Of the Eccleſiaſtical Government of England, and firſt of the Convocation.

FOr the Church legiſlative power, or the making of Eccleſiaſtical Laws, and conſulting of the more weighty affairs of the Church, the King by the adviſe of his Privy Council, uſually convokes a National Synod commonly called the Convocation, which is ſummoned in manner following.

The King directeth his Writ to the Archbiſhops of each Province, for ſummoning all Biſhops, Deans, Arch-deacons, Cathedrals, and Collegiate Churches, according to their beſt diſcretion and judgment, aſſigning them the time and place in the ſaid Writ; whereupon the Archbiſhop of Canterbury directs his Letters to the Biſhop of London, as his Dean Provincial, firſt citing himſelf peremptorily, and then willing him to cite in like manner all the Biſhops, Deans, Archdeacons, Cathedral and Collegiate Churches, and all the Clergy of his Province to that place, and at the day prefixt in the Writ; but directeth withal that one Proctor ſent for each Cathedral and Collegiate Churche, and two for the body of the inferiour Clergy of each Dioceſs may ſuffice. The Biſhop of London accordingly directs his letters to the Biſhops of every Dioceſs of the Province, citing them in like manner to appear, and to admoniſh the Deans and Archdeacons to appear perſonally, and the Cathedrals, Collegiate Churches and inferiour Clergy of the Dioceſs, to ſend their Proctors to the place; and at the day appointed; alſo to certifie to the Archbiſhop the names of all ſo ſummoned by them.

The place where the Convocation of Clergy in the Province of Canterbury hath uſually been held, was St. Pauls Church in London, but of later times at St. Peters in Weſtminſter in the Chappel of Henry the Seventh; where there is (as in Parliament) a Higher and a Lower Houſe, or a Houſe of Lords Spiritual, and a Houſe of Commons Spiritual.

The Higher Houſe of Convocation in the Province of Canterbury conſiſts of 22 Biſhops, whereof the Archbiſhop is Preſident, ſittting in a Chair at the upper end of a great Table, and the Biſhops on each ſide of the ſame Table all in their Scarlet Robes.

The Lower Houſe conſiſts of all the Deans, Archdeacons, one Proctor for every Chapter, and two Proctors for all the Clergy of each Dioceſs, in all 166 perſons, viz. 22 Deans, 24▪ Prebendaries, 54 Archdeacons, and 44 Clerks repreſenting the Dioceſan-Clergy.

The firſt day both houſes being aſſembled the Higher chooſeth a Biſhop for their Prolocutor▪ and the Lower being required by the Highe Houſe to chooſe them a Prolocutor, or Speaker; which done they preſent him to the Upper Houſe by two of their Members, whereof one makes a Speech in Latin; and then the Elect perſon makes another Speech in Latin. Laſtly the Archbiſhop anſwers in Latin, and in the name of all the Lords approves of the perſon.

Both Houſes debate and tranſact only ſuch matters as His Majeſty by Commiſſion expreſly alloweth.

In the Upper Houſe things are firſt propoſed, and then communicated to the Lower Houſe.

The Major vote in each Houſe prevailes.

Out of Parliament time they uſually aſſemble every day about Nine of the clock, and firſt the Junior Biſhop ſayes prayers in Latin, beginning with the Letany, and then for the King, &c. And in the Lower Houſe the Prolocutor ſays prayers.

In Convocation are debated only matters concerning Religion and the Church, and ſometime of giving His Majeſty aſſiſtance in Money; for as the Laity cannot be taxed without their own conſent, ſignified by their Repreſentative in Parliament, ſo the Clergy cannot be taxed without their conſent, ſignified by their Repreſentative in Convocation.

The Clergy in Convocation might antiently without asking the Royal Aſſent, and now may with the Royal Aſſent make Canons touching matters of Religion, to bind not only themſelves, but all the Laity with-out conſent or ratification of the Lords and Commons in Parliament.

Till the late Rebellion the Parliament did not at all meddle in the making Canons, or in matters Doctrinal, or in Tranſlation of Scriptures, only by their civil Sanctions (when they were thereto required) did confirm the Reſults and Conſultations of the Clergy, that ſo the people might be the more eaſily induced to obey the Ordinances of their Spiritual Governors.

The Clergy of England had antiently their Repreſentatives in the Lower Houſe of Parliament, as appears by that antient Record ſo highly prized by the late Lord Coke; and as the Upper Houſe had and ſtill hath Lords Spiritual as well as Temporal; ſo in the Lower Houſe there were always Commons Spiritual as well as Temporal; for that Record ſaith expreſly, that the Commons in Parliament conſiſt of three degrees or kinds; Firſt, ex Procuratoribus Cleri; Secondly, ex Militibus Comitatuum; Thirdly, ex Burgenſibus: and the words of the Writ directed now to the Procuratores Cleri, ſeem to give them the very ſame right to ſit in that Houſe, as the words of the Writ to the Knights, Citizens and Burgeſſes do give to them.

All the Members of both Houſes of Convocation have the ſame priviledges for themſelves and menial Servants, as the Members of Parliament have, and that by Statute.

The Archbiſhop of York at the ſame time holds at York a Convocation of all his Province in like manner, and by conſtant correſpondence doth debate and conclude of the ſame matters as are debated and concluded by the Provincial Synod of Canterbury.

Now for the Executive power in Church matters throughout the Kingdom of England, there have been provided divers excellent Courts, whereof the higheſt for criminal Cauſes was the High Commiſſion Court, for the juriſdiction whereof it was enacted primo Elizabethae, that Her Majeſty and Succeſſors ſhould have power by Letters Patents under the Great Seal, to nominate Commiſſioners to exerciſe juriſdiction throughout the whole Realm; to viſit, reform, and correct all Errors, Hereſies, Schiſms, Abuſes, and Delinquencies, that may by any Eccleſiaſtical power be corrected or reformed.

This Court conſiſted of the higheſt perſons of England in the Church and State, and was the principal Bulwark and Preſervative of the Church of England againſt the practices and aſſaults of all her Adverſaries, whether Romaniſt, Puritan, or Atheiſt, yet for ſome pretended abuſes, the uſe thereof was taken away in the late ſeditious long Parliament; whereupon followed a deluge of Errors in Religion, Apoſtacy, Atheiſm, Blaſphemy, Sacriledge, Inceſt, Adultery, impious Libels, Schiſms, Conventicles, &c. all which ſo overwhelmed the manners of Engliſh men, and occaſioned at length ſo many profeſt Atheiſts, that until the re-eſtabliſhment of this or the like Court, there cannot a Reformation be reaſonably hoped for.

For civil affairs that concern the Church, the higheſt Court is the Court of Delegates for the juriſdiction whereof it was provided 25 H. 8. that it ſhall be lawful for any ſubject of England, in caſe of defect of juſtice in the Courts of the Archbiſhop of Canterbury, to appeal to the Kings Majeſty in his Court of Chancery, and that upon ſuch appeal, a Commiſſion under the Great Seal ſhall be directed to certain perſons particularly deſigned for that buſineſs; ſo that from the higheſt Court of the Archbiſhop of Canterbury, there lies an Appeal to this Court of Delegates, and beyond this to none other.

Next to the Court of Delegates are the Courts of the Archbiſhop of Canterbury, where any Eccleſiaſtical Sutes between any perſons may (waving all inferior Courts) be decided; amongſt them the higheſt Court is the Court of Arches, ſo called from the Arched Church and Tower of S. Maries in Cheapſide, London, where this Court is wont to be held, the Judge whereof is called Dean of the Arches, having juriſdiction over a Deanery, conſiſting of 13 Pariſhes within London, exempt from the juriſdiction of the Biſhop of London. Hither are directed all Appeals in Eccleſiaſtical matters within the Province of Canterbury. To this Court belongs divers Advocates, all Doctors of the Civil Law, two Regiſters, and ten Proctors: the Dean at preſent is Doctor Sweat.

In the next place the Archbiſhop of Canterbury hath his Court of Audience kept within the Archbiſhops Palace, and medleth not with any difference between parties, but concerning Elections and conſecration of Biſhops, Admiſſion and Inſtitution to Benefices, dipenſing with Banes of Matrimony, &c.

The next Court is called the Prerogative Court, which judgeth of Eſtates fallen by Will, or by Inteſtates, ſo called, becauſe the Archbiſhops jure Praerogativae ſuae hath this power throughout his whole Province where the party at the time of death had 5 l. or above in ſeveral Dioceſes; and theſe two Courts hath alſo the Archbiſhop of York.

Laſtly, the Court of Peculiars, which dealeth in certain Pariſhes, lying in ſeveral Dioceſes, which Pariſhes are exempt from the juriſdiction of the Biſhops of thoſe Dioceſes, and are peculiarly belonging to the Archbiſhop of Canterbury, in whoſe Province there are 57 ſuch Peculiars.

Beſides theſe Courts ſerving for the whole Province, every Biſhop hath his Court held in the Cathedral of his Dioceſs, over which he hath a Chancellor, tearmed antiently Eccleſiecdicus & Epiſcopi Ecdicus, the Church Lawyer or the Biſhops Lawyer, who being skill'd in the Civil and Canon Law, ſits there as Judge; and if his Dioceſs be large, he hath in ſome more remote place a Commiſſary, whoſe authority is only in ſome certain place of the Dioceſs, and ſome certain Cauſes limited to him by the Biſhop in his Commiſſion; and theſe are called Conſiſtory Courts.

Moreover, every Archdeacon hath his Court and Juriſdiction, where ſmaller differences ariſing within his limits are pleaded. Alſo the Dean and Chapter hath a Court, and take cognizance of Cauſes happening in places belonging to the Cathedral.

Laſtly, there are certain peculiar Juriſdictions belonging to ſome certain Pariſhes, the Inhabitants whereof are exempt ſometimes from the Archdeacons Juriſdiction, and ſometimes from the Biſhops Juriſdiction.

Cauſes belonging to Eccleſiaſtical Courts, are Blaſphemy, Apoſtaſie from Chriſtianity, Hereſies, Schiſms, Ordinations, Inſtitutions of Clerks to Benefices, Celebration of Divine Service, Rights of Matrimony, Divorces, general Baſtardy, Tythes, Oblations, Obventions, Mortuaries, Dilapidations, Reparation of Churches, Probate of Wills, Adminiſtrations, Simony▪ Inceſts, Fornications, Adulteries, Solicitations of Chaſtity, Penſions, Procurations, Commutation of Pennance, &c. the cognizance whereof belongs not to the Common Law of England.

The Laws and Conſtitutions whereby the Eccleſiaſtical Government doth ſtand, and the Church of England is governed, are firſt general Canons made by general Councels; alſo the Arbitria ſanctorum Patrum, the opinion of Fathers, the grave Decrees of ſeveral Holy Biſhops of Rome, which the Kings of England from time to time have admitted.

Next our own Conſtitutions made antiently in ſeveral Provincial Synods, either by the Legats Otho and Othobon, ſent from Rome; or by ſeveral Archbiſhops of Canterbury; all which are by 25 H. 8. of force in England, ſo far as they are not repugnant to the Laws and Cuſtoms of England, or the Kings Prerogative. Then the Canons made in Convocations of later times, as primo Jacobi, and confirmed by his Royal Authority. Alſo ſome Statutes enacted by Parliament touching Eccleſiaſtical affairs: And laſtly, divers Cuſtoms not written, but yet in uſe beyond the memory of man: and where theſe fail, the Civil Law takes place.

The manner of Tryals by theſe Laws and Cuſtoms are different from the Tryals at Common Law, and are briefly thus. Firſt goes forth a Citation, then Bill and Anſwer, then by Proofs, Witneſſes, and Preſumptions the matter is argued pro and con, and the Canon and Civil Laws quoted, then without any Jury, the definitive ſentence of the Judge paſſſeth, and upon that Execution. And this is the manner of trying Eccleſiaſtical Civil Cauſes; but Eccleſiaſtical criminal Cauſes are tryed by way of Accuſation, Denunciation, or Inquiſition. The firſt, when ſome one takes upon him to prove the crime: the ſecond, when the Churchwardens preſent and are nor bound to prove, becauſe it is preſumed they do it without any malice, and that the crime is notorious. Laſtly, by Inquiſition, when by reaſon of common fame, inquiry is made by the Biſhop, ex officio ſuo, by calling ſome of the neighborhood to their Oaths, or the party accuſed to his Oath ex officio, ſo called, becauſe the Eccleſiaſtical Judge doth it ex officio ſuo, which is very antient, and was uſual among the Jews; ſo Joſhua to Acan, Fili mi tribue gloriam, &c. So God himſelf to Adam upon his firſt tranſgreſſion; and likewiſe afterward to Sodom; but by the prevailing faction in the long Parliament, this power was extorted from the Church, the want whereof is one main cauſe of the great libertiniſme and debauchery of the Nation.

Now the puniſhments inflicted by theſe Spiritual or Eccleſiaſtical Courts, according to theſe Spiritual or Eccleſiaſtical Laws, proceed in this manner. Firſt the party delinquent is admoniſh'd; next goes forth minor Excommunicatio, whereby he is excommunicated or excluded from the Church; or if not from the Church, yet from the Communion of the Lords Supper, is diſenabled to be Plaintiff in a Law Sute, &c. And this commonly for ſtubborneſs ſhewed by not appearing in the Eccleſiaſtical Court upon ſummons, or not obeying the Orders of the Court which though in ſmalleſt matters, yet may be a very great crime; for Res praecepta quo facilior eſt obſervatu eo praecepti violatio eſt gravior cum fit magis ſpontanea, as S. Auſtin obſerves of the firſt ſin of Adam. Any command by how much the eaſier it may be obſerved, by ſo much the more grievous is the breach thereof, becauſe it is the more voluntary: beſides in contempts it is not ſo much the violation of the Law as of the Authority, which ought to be reſented. And herein the Church of England proceedeth no otherwiſe than the State of England; for ſo odious in the eye of the common Law of Enland, is the contempt thereof, that not only for Felonies, but even in an Action of the caſe, in an Action of a ſmall Debt, Account or Detinue, if a man will not appear and ſubmit himſelf to a Tryal at Law, a Proceſs of Outlawry is grounded againſt him, and he being once Outlawed, he is out of the protection of the Law. Caput gerit lupinum, ſaith Bracton, an Outlaw'd was antiently lookt upon as a Wolf, lawfully to be killed by any man that ſhould meet him, as moſt juſt, that he who contemned the Law, and therein the King, ſhould not have benefit by the Law, nor protection from the King, and at this day he is to looſe all his Goods and Chattels. The Reader will eaſily pardon this digreſſion when he conſiders the general cry againſt Excommunications at this day.

This power of leſſer Excommunication the Biſhop may delegate to any grave Prieſt with the Chancellour.

Excommunicato major is not only an excluſion from the company of Chriſtians in Spiritual Duties, but alſo in Temporal affairs, and this commonly for Hereſie, Schiſm, Perjury, Inceſt, and ſuch grievous crimes; and that it may be done with the more ſolemnity and terror, it is to be pronounced by the Biſhop himſelf in his proper perſon; and being ſo Excommunicated, a man cannot in any Civil or Eccleſiaſtical Court, be Plaintiff or Witneſs. And in caſe any man be ſo ſtubborn as to continue 40 days excommunicated, the Kings Writ de excommunicato capiendo is granted forth of the Chancery againſt him; whereupon he is caſt into priſon without Bail, there to lie till he hath ſatisfied for his offence.

Next there is Anathematiſmus to be inflicted only upon an obſtinate Heretick, whereby he is declared a publick Enemy of God, and rejected, and curſed, and delivered over to eternal damnation: and this to be done by the Biſhop, alſo in his own perſon, aſſiſted by the Dean and Chapter, or twelve other grave Prieſts.

Laſtly, there is Interdictum, whereby is prohibited all Divine Offices, as Chriſtian an Burial, Adminiſtration of Sacraments, &c. in ſuch a Place, or to ſuch a People, and if this be againſt a People; it follows them whereſoever they go; but if againſt a Place only, then the People of that Place may go to Divine Offices elſewhere.

Beſides theſe general cenſures of the Church, which reſpect Church Communion, there is another which toucheth the body of the Delinquent, called Publick Penance, when any one is compelled to confeſs in publick his fault, and to bewail it before the whole Congregation in the Church; which is done in this manner: the Delinquent is to ſtand in the Church Porch upon ſome Sunday bare, head and feet, in a white Sheet, and a white Rod in his Hand, there bewailing himſelf, and beging every one that paſſes by to pray for him; then to enter the Church, falling down and kiſſing the ground; then in the middle of the Church, placed in a higher place in the ſight of all the People, and over againſt the Miniſter, who declares the foulneſs of his crime odious to God, and ſcandalous, to the Congregation, that God can no way be ſatisfied but by applying Chriſts ſufferings, nor the Congregation, but by an humble acknowledging of his ſin, and teſtifying his ſincere repentance and ſorrow, not in words only, but with tears, and promiſing there in the ſight of God and his Holy Angels, that by Gods aſſiſtance, and by Prayer, Meditation, and daily works of Piety, he will endeavor hereafter more carefully to watch againſt the temptations of the world, the allurements of the fleſh, and the ſnares of the Devil: which being done, and the Prieſt in Chriſts name pronouncing the remiſſion of ſins, the penitent humbly beſeeches the Congregation to pardon him that great ſcandal againſt them, and receive him into their holy Communion, and to account him again a Member of their Church and in teſtimony hereof, out of their Chriſtian Charity, to vouchſafe to ſay with him aloud, the Lords Prayer. And this way of the Church of England, appears by divers Writers, to be the antient way uſed by the Primitive Churches:

Note that it is ordained by the Canons of the Church of England, that in caſe the crime be not notorious and publick, the forenamed penance may at the parties requeſt be commuted into a pecuniary Mulct for the poor of the Pariſh, or ſome Pious uſes, provided that for the Reformation of the Delinquent that way appear to be the more probable way; for ſome men will be thereby reclaimed, who by publication of their offence would become more impudent, and hardned, when they perceive their reputation to be loſt.

There remains one more puniſhment or Eccleſiaſtical cenſure which toucheth the body, and that is denyal of Chriſtian burial, which is inflicted not in poenam mortuorum, but in terrorem viventium, who naturally deſire that after their death their bodies may be decently interred. And Chriſtian burial is wont to be denyed by the Church of England, to perſons dying excommunicate, to perjured perſons, to ſuch as are hanged for Felony, or that wilfully kill themſelves, and to Apoſtates, Hereticks, and Extortioners.

To theſe forenamed Cenſures and Puniſhments, both Laity and Clergy are ſubject; but beſides theſe, there are puniſhments whereunto the Clergy only are lyable▪ as firſt, Suſpenſio ab Officio, when a Miniſter for a time is declared unfit to execute the Office of a Miniſter.

Then Suſpenſio a Beneficio, when a Miniſter for a time is deprived of the profits of his Benefice; and theſe two Cenſures are wont to be for ſmaller crimes.

Thirdly, Deprivatio a Beneficio, when for a greater crime, a Miniſter is wholly and for ever deprived of his Living.

And fourthly, Deprivatio ab Officio, when a Miniſter is wholly and for ever deprived of his Orders, and this is called Depoſitio, or Degradatio, and is commonly for ſome heynous crime, meriting death, and is performed by the Biſhop in a ſolemn manner, pulling off from the Criminal his Veſtments, and other Enſignes of his Order; and this in the preſence of the Civil Magiſtrate, to whom he is then delivered to be puniſhed as a Lay man for the like offence. And herein Biſhops are to take ſpecial care to behave themſelves 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , not as lording over Gods Heritage, not as abſolute Maſters over Servants, to gain by their puniſhments, but as Fathers over Children, for their amendment, and as being Miniſters in Spiritual affairs, to uſe their power for the good of Chriſtians, and to conduct that power by moderation.

Of the Parliament of England, and therein of the Perſon ſummoning, the manner of the ſummons, the perſons ſummoned, their priviledges; the place and manner of Sitting, the paſsing of Bills in either Houſe, the paſsing of Acts of Parliament, of Adjourning, Proroguing, and Diſſolving of Parliaments.

A Brief Account of the Eccleſiaſtical Government having been given, next follows the Civil Government, towards which, the firſt great wheel that moves, is the Parliament of England.

Before the Conqueſt the Great Council of the King, conſiſting only of the Great men of the Kingdom, was called Magnatum Conventus, or elſe Praelatorum Procerumque Concilium, and by the Saxons in their own Tongue, Micel Gemot, the Great Aſſembly; after the Conqueſt it was called by the French word Parlementum, from Parler, to talk together, ſtill conſiſting only of the Great men of the Nation, until the Reign of H. 3. The Commons alſo were called to ſit in Parliament; for the firſt Writs ſent forth to ſummon them, bears date 49. H. 3. about 400 years agoe.

None but the King hath authority to ſummon a Parliament: In the Kings abſence out of the Realm, the Cuſtos Regni in the Kings name doth ſummon a Parliament, and during the Kings minority within the Realm, the Protector Regni doth the ſame.

No Parliament can begin without the Kings Preſence, either in Perſon, or by Repreſentation by Commiſſioners.

When the King of England is with his Parliament in time of peace, he is then ſaid to be in the height of his Royal Dignity, as well as when he is at the head of his Army in time of War. There is then ſcarce any thing that the King cannot do, his power cannot be confined for Cauſes or Perſons within any bounds. He can with the concurrence of his Lords and Commons, legitimate one that is born illegitimate, baſtardize one that is born legitimate, that is to ſay, one begotten in Adultery, the Husband being then within the four Seas. He can make an Infant of full age, make an Alien or Forreigner an Engliſhman, can attaint a man of Treaſon when he is dead, when he is no more a man, &c.

A Parliament is ſummoned in manner following; About 40 days before the Parliament doth aſſemble, the King iſſues out his Writ cum Adviſamento Concilii ſui, and the Warrant is, per ipſum Regem & Concilium.

The Kings Writ (which is a ſhort Letter or Epiſtle) is directed and ſent to every particular perſon of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, commanding the Lords Spiritual in Fide & Dilectione, and the Lords Temporal, per Fidem & Allegiantiam, to appear at a certain time and place, to Treat and give their Advice in ſome certain important affairs concerning the Church and State, &c.

Other Writs are ſent to the High Sheriff of each County, to ſummon the people to elect two Knights for each County, two Citizens for each City, and one or two Burgeſſes for each Burrough, according to Statute, Charter or Cuſtoms.

In theſe Elections, antiently, all the people had their Votes, and moſt Votes carried it; but for avoiding of tumults and trouble, it was enacted by H. VI. that none ſhould have any ſuffrage in the election of Knights of the Shire, but ſuch as were Freeholders, did reſide in the County, and had yearly Revenue 40 s. (which till the diſcovery of the Gold and Silver in America, was as much as 30 or 40 l. now) whence it came to paſs, that the Lay-Commons were then elected as the Clergy-Commons, the Procuratores Cleri were and ever have been, viz. ſine Prece, ſine Pretio, ſine Poculo, &c.

The perſons elected for each County, are to be Milites Notabiles, or at leaſt Eſquires or Gentlemen, fit to be made Knights, as it is in the Statutes of H. VI. They ought to be de diſcretioribus Militibus, & ad laborandum potentioribus, as the words in ſome Writs have been: they ought not to be of younger years, for then it would be Juvena • us (ſi ſic loqui liceat) potiús quam Senatus, not lazy Epicures, but men of years, vigorous, active and abſtemious men, that will be content to give their conſtant attendance in Parliament, or elſe to enjoy neither Priviledge nor Expences allowed to every Member of the Commons Houſe. They ought to be native Engliſh men, or at leaſt ſuch as have been Naturalized by Act of of Parliament, No Alien or Denizon, none of the Twelve Judges, no Sheriff of a County, no Eccleſiaſtical perſon that hath cure of ſouls, may be choſen a Parliament man, to ſerve for any County, City, or Burrough.

Two things are ſaid to be requiſite to the legality of ſitting in Parliament; firſt, that a man ſhould be of full age, that is, 21 years old at the leaſt; for if no man under that age can diſpoſe of his Eſtate, nor make one legal Act to that purpoſe, then much leſs may he bear any part in the ſupreme power of the Nation, to Judge, Vote, or Diſpoſe of the Eſtate of the whole Realm: yet the practice in the Houſe of Commons (though never in the Houſe of Lords) hath ſometimes been otherwiſe.

All Members of Parliament, both Lords and Commons, that they may attend the publick Service of their Countrey, are priviledged with their menial Servants attending on their perſons, together with all their neceſſary Goods, brought along with them from all Attachments and Impriſonments, for Debts, Treſpaſſes, Account or Covenant, all the time that they are on the way to the place of Parliament, all the time they are at Parliament, and all the time they are on the way home again, Eundo, Morando, ad propria redeundo (for ſo were the old words) but they are not priviledged from Arreſts for Treaſon, Felony, or breach of the peace.

The place of meeting for the High and Honourable Aſſembly, is in whatſoever City, Town, or Houſe the King pleaſeth, but of latter times it hath been uſually held at the Kings antient Palace, and uſual Reſidence at Weſtminſter, all the Lords in a fair Room by themſelves, and the Commons not far from them in another fair Room, which was heretofore the antient free Chappel of S. Stephen.

The manner of ſitting in the Lords Houſe is thus.

The King as oft as he comes (which hath uſually been, only at the opening of Parliaments, or at the paſſing of Bills, or at ſome ſolemn debates, as the preſent King hath frequently done) is placed at the upper end of the room in a Chair of State, under a Cloth of State, under which on either hand none but the Kings Children.

On the Kings right hand is a ſeat, antiently for the King of Scotland, when he was ſummoned to Parliament, as he ſometimes was in ſide & legiantia; but now it is for the Prince of Wales. On the Kings left hand is a Seat for the Duke of York.

On the Kings right hand and next the wall, are placed on a Form the two Archbiſhops, next below on another Form, the Biſhops of London, Durham, and Wincheſter; all the reſt of the Biſhops ſit according to the priority of their Conſecration.

On the Kings left hand upon Forms, are placed the Lords Chancellor, Treaſurer, Preſident of the Kings Council, and Lord Privy Seal; if they are Barons, above all Dukes, except thoſe of the Royal Family; if they are not Barons, then they ſit uppermoſt on the Woolſacks.

On the ſame ſide ſit the Dukes, Marquiſſes and Earls, according to their Creations.

Upon the firſt Form, a croſs the Houſe, below the Woolſacks ſit the Viſcounts, and upon the next Forms the Barons all in Order.

The Lord Chancellor or Keeper (if the King be preſent) ſtands behind the Cloth of Eſtate, otherwiſe ſits on the firſt Woolſack thwart the Chair of State, his Great Seal and Mace by him. He is Lord Speaker of the Lords Houſe. Upon other Woolſacks ſit the Judges, the Privy Counſellors, and Secretaries of State, the Kings Council at Law, the Maſters of Chancery. Th • ſe being not Barons, have no ſuffrage in Parliament, onely ſit to give their advice when it is required. The reaſon why theſe Sages are placed upon Woolſacks, may probably be to mind them of the great importance of Wooll and Sheep to the Nation, that it-never be neglected.

On the lowermoſt Woolſack are placed the Clerk of the Crown, now Henry Barker Eſquire, and Clerk of the Parliament at preſent John Brown Eſquire; whereof the former is concerned in all Writs of Parliament, and Pardons in Parliament; the other recordeth all things done in Parliament, and keepeth the Records of the ſame. This Clerk hath alſo two Clerks under him; who kneel behind the ſame Woolſack, and write thereon. Without the Bar of the Lords Houſe ſits the Kings firſt Gentleman Uſher called the Black Rod, from a black ſttaff he carries in his hand, under whom is a Yeoman Uſher that waits at the door within, a Cryer without, and a Sergeant at Mace always attending the Lord Keeper.

When the King is preſent with his Crown on his head, none of the Lords are covered.

The Judges ſtand till the King gives them leave to ſit.

When the King is abſent, the Lords at their entrance do reverence to the Chair of State, as is or ſhould be done by all that enter into the Kings Preſence-Chamber.

The Judges then may ſit, but may not be covered till the Chancellor or Keeper ſignify unto them the leave of the Lords.

The Kings Council and Maſters of Chancery ſit alſo, but may not be covered at all.

The Commons in their Houſe ſit promiſcuouſly, onely the Speaker hath a Chair placed in the middle, and the Clerk of that Houſe near him at the Table. They never had any Robes (as the Lords ever had) but wear every one what he fancieth moſt, which to ſtrangers ſeems very unbecoming the Gravity and Authority of the Great Council of England: and that during their attendance on Parliament, a Robe or grave veſtment would as well become the Honourable Members of the Houſe of Commons, as it doth all the Noble Venetians both young and old, who have right to ſit in the Great Council of Venice, and as it doth the Senators of Rome at this day, &c.

The time of ſitting in Parliament, is on any day in the morning, or afore dinner, onely it hath antienly been obſerved, not to aſſemble upon ſome high Feſtival days, but upon ordinary Sundays oft-times as days accounted by all Chriſtians leſs ſolemn then divers other Feſtivals, which are celebrated but once a year.

When the day prefixt by the King in his Writs of Summons is come, the King uſually cometh in perſon with his Crown on his Head, and clothed with his Royal Robes, declares the cauſe of the Summons in a ſhort Harangue, leaving the reſt to the Lord Keeper, who then ſtands behind His Majeſty; the Commons in the mean time ſtanding bare at the Barr of the Lords Houſe, are afterwards in the Kings name commanded to chooſe them a Speaker (which without the Kings Command they may not do) whereupon they returning to their own Houſe, make choice of one of their own Members, whom afterwards upon another day▪ they preſent to the King, and being approved of by His Majeſty, ſitting in his Chair, and all His Lords, both Spiritual and Temporal in their Robes of Scarlet, he makes a modeſt refuſal; which not allowed, he petitioneth His Majeſty that the Commons may have during their ſitting; Firſt, a free Acceſs to his Majeſty. Secondly, Freedom of Speech within their own Houſe. Thirdly, Freedom from Arreſts.

Before any affair be medled with, all the Members of the Houſe of Commons, take the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy, in the preſence of an Officer, appointed by the King.

By that old Manuſcript called Modus tenendi Parliamentum, it doth appear that the Houſe of Commons did antiently (as the Houſe of Lords at this day) conſiſt of Clergy-men as well as Lay-men; there ſate the Procuratores Cleri, two for each Dioceſs, repreſenting all the Clergy-Commons of the Dioceſs, as the Knights of the Shire doth all the Lay-Commons of the Shire; for it was then judged expedient that every Freeman of England, as well Clergy as Laity, ſhould in paſſing of all Laws touching propiety, whereunto they were to be ſubject, give their conſent perſonally or immediately by themſelves, or elſe by ſome that by their Election ſhould mediately undertake for them, and the words of the Writ for ſummoning the Procuratores Cleri, as aforeſaid, ſeem to warrant the ſame at this day.

The Power and Priviledges of both Houſes of Parliament are divers and diſtinct one from an other.

The Lords Houſe hath a power not onely in making and repealing Laws, but alſo in tractando & conſilium impendendo, as the words of the Writ are, alſo in judging of Controverſies, judging in the arraignment of any Peer of the Realm, putting men to their Oaths, eſpecially in matters of importance, as the Corruption of Judges and Magiſtrates, in Errours, Illegal proceedings in other Courts, in Appeals from Decrees in Chancery, &c.

The Lords that in their Religion conform not to the Church of England, may yet ſit and have Suffrage in the Lords Houſe.

All the Lords Spiritual and Temporal have this Priviledge, That if by reaſon of Sickneſs, or other buſineſs they cannot appear, they may make Proxies to vote in their ſtead, after Licence obtained by a Letter under the Kings Signet, to be excuſed for their abſence: ſo that in every Parliament, every perſon in England, either by himſelf, Proxy, or Repreſentative is ſaid to be there, and to have his Suffrage for making or repealing any Law.

The Commons have alſo a power in making and repealing Laws, they alſo have their Negative Voyce, for Levying of any money upon the Subject, the Bill is to begin in the Commons Houſe, becauſe from them doth ariſe the greater part of Moneys.

The Commons have the Priviledge to ſupplicate and propoſe Laws, to impeach publick Delinquents, even the higheſt Lords of the Kingdom, both Spiritual and Temporal.

The Houſe of Commons is the Grand Inqueſt of the Realm, ſummoned from all parts to preſent publick grievances, and Delinquents to the King and Lords to be redreſſed and puniſhed by them; and to this purpoſe, the Lords ſit in their Robes on the Bench covered, as Judges do in other Judicatories; they ſwear and examine Witneſſes, and at length paſs ſentence, whilſt the Members of the Commons Houſe ſtand bare at the Bar of the Lords Houſe, produce Witneſſes, mannage evidence, &c.

Note that although every Member of the Commons Houſe is choſen to ſerve for one particular County, City, or Burrough, yet he ſerves for the whole Kingdom, and his voyce equal to any other, his power abſolute to conſent or diſſent without ever acquainting thoſe that ſent him, or demanding their aſſent, as the States General of the United Neatherlands are obliged to do in many Caſes.

Yet are they to make that their ſpecial care to promote the Good of that County, City or Borough for which they ſerve.

Although the Lords of Parliament are to bear their own charges, becauſe they repreſent there only themſelves; yet all the Commons, both Lay and Clergy, that is, the Procuratores Cleri, are to have rationabiles Expenſas (as the words of the Writ are) that is, ſuch allowance as the King conſidering the Prices of all things, ſhall judge meet to impoſe upon the people to pay. In the 17 Edward 2. it was 10 groats for Knights, and 5 groats for Burgeſſes, but not long after it was 4 s. a day for dubbed Knights, and 2 s. for all others; which in thoſe days, as appears by the prices of all things, was a conſiderable ſum, above 20 times more than it is now, for not onely their expences were conſidered, though that was great, by reaſon of the ſutable attendance that then every Parliament man had, but alſo their pains, their loſs of time, and neceſſary neglect of their own private affairs for the ſervice of their Country; and when the Countries, Cities and Burroughs, paid ſo dear for their expences, they were wont to take care to chooſe ſuch men as were beſt able and moſt diligent in the ſpeedy diſpatch of affaires, by which means with ſome other, more buſineſs in thoſe times was diſpatched in Parliament in a week, then is now perhaps in ten: ſo that the Protections for Parliament men and their Servant from Arreſts, were not then grievous, when ſcarce any Parliament or Seſſion laſted ſo long as one whole Term.

In the Raign of Edward 3. the Parliaments ſometimes ſate but eight days, and ſometimes leſs, as may be ſeen in the Records of the Tower, and yet tranſacted ſeveral and weighty affairs of the Nation, many things being prepared before hand, (as ſome think) by the King and his privy Council, as they are at preſent in Sweden, and that commonly they then debated onely upon ſuch things, as the King did propoſe, which is now done by the Convocation of the Clergy of England.

The afore-mentioned expences being duly paid, did cauſe all the petty decayed Burroughs of England to become humble Suitors to the King that they might not be obliged to ſend Burgeſſes to Parliment, whereby it comes to paſs that divers were unburgeſſed, as it was in particular granted to Chipping, or Market Torriton upon their petition, and then the number of the Commons houſe being ſcarce half ſo many as at preſent, their Debates and Bills were ſooner expedited, no faction among them, nor diſtinction of parties, but altogether by a bleſſed unanimity amongſt themſelves, and complyance with the Lords rarely denyed any thing to the King, and as rarely were denyed any thing by the King.

The manner of debates of paſſing of Bills and Acts, is thus.

It is the practiſe of each Houſe to debate not onely of what the King hath propoſed, but of any other matters, though heretofore that hath ſometimes been by their Soveraign expreſſy forbidden.

It is free for any man of the Parliament, or not of the Parliament, to get a Bill drawn by ſome Lawyer, and give the ſame to the Speaker or Clerk of the Parliament to be preſented at a time convenient, and this Bill may be put firſt either in the Lords Houſe or the Commons Houſe.

Whatever is propoſed for a Law, is firſt put in Writing, and call'd a Bill, which, being read commonly after 9 of the clock in a full Aſſembly, it is either unanimouſly rejected at firſt, or elſe allowed to be debated, and then it is committed to a certain number of the Houſe preſently nominated and called a Committee. After it hath been amended, and twice read two ſeveral days in the Houſe, then it is is engroſſed, that is, written fair in Parchment, and read the third time another day, and then, if it be in the Lords Houſe, the Lord Keeper, in the Commons Houſe, the Speaker demandeth if they will have it put to the queſtion, whether a Law or no Law? if the major part be for it, there is written on the Bill by the Clerk, So it baillè aux Communes, or, So it baillè aux Seigneurs, retaining ſtill in this, and ſome other things about making Laws, the cuſtom of our Anceſtors, who were generally skilled in the French tongue.

Note that when the Speaker finds divers Bills prepared to be put to the queſtion, he gives notice the day before, that on the morrow he intends to put ſuch Bills to the paſſing or third reading, and deſires the ſpecial attendance of all the Members.

Note alſo, that if a Bill be rejected, it cannot be any more propoſed during that Seſſion.

A Bill ſent by the Commons up to the Lords is uſuall (to ſhew their reſpect) attended with 30 or 40 of the Members of the Houſe, as they come up to the Lords Bar, the Member that hath the Bill making three profound reverences, delivereth it to the Lord Keeper, who for that purpoſe comes down to the Barr.

A Bill ſent by the Lords to the Commons, is uſually ſent by ſome of the Maſters of the Chancery, or other perſon whoſe place is on the Woolſacks (and by none of the Member, of that Houſe) and they coming up to the Speaker, and bowing thrice, deliver to him the Bill, after one of them hath read the Title, and deſired it may be there taken into conſideration, if aftewards it paſs that Houſe, then is written on the Bill, Les Communes ont aſſentèz.

When any one in the Commons Houſe will ſpeak to a Bill, he ſtands up uncovered, and directs his Speech onely to the Speaker, then if what he delivers, be confuted by another, yet it is not allowed to anſwer again the ſame day, leſt the whole time ſhould be ſpent by two talkative perſons. Alſo if a Bill be debating in the Houſe, no man may ſpeak to it in one day above once.

If any one ſpeak words of offence to the Kings Majeſty, or to the Houſe, he is called to the Bar, and ſometimes ſent to the Tower. The Speaker is not allowed to perſwade or diſſwade in paſſing of a Bill, but only to make a ſhort and plain Narrative, nor to Vote except the Houſe be equally divided.

After Dinner the Parliament ordinarily Aſſembles not, though many times they continue ſitting long in the afternoon.

Committees ſit after dinner, where it is allowed to ſpeak, and reply as oft as they pleaſe.

In the Lords Houſe, they give their Suffrages or Votes beginning at the Puiſne or loweſt Baron, and ſo the reſt Seriatim, every one anſwering apart [content] or [not content.]

In the Houſe of Commons they vote by Yea's and No's altogether, and if it be doubtful whether is the greater number, then the Yea's, are to goe forth, and the No's are to ſit ſtill (becauſe theſe are content with their preſent condition, without any ſuch addition or alteration of Laws as the other deſire) and ſome are appointed to number them, but at a Committee, though it be of the whole Houſe as is ſometimes, the Yea's go on one ſide, and the No's on the other,, whereby they may be diſcerned.

If a Bill paſs in one Houſe, and being ſent to the other Houſe, they demur upon it, then a Conference is demanded in the Painted Chamber, where certain deputed Members of each Houſe meet, the Lords ſitting covered at a Table, the Commons ſtanding bare with great reſpect, where the buſineſs is debated: if they then agree not, that buſineſs is nulled, but if they agree then it is at laſt brought (with all other Bills which have paſſed in both Houſes) to the King, who comes again with His Crown on his Head, and clothed with His Royal Robes (ſometimes before His Pleaſure is to prorogue or diſſolve them;) and being ſeated in His Chair of State, and all the Lords in their Robes, the Clerk of the Crown reads the Title of each Bill, and as he reads, the Clerk of the Parliament, according to his inſtructions from the King, who before hath maturely conſidered each Bill, pronounceth the Royal Aſſent. If it be a publick Bill, the Anſwer is [Le Roy le veut] which gives Life and Birth to that Bill that was before but an Embrio. If a private Bill, the Anſwer is [Soit fait comme il eſt deſire] If it be a publick Bill, which the King likes not, then the Anſwer is [Le Roys' aviſera] which is taken for an abſolute denyal in a more civil way, and that Bill wholly nulled. So that it is as true in England in ſome ſence, as in any Monarchy in the world, Quod Principi placuit legis habet vigorem, Not that whatever the King of England wills becomes immediately a Law, but that nothing except what the King wills hath the force of a Law.

Note that the King without his perſonal preſence, can by Commiſſion granted to ſome of his Nobles, give His Royal Aſſent to any Bill that requires haſt.

If it be a Bill for Moneys given to His Majeſty, then the anſwer is [Le Roy remercie ſes loyaux ſujets, accepte leur Benevolence, & auſſi le veut] which antient Ceremorny of thanking the Subject for parting with their Money, ſome think might better be ſpared, becauſe it intimates a diſtinct intereſt between the King and His Subjects, which is not onely falſe, but very dangerous to be allowed of. The King is Pater patriae, the Money given to him is for our uſe and benefit, if we are niggardly to him, we injure ourſelves, &c. The Bill for the Kings general Pardon, hath but one reading in either Houſe, for this reaſon, becauſe they muſt take it as the King will pleaſe to give it, ſo the Bill of Subſidies granted by the Clergy aſſembled in Convocation for the ſame reaſon. When the Bill for the general Pardon is paſſed by the King the Anſwer is thus (les Prelats Signeurs & communes en ce Parlament aſſemblez au nom de tous vos autres ſujets, remercient tres humblement voſtre Majeſte & prient Dieu vous donner en ſante bonne vie & longue.

All Acts of Parliament before the Reign of Henry 7. were paſſed and enrolled in French, now in Engli • h.

Moſt of our antient Acts of Parliament run in this ſtile; The King at the humble requeſt of the Commons, with the aſſent of the Prelates, Dukes, Earles and Barons hath ordained or enacted. After it was thus, The King by the Advice and Aſſent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and with the Aſſent of the Commons doth enact: of later times it hath been thus, Be it enacted by the Kings moſt excellent Majeſty, by and with the advice and conſent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and of the Commons: although the words of the Writ for ſummoning the Commons (which ought to be the main rule) is onely ad Conſentiendum, and not ad Conſilium impendendum, as it is in the Writ to the Lords: and it is evident that the Commons in the late long Parliament made that an advantage for juſtifying their uſurpations againſt the King in that point; and ſo in another Parliament, the Commons endeavoured to maintain that the Concurrence of the Lords was not always neceſſary in an Act of Parliament, becauſe, 1 Edward 6. cap. 5. in paſſing that Act againſt tranſportation of Horſes, the Lords were caſually omitted, yet by the Regiſter of the Lords Houſe, it appears that that Bill began firſt in the Lords Houſe, and there paſſed before the Commons took it in debate, and therefore the Kings Council at Law is very curious in wording rightly all Acts before they are brought to the King, and the Clerks of the Parliament as carefull in tranſcribing and regiſtring them: However it is to be wiſhed, that to prevent future miſchief to this Nation, ſome clauſes in the late Act of Oblivion and Indemnity might be amended, or at leaſt explained, and more eſpecially about the beginning of that Act, theſe words (That all manner of Treaſons, &c. ſince January 1637. and before June 1660. by vertue of any Authority from His late Majeſty. King Charles, or His Majeſty that now is, be pardoned, &c.) which words might poſſibly be foiſted in deſignedly to inſinuate, as if (according to that moſt abſurd and Traiterous poſition of ſome of the Rebellious Members of the Long Parliament) the Kings perſon or any commiſſionated by him, could be guilty of Treaſon againſt the Kings Authority, or againſt His two Houſes of Parliament, by purſuing of Rebels to bring them to Juſtice according to the Laws of the Land. It were alſo to be deſired, that to prevent the great diſhonour of making additional and explanatory Acts of Parliament, ſo frequently as hath of late been done, all conſiderable Bills of Publick concernment, once read in either Houſe of Parliament, may (before they be paſſed) be expoſed to the view of all comers (as antiently among the Romans was uſual) to the end that any other perſon (beſides thoſe of the two Houſes) may within the ſpace of certain days freely propoſe in Writing or otherwiſe, his exceptions, additions, alterations, or amendments, Sed haec obiter.

When thoſe things for which the Parliament was ſummoned have been ſufficiently treated and brought to a concluſion, then the King doth uſually adjourn, prorogue or diſſolve the Parliament in maner following.

The adjournments are uſually made in the Lords Houſe, by the Lord Keeper, in the Kings Name, to what other day the King pleaſeth, and alſo to what other place if he think fit to remove them, as ſometimes hath been done, and then all things already debated and read in one or both Houſes, continue to the next meeting in the ſame ſtate, they were in before the adjournment, and ſo may be reſumed.

In the like maner, the Parliament is Prorogued, but by a Prorogation there is a Seſſion, and then the Bills that were almoſt ready in both Houſes for the Royal Aſſent, not having it, muſt at the reaſſembling of the Parliament begin anew.

The Speaker of the Houſe of Commons upon notice given that it is the Kings pleaſure that Houſe ſhall alſo adjourn, doth ſay, with the aſſent of the Houſe, This Houſe is adjourned.

When the Kings pleaſure is to prorogue or diſſolve the Parliament, His Majeſty commonly cometh in perſon with His Crown on his Head, ſendeth for all the Houſe of Commons, to come to the Bar of the Lords Houſe: and after the Kings anſwer to each Bill ſignified as aforementioned, His Majeſty uſually makes a Solemn Speech, the Lord Keeper another, and the Speaker of the Houſe of Commons a third, then the Lord Keeper by the ſpecial command of the King doth pronounce the Parliament prorogued or diſſolved.

Note, That the King being head of the Parliament, if his death doth happen during the ſitting of the Parliament, it is, ipſo facto diſſolved.

Antiently, after every Seſſion of Parliament the King commanded every Sheriff to proclaim the ſeveral Acts, and to cauſe them to be duly obſerved, yet without that Proclamation, the Law intended that every one hath notice by his repreſentative of what is tranſacted in Parliament: of later times ſince Printing became common, that Cuſtom hath been laid aſide.

The Number of Perſons that have have Place and Suffrage in both Houſes.

To the Lords Houſe belong 3 Dukes of the Royal Blood, though one be infra aetatem. 7 other Dukes. 3 Marquiſes. 56 Earls. 9 Vicounts, and 67 Barons, in all 154. Then there are two Archbiſhops, and 24 Biſhops; ſo that the Total is 180. But many being under age, ſome ſick and infirm, others abroad in the Kings Service, the ordinary number is about 100.

To the Houſe of Commons belong firſt for the 40 Shires of England two for each, in all 80 Knights; then one for each of the twelve Counties of Wales, 12 Knights. For 25 Cities in England, two to each, and London four, in all 52 Citizens. For the Cinque Ports 16 Barons, for the two Univerſities two Burgeſſes for each: For 168 Burroughs there are about 330 Burgeſſes, for ſome few of thoſe Burroughs ſend but one Burgeſs apiece, Laſtly in each of the 12 Counties of Wales, there is one Burrough that ſends only one Burgeſs; ſo the total Number of the Houſe of Commons, is a little above 500 perſons, whereof commonly near 200 are abſent upon buſineſs or ſickneſs; &c.

Note, that the Barons of the Cinque Ports, are at this day onely as other Burgeſſes in Parliament, but are ſtill called Barons, after the antient manner, becauſe heretofore they got great renown by their exploits at Sea in defending the Kingdom, in memory whereof, they have yet the Priviledge to ſend Burgeſſes to bear the Cloth of State over the Kings Head on the day of his Coronation, and to dine that day in the Kings Preſence.

A Liſt of all the Knights, Citizens, Burgeſſes and Barons of the Cinque Ports, that at preſent ſerve in the Parliament of England. Bedford. SIR Humphry Winch, Bar. Sir John Nappier, Bar. Town of Bedford. Pawlet St. John, Eſq Sir William Beecher, Kt. Berks. Richard Nevil, Eſq Sir Richard Powle, Kt of the Bath. Burough of New Windſor. Sir Richard Braham, Kt. Sir Thomas Higgons, Kt. Borough of Reading. Sir Thomas Doleman, Kt. Richard Aldworth, Eſq Burough of Wallingford. Sir John Benet, Knight of the Bath. Robert Packer, Eſq Borough of Abingdon. Sir George Stonehouſe, Bar. Bucks. Sir William Bowyer Kt. and Bar. Sir William Terringham, Kt. of the Bath. Town of Bucks. Sir Richard Temple, Bar. Sir William Smith, Bar. Borough of Chipping Wiccomb. Sir Edmond Pye, Kt. and Bar. Sir John Burlace, Bar. Borough of Aylesbury. Sir Richard Ingoldsby, Knight of the Bath. Sir Thomas Lee, Bar. Borough of Agmondeſham. Sir Will. Drake, Kt. Sir Thomas Proby, Bar. Borough of Wendever. Richard Hampden Eſq Robert Crooke, Eſq Borough of great Marlowe. Peregrine Hobby Eſq Charles Cheyney, Eſq Cambridge. Sir Thomas Chicheley, Kt. Sir Thomas Wendy, Knight of the Bath. Ʋniverſity of Cambridge. Thomas Crouch, Maſter of Arts, Sir Charles Wheeler, Bar. Town of Cambridge. William Lord Allington. Roger Pepis, Eſq Cheſter. Sir Foulke Lucy, Knight. Thomas Cholmly Eſq City of Cheſter Sir Thomas Smith, Bar. John Radcliff, Eſq Cornwall. Sir Jonath. Trelawny, Kt. Sir John Corryton, Bar. Borough of Dunhivid, alias Launceſton. Sir Richard Edgecombe, Knight of the Bath. Sir Charles Harbord Knight, His Majeſties Surveyor General. Borough of Leskeard. John Harris, Eſq Barnard Greenvile, Eſq Borough of Leſtwithiel. Charles Smith, Eſq Silas Titus, Eſq Borough of Truroe. John Arundel, Eſq. Edward Boſcawen. Borough of Bodmin. Sir John Carew, Bar. Hender Roberts, Eſq Borough of Helſton. Sir William Godolphin▪ Bar. Sidney Godolphin, Eſq Borough of Saltaſhe. Francis Buller, Junior Eſq John Buller Eſq Borough of Camelford. Thomas Coventry, Eſq. Sir Will. Godolphin, Kt. Borough of Port-Pigham, alias Weſtlow. Sir Henry Vernon, Bar. John Trelawny, Eſq, Borough of Grampound. Charles Trevanion, Eſq John Tanner Eſq. Borough of Eſtlow. Henry Seymour, Eſq Sir Robort Atkins, Kt. of the Bath▪ Borough of Penryn. William Pendarvis, Eſq John Birch, Eſq Borough of Tregony▪ Hugh Boſcawen, Eſq Thomas Herle, Eſq Borough of Boſſiny. Robert Roberts, Eſq Richard Rous, Eſq Borough of St. Ives. James Praed, Eſq Edward Noſworthy, Eſq Borough of Fowey. Jonathan Raſhley▪ Eſq John Raſhly, Gent. Borough of St. Germains. John Elliot, Eſq Edward Elliot Eſquire; Borough of St. Michael. Matthew Wren, Eſq Francis Ld Hawley. Borough of Newport. John Speccot, Eſq Nicolas Morice. Borough of St. Mawes. Arthur Spry, Eſq Sir Joſeph Tredinham. Borough of Kellington. Sir Cyril Wych, Kt. Sam. Roll, Eſq Cumberland. Sir George Fletcher, Bar. Sir John Lowther, Bar. City of Carlile. Sir Philip Howard, Kt. Chriſtopher Muſgrave Eſq Borough of Cockermouth. Sir Wilfrid Lawſon, Kt. John Clark, Eſq Derby. William Lord Cavendiſh. Sacheveril Eſq Town of Derby. John Dalton, Eſq▪ Anchetel Grey, Eſq Devon. Sir John Roll, Knight of the Bath. Sir Coppleſtone Bamfield, Kt. City of Exeter. Sir James Smith, Kt. Robert Walker, Eſq Borough of Totnes. Sir Edward Seymour, Bar. Sir Thomas Clifford, Kt. Borough of Plymouth. Sir William Morice, Kt. Sir Gilbert Talbot Kt. Town and Borough of Okehampton. Sir Edward Wiſe Knight of the Bath. John Harris Eſq Borough of Barnſtable. Sir John Norcot Bar. Nicholas Dennis, Eſq Borough of Plympton. Sir William Stroude, Kt. Sir Nicholas Slanning, Kt. and Bar. Borough of Honiton. Sir Courtney Poole Bar. Peter Prideaux, Eſq Borough of Taviſtok. George Howard Eſq William Ruſſel, Eſq Borough of Aſhburton. Sir Geo. Sonds, Kt. of the Bath. John Fowel, Eſq Borough of Clifton Dartmouth, Hardnes. William Harbord Eſq William Gould Eſq Borough of Beeralſton. Sir John Maynard, Kt. the Kings Sergeant at Law. Joſeph Maynard, Eſq Borough of Tiverton. Thomas Carew Eſq Henry Ford, Eſq Dorſet. Giles Strangeways, Eſq Sir John Strode, Kt. Town of Poole. Sir John Moreton, Bar. Thomas Trenchard, Eſq Borough of Dorcheſter. James Gould, Eſq John Churchill, Eſq Borough of Kings Lime. Sir John Shaw, Kt. and Bar. Henry Henly, Eſq: Borough of Weymouth. Sir John Covenrry, Kt. of the Bath. Sir Winſton Churchill, Kt. Borough of Kings-mellcombe. Bullen Reymes, Eſq Anthony Aſhley Eſq Borough of Bridport. Humphrey Biſhop, Eſq John Strangewaiſe, Eſq Bor. of Shaſton, alias Shaſtbury Henry Whittacre, Eſq John Bennet, Eſq Borough of Wareham. George Pit▪ Eſq Robert Culleford, Eſq Borough of Corfe Caſtle. Sir Ralf Banks, Kt. John Tregonwell, Eſq Eſſex▪ Baneſtre Maynard, Eſq Sir John Bramſtone Knight of the B • rb • . Borough of Colcheſter. Sir Harbottle Grimſtone Baronet, Maſter of the Rolls. Sir John Shaw, Kt. Borough of Malden. Sir John Tirril, Kt. Sir Richard wiſeman, Kt. Borough of Harwich. Thomas King, Eſq Sir Capel Luckin. Glouceſter. John Grubham How, Eſq Sir Bainham Throgmorton Kt. City of Glouceſter. Sir Edward Maſſy, Kt. Evan Seyes, Serjeant at Law. Borough of Cirenceſter. Henry Fowle Eſq John George, Eſq Borough of Tewksbury. Sir Henry Capel, Kt. of the Bath. Richard Dowdſwel, Eſq Hereford. John Kerle, Bar. Thomas Price, Eſq City of Hereford. Roger Vaughan, Eſq Herbert Weſtphaling, Eſq Borough of Leompſter. Reynald Graham, Eſq Humphrey Cornwall, eſq Borough of Weobly. John Barnaby, Eſq Sir Thomas Tompkins, Kt, Hertford. Sir Richard Franklyn, Knight and Baronet. Will. Hale, Eſq Borough of St. Albans Sam. Grimſton, Eſq. Thomas Arris, Doctor of Phyſick. Borough of Hertford. Sir Edward Turner, Knight Speaker. Thomas Lord Fanſhaw,, Knight of the Bath. Huntingdon. Robert Vicount Mandeville. Henry Williams, Eſq Borough of Huntingdon. Sir John Cotton, Bar. Lyonel Walden, Eſquire. Kent. Sir Thomas Peyton, Bar. Sir John Tufton, Kt. and Bar. City of Canterbury. Thomas Hard • es, Serj. at Law. Sir Edward Maſters▪ Kt. City of Rocheſter. Sir Francis Clerk, Kt. Richard He • d Eſquire. Borough of Maidſtone. Thom • s He • l • ckenden, Eſquire. Sir Robert Barneham, Bar. Borough of Queenborough. James Herbert, Eſquire. Sir Edward Hales, Bar. Lancaſter. Sir Roger Bradſhaw, Kt. Thomas Preſton, Eſquire. Borough of Lancaſter. Richard Kirkby, Eſquire. Richard Harriſon, Eſquire. Borough or Town of Preston in Amounderneſs. Edward Rigby Eſquire. John Otway, Eſquire. Borough of Newton. Richard Lord Gorges. Richard Leigh, Eſq Borough of Wigon. Charles E • rl of Ancram. Sir Jeofry • h • kerley, Kt. Borough of Clitheroe. Sir John Heath, Attorney of the Dutchy Ambroſe Pudrey, Eſq Borough of Liverpoole. Sir William Bucknell, Kt. Sir Gilbert Ireland, Kt. Leiceſter. John Lord Roos▪ George Faunt, Eſq Town of Leiceſter. Sir William Hartop, Kt. Sir John Prettyman, Kt. and Bar. Lincoln. George Vicount Caſtleton. Sir Robert Car, Kt. and Bar. City of Lincoln. Sir Thomas Meres, Kt. Sir John Mounſon jun. Kt. of the Bath. Borough of Boſton. Sir Anthony Irby Kt. Sir Philip Harcourt, Kt. Borough of Great Grimsby. Jervas Holles▪ Eſq Sir Frechevile Holles, Kt. Town of Stamford. Peregrin Bertue, Eſq: William Montague, Eſq Borough of Grantham. Sir John Newton, Bar. Sir William Thorold, Kt. and Bar. Middleſex. Sir Lancelot Lake, Kt. Sir Thomas Allen, Kt. City of Weſtminſter. Sir Philip Warwick, Kt. Sir Richard Everard, Kt. London. Sir John Frederick, Kt. Sir William Thomſon, Kt. William Love Eſq John Jones, Eſq Monmouth. Sir Trevor Williams, Bar. William Morgan, Eſq▪ Borough of Monmouth. Sir George Probert, Kt. Norfolk. Thomas Lord Richardſon. Sir Ralph H • re, Bar. City of Norwich. Chriſtopher J • y, Eſq Francis Corey, Eſq Town of Lynn Regis. Robert Wright, Eſq John Coke, Eſq Town of Great Yarmouth. Sir William Coventry, Kt. Sir William Doyly, Kt and Bar. Borough of Thetford. Sir Allan Apſeley, Kt. Joſeph Williamſon, Eſquire. Borough of Caſtleriſing. Sir Robert Paſton, Kt. and Bar. Robert Steward, Eſquire. Northamton. Sir Juſtinian Iſham, Bar. George Clark, Eſquire. City of Peterborough William Lord Fitzwilliams. Sir Vere Fane. Town of Northampton. Lord O Bryon. Sir William Farmer. Town of Brackeley. Sir Thomas Crew, Kt▪ Robert Spencer Eſquire. Borough of Higham Ferrers. Sir Lewis Palmer, Bar. Northumberland. Henry Earl of Ogle. Sir William Fenwick, Bar. Town of Newcaſtle upon Time. Sir Francis Anderſon, Kt. Sir John Marley Kt. Borough of Morpeth. Sir George Downing, Kt. and Bar. Edward Lord Morpeth. Town of Berwick upon Twede. Edward Gray Eſquire. Daniel Collingwood Eſquire. Nottingham. Anthony Eyre, Eſquire. Sir Francis Leeke, Knight and Bar. Town of Nottingham Arthur Stanhop, Eſquire. Robert Pierpoint, Eſquire. Borough of Eastretford. Sir William Hickman, Bar. Sir Edward Deering, Kt. Oxon. Sir Francis Wainman, Kt. Sir Anthony Cope, Knight and Bar. Ʋniverſity of Oxon. Lawrence Hide, Eſquire. Sir Henage Finch, Kt. and Bar. His Majeſties Atturney General. City of Oxon. Robert Croke, Eſquire. Brome Whorwood, Eſquire. Borough of New-Woodſtock. Sir Thomas Spencer, Bar, Sir William Fleetwood, Kt. Borough of Banbury. Sir John Holeman, Kt. Rutland. Edward Noell, Eſquire. Phillip Sherrard, Eſquire. Salop. Sir Francis Lawley, Bar. Richard Newport, Eſquire. Town of Salop. Robert Leighton, Eſquire. Thomas Jones, Serjeant at Law. Borough of Bruges, alias Bridgenorth. Sir William Whitmore, Bar. Sir Thomas Whitmore, Knight of the Bath. Borough of Ludlow. Sir Job Charleton, His Majeſties Serjeant at Law. Somerſet Fox, Eſquire. Borough of Great Wenlock. Sir Thomas Littleton Kt. George Weld, Eſquire. Town of Biſhops-Caſtle. Edmond Waring, Eſquire. William Oakeley, Eſquire. Sommerſet. Edward Philips, Eſquire. Sir, Jo. Sydenham, Bar. City of Briſtol. Sir John Knight, Kt. Sir Humphrey Hook, Kt. City of Bath. Sir William Baſſet, Kt. Sir Francis Popham, Kt. and Bar. City of Wells. Richard Lord Butler, Earl of Arran. Sir Maurice Berkley, Kt. and Bar. Lord Fitzharding. Borough of Taunton. Sir William Portman, Bar. Sir William Windham Kt. Borough of Bridgewater. Edmond Windham, Eſquire. Peregrine Palmer, Eſquire. Borough of Minehead. Sir Jo. Malet, Kt. Sir Hugh Windham, Kt. Borough of Ilceſter. Sir Edward Phillips jun. Kt. Henry Dunſter, Merchant. Borough of Milborneport. Francis Windham Eſquire. Michael Mallet, Eſquire. Southampton. Charles Lord St. John. Sir John Norton, Bar. City of Wincheſter. Sir Rober Holmes, Kt. Lawrence Hide, Eſquire. Town of Southampton. Sir Richard Ford, Kt. Thomas Knowles, Eſquire. Town of Portſmouth. Richard Norton, Eſquire. Sir George Carteret, Kt. and Bar. Borough of Yarmouth. Richard Lucy, Eſquire. Edward Smith, Eſquire. Borough of Peterfield. Thomas Neal, Eſquire. Arthur Bold Eſquire. Borough of Newport, alias Medena. Sir Robert Dillington. William Glaſcock, Eſq Borough of Stockbridge. Sir Robert Howard, Kt. Robert Phillips, Eſquire. Borough of Newtown. Sir John Barrington, Kt. and Bar. Sir Robert Worſley, Kt. and Bar. Borough of Chriſtchurch. Humphry Weld, Eſquire. Henry Tulſe, Eſquire. Borough of Whitchurch. Henry Wallop Eſquire. Giles Hungerford, Eſquire. Borough of Limmington. Sir William Lewis, Bar. Sir Nicholas Steward, Bar. Town of Andover. John Collins, Eſquire. Sir John Trot, Bar. Stafford. Sir Edward Littleton, Bar. Randolph Egerton, Eſquire. City of Litchfield. Richard Diot, Eſquire. Sir Theophilus Bidolph Kt. and Bar. Borough of Stafford. Robert Milward, Eſquire. William Chetwinde, Eſquire. Borough of Newcaſtel under Line. Sir Caeſar Colclough, Bar. Edward Manwaring▪ Eſquire. Borough of Tamworth. Charles Lord Clifford. John Swinfein, Eſquire. Suffolke. Sir Henry Felton, Bar. Sir Henry North, Bar. Borough of Ipſwich. John Wright, Eſquire. William Bloiſe, ſen. Eſquire. Borough of Dunwich. William Wood Eſquire. Sir John Pettus Kt. Borough of Orford. Sir Allen Broderick, Knight Walter Devereux, Eſquire. Borough of Aldborough. Sir John Holland, Bar. Jo. Bence, Eſquire. Borough of Sudbury. Sir Robert Cordel, Bar. Thomas Walgrave, Eſquire. Borough of Eye. Sir George Reeve, Kt. and Bar. Charles Cornwallis, Eſquire. Borough of St. Edmonds-bury. Sir John Duncomb, Kt. Sir Edmond Pooley, Kt. Surrey. Sir Adam Brown, Bar. Sir Edmond Bowyer, Kt. Borough of Southwark. Sir Thomas Bludworth, Kt. Sir thomas Clarges, Kt. Borouhg of Blechingly. Sir William Hayward, Kt. Sir Edward Biſh, Kt. Borough of Rygate. Roger James, Eſquire. Sir Edward Thurland, Knight. Borough of Guiltford. Arthur Onſlow, Eſquire. Thomas De Mahoy, Eſquire. Borough of Gatton. Thomas Turgis, Eſquire. Sir Nicolas Carew, Kt. Borough of Haſlemere. George Evelyn, Eſquire: Thomas Morrice, Eſquire. Suſſex. Sir John Pelham, Bar. Sir Will. Morley Kt. of the Bath. City of Chicheſter. Sir Henry Peckham, Kt Serjeant at Law. William Garaway, Eſquire. Borough of Horſham. Sir John Covert, Kt. and Bar. Orlando Bridgman, Eſquire. Borough of Midhurſt. Baptiſt May, Eſquire. John Steward, Eſquire. Borough of Lewis. Sir John Stapely Kt. and Bar. Sir Thomas Woodcok, Kt. Borough of New-Shoreham. Edward Blaker, Eſquire. Jo. Fag, Eſquire. Borough of Bramber. Sir Cicil Biſhop. Peircy Goring, Eſquire. Borough of Steyning. Sir John Fag, Bar. Henry Goring, Eſq Borough of Eaſt Grimſtead Charles Lord Buckhurſt. Sir George Courthop, Kt. Borough of Arundel. Roger, Earl of Orrory. Francis, Lord Angier. Warwick. Sir Robert Holt, Bar. Sir Henry Puckering, alias Newton. City of Coventry. Sir Clement Fiſher, Bar. Richard Hopkins, Eſq Borough of Warwick. Sir Francis Compton, Kt. Foulk Grevile, Eſq Weſtmerland. Sir Phillip Muſgrave Bar. Sir Thomas Strickland, Kt. Borough of Apulby Thomas Tufton, Eſq John Dalſton, Eſq Wilts. Henry Lord Cornbury. Thomas Thin, Eſq City of New Sarum. Sir Stephen Fox, Kt. Richard Coleman Eſq Borough of Wilton. Sir John Birkenhead, Kt. Sir Thomas Mompeſſon, Kt. Borough of Downton. Gilbert Rawleigh, Eſq Sir Joſeph Aſh, Kt. Borough of Hindon. Edward Seymor, Eſq Sir George Grubham How, Bar. Borough of Weſtbury. Richard Lewis, Eſq Thomas Wanklyn, Eſq Borough of Hetsbury. John Jolliffe, Eſq William Aſh, Eſq Borough of Calne. William Ducket, Eſq George Low Eſq Borough of the Deviſes. Edward Lewis, Eſq George Johnſon. Borough of Chippenham. Sir Edward Hungerford, Kt. of the Bath. Henry Baynton Eſq Borough of Malmesbury. Phillip Howard, Eſq Sir Edward Pool, Kt. Borough of Cricklade. Sir George Hungerford, Kt. Sir John Earnely, Kt. Borough of Great Bedwin. Sir John Trevor, Kt. Henry Clerk, Eſq Borough of Lugderſal. William Aſhburnham, Eſq Thomas Gray, Eſq Borough of Old Sarum. Edward Nicholas, Eſq Sir Eliab Harvey, Kt. Borough of Wooten Baſſet. Sir Walter St. John Bar. John Pleydal, Eſq Borough of Marleborough. John Lord Seymour. Jeoffery Daniel, Eſq Worceſter. Sir John Packington, Bar. Samuel Sandys Sen. Eſq City of Worceſter. Sir Rowland Berkly, Kt. Thomas Street, Eſq Borough of Droitwich. Henry Coventry, Eſq Samuel Sandys, Jun. Eſq Borough of Eveſham. Sir John Hanmer, Kt. Sir James Ruſhout▪ Kt. Borough of Bewdly. Sir Henry Herbert, Kt. York. Conyers Darcy, Eſq, Sir Thomas Slingsby. Kt. City of York. Sir Metcalf Robinſon, Kt. Sir Thomas Osborn, Bar. Town of Kingſton upon Hull. Anthony Gilby, Eſq Andrew Marvel, Gent. Borough of Knaersborough. Sir John Talbot, Kt. William Stockdale, Eſq Borough of Scarborough. Sir Phillip Munckton Eſq William Thompſon, Eſq Borough of Rippon. Sir Jo. Nicholas, Kt. of the Bath. Thomas Burwell, Dr. of Laws. Borough of Richmond. Sir William Killegrew, Kt. Marmaduke Darcy, Eſq Borough of Heydon. Henry Guy, Eſq Sir Hugh Bethel, Kt. Borough of Burrowbridge. Sir Rich. Malevere, Kt. and Bar. Robert Long, Eſq Borough of Malton▪ William Palmes, Eſquire. Sir Thomas Gowre, Kt. Borough of Thirske. Sir Thomas Ingram, Kt. Will. Franklin, Eſquire. Borough of Aldborough. Sir Soloman Swale, Bar. Sir Francis Goodrick, Kt. Borough of Beverley. Michael Wharton, Eſquire. Sir John Hotham, Bar. Borough of North-Allerton. Sir▪ Gilbert Gerard, Kt. and Bar. Roger Talbot▪ Eſquire. Borough of Ponfract. Sir John Dawney, Kt. Sir William Lowther, Kt. Barons of the Cinque Ports. Port of Haſtings. Edward Waller Eſquire. Sir Denny Aſhburnham▪ Bar. Town of Winchelſea. Francis Finch, Eſquire. Robert Auſtin, Gent. Town of Rye. Sir John Robinſon, Kt. and Bar. Sir Jo. Auſtin, Bar. Port of New Rumney. Sir Charles Sidley, Bar. Sir Norton Knatchbull, Bar. Port of Hyth. John Harvey, Eſquire. Sir Henry wood, Kt. and Bar. Port of Dover. George Montague, Eſquire. Edward Lord Hinchenbroke. Port of Sandwich. Jo. Strode, Eſquire. James Thurbarne, Eſquire. Port of Seaford. Sir William Thomas, Kt. and Bar. Nicholas Pelham, Eſquire. WALES. Angleſey. Nicholas Bagnall, Eſquire. Town of Bewmorris. John Robinſon, Eſquire. Brecon. Edward Progers, Eſquire. Town of Brecon. Sir Herbert Price▪ Bar. Cardigan.. Edward Vaughan, Eſquire. Town of Cardigan. Sir Charles Cotterel, Kt. Carmarthen. Sir Henry Vaughan, Kt. Town of Carmarthen. John Lord Vaughan, Knight of the Bath. Carnarvon. Sir Richard Wynne, Bar. Town of Carnarvon. William Griffith, Eſquire. Denbigh. John Wynne, Eſquire. Town of Denbigh. Sir John Salisbury, Bar. Flint. Sir Thomas Hanmer, Bar. Town of Flint. Roger Whitely, Eſquire. Glamorgan. Sir Edward Manſel, Bar. Town of Cardiffe. Robert Thomas, Eſquire. Merioneth. Henry Wynne, Eſquire. Pembroke. Arthur Owen, Eſquire. Town of Haverdford-Weſt. Sir Frederick Hyde, Kt. Town of Pembroke. Rowland Lagherne, Eſquire. Montgomery. Andrew Newport, Eſquire. Town of Montgomery. Henry Herbert, Eſquire. Radnor. Sir Richard Lloyd, Kt. Town of Radnor. Sir Edward Harley, Kt. of the Bath.

Note that ſome Knights and Burgeſſes being lately deceaſed, others are not yet elected in their Room.

Of the Executive Power in Temporal Matters.

A Brief account of the Legiſlative power in Temporall affairs, having been given, next may be conſidered the Executive power in thoſe affairs, and that is generally in the King, he is the Fountain of Juſtice; he is the Fountain of Juſtice; he is the Lord Chief Juſtice of England; and therefore as all the Laws of England are called the Kings Laws, becauſe he is Caput, Principium, & Finis Parliamenti, by which the Laws are made, and that nothing can have the Force of a Law, but what he wills; ſo all the Courts of Judicature are called the Kings Courts, and all the Judges of thoſe Courts are called the Kings Judges.

The higheſt Court of Judicature in England is the Houſe of Lords in Parliament; ſo that the Parliament is not only Concilium, but Curia, a Court of Judicature, conſiſting as aforementioned, of all the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, as Judges; and theſe aſſiſted with the moſt grave and eminent Lawyers of England both in Common and Civil Law.

To the Judicature of this Supreme and moſt Honourable Court, all other Courts and Perſons that are Subjects of England, are Subject and accountable for all Crimes not properly tryable, remediable, or puniſhable in other inferiour Courts of Juſtice; and to this Court all laſt Appeals are to be made, and from whoſe Sentence there lies no appeal, but to a ſucceeding Parliament; and this ſupreme Judicatory or Judicial Power lyes only in the King and Houſe of Lords; and at the Bar of this High Court may the Houſe of Commons, as the Grand Inqueſt of the Nation, impeach the higheſt Subject of England, whether of the Clergy, or of the Laity, and proſecute them till it come to a Sentence, after which there can be no farther proceeding, till the King informed of the whole matter, gives His Royal Aſſent for the Execution of the ſaid Sentence, or grant His gracious Pardon.

In the late Long Parliament, the Houſe of Commons pretended to be alſo a Court of Judicature, and at length uſurped a moſt exorbitant power to the total ruine of Monarchical Government, and it is worth obſerving by what Gradations they arrived thereto. In the time of Queen Elizabeth, and not before, the Commons began to take upon them (as ſaith Mr. Pryn, a learned Member of that Houſe) to ſeclude one another for undue Elections; whereas formerly the King and Lords were accounted the ſole Judges of all Members of the Commons Houſe, and to have the ſole power to judge of their undue Elections, Returns, Miſdemeanors, Breaches of Privileges, and of all other matters concerning their Memberſhip; alſo for freeing any Member from Arreſt or Impriſonments, did wholely and ſolely belong to the Lords, and not to the Commons, unleſs it were by ſpecial order referred by the Lords to the Houſe of Commons, as heretofore ſometimes hath been done.

In the time of King Charles the Martyr the Commons went farther, took upon them utterly to expel out of their Houſe ſome of their fellow Members, as Projectors and Monopolizers, although they had been duly elected: After this in the ſame Kings time, they expelled all ſuch as adhered in Loyalty to the King; next they ſecluded and impriſoned all ſuch as the Officers of the late rebellious Army impeached, or diſliked; then by the help of that Army, 50 or 60 of the Members of that Houſe expelled all the reſt of their fellows, and ſoon after, voted down the King and whole Houſe of Lords, and voted themſelves to be the Parliament; to be the ſole Legiſlators and the Supreme Authority of England; into ſuch a prodigious height of folly and impiety do men run, when they, once allow themſelves to paſs their, due limits.

Of the Court of Juſtice called the Kings-Bench.

FOr the Execution of Laws, after the Houſe of Lords in Parliament, the higheſt Court in England is the Kings Bench ſo called, becauſe anciently the King ſometimes there ſate in perſon on a high Bench, and his Judges on a low Bench at his Feet, to whom the Judicature belongs in the abſence of the King.

In this Court are handled the Pleas of the Crown, all things that concern loſs of life, or member of any Subject; for then the King is concerned, becauſe the Life and Limbs of the Subject belong only to the King, ſo that the Pleas here are between the King and the Subject. Here are alſo handled all Treaſons, Felonies, Breach of Peace, Oppreſſion, Miſgovernment, &c. This Court moreover hath power to examine and correct all Errors in facto & in jure of all the Judges and Juſtices of England in their Judgements and Proceedings, and this not only in Pleas of the Crown, but in all Pleas Real, Perſonal, and mixt, except only in the Exchequer.

In this High Court ſit commonly Four Grave Reverend Judges, whereof the Firſt is ſtiled the Lord Chief Juſtice of the Kings Bench, and is created not by Patent, but by a ſhort Writ, thus, Johanni Keeling Militi ſalutem. Sciatis quod conſtituimus vos Juſticiarium noſtrum Capitalem ad placita coram nobis tenenda, durante beneplacito noſtro. Teſte me ipſo apud Weſtm.

The reſt of the Judges of the Kings Bench hold their places by Letters Patents in theſe words, Rex omnibus ad quos praeſentes literae pervenirint ſalutem. Sciatis quod conſtituimus dilectum & fidelem Richardum Rainsford Militem, unum Juſticiariorum ad placita coram nobis tenenda, durante beneplacito noſtro. Teſte, &c.

Theſe Judges and all the Officers belonging to this Court have all Salaries from the King, and the chief of them have Robes and Liveries out of the great Wardrobe.

In this Court all young Lawyers that have been called to the Bar are allowed to plead and practice.

This Court may grant Prohibitions to keep other Courts, both Eccleſiaſtical and Temporal within their Bounds and due Jurisdiction.

The Jurisdiction of this Court is general, and extendeth to all England, is more uncontroulable than any other Court; for the Law preſumes that the King is alwayes there in perſon.

None may be Judge in this Court, unleſs he be a Serjeant of the Degree of the Coif, that is a Serjeant at Law, who upon taking this high Degree is obliged to wear a Lawn Coif under his Cap for ever after.

A Liſt of the ſeveral Officers belonging to His Majeſties Court of Kings-Bench. LOrd Chief Juſtice Sir John Keeling, Knight. Juſtices are Sir Thomas Twiſden, Knight and Baronet; Sir Richard Rainsford Knight; Sir William Morton, Knight. Clerk of the Crown, Sir Thomas Fanſhaw Knight, his Secondary Jaſper Waterhouſe, Eſquire. Protonotary, Sir Robert Henley Knight, his Secondary William Liveſay, Eſquire. Marſhal or Keeper of the Kings Bench Priſon, Stephen Moſedell, Eſquire. Cuſtos Brevium, Juſtinian Paget Eſquire. Andrew Vivean, and Francis Woodward, Clerks of the Paper Office. Sealer of the Writs, Edward Coleman. Gilbert Barrel Clark of the Rules. Clerk of the Errors, Henry Field. George Bradford Clerk for Filing Declarations, a Cryer, Porter, and ſome other inferiour Officers.

Then there are Filacers for the ſeveral Counties of England, whoſe Office is in this Court to make out all Proceſs upon original Writs, as well real as perſonal, and mixt. They were lately theſe that follow▪

Humphrey Ironmonger, Edward Parnel, James Buck, Samuel Aſtrey, Francis Greg, John Hynde, Thomas Stone, Thomas Leach, Gilbert Eveleigh, Henry Ewin, Joſhua Langrige, William Oglethorp, John Philips, William Oſborn, Rob. Hyde, and Anthony Rouſe.

The manner of Tryals in this and all other Common Law Courts in England, being different from that of all other Countries, and peculiar to England, ſhall be at large deſcribed apart in a Chapter with other peculiars.

Of the Court of Common Pleas.

THe next Court for execution of Laws is the Court of Common-Pleas, ſo called, becauſe there are debated the uſual Pleas between Subject and Subject. Some ſay this Court as well as other Courts, were at firſt held in the Kings Houſe whereſoever he reſided; but by the Statute of Magna Charta it was ordained, that this Court ſhould not be ambulatory, but be held at a certain place, and that hath ever ſince been in Weſtminſter-Hall.

None but Serjeants at Law may plead in this Court, and ſo many of them as the King ſhall appoint, are bound by oath to aſſiſt all that have any Cauſe depending in that Court.

This Court may grant prohibitions, as the Court of the Kings Bench doth.

The chief Judge in this Court is called the Lord Chief Juſtice of the Common-Pleas, or of the Common-Bench; holdeth his place by Letters Patent durante bene placite, and ſo do the other inferiour Judges of this Court whereof there are commonly three.

In this Court all Civil Cauſes Real and Perſonal are uſually tryed according to the ſtrict Rule of the Law.

Real Actions are pleadable in no other Court, nor Fines levyed, or Recoveries ſuffered but only in this Court at Weſtminſter.

The King allows to the Lord Chief Juſtice of this Court a Fee, Reward, Robes, and two Tun of Wine, • s is done to the Lord Chief Juſtice of the other Bench; alſo to the other Judges of this Court, and to four Serjeants, is allowed Fees, Reward, and Robes to each one.

In the 11th and 12th of Edward 3. there were eight Judges belonging to the Common Pleas, at other times ſeven, ſix, and five; and ſo in the time of Henry 6. and Edward 4. but ſince uſually but four, as at this day.

Before the Reign of Queen Mary, theſe, and the reſt or the twelve Judges rode upon Mules, and not upon Horſes, as they now do, in great State a • the beginning of the Term.

A Liſt of the ſeveral Officers belonging to His Majeſties Court of Common-pleas.

LOrd Chief Juſtice Sir John Vaughan, Kt. Sir Thomas Tyrrel, Kt. Sir John Archer, Kt. Sir William Wylde, Kt. and Bar. theſe are the preſent Judges of that Tribunal.

Then there is an Officer called Cuſtos Brevium, the firſt Clerk of the Court, whoſe Office it is to receive and keep all Writs returnable in that Court, to receive of the Protonotaries, all the Records of Niſi Prius called Poſtea's. He holdeth his Place by Patent from the King, and hath the Gift of the ſecond Protonotary's Place, and of the Clerk of the Juries· Sir Joſeph Aſh hath this Office, and doth execute it by his Deputy Thursby Eſquire.

There are three Protonotaries, a word compounded of Greek and Latin (which with the Antients was uſual) and ſignifies the firſt Notaries: they are chief Clerks of this Court, and by their Office are to enter and inroll all Declarations; Pleadings, which the Filazers did formerly promiſcuouſly do, Aſſiſes, Judgments, and Actions, to make out Judicial Writs, &c. Theſe conſiderable Offices are in the hands of Thomas Robinſon, Alan Lockhart, and Humphrey Wirley Eſquires. The Chirographer (alſo from two Greek words ſignifying to acknowledge a Debt by ſetting ones hand) is an Officer who ingroſſeth Fines acknowledged, &c. He holdeth his Place alſo by Patent, and is at preſent Mr. Sparks in truſt for Sir William Drake, who doth execute it by a Deputy Mr. Wayt.

All theſe Officers aforementioned ſit in the Court covered with black round knit Caps, according to the mode immediately before the invention of Hats, which was ſince the beginning of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. Moreover they are all ſworn, and have their Offices for life as a Freehold.

There are in this Court 3 Officers unſworn, and hold their Places durante bene placito; One Clerk of the Treaſury, Mr. George Ingram, who hath the charge of keeping the Records of this Court, and makes out all Records of Niſi Prius, and divers other things. This Office is in the Gift of the Lord Chief Juſtice. 2. Clerk of the Inrolements of Fines and Recoveries, who is by Statute under the three puiſne Judges of this Court, and removeable at their pleaſure. Note that the Inrolement of Fines and Recoveries, or any part thereof by Stat 23 Eliz. cap. 3. is of as good force and validity in Law to all intents and purpoſes, for ſo much of any of them ſo inrolled, as the ſame being extant and remaining, were or ought by Law to be: The general neglect whereof in this Kingdom hath occaſioned many Law Suits, and hath proved in proceſs of time exceeding dangerous to many mens Eſtates. 3. The Clerk of the Outlawries, Mr. Annuel, who makes out the Writs of Capias Utlagatum, after the Outlawry in the name of the Kings Atturney, whoſe Deputy he is pro tempore.

There are five Clerks more, 1. Clerk of the Kings Silver, Henry Nurſe Eſquire, unto whom every Fine or Final Agreement in ſale of Lands is brought, after it hath been with the Cuſtos Brevium, and to whom Money is paid for the Kings uſe. 2. Clerk of the Warrants, Mr· Thomas Brown, executed by a Deputy Mr. James Mayo, who entreth all Warrants of Atturney for Plaintiff and Defendant. 3. Clerk of the Juries, Mr. John Green, who makes out the Writs called Habeas Corpora and Diſtringas for appearance of the Jury either in this Court, or at the Aſſiſes in the Country. 4. Clerk of the Eſſoins or Excuſes for lawful cauſe of abſence, Mr. Townley. 5. Clerk of the Super ſedeas, Mr. Abbot, which is held by Patent, but before King James time made by the Exchequer.

In this Court are alſo Filazers for the ſeveral Counties of England, ſo called from the French Fil, a Thred, becauſe they file their Writs. Theſe make out all Proceſs upon Original Writs, and do many other things too long to be here ſet down, of theſe there are 14. viz. Fabian Philips Eſquire, who hath London, Middleſex, Huntington, and Cambridge Shires. The reſt of the Counties are divided amongſt theſe that follow, Sir Roger Hill, Henry Dutton, Spicer, Grey, Fr. Hill, Robert Child, Charles Clare, Sir Thomas Stringer, Thomas Child, Bennet, Mark Hildeſley, Herbert, Matthews, and Hughes, who is Protonatory Filazer, and Exigenter of Monmouth by Patent, the reſt in the Gift of the Lord Chief Juſtice, and hold for life.

There are alſo four Exigenters, whoſe Office it is to make all Exigents and Proclamations in all Actions where proceſs of Outlawry doth lye. This Writ is called an Exigent, becauſe it exacteth the Party, that is, requireth his appearance to anſwer the Law, and lies, againſt a Tranſgreſſor of the Law that cannot be found, nor any of his Goods within the County; ſo that after ſummons by the Sheriff at five ſeveral County Courts, if he appear not, he is outlawed. The four Exigenters at preſent are, William Petty, John Dawling, Charles Clare, and Silveſter Petty all in the Gift of the Lord Chief Juſtice, and are for life.

There are alſo belonging to this Court four Cryers and a Porter.

Of the Court called the Exchequer.

THe next Court for Execution of Laws is that called the Exchequer, ſo called as ſome think, from a Chequer-wrought Carpet, covering the great Table in that Court, as the Court of Green Cloth in the Kings houſe is ſo called from the Green Carpet, or elſe from the French word Eſchequier a Cheſs board, becauſe the Accomptants in that Office were wont to uſe ſuch Boards in their Calculation. Here are tryed all cauſes which belong to the Kings Treaſury or Revenue, as touching Accounts, Diſburſements, Cuſtoms, and all Fines impoſed upon any man. In this Court may ſit the Lord Treaſurer, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Lord Chief Baron, and four other Learned Judges called Barons of the Exchequer, and one other Curſitor Baron, but the two firſt ſeldom ſit, and the five laſt Seldom fail. The firſt of theſe five is the Principal Judge of this Court, and anſwers the Bar or the Bariſters, who direct their Speech to him, takes Recognizances for the Kings Debts, &c. It is an Office of High Honour and Profit, he is ſtyled Lord Chief Baron, is Created by Letters Patents to hold this Dignity, Quam dieu bene ſe geſſerit, wherein he hath a more fixed eſtate then the Chief Juſtices of either Bench, for the Law intends this an Eſtate for Life; in the abſence of the Lord Chief Baron, the other three Barons ſupply his place, according to their Seniority, but the fifth is ſaid to be a Curſitor of the Court, and adminiſters the Oaths to the Sheriffs, Under-Sheriffs, Baylifs, Searchers, Surveyors, &c. of the Cuſtom-houſe

In the Exchequer are held two Courts, one of Law, another of Equity.

All Judicial Proceedings according to Law are coram Baronibus; but the Court of Equity held in the Exchequer Chamber is coram Theſaurario, Cancellario, & Baronibus. This Court had its beginning primo Ph. & Mar.

The Authority of this Court is of original jurisdiction without any Commiſſion.

Note alſo, that all the other forementioned Courts were not Inſtituted by any Statute or written Law, but have their Original from the antient Cuſtom of the Kingdom.

For a long time after the Conqueſt, there ſat in the Exchequer, both Spiritual and Temporal Barons of the Realm, and in later times there ſate in their places others that were not Peers of the Realm, yet ſtiled Barons quia ibi ſedere ſolebant Barones.

All the Twelve Judges belonging to theſe High Tribunals ſit in Robes and Square Caps, like thoſe Doctors of Divinity, becauſe (as ſome ſay) they were antiently moſt commonly Clergy-men and Doctors, Biſhops, or Prelates.

A List of the ſeveral Officers belonging to His Majeſties Court of Exchequer. In the Ʋpper Exchequer.

THe Kings Remembrancer Thomas Lord Vicount Fanſhaw, in whoſe Office are 8 ſworn Clerks, whereof John Payn and Thomas Hall Eſquires, at preſent are the two Secondaries; the reſt are Anſel Beaumont, Hugh Frankland, Butler Buggin, George Wats, Nicholas Sanders, &c.

In this Office paſs all the Accounts concerning the Kings Revenue, for Cuſtoms, Exciſe, Hearth-money, Subſidies, and all Ayds granted to the King in Parliament, and all other Accounts of what nature ſoever concerning the Kings Revenue either certain or caſual. All Securities either by Bond or Recognizances to the Kings Majeſty for any of his Debts are taken here. All Proceedings upon any Statute by Information for Cuſtom Exciſes, or any other penal Law. All proceedings upon the ſaid Bonds or Recognizances, or any other Bonds taken in the Kings name, by Officers appointed thereunto under the Great Seal of England, and tranſmitted into this Office for recovery thereof. From hence iſſue forth Proceſs to cauſe all Accountants to come in and account. In the Court of Exchequer there being a Court of Equity, all proceedings touching the ſame are in this Office, with many other things concerning the Kings Revenue. This Office is in the Kings Gift.

Next is the Lord Treaſurers Remembrancer, John Osburn Eſquire, whoſe Office is to make Proceſs againſt all Sheriffs, Receivers, Bailiffs, &c, for their Accounts, and many other things of moment, as Eſtreat-Rules, all Charters and Letters Patents, whereupon any Rents are reſerved to the King. In this Office there were heretofore twelve ſworn Clerks, whereof the two firſt were called Secondaries; but ſince the Tenures were taken away, the ſaid Office is declined, and the number of Clerks diminiſhed. This Office alſo is in the Kings Gift.

Clerk of the Pipe is Sir Robert Crook Knight, who hath all the Accounts and Debts due to the King, drawn down out of the Remembrancers Office, and chargeth them down in the Great Roll or Pipe, and therefore probably was it called the Pipe Office. He hath under him eight ſworn Clerks, William Burnet Eſquire, chief Secondary, Nicholas Highmore, Wil. Satterthwayte, Burnet Junior, Caryl, &c. Here alſo Accountants have their Quietus eſt, and here are made Leaſes of extended Lands.

Comptroller of the Pipe, Brewſter Eſquire, who writeth out Summons twice every year to the High Sheriffs, to levy the Farms and Debts of the Pipe: he alſo keepeth a controlment of the Pipe, that is, keepeth a Roll of the Pipe Office Accounts, whereby to diſcover any thing that ſhall be amiſs.

Clerk of the Pleas is Richard Beresford Eſquire, in whoſe Office all the Officers of the Exchequer and other Priviledged perſons, as Debtors to the King, &c. are to have their Priviledge to plead and be impleaded, as to all matters at the Common Law. And the proceedings are accordingly by Declarations, Pleas and Tryals as at the Common Law, becauſe they ſhould not be drawn out of their own Court, where their attendance is required.

Forrein Oppoſer is Charles Whittaker, Eſquire, whoſe Office is, whereunto all Sheriffs repair, to be by him oppoſed of their Green Wax, and from thence is drawn down a Charge upon the Sheriff, to the Clerk of the Pipe, this Office is kept in Greys-Inn.

Clerk of the Eſtreats, Williams, Eſquire, whoſe Office is to receive every Term, the Eſtreats or Extracts out of the Office of the Remembrancer of the Lord Treaſurer; and to write them out, to be levied for the King alſo, to make Schedules for ſuch Summs, as are to be diſcharged.

Auditors of the Impreſt, Bartholemew Beal, and Robert Wylde Eſquires who audit the great accounts of the Kings Cuſtoms, Wardrobe, Mint, Firſt Fruits, and Tenths, Naval and Military Expences, Moneys impreſted, &c.

Auditors of the Revenue there are ſeven: Sir Edmond Sawyer, Kt. John Philips Eſq Sir Joſeph Seymour, Kt. Aldworth, Parſons, Morice, Eſquires, and Sir William Godolphin, Kt. Theſe audi • all the accounts of the Kings other Revenue, that ariſeth by Aydes granted in Parliament.

Remembrancer of Firſt Fruits and Tenths, James Roger Eſq whoſe Deputyes George Farrington, and William Prettyman, take all Compoſitions for Firſt Fruits and Tenths, and make proceſs againſt ſuch as pay not the ſame, this Office is kept in Hatton Garden.

There are alſo two other conſiderable Officers, called Deputy Chamberlains, Mr. Vines and Mr Lawrence, in whoſe Office at Weſtminſter are preſerved all the Counterfoyles of the Talleys, (whereof more anon) ſo exactly ranged by Months and years, that they may preſently be found out, to be joyned with their reſpective Stock or Tally when thereunto required, which being done and proving true, they deliver the ſame, atteſted for a lawful Tally; to the Clerk of the Pipe, for to be allowed in the Great Roll, but in caſe any corruption hath been uſed, the ſame is eaſily and ſoon diſcovered, and the Offender ſeverely puniſhed by Fine and impriſonment.

There are alſo divers other Officers, as Clerk of the Parcels, Clerk of the Nichils, Marſhals, Uſher of the Exchequer, whoſe Office is executed by a Deputy, alſo 4 under Uſhers.

Of the other part of the Exchequer, called by ſome the Lower Exchequer, where the Kings Revenue is received and diſburſed, with admirable Order and Frugality.

THe Principal Officer is the Lord Treaſurer, of whom ſee the Firſt Part of the Preſ. State of England.

Since the Death of the Earl of Southampton, 1667. This great Office hath been in the hands of five Commiſſioners:

Now there are but three Commiſſioners, the Lord Aſhley, Sir Thomas Clifford, and Sir John Duncomb, who execute the ſame at Whitehall. They have each one a conſiderable Salary from the King. There is one Secretary, Sir George Downing, Knight and Baronet.

Next is the Chancellour of the Exchequer, who is alſo an Officer of great Account and Authority, he hath a principal power, not onely in the Exchequer Court, but alſo here in the managing and diſpoſing of the Kings Revenue: he hath alſo the Cuſtody of the Exchequer Seal. This Office is injoyed by the forementioned Lord Aſhley.

Then there are two Chamberlaines of the Exchequer, Sir Nicholas Steward, and Mr. Hyldiard, in whoſe Cuſtody are all Antient Records, Leagues and Treaties with forreign Princes, the Standards of Moneys, Weights and Meaſures, thoſe antient famous Books, called Doomes-day, and the Black book of the Exchequer, whereof the former is Liber Cenſualis totius Angliae, the Tax Book of England, made by William the Conqueror, wherein is deſcribed all the Lands of England, with the true value, and their Owners name, it was ſix years in making, viz. from the 14th to the 20th year of that King, and called at firſt Rotulus Wintoniae, but ſince named Doomes-day Book, becauſe therein was ſet down an exact Account, not onely of all the Cities, Towns, and Villages of England, but the number of Families of Men, Souldiers, Husbandmen, Bondmen, Servants, Cattle; how much mony, what Rent, how much Meadow, Paſture, Woods, Tillage, Common, Marſh, Heath, every one poſſeſſed: and when any one cited, or any difference aroſe about thoſe things or Taxes, &c. there was no place for denying or deceiving the King (whereof many men ever made little Conſcience, though all good Chriſtians ever counted it a grievous and hainous ſin) when this Book was opened, like as it will be at the opening of the Book at the great day of doom, or general Judgment of the World. This Book is kept under three Locks and Keys, not to be lookt into under 6s. 8d. and for every line tranſcribed is to be paid 4d.

Next is the Auditor of the Receipts, Sir Robert Long, whoſe Office is to file the Bills of the Tellers, whereby they charge themſelves with all moneys received, and to draw all Orders to be ſigned by the Commiſſioners of the Treaſury, for iſſuing forth all moneys by vertue of Privy Seals, which are recorded and lodged in his Office. He alſo makes debentures to the ſeveral Perſons, who have Fees, Annuities, or Penſions by Letters Patents from the King out of the Exchequer, and directs them for payment to the Tellers. He receives every week the ſtate of the account of each Teller, and alſo weekly certifies the whole to the Commiſſioners of the Treaſury, who immediately preſent the eſtimate or Ballance to the King. He takes the Tellers Accounts in groſs at Eaſter and Michaelmas. By him are kept the ſeveral Regiſters appointed for paying all perſons in courſe upon ſeveral Branches of the Kings Revenue. He is Scriptor Taliorum hath five Clerks to manage the whoſe eſtate of Moneys received, disburſed, and remaining.

Next there are four Tellers, Laurence Squib, John Loving Eſquires, Sir George Downing aforementioned, and Sir William Doily Kt. Their Office is to receive all moneys due to the King; and thereupon to throw down a Bill through a Pipe into the Tally Court, where it is received by the Auditors Clerk, who there attends to write the words of the ſaid Bill upon a Tally, and then deliver the ſame to be entred by the Clerk of the Pells, or his under Clerk, who there attends to enter it in his Book: then the Tally is cloven by the two Deputy Chamberlains, who have their Seals, and while the Senior Deputy reads one part, the Junior examines the other part with the other two Clerks.

Clerk of the Pells is William Wardour Eſquire, whoſe Office is to enter every Tellers Bill into a Parchment skin, (in Latin Pellis, whence this Office hath its name,) all receipts and payments for the King, for what cauſe, or by whom ſoever, and is in nature of a Comtroller, hath four Clerks, whereof one is for the Introitus, and another for the Exitus. Moreover he is to make weekly, and half yearly Books, both of the Receipts and Payments, which are delivered to the Commiſſioners of the Treaſury.

In the Tally Court ſit the Deputies of the two Chamberlains Edward Faulconbridge and John Low Eſquires, who cleave the Tallies, and examine each piece a part.

A Tally in the Exchequer from the French Verb Tailler, to cut, is a very antient and moſt certain way of avoiding all cozenage in the Kings Revenue; the like no where elſe in Chriſtendom, and is after this manner.

He that payes the King any moneys, receives for his Acquittance a Tally, that is, the one half of a ſtick cloven with certain proportionable Notches thereon, expreſſive of the ſum from the ſaid Deputy Chamberlains, who keep the other cloven part of the ſtick called the Foyl, and deliver it to the Tally-Joyners on the other ſide of the Exchequer, who are alſo Deputies to the Chamberlains, and they joyn it with the Foyl, which agreeing, they give it their Teſt, and ſend it by an Officer of their own to the Pipe where their Quietus eſt is engroſſed in Parchment.

Other Officers in the Exchequer are the two Uſhers, Robert and Philip Packer Eſquires, whoſe Office is to take care to ſecure the Exchequer by day and by night, and all the Avenues leading to the fame, and to furniſh all neceſſaries, as Books, Paper, &c.

There is alſo a Tally Cutter, and four Meſſengers.

By long continuance, and the wiſeſt contrivances that the ableſt men of many ages could invent, the Exchequer of the King of England is become the beſt, ordered publick Revenue in the world.

Though the number of Officers in the Exchequer is far greater than in any other of the Kings Courts, yet not near ſo great as the Financiers and other Officers belonging to the Revenues of the French King, who are ſo many, that their Fees eat up three parts in four of the whole Revenue: whereas for rewarding all the Officers in the Engliſh Exchequer, whereof moſt are ever perſons of Eſtates, Parts, and great Integrity, it coſts the King a very inconſiderable ſum of money, as will eaſily appear to any one who ſhall conſider that in caſe of a gift from the King of Moneys or Penſion out o • his Exchequer, he that receives it pays but 5 l. per cent. amongſt the Tellers, Auditors, Clerk of the Pells, and their Clerks, and to all other Officers whatſoever; and which is remarkable, there goes not amongſt the ſaid Officers and Clerks ſo much as 5 s. per cent. out of publick Payments, as for the Navy, Ordnance, Wardrobe, Mint, to the Cofferer. Treaſurer of the Chamber, &c.

In caſe of Moneys paid in by any of the Kings Tenants, Receivers, it coſts them ſometimes but ſix pence, and at moſt but 3 s. for every payment under a thouſand pounds; and that goes only to the Clerks for their pains in writing and attending.

The bringing in of all moneys to the King coſts his Majeſty amongſt Receivers, Collectors, and all others in the Country not above 2 s. in the pound; and at his Exchequer it coſts him in a manner nothing at all; for the Tellers, who are bound to the King in 20000 l. ſecurity, for the true diſcharge of their great truſts, have under 33 l. per an. for their Salary from the King, and the two Clerks of each Teller, who conſtantly attend their Offices, have nothing at all from the King.

The Court of the Dutchy of Lancaſter.

THere is another Court at Weſtminſter, called the Court of the Dutchy of Lancaſter, which takes Cognizance of all Cauſes that any way concern the Revenue belonging to that Dutchy, which hath been long ſince annext to the Crown.

The chief Judge of this Court is the Chancellor of the Dutchy, who is aſſiſted by the Atturney of the Dutchy. There are divers other Officers of this Court, a liſt of whoſe Names here follow.

Sir Thomas Ingram, Chancellor, and one of His Majeſties moſt honourable Privy Council. Sir John Heath, Atturney Genera. Sir John Curzon, Receive • General: Sir Thomas Trevor, Knight of the Bath, and John Fanſhaw Eſq Auditors. Sir Gilbert Gerard, Clerk of the Dutchy; Thomas Desborough, Meſſenger: This Court is kept at Weſtminſter by the Lower Exchequer, and the Office of Sir Gilbert Gerard at Grays Inn.

Of the High Court of Chancery

NExt to the Kings Bench in Weſtminſter-Hall, is wiſely placed this High Court, to mitigate the Rigour of that; it is called Curia Cancellariae, as ſome judge, becauſe as ſome think, the Judge of this Court ſate antiently intra Cancellos or Lattices, as the Eaſt end of our Churches being ſeperated per cancellos from the body of the Church, as peculiarly belonging to the Prieſt, were thence called Chancels.

This Court is the Officina Juſticiae, the Womb of all our Fundamental Laws, the Fountain of all our proceedings in Law, the Original of all other Courts. It is as antient as the Civility of the Nation, though perhaps by another name.

This Court proceeds either ordinarily, according to the Laws, Statutes, and Cuſtomes of the Nation, and in Latin, granting out Writs, mandatory, and remedial; Writs of Grace, or elſe according to Equity and Conſcience, and by Engliſh Bill, ſo that the Chancery hath two Courts in one, the equitable part, is by Bills, Anſwers and Decrees to examine Frauds, Combinations, Truſts, ſecret uſes, &c. to moderate the Rigour of the Laws, and reſcue men out of the hands of their Oppreſſors. To relieve a man, eſpecially in three things, viz. againſt Cheats, unfortunate accidents and breaches of Truſt.

Out of this Court iſſue out Writs or Summons for Parliaments, Edicts, Proclamations, Charters, Protections, ſafe Conducts, Writs of Moderata Miſericordia, when any perſon hath been amerced too high, and for a reaſonable part of Goods for Widdows and Orphans, Patents for Sheriffs, Writs of Certiorari to remove Records, and falſe Judgements in inferiour Courts, Writs of Audita Querela, and Scire facias, here are ſealed and inrolled; Letters Patent, Treaties and Leagues with forreign Princes, Deeds betwixt Party and Party touching their Lands, and Eſtates or Purchaſers taking recognizances and making of Extents upon Statutes and Recognizances for payment of Moneys, or ſecuring of Contracts. Writs Remedial or Magiſterial, Commiſſions of Appeal, Oyer and Terminer, &c. The Court of Common Pleas, which are betwixt Subject and Subject, hath its Original and Commiſſions from the Chancery, and cannot hold Pleas without it.

For the Latin part of this Court, are the 24 Curſitors; and for the Engliſh part, are the ſix Clerks.

The Court of Equity that proceeds not according to Law, is no Court of Record, and therefore binds onely the perſon, not his Lands or Goods.

The Judge of this Court is the Lord Chancellor, or Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England. He is here the ſole Judge, whereas in other Courts there are three or four Judges, but he may and doth often in caſes of greater weight and difficulty, in caſes of Law, call ſome of the other Judges to his aſſiſtance, and therefore it is ſaid, this Office may be diſcharged by one that is no profeſſed Lawyer, as it was almoſt always antiently, and ſo of later times by Sir Chriſtopher Hatton, and after by Doctor Williams Biſhop of Lincoln, to their great praiſe and commendation.

It is the higheſt Dignity in England that a Lay-man is capable of, it is Summum ambientis animi quaſi Solſtitium, and the Chancellor is Magiſtratuum omnium Antiſtes.

Antiently, the Lord Chancellor had ſometimes his Vicechancellor, commonly called Keeper of the Great Seal, but of later times they differ onely in name.

In France, he that is made Chancellour is durante vita, his place cannot be taken away, although the Seales may. It is ſaid there, that he is ſo to attend to the ſole Intereſt of the King and People, that he muſt not be ſenſible of any Relations or other conſideration, and therefore he may not put himſelf in mourning, neither for his own Father, nor for the King himſelf.

Chancellours have been in England, as the learned Dugdale finds, as ſoon as Chriſtianity was embraced by the Saxons.

The Chancellor is ſaid to be keeper of the Kings Conſcience, to judge ſecundum aequum & bonum, according to equity and conſcience, he is to moderate the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the exact rigour and letter of the Law, whereunto other Judges are ſtrictly tyed: for the Princes of this Realm, in imitation of the King of Kings, governing the World by juſtice and mercy, have erected two ſupreme Tribunals, together at the upper end of Weſtminſter-Hall, one of Juſtice, wherein nothing but the ſtrict Letter of the Law is obſerved, and the other of Mercy, wherein the Rigour of the Law is tempered with the ſweetneſs of Equity, which is nothing elſe but Mercy qualifying the ſharpneſs of Juſtice.

This Court being a Court of Conſcience, the leſs it is perplexed with the quirks of Lawyers, the more it is guided by Conſcience and Equity, and therefore the Kings of England would have this Court ſuperiour to the other Tribunals, that ſo if any thing was done amiſs by thoſe following the Rigour of the Law, here good by Conſcience and Equity, it might be amended; wherein they followed the noble Pattern of the Great Conſtantine, qui omnes ſuas leges imperfectas eſſe voluit ut inde ſubditi ſui appellarent ad Epiſcopos, and therefore in all former times, the Judges of this Court were choſen out of the Clergy, able Divines, who by their skil in the Law of God, and of Nations, were beſt able to judge according to Moderation and Equity, and moſt willing to execute accordingly: alſo fitteſt to diſpoſe of the Kings ſpiritual Benefices.

Beſides when this High Office was given to Biſhops and Clergy men, in whom wealth and a publick Spirit being uſually conjoyned, what great publick Acts of Piety and Charity, were done by them for this Nation? to mention onely in Oxford, What noble and rich foundations are Chriſt-church, Magdalens, New Colledge, and Merton Colledge? all founded by Biſhops that were Chancellors; and on the contrary, ſince the places of Chancellor, Treaſurer, Privy Seal, &c. have been uſually in the Hands of Lay-men, what one great work hath been done for the Publick, but onely wealth heaped up for their own private Families.

The manner of Proceeding in this Court, is much like that in the Courts of the Civil Law, the Actions by Bill or Plaint, the Witneſſes examined in private, the Decrees in Engli • h or Latin, not in French▪ No Jury of twelve men, but all Sentences given by the Judge of the Court.

The Chancellor or Lord Keeper hath twelve aſſiſtants, antiently called Clerici, or Magiſtri Cancellariae, becauſe they were uſually in Holy Orders, and all Doctors of Laws, for Maſter and Doctor was antiently the ſame, as at this day, a Doctor in the Arts, is called Magiſter in Artibus.

The firſt of theſe is called Maſter of the Rolls, a place of great dignity, and is in the gift of the King, either for life or during His Majeſties pleaſure; and this Officer hath jure Officii, the gift of thoſe conſiderable Offices of the ſix Clerks in Chancery, hath the keeping of the Rolls, hath the Houſe of the converted Jews now called the Rolls, and in the abſence of the Chancellor heares Cauſes and makes Orders by Vertue of a Commiſſion, with two Maſters and not jure Officii.

One reaſon why the Maſters of Chancery were ever Civilians, may be, becauſe for all caſes almoſt imaginable ſome Law or caſe conformable thereunto, may be fetched by a good Civilian out of that Law of Laws, called the Civil Law. Another may be, becauſe the Chancery more antient then in any other Court of England (for all Original writs and Comiſſions, whereupon the other Courts do ground all their proceedings do come from thence) hath probably been taken from the Civil Law, divers points of proceedings not uſed in Common Law Courts, as the Defendants anſwering to the Bill, and ſometimes to the Interrogatories upon Oath, though to the accuſing of a mans ſelf, in divers matters dammageable, and penal; alſo by the whole manner of publication, the depoſitions of Witneſſes, by the examining of witneſſes upon Interrogatories, and in perpetuam rei memoriam, by the term and uſe of final Decree, and many other points differing from the Common Law, and wholly agreeing with the Civil Law.

This Court is alwayes open, when all the others are ſhut, but onely in Term time; ſo that if a man be wrongfully impriſoned, in the Vacation time out of Term, the Lord Chancellour may grant his Writ of Habeas Corpus, and do him juſtice according to Law; So likewiſe may this Court grant Prohibitions in time of Vacation, as well as in Term time.

A Liſt of the ſeveral Officers belonging to the High Court of Chancery. SIR Orlando Bridgman Knight and Barronet, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England, Then the 12 Maſters of the Chancery as followeth. Sir Harbottle Grimſton Baronet, Maſter of the Rolls. Sir William Childe Knight, Doctor of Laws. Sir Juſtinian Lewin Knight, Doctor of Laws. Sir Thomas Eſcourt Knight. Sir Mundeford Bramſton Knight Doctor of Laws. Sir Nathaniel Hobart, Knight. Sir William Glaſcock, Knight. Sir John Coel Knight. Sir Robert Stewart, Knight. Sir Timothy Baldwin, Knight Doctor of Laws. Sir Andrew Harket Knight. Sir William Beverſham.

The Houſe founded at firſt for the converted Jews, was after their expulſſon out of England, annext for ever to the Office of Maſter of the Rolls, where he hath the cuſtody of all Charters, Patents, Commiſſions, Deeds, Recogniſances, which being made up in Rolls of Parchments gave occaſion of the Name.

At preſent there are kept all the Rolls ſince the beginning of Henry 7. the reſt are kept in the Tower of London.

In his gift are beſides the ſix Clerks Offices, the Offices of the Examiners, and three Clerks of the Pettibag.

Next Clerk of the Crown, Henry Barker, Eſquire; this Office is of high importance; he is either by himſelf or Deputy continually to attend the Keeper of the Great Seal for ſpecial matters of State, and hath a place in the Higher Houſe of Parliament; he makes all Writs for ſummoning Parliaments, and upon a Warrant directed to him by the Speaker of the Houſe of Commons upon the Death or removal of any Member, he makes a Writ for a new Election.

Protonatary of this Court is Robert Peſcod, Eſquire; this Office is chiefly to expedite Commiſſions for Embaſſies.

It is executed by a Deputy.

Clerk of the Hamper or Hannaper, ſometime ſtiled Warden of the Hannaper. Whoſe Office is to receive all the Money due to the King for the Seals of Charters, Patents, Commiſſions and Writs, and to attend the Keeper of the Seal dayly in Term time, and at all times of Sealing, with leather baggs now (but antiently probably with Hampers) wherein are put all ſealed Charters, Patents, &c. and then thoſe Baggs delivered to the Comptroller of the Hamper. This Office is now enjoyed by Henry Seymer Eſquire, and executed by a Deputy.

Warden of the Fleet, or Keeper of the Fleet-Priſon, is an Office very conſiderable, and is to take care of the Priſoners there, who are commonly ſuch as are ſent thither from this Court, for contempt to the King or his Laws, or ſuch as will not pay their Debts, &c. The preſent Warden is Sir Jeremy Whitchcote: It is executed by a Deputy.

Serjeant at Armes is Humphrey Ley Eſq whoſe Office is to bear a great gilt Mace before the Lord Keeper, &c.

Six Clerks are Officers of great account next in degree to the twelve Maſters in Chancery, whoſe Office is to inroll Commiſſions, Pardons, Patents, Warrants, &c. That are paſſed the Great Seal. They were antiently Clerici, and afterwards forfeited their places, if they did marry, till by Act of Parliament in the time of Hen. 8. they were allowed to take Wives.

They are alſo Atturneys for Plaintiffs and Defendants, in cauſes depending in this Court.

The preſent ſix Clerks Sir John Marſhal, Matthew Pindar Eſq Matthew Bluck Eſq Sir Cyril Wyche, John Wilkinſon Eſq and Edward Abney Eſq who ſit altogether at their Office in Chancery Lane.

Examiners in Chancery there are two, Sir Robert Peyton, and Sir Nicholas Strode. Their Office is to examine the Witneſſes in any ſuit on both ſides on their Oaths.

This Office alſo is executed at the Rolls.

Clerks of the Petty Bag in Chancery are three, Edmund Warcup Eſq John Hobſon Eſq and George Low, Eſq they are under the maſter of the Rolls. Their Office is to make all Patents for Cuſtomers, Comtrollers, all Conge d' eſlires, firſt ſummons of Nobility, Clergy, Knights, Citizens, and Burgeſſes to Parliament, &c.

The Subpena Office is to iſſue out Writs to call a perſon into Chancery.

This Office is in the hands of Frances Lady Vane, Sir Walter Vane, and Charles Vane: and executed by a Deputy.

Clerk of the Patents or of Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England, is Sir Richard Pygot, and executed by a Deputy, erected 16 Jac.

The Regiſter of the Court of Chancery, the Farl of St. Albans, under whom are three Deputy Regiſters for the Court, two Deputy Regiſters for the Rolls, two entring Clerks and a Keeper of the Books.

Curſiters Office in the Chancery, is to make out Original Writs, they were antiently called Clerici de Curſu, of theſe there are twenty four, whereof each one hath certain Counties and Cities allotted to them, into which they make out ſuch Original Writs as are required. Theſe Clerks are a Corporation within themthemſelves, and are all perſons of Quality whoſe names follow.

The Names of the Curſiters now in being, are theſe that follow. JOhn Symonds, Principal. William Barker Aſſiſtants. Benjamin Gladman Aſſiſtants. Henry Edmonds. Ge. Norbury. Abr. Nelſon. Rich· Plumpton. Roger Brown. John Norbury. Richard Croſs. Edmund Eyre. Will. Adderley. Abr. Skynner. Jo. Shelbury. Will. Plumpton. Thomas Fiſher. Elias Gladman. Roger Twiſden. Ben. Storke. John More. William Loe. H. Amhurſt. Philip Barecroft. Rich. Parmee, Eſquires; who execute theſe Offices by themſelves, or by their Deputies, This Office is kept near Lincolns Inn. Clerk of the Preſentations of Spiritual Benefices, Edwes Eſquire. Commiſſioners, Sir George Courthop, Sir Edm. Turner, Halſal, Eſq, Alienation Office, N. Crew, Eſq, Receiver Gen. Joh. Nichols.

All the forementioned Courts of Judicature at Weſtminſter, are opened four times the year, called the four Termes, viz. Eaſter Term, which beginneth alwayes the ſeventeenth day after Eaſter, and laſteth 27 dayes. Trinity Term begins the 5th day after Trinity Sunday, and laſteth 20 dayes. Michaelmas Term began heretofore a little after that Feaſt, but now by a late Statute, begins the 23 October, and laſteth 37 dayes. Laſtly, Hilary Term begins now 10 dayes after St. Hilary Biſhop, or the 23 of January, and laſteth 21 dayes; ſo in all 105 dayes, from whence muſt be deducted about 20 Sundayes and Holydayes, which are as the Dies Nef • ſti, wherein the Courts ſit not: ſo that in one fourth part of the year, and that in one City, all conſiderable cauſes of the greateſt part of England are fully decided and determined, whereas in forreign parts the Courts of Juſtice are open all the year, except high Holydayes, and Harveſt, and that in all great Cities. This may ſeem therefore ſtrange to all Forreigners till they know that the Engliſh have alwayes been given more to peaceableneſs and induſtry then other people, and that rather then go ſo far as London, and be at ſo great Charges with Attourneyes and Lawyers, they will either refer their differences to the Arbitration of their Pariſh Prieſts, who do, or ought to think it a Principal part of their Duty to reconcile differences within their Pariſhes, or to the Arbitration of honeſt Neighbours, or elſe are content to ſubmit their differences to tryal before the Judges of Aſſiſes or the Itinerant Judges, who twice a year, viz. after the end of Hilary Term, and after the end of Trinity Term, two by two of theſe principal Judges ride ſeveral Circuits; and at the Principal Town of every County, ſit to hear and determine all Cauſes of leſſer moment both civil and criminal, a moſt excellent wiſe Conſtitution begun by King Hen. 2. Anno 1176. who at firſt divided England into ſix Circuits (not the ſame that are now) and to each Circuit allotted three judges. Wales alſo is divided into two Circuits, North and South Wales, for which are deſigned in like manner two Sergeants at Law for each Circuit. Theſe Judges give Judgment of the Pleas of the Crown and all Common Pleas within thoſe Counties, diſpatching ordinarily in two or three days all Controverſies in a County that are grown to iſſue in the fore-mentioned Courts at London between Plaintiffs and Defendants, and that by their Peers: a Jury of 12 men, ex viceneto, out of the neighbourhood, where about the buſineſs lyes. So that twice a year, in England and Wales, Juſtice may be ſaid to be rightly and ſpeedily adminiſtred even at our own doors.

Beſides, the forementioned Courts at Weſtminſter, Henry 8. erected for the more eaſe of the Subject, a Court in the North of England, another for the County of Wales and Counties adjoyning; and intended another for Cornwall and Devonſhire; and theſe in manner of thoſe Courts called in France Parlements, where all caſes might be decided both according to the Laws of England, and according to equity in Chancery: Of theſe Courts, that for Cornwal was never fully erected, thoſe people deſiring rather to come to London for Juſtice; that of the North, was by the late long Parliament taken away, and ſo was that of Wales; but this laſt ſince the Reſtauration of the King again erected. Of this Court or Council of the Marſhes of Wales is a Lord Preſident, at preſent the Lord Vaughan, Earl of Carbury, divers Councellors, Secretary, Attourney, Sollicitor, Surveyor, who have Salaries from His Majeſty.

HAving given a brief Account of the Civil Government of all England in General; next ſhall be deſcribed the particular Government of Counties, Hundreds, Cities, Burroughs, and Villages.

For the Civil Government of all Counties, the King makes choice of ſome of the Nobility, Clergy, Gentry, and Lawyers, men of worth and parts, who have their uſual reſidence in the County, ſo many as His Majeſty pleaſeth, to keep the Peace of the County, and theſe, by Commiſſion under the great Seal, are called Juſtices of Peace, and ſuch of them in whom the King doth more particularly confide or reſpect, are called Juſtices of the Quorum, from thoſe words in the Commiſſion, Quorum A. B. unum eſſe volumus, that is, ſome buſineſs of more importance, may not be tranſacted without the preſence or concurrence of one of them.

One of the principal Juſtices of Peace and Quorum, is by the Lord Keeper made Cuſtos Rotulorum, ſo called, becauſe he hath the Cuſtody of the Rolls, or Records of the Seſſions, and is to bring them to each Quarter Seſſions.

The Original of Juſtices of Peace is from the firſt year of Edward 3.

Their Office is to call before them, examine and commit to Priſon all Theeves, Murderers, wandring Rogues, thoſe that hold Conſpiracies, Conventicles, Riots, and almoſt all other Delinquences that may occaſion the breach of Peace and quiet to the Kings Subjects; to commit all ſuch to priſon, as either cannot, or by Law are not, to be bailed (that is, cannot be ſet at liberty by Sureties, taken for their appearance at a place and time certain) land to ſee them brought forth in due time to Tryal.

Every Quarter or three months, the Juſtices meet at the chief or Shire Town, where the Grand Enqueſt or Jury of the County is ſummoned to appear, who upon Oath, are to inquire of all Traitors, Hereticks, Theeves, Murderers, Money-coiners, Riots, &c Thoſe that appear to be guilty, are by the ſaid Juſtices committed to priſon, to be tryed at the next Aſſiſes, when the Judges of Weſtminſter come their Circuits aforementioned.

For execution of Laws in every County except Weſtmorland and Durham; the King every Michaelmas Term, nominates for each County, a Sheriff, that is a Reeve of the Shire, Praepoſitus or Praefectus Comitatus, a Governor or Guardian of the County, for the words of the Patent are, Commiſimus tibi Cuſtodiam Commitatus noſtri de N.

The Sheriffs Office is to execute the Kings Mandates, and all Writs directed to him out of the Kings Courts, to empannel Juries, to bring Cauſes and Criminals to Tryal, to ſee the ſentences both in Civil and Criminal affairs executed; to wait on and guard the Itenerant Judges twice a year, ſo long as they continue within the County, which at the Aſſiſes is performed with great Pomp, Splendor, Feaſting, &c, In order to the better execution of his Office, the Sheriff hath attendant his Under-Sheriff divers clerks, Stewards of Courts, Bayliffs of Hundreds, Conſtables▪ Gaolers, Sergeants or Beedles, beſides a gallant train of ſervants in rich Liveries, all on Horſeback at the Reception of the Judges.

He was antiently choſen as Knights of the Shire, but to avoid Tumults it is now thus.

Every year about the beginning of November, the Judges Itinerant nominate ſix fit men of each County, that is Kts. or Eſquires of good Eſtates, out of theſe the Lords Keeper, Treaſurer▪ Privy Councellors, and 12 Judges aſſembled in the Exchequer Chamber and ſworn, make choice of three, of which the King himſelf after chooſeth one to be Sheriff, for that year only, though heretofore it was for many years, and ſometimes heriditary; as at this day to the Cliffords, who by diſſent from Robert de Vipont are Sheriffs heriditary of the County of Weſtmoreland by Charter from King John.

Furthermore the Sheriffs Office is to collect all publick profits, Cuſtomes, Taxes of the County, all Fines, Diſtreſſes and Amerceaments, and to bring them into the Kings Exchequer or Treaſury at London, or elſe where, as the King ſhall appoint.

The Sheriff of each County hath a double function, firſt Miniſterial to execute all Proceſſes and Precepts of the Courts of Law, and to make returns of the ſame. Secondly, Judicial, whereby he hath authority to hold two ſeveral Courts of diſtinct nature, the one called the Sheriffs Turn, which he holdeth in ſeveral places of the County, enquiring of all Criminal Offences againſt the Common-Law, not prohibited by any Statute: The other called the County Court wherein he hears and determines civil Cauſes of the County under 40 s. which antiently was a conſiderable ſumme; ſo that by the great fall of the moneys now, the Sheriffs authority in that part is much diminiſhed.

He is ſaid to be the life of Juſtice, of the Law and of the County, for no ſuit begins, and no proceſs is ſerved but by him, then no Execution of the Law, but by him; laſtly he is the chief Conſervator of the Peace in the whole County. Every County being ſubdivided into Hundreds (ſo called at firſt, either for containing an hundred houſes or 100 men bound to find Armes) or Wapentakes, ſo called, from touching a weapon, when they ſwore Allegiance (as the manner at this day is in Sweden, at their ſolemn weddings for the chief witneſſes to lay all their hands upon a Lance or Pike) every ſuch Wapentake o • Hundred hath commonly a Bayliff, a very antient Officer, but now of ſmall Authority: alſo Officers called High Conſtables, firſt ordained by the Statute of Wincheſter 13▪ Edw. 1. for conſervation of Peace and view of Armour, they diſperſe Warrants and Orders of the Juſtices of Peace to each Pety Conſtable.

There are alſo in every County two Officers, called Coroners, whoſe Office is to enquire by a Jury of Neighbours how and by whom any perſon came by a violent death, and to enter the ſame upon Record, which is matter Criminal, and a plea of the Crown, and thence they are called Crowners or Coroners.

Theſe are choſen by the Free holders of the County, by vertue of a Writ out of the Chancery. They were antiently men of eſtates, Birth and Honour; and therefore in the Reign of Edward III. a Merchant being choſen a Coroner was removed, quia communis Mercator fuit, whereas he ought to have been a Gentleman, which have no Trades man is reckoned to be by our Laws.

Every County alſo hath an Officer called Clerk of the Mercat, whoſe Office is to keep a Standard of all Weights, and Meaſures exactly, according with the Kings Standard kept in the Exchequer, and to ſee that none others be uſed in the ſame County, to Seal all Weights, and Meaſures made exactly by the Standard in his cuſtody and to burn ſuch as are otherwiſe. He hath a Court, and may keep and hold Plea therein.

Of the Civil Government of Cities.

EVery City of England by their Charters or Priviledges granted by ſeveral Kings is a little Common-wealth apart, governed not as the Cities of France, by a Nobleman or Gentleman placed there by the King; but wholly by themſelves, they chooſe amongſt themſelves their own Governor; in Cities a Mayor is choſen, commonly out of 12 Aldermen. In ſome other Co • porations; a Bailiff is choſen out of a certain number of Burgeſſes.

They are not taxed, but by their own Officers of their own Corporation, every trade having ſome of their own alwayes of the Council, to ſee that nothing be enacted contrary to their profit.

Every City by Charter from the King hath haute moyenne & baſſe Juſtice, a jurisdiction amongſt themſelves, to judge in all matters criminal and civil, onely with this reſtraint, that all civil cauſes may be removed from their Courts to the Higher Courts at Weſtminſter.

The Mayor of the City is the Kings Lieftenant, and with the Alderm • n, and Common Council (as it were King, Lords and Commons in Parliament) can make Laws called By-Laws for the Government of the City.

He is for his time (which is but for one year) as it were a Judge to determine matters, and to mitigate the Rigour of the Law.

The next in Government of Cities are two principal Officers called, though improperly, the Sheriffs, who are Judges in civil cauſes within this City, and to ſee all execution done, whether penal or capital, and ſhould rather be called, Stat-reeves or Port-reeves ▪ (i. e.) Urbis vel Portus Praefecti.

In Cities the people are generally made more induſtrious by Manufactures, and leſs idleneſs ſuffered then in other places, ſo that in ſome Cities, children of ſix or ſeven years old are made to gain their own expences. In the City of Norwich, it hath of late yeares been computed and found, that yearly children from 6 to 10 years of age, have gained 12 thouſand pounds more then what they ſpend, and that chiefly by knitting fine Jerſey Stockings.

The Government of Burroughs, and other Towns corporate is much after the ſame manner. In ſome, there is a Mayor, in others, one or two Bailiffs, who have equal power with a Mayor and Sheriffs, and during their Offices, they are Juſtices of the Peace within their Liberties, and have there the ſame power, that other Juſtices of the Peace have in the County.

For the better Government of Villages, the Lord of the place hath ordinarily power to hold a Court-Baron, ſo called, becauſe antiently ſuch Lords were called Barons, as they are ſtill in many parts of France: or elſe Court Baron (i. e.) Court of Freeholders, as the Barons of Germany are called Frey herren; ſo the Barons of the Cin que Ports in England are but the Freeholders of the Cin que Ports. And this Court may be held every 3 weeks.

Alſo, for the Government of Villages there is a Pety Conſtable choſen every year by every one that is Lord of the place: this Officer is to keep the Peace, in caſe of quarrels, to ſearch any houſe for Robbers, Murdrers, or others that have any way broken the peace: to raiſe the Hue and Cry after Robbers fled away, to ſeize upon them, and keep them in the Stocks or other Priſon, till they can bring them before ſome Juſtice of Peace, to whom the Conſtables are ſubſervient upon all occaſiions, either to bring crrminals before them, or to carry them by their command to the common Priſon.

Every little Village almoſt hath an Epitome of Monarchical Government, of Civil and Eccleſiaſtical policy within it ſelf, which if duly maintained, would render the whole Kingdome happy.

Firſt, for the civil Government, there is the Lord of the Soyl, who from the Crown immediately or mediately holds Dominium ſoli, and is ſaid to have in him the Royalty, as if he were a little King, and hath a kind of Jurisdiction over the Inhabitants of the Village, hath his Court-Leet • , or Court-Baron, to which they owe ſuit and ſervice, and where may be tryed ſmaller matters happening within the Mannour, Eſcheats upon Felonies or other accidents, Cuſtody of Infants and Lunaticks, power of paſſing Eſtates and admitting of Tenants, Reliefs, Hariots, Hunting, Hawking, Fiſhing, &c. under the Lord, is the Conſtable or Headborough, to keep the Peace, to ſecure offenders, to bring them before the Juſtice▪ &c.

Then for the Eccleſiaſtical Government of Villages, there is (as before hath been mentioned) the Parſon or Vicar, who hath Curam Animarum, the Care of Souls (as the Lord of the Mannor hath in ſome meaſure, Curam Corporum) for which he hath the Tythes Glebe, and Church Offrings, hath under him the Church-wardens and Sides-men to take care of the Church, and Church Aſſemblies, the Overſeers of the Poor, to take care of the Poor Sick, Aged, Orphans, and other Objects of Charity; and Laſtly, the Clark to wait on him at Divine Service.

Thus admirable and excellent is the Conſtitution of the preſent Engliſh Government above and beyond any other Government in Chriſtendom.

O Fortunatos nimium bona ſi ſua norint. Angligenas— If Engliſh men did know their Bliſs, Too great would be their Happineſs.

Of the Military Government of England.

IT was a ſmart Motto that the Great Henry the IV. of France, Grandfather to our Gracious King now raigning, cauſed to be engraven on his Great Guns, Ratio Ultima Regum: Intimating thereby, that when Subjects refuſe to ſubmit to the Laws of the Land, or Neighbours to the Law of Nations; then Kings have recourſe to Force and Armes, to bring them to Reaſon.

So long as Subjects are prone to Sedition, and Neighbour-Princes and States to Ambition, there will be a neceſſity of a Military Power in every State, both by Land and likewiſe by Sea, where the Country is any where bordering on the Sea.

Of the Military power of England, both by Land and Sea, the King of England hath the ſole ſupreme Power, Government, Command and diſpoſition. And neither one nor both Houſes of Parliament, have any right to levey any Forces, or make any War Offenſive or Defenſive, as they have at large declared in Parliament, Anno 14▪ Car 2.

By Land, the next under the King was the late Duke of Albemarle, who by His Majeſties Commiſſion dated 4th of April, 1660. at Breda, was made Generaliſsimo of all His Majeſties Forces, in all His Three Kingdoms, Horſe and Foot, Land Souldiers in pay, as well within Garriſon as without.

Since the Death of the aforementioned Duke▪ the Horſe and Foot which are in conſtant Pay are thus ordered: there are four excellent Regiments of Foot. The firſt is called the Kings Regiment, conſiſting of 24 Companies, and near 1700 men, commanded by Coll. John Ruſſel ▪ whoſe Lieftenant Coll. is Edw. Grey, brother to the Lord Grey, and whoſe Major is William Rolleſton.

The next is the Duke of Yorks Regiment 720 men, commanded by Sir Charles Littelton, whoſe Lieft. Coll. is Sir John Griffith, and his Major Nath. Dorrel.

Of the third Regiment, 600 men, Sir Walter Vane is Coll. Thomas Howard of Suffolk Lieft. Coll. and Sir Thomas Ogle Major.

Of the fourth Regiment, 960 men, the Coll. is the Earl of Craven, his Lieft. Col. is Sir James Smith, his Major John Millar.

There is alſo a Gallant Regiment of Horſe, conſiſting of 8 Troops, about 500 Horſe, beſides Officers, commanded by the Earl of Oxford, and his Major is Francis Windham.

His Majeſty hath beſides, 3 compleat Troops for his Life Guards: whereof one is called the Kings Troop, conſiſting of 200 Horſe, and commanded by the Duke of Monmouth: Another the Queens Troop, 150 Horſe, and commanded by Sir Philip Howard: and the third the Duke of Yorks Troop, 150 Horſe, and commanded by the Marquis of Blanquefort, whereof ſee more in the firſt Part of the Preſent State of England.

The pay of a Colonel of Foot is 20 s. per diem, and of a Colonel of Horſe 12 s. per diem, the other Officers have proportionable pay. Each Foot Souldier in London, hath 10 d. a day, and each Horſeman 2 s. 6 d. a day. Onely thoſe of the Life Guard have each 4 s. a day.

The reſt of His Majeſties Forces that are in conſtant pay, are diſpoſed of into ſeveral Garriſons: a Liſt whereof follows Alphabetically, with the names of their ſeveral Governors.

Barwick, Lord Widdrington. Carlile, Sir Philip Muſgrave. Chepſtow, Captain Roger Vaughan. Cheſter, Sir Jeofry Shackerly. Dover, Capt. Strode. Deale, Capt, Titus. Guernſey, Lord Hatton. Graveſend, Sir Francis Leak. Harwich, Sir Charles Littleton. Hull, John Lord Bellaſſis. Jerſey, Sir Thomas Morgan. Languard Fort, Major Dorrell. St. Maws, Sir Viel Vivian. Pendenis, Richard Lord Arundel. Plimouth, Earl of Bath. Portſmouth, D. of York, Sir Philip Honywood, Lieutenant Governor. Scarborough, Sir Tho. Slingsby. Scylly Iſle, Sir Will. Godolphin. Shereneſs, Sir Bourcher Wray. Tinmouth, Col. Edward Villars. Tower, Sir John Robinſon. Ʋpner Caſtle, Windſor Caſtle, Prince Rupert. Iſle of Wight, Sir Robert Holmes. York, the Lord Freſchevile.

In ſome of theſe Garriſons His Majeſty is at the charge of above 500 men conſtantly, each Garriſon Souldier hath 8 pence a day.

Of all the land Forces in pay, the Commiſſaries Gen. of Muſters are Henry Howard of Suffolk, and Sir Cecil Howard.

The Pay-maſter of all the Forces is Sir Stephen Fox.

The Judge Advocate Dr. Sam. Barrow.

For regulating and ordering His Majeſties Land Forces, that are in conſtant pay, there are no Orders, yet ſetled by Act of Parliament, as there are for his Sea Forces, but may be in a ſhort time.

Beſides, the afore-mentioned Forces there is the ſtanding Militia by Land of all England ſetled in the King, to be governed, ordered, and enlarged from time to time as his Majeſty ſhall ſee occaſion.

For the management of theſe ſtanding Land Forces the King himſelf makes choice of divers of the principal Peers of his Kingdome, and by Commiſſion creates them Lord Lieutenants of the ſeveral Counties of England, with power to arm, array, and form into Companies, Troops, and Regiments, to conduct (upon occaſion of Rebellion or Invaſions) and employ the men ſo armed within the Counties and Places for which the ſaid Lords are commiſſioned, or into any other County, as the King ſhall give order. To give Commiſſions to Colonels, or other Commiſſioned Officers, to preſent to the King the names of the Deputy-Lieutenants, who have in the abſence of the Lord Lieutenant the ſame power (and theſe are to be of the prime Gentry of the County) to charge any perſon in the County with Horſe, Horſemen, and Arms, or Foot Souldiers and Arms within the ſaid County, proportionable to their eſtates, with limitation that no perſon be charged with a Horſe, unleſs he hath 500 l. yearly Revenue, or 6000 l. in perſonal Eſtate. No perſon to be charged with a Foot Souldier, unleſs he hath 50 l. yearly Revenue, or 600 l. perſonal Eſtate. Thoſe that have meaner Eſtates are to joyn two or three together, to find a Horſe and Horſeman, or a Foot Souldier.

The forementioned Horſe and Foot are to muſter once or twice a year, and each Horſeman during the time of the Muſter to be allowed him for whom he ſerves 2 s. a day, and each Foot Souldier 12 d. a day.

For furniſhing Ammunition and other Neceſſaries, the Lord Lieutenant, or Deputy Lieutenants may levy every year one fourth part (if they judge it expedient) of each mans proportion in the Tax of 70000 l. a moneth upon the whole Kingdom: And in the caſe of marching againſt an enemy, they have power to cauſe every man ſo charged to allow each Souldier one months pay, which the King is after to repay before they may be charged with another moneths pay.

Theſe Forces are alwayes in readineſs with all things neceſſary at the beat of a Drum, or ſound of Trumpet, to appear, muſter, and be compleat with men, horſe, and armes, and are at certain times trained and diſciplined, that they become able, skilful, and uſeful Souldiers.

Theſe are to be commanded only within the Kingdom, for the ſecurity of the King and Kingdom.

Subſervient in the ſtanding Militia to the Lord Lieutenant, and Deputy Lieutenant are the Juſtices of Peace of every County, who upon all occaſions according to the orders of their Superiors, are to ſend their Warrants to the High Conſtable of the Hundred, or Petty Conſtable of the Pariſh, &c.

Theſe are commonly called the Train-bands of every County, whereof the number is ſo great, that in only five of the bigger Counties of England there are to be found well provided forty thouſand able luſty men ready to aſſiſt the King upon all occaſions, ſo that in all times of peace the King hath ſix or ſevenſcore thouſand men enrolled, and wholly and ſolely at his diſpoſing, for the defence of his Kingdom of England.

For the better ſecuring of the Kingdom from foreign Invaſion, beſides the Ships of war (whereof more anon) there are upon certain eminent places over al parts of England, mediterrane as well as maritime, high Poles erected, whereon are faſtned pitch Barrels to be fired by night; and a ſmoke made by day, and thereby to give notice in few hours to the whole Kingdom of the approaching Invaſion: whereupon the Inhabitants in arms make haſte to the ſea-coaſts. Theſe are called Becons, from the Saxon Beacen or Beacnian, to ſhew by a ſign. In all times of danger ſome are ſet to watch at every Becon.

Antiently there were many Caſtles in all parts of England; but inland Caſtles generally have either been demoliſht in latter times, or wittingly ſuffered to decay, that to Rebels they might be no ſhelter, to Invaders no ſtay, nor to the Invaded any refuge in flight, and conſequently, that there may not be any lingring war again in England, which is the greateſt miſery and calamity that can ever happen to a Nation.

In 1588. upon expectation of the Spaniſh Armado ſtiled invincible, there went forth from the Queen Commiſſions to muſter in all parts of England, all men that were of perfect ſenſe and limb, from the age of 16. to 60, except Noblemen, Clergymen, Univerſity Students, Lawyers, Officers, and ſuch as had any publick charges, leaving only in every Pariſh ſo many Huſbandmen as were ſufficient to till the ground. In all thoſe Muſters there were then numbred three millions: but of thoſe fit for war, about ſix hundred thouſand.

In another Muſter of Queen Elizabeth there were found in all England fit for war of common Souldiers, about four hundred thouſand, and of thoſe armed and trained one hundred eighty five thouſand, beſides Horſe near forty thouſand: and that the Nobility and Gentry were then able to bring into the field of their Servants and Followers twenty thouſand men Horſe and Foot choice men, and excellent horſes; and in all fit for war, and ready upon all occaſions, ſix hundred forty two thouſand, leaving ſufficient to till the ground, and to furniſh Trades, beſides Nobility, Gentry, &c.

Of the preſent Maritime Power belonging to the Crown of England.

THe Kingdom of England being a Peninſula, almoſt ſurrounded with the ſea, there will alwayes be a neceſſity of maritime forces. And as next Neighbours grow potent at ſea, the King of England will be neceſſitated to augment his maritime forces proportionably (how great ſoever the charge thereof may be) or elſe to quit his antient right to the Soverainty of the narrow ſeas, and to ſuffer his Merchants to be abuſed, and their traffique every where interrupted.

It is true, that in the 24. of Eliz. upon a general view and muſter there were found but 13 Ships of war, and 135 Ships of conſiderable burden belonging to all the Subjects of England: and in the year 1600 her Majeſty had but 36 Ships of war, and 13 or 14 Pinaces: the biggeſt Ship was then of One thouſand Tun, carried Three hundred and forty Mariners, One hundred and thirty Soldiers, and but Thirty piece of Ordnance: The leſſer Ships of War, were of One hundred Tun, Forty or fifty Mariners, Seven or eight Soldiers, and Eight Guns. The Pinnaces of Thirty Tun, Eighteen or twenty Mariners, and Two or four Guns, ſo ſmall was the Royal Fleet in thoſe days, when our next Neighbor Nations were weak, and always engaged with Civil and Foreign Wars; but now that their ſtrength at Sea, is of late ſo prodigiouſly increaſed, it will be moſt expedient for this Kingdom, to be always well provided: And, God be thanked, we have a King that underſtands better, and takes more delight in Maritime Affairs, and Ships of War, then any of His Royal Anceſtors, or any Soveraign Prince now living in the World; and who hath made it His cheif buſineſs that way, to fortifie this Kingdom.

The Forces of Potentates at Sea, Sont des Marques de Grandeur d'Eſtat, ſaith a French Author, Whoſoever commands the Sea, commands the Trade of the World; He that commands the trade commands the Wealth of the World, and conſequently the World it ſelf.

Again, As he that is Maſter of the Field, is ſaid to be Maſter of every Town, when it ſhall pleaſe him; ſo, he that is Maſter of the Sea, may, in ſome ſort, be ſaid to be Maſter of every Countrey, at leaſt of ſuch as are bordering on the Sea; for he is at liberty to begin, or end a War, where, and upon what terms he pleaſeth, and to extend his Conqueſts even to the Antipodes.

To the Crown of England belongs the Dominion of all the Narrow Seas, round about the whole Iſland of Great Britain, by Ancient Right whereof, it hath had poſſeſſion in all times. Firſt, the Aborigenes or Ancient Britains were poſſeſt thereof, (as Mr. Selden makes appear) and in their Right, the Romans held it; then the Saxons having gotten poſſeſſion of England, kept that Dominion, their King Edgar, amongſt His Royal Titles, calling Himſelf, Soveraign of the Narrow Seas.

Afterward the Normans poſſeſſing England, claimed, and quietly poſſeſt the ſame Dominion, in teſtimony whereof, the Swedes, Danes, Hans-Towns, Hollanders, Zealanders, &c. were wont to ask leave to paſs the Britiſh Seas, and to take Licenſes to fiſh therein: And to this day, do ſtrike Sail to all the Ships of War belonging to the King of England, as oft as they paſs by any one of them, thereby to expreſs, that they acknowledge the Soveraignty of the Britiſh Seas to belong to the King of England, according to an Ordinance made at Haſtings in Suſſex, by John, King of England, about Four hundred and fifty years ago.

To maintain this Right and Title, to protect Trade, to ſubdue Pirates, to defend this Kingdom againſt hoſtile Invaſions, and to reduce foreign Potentates to Reaſon, the Kings of England have had (eſpecially of later times) a conſiderable number of Ships of War, for Strength, for Beauty and Sailing (if not for number) ſurpaſſing all thoſe of our Neighbor Nations: For Strength, by reaſon of the moſt excellent Engliſh Timber, they are like ſo many floating Caſtles and Barbicans: For Beauty, ſo proportionably and ſpaciouſly built, and ſo curiouſly and richly adorned, that they are as ſo many Royal Palaces. Amongſt other Ships at Sea, they are as ſo many Lions amongſt other ſilly Beaſts, or as Eagles amongſt other Birds.

Hiſtories mention a great Fleet of Julius Caeſar, a Fleet of the forementioned King Edgar, conſiſting of Three thouſand ſix hundred Sail; a Fleet of Lewis, Son to Philip King of France, of Six hundred Sail, that arrived at Sandwich to aſſiſt the Engliſh Barons againſt King John; but thoſe doubtleſs were but as ſo many Cottages to Caſtles, in reſpect of the preſent Ships of War.

Henry the Eighth, in the Fifth year of His Reign, built a Ship, then accounted the greateſt, that ever had been ſeen in England, and named it Henry Grace de Dieu, or the Great Henry; it was of One thouſand Tun.

In the Eighth year of King James was built by the Londoners, a Ship of Twelve hundred Tun, and called The Trades Increaſe, which being loſt in the Eaſt Indies, King James cauſed another to be built of Fourteen hundred Tun, which being given to Prince Henry, was by Him named the Prince.

King Charles, the Martyr, perceiving the great encreaſe of Shipping in our Neighbor Nations, and that the Soveraignty of theſe Seas was like to be diſputed; amongſt other great Ships of War, built one greater then any Ship of War, either in England, or in any Countrey of Europe, and named it The Royal Soveraign; which for a little diverſion, ſhall here be more particularly deſcribed.

The Royal Soveraign, being a Ship of the Firſt Rate or Rank, built in the Year One thouſand ſix hundred thirty and ſeven, is in length by the Keel One hundred twenty ſeven Foot, in bredth by the Beam Forty ſeven Foot, in depth Forty nine Foot, her draught of Water Twenty one Foot: Of burden, in all Two thouſand ſeventy and two Tuns; and One thouſand five hundred fifty and four Tuns, beſides Guns, Tackle, &c. This mighty Moving-Caſtle hath Six Anchors, whereof the biggeſt weighs 6000 l. and the leaſt 4300 l. It hath Fourteen Cables, whereof the greateſt is Twenty one Inches in compaſs, and weighs 9000 l. Her leaſt Cable being eight Inches in compaſs, weighing near 1300 l.

To the Royal Soveraign belong Eighteen Maſts and Yards, whereof the greateſt, called The Main Maſt, is One hundred and thirteen Foot long, and Thirty eight Inches Diameter; Her Main Yard One hundred and five Foot long, and Twenty three Inches Diameter, and her Main Top Fifteen Foot Diameter: She hath Ten ſeveral ſorts of Sails of ſeveral names (as every Ship of every one of the Six Rates hath) whereof her greateſt Sail, called Her Main Courſe (together with her Bonnet) contains One thouſand ſix hundred and forty Yards of Canvas, Ipſwich double, and the leaſt Sail called The Fore-top-gallant-ſail, contains One hundred and thirty yards of Canvas. The charge of one compleat Sute of Sails for the Soveraign is 404 l. Sterling Money. The weight of the Sea ſtore, in point of Ground Tackle and other Cordage, is Sixty Tuns, Eight hundred and odd pounds.

She carries a long Boat of Fifty Foot, a Pinnace of Thirty ſix Foot, and a Skiff of Twenty ſeven Foot long.

The weight of her Rigging is Three and thirty Tun.

She hath Three Tire of Guns, all of Braſs, whereof there are Forty four in her upper Tire, Thirty four in her ſecond Tire, and Twenty two in her lower Tire, in all One hundred Guns.

She carries in all, of Officers, Soldiers, and Mariners, Seven hundred Men.

Finally, Her whole Charges for Wages, Victuals, Ammunition, wear and tear, for every Moneth at Sea, coſts the King 3500 l. Sterling, as hath been computed by a very skilful perſon.

The charges of Building a Ship of the Firſt Rate, together with Guns, Tackle, and Rigging (beſides Victualing) doth ordinarily amount to about 62432 l. Thoſe of Lower Rates proportionally.

The King hath now Six Ships of the Firſt Rate, whereof Five are longer by the Keel then the forementioned Royal Soveraign, and all of the ſame force, except two, which yet may carry each one, One hundred and ten Guns.

Of Ships of War, great and ſmall, the King had before the laſt War with the United Netherlands, above One hundred and ſixty Sail, whereof a true Liſt followeth.

A Liſt in Alphabetical Order of all the Ships, Frigats, and Veſſels of his Majeſtie's Royal Navy; together with the Rates, Tuns, Men, and Guns uſually accounted. Firſt Rate Ships. Tuns Men Guns Charles 1229 550 80 Prince 1205 600 84 Soveraign 1554 700 100 Second Rate.       St Andrew 775 300 56 St. George 775 300 56 Henry 1047 380 64 James. 792 350 60 London 1050 500 64 Royal James 1100 500 70 Rainbow 782 320 56 Swiftſure 740 340 60 Triumph 779 350 64 Catherine     76 Victory 690 320 56 Unicorn 786 320 56 Vantguard 706 3 • 0 56 Royal Oak     76 St. Michael       Third Rate.       Anne 742 240 54 Dreadnought 738 240 52 Dunkirk 635 230 48 Edgar       Eſſex 633 230 48 Fairfax 755 240 52 Henrietta 781 250 50 Gloceſter 755 240 52 Lyon 550 210 48 Mary 727 260 56 Monk   260 50 Montague 769 260 52 Pl • mouth 771 250 50 Revenge 741 240 52 Reſolution 765 250 52 York 739 240 52 Rupert       Fourth Rate Ships. Tuns Men Guns Antelope. 550 160 40 Aſſiſtance 513 160 40 Advice 516 160 40 Adventure 505 140 24 Amity 354 120 30 Aſſurance 341 135 32 Briſtol 534 180 44 Bear 430 130 36 Breda 515 160 40 Crown 536 160 40 Centurion 531 170 40 Convertine 500 170 40 Conſtant Warwick 315 135 32 Charity 400 140 38 Diamond 547 160 40 Dover 511 160 40 Dragon 414 150 38 Elizabeth 477 150 38 Elias 400 130 36 Expedition 323 120 30 Foreſight 513 160 40 Guinea • 75 120 30 Happy Return 607 180 44 Hampſhire 481 150 38 Jerſey 560 160 40 Indian 500 180 40 Kent 600 170 40 Leopard 666 180 44 Matthias 400 160 44 Mary Roſe 566 160 40 Marmaduke 400 130 32 Newcaſtle 633 180 44 Nonſuch 389 140 34 Portland 607 170 40 Princeſs 600 150 36 Portſmouth 433 150 38 Phenix 414 150 38 Preſident 462 150 38 Providence 323 120 30 Reſerve 512 160 40 Ruby 550 160 40 Swallow 543 170 40 Saphire 442 150 38 Tyger 447 150 38 Welcome 400 150 38 Yarmouth 608 180 44 Fifth Rate.       Auguſtin 300 110 26 Briar 180 90 18 Colcheſter 287 110 24 Convert 250 110 26 Coventry 200 110 20 Dartmouth 220 110 22 Dolphin 130 80 14 Eagle 299 110 22 Foreſter 230 110 32 Fame 200 95 20 Gift 300 100 26 Garland 2 • 5 1 • 0 20 Greyhound 150 90 22 Half-Moon 300 110 26 Happy Entrance 200 100 20 Hector 150 90 20 Hound       Lizard 100 170 16 Milford 262 115 22 Mermaid 287 110 22 Norwich 258 110 22 Nightingale 300 110 22 Oxford 240 105 22 Conſtant Warwick.   80 22 Pearl 285 110 22 Pembroke 210 110 22 Paul 240 95 22 Richmond 235 110 22 Roſebuſh 300 100 24 Succeſs Frigat 230 115 24 Speedwell 200 100 20 Sorlings 250 110 22 Succeſs 380 130 34 Satisfaction 220 110 26 Saphire 300 100 26 Weſtergat 300 100 26 Sixth Rate.       Bramble 120 70 14 Blackmore 90 50 12 Carnation. 100 60 12 Cheſnut 90 45 10 Cag-way 60 40 8 Cignet 60 40 6 Drake 146 70 12 Dolphin 50 25 4 Diver Smack       Eaglet 60 40 8 Fox 120 70 14 Francis 90 50 10 Griffin 90 50 12 Gift 120 70 12 Hind 60 40 8 Hawk 60 40 8 Harp 60 40 6 Hart       Hunter 50 30 6 Henrietta Pinnace 65 25 6 Kingſale 90 50 10 Lark 80 50 10 Lilly 60 40 6 Martin 130 70 12 Mary 120 60 12 Marygold Hoy       Nonſuch Catch 60 40 8 Minion       Paradox 127 70 12 Pearl Brigant 50 25 4 Roe 60 40 8 Roſe 60 40 6 Sparrow 90 60 12 Swallow 60 40 6 True Love 100 60 12 Vulture 100 60 12 Weymouth 120 70 11 Wolf 120 70 16

Beſides the above mentioned Veſſels, there was the New Gally, the Eagle, Stork, Violet, Oſtridge, Church and Elias, in all 160 ſail.

During the late War with the United Netherlands, France, and Denmark, ſome of theſe forementioned Veſſels were loſt, and ſince the Peace concluded many have been new built, even this preſent year, four Ships of the firſt Rate, and three of the third Rate have been, to his Majeſties great expences, built and perfectly finiſhed, or will be in a ſhort time. Thoſe new built Ships of the firſt Rate are the Royal James, Prince, St. Andrew, London.

All his Majeſties Maritime Forces are under the Command of the Lord High Admiral of England, touching whoſe Name, Titles, Power, Priviledges, &c. See the firſt part.

The Lord Admiral hath under him many Officers of high and low condition, ſome at Sea, others at Land; ſome of a Military, ſome of a Civil capacity; ſome Judicial, others Miniſterial; ſo that the Dominion and Juriſdiction of the Sea, may juſtly be ſtiled another Commonwealth or Kingdom apart. In Mari ſunt Regna diſtincta idque Jure Gentium, ſicut in arida terra, ſaith Baldus, that learned Oracle of the Civil Law: And the Lord High Admiral of England, may fitly be ſtiled, or at leaſt reputed as a Vice-Roy of the Maritime Kingdom of England.

The Vice-Admiral of England is an Officer, to whom next under the High-Admiral, it belongs to ſee the Royal Navy kept in good repair the wages of Mariners and Ship-wrights duly paid, and the Ships provided of all things neceſſary for any Expedition.

The Lord High-Admiral of England doth by virtue of his place appoint in divers parts of the Kingdom his ſeveral Vice-Admirals, with their Judges and Marſhals by Patent under the Great Seal of the High Court of Admiralty. Theſe Vice-Admirals and Judges do exerciſe Juriſdiction in Maritime affairs within their ſeveral limits; and in caſe any perſon is agrieved by any Sentence or Interlocutory Decree, that hath the force of a definitive Sentence, he may appeal to the High Court of Admiralty, The preſent Vice-Admirals of the ſeveral Coaſts of England, with their Judges, are theſe that follow in Alphabetical order. Briſtol City, Sir Thomas Bridges Vice-Admiral. Cheſhire and Lancaſhire, the Earl of Derby Vice-Admiral. Sir Tim. Baldwin Kt. Dr. of Laws, Judge. Cornwall South parts, Trelawny Vice-Admiral. Cornwall North parts, Sir John Godolphin V. Admiral. Mr. Scawen Judge. Cumberland, Earl of Carlile V. Admiral. Durham, Earl of Carlile. V. Admiral. Devonſhire, John Vowel Eſq V. Admiral. Dr. Maſters Judge. Dorſetſhire, Bullen Reyms Eſq Eſſex, Sir John Bramſton, V. Admiral. Sir Mundiford Bramſton Judge. Gloceſter, Thomas Cheſton Eſq V. Adm. Kent, Duke of Richmond V. Adm. Lincoln, Lord Caſtleton V. Adm. Newcaſtle, Earl of Carlile V. Adm. Norfolk, Lord Townſend V. Adm. Sir Juſtinian Lewen Kt. Dr. of Laws, Judge. Northumberland, Earl of Carlile V. Adm. Somerſetſhire, Sir Thomas Bridges V. Admiral. Suſſex, Sir John Pelham V. Adm. Dr. Low Judge. Suffolk, Sir Henry Felton, V. Adm. Dr. Clark Judge. Southampton and Iſle of Wight, Sir Robert Holms V. Adm. Dr. Lloyd Judge. Wales North parts, Col. John Robinſon V. Adm. Mr. Walter Manſel Judge. York, Earl of Mulgrave V. Adm.

For handling of Maritime Affairs, the Lord High Admiral hath Courts of his own, whereof that at London is the principal or ſupreme, where all Proceſs and Proceedings run in his name, and not in the Kings, as it doth in all Common-Law Courts; in this Court uſually call'd the Court of Admiralty, he hath a Lieutenant called Judge of the Admiralty, who is commonly ſome learned Dr. of the Civil Law, and is at preſent Doctor Jenkins, lately knighted for his great worth, and now called Sir Lionel Jenkins.

The Proceeding in this Court in all Civil Matters, is according to the Civil Law, becauſe the Sea is without the limits of the Common-Law, but under the Admirals Juriſdiction; therefore the Civil Law onely (all Common Law ſecluded) is made uſe of, and, by Libel they proceed to the Action, the Plaintiff giving Caution to proſecute the Sute, and to pay what ſhall be judged againſt him, if he fail in the Sute, the Defendant on the contrary ſecuring the Plaintiff by ſufficient ſurety or caution, as the Judge ſhall think meet, that he will appear in Judgment, and pay that which ſhall be adjudged againſt him, and that he will ratifie and allow all that his Proctor ſhall do in his name, whereby the Clients are well aſſured to obtain that which by Law ſhall be adjudged to them, let the Cauſe fall on which ſide ſoever.

In the Admiralty Court of England uſe is made, not onely of the Civil Laws, but the Laws of Rhodes and Oleron, whereof the former is an Iſland in the Mediterranean Sea, about twenty miles diſtant from the Continent of Aſia Minor, and is now under the Turk, the antient Inhabitants whereof, by their mighty Trade and Power at Sea, grew ſo expert in the Regulation of all Maritime Matters and Differences, and their Determinations therein were eſteemed ſo juſt and equitable, that their Laws in ſuch affairs have ever ſince been obſerved for Oracles. Thoſe Laws were long ago incorporated into the Volumes of the Civil Law: And the Romans, who gave Laws to other Nations, and excelled all Nations in making of good Lawes; yet for their Sea-affairs, referred all Debates and Controverſies to the Judgement of theſe Rhodian Lawes.

Oleron is an Iſland antiently belonging to the Crown of England, ſeated in the Bay of Aquitane, not far from the Mouth of the Garonne, where our famous Warriour King Richard the Firſt, cauſed to be compiled ſuch excellent Laws for Sea matters, that in the Ocean Sea Weſtward, they had almoſt as much repute as the Rhodian Laws in the Mediterranean: and theſe Lawes were called La Rool d' Oleron.

King Edward the Third (who firſt erected this Court of Admiralty, as ſome hold) made at Quinborough 1375. very excellent. Conſtitutions concerning Maritime affairs, and many Statutes and Ordinances have been made by other Princes, and People, as at Rome, Piſa, Genoa, Marſeilles, Barcelona, and Meſſina; yet, that fragment of the Rhodian Law, ſtill extant with the Comments thereon by the old Juriſconſults inſerted in the Pandects, and the Conſtitutions made by the Roman Emperors contained in the Code, and in the Novelles, ſtill holds the Preeminence.

The Cuſtomes and former Decrees of the Engliſh Court of Admiralty, are there of force for deciding of Controverſies. Under this Court there is alſo a Court of Equity for determining differences between Merchants.

In Criminal affairs, which is commonly about Piracy, the proceeding in this Court was by Accuſation and Information, according, to the Civil Law, by a mans own confeſſion, or eye-witneſſes found gulty before he could be condemned: but that being found inconvenient, there were two Statutes made by H. VIII. that Criminal affairs ſhould be tried by Witneſſes, and a Jury, and this by ſpecial Commiſſion of the King to the Lord Admiral; wherein ſome of the Judges of the Realm are ever Commiſſioners, and the Tryal according to the Laws of England, directed by thoſe Statutes.

Between the Common Law of England, and the Admiralty, there ſeems to be Diviſum Imperium; for in the Sea, ſo far as the Low-water Mark is obſerved, that is counted, Infra Corpus Comitatus adjacentis, and Cauſes thence ariſing are determinable by the Common-Law, yet when the Sea is full, the Admiral hath Juriſdiction there alſo (ſo long as the Sea flows) over matters done between the Low-water Mark, and the Land, as appears in Sir Henry Conſtables Caſe, 5 Report, Coke p. 107.

For regulating and ordering His Majeſties Navies, Ships of War, and Forces by Sea, See thoſe excellent Articles and Orders in Stat. 13 Car. 2. c. 9.

Of the Navy Office, where the whole buſineſs concerning the Kings Veſſels of War is managed.

FIrſt, There is the Treaſurer of the Navy, the Earl of Angleſy, whoſe Office is to receive out of the Exchequer, by Warrant from the Lord Treaſurer of England; and to pay all charges of the Navy; by Warrant from the principal Officers of the Navy for which he hath ſalary, 220 l. 13 s. 4 d. beſides 3 d. in the pound of all moneys paid by him.

This Office is executed, pro tempore, by Sir Thomas Osburn, and Sir Thomas Littleton, for which there are allowed to each fifteen hundred pounds per annum.

Next the Controller of the Navy, Sir John Mennes, whoſe Office is to attend and controll all payments of wages, to know the Market rates of all ſtores belonging to ſhipping, to examine and audit Treaſurers, Victuallers, and Store-keepers, Accounts, &c. his Salary is 500 l. yearly. This Office is executed at preſent by the Lord Vicount Brounker, the forementioned Sir John Mennes, and Sir Jeremy Smith, together.

Surveyor of the Navy, Collonel Thomas Middleton, whoſe Office is generally to know the ſtate of all ſtores, and ſee the wants ſupplyed; to find the Hulls, Maſts, Yards, and eſtimate the value of repairs; by Indentures to charge all Boatſwains, and Carpenters of His Majeſties Navy, with what ſtores they receive, and at the end of each voyage, to ſtate and audit their Accounts, his Salary is 490 l.

Clerk of the Acts Samuel Pepys Eſquire, whoſe Office is to record all Orders, Contracts, Bills, Warrants, and other buſineſſes tranſacted by the Principal Officers and Commiſſioners of the Navy, &c.

Next the Commiſſioners of the Navy, viz. the forementioned Lord Brounker and Sir Jeremy Smith, whoſe Office is as above ſpecified; and Salary to each 500 l. yearly.

Two other Commiſſioners, John Tippets And John Cox Eſquires, whoſe particular work is to be at Portſmouth and Chatham, alwayes in readineſs, to give Orders for the better management of His Majeſties affairs in his Yards or Store-Houſes there; Salary to each is 350 l. yearly.

Each of theſe Officers above named, have two Clerks, and ſome of them more, all payd by the Treaſurer of the Navy, all hold their Places by Patent from the King, and the moſt of them during Pleaſure.

The King hath for his Navy Royal and Stores, 4 great Yards or Store-houſes, viz. at Chatham, Deptford, Woollwich, and Portſmouth, where his ſhips are built, repaired and laid up after their voyages. In which Yards are employed divers Officers, whereof there are ſix Principal, whoſe Office, Names, and Salaries follow.

  Chat. Dep. Wool. Port. Clerk of the Check. 181 108 98 126 Store-keeper. 236 164 128 119 Maſter attendant. 2 at Chatham. 200 100 100 108 Maſter ſhip-wright. 103 113   130 Clerk of the Controll. 100 120 80 80 Clerk of the Survey. 140 102   84

Note that the charges of their Clerks and Inſtruments are included in the aforementioned Salaries.

Beſides theſe four Yards, His Majeſty hath divers Rope Yards, as at Chatham, Woolwich, and Portſmouth, where are made all His Cables and Cordage for His Navy.

Alſo in time of a Sea-war, the King hath another Yard at Harwich, where there is out of War time continued an Officer at the charges of 100 l. yearly.

Yearly Penſions allowed by the King to to his Flag-Officers whilſt they are at Land of Employment.

Two Admirals   ſalaries.   l. Sir George Askew 250 Sir Thomas Allen 245

Three Vice-Admirals. Sir Joſeph Jordan 200 Sir Edward Sprag 250 Sir John Herman 200 Three Rere-Admirals.   l. Riches U • bert, 150 Sir John Kempthorn 150 John Hubbert, 150

All the Fore-mentioned Officers, and the whole Navy Office are governed by the Lord High Admiral of England, whoſe Lie • tenant Admiral is the Earl of Sandwich, Salary 20 s. per diem, and 10 s. per menſ. for each ſervant, whereof he is allowed 16.

Lord Adm. Secretary is Matthew Wren, Eſquire, his Salary from the King is 500 l. yearly.

All the other under Officers, as well thoſe in the ſeveral Yards as thoſe belonging to any of His Majeſties ſhips, hold their places by Warrant from the Lord High Admiral durante bene placito.

The ordinary yearly Charge of His Majeſties Navy, in times of Peace, continuing in Harbour, is ſo well regulated, that it amounts to ſcarce 70000 l. beſides all charges of building of ſhips, &c. or ſetting forth any Fleets, which ſome years even in peaceable times, amounts to 12 or 1300000 l. more, as may eaſily be conjectured by the charges of building and rigging of Ships, and of one Months expences at Sea afore ſpecified, ſo that the Engliſh Subject need no longer wonder how their late large Contributions and Aides have been ſpent, but rather how the Kingdomes neceſſary Expences, ſhould be diſcharged with ſo little.

Of the City of LONDON.

LONDON being the Epitome of England, the Seat of the Britiſh Empire, the Chamber of the King, and the chiefeſt Emporium or Town of Trade in the World; it will not be impertinent to give ſome account thereof.

To deſcribe particularly all things in this City worthy to be known, would take up a whole Volumn, therefore, according to the intended brevity of this Treatiſe here ſhall be inſerted onely 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Magnalia Londini, ſuch things as ſtrangers and foreigners commonly count remarkable.

Take then a ſummary account of the Name, Antiquity, Situation, Magnitude Streets, Houſes, Number of Inhabitants, Pariſh-Churches, Cathedral, Royal Exchange, River, Conduits, Aqueducts, Trade, Government, Publick Halls of Companies; of the Tower, Bridge, Cuſtom-Houſe, Publick Offices, Colledges, Schooles, Hoſpitals, Work-houſes, &c.

Name, LONDON ſo called, as ſome conjecture, from Llongdin the Britiſh word, ſignifying in the Saxon Tongue Shipton, or Town of ſhips; was built as ſome write 1108 years before the Birth of our Saviour, that is 2778 years agoe; Antiquity.in the time of Samuel the Prophet, and about 356 years before the building of Rome.

Situation.In the moſt excellent ſituation of London, the profound wiſdom of our Anceſtors is very conſpicuous and admirable. It is ſeated in a pleaſant ever green valley; upon a gentle riſing Bank, in an excellent Aire, in a wholeſome ſoyl mixt with gravel and ſand upon the famous Navigable River Thames, at a place where it is caſt into a Creſcent, that ſo each part of the City might enjoy the benefit of the River, and yet not be far diſtant one from the other, about 60 miles from the Sea, not ſo near, that it might be in danger of Surpriſal by the Fleets of Forreign Enemies, or be annoyed by the boyſterous Winds, and unwholeſome Vapours of the Sea; yet not ſo far, but that by the help of the Tide every twelve hours, all the Commodities that the Sea or World can afford, may by ſhips of great burden be brought into her very boſome, nor yet ſo far, but that it may injoy the milder, warmer Vapours of the Eaſtern, Southern, and Weſtern Seas; yet ſo far up in the Country, as it might alſo eaſily partake even of all the Country commodities: in an excellent air, upon the North ſide of the River (for the Villages ſeated on the South-ſide are noted to be unhealthy, in regard of the Vapours drawn upon them by the Sun) burroughed by gentle hills, from the North and South Winds; it lies in 51 Degree 34 Minutes Latitude.

The High-ways leading from all parts to this Noble City are large, ſtraight, ſmooth, and fair; no Mountains nor Rocks, no Marſhes nor Lakes to hinder Carriages and Paſſengers, ſo that as Corn may eaſily be brought, and Cattel commodiouſly driven unto it by Land; ſo thoſe heavy though neceſſary Commod • ties, Hay and Fuel are more cheaply conveyed by water: in a word all the bleſſings of Land and Sea near about, and by the benefit of ſhipping, all the bleſſings of the Terreſtrial Globe, may be ſaid to be here injoyed, above any City of the world.

Magnitude.The City of LONDON with its Suburbs and places adjacent▪ is of a vaſt extention: From Lime Houſe, meaſured to the end of Tothill or Tuttle ſtreet, from Eaſt to Weſt, is above 7500 Geometrical paces, that is, above 7 Engliſh Miles and a half; and from the farther end of Blackmanſtreet in Southwark, to the end of St. Leonard Shoreditch is 2500 paces, or two Miles and a half.

Streets.In this great City, the ſtreets, lanes and allyes, as they are called, are in number above 500, and yet, ſome of them above half a meaſured mile in length: Dwelling houſes, before the late dreadful Fire, were computed onely within the Walls, above fifteen thouſand, and that was accounted but a fifth part of the whole City, as may be judged by the weekly Bills of Mortality.

Houſes.The Buildings, eſpecially of late years, are generally very fair and ſtately, but within the City, the ſpacious Houſes of Noble men, rich Merchants, the Halls of Companies, the fair Taverns are hidden to ſtrangers, by reaſon that they are generally built backward, that ſo the whole room towards the ſtreet, might be reſerved for Tradesmen ſhops. If they had been all built toward the ſtreet, as in other Countries, no Forreign City would, even in this particular, much ſurpaſs London; Yet, if a Stranger ſhall view Lincolns-Inne fields, Southampton Buildings, Covent Garden, St. James Fields, Hatton-Garden, Cheapſide, Lumbard ſtreet, Canon ſtreet, Fleet ſtreet &c. He muſt confeſs that for fair Piazza's or open Places, for ſtately uniform buildings, for ſpatious ſtreight ſtreets, there is ſcarce the parallel in Europe.

Number of Inhabitants.That the Reader may the better gueſs at the number of Inhabitants, or humane Souls, within this great City, he muſt know, that in one year there were computed to be eaten in London, when it was leſs by one fourth part, 67500 Beefs, ten times as many Sheep, beſides abundance of Calves, Lambs, Swine, all ſorts of Poultry, Fowl, Fiſh, Roots Milk, &c. Alſo that communibus annis to ſupply London with Newcaſtle Coal, there is brought into the River of Thames two hundred and ſeventy thouſand Chaldron, and every Chaldron is 36 Buſhels.

Again the number of Inhabitants may be gueſſed at by the Burials and Births in London, which, in ordinary years, when there is no Peſtilence, amount of late to Twenty thouſand in a year, three times more then in Amſterdam, and but one 20th part leſs then in Paris, as may be ſeen by the Bills of theſe three Cities.

As alſo by the quantity of Beer drank in London in a year, which to all Forreigners will be incredible, for in the year 1667 according to exact computation, there was brewed within that year in London, four hundred fifty two thouſand five hundred ſixty three Barrels of ſtrong Beer, ſold at 12 s. 6 d. the Barrel, and five hundred and eighty thouſand four hundred twenty one Barrels of Ale, ſold at 16 s. the Barrel, and four hundred eighty nine thouſand ſeven hundred ninety ſeven Barrels of Table Beer, or ſmall Beer, ſold at 6 s 6 d. the Barrel. The Beer ſtrong and ſmall is 36 Gallons to the Barrel, and the Ale 32 Gallons to the Barrel▪ and now ſince the Peſtilence and the Fire, that this City is again fully peopled, there is much more Liquor brewed.

It is true, that ſome he • eof is tranſported beyond the Sea, but that is ſcarce conſiderable.

Beſides all this Beer and Ale, there is conſumed in London, a vaſt quantity of French and Spaniſh wines, much Rheniſh-wine, Sider, Coffee, Chocolatte, Brandy and other Drinks.

The Exciſe only of Beer and Ale for the City of London (though it be a very moderate Impoſition) is farmed or rented of the King at above one hundred and twenty thouſand pounds a year, and about one fourth part of all that Exciſe throughout England.

ChurchesPariſh Churches, beſides Chappels there were in all 130. that is double the Number of Churches parochial to be found in any City of Chriſtendom, the Mother Church whereof is dedicated to the memory of Saint Paul (the only Cathedral of that Name in Europe) and founded by Sebert a Saxon King, about the year 610. in a place where had ſtood a Temple dedicated to Diana, and afterward enlarged by Erkenwald the 4th Saxon Biſhop thereof; and that old Fabrick being almoſt deſtroyed by Fire, Mauritius another Biſhop of London, in One thouſand eighty three began and finiſhed a great part of the preſent magnificent Pile, in the ſpace of 20 years, but the Quire and Tower were not finiſhed till 1221, and then it was dedicated in a moſt ſolemn manner (as was the Temple of Solomon) the King, the Biſhops and a vaſt number from all Parts of the Nation aſſiſting thereat.

It is ſeated on the higheſt part of all the City, and was more conſpicuous perhaps then any Cathedral Church in the World; it was a ſtructure for length, height and antiquity ſurpaſſing all other Churches; the length thereof was 690 Foot (therein excelling by 20 foot, St. Peters in Rome, which for beauty, proportion and divers other things excels all other Temples,) it was in height 102 foot, and in breadth 130. The Church was built as other Cathedrals, in a perfect Croſs, and in the midſt of the Croſs, upon mighty high Arches, was a Tower of Stone 260 foot high, and on that a ſpire of Timber covered with Lead, in height 260 foot more, in all from the ground 520 foot; above which was a • ole of Copper Gilt, of 9 foot in compaſs, whereon ſtood the Croſs, 15 foot and a half high, and almoſt 6 foot a croſs, made of oak, covered with Lead, and another cover of Copper over the Lead; above all ſtood the Eagle or Cock of Copper Gilt, four foot long, and the breadth over the Wings 3 foot and a half.

In the year 1561. a part of this magnificent Pile was much waſted, and the reſt endangered by a fire begun in that ſtately Timber Spire, by the negligence of a Plummer, who left his Pan of Fire there, whileſt he went to Dinner, as he confeſt of later years on his Death Bed: But by the great Bounty and Piety of Queen Elizabeth, of the Citizens of London, and of all the Clergy of the Province of Canterbury, it was again repaired in the ſpace of Five years. After which, the Stone work decaying apace, by reaſon of the corroding quality of the abundance of Sea-coal ſmoak, the Learned and Pious Doctor Laud coming to be Biſhop of London, and after of Canterbury, was ſo zealous and vigorous, for upholding this moſt Ancient Church, and Stately Monument of England, and glory of the City of London; that by the Kings favor, and liberal contribution of Godly People (maugre all oppoſition of the Puritans) the work was ſo eagerly purſued, that before the year 1640. the whole Body was finiſhed with Portland Stone, excellent againſt all ſmoak and weather, and the Tower ſcaffolded up to the top, with a purpoſe to take it all down, and to rebuild it more fair, and of a greater height, with a ſtately Pinnacle at each corner, becauſe the Arches were not thought ſtrong enough to ſupport another Steeple, and to place in that Tower the biggeſt and moſt tunable Bells in the World: For performance whereof, and for adorning the Church, there was in the Chamber of London, above One hundred and ſeventy thouſand pounds all taken out ſoon after, and employed in an Unnatural War, by a ſtiff necked People, againſt the beſt of Kings; in which one ſingle act a great part of the Citizens of London, and of the Long Parliament, became deeply guilty of a horrid Rebellion, and deteſtable Sacriledge.

After the Murder, or rather Martyrdom, of the forementioned Archbiſhop, the Skaffolds were taken away and ſold, with ſome of the Lead, which covered this famous Structure, and this Houſe of God made a Stable for Horſes by the Diſloyal Army, and almoſt all ſuffered to decay, till the Reſtauration of the King, who having a pious intent to ſet upon the repair thereof again, it was all ruined by the late dreadful Conflagration in 1666. Which yet hath not ſo diſcouraged our gracious King, and the reſt of our Church Governors, but that in a ſhort time they intend to begin again the repair of the Mother Church of the Mother City of this Kingdom, to the glory of God, and high honor of this City and Nation; for the ſpeedy promoting whereof, both King and Parliament, City and Countrey, Clergy and Laity, high and low, ſeem to ſtand engaged, to lend their aid and aſſiſtance.

Of the forementioned Fire, that was able to deſtroy ſuch a vaſt ſolid Structure, as the Cathedral of S. Paul, a brief account may here be acceptable, eſpecially to Foreigners, who have had imperfect relations thereof.

THe City of LONDON, within the Walls, was ſeated upon, near Four hundred and ſixty Acres of Ground, whereon was built about Fifteen thouſand Houſes, beſides Churches, Chappels, Halls, Colledges, Schools, and other Publick Buildings, whereof about Four parts of five, were utterly devoured in the late diſmal Conflagration, and about One part of five, of the whole City and Suburbs, counting therein Weſtminſter and Southwark: There were then deſtroyed Eighty ſeven Parochial Churches, Six Conſecrated Chappels, all the Principal Publick Edifices; as the forenamed Cathedral of S. Paul, the great Guild-Hall, wherein are held Nine ſeveral Courts belonging to the City; the Royal Exchange, the Cuſtome-Houſe, moſt Halls of Companies, &c. whereof the whole damage is almoſt incredible.

In that one commodity of Books onely, wherewith London abounded, was loſt, as Judicious Stationers have computed, One hundred and fifty thouſand pounds; for the loſs fell moſt upon that, and Three or four other cumberſome commodities, not eaſie, on a ſudden to be removed, viz. Wines, Tobacco, Sugars, and Plumbs, wherewith this City was furniſhed beyond any City in the World. Yet, in this vaſt Incendy, not above Six or eight perſons were burnt: Of this dreadful Fire, there were many concurrent occaſions.

Firſt, The Drunkenneſs or Supine negligence of the Baker, in whoſe Houſe it began, or of his Men.

Next, The dead time of the night, wherein it began, viz. between One and two of the Clock after Midnight, when ſome were wearied with working, others filled with drink, all in a dead ſleep.

Thirdly, The dead time of the week, being Saturday night, when Traders were retired to their Countrey Houſes, and none but Children or Young Servants left behind.

Fourthly, The dead time of all the year, being then the long Vacation, on the Second of September, when Tradeſmen were generally abroad in the Countrey, ſome in the remoteſt parts of England, to fetch in their debts.

Fifthly, The cloſeneſs of the Buildings in that place, facilitating the progreſs of the Fire, and hindring the uſual remedy which was by Engines to ſhoot Water.

Sixthly, The matter of the Buildings thereabouts, which was generally wooden, and of old Timber.

Seventhly, The long continued drought of the preceding Summer, even to that day, which had ſo dryed the Timber, that it was never more apt to take fire.

Eighthly, The matter of Wares in thoſe parts, where were the greateſt Magazines and Store-houſes of Oyls, Pitch, Tar, Rozin, Wax, Butter, Brimſtone, Hemp, Cordage, Cheeſe, Wine, &c.

Ninthly, An Eaſternly Wind, the drieſt of all other that had continued long before, and then did blow very ſtrongly

Tenthly, The unexpected failing of the Water, the Thames Water-Tower then out of order, and burnt down, immediately after the beginning of the fire, ſo that moſt Water Pipes were ſoon dry.

Laſtly, An unuſual negligence at firſt, and a confidence of eaſily quenching the Fire, on a ſudden changed into a general conſternation and deſpondency, all People chuſing rather by flight to ſave their Goods, then by a vigorous oppoſition to ſave their Houſes, and the City.

Theſe cauſes thus ſtrangely concurring, (to ſay nothing of Gods juſt anger, for the notorious impenitency of the Citizens, for their abetting and inſtigating the ſhedding of the precious innocent Blood, both of Gods Anointed, and of their other cheif Governors, both in Church and State, for their ſtill going on in their old hainous ſins of Deſpiſing Dominions, and ſpeaking evil of Dignities, till there was no remedy) thoſe forementioned cauſes, ſo wonderfully concurring by a general prodigious Conflagration did make a greater ſpoil in the ſpace of Three days, viz. From Sunday morning to Wedneſday morning, then Three or four Armies, unreſiſted, could probably have done in twice the time; for (to give the Reader ſome little Proſpect of the huge damages done by this Fire) it hath been computed by an ingenious perſon, that there were burnt in all, within the Walls of this City, Twelve thouſand Houſes, and without the Walls, One thouſand Houſes; all which valued one with another, at no more then 25 l. yearly Rent, which at the low rate of Twelve years purchaſe, will amount in the whole to Three millions and nine hundred thouſand pounds ſterling. Then the Eighty ſeven Pariſh Churches, the moſt ſpacious Cathedral Church of S. Paul, Six Conſecrated Chappels, the Royal Burſe or Exchange, the great Guild-Hall, the Cuſtome-Houſe, the many magnificent Halls of Companies, the ſeveral Principal City Gates, with other Publick Edifices, may well be valued at Two millions.

The Wares, Houſhold-ſtuff, Moneys, and other moveable Goods loſt and ſpoiled by the Fire, may probably amount to Two millions of pounds, ſome ſay much more.

The Money ſpent in a general removing of Wares and Goods, during the Fire, and bringing them back afterward, in the hire of Boats, Carts, and Porters, may be well reckoned, at the leaſt, Two hundred thouſand pounds; the total whereof, is Nine millions, and Nine hundred thouſand pounds, which reduced into French Money, will amount unto One hundred twenty eight millions and ſeven hundred thouſand Livres Tournois. And yet, the Citizens recovering, after a few months, their Native Courage, have ſince ſo chearfully and unanimouſly ſet themſelves to rebuild the City, that within the ſpace of four years, they have erected in the ſame ſtreets, ten thouſand houſes, and laid out for the ſame, Three millions of pounds ſterling, counting but 300 l. a houſe one with another: (beſides whole Streets built and now building in the Suburbs by others:) as if the late Fire had onely purged the City, the Buildings are become infinitely more beautiful, more commodious, and more ſolid (the three main vertues of all Edifices) then before; nay, as if the Citizens had not been any way impoveriſh'd, but rather inrich't by that huge Conflagration, they may be ſaid to be even wanton in th • ir Expences upon the ſtately Italian Facciatta's or Fronts of their new Houſes, (many of Portland ſtone, as durable almoſt as Marble) upon their richly adorned Balconies, Signes, Portals, &c. They have made their Streets much more large and ſtraight; and whereas before they dwelt in low, dark, deform, Wooden Cottages, they now live in lofty, lightſome, uniform Brick Buildings; ſo that although our gracious King cannot ſay of this His Capital City, as one of the Emperors ſaid of Rome, Lateritiam inveni, Marmoream reliqui, yet he may ſay of it what is almoſt equivalent, Ligneam inveni, Lateritiam reliqui. And of a Principal Structure of this City, the Royal Exchange, His Majeſty may ſay, Lateritiam inveni, Saxcam reliqui: whereof take here this following brief Account▪

THe former Burſe began to be erected in the year 1566. juſt one hundred years before it was burnt: it was built at the coſt and charges of a noble Merchant Sir Thomas Greſham, and in a ſolemn manner by a Herald and Trumpet, in the preſence and by the ſpecial Command of Queen Elizabeth, proclaimed and named the ROYAL EXCHANGE: it was built moſt of Brick, and yet was the moſt ſplendid Burſe (all things conſidered) that was then in Europe (before the building whereof the Burſe for Merchants was kept in Lumbard-ſtreet).

Now it is built within and without of the forementioned excellent ſtone, with ſuch curious and admirable Architecture, that it ſurpaſſeth all other Burſes, Quantum lenta ſolent inter Viburna Cupreſſi.

It is built Quadrangular, with a large Court, wherein the Merchants may aſſemble, and the greateſt part, in caſe of rain or hot ſun-ſhine, may be ſheltered in ſide-Galleries or Portico's. The whole Fabrick coſt above fifty thouſand pounds, whereof one half is disburſed by the Chamber of London, or Corporation of the City, and the other half by the Company of Mercers: and to reimburſe themſelves, there will be let to hire 190 Shops above ſtairs, at 20 l. yearly rent each, and 30 l. for fine, beſides the ſeveral Shops below, on the Eaſt and Weſt ſides, and the huge vaulted Cellers under ground, ſo that it will be the richeſt piece of ground, perhaps, in the whole world; for, according to exact dimenſions, the ground whereon this goodly Fabrick is erected, is but 171 foot from North to South, and 203 foot from Eaſt to Weſt (for it is Quadratum oblongum) ſo that it is but very little more then three quarters of an Acre of Ground, and will produce above 4000 l. yearly Rent.

The River whereon is ſeated this Great City, for its breadth, depth, gentle, ſtrait, even courſe, extraordinary wholeſome water and Tides, is more commodious for Navigation then perhaps any other River in the world. The Sea flows gently up this River fourſcore miles, that is, almoſt to Kingſton, twelve miles above London by land, and twenty by water, bringing the greater Veſſels to London, and the ſmaller beyond; then againſt the Stream, boats are drawn to Oxford, and higher many miles.

It is high water at this City as oft as the Moon comes to the North Eaſt and South Weſt points of Heaven, the one in our Hemiſphere, and the other in the other Hemiſphere. The higheſt Tides are upon a Land Flood, the Wind Northweſt at the Equinoctial, and the Moon at full: when theſe four cauſes concur (which is very rare) then the Thames ſwells in ſome places over its Banks, and Weſtminſter is a little endammaged in their Cellars, not in their Chambers and upper Rooms, as the City of Rome ſometimes is by the overflowing of the Tiber, and Paris by the Seyne.

This River opening Eaſtward towards Germany and France is much more advantageous for Traffick than any other River of England. To ſay nothing of the variety of excellent Fiſh within this River, the fruitful fat ſoil, the pleaſant rich Meadows, and innumerable ſtately Palaces on both ſides thereof; in a word, the Thames ſeems to be the very Radical moiſture of this City, and in ſome ſenſe, the natural heat too, for almoſt all the Fuel for firing is brought up this River from Newcaſtle, Scotland, Kent, Eſſex, &c.

From this River the City by water Engins is in many places ſupplyed with excelient wholſome water; alſo from almoſt twenty Conduits of pure Spring water; and moreover; by a new River, brought at a vaſt charge and exquiſite skill (by Sir Hugh Middleton who deſerves his Statue in Braſs) from Amwell and Chadwell, two Springs near Ware in Hartfordſhire, from whence, in a turning and winding courſe, it runs threeſcore miles, before it reaches this City; In ſome places the Channel is neceſſarily thirty foot deep, in other place it is carried over valeys more then twenty foot high above ground, in open Troughs. Over this new River are made eight hundred Bridges, ſome of Stone, ſome of Brick, and ſome of Wood: Six hundred men have been at once employed in this great work. It was begun 1608. and finiſhed in five years. It ſerves the higheſt parts of London in their lower Rooms, and the lower parts in their higheſt Rooms.

The vaſt Traffick and Commerce whereby this City doth flouriſh, may be gueſſed at chiefly by the Cuſtoms which are paid for all Merchandiſe imported or exported, which are but very moderate Impoſitions in compariſon of the Impoſts of moſt other Countries of Europe, and yet the Cuſtoms of the Port of London onely amount to above three hundred thouſand pounds a year: By the infinite number of Ships, which by their Maſts reſemble a Foreſt as they lye along this ſtream, beſides many that are ſent forth▪ every year to carry and fetch Commodities to and from all parts of the known world, whereby it comes to paſs, that no ſmall number of Merchants of London, for Wealth, for ſtately Houſes within the City for Winter, and without for Summer, for rich Furniture, plentiful Tables, and honorable living, &c. excel ſome Princes in divers of our neighbour Nations: Moreover, one may conjecture at the huge Commerce by the infinite number of great well furniſhed Shops; which a Spaniard once obſerving, together with the great number of Law ſutes, in Term time, made this report of London to his Country-men, that it was indeed a great City, but made up of nothing but Tiendas y Contiendas, Shops and Sutes: whereas he might rather have ſaid more truly, in a few more words, viz. that London is a huge Magazin of Men, Money, Ships, Horſes and Ammunition of all ſorts of Commodities neceſſary or expedient for the uſe or pleaſure of mankind: that London is the mighty Rendevous of Nobility, Gentry, Courtiers, Divines, Lawyers, Phyſitians, Merchants, Seamen, and all kinds of excellent Artificers, of the moſt refined Wits and moſt excellent Beauties; for it is obſerved that in moſt Families of England, if there be any Son or Daughter that excels the reſt in Beauty or Wit, or perhaps Courage or Induſtry, or any other rare quality, London is their North-ſtar, and they are never at reſt till they point directly thither.

The Government of this City, conſidering the greatneſs and populouſneſs thereof is very admirable, and might take up a Volume in the deſcription thereof.

The Eccleſiaſtical Government is by a Biſhop, was in the time of the Britains by an Archbiſhop, but when it became ſubject to the Saxons, the Archiepiſcopal Sea, was placed at Canterbury, not becauſe that was the more worthy City; but for the ſake of Saint Auſtin, who firſt preacht the Goſpel there to the Heathen Saxons, and was there buried. Since which time it hath been under a Biſhop above ten Centuries and a half, in a continual ſucceſſion, in which ſpace there are reckoned 99 Biſhops of London to the Preſent worthy Biſhop thereof, the grave, learned, pious, divine Doctor Humphry Henchman conſecrated Biſhop of Salisbury 1660. and tranſlated to London 1663. To his Cathedral alſo belongs a Dean, a Chapter, a Treaſurer and Thirty Prebendaries, all perſons of worth.

For the Eccleſiaſtical Government of the ſeveral Pariſhes, there are are placed many excellent Divines, that have the Cure of Souls, a Rector or Vicar for every Pariſh▪ and theſe have for a long time had the repute of the moſt excellent way of Sermonizing in Chriſtendom, inſomuch as divers Divines of foreign Reformed Churches have come hither on purpoſe to learn their manner of haranguing in the Pulpit.

For maintaining theſe Divines with their families there is in every Pariſh a Parſonage or Vicaridge houſe, and in moſt a competent allowance in Tithes. Antiently the Parſons due in London, beſides the Tithes of the Trades-mens Gains, and Mortuaries, Obits, &c. was 3 s. 5 d. in the pound of the yearly Rent, of all Houſes and Shops; and this was paid as Offerings on Sundayes and Holidayes onely a half penny for each pound, whereby the Pariſhioners did hardly feel it, although the Sundayes and Holydayes were ſo many that in a whole year it amounted to 3 s. 5 d. in the pound. Afterwards many Holidayes being taken away, and the Clergy Means thereby abated, it was ordained 25 H. 8. that 2 s. 9 d. in the pound of all Rents of Houſes and Shops ſhould be paid yearly to the Parſon, whereunto the Londoners did not onely conſent (as they had good reaſon, it being much leſs in the pound then before) but bound themſelves by an Act of Common Council to perform the ſame, and the ſaid Ordinance was confirmed in Parliament 27 Hen. 8. and again 37 Hen. 8. with a power given to the Lord Mayor to commit to priſon any Citizen that ſhould refuſe to pay his Tythes and Dues according to that proportion. But ſince the Reformation, many men willing to think Tythes a rag of Popery, or elſe making no conſcience of robbing God, have deviſed many baſe and fraudulent wayes by double Leaſes, by great Fines and ſmall Rents, and ſeveral other wayes to cheat the Law and their God, Mal. 3.8. complaint whereof being made to King James 1618. it was declared in his Court of Exchequer by the Barons there, that the Inhabitants of London, and of the Liberties thereof, ought ſtill (according to the aforementioned Acts) to pay 2 s. 9 d. in the pound, according to the true yearly value of the Rent of their Houſes and Shops from time to time; but the Citizens (who think 2000 l. per annum. not enough for an Alderman or for a Lawyer: and yet 200 l. too much for a Paſtor of a Pariſh) oppoſing the ſame, the buſineſs lies yet uneſtabliſhed, to the great diſhonor of the Reformed Religion.

The Civil Government is not (as it is at Paris, Rome, Madrid, Vienna, and other Capital Cities) by a chief Magiſtrate, ſome Nobleman ſet over the City by the King or Supreme Governor; or, as it was here, in the time of the Romans, when the chief Magiſtrate was called (as it is ſtill in Rome) the Prefect of London, or, as it was in the time of the Saxons, when he was called the Portgreve, that is, Cuſtos or Guardian, and ſometimes Provoſt of London, but after the coming in of the Normans, the chief Magiſtrate was called Bailive (from the French word Bailler, tradere, committere) that is Commiſſarius, or one that hath Commiſſion to govern others, and there were ſometimes two Bailiffs of London, till King Rich. I. Anno 1189. changed the name of Bailiff into MAYOR, which alſo, being derived from the French, hath continued ever ſince, a Citizen choſen by the Citizens annually, unleſs ſometimes for the diſloyalty of the Citizens, their Priviledges and Franchiſes have been taken from them, and a Guardian ſet over them, as was done by Hen. III. and Edw. I.

Of latter times, the Mayor of London, though alwayes a Citizen and Tradeſman hath been of ſuch high repute and eſteem that in all writing and ſpeaking to him, the Title of Lord is prefixt, which is given to none others, but either to Noblemen, to Biſhops, Judges, and of later times to the Mayor of York, or to ſome of the higheſt Officers of the Realm. He is alſo for his great Dignity uſually knighted by the King, before the year of his Mayoralty be expired.

His Table is, and alſo the Table of each Sheriff, ſuch, that it is not only open all the year to all commers, ſtrangers, and others, that are of any quality, but ſo well furniſhed, that it is always fit to receive the greateſt Subject of England, or of other Potentate; nay, it is recorded, that a Lord Mayor of London hath feaſted four Kings at once at his Table.

His domeſtick Attendance is very honorable, he hath ſeven Officers that wait on him, who are reputed Eſquires by their places, that is, the Sword-bearer; the Common Hunt, who keepeth a gallant Kennel of Hounds for the Lord Mayors Recreation abroad; the Common Cryer, and four Water Bailiffs. There is alſo the Coroner, three Sergeants Carvers, three Sergeants of the Chamber, a Sergeant of the Channel, four Yeomen of the Water-ſide, one Under-water Bailiff, two Yeomen of the Chamber, three Meal-weighers, two Yeomen of the Wood-wharfs, moſt of which have their ſervants allowed them, and have Liveries for themſelves.

His State and Magnificence is remarkable, when he appears abroad, which is uſually on horſe-back with rich capariſon, himſelf alwayes in long Robes, ſometimes of fine Scarlet cloth richly furred, ſometimes Purple, ſometimes Puke, with a great Chain of gold about his neck, with many Officers walking before, and on all ſides of him, &c. but more eſpecially on the 29. of October when he goes to Weſtminſter in his Barge, accompanied with all the Aldermen, all his Officers, all the ſeveral Companies or Corporations in their ſeveral ſtately Barges, with their Arms, Colours, and Streamers; and having there in the Exchequer Chamber taken his ſolemn Oath to be true to the King, returns in like manner to Guild-Hall, that is the great Common Hall of Guilds or incorporated Confraternities, where is prepared for him and his Brethren a moſt ſumptuous Dinner, to which many of the great Lords and Ladies, and all the Judges of the Land are invited.

This great Magiſtrate upon the Death of the King, is ſaid to be the prime perſon of England; and therefore when King James was invited to come and take the Crown of England, Robert Lee, then Lord MAYOR of London ſubſcribed in the firſt place, before all the great Officers of the Crown, and all the Nobility.

He is uſually choſen on Michaelmas day, out of the 26 Aldermen, all perſons of great wealth and wiſdom.

His Authority reaches not only all over this great City, and a part of the Suburbs, but alſo on the famous River of Thames Eaſtward as far as Yendale or Yenleet, and the mouth of the River Medway, and Weſtward as far as Colny ditch above Stanes Bridge▪ He hath power to puniſh and correct all that ſhall annoy the Stream, Banks, or Fiſh, onely the ſtrength and ſafety of the River againſt an Invaſion, and ſecuring Merchandizing and Navigation by Blockhouſes, Forts, or Caſtles is the Care of the King.

To the Lord Mayor and the City of London belong divers Courts of Judicature of high importance. The higheſt and moſt antient Court is that called the Huſtings (i. e.) Domus Cauſarum, which doth preſerve the Lawes, Rights, Franchiſes, and Cuſtoms of the City. There is a Court of Requeſts or Conſcience. The Court of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, where alſo the Recorder and Sheriffs ſit. Two Courts of the Sheriffs, one for each Counter. The Court of the City Orphans, whereof the Mayor and Aldermen have the cuſtody. The Court of Common-Council conſiſting (as the Parliament of England) of two Houſes, one for the Lord▪ Mayor and Aldermen, and the other for the Commoners: in which Court are made all By-laws which bind all the Citizens of London; for every man either by himſelf, or by his Repreſentative gives his Aſſent thereunto, wherein conſiſts the great happineſs of the Engliſh Subject above all the Subjects of any other Prince in the world, that neither in Laws nor By-laws, neither in Taxes or Impoſts, any man is obliged, but by his own conſent. There is another Court of the Chamberlain of the City, to whom belongs the Receipts of the Rents, and Revenues of the City, and to his Court the buſineſs of Apprentices, over whom he hath a great authority. To the Lord Mayor alſo belongs the Courts of Coroner, and of Eſcheator, and another Court for the conſervation of the River of Thames. Laſtly, the Court of Goal-delivery held uſually eight times a year at the Old-Baily, both for the City and Middleſex, for the Tryal of Criminals, whereof the Lord Mayor is the chief Judge; and hath power of reprieving condemned perſons.

There are other Courts called Wardmote, or the meeting of Wards, whereof there are 26 in the whole City: In which Court inquiry is made into all things that can conduce to the regulating and well governing of the City. Alſo the Court of Hall mote, or Aſſembly of every Gild or Fraternity for regulating what belongs to each Company in particular.

The Traders of London are divided into Companies, or Corporations, and are ſo many Bodies Politique: Of theſe there are 12, called the chief Companies, and he that is choſen Lord Mayor muſt be free of one of theſe Companies, which are 1 Mercers, 2. Grocers, 3. Drapers, 4. Fiſhmongers, 5. Goldſmiths, 6. Skinners, 7. Merchant-Taylors, 8. Haberdaſhers, 9. Salters, 10. Ironmongers, 11. Vintners, 12. Clothworkers: All which Companies have Aſſembly places called Halls, which are ſo many Baſilikes or Palaces, and many of them worthy to be viewed by all Strangers. It hath been the cuſtom of ſome of our Kings, to honour ſome of theſe Companies by taking their freedom thereof; and the preſent King was pleaſed to be made free of the Company of Grocers, and the preſent Prince of Orenge, lately choſe to be made free of the Company of Drapers.

There are beſides near 60 other Companies, or Corporations, all enjoying large Priviledges by the Kings Gracious Charter, granted unto them, and fair Halls to meet in.

For the ſecurity and defence of this famous City and River, there have been antiently divers Fortreſſes; but that called the Tower of London, hath been eminent above all others. It is not only a Fort or Cittadel, to defend and command both City and River, but a Royal Palace, where our Kings with their Courts have ſometimes lodged; a Royal Arſenal, where are Arms and Ammunition for 60000 Soldiers; the Treaſury for the Jewels and Ornaments of the Engliſh Crown; the only Mint for coyning of Gold and Silver; the great Archive where are conſerved all the Records of the Court of Weſtminſter; the chief Priſon for the ſafe cuſtody of great Perſons that are Criminal: in ſhort, if the great extent thereof within the Walls be conſidered, and its authority over the ſeveral Hamlets without, and the many high Priviledges and Liberties belonging thereto, it may rather be reputed a City then a Cittadel.

The Tower of London is out of all County or Pariſh (only a ſmall part, ſome hold to be in Middleſex) is a liberty of it ſelf, exempt from all Taxes to the King, to the Church, or to the Poor. It hath a Parochial Church, exempt ftom all Eccleſiaſtical Jurisdiction of the Archbiſhop, and is a Donative beſtowed by the King without Inſtitution or Induction. There are Thirteen Hamlets in ſeveral Pariſhes, of large extent, belonging to the Tower, whoſe Trainbands are all bound to aſſiſt the Conſtable or Lieftenant of the Tower, they are all called the Kings Company, are to wait on the Kings perſon in time of need, and to go no farther than the King.

Within the Tower is kept the Office of Maſter of the Ordnance, called in France, le grand Maſtre de l' Artillerie ſo called, ab arte telorum mittendorum) and hath been alwayes an Office of great Account and Importance, commonly conferred on perſons of great eminency and integrity. It hath the ordering of that grand Magazin there lodged, wherein, and at the Minories, Woolwich, and Chatham is Ammunition at all times for as many Land and Sea forces as may not onely defend England, but be formidable to all our Neighbours.

The place of Maſter of the Ordnance, is, ſince the death of that accompliſhed Gentleman Sir William Compton, executed by Commiſſioners, viz. by the Lord John Berkley, now Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Sir John Duncomb Knight, and Thomas Chichely Eſquire.

Lieutenant of the Ordnance, is David Walter Eſquire, and Groom of his Majeſties Bed-chamber, and the Pay-maſter is Captain George Wharton; Surveyor is Jonas More Eſquire; Keeper of the Stores is Richard March Eſquire; Clerk of the Ordnance is Richard Sherborn Eſquire; Clerk of the Deliveries is George Clerk Eſquire. Under which ſeveral Officers there are many Officers and Servants, for brevity ſake to be paſſed over.

The forementioned Commiſſioners have the charge and ſuperintendence of all the Ordnance, Arms offenſive, Ammunition of War by Sea and Land.

The Lieutenant of the Ordnance is Treaſurer, doth receive and disburſe all moneys touching this Office.

The Surveyor of the Ordnance doth ſuperviſe all Arms.

Clerk of the Ordnance is to record all Orders touching that Office.

Keeper of the Stores is to have the cuſtody of all the Arms offenſive.

Clerk of the Deliveries takes Indentures for all Stores iſſued out.

All theſe hold by Patent immediately from the King.

All Inferior Officers and Artificers places, are in the gift of the Maſter, or Commiſſioners of the Ordnance.

Moreover, in the Tower is kept the office of Warden of the Mint, where onely, of later times, is minted all the Bullion that is minted in England.

The Warden of the Mint is a very conſiderable charge, and is at preſent Sir Anthony St. Leger.

Maſter Worker is Henry Slingsby Eſquire. Comptroller is James Hore Eſquire. Theſe hold by Patent of the King.

Aſſay-Maſter to try the pureneſs of the Mettal, is Mr. John Brittle.

Surveyor of the Meltings, and Clerk of the Irons, is Mr. Thomas Swallow.

There is moreover, a Weigher, a Teller, and a Graver; all which five laſt named Officers hold alſo by Patent from the King, but are to be approved by the three firſt Commiſſioned Officers, in whoſe cuſtody is all Money or Bullion brought in by the Subject.

There are beſides many other Inferior Officers and Servants belonging to the Mint.

The office of His Majeſties Records, kept in the Tower of London, is of venerable Antiquity, and the place of Keeper, and Deputy of the ſame, dignified with ſpecial truſt, whereof Sir Algernon May Knight, is at preſent the Keeper, ſalary 500 l. per annum; and William Ryley Eſquire, of the Inner Temple, is Deputy thereof.

This place is properly in the Maſter of the Ro'ls his gift; and then His Majeſty by His Letters Patents, hath uſually confirmed it.

As the Chappel of the Rolls in Chancery-lane, and Petty-Bag office, doth fill with Records out of other Offices, they are tranſmitted into the Tower after ſome years, for it hath been the wiſdom and care of former Ages, to ſend the Records of ſeveral Courts to the Tower; for their preſervation and ſafety, not onely as a Policy of State, but the particular Intereſt of all Men, having Eſtates requiring it, there being many precedents for it remaining in the Records of the Tower; and a particular Form of a Writ to ſend the Records in the Chappel of the Rolls to the Tower of London. The Records of the Tower (amongſt other things) contain the Foundations of Abbeys, and other Religious Houſes, and the Records in the Rolls contain the diſſolution of thoſe Abbeys, and the donation of the Lands, of which, many Families are now poſſeſt; and if thoſe Records were all in one place, the people might have acceſs unto them, all under one and the ſame ſearch and charge, which would be a great eaſe and benefit to the people, and a ſafety to the Records of this Nation.

Beſides theſe Records at the Rolls being joyned to thoſe in the Tower, will make a perfect continuance of all the Ancient Rights of the Engliſh Nation, which are now ſet forth in the Records of the Tower, whereof theſe following are a few heads or particulars of them, viz.

The Leagues of foreign Princes, and the Treaties with them.

And all the Atchievements of this Nation in France, and other Foreign Parts.

The Original of all the Laws that have been Enacted or Recorded, until the Reign oi Richard the Third.

The Homage and Dependency of Scotland upon England.

The Eſtabliſhment of Ireland, in Laws and Dominions.

The Dominion of the Britiſh Seas, totally excluding both the French and Hollander to Fiſh therein, without Licence from England, proved by Records before the Conqueſt.

The Intereſt of the Iſle of Man, and the Iſles of Jerſey, Gernſey, Sark, and Alderny; which four laſt are the remaining part of the Norman poſſeſſion.

The Title to the Realm of France, and how obtained.

And all that the Kings or Princes of this Land, have until that time done abroad, or granted or confirmed unto their Subjects at home or abroad.

Tenures of all the Lands in England, Extents or Surveys of Mannors and Lands, Inquiſitions, poſt mortem, being of infinite advantage upon tryals of Intereſt or Deſcent.

Liberties and Priviledges granted to Cities and Towns Corporate, or to private Men; as Court-Leets, Waiffs, Eſtrays, Mercats, Fairs, Free warren, Felons Goods, or what elſe could come to the Crown, or paſs out of it.

Several Writs, Pleadings, and Proceedings, as well in Chancery, as in all the Courts of Common Law, and Exchequer.

Inſpeximus's and Inrolments of Charters and Deeds, made and done before the Conqueſt, Deeds and Contracts between party and party, and the juſt eſtabliſhment of all the Offices in the Nation.

The Metes and Bounds of all the Foreſts in England, with the ſeveral reſpective Rights of the Inhabitants therein to Common of Paſture, &c. Beſides many other Priviledges and Evidences, which are too long to be here repeated or inſerted.

And are therefore in the Petition of the Commons of England in Parliament, An. 46 Edw. 3. num. 43. ſaid to be the perpetual Evidence of every Mans right, and the Records of this Nation, without which no ſtory of the Nation can be written or proved.

Theſe Records are repoſited within a certain Place or Tower, called Wakefield Tower, adjoyning to the Bloody Tower, near Traytors Gate. There is another place called Julius Caeſars Chappel in the White Tower: The going up to this Chappel, is in Gold Harbor, Eighty four Steps up, with Six or eight great Pillars on each ſide, and at the upper end thereof, there was a Marble Altar; which in the late times of Rebellion, was cauſed to be beaten down, as a Monument of Tyranny and Superſtition.

There are many Cart load of Records lying in this place, out of which, William Prynne Eſquire, late Keeper of the ſame, with indefatigable labor, Collected and Printed many of Publick Utility. Annis, 1659, 1660, 1662, 1664. in Four ſeveral Volumes, beginning Primo Regis Johannis, for before that time there are no Rolls, but onely Chartae Antiquae, or Ancient Tranſcripts made and done, before and ſince the Conqueſt, until the beginning of King John. Then follows His Son Henry the Third, where the firſt Offices Poſt Mortem begins. Then there is Edward the Firſt, Second, and Third, Richard the Second, Henry the Fourth, Henry the Fifth, Henry the Sixth, and Edward the Fourth, and the Inquiſitions Poſt Mortem, of Richard the Third, who reigned onely Three years. The Rolls of that King are in the Chappel of the Rolls in Chancery Lane.

The Rolls in the Tower are variouſly diſtinguiſhed, viz. Rotuli Patentium Cartarum Parliamentorum, Clauſarum finium, Scotiae, Vaſconiae, Franciae, Hiberniae, Walliae, Normanniae, Alemanniae, Oblatae, Liberatae, Extractae, Perambulationes, Foreſtae, Scutag. Rotul. Mareſcal, Romae, de Treugis Chart. & Patent. fact. in partibus tranſmarinis. Patent de Domibus Judaeorum Protection. de Perdonation. &c. Stapulae, cum multis aliis, which are lately depicted upon the outſide of every Preſs in the Repoſitory belonging to each Kings Reign, and very eaſily to be brought forth for the uſe of the Client.

By a Table of Orders hanging up in the ſaid Office, and ſubſcribed by the Keeper hereof.

The ſame is to be kept open, and conſtantly attended for all Reſorters thereto, from the hours of Seven till eleven of the Clock in the Morning, and from One till five in the Afternoon, every day of the week, except in the Moneths of December, January, and February, and in them, from Eight till eleven in the morning, and from One to four in the Afternoon, except on Holidays, Publick Faſting and Thanksgiving days, and times of great Peſtilence.

The Governor of this great and important Fortreſs, being called The Lieutenant of the Tower, is uſually a Perſon of great worth and fidelity, who is, Virtute Officii, to be in Commiſſion of the Peace for the Counties of Kent, Surrey, and Middleſex. He is High Steward of a Court there held▪ hath a Deputy, and may refuſe an Habeas Corpus, may give Protection to all Debtors belonging to the Tower, Infra Regnum Angliae. Hath the Priviledge to take Unam lagenam, Two Gallons and a Pint Ant • malum, & retro, of all Wine Ships that come, and to be, as ſome hold, Cuſtos Rotulorum of the County of Middleſex. His Salary is 200 l. per annum. His uſual Fee for every Priſoner ſent to the Tower, who are commonly Men of Eſtates is 20 l. and 3 l a week for an Eſquire, and 5 l. for a Knight. For a Baron or above 50 l. at entrance, to whom the King allows weekly 10 l. whereof two parts go to the Priſoner, the third to the Lieutenant for Lodgings and Diet; and 50 l. to the Lieutenant upon the Priſoners diſcharge.

The preſent Lieutenant of the Tower is Sir John Robinſon Baronet.

The Gentleman Porter of the Tower holds his place by Patent, and at the entrance of a Priſoner, hath for his Fee Veſtimenta ſuperiora, or elſe a Compoſition for the ſame.

The Gentleman Jaylor is put in by the Lieutenant of the Tower, his Fee is 41 s. of a Gentleman, and 5 l. of a Knight: Then there are Forty Warders of the Tower, accounted the Kings Domeſtick Servants, and ſworn by the Lord Chamberlain of His Majeſties Houſhold, or by the Clerk of the Check.

The Moneys allowed by the King to the ſeveral Officers and Servants in the Tower, and for keeping in repair that huge ſtructure, amounts to a vaſt ſum.

Near the Tower is S. Katherines, which hath a Royal Juriſdiction for the Eccleſiaſtical Cauſes and Probate of Wills, and belongeth to the Queen, Dr. Bud is Commiſſary; from whom, if any will appeal, it muſt be to the King in His Court of Chancery, who thereupon iſſueth out a Commiſſion under the Great Seal, as in Appeals from the Arches or Prerogative.

The next thing remarkable in the City of London, may be the Bridge; which, for admirable Workmanſhip, for vaſtneſs of Foundation, for all Dimenſions, and for the ſolid, ſtately Houſes, and rich Shops built thereon, ſurpaſſeth all others in Europe; it hath Nineteen Arches, founded in a deep broad River, and ſome ſay on a ſoft, ozy Ground; is Eight hundred Foot in length, Sixty high, and Thirty broad; hath a Draw bridge almoſt in the middle, and Twenty Foot between each Arch; it was built Anno 1209. in the Reign of King John. The firſt Stone-bridge in England, having been built above One hundred years before, by Queen Maud, Wife to Henry the Firſt, at Stratford, on the River Lee, Three miles from London; ſo called from the Highway there paſſing over a Ford, and ſince called Stratford Bow, from the Arched Bridge, a piece of Architecture then new to the Engliſh Nation.

The building of this Bridge of London, was an exceeding difficult and coſtly piece of Work, and to thoſe that conſider the conſtant great Flux and Reflux at that place, it ſeems, almoſt impoſſible to be done again. The charges of keeping it in repair, is ſo great, that it hath been thought fit by our Anceſtors to have a large Houſe, a vaſt Revenue in Lands and Houſes; divers conſiderable Officers, &c. to be ſet apart for the conſtant care and repair thereof.

Concerning this Bridge, and the ſtupendious ſite and ſtructure thereof; take here the fancy of an ingenious Perſon deceaſed. WHen Neptune from his Billows London ſpi'd, Brought proudly thither by a High Spring-Tide. As through a Floating Wood he ſteer'd along, And moving Caſtles cluſter'd in a throng, When he beheld a mighty Bridge give law Unto his Surges, and their fury aw: When ſuch a Shelf of Cataracts did roar, As if the Thames with Nile had chang'd her ſhoar. When he ſuch Maſſie Walls, ſuch Towers did eye, Such Poſts, ſuch Irons upon his back to • ie, When ſuch vaſt Arches he obſerv'd, that might Nineteen Rialto's make, for depth and height. When the Cerulean god theſe things ſurvey'd, He ſhook his Trident, and aſtoniſh'd ſaid, Let the whole Earth, now all Her Wonders count, This Bridge of Wonders is the Paramount.

Not far below this famous Bridge is placed the Cuſtome Houſe, where is received and managed all the Impoſitions laid on Merchandiſe Imported or Exported from this City, which are ſo conſiderable, that of all the Cuſtoms of England, divided into three parts, the Port of London pays Two thirds, that is above 330000 l. yearly. In this Office there are employed many perſons of great ability and worth, Collectors, Cuſtomers, Comptrollers, Surveyors, Regiſters, whereof ſome have Salaries of 500 l. yearly, beſides many perquiſites.

The Houſe where this great Office was kept, being deſtroyed by the late Fire, is now rebuilt in a very much more magnificent, uniform, and commodious manner by the King, and will coſt His Majeſty 10000 l. the building.

There are at preſent within this City of London, divers other very conſiderable Offices, whereof take the account following.

Of the Office of Poſt-Maſter General.

THe Profits of the ſaid Office are ſetled by Act of Parliament, on his Royal Highneſs the Duke of York; but His Majeſty doth conſtitute His Poſt-Maſter General by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England; and, accordingly hath conferred that Office upon the Right Honorable Henry Lord Arlington, His Principal Secretary of State.

The preſent Poſt-Maſter General keepeth one Grand or General Office in the City of London, from whence, Letters and Pacquets are diſpatched.

Every Monday, to France, Italy, Spain, Flanders, Germany, Sweden, Danemark, &c, and to Kent.

Every Tueſday, to the United Netherlands, Germany, &c. And to all parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

Every Wedneſday, to Kent onely, and the Downs.

Every Thurſday, to France, Spain, Italy, and all parts of England and Scotland.

Every Friday, to the Spaniſh and United Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Danemark, and to Kent.

Every Saturday, to all parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

And the Anſwers of the ſaid Letters and Pacquets, are received in the ſaid Office in due Courſe: And from thence diſperſed, and delivered according to their reſpective directions, with all expedition.

The ſaid Office is managed by a Deputy, and other Officers, to the number of Seventy ſeven Perſons; who give their actual attendance reſpectively in the diſpatch of the buſineſs.

Upon this Grand Office depends One hundred eighty two Deputy Poſt-Maſters in England and Scotland; moſt of which, keep Regular Offices in their Stages, and Sub Poſt-Maſters in their Branches; and alſo in Ireland, another General Office for that Kingdom, which is kept in Dublin, conſiſting of Eighteen like Officers, and Forty five Deputy Poſt-Maſters.

The preſent Poſt-Maſter General keeps conſtantly for the tranſport of the ſaid Letters and Pacquets.

Between England and France, Two Pacquet-Boats. Flanders, Two Pacquet-Boats. Holland, Three Pacquet-Boats. Ireland, Three Pacquet-Boats.

And at Deal, Two Pacquet-Boats for the Downs.

All which Officers, Poſt-Maſters, Pacquet-Boats, are maintained at his own proper charge.

And as the Maſter piece of all thoſe good regulations, eſtabliſhed by the preſent Poſt-maſter General, for the better government of the ſaid office, he hath annexed and apropriated the Market Towns of England, ſo well to the reſpective Poſt-ſtages, that there is no conſiderable Market-Town, but hath an eaſy and certain Conveyance for the Letters thereof to and from the ſaid grand office, in the due Courſe of the Mailes every Poſt.

Note alſo, that all Letters are conveyed with more expedition and leſs charges then in any forreign Country.

A Letter containing a whole ſheet of Paper is conveyed 80 miles for 2 d. 2 ſheets 4 d. and an ounce of Letters but 8 d. and that in ſo ſhort a time by night as well as by day, that every 24 hours, the Poſt goes 120 miles, and in 5 dayes, an anſwer of a Letter may be had from a place 300 miles diſtant from the Writer. Moreover if any Gentleman deſires to ride Poſt to any principal Town of England, Poſt-Horſes are alwayes in readineſs (taking no Horſe without the conſent of his owner) which in other Kings reigns was not duly obſerved; and only 3 d. is demanded for every Engliſh mile, and for every Stage to the Poſt boy 4 d. for conducting.

Beſides this excellent convenience of conveying Letters and Men on Horſeback, there is of late ſuch an admirable commodiouſneſs both for Men and Women of better rank to travel from London, to almoſt any great Town of England, and to almoſt all the Villages near this great City, that the like hath not been known in the World, and that is by Stage Coaches, wherein one may be tranſported to any place, ſheltred from foul weather and foul ways, free from endamaging ones health or body by hard jogging, or over violent motion, and this not onely at a low price, as about a ſhilling for every 5 miles, but with ſuch velocity and ſpeed, as that the Poſts in ſome forreign Countryes make not more miles in a day, for the Stage Coaches called flying Coaches make Forty or Fifty miles in a day, as from London to Oxford or Cambridge, and that in the ſpace of Twelve hours, not counting the time for Dining, ſetting forth not too early, and coming in not too late. This office is now kept in Biſhopſgate-ſtreet.

Of the Kings great Wardrobe.

THis Office was uſually kept within the City, near Puddle Wharfe, in an antient Houſe built by Sir John Beauchamp, Son to Guy de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, and afterward ſold to King Edward the Third.

The Maſter or Keeper of the Great Wardrobe is an office of great Antiquity and Dignity.

High Privileges and Immunities were conferred by Henry the Sixth, and confirmed by his ſucceſſors, King James enlarged the ſame, and ordained that this Great Officer ſhould be an incorporation or Body Politique for ever.

His Office is to make Proviſions for Coronations, Marriages, and Funerals, to furniſh the Court with Beds, Hangings, Carpets, and other neceſſaries; to furniſh Houſes for Ambaſſadors at their firſt arrival here; Preſents for Foreign Princes and Ambaſſadors, Cloaths of Eſtate, and other furniture for the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Lord Preſident of Wales, and all His Majeſties Ambaſſadors abroad, to provide all Robes for Foreign Knights of the Garter, for the Officers of the Garter, Coats for Heralds and Purſuivants at Arms, Robes for the Lord Chancellor, Lord Treaſurer, &c. Rich Liveries for the two Lords Chief Juſtice, all the Barons of the Exchequor, divers Officers in thoſe Courts, all Liveries for His Majeſties domeſtick ſervants: all Linnen for the Kings perſon, &c.

To defray all the forementioned charges, ordinarily there is expended yearly, about twenty five thouſand pounds, beſides all Extraordinaries, as Coronations, Funerals, &c.

This Office is at preſent enjoyed by Edward Montague, Earl of Sandwich, one of His Majeſties moſt Honourable Privy Council, and Knight of the moſt Noble Order of the Garter.

The preſent Salary to his Lordſhip in compenſation of all other antient Fees and Allowances is yearly 2000 l.

The ſaid Houſe near Puddle Wharfe was long ago annext for ever to the Maſter of this Office; but ſince the great Fire this Office is kept in the Savoy.

The chief Officers under the Maſter are, a Deputy, Thomas Townſend Senior, Eſq his Salary 200 l. and a Clerk, Thomas Townſend Junior, Eſq whoſe Salary in compenſation of all Fees and Allowances is yearly 300 l.

Both theſe Officers had likewiſe fair dwelling houſes, which were alſo conſumed by the fire.

Belonging to this Office are divers Tradeſmen, Artificers, and others, to the number of about 40 all ſworn Servants to the King.

To this Office have lately been added by Patent, during pleaſure, two couſiderable Officers, viz. a Controuler, Andrew Newport Eſquire, Brother to the Lord Newport; and a Surveyour, Colonel Bullen Reymes, whoſe Salaries are 300 l. yearly to each one.

Of the Colledges in London.

THe Famous City of LONDON may not unfitly be ſtiled an Univerſity, for therein are taught all Liberal Arts and Sciences, not onely Divinity, Civil Law, Phyſick, which in other Univerſities are uſual, are read here, but alſo the Municipal or Common Law of the Nation is here taught, and Degrees taken therein, which can be ſaid in no other Nation: Moreover all ſorts of Languages, Geography, Hydography, the Art of Navigation, the Art of Fortification, Anatomy, Chirurgery, Chymiſtry, Calligraphy, Brachygraphy, or Short-Hand, the Arts of Riding, Fencing, Dancing, Art Military, Fire-works, Limming, Painting, Enamelling, Sculpture, Architecture, Heraldry, all ſorts of Muſick, Arithmetick, Geometry, Aſtronomy, Grammar, Rhetorick, Poetry, and any other thing that may any way contribute to the accompliſhment of an ingenious Nobleman or Gentleman.

The Colledges of Municipal or Common-Law Profeſſors and Students, are 14 called ſtill Innes, the old Engliſh word for Houſes of Noblemen or Biſhops, or of extraordinary note, and which is of the ſame ſignification with the French word Hoſtel at Paris.

There are Two Inns of Sergeants, Four Inns of Court, and Eight▪ Inns of Chancery.

The Inns of Chancery were probably ſo named; becauſe there dwelt ſuch Clerks as did chiefly ſtudy the forming of Writs, which regularly appertain to the Curſitors that are Officers of Chancery. The firſt of theſe is called Thavies Inn, begun in the Reign of Edward the Third, and ſince purchaſed by Lincolns Inn, as was alſo Furnivals Inn, then there is Bernards Inn, New Inn, Clements Inn, Cliffords Inn, antiently the Houſe of the Lord Clifford, Staple Inn belonging to the Merchants of the Staple; and Lyons Inn, antiently a common Inn with the Sign of the Lyon.

Theſe were heretofore preparatory Colledges for younger Students, and many were entred here, before admitted into the Inns of Court.

Now they are for the moſt part taken up by Atturneys, Sollicitors and Clerks, who have here their Chambers apart, and their Dyet at a very eaſy rate in a Hall, together where they are obliged to appear in grave long Robes, and black round knit Caps. Theſe Colledges belong all to ſome Inns of Court, who ſend yearly ſome of their Barreſters to read to to theſe. In theſe Inns of Chancery one with another, may be about Sixty perſons.

The Innes of Court were ſo named, as ſome think, becauſe the Students therein are to ſerve the Courts of Judicature; or elſe becauſe antiently theſe Colledges received onely the Sons of Noble men, and better ſort of Gentlemen, as Forteſcue affirmeth.

Of theſe there are Four: Firſt, The Two Temples, heretofore the dwelling of the Knights Templers, and purchaſed by ſome Profeſſors of the Common Law, above Three hundred years ago. They are called The Inner and Middle Temple, in relation to Eſſex Houſe, which was a part of the Knights Templers, and called The Utter Temple, becauſe it is ſeated without Temple Bar.

The two other Inns of Court are Lincolns Inn, belonging anciently to the Earls of Lincoln; and Greys Inn belonging to the Noble Family of the Greys.

In the Reign of Henry the Sixth, they ſo flouriſhed, that there were in each of theſe about Two hundred Students, and a Student then expended yearly about 20 l. Which was as much as Two hundred pounds now; for they had uſually (as the French Nobles have now in their Academies) every one an old diſcreet Servant, and divers Maſters for to inſtruct them in all laudable qualities; and therefore, ſaith the ſame Forteſcue, Ultra Studium legum, ſunt quaſi Gymnaſia omnium morum. And the Students were onely, ſaith he, Nobilium Filii, that is, Gentlemen, at leaſt; for ſo the word Nobilis was then taken here, and is ſtill in France: And therefore by command of King James, none were to be admitted into theſe Colledges, but Gentlemen by deſcent. Our Anceſtors thought thoſe of inferior rank, would rather debaſe the honor of the Law, and would be prone to chicane, or play tricks, and not like to be ſo fit for Truſts and Honors, whereas the conſideration of Birth and Fortune, makes Men more careful of their Honor and Reputation.

Theſe Societies are no Corporations, nor have any Judicial Power over their Members, but have certain Orders among themſelves, which have, by conſent, the Force of Laws: For lighter offences they are onely excommoned, or put out of Commons, not to eat with the reſt; and for greater offences they loſe their Chambers, and are expelled the Colledge; and being once expelled, they are never received by any of the Three other Societies. Which deprivation of Honor to young generous Spirits, is more grievous then perhaps deprivation of life.

Theſe alſo, when they meet at Chappel or Hall, or at Courts of Juſtice, wear a grave black-Robe and Cap, at other times walk with Cloak and Sword.

There are no Lands or Revenues belong to theſe Societies, which being no Corporations, are not enabled to purchaſe, not have they any thing for defraying the charges of the Houſe, but what is paid at Admittances, and Quit-Rents for their Chambers.

The whole Company of Gentlemen in each Society, may be divided into Four parts, Benchers, Utter Barriſters, Inner Barriſters, and Students.

Benchers are the Seniors, to whom is committed the Government, and ordering of the whole Houſe; and out of theſe, is choſen yearly a Treaſurer, who receiveth, disburſeth, and accounteth for all Moneys belonging to the Houſe.

Utter Barriſters are ſuch, as, For their Learning and Standing, are called by the Benchers to plead and argue in the Society doubtful Caſes and Queſtions, which are called Moots (from meeting the old Saxon word for the French Aſſemble, or elſe from the French Mot a word.) And whileſt they argue the ſaid Caſes, they ſit uttermoſt on the Forms or Benches, which they call the Bar.

Out of theſe Mootmen are choſen Readers for the Inns of Chancery, belonging to the Inns of Court, whereof they are Members; where in Term time, and grand Vacations they argue Caſes in the preſence of Attorneys and Clerks.

All the reſt are accounted Inner Barriſters, who for want of Learning or Time, are not to argue in theſe Moots; and yet in a Moot before the Benchers, two of theſe Inner Barriſters ſitting on the ſame Form with the Utter Barriſters, do for their Exerciſes recite by heart the pleading of the ſame Moot Caſe in Law French; which Pleading is the Declaration, at large, of the ſaid Moot-Caſe; the one taking the part of the Plaintiff, and the other of the Defendant.

The year alſo amongſt them, is divided into three parts, The Learning Vacation, the Term-times, and the dead or mean Vacation.

They have two Learning Vacations, viz. Lent Vacation, which begins the firſt Monday in Lent, and continueth three weeks and three days; and Summer Vacation, which begins Monday after Lammas-day, and continueth alſo three weeks and three days. In theſe Vacations are the greateſt Conferences and Exerciſes of Study in manner following.

The Benchers appoint the eldeſt Utter Barreſter to read amongſt them openly in the Hall, whereof he hath notice half a year before. He then, the firſt day about eight of the clock makes choice of ſome Act or Statute, whereupon he grounds his whole Reading for that Vacation, and declares ſuch miſchiefs and inconveniencies as were unprovided before the ſame Act, and now are provided by the ſaid Act, and then reciteth certain Doubts and Queſtions, which he hath deviſed, that may grow upon the ſaid Statute, and declareth his Judgment therein: After which, one of the younger Utter Barreſters repeateth one Queſtion propounded by the Reader, and doth by way of Argument labor to prove the Readers opinion to be againſt Law; and after him, the Senior Utter Barreſter and Readers, one after another, according to Seniority, do declare their Opinions and Judgments in the ſame: And then the Reader, who did put the Caſe, endeavo • to confute Objections laid againſt him, and to confirm his own Opinion: After which, the Judges and Sergeants, if any be preſent, declare their Opinions; then the youngeſt Utter Barreſter again rehearſeth another Caſe, which is proſecuted as the former was. And this Exerciſe continueth daily about Three or four hours.

Out of thoſe who have read once in the Summer Vacation, and are Benchers, is choſen always one to read in Lent, who obſerves the like manner of Reading, as before is expreſſed.

Out of theſe Readers uſually the Sergeants are choſen.

The manner of Mooting in the Innes of Court, is thus.

IN theſe Vacations after Supper in the Hall or, after Drinking on Faſting-nights, the Reader with one or two of the Benchers comes in, to whom one of the Utter Barreſters propounds ſome doubtful Caſe; which being argued by the Benchers, and laſtly, by him that moved the Caſe, the Benchers ſit down on the Bench, at the upper end of the Hall, whence they are called Benchers: And upon a Form, in the middle of the Hall, ſit two Inner Barreſters; and on both ſides of them, on the ſame Form, ſitteth one Inner Barreſter, who doth in Law French declare to the Benchers (as Sergeants do at the Bar in the Kings Courts to the Judges) ſome kinde of Action; the one being, as it were, retained for the Plaintiff, and the other for the Defendant: Which ended, the two Utter Barreſters argue ſuch Queſtions, as be diſputable within the Caſe. After which, the Benchers do likewiſe declare their Opinions, how they take the Law to be in thoſe Queſtions.

In theſe Mootings, the Junior always argueth firſt, as is uſed amongſt the Judges in the Exchequer Chamber, and amongſt the Sergeants in open Courts of Judicature. The Inner and Utter Barreſter plead here in Law French, and the Benchers in Engliſh; and at the Readings, the Readers Caſes are put in Engliſh.

Mootings in the Inns of Chancery, are thus.

IN the Learning Vacations, each Utter Barreſter, who is a Reader in the Inns of Chancery, go with two Students of the ſame Inn of Court, to the Inn of Chancery, where he is appointed to Read, and there meet him commonly two of each Inns of Court, who ſitting as the Benchers do in the Inns of Court at their Moots, they hear and argue his Caſe.

In the Four Inns of Chancery that are ſituated in Holborn, the Moots are read, either by thoſe of Greys Inne or Lincolns Inne, the others by the two Templers.

In Term time, the only Exerciſes of Learning, is arguing and debating Caſes, after Dinner, and Mooting after Supper, in the ſame manner as in the Vacation time.

The time between the learning Vacations and Terms, is called the mean Vacation, during which time every day after Dinner, Caſes are argued, as at other times; and after Supper, Mootes are brought in and pleaded by the Inner Barreſters, in the preſence of the Uutter Barreſter, which ſit there in the Room of the Benchers, and argued by them, as the Benchers do in Term time and learning Vacation.

The Manner of keeping a Chriſtmas in any of the Innes of Court, thus.

THe Students hold a Parlament before Chriſtmas, and in caſe there be in London no Peſtilence, and that the Houſe is furniſhed with ſuch a number of Students, and of ſuch quality as are meet to keep a ſolemn Chriſtmas; then are choſen and appointed certain of the Students to be Officers, in imitation of the Kings Court, as Comptroller, Treaſurer, &c. Theſe bear rule in the Houſe during the whole time of Chriſtmas; and are to behave themſelves in that Port, Gravity, and Authority, as if they were ſo in the Kings Houſe, that ſo hereafter, they may know the better to behave themſelves in caſe they ſhould be promoted to that Honour: for theſe Gentlemen are uſually of ſuch quality, as come not hither with intent to profeſs the Law, but to learn ſo much Law, as may be neceſſary to preſerve their Eſtates, and to make themſelves accompliſht in other qualities, neceſſary for Gentlemen.

At ſuch time, they have here divers divertiſements, as Feaſting every day, ſinging, dancing, Muſick which laſt is allowed there to all Comers, and is ſo exceſſive, that what the Dicers allow out of each winning to the Butlers box, uſually amounts to above 50 l. a day and night, wherewith, and a ſmall contribution from each Student, are the great charges of the whole Chriſtmas defrayed.

Sometimes, when their publick Treaſury is great, they create a Prince among themſelves, with ſuch Title, as they pleaſe to give him, and he hath all his Officers, and a Court ſutable to a great Prince, and many of the prime Nobility and great Officers of State, are feaſted and entertained by him with Enterludes, &c.

From All Saints day to Candlemas, each Houſe uſually hath Revels on Holy-dayes, that is, Muſick and Dancing; and for this is choſen ſome young Student to be Maſter of the Revels.

Note, that the manner of their Parlament is briefly thus.

Every Quarter commonly, the Benchers cauſe one of the ſtanding Officers of the Houſe to ſummon a Parlament, which is onely an Aſſembly and Conference of Benchers and Utter-Bariſters, which are called the Sage Company, and meet in a place called the Parlament Chamber, and there Treat of ſuch matters, as ſhall ſeem expedient for the good ordering of the Houſe, and the Reformation of ſuch things as they ſhall judge meet to be Reformed. Here are the Readers for Lent and Summer vacation elected, alſo the Treaſurer is here choſen, and the Auditors appointed to take the Accounts of the old Treaſurer, &c. Here offences committed by any of the Society are puniſhed, &c.

Theſe Innes of Court are moſt wiſely ſituated by our Anceſtors, between the Kings Courts of Judicature, and the moſt opulent City of London.

In the Four Innes of Court are reckoned about 800 Students.

Laſtly, there are two more Colledges called Sergeants Inne, where the Common-Law Student, when he is arrived to the higheſt degree, hath his Lodging and Dyet. Theſe are called Servientes ad Legem, Sergeants at Law, and are as Doctors in the Civil Law, only theſe have heretofore been reputed more Noble and Honourable, Doctoris enim appellatio eſt Magiſterii, Servientis vero Miniſterii, and therefore Doctors of Law are allowed to ſit within the Bar in Chairs and covered, whilſt Sergeants ſtand without the Bar bareheaded, only with Coiffs or Caps on.

To arrive to this high Degree, take this brief account.

The young Student in the Common Law, being born of a Gentile Stock, and bred two or three years in the Univerſity, and there chiefly verſed in Logick and Rhetorick, both expedient for a Lawyer, and gotten ſome inſight into the Civil Law, and ſome skill in the French Tongue, as well as Latin, he is admitted to be one of the Four Innes of Court, where he is firſt called a Moot man, and after about Seven years ſtudy, is choſen an Utter Bariſter, and having then ſpent Twelve years more, and performed the Exerciſes before mentioned, he is choſen a Bencher, and ſome time after a Reader: during the Reading which heretofore was Three weeks and Three days, the Reader keeps a conſtant and ſumptuous Feaſting, inviting the chief Nobles, Judges, Biſhops, great Officers of the Kingdom, and ſometimes the King himſelf (as that moſt accompliſhed Lawyer, the preſent Atturney General did) that it coſts them ſometimes 800 or 1000 l. Afterward he wears a long Robe, different from other Bariſters, and is then in a capacity to be made a Sergeant at Law, when His Majeſty ſhall pleaſe to call him, which is in this manner.

When the number of Sergeants is ſmall, the Lord Chief Juſtice of the Common Pleas, by the advice and conſent of the other Judges, make choice of Six or Eight, more or leſs, of the moſt Grave and Learned of the Innes of Court, and preſents their Names to the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper, who ſends by the Kings Writ, to each of them to appear on ſuch a day before the King, to receive the State and Degree of Sergeant at Law; at the appointed time, they being habited in Robes of two colours, viz. Brown and Blew; come accompanyed with the Students of the Innes of Court, and attended by a train of Servants and Retainers, in certain peculiar cloth Liveries, to Weſtminſter-Hall, there in publick take a ſolemn Oath, and are clothed with certain Robes and Coyfs, without which they may no more be ſeen in publick; after this they feaſt the great perſons of the Nation, in a very magnificent and Princely manner, give Gold Rings to the Princes of the Blood, Archbiſhops, Chancellor and Treaſurer, to the value of Forty ſhillings each Ring: to Earles, Biſhops, Rings of Twenty ſhillings: to other great Officers, to Barons, great Prelates, &c. Rings of leſs value.

Out of theſe are choſen all the Judges of the Kings Bench and Common Pleas, wherefore all thoſe Judges do alwayes wear the white Linnen Coyfe, which is the Principal Badge of a Sergeant, and which he had ever the Priviledge to wear at all times, even in the Kings preſence, and whilſt he ſpake to the King, though antiently it was not permitted to any Subject, to be ſo much as capped in the Preſence of the King of England, as at preſent it is not allowed in the preſence of the Pope or of the Emperour.

When any of the aforementioned Judges are wanting, the King by advice of His Council, makes choice of one of theſe Sergeants at Law, to ſupply his place, and conſtitutes him by Letters Patents, Sealed by the Chancellor, who ſitting in the middle of the reſt of the Judges in open Court, by a ſet Speech declares to the Sergeant (that upon this occaſion is brought in) the Kings pleaſure, and to the people, the Kings goodneſs, in providing the Bench with ſuch able honeſt men, as that Juſtice may be done expeditely and impartially to all His Subjects, and then cauſes the ſaid Letters Patents to be read; and being departed, the Chief Juſtice places the ſaid Sergeant on the Bench, junior of all the reſt; and having taken his Oath well and truly to ſerve the King and His people in the Office of Juſtice, to take no reward, to do equal and ſpeedy Juſtice to all, &c. he ſits himſelf to the Execution of his Charge.

The Sergeant being thus advanced to be a Judge, hath thereby great Honour, and a very conſiderable Salary, beſides certain perquiſits, for each one hath at leaſt One thouſand pound a year from the King; and now in ſome things, his former habit of a Sergeant is altered, his long Robe and Cap, his Hood and Coif are the ſame, but there is beſides, a Cloak put over him, and cloſed on his right ſhoulder, and inſtead of a Caputium lined with Lambskin, now a Caputium lined with Minever, or de Minuto vario, divers ſmall pieces of white rich Furre.

Note, that to the two Sergeants Innes belong the Twelve Judges, and about Twenty ſix Sergeants.

Antiently, the Fee expected by a Sergeant from his Client for Advice given at his Chamber, or for pleading in any Court of Judicature, was no more then Twenty ſhillings, and the Fee of a Bariſter Ten ſhillings, (which yet is much more then is uſually given in any of our neighbour Nations at this day) but at preſent, it is become almoſt ordinary, to give ſome Setgeants Ten pound, and ſometimes Twenty pound, and to a Bariſter, half as much, at the hearing of any conſiderable Cauſe, whereby it comes to paſs, that ſome Lawyers in one year gain in Fees Three thouſand pounds, and ſome Four thouſand pounds, and in few years purchaſe Eſtates fit for Lords, and ſometimes live to ſee themſelves advanced to be Peers of the Realm, as the late Lord Keepers, Coventry, Finch, and others.

Now all theſe forementioned Innes or Colledges for the Students in our Common law, being not far diſtant one from another, do make the moſt famous Profeſſion of the Law that is in the World: and it will be a very difficult thing to find in any one Forreign Univerſity, ſo many Students of the Law, that are of that ripe age paſt Childhood, and of that high quality, moſt Gentlemen, and a conſiderable number of the Sons of the higher Nobility.

Of the Colledge of Civilians, called Doctors Commons.

ALthough Degrees in the Civil Law may be had onely in Oxford and Cambridge, and the Theory beſt there to be acquired; yet the Practice thereof, is moſt of all in London, where a Colledge was long ſince purchaſed by Dr. Henry Harvey, Dean of the Arches, for the Profeſſors of the Civil Law in this City; and where commonly did reſide the Judge of the Arches, the Judge of the Admiralty, and the Judge of the Prerogative Court, with divers other eminent Civilians, who there living (for Diet and Lodging) in a Collegiate manner, and Commoning together, it was uſually known by the name of Doctors Commons, and ſtood near S. Pauls, in the Pariſh of S. Bennets Pauls-Wharf; which being conſumed by the late dreadful Fire, they now all reſide at Exeter Houſe in the Strand, in the ſame manner (until their Houſe be rebuilt) and keep there their ſeveral Courts and Pleadings every Term, which begins and ends almoſt at the ſame time with the Term at Weſtminſter.

The cheif Court of the Archbiſhop, is that of the Arches, whereof ſee more in the Chapter of the Eccleſiaſtical Government of England.

The Principal, Official, or Judge of this Court is ſtiled Dean of the Arches, and is at preſent Sir Giles Sweit Knight, Doctor of Laws.

He fitteth alone without any Aſſeſſors, and heareth and determineth all Cauſes, without any Jury of Twelve Men, as is neceſſary in Common Law Courts.

To this Court belongeth an Actuary, a Regiſter, and a Beadle.

The Office of the Actuary is to attend the Court, ſet down the Judges Decrees, Regiſter the Acts of the Court, and ſend them in Books to the Regiſtry. This Office is enjoyed by John Clements, Batchelor of Laws, and Publick Notary.

The Regiſter of the Court is another of the ſame name, whoſe Office is by himſelf, or Deputy to attend the Court, receive all Libels or Bills, Allegations and Exhibets, examines all Witneſſes, Files all Sentences, and keeps the Records of the Court.

The Beadle attends the Court, carrieth a Mace before the Judge, and calls the Perſons cited to appear.

Thoſe that are allowed to be Advocates, and plead in this Court, are all to be Doctors of the Civil Law, in one of our Engliſh Univerſities; who upon their Petition to the Archbiſhop of Canterbury, and his Fiat obtained, are admitted by the Judge of this Court, upon condition not to practice for one whole year, after ſuch admittance.

The manner of their Admittance is thus, The Two Senior Advocates in their Scarlet Robes, with the Mace before them, conduct him up to the Court, with three low Reverences, and preſent him with a ſhort Latin Speech, and the Reſcript of the Archbiſhop: Then the Oaths of Allegiance, Supremacy, and ſome other preſcribed in the Statute of the Arches, being taken, he is admitted by the Judge, and a place or ſeat in the Court aſſigned unto him, which he is always to keep when he pleads.

The Judge and all the Advocates, in this Court, always wear their Scarlet Robes, with Hoods lined with Taffata, if they be of Oxford; or White Minever Fur, if of Cambridge; and all round, Black Velvet-Caps.

Here followeth a Catalogue of the Names of all the Advocates, according to Seniority, not Precedence. DOctor Martin. Dr. Heath. Dr. King, Chancellor of Ely. Dr. Lewen, Knight. Maſter of Chancery. Dr. Aldern, Chancellor of Rocheſter. Dr. Wiſeman, Knight. Kings Advocate. Dr. Chaworth, Knight. Vicar-General to the Archbiſhop of Canterbury. Dr. Walker, Knight. Advocate to the Lord High Admiral. Dr. Pepys. Dr. Mills, Chancellor of Norwich. Dr. Cruſoe. Dr. Baldwin, Knight. Maſter of Chancery, and Chancellor of Worceſter and Hereford. Dr. Nicholſon, Chancellor of Gloceſter. Dr. Lowen. Dr. Wake, Chancellor of Peterborough. Dr. Watkinſon. Dr. Birkenhead, Knight. Maſter of Requeſt, and Maſter of the Faculties. Dr. Warren. Dr. Bud, Commiſſary of Huntingdon. Dr. Alworth, Chancellor of Oxford. Dr. Jones. Dr. Exton, Chancellor of London. Dr. Hughs. Dr. Lloyd, Commiſſary of Weſtminſter. Dr. Boucher. Dr. Maſters, Chancellor of Exeter. Dr. Clark, Profeſſor of Law in Cambridge. Dr. Leighton, Knight. Dr. Digby. Dr. Low. Dr. Trumbal. Dr. Falconbridge. Dr. Pinfold, Official of the Archdeacon of London. Dr. Elliot, Chancellor of Salisbury. Dr. Raims. Dr. Briggs, Chancellor of Chicheſter. Dr. Oldys. Dr. Meal.

There we divers other Civilians, whereof ſome, not Advocates of this Court, are Chancellors to Biſhops, or Commiſſaries; as Sir Mundiford Brampſtone, Knight. Doctor of Laws, and Chancellor of Wincheſter. Dr. Burrel, Chancellor of Durham. Sir Edward Lake Knight. Doctor of Laws, and Chancellot of Lincoln. Dr. Dean, Chancellor of Bath and Wells. Dr. Wainwright, Chancellor of Cheſter. Dr. Jones, Chancellor of Briſtol. Chancellor of Carliſle, Rowland Nicols ▪ B. D. Mr. Awbery, Chancellor of S. Davids. Dr. Pennington, Chancellor of Bangor. Dr. Powell, Chancellor of S. Aſaph.

Here note, That before the Vicar-General or Chancellors of the Biſhops, are Tryable all Eccleſiaſtical Cauſes within their reſpective Dioceſſes, except Letters of Requeſt are granted by the Dioceſan Biſhop to the Party, to ſue in the Court of Arches, which is ordinary.

Note alſo, That the Vicars-Generals and Chancellors, are appointed by the reſpective Archbiſhops and Biſhops, by Letters Patents under their Seals, and confirmed by the Dean and Chapter of the reſpective Cathedrals; before which Confirmation, thoſe places are Durante bene placito.

The Proctors belonging to this Court aforementioned, are perſons that exhibite their Proxies for their Clients, and make themſelves parties for them, and draw and give in Pleas or Libells and Allegations, in the behalf of their Clients, produce the Witneſſes, prepare the Cauſes for Sentence, and attend the Advocates with the Proceedings.

They are alſo admitted by the Fiat of the Archbiſhop, introduced by the Two Senior Proctors, and are allowed to practiſe immediately after their admiſſion; they wear Black Robes and Hoods lined with White Fur.

According to the Statutes of this Court, all Arguments made by Advocates, and all Petitions made by the Proctors, are to be in the Latin Tongue.

All Proceſs of this Court, run in the name of the Judge, thus. Egi. Sweit, Miles, LL. Dr. Almae Curiae Cant. de Arcubus Lond. Officialis Principalis; and returnable before him heretofore in Bow Church; now in the Common Hall at Exeter Houſe.

The Places and Offices belonging to this Court, are all in the gift of the Archbiſhop of Canterbury, whoſe Court it is.

Here note, That the next Morning after the ſitting of this Court, the Judge of the Court of Audience did uſually ſit, but ſince the late Troubles, that Court hath been diſcontinued.

Next is the Court of Admiralty, whereof ſee more in Chapter of the Military Government.

The preſent Judge of this Court is Sir Leolin Jenkins, Knight. Doctor of Laws, whoſe Title is Supremae Curiae Admiralitatis Angliae locum tenens Judex ſive Praeſidens. The Writs and Decrees run in the name of the Lord High Admiral, and are directed to all Vice-Admirals, Juſtices of Peace, Majors, Sheriffs, Bailiffs, Conſtables, Marſhals, and others, Officers and Miniſters of our Soveraign Lord the King, as well within Liberties, as without.

To this Court belongs a Regiſter, Orlando Gee, Eſquire; a Marſhal, who attends the Court, and carries a Silver Oar before the Judge, whereon are the Arms of the King, and of the Lord High Admiral.

The Lord Admiral hath here his Advocate and Proctor, and all other Advocates and Proctors are preſented by them, and admitted by the Judge.

This Court is held on the ſame day with the Arches, but in the afternoon, and heretofore at St. Margarets Hill in Southwark, but now in the ſame Common Hall at Exeter houſe. But the Admiralty Seſſion is ſtill held, for the Tryal of Malefactors, and Crimes committed at Sea, at the Antient place aforeſaid.

The places and Offices belonging to this Court, are in the Gift of the Lord High Admiral.

Next, is another Court belonging to the Archbiſhop of Canterbury, called the Prerogative Court, whereof ſee more in the Chapter of the Eccleſiaſtical Government of England.

The Judge of this Court is the forenamed Sir Leolin Jenkins, and his Title here is, Curiae Prerogativae Cant. Magiſter, Cuſtos, ſive Commiſſarius.

All Citations and Decrees run in the name of the Archbiſhop.

This Court is kept in the ſame Common Hall in the afternoon, next day after the Arches, and was heretofore held in the Conſiſtory of St Pauls.

The Judge is attended by a Regiſter, Marke Cottle Eſquire, who ſets down the Decrees, and Acts of the Court, and keeps the Records, all Original Wills and Teſtaments of parties dying, having Bona Notabilia, &c. The place is commonly called the Prerogative Office, now kept in the Savoy, where for a moderate Fee, one may ſearch for, and have a Copy of any ſuch Teſtament made ſince the Rebellion of Wat Tiler and Jack Straw, by whom many Records and Writings, in ſeveral places of London were then burnt and deſtroyed.

The Places belonging to this Court are in the Gift of the Archbiſhop of Canterbury.

From the forementioned Courts, Appeals do lye to the Court of Delegates, whereof more pag. 76, the Judges whereof are appointed by the Lord Keeper under the great Seal of England, pro illa vice, and upon every cauſe or buſineſs there is a new Commiſſion, and new Judges, according to the nature of the Affair or Cauſe, as ſometimes Biſhops, Common-Law-Judges, and Civilians, and ſometimes Biſhops and Civilians, and ſometimes Common-Law-Judges and Civilians, and ſometimes Civilians onely.

To this Court belongs a ſtanding Regiſter, and the Court is kept in the ſame Common Hall, in the afternoon, the day after the Prerogative.

The Citations and Decrees here run in the Kings Name.

From this Court lyes no Appeal in Common courſe.

But the King of His meer Prerogative Royal may, and many times doth grant a Commiſſion of Review, under the Broad Seal,

In this Colledge alſo uſually reſides the Vicar-General, belonging to the Archbiſhop biſhop of Canterbury, who as he is Primate, hath the Guardianſhip of the Spiritualties of every Biſhop within his Province during the Vacancy, and executes all Epiſcopal Power and Jurisdiction by his Vicar-General, who is at preſent in the Province of Canterbury, Sir Richard Chaworth Knight, Doctor of Laws.

The Archbiſhop of York hath the like Power in his Province, and his Vicar-General is Dr. Burnel, he alſo hath a Prerogative Court, whereof the Judge is Dr. Levet.

Of the Colledge of Phyſitians in London.

AMongſt other excellent Inſtitutions in the City of London, there is a Colledge or Corporation of Phyſitians, who by Charters and Acts of Parliament of Henry VIII. and ſince his Raign, have certain Priviledges, whereby no man though a Graduat in Phſick, of Oxford or Cambridge, may without Licence under the ſaid Colledge Seal, practice Phyſick in London, or within ſeven miles of this City, (nor in any other part of England, in caſe he hath not taken any Degree in Oxford or Cambridge.) Whereby alſo they can adminiſter an Oath, fine and impriſon any Offenders, in that and divers other particulars, can make By-Laws, purchaſe Lands, &c. Whereby they have Authority to ſearch all the ſhops of Apothecaries in and about London, to ſee if their Drugs and Compoſitions are wholeſome and well made; whereby they are freed from all troubleſome Offices, as to ſerve upon Juries, to be Conſtable, to keep watch and ward, to bear Arms, or provide Armes or Ammunition, &c. any Member of that Colledge may practice Surgery if he pleaſe not onely in London, but in any part of England.

This Society had antiently a Colledge in Knight-Rider-Street, the Gift of Doctor Linacre, Phyſitian to King Henry the VIII. ſince which, a Houſe and Ground was purchaſed by the Society of Phyſitians, at the end of Amen ſtreet, whereon the ever famous Dr. Harvey, Anno 1652. did erect at his own proper charge a Magnificent Structure, both for a Library and a Publick Hall for the meeting of the ſeveral Members of this Society, endowed the ſame with his whole Inheritance, which he reſigned up, while he was yet living and in Health, part of which he aſſigned for an Anniverſary Harangue, to commemorate all their Benefactors, to exhort others to follow their good Examples, and to provide a plentiful Dinner for the worthy Company.

Anno 1666. This goodly Edifice could not eſcape the Fury of that dreadful Fire, and that ground being but a Leaſe, the preſent Fellows of this Colledge have purchaſed with their own Moneys, a fair piece of Ground in Warwick-lane, whereon they are now raiſing a ſutable Edifice.

Of this Colledge there is a Preſident, Four Cenſors, and Eight Elects, who are all Principal Members of the Society, and out of whom, one is every year choſen to preſide.

The Four Cenſors of the Colledge have, by their Charter, authority to ſurvey, correct, and govern all Phyſitians, or others, that ſhall practiſe in London, or within ſeven miles of the ſame; to fine, amerce and impriſon any of them, as they ſhall ſee cauſe.

Here followeth a Liſt of all the Principal Phyſitians, who now practiſe in London. Socii Colleg. Med. Lond. SIr George Ent, Preſident. Dr. Hamey. Dr. Gliſſon. Dr. Salmon ▪ Dr. Stane, Cenſor. Sir Alexander Fraſier. Dr. Micklethwait. Dr. Paget. Dr. Timothy Clark. Dr. Goddard, Cenſor. Dr. King. Dr. Cox. Dr. Stanley. Dr. Whiſtler. Sir Charles Scarborough. Dr. Wharton. Dr. Merret, Cenſor. Dr. Samuel Collins. Dr. Rugeley Sir William Petty. Dr. Terne. Sir John Babor. Sir Edward Greaves. Dr. Croyden, Cenſor. Dr. Bevoir. Dr. Wolfe. Dr. Luellen. Sir John Finch. Dr. Banes. Dr. Walter. Dr. Burwell. Dr. Rogers. Dr. Mills. Dr. Lang. Dr. Betts. Dr. Twiſden. Dr. Waldron. Dr. Barwick. Dr. Dacres. Dr. Samuel Collins. Dr. Collier. Dr. James Clark. Dr. Jasper Needham. Dr. Henry Clark. Dr. Carr. Dr. Packer. Candidati. Dr. Stracey. Dr. Yerbury. Dr. Allen. Dr. Hodges. Dr. Millington. Dr. Parker. Dr. Jo. Smith. Dr. Lawſon. Dr. Coyſh. Dr. Bruce. Dr. Brooks. Dr. Howarth. Dr. George Smith. Sir Thomas Bathurſt. Dr. Francklin. Dr. Atfield. Dr. Downes. Dr. Trevor. Dr. Croone. Dr. Browne. Dr. Burwell. Dr. Short. Dr. Marſhall. Socii Honorarii. Dr. Frear. Dr. Parker. Dr. Gourdon. Dr. Denton. Sir John Colladon. Dr. Meara. Dr. Lampriere. Dr. Bowle. Dr. Bacon. Sir Richard Napier. Sir John Hinton. Dr. Coleſtone. Dr. Charleton. Dr. Dawtrey. Dr. Deodait. Dr. Fogarſius. Dr. Hames. Dr. Jo. Skinner. Dr. Timme. Dr. Warner. Dr. Harris. Dr. Argall. Dr. Arris. Dr. Langham. Dr. Meverell. Dr. Stanley. Sir Theodore de Veaux. Dr. Witherley. Dr. Titchborne. Dr. Woodcock. Dr. King. Dr. Tayler. Dr. Bright. Dr. Moore. Dr. Curſellis. Dr. Walgrave. Dr. Ball. Dr. Duke. Dr. Harriſon. Dr. Man. Dr. Barebone. Dr. Napier. Dr. Gelſthorpe. Dr. Griffith. Dr. Walter Needham. Dr. Moeſler. Dr. Carter. Dr. Trapham. Dr. Henry Gliſſon. Dr. Charleton. Dr. John Clark. Dr. Cavendiſh. Dr. Dennis Gourden. Dr. Bridgood. Dr. Yardley. Dr. Browne. Dr. Paman. Dr. Fiſher. Dr. Grinder. Dr. Lawrence. Dr▪ Willis. Dr. Dickenſon. Dr. Fielding. Dr. Medford. Dr. Grey. Dr. Sagittary. Dr. White. Dr. Waterhouſe. Permiſſi. Dr. Wedderburn. Dr. Trist. Dr. Lenthall. Dr. Barrough. Dr. Broome. Dr. Welman. Dr. Vermuden. Dr. Sydenham.

Antiently, the uſual Fee of a Doctor was 20 s. and of one that had not taken that degree 10 s. at preſent there is no certain rule: But ſome that are eminent, have received in Fees yearly, 2 or 3000 l. and purchaſe great Eſtates; which in other Countreys is very rare.

Beſides the worthy perſons mentioned in the Liſt above, there are divers Phyſitians, that have good practice in London, although they never had any Licence, which is connived at by the Colledge; and ſo is the too much practiſe of Empericks, Mountebanks, Pretended Chymiſts, Apothecaries, Surgeons, Wiſe-women, &c. In which piece of folly, the Engliſh ſurpaſs all the Nations of Chriſtendom.

And yet, by the Law of England, if one who is no Phyſitian or Surgeon, or not expreſly allowed to practiſe, ſhall take upon him a Cure, and his Patient die under his hands; this is Felony in the perſon preſuming ſo to do.

Of the Colledge of Heralds.

NOt far from the Colledge of Doctors Commons, ſtood the Colledge of Heralds, that is, of ſuch as are to be Meſſengers of War and Peace, that are skilful in Deſcents, Pedigrees, and Coats or Armories, an Ancient Houſe, built by Thomas Stanley, Earl of Derby, who married the Mother of King Henry the Seventh, and beſtowed by Queen Mary on the Kings Heralds, and Purſuivants at Arms for ever, to the end that they, and their Succeſſors might dwell together (if they ſo pleaſed) and aſſemble, confer, and agree for the good Government of their Faculty, and that their Records might there ſafely be preſerved, &c.

They were made a Colledge or Corporation, by Charter of King Richard the Third, and by him had ſeveral Priviledges granted unto them; as, to be free from Subſidies, Tolls, and all troubleſome Offices of the Kingdom.

Afterwards, another Charter of Priviledges was granted unto this Society by King Edward the Sixth, in the third year of His Reign.

Of this Collegiate Society are firſt; three, ſtiled Reges Armorum Anglorum, Kings at Arms, ſix called Heralds, and four Purſuivants at Arms.

Amongſt the Kings at Arms; the firſt and principal is called Garter, inſtituted by King Henry the Fifth, whoſe office is to attend the Knights of the Garter at their Solemnities, and to Marſhal the Solemnities at the Funerals of all the higher Nobility of England, to advertiſe thoſe that are choſen, of their new Election, to call on them to be inſtalled at Windſor, to cauſe their Arms to be hung up upon their Seats there, to carry the Garter to Kings and Princes beyond the Seas; for which purpoſe, he was wont to be joyned in Commiſſion with ſome Principal Peer of the Realm, &c.

The next is Clarencieux, ſo called from the Duke of Clarence, to whom he firſt belonged; for Lionel, Third Son to Edward the Third, marrying the daughter and heir of the Earl of Ulſter in Ireland, had with her the Honor of Clare in the County of Twomond, whereupon he was afterwards created Duke of Clarence, or the Territory about Clare, which Dukedom eſcheating to King Edward the Fourth, by the death of His Brother George, Duke of Clarence, He made this Herald, who properly belonged to that Duke, a King at Arms, and named him Clarentieux in French, and Clarentius in Latin. His Office is to marſhal and diſpoſe the Funerals of all the lower Nobility, as, Baronets, Knights, Eſquires, and Gentlemen on the South-ſide of Trent, and therefore ſometimes called Surroy or Southroy.

The third King at Arms is Norroy or Northroy, whoſe Office is to do the like on all the North-ſide of Trent.

The two laſt are called Provincial Heralds, England being by them divided into two Provinces.

Theſe by Charter have power to viſit Noblemens Families, to ſet down their Pedigrees, to diſtinguiſh their Arms, to appoint Men their Arms or Enſigns, and with Garter to direct the Heralds.

The Six Heralds anciently belonging properly to Dukes, have been ſometimes named Dukes at Arms, and are thus called and ranked: Firſt, Windſor; ſecondly, Richmond; thirdly, Cheſter; fourthly, Somerſet; fifthly, York; ſixthly, Lancaſter. Whoſe Office was anciently to attend Dukes in Marſhal Executions: Now they are to wait at Court, attend Publick Solemnities, Proclaim War and Peace, &c. thence perhaps named Heralds, from two German words, Here and Healt, that is, the Armies Champion, to denounce War, or offer Peace, as the Feciales of the Romans did; and from hence probably Seven Daniſh Kings, and ſome Kings of Norway, and of Sweden, and ſome of England, before the Conqueſt, have had the name of Harold, which is all one (ſaith Verſtegan) with Herald.

Theſe have no certain Province under them, but by turns wait upon the Kings at Arms, and have part of their Fees.

Of theſe Heralds in England, there were anciently many, and ſo likewiſe of Purſuivants, whereof at preſent, there are but four thus named, Rouge Croſs, Rouge Dragon, Portcullice, and Blewmantle, from ſuch Badges heretofore worn by them, as it is thought.

The ſervice of theſe, and of the Heralds, and of the whole Colledge, is uſed in marſhalling and ordering Coronations, Marriages, Chriſtnings, Funerals, Interviews, Feaſts of Kings and Princes, Cavalcades, Shews, Juſts, Tournaments, Combats before the Conſtable and Marſhal, &c. Alſo they take care of the Coats of Arms, of the Genealogies of the Nobility and Gentry, briefly, whatſoever concerns Honor, is their care and ſtudy, they are Tanquam Sacrorum Cuſtodes & Templi Honoris Aeditui.

All theſe receive Annual Stipends out of the Kings Exchequer. They are all to be Gentlemen at the leaſt, and the Six Heralds are expreſly made Eſquires by the King, when they are created Heralds.

Anciently the Kings at Arms were Created, and ſolemnly Crowned by the Kings of England themſelves, and the Heralds and Purſuivants had their Creations from the Kings hand; but of later times the Earl Marſhal hath had a ſpecial Commiſſion for every particular Creation, and to do all that before was done by the King.

For the Creating and Crowning of Garter, King at Arms; there are firſt to be provided a Sword and a Book, whereon to take a Solemn Oath, then a Gilt Crown, a Coller of S's, a Bowl of Wine; which Bowl is the Fee of the new created King, alſo a Coat of Arms of Velvet richly embroidered: His Creation is on this manner; firſt, he kneels down before the Earl Marſhal, and laying his hand on the Book and Sword, another King at Armes reads the Oath, which being taken, and the Book and Sword kiſſed; next are read the Letters Patents of his Office, during which, the Earl Marſhal powres the Wine on his head, and gives him the Name of Garter, then puts on him the Coat of Armes and Collar of S's, and the Crown on his head.

The Oath is to obey, firſt, the Supream head of the moſt noble Order of the Garter, and then the Noble Knights of that Order, in ſuch things as belong to his Office, to inquire diligently of all the Noble and notable Acts of every Knight of this Order, and thereof to certify the Regiſter of that Order, that he may record the ſame, and to give notice to the King, and the Knights of the Order, of the death of any of that Society: to have an exact knowledge of all the Nobility, to inſtruct Heralds and Purſuivants in doubts concerning the Office of Arms, to eſchew and avoid all perſons of ill reputation, to be more ready to excuſe then to blame any noble perſon, unleſs called by Authority, to witneſs againſt them, &c. This Officer hath a double Salary, double to the two other Kings, and hath moreover Fees at the Inſtalments; yearly wages given by the Knights of the Garter, hath the uppermoſt Garment at their Inſtallments, &c.

The two Provincial Kings at Armes, Clarentius and Norroy, are created by Letters Patents, a Book, a Sword, &c. as Garter, and with almoſt the ſame Ceremonies.

A Herald at Armes is alſo created with the like Ceremony; onely his Coat of Armes muſt be Sattin, embroidered and enricht with gold, and muſt be brought in with two Heralds, as the Kings at Arms are by two Kings at Armes.

They take a ſolemn Oath to be true to the King, to be ſerviceable to Gentlemen, to keep ſecrets of Knights, Eſquires, Ladies and Gentlewomen, to aſſiſt diſtreſſed Gentlemen and Gentlewomen, Widows and Virgins; to avoid Taverns, Dicing, and Whore-houſes, &c. Purſuivants at Armes, are created alſo by Letters Patents, a Book, a Bowl of Wine, and a Coat of Arms of Damask, and to be brought in, as the Heralds, before the Earl Marſhal, or his Deputy, and to ſwear in ſolemn manner to be true to the King, to be ſerviceable to all Chriſtians, to be ſecret and ſober, to be more ready to commend then to blame, to be humble, lowly, &c.

This Office ſince the late dreadful fire, is held in the Queens Court at Weſtminſter, where are ſome always waiting, to ſatisfy comers touching Deſcents, Pedigrees, Coates of Armes, &c. as was formerly done at the forementioned houſe up in London, which is now begun to be rebuilt by the Members of the Colledge, and (it is hoped) may in a ſhort time, by the bountiful Contributions of all men that have any ſence of Honour remaining, be compleated to the glory of this City and Kingdom.

All of this Colledge, being the Kings ſworn ſervants, the Reader may find a Liſt of their Names, in the Firſt Part, about the Kings Court.

Within the Walls of London alſo is ſeated a Colledge, built by the forementioned worthy perſon Sir Thomas Greſham, and indowed in manner following: After he had built the Royal Exchange, he gave the Revenue thereof, the one Moity to the Mayor and Commonalty of London, and their Succeſſors; and the other moity to the Company of Mercers in truſt, that the Mayor and Aldermen ſhould find in all time to come, four able perſons to read within this Colledge, Divinity, Geometry, Aſtronomy, and Muſick, and to allow to each of them, beſides their fair lodging 50 l. a year. And that the Company of Mercers ſhould find Three more able men, to read Civil Law, Phyſick and Rhetorick, and to allow to each one of them beſides fair Lodgings 50 l. a year. And that theſe ſeveral Lecturers ſhould read in Term time, every day in the week (except Sundayes) aforenoon, in Latin, and afternoon the ſame in Engliſh: The Muſick Lecture to be read onely in Engliſh.

There is alſo within London another called Sion Colledge, founded by Thomas White Doctor in Divinity, for the uſe of the Clergy of London, and of the Liberties thereof; and a part thereof to be for 20 poor people, to perform all which, he gave 3000 l. and for the maintenance of thoſe poor he ſetled 120 l ▪ a year, for ever; and 40 l. a year for a Sermon in Latin, at the beginning of every quarter, and a plentiful Dinner for all the Clergy that ſhall then meet there. In this Colledge is a fair ſpacious Library, built by John Sympſon, Rector of Saint Olaves Hart ſtreet, and one of the ſaid Doctor Whites Executors, and by the bounty of divers Benefactors, this Library hath been well furniſhed with Books, chiefly ſuch as are uſeful for Divines. This Colledge felt the rage of the late Fire, but is almoſt repaired again.

A little without the Walls ſtands another Colledge or Collegiate Houſe, called antiently the Chartreuſe, now corruptly the Charter houſe, it being heretofore a Covent of Carthuſian Monks, called in French des Chartreux. This Colledge called alſo Suttons Hoſpital, conſiſts of a Maſter or Governor, at preſent Sir Ralph Sidenham, a Chaplain Doctor Thriſcroſs, a Maſter and Uſher to inſtruct 44 Scholars; beſides fourſcore decayed Gentlemen, Souldiers and Merchants, who have all a plentiful maintenance of Dyet, Lodging, Clothes and Phyſick, &c. and live altogether in a Collegiate manner, with much cleanlineſs and neatneſs: and the four and fourty Scholars have not onely all neceſſaries whilſt they are here taught, but if they become fit for the Univerſities, there is allowed unto each one, out of the yearly Revenues of this Colledge 20 l. yearly, and duly paid, for 8 years after they come to the Univerſity, and to others fitter for Trades, there is allowed a conſiderable Sum of money to bind them Apprentices. There are moreover all ſorts of officers expedient for ſuch a Society, as Phyſitian, Apothecary, Steward, Cooks, Butlers, &c. who have all competent Salaries. This vaſt Revenue and Princely Foundation was the ſole Gift of an ordinary Gentleman, Mr. Thomas Sutton, born in Lincoln-ſhire: and 'twas of ſuch high Account as it was thought fit, that by the Kings Letters Patents under the Great Seal, divers perſons of the higheſt Dignity and Quality in Church and State, ſhould alwayes be the Overſeers and Regulators of this Society; as the Archbiſhop of Canterbury, the Lord Keeper, Lord Treaſurer, and 13 others.

Beſides, there are in London divers endowed Schools, which in France, would be ſtiled Colledges; as Paul's School, foundded 1512. by John Collet, Doctor of Divinity, and Dean of Pauls, for 153 Children to be taught there gratis, for which purpoſe he appointed a Maſter, a Sub-maſter or Uſher, and a Chaplain, with large ſtipends for ever, committing the overſight thereof to the Maſters, Wardens, and Aſſiſtants of the Mercers in London; for his father Henry Collet, ſometime Lord Mayor of London, was of the Mercers Company. This famous School was alſo lately burnt down, and now is reedified in a far more magnificent, commodious and beautiful manner, the worthy Maſter thereof is Mr. Samuel Crumholm alias Cromlum.

There are in London divers other endowed Schools, as Merchant-Taylors, Mercers-Chappel, &c. a particular Account whereof the deſigned Brevity of this Treatiſe will not admit.

It would alſo make this Book too much ſwell to give an Account of the many richly endowed Hoſpitals, Almes-houſes, Work-houſes, or Houſes of Correction, the many ſtately built Taverns, Inns, and Coffee Houſes, ſome whereof ſurpaſs all others in foreign parts, and are worthy to be viewed by curious Travellers, who may alſo find it worthy their pains, to remarque the ſeveral ſpatious well-built Theaters, which for variety of Scenes, excellent Actors, Language, Deſigns, Muſick, &c. are hardly to be equalled: Moreover they may obſerve the many well furniſht Markets, the weekly Horſe-fairs, the great commodiouſneſs of Hackney-Coaches, of Sedans, of Boats, &c. belonging to this famous City; alſo to conſider the City of Weſtminſter and the Burrough of Southwark, both which now ſeem to be ſwallowed up in London.

Within the Precincts of Weſtminſter are many Magnalia, ſeveral things are as remarkable as any aforementioned: the antient ſtately Abby Church founded before the Norman Conqueſt, by the Pious King Edward the Confeſſor, and moſt richly endowed; afterwards rebuilt from the ground by Henry the III. with that rare Architecture now ſeen, wherein are the moſt magnificent Tombs and Monuments of our Kings and Queens, and greateſt Nobles of England. To the Eaſt end of which is added a Chappel of King Henry the VII. which, for the moſt admirable artificial work without and within, for a Monument of maſſy Braſs, moſt curiouſly wrought, is ſcarce to be paralleld in the World.

This huge Fabrick ſtands where firſt was the Temple of Apollo, and afterwards King Sebert, the Eaſt Saxon King, that firſt built St. Pauls aforementioned, built here a Church to St. Peter.

Queen Elizabeth converted this Abbey into a Collegiate Church, and therein placed a Dean, 12 Secular Canons or Prebendaries, Petty Canons and others of the Quire to the number of 30, ten Officers belonging to the Church, as many ſervants belonging to the Collegiate Dyet, two Schoolmaſters, 40 Scholars, 12 Almesmen, with plentiful maintenance for all, beſides Stewards, Receivers, Regiſters, Collectors, and other Officers, the principal whereof is the high Steward of Weſtminſter, who is uſually one of the prime Nobility, and is at preſent the Lord Chamberlain. The Dean is entruſted with the cuſtody of the Regalia at the Coronation, honored with a place of neceſſary ſervice at all Coronations, and a Commiſſion of Peace within the City and Liberties of Weſtminſter, the Dean and Chapter inveſted with all manner of Juriſdiction, both Eccleſiaſtical and Civil, not onely within the City and Liberties of Weſtminſter, but within the Precincts of St. Martin le grand, within the Walls of London, and in ſome Towns of Eſſex, exempted in the one, from the Juriſdiction of the Biſhop of London; and in the other, from that of the Archbiſhop of Canterbury.

For Eccleſiaſtical Cauſes and probate of Wills, it hath a Royal Juriſdiction, Dr. Richard Lloyd is Commiſſary, from whom Appeal muſt be onely to the King in his High Court of Chancery, who thereupon iſſueth out a Commiſſion of Delegates under the Great Seal of England.

When the Convocation is adjourned from St. Pauls (for the conveniency of being nearer to the Parliament) to Weſtminſter, the Biſhops firſt declare (upon a Proteſtation made by the Dean there) that they intend not thereby to violate that high Priviledge, viz. That no Biſhop or Archbiſhop may come there without leave of the Dean firſt obtained.

There is alſo a fair Publick Library, free for all ſtrangers to ſtudy both morning and afternoon alwayes in Term time.

Next this Church ſtood the Royal Palace, and uſual place of Reſidence for the Kings of England, who ordinarily held their Parliaments, and all their Courts of Judicature in their dwelling Houſes (as is done at this day at Madrid by the King of Spain) and many times ſate themſelves in the ſaid Courts of Judicature, as they do ſtill in their Court of Parliament.

A great part of this huge Palace was in the time of Henry the VIII. deſtroyed by fire, what remained hath ſtill been employed for the uſe of the Lords and Commons aſſembled in Parliament, and for the chief Courts of Judicature. The great Hall where theſe are kept, ſome ſay, was built by King William Rufus, others by King Richard the II. about 300 years agoe, and for all dimenſions is not to be equalled by any Hall in Chriſtendom.

Moreover, Strangers and Foreigners may take notice of the extraordinary commodiouſneſs, conveniency and ſituation of the preſent Royal Palace, and uſual place of Reſidence, called Whitehall, belonging heretofore to Cardinal Woolſey, ſeated between a noble navigable River, and a moſt delectable Park; of the great Chamber there, called the Banquetting-Houſe, the like whereof, for ſpatiouſneſs, beauty, and exact, proportion, no King in Europe can parallel; of another Royal Palace, called Saint James's, of Clarendon-Houſe, which, for ſituation, and a uniform ſolid ſtructure is admirable; of the many ſtately uniform Piles in S. James's Fields, of Northumberland-Houſe, of Britains Burſe, or the New Exchange, a place excellently furniſhed with all kinde of choice Commodities and Wares for Ladies; of York, Salisbury, and Worceſter Houſes; of the Savoy, a vaſt building, firſt erected by Peter Earl of Savoy and Richmond, Uncle to Eleanor, Wife to our King Henry the Third, who after purchaſed the ſame for Her Son Edmund, Duke of Lancaſter; and is now a famous Hoſpital, built all of huge Stone, and more like a Kings Palace; of another Palace called Somerſet-Houſe, built by Edward, Duke of Somerſet, Uncle to King Edward the Sixth; of the uniform ſtately Buildings, and forementioned large Piazza's or open places (for which the Cities in Italy are ſo highly eſteemed) in Covent-Garden, Lincolns-Inn Fields, and Southampton Buildings, not to be equalled in any of our Neighbor Countreys.

As for the Borough of Southwark, granted by King Edward the Sixth, by His Letters Patents, to the Major, Commonalty, and Citizens of London, called The Bridge Ward without, and governed by one of the Twenty ſix Aldermen of London; it hath nothing much remarkable, onely, that it is ſo rich and populous, that it pays more in a Subſidy to the King, and muſters more Men, then any other City in England, beſides London.

Laſtly, Very remarkable alſo is the Campaign or Country on all ſides of this great City, for the number of Royal Palaces, the multitude of Stately Houſes, and Gardens of Noblemen; the innumerable fair Summer Dwelling-Houſes of the Wealthy Citizens; the pleaſant fertile Meadows, encloſed Paſtures and Corn Fields; the abundance of Nurſeries and Seminaries, where are to be ſold all ſorts of Fruit-Trees, Flowers, Herbs, Roots, as well for Phyſick, as for Food and Delight; the frequency, populouſneſs, and wealthineſs of the Villages, whereas the Campaigns about Rome and Madrid, are more like Deſarts.

The Arms of the City of London, are Argent Croſs-Gules, with the Sword of S. Paul, not the Dagger of William Walworth, as ſome have conceited; for this Coat did belong to this City before Walworth ſlew Wat Tyler, the Rebel, as Learned Antiquaries affirm.