THAT useful and antient Structure of Stone, of a circular form, graced with an ascent of several steps, for peoples accommo­dation to sit upon, and expose their wares, and (for their better shelter from foul weather) covered over head with a plat­form of Lead; the Market-Cross at Canterbury, built by the bounty and piety of a quondam wealthy Alderman, of grate­ful memory, being in the late times of mis-rule and con­fusion, beaten down and swept away by the avarice and im­piety of a beggerly factious Alderman, of hateful memory, to the dishonour of the City, and detriment of Town and Country: and the Citizens (sensible of the want of such a piece, both of ornament and use) being, as I was, full of their wishes and longings for the day, when the generous and publick spirit of some good Benefactor, would pro­voke and engage their gratitude by adorning and accom­modating [Page 2]their City with a new piece, another pile of that nature: and after a long and tedious time of expectation, none offering at the undertaking, I, though one of the meanest among the many naives of the place, yet impa­tient of the Cities want of an accommodation, so useful as well as ornamental; and finding others more able than willing, gave leave and way to my will to out-vy my abi­lity, rather than the place of my Nativity should any longer suffer under the reproch of such a great defect: not doubting of the encouragement of the virtuous underta­king by the courteous acceptance of it from my fellow-Citizens: and the rather because of the publick good which from the beginning I propounded to my self, and made known to some of them in this affair. But it falling out otherwise; insomuch as my real intentions for resign­ing all up to publick and pious uses, are now quite altered, I thought it not amiss (for their satisfaction who may in­quire into the cause) to give them an accompt of the whole transaction, leaving it to them freely to judge at whose Dore the blame lies.

Having therefore, by the Cities free permission, and with the expence of Four hunded pounds and upwards, e­rected and completed a Market-house, (a piece of such Elegancy as much commends the Architect) consisting of a double Story, divided into two fair rooms a piece, with a Pavement of Stone underneath, very useful for walking, out of Market time; and all this (in my intentions) de­dicated to publick and pious uses, without any jot of pro­fit or advantage reserved either to me or mine: and think­ing it now a convenient time to broach my designe, and make it openly known to the Corporation, I drew a pro­spect of it in writing, and by the mediation of a very worthyMr. L. B. friend, (one of themselves) communicated it unto them under the term and title of Propositions of this tenor.

Upon the communication of this Paper, the whole House of Burgmote (who till then had me in some suspition for aiming at matter of private advantage to my self, so far at least as untill I were reimbursed) was so exceedingly, not only satisfied, but taken with my Proposals, as after an unanimous approbation and ap­plause, they voted and gave out in writing under their Town-Clerks hand, an Order for a Committee to give me a meeting in the new Market-house, for consider­ing, consulting, and concluding a way for setling the whole affair according to my own desire, as by this fol­lowing Copy will appear.

One thing which I principally designed and expected to be gratified in by the Town (although of no par­ticular advantage to my self) was, a Free-Market. [Page 10]By long observation and experience I had found the want of it, and the dishonour and damage both [...] re­dounding to the City by the contrary. For, through the over-rigorous exacting of Tole by the Clerk of the Market, (who gave the City but a short accompt of it, and is besides, a person who stands branded by themselves upon Record, for several miscarriages in his place) the Sellers were and are wont to hide up a good part of their wares, and not bring them forth into the Market, but by parcels, whereby the Buyer can not have his choice, but must take what he finds at the Sellers price, or be gon. Hereof a multitude both in Town and Country daily complaining, I could not but study the remedying of it.

This (the Free-Market) went down with the Cor­poration very well at first, and because their Cl [...]rk (if the Market were infranchised and set free) might suffer somewhat in the matter of his livelyhood, they were very forward to declare themselves contented (for the Publicks sake) to be put upon the seeking out some expedient (at their own charge). for making him a compensation, and (by some overtures from me) soon found that a small matter would do it. But not long after, by his endevours with the Chamberlaine, (than whom none more forward for a Free-Market, when the house was setting up) and some other of the Leading par­ty in the House, (a sort of private vulgar spirited men, whereof no Society was ever yet free) this Trifle, this inconsiderable retrenching of their pre­sent Market-Clerks income, must carry the name of a just occasion for altering their minds, and put­ting a stop (as it did) to the business; so that at the time and place appointed, I giving them a meeting to treat of a way of Settlement, such doubts were cast, and objections made, (in that particular especially) [Page 11]that I plainly perceiving they were quite and clean gon [...] off from their former votes, and intended nothing less than a settlement of the business according to my Proposals and their own Votes, could not but shew my self sensible of the disappointment; and thereupon in some discontent, desired a dissolving of their Meet­ing, and went my way.

They perceiving it, and thinking it somewhat too early to break off with me so soon, (as the malevo­lent party more than seemed willing enough to do) consulted and found an expedient for removing this impediment, and mastering this difficulty; but not un­til by my profers and condescentions I had yeilded to them so far in the qualifying and regulating that matter of a Free-Market, as fully to satisfie all op­posers, by my consenting to the tolling of all things in a manner, excepting only that which is not the third part of what things are tollable, Piggs and Poul­try.

And now the matter (of Settlement) was afresh propounded in Burgmote, where (after thanks retur­ned me for my condescensions) it was then agreed to proceed, and writings voted to be drawn up between us, to settle it accordingly. And drawn they were, whereat upon perusal I taking some exceptions, as finding them not according to my propositions, in se­veral particulars, I made the Burgmote acquainted with them; who by Mr. Recorder satisfying me, as to the main of my exceptions, so as we were arrived at a right understanding of each others meaning, I was now ready for a close with them upon their own terms; and by the mediation of the same hand that before, signifying so much unto them at the next Burgmote after, they once more resumed the business, and en­tred into a fresh debate about it.

By this time (by the means of a pragmatical men­ber of the House, who looking AWRY both on the Founder and his Work, and from the first taken all occasions to evidence his dis-affection and dissant) the opposite party was grown so strong, that the re­sult of this debate was not only a dissent and protest against their proceeding with me, but a casting off the business with a plain and uncivil jeer. For in regard the repairs were to be cast on the Corporation (a burthen nevertheless so inconsiderable as cannot a­mount to 20 s. per annum, for an age; or rather no burthen at all, in regard the benefit of a room un­der the Stair case, which was offered them, would more then recompense it:) they would none of it, they would not (forsooth) take a house to keep it in repair, for me and my brother to walk in.

Truth is (by the Propositions) a reservation there is of mine and my brothers interest in one of the rooms during our lives, in common with the Corpo­ration, and yet (as they were assured) but at spare times only when the Corporation had no occasion to use it themselves. And besides, we are (they know) persons well in years, and (unless they fear our Ghosts may haunt the place after we are dead) can­not probably trouble them long with our walking there; our walk being now down the hill, and by course of nature neer an end. See by the way (courteous Rea­der) how studious these men are to find and cast ob­structions in the way of their own advantage, and to ward and stave off an intended boon! And on the contrary, how willing I have been to remove their obstructions, and how loth to be put upon turning that to my private emolument, which I intended for a publick good!

To summe up their objections: 1. They must abridge their Clerk of the Market of some inconsiderable part of his profit, which he may very well spare: how un-advised else was that Townsman, whose offer, though refused, was, if he might have the place, to do all the duties of it; to admit of a Free-Market, and yet to pay the City 5 l. per annum? 2. They must be at perhaps 20 s. charge per annum in repaires; and have more than recompense for it by that room un­der, the Staires. 3. They must permit the Founder and his Brother (ancient men both) to inter-common with them in the use of one of the rooms, at spare times.

How trivial, how ridiculous, how insignificant, and empty are these exceptions, shall I call them, or these cavils! What little or no detriment or discom­modity doth or can attend them, compared with the great commodity and advantage which by the Propo­sals, if embraced, would redound (in point sof ac­commodation) to the Magistrates and the Companies, for Meetings and Treatments; and (in point of Cha­rity) to the Poor, by a constant stock and provision of Corn there to be stored up for them, towards which and for seconding me in my intended handsell, divers Gentlemen and others (who now will do nothing) had declared their forwardness in such a bountiful way of contribution, as probably both the Store-houses, (the two upper rooms) capable of Fourscore quar­ters of Corn, would shortly have been full? What a shame must it needs be the whilest to the City, and how can they answer it to posterity especially, to suffer so publick, so pregnant and permanent a boon and benefit to their Corporation and the Poor, not easily to be matched in a case of this nature, all the Kingdom over, for ever to miscarry and be lost, ra­ther [Page 14]than accept it upon conditions so easte of por­formance; so very easie, I say, as being now refu­sed, they can never, whilest the memory of this in­gratitude doth last, reasonably expect to be tried with the same, or the like again?

Yet refused them they have. And since they have had no more reason, I am resolved (without hearkning to any further treaty with them, after so much baffling) to shew that I have not so little, as to obtrude, squander, and cast away all my cost, my kindness, and my charity (wherein I had it in my mind to have proceeded, by doing somewhat towards the Cities ac­commodation and supply with, what is much wanting to it, more Water,) upon such unworthy, ungrateful objects: or to woo them to accept of that, which, if they had any courtship, they had reason to imploy it in perswading me to part with. But since what, like a good Citizen, I once intended for the Cities pub­lick commodity, is rejected, I shall, like a good husband, take it home and convert it to my own pri­vate advantage, all but the Corn, which I shall be­stow where it may be better accepted.

And in so doing, whether I be to blame or not, I am willing to refer to the judgement of any but such thankless persons as those (the malevolent vulgar party among them, I mean; for them only I brand, which, yet, it seems, are the more prevalent party) I have had to deal withal: a sort of men that have no sense of the Cities either ornament or honor; no regard to the Poors, either relief or prayers; study­ing only matter of present profit to themselves, and thinking that cannot be a good work or thank-worthy, which requires any whit at all of contribution from themselves, to complete or maintain it: but are ready, with Judas, to reckon all as wast, that goes beside [Page 15]the bag: nothing to be acceptable, but what is pro­fitable: All but trash that brings no cash to the Cham­ber. But having appealed unto others for their judge­ment, I may perhaps be blamed for anticipating it with mine. If so, I crave pardon, and, with full submission, cast my self upon the verdict of any but those who have dealt so unthankfully and unworthily with