuncture, - exert our utmost endeavours for the support of public credit, and at - all times hazard our lives and fortunes, in defence of your - Majesty's sacred person and government, and for the security of the - protestant succession in your Royal Family. - - - - - THE GORDON RIOTS (1780). - - -The Gordon Riots were the most formidable popular rising of the -eighteenth century. In 1778 a Bill, brought forward by Sir George -Savile, for the relaxation of some of the harsher penal laws against -Catholics, passed almost unanimously through both Houses. Protestant -associations were formed in Scotland; a leader was found in Lord George -Gordon, a silly young man of twenty-eight years of age, and the -agitation spread to England. Mobs collected in London, and interfered -with the House of Commons; as they realised their strength, they -proceeded to various excesses, destroying Catholic churches and the -houses of prominent Romanists. The original objects of the agitation -were entirely lost sight of in the disturbances, which were merely the -unreasoning ravages of a wild mob. For five days the City was terrorised -by the rioters, who were at length dispersed by the military -authorities. - - - =Source.=—Boswell's _Life of Johnson_. - - While Johnson was thus engaged in preparing a delightful literary - entertainment for the world, the tranquillity of the metropolis of - Great Britain was unexpectedly disturbed by the most horrid series - of outrages that ever disgraced a civilised country. A relaxation of - some of the severe penal provisions against our fellow subjects of - the Catholic communion had been granted by the legislature, with an - opposition so inconsiderable, that the genuine mildness of - Christianity, united with liberal policy, seemed to have become - general in this island. But a dark and malignant spirit of - persecution soon showed itself, in an unworthy petition for the - repeal of the wise and humane statute. That petition was brought - forward by a mob, with the evident purpose of intimidation, and was - justly rejected. But the attempt was accompanied and followed by - such daring violence as is unexampled in history. Of this - extraordinary tumult, Dr. Johnson has given the following concise, - lively, and just account in his "Letter to Mrs. Thrale." - - "On Friday, the good Protestants met in Saint George's-Fields, at - the summons of Lord George Gordon, and marching to Westminster, - insulted the Lords and Commons, who all bore it with great tameness. - At night the outrages began by the demolition of the Mass-house by - Lincoln's Inn. An exact journal of a week's defiance of government I - cannot give you. On Monday, Mr. Strahan, who had been insulted, - spoke to Lord Mansfield (who had, I think, been insulted too) of the - licentiousness of the populace; and his lordship treated it as a - very slight irregularity. On Tuesday night they pulled down - Fielding's house, and burnt his goods in the street. They had - gutted, on Monday, Sir George Savile's house, but the building was - saved. On Tuesday evening, leaving Fielding's ruins, they went to - Newgate to demand their companions, who had been seized demolishing - the chapel. The keeper could not release them but by the Mayor's - permission, which he went to ask; at his return he found all the - prisoners released, and Newgate in a blaze. They then went to - Bloomsbury, and fastened upon Lord Mansfield's house, which they - pulled down; and as for his goods, they totally burnt them. They - have since gone to Caenwood, but a guard was there before them. They - plundered some Papists, I think, and burnt a mass-house in - Moorfields the same night. - - "On Wednesday I walked with Dr. Scot to look at Newgate, and found - it in ruins, with the fire yet glowing. As I went by, the - Protestants were plundering the Sessions House at the Old Bailey. - There were not, I believe, a hundred; but they did their work at - leisure, in full security, without sentinels, without trepidation, - as men lawfully employed in full day. Such is the cowardice of a - commercial place. On Wednesday they broke open the Fleet, and the - King's Bench, and the Marshalsea, and Wood St. Compter, and - Clerkenwell Bridewell, and released all the prisoners. - - "At night they set fire to the Fleet, and to the King's Bench, and I - know not how many other places; and one might see the glare of - conflagration fill the sky from many parts. The sight was dreadful. - Some people were threatened. Mr. Strahan advised me to take care of - myself. Such a time of terror you have been happy in not seeing. - - "The King said in Council 'that the magistrates had not done their - duty, but that he would do his own'; and a proclamation was - published directing us to keep our servants within doors, as the - peace was now to be preserved by force. The soldiers were sent out - to different parts, and the town is now (June 9) at quiet. - - "The soldiers are stationed so as to be everywhere within call: - there is no longer any body of rioters, and the individuals are - hunted to their holes, and led to prison; Lord George was last night - sent to the Tower. Mr. John Wilkes was this day in my neighbourhood, - to seize the publisher of a seditious paper. - - "Several chapels have been destroyed, and several inoffensive - Papists have been plundered, but the high sport was to burn the - gaols. This was a good rabble trick. The debtors and the criminals - were all set at liberty; but of the criminals, as has always - happened, many are already retaken; and two pirates have surrendered - themselves, and it is expected that they will be pardoned. - - "Government now acts again with its proper force; and we are all - under the protection of the King, and the law. I thought that it - would be agreeable to you and my master to have my testimony to the - public security; and that you would sleep more quietly when I told - you that you were safe. - - "There has, indeed, been a universal panic, from which the King was - the first that recovered. Without the concurrence of his ministers, - or the assistance of the civil magistrates, he put the soldiers in - motion, and saved the town from calamities, such as a rabble's - government must naturally produce. - - "The public has escaped a very heavy calamity. The rioters attempted - the Bank on Wednesday night, but in no great number; and, like other - thieves, with no great resolution. Jack Wilkes headed the party that - drove them away. It is agreed that if they had seized the Bank on - Tuesday, at the height of the panic, when no resistance had been - prepared, they might have carried irrecoverably away whatever they - had found. Jack who was always zealous for order and decency, - declares that if he be trusted with power, he will not leave a - rioter alive. There is, however, now no longer any need of heroism - or bloodshed; no blue riband is any longer worn. - - "Such was the end of this miserable sedition, from which London was - delivered by the magnanimity of the Sovereign himself. Whatever some - may maintain, I am satisfied that there was no combination or plan, - either domestic or foreign; but that the mischief spread by a - gradual contagion of frenzy, augmented by the quantities of - fermented liquors, of which the deluded populace possessed - themselves in the course of their depredations." - - - - - THE TRADE OF LONDON IN 1791. - - -The following account of London's trade at the end of the eighteenth -century is, of course, concerned with the manufacturing and commercial -activity of the whole country as well as with the particular work of -London; but the City was the chief port and centre of a trade which had -grown with marvellously rapid strides. The mechanical inventions in the -textile industries, the phenomenal growth of manufactures at this time, -the stimulus given to English trade by the disturbances on the -Continent, all assisted in an amazing development of commerce, of which -London was the centre. - - - =Source.=—_The British Directory_, 1791. - - The commerce of the world being in perpetual fluctuation, we can - never be too watchful, not only for preserving what we are now in - possession of, but for availing ourselves of the mistakes or - negligences of other nations, in order to acquire new branches of - it. Who could have imagined, three hundred years ago, that those - ports of the Levant, from whence, by means of the Venetians, - England, and almost all the rest of Christendom, were supplied with - the spices, drugs, etc., of India and China, should one day come - themselves to be supplied with those very articles by the remote - countries of England and Holland, at an easier rate than they were - used to have them directly from the East; or that Venice should - afterwards lose to Lisbon the lucrative trade of supplying the rest - of Europe with them; or lastly, that Lisbon should afterwards lose - the same to Amsterdam; or that Amsterdam and Haerlem should - gradually lose, as in great part they have done, their famous and - fine linen manufactures to Ireland and Scotland? At present, our - woollen manufacture is the noblest in the universe; and second to it - is our metallic manufacture of iron, steel, tin, copper, lead, and - brass, which is supposed to employ upwards of half a million of - people. Our unmanufactured wool alone, of one year's produce or - growth, has been estimated to be worth two millions sterling; and, - when manufactured, it is valued at six millions more, and is thought - to employ upwards of a million of our people in its manufacture; - whereas in former times all our wool was exported unmanufactured, - and our own people remained unemployed. Even within the three last - centuries, the whole rental or value of all the lands and houses in - England did not exceed five millions; but by the spirited exertions - of the City of London, seconded by the merchants of the principal - trading towns in the country, the rental of England is now estimated - at twenty millions per annum, or more; of which vast benefit our - nobility, gentry, and landholders begin to be fully sensible, by the - immense increase in the value or fee-simple of their lands, which - has gradually kept pace with the increase and value of our - commercial intercourse with foreign nations, of which the following - are at present the most considerable: - - To Turkey we export woollen cloths, tin, lead, and iron, solely in - our own shipping; and bring from thence raw silk, carpets, galls, - and other dyeing ingredients, cotton, fruits, medicinal drugs, etc. - - To Italy we export woollen goods of various kinds, peltry, leather, - lead, tin, fish, and East India merchandise; and bring back raw and - thrown silk, wines, oil, soap, olives, oranges, lemons, - pomegranates, dried fruits, colours, anchovies, etc. - - To Spain we send all kinds of woollen goods, leather, lead, tin, - fish, corn, iron and brass manufactures, haberdashery wares, - assortments of linen from Germany and elsewhere for her American - colonies; and receive in return wines, oils, dried fruits, oranges, - lemons, olives, wools, indigo, cochineal, and other dyeing drugs, - colours, gold and silver coins, etc. - - To Portugal we mostly send the same kind of merchandise as to Spain; - and make returns in vast quantities of wines, oils, salt, dried and - moist fruits, dyer's ingredients, and gold coins. - - To France we export tobacco, lead, tin, flannels, horns, hardware, - Manchester goods, etc., and sometimes great quantities of corn; and - make our returns in wines, brandies, linens, cambrics, lace, - velvets, brocades, etc. But as a commercial treaty has so lately - taken place with France, added to the attention of its people being - drawn off from trade, and almost wholly engrossed with the - establishment of its late wonderful revolution, it is impossible to - state the relative operations of this trade at present. - - To Flanders we send serges, flannels, tin, lead, sugars, and - tobacco; and make returns in fine lace, linen, cambrics, etc. - - To Germany we send cloth and stuffs, tin, pewter, sugars, tobacco, - and East India merchandise; and bring from thence linen, thread, - goatskins, tinned plates, timbers for all uses, wines, and many - other articles. - - To Norway we send tobacco and wollen stuffs; and bring from thence - vast quantities of deals and other timber. - - To Sweden we send most of our home manufactures; and return with - iron, timber, tar, copper, etc. - - To Russia we send great quantities of woollen cloths and stuffs, - tin, lead, tobacco, diamonds, household furniture, etc.; and make - returns in hemp, flax, linen, thread, furs, potash, iron, wax, - tallow, etc. - - To Holland we send an immense quantity of different sorts of - merchandise, such as all kinds of woollen goods, hides, corn, coals, - East India and Turkey articles imported by those respective - companies, tobacco, tar, sugar, rice, ginger, and other American - productions; and return with fine linen, lace, cambrics, thread, - tapes, madder, boards, drugs, whalebone, train-oil, toys, and - various other articles of that country. - - To America we still send our home manufactures of almost every kind; - and make our returns in tobacco, sugars, rice, ginger, indigo, - drugs, logwood, timber, etc. - - To the coast of Guinea we send various sorts of coarse woollen and - linen goods, iron, pewter, brass, and hardware manufactures, - lead-shot, swords, knives, firearms, gunpowder, glass manufactures, - etc.; and bring home vast numbers of negro slaves, and gold dust, - dyeing and medicinal drugs, redwood, Guinea grains, ivory, etc. - - To Arabia, Persia, East Indies, and China we send much foreign - silver coin and bullion, manufactures of lead, iron, and brass, - woollen goods, etc.; and bring home muslins, and cottons of various - kinds, calicoes, raw and wrought silk, chintz, teas, porcelain, - coffee, gold-dust, saltpetre, and many drugs for dyer's and - medicinal uses. These are exclusive of our trade to Ireland, - Newfoundland, West Indies, and many other of our settlements and - factories in different parts of the world, which likewise contribute - an immense annual return. - - Our trade to the East Indies certainly contributes one of the most - stupendous political as well as commercial machines that is to be - met with in history. The trade itself is exclusive, and lodged in a - company which has a temporary monopoly of it, in consideration of - money advanced to the Government. Without entering into the history - of the East India trade, within these twenty years past, and the - Company's concerns in that country, it is sufficient to say, that, - besides their settlements on the coast of India, which they enjoy - under certain restrictions by Act of Parliament, they have, through - the various internal revolutions which have happened in Indostan, - and the ambition or avarice of their servants and officers, acquired - such territorial possessions as render them the most formidable - commercial republic (for so it may be called in its present - situation) that has been known in the world since the demolition of - Carthage. Their revenues are only known, and that but imperfectly, - to the Directors of the Company, who are chosen by the proprietors - of the stock; but it has been publicly affirmed that they amount - annually to above three millions and a half sterling. The expenses - of the Company in forts, fleets, and armies, for maintaining those - acquisitions, are certainly very great; but after these are defrayed - the Company not only cleared a vast sum but was able to pay to the - Government £400,000 yearly for a certain time, partly by way of - indemnification for the expenses of the public in protecting the - Company, and partly as a tacit tribute for those possessions that - are territorial and not commercial. This republic, therefore, cannot - be said to be independent, and it is hard to say what form it may - take when the term of its charter is expired, which will be in the - year 1794. At present it appears to be the intention of Government - that its exclusive commercial privileges shall then finally cease, - and no new charter be granted. - - BILLING AND SONS, LTD., PRINTERS, GUILDFORD. - - - - - TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES - - - 1. Silently corrected simple spelling, grammar, and typographical - errors. - 2. Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed. - 3. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_. - 4. Enclosed bold font in =equals=. - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Source Book of London History, by P. Meadows - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOURCE BOOK OF LONDON HISTORY *** - -***** This file should be named 51175-0.txt or 51175-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/1/7/51175/ - -Produced by Richard Tonsing, The Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive -specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this -eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook -for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, -performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given -away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks -not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the -trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country outside the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the - United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you - are located before using this ebook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The -Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org - - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the -mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its -volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous -locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt -Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to -date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and -official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - |