The Present State of London, Treatise · Chapter 3 · Section 4

The Present State of London · Treatise · Chapter 3 · Section 4

p. 99SECT. 4.

Palaces and Houſes of the Nobility.

WE will begin with the Royal Palaces, as White-Hall, where the Court is kept when the King is in the City. In antient times Westminſter-Palace was the habitation of the Kings of England, from the time of Edward the Confeſſor, which was by caſual Fire burnt down in the time of Henry the VIII. This was a very large and ſtately Palace, and for the building in that Age incomparable. In the Remains of which, the High Court of Parliament Sits, but more of that hereafter.

King Henry the VIII. tranſlated his Seat to a Houſe not far of, built by Cardinal Wolſey, and is called White-Hall. This Place formerly belonged to Hubert de Burgh, Earl of Kent, by whom it was given to the Gray-Friers, and of them bought by Walter Gray, Archbiſhop of York, and called York-place; but Anno. 1529, the King took it from Wolſey and the Archbiſhop, and named it White-Hall: this King built there a Sumptuous Gallery, and a very Beautiful Gate-Houſe, thwart the High-ſtreet to St. James's-Park. In this Gallery the Princes▪ with their Nobility uſed to ſtand or ſit, to behold all Triumphant or Military Exerciſes.

To Deſcribe all particularities relating to this Royall-Seat, would be too tedious. Take a few p. 100ſhort Remarks. There is a moſt Magnificent and Stately Banquetting-Houſe, built by King James. And the Delicate Privy-Garden was lately enlarged towards the South, with a Pond of an Oval form, ſupplied with Water from Hide-Park, where you may ſee the Water ſhot, or forced up to a great height from the ſurface of the Pond, and by its winding-fall delights the Eye, and the Ear, with its pretty murmur.

Although this Palace of White Hall makes not ſo Glorious a ſhew on the out-ſide, as ſome other ſtately Edifices, yet there is not in Chriſtendom a Court more convenient, and meet for Royal Accommodation, nor more Richly Furniſht. But for the Readers more diſtinct information, we will give him a Brief account of our King's-Court, under two heads,

Viz.

1. Its Government both Eccleſiaſtical, Civil, and Military.

2. Its Hoſpitality, and plentiful Tables.

1. Its Government, &c. The Dean of the Kings Chappel is uſually ſome Grave and Learned Prelate, choſen by the King, who only is his Superiour, his Chappel being exempt from all Eccleſiaſtical Juriſdiction, being called Capella Dominica, the Demean Chappel, in no Dioceſs, but is a Regal Peculiar, Exempt and Reſerved to the Viſitation and immediate Government of the King, who is Supream Ordinary, and as it were Prime Biſhop over all the Churches and Biſhops of England. By the Dean are choſen all other Officers of the Chappel, viz. A Sub-Dean or Praecentor Capellae; Thirty two Gentlemen of the Chappel, whereof twelve are Prieſts, the other twenty, commonly called Clerks, of the Chappel, are to perform, with the ſaid Prieſts, the Office of Praying, Singing, &c. One of theſe p. 101being well skill'd in Muſick, is choſen Maſter of the Children, whereof are twelve in Ordinary, to inſtruct them in the Rules and Art of Muſick, for the ſervice of the Chappel; three others are choſen to be Organists, to whom is joyned, upon Solemn Days, a Conſort of the King's Muſick, to make the Muſick more full and compleat. There are four Officers called Vergers, becauſe they carry Silver Rods in their hands, viz. a Sergeant, two Yeomen, and a Groom of the Chappel. Common Prayers are Read there three times a day. The King has his private Oratory, where ſome of his Chaplains in Ordinary perform the Office every day of the Week. Upon twelve high and Principal Feſtivals in the Year, the King (after the Service is over,) attended with the Principal Nobility, offers a Sum of Gold to God, in ſignum ſpecialis Domini, that by his Grace he is King, and holds all of Him, which belongs to the Dean to be diſtributed amongſt the Poor. This Gold offered is called the Bizantine, which anciently was a Piece of Gold Coyned by the Emperours of Conſtantinople, in Latin, Bizantium; That which was uſed by King James, was a piece of Gold, having on the one ſide, the Pourtrait of the King kneeling before an Altar, with four Crowns before Him, and this Motto circumſcribed, Quid retribuam Domino, pro omnibus quae retribuit mihi? On the other ſide was a Lamb lying by a Lyon, with this Motto, viz. Cor Contutum & humiliatum non deſpiciet Deus.

The King hath (beſides His Extraordinary, which are many) Fourty Eight Chaplains in Ordinary, who are Eminent Doctors in Divinity, whereof Four every Month wait at Court to Preach. The Lord High Almoner is uſually the Biſhop of London, who diſpoſeth of the Kings Alms, and for that uſe receiveth (beſides other Moneys allowed by the King) all Deodands, and bona felonum de ſe, to be p. 102that way diſpoſed. Under the Lord High Almoner, there is a Sub-Almoner, two Yeomen, and two Grooms of the Almonry. Then there is the Clerk of the Cloſet, uſually ſome Reverend Divine, much eſteemed by His Majeſty, who attends at his Right hand in Service time, to Reſolve Doubts about Spiritual matters, to wait upon His Majeſty in His private Oratory or Cloſet. The Dean of the Chappel's Fee, is 200 l. Yearly. And the Sub-Deans, one hundred pound. The Clerk of the Cloſet's▪ Fee is, twenty Nobles per annum.

The Chief Officer of Civil Government in His Majeſties Court, is, the Lord Steward. To whom the State of the Kings-Houſe is committed, to be Ruled and Guided by his Diſcretion; whoſe Commands in Court are to be obey'd; whoſe Power, State, and Dignity is very great.

He hath Authority over all Officers and Servants of His Majeſties Court, except thoſe of His Majeſties Chappel, Chamber and Stable, &c. He may by his Office, without any Commiſſion, Judge of all Diſcords, as Treaſons, Murders, Felonies, Bloodſheds, committed within the Court, or the Verge thereof, which is every way within Twelve Miles of the Chief Funnel of the Court, (only London by Charter is exempted;) becauſe where the King is, Juſtice ought to be immediatly ſought of the King's own Officers. So that the Juriſdiction of the Verge hath been from very Antient times Executed by the Lord Steward, with great Ceremony, in the Ntaure of a peculiar King's-Bench, and that not only within, but without the Kings Dominions.

The Lord Steward is a White-ſtaff-Officer, for he in the King's preſence carrieth a White-staff, and at other times going abroad, it is carried by a Footman bare-headed. Which White-ſtaff is taken for a Commiſſion. When the King Dies, he breaketh p. 103his Staff over the Herſe made for the King's Body, and thereby diſcharges all the Officers, whom the ſucceeding Kings uſually eſtabliſh in their former Offices. His Fee is 100 l. yearly, and 16 Diſhes of Meat daily, beſides Wine, Beer, &c.

The next Officer is the Lord Chamberlain, who hath the Over-ſight of all Officers belonging to the King's Chamber (except the Precincts of the King's Bed-Chamber, which is wholly under the Groom of the Stole) and all above Stairs, who are all ſworn by him (or his Warrant to the Gentlemen Uſhers) to the King. He hath alſo the Over-ſight of the Officers of the Wardrobe, at all His Majeſties Houſes, and of the Removing Wardrobes, or of Beds, of the Tents, Revels, Muſick, Comedians, Hanting, and of the Meſſengers, of the Trumpeters, Drummers, of all Handicrafts and Artizans retained in the King's Services. He hath alſo the Over-ſight of the Heralds and Purſuivants, and Sergeants at Arms; of all Phyſicians, Apothecaries, Chyrurgeons, Barbers, Chaplains, though himſelf be a Lay-man. Alſo of the Charges of Coronations, Marriages, Entries, Cavalcades, Funerals, &c. His Fee is 100 l. yearly, and 16 Diſhes each Meal, with the Appurtenances.

The third great Officer is the Maſter of the Horſe, anciently called Comes Stabuli, or Conſtable, who hath the ordering and diſpoſal of all the King's Stables, and Races, or Breed of Horſes. He hath alſo power over the Eſcuries and Pages, Footmen, Grooms, Riders of the Great Horſes, Farriers, Smiths, Coachmen, Sadlers, and all other Trades working to the King's Stables; to all whom he (or by his Warrant the Avener) giveth an Oath to be true and faithful. He hath the Charges of all Lands and Revenues appointed for the King's Breed of Horſes, and for Charges of the Stable, and for Litters, Coaches, Sumpter-Horſes, &c.

p. 104At any Solemn Cavalcade, he Rides next behind the King, and leads a Leer Horſe of State. His annual Fee is 666 l. 16 s. 4 d. and a Table of 16 Diſhes each Meal. The Accompt of the Stables for Horſe-meat, Livery, Wages, and Board-Wages, are brought by the Avener, being chief Clerk of the Avery, to be paſſed and allowed by the Green-Cloth.

Under theſe Principal Officers, are almoſt all the other Officers and Servants, as under the Lord Steirard in the Compting-houſe, is the Treaſurer of the Houſhold, the Comptroller, the Cofferer, the Maſter of the Houſhold, the two Clerks of the Green Cloth, the two Clerks Comptrollers, one Serge…nt, two Yeomen, the Cofferers Clerks, or Clerks of the Aſſignments, the Groom, two Meſſengers.

The Compting-houſe is ſo called, becauſe the Accompts for all Expences of the King's Houſhold are the…e daily taken by the Lord-Steward, the Treaſurer, Comptroller, the Cofferer, the Maſter of the Houſhold, the two Clerks of the Green Cloth, and the two Clerks Comptrollers, who alſo there make Proviſions for the Houſhold, according to the Law of the Land, and make Payments and Orders for the Well-governing of the Servants of the Houſhold.

In the Compting-houſe, is the Green-Cloth, which is a Court of Juſtice continually ſitting in the King's Houſe, compoſed of the Perſons laſt mentioned; whereof the three firſt are uſually of the King's Privy Council. To this Court, being the firſt and moſt ancient Court of England, is committed the charge and over-ſight of the King's Court Royal for matters of Juſtice and Government, with Authority for maintaining the Peace, within 12 Miles diſtance whereſoever the Court ſhall be and within the King's Houſe, the power of correcting all the Servants therein, that ſhall any way offend. It is called p. 105the Green-Cloth, of a Green-Cloth whereat they …, over whom are the Arms of the Compting-houſe, bearing Vert a Key, or, and a Staff Argent Saultier, ſignifying their power to Reward and Correct, as Perſons, for their great Wiſdom and Experience, thought fit by His Majeſty, to exerciſe both theſe Functions in His Royal Houſe.

The Treaſurer of the King's Houſe is always of the Privy Council, and, in abſence of the Lord Steward, hath power with the Comptroller and Steward of the Marſhalſea, to hear and determine Treaſons, Felonies, and other Crimes, committed within the King's Palace, and that by Verdict of the King's Houſhold.

If any Servants within the Check-Roll be found Guilty of Felony, they are to have no Benefit of Clergy allowed them.

The Comptrollers Office, is to Controul the Accompts and Reckonings of the Green-Cloth. His Fee is Annually 107 l. 12 s. 4 d. A Table of 16 Diſhes each Meal. He bears a White Staff, &c.

The Cofferer is a principal Officer, and hath eſpecial Charge and Over-ſight of other Officers of the Houſe, for their good Demeanor and Carriage in their Offices, and is to pay the Wages of the King's Servants, above and below Stairs. And for Proviſions, by the Direction and Allowance of the Green-Cloth. His Annual Fee is 100 l. and a Table of ſeven Diſhes each day.

The Office of the Maſter of the Houſhold, is to ſurvey the Accompts of the Houſe. His Fee is 100 Marks, and ſeven Diſhes daily.

All Bills of Comptrolment, Parcels and Brievements, are lotted and allowed by the Clerks Comptrollers, and ſummed up by the Clerks of the Green-Cloth.

☞ Note, That though the King pays ſtill the ancient Fees, which at firſt were above ten times the p. 106value they are now; yet the Perquiſites in many O… fices, make ſometimes a place of 10 l. Fee, to be worth near 500 l. per Annum.

☞ Note alſo, That in each Office there is a Succeſſion from one to another, the inferior Degree ſtill coming into the place of the next above if he dyes, as one of the Children may come to be Groom, then Yeoman, then Gentleman, then Sergeant, &c. as he happens to out-live them above him.

The Chief Clerk waits upon, and appoints, the Kings, Queens, and Houſhold Dyets every third Month; waits upon all Foreign Princes, Strangers, and Ambaſſadors, when His Majeſty gives them Entertainment. He keeps all the Records, Leger-Books, and Papers, relating to that Office; makes up all Bills, Parcels and Debentures, for Board-Wages, and Proviſions and Neceſſaries, iſſuing from the Offices of the Pantery, Buttery and Cellar. Keeps Accompt of, and makes up the Remains, with ſeveral other Duties, which oblige him to conſtant Waiting. He appoints Scowrers, Turn-Brochers, and Porters in his turn with the Maſter Cook, in the ſeveral Kitchens, and hath a Fee equal to an Officer of the Green-Cloth, and Diet, of ſeven Diſhes each Meal.

The ſecond and third Clerks wait upon the Diet, as aboveſaid, each of them one month in three, and attend the King and Queen in their Progreſſes, when appointed by the Green-Cloth, and have a Table of five Diſhes. There are three Maſter Cooks for the King, Queen, and Houſhold, who have each a Table of five Diſhes.

There is a Knight Harbinger, three Gentlemen Harbingers, and ſeven Yeomen Harbingers. The Office is given to the Knight-Harbinger by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England, during Life. When the King goes on Progreſs in England, or Beyond the Seas, he does by himſelf, or p. 107his Deputy, provide and appoint all Lodgings and Harbingage for all great Perſons, all Noblemen, Biſhops, all His Majeſties Servants and Attendants, &c. For all Ambaſſadors and Foreigners, &c. His Salary is 20 Marks per Annum, and 10 s. a day out of the Exchequer, beſides Fees for Honours given by the King, and Homage done to His Majeſty, and divers other Perquiſites.

In the Court the Officers, according to their ſeveral Degrees, are called either Lords, Knights, Eſquires, Sergeants, Gentlemen, Clerks, Yeomen, Grooms, Pages, or Children. There are two Lords, viz. the Lord Steward, and the Lord Chamberlain. Two Knights, viz. the Knight Marſhal, and the Knight Harbinger. Four Eſquires of the Body, &c.

The Knight Marſhal, called Mareſchalus Hoſpitii Regis, hath Juriſdiction and Cognizance of all Crimes within the Royal Palace, whereunto one of the Parties is the King's Servant. He is one of the Judges of the Court called the Marſhalſea, or Marſhal-Seat of Judicature, which is held in Southwark, and hath there a Priſon belonging to the ſame. Upon Solemn Occaſions he Rides before the King with a ſhort Baſton tipt at both ends with Gold, and hath ſix Provost Marſhals or Virgers, in Scarlet Coats to wait on him, and to take care of the Royal Palace, that no Beggars, Vagabonds, Common Women that proſtitute their Bodies, Malefactors, &c. come within or near the Court. There are divers other Officers below Stairs under the Lord Steward, as alſo the Officers belonging to the Queens Kitchin, Cellar, Pantery, &c. and to the Lords Kitchin, together with Children, Scowrers, Turn-Broaches, &c.

p. 108His Majeſties Servants in Ordinary above-ſtairs, are as followeth:

THE Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber, whereof the firſt is called the Groom of the Stole, as it were Servant of the Robe, or Veſtment, he having the Office and Honour to Preſent and Put on His Majeſties firſt Garment or Shirt every morning, and to order the things of the Bed-Chamber.

The Gentlemen are uſually of the prime Nobility of England. Their Office is each one in his Turn to wait a Week in every quarter in the King's Bed-Chamber, there to lie by the King in a Pallet-Bed all Night, and in the abſence of the Groom of the Stole, to ſupply his place. They wait on the King when he eats in private, for then the Cup-Bearers, Carvers and Sewers do not wait. The yearly Fee to each is 1000 l. There is a Vice-Chamberlain, a Keeper of the Privy-Purſe, a Treaſurer of the Chamber, who pays Riding and Lodging Wages, as the Lord Chamberlain ſhall direct, a Surveyor General of His Majeſties Works. The Maſter of the Robes belonging to His Majeſties Perſon, whoſe Office it is to order them at Coronations, St. George's Feaſt, and Parliament-Time. He has alſo the ordering of all His Majeſties Wearing Apparel, of His Collar of Eſſes, Georges, and Garter beſet with Diamonds and Pearls.

The Grooms of the Bed-Chamber are Twelve, beſides ſome Supernumeraries. They are to be under the degree of Knights, and to attend in the King's Bed-Chamber, to dreſs and undreſs him in private. The yearly Fee to each is 500 l. Then there are Six Pages of the Bed-Chamber, Four Gentlemen-Ʋſhers of the Privy Chamber, who wait, one at a time, in the Privy Lodgings. There are Forty p. 109eight Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber in Ordinary, who are all Knights, or Eſquires of Note, of which Twelve every Quarter wait on the King's Perſon within doors and without, ſo long as His Majeſty is on Foot; and when the King is in the Privy Chamber, they wait at the Table, and bring in his Meat. They wait alſo at the Reception of Ambaſſadors, and every Night two of them lie in the King's Privy Chamber. A Gentleman of the Privy Chamber, by the King's Commandment onelyonly, without any written Commiſſion, may Arreſt any Peer of England, as Cardinal Wolſey acknowledged.

There are Six Grooms of the Privy Chamber in Ordinary, all Gentlemen of Quality. Theſe wait (as all Grooms) without Sword, Cloak, or Hat: whereas the Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber, wear always Cloak and Sword. There is alſo a Library Keeper. In the Preſence Chamber, Gentlemen-Ʋſhers daily Waiters in Ordinary are four, whereof the firſt hath that conſiderable Office of the Black Rod, and in time of Parliament is to attend every day in the Lords Houſe, and is alſo Ʋſher of the moſt Honourable Order of the Garter. Second Gentleman Ʋſher, daily Waiter, &c. their Office is to wait in the Preſence Chamber, and to attend next the King's Perſon; and after the Lord Chamberlain, and Vice-Chamberlain, to order all Affairs, and all Under-Officers above-ſtairs are to obey theſe.

There are Eight Gentlemen-Ʋſhers, Quarter-Waiters in Ordinary, who wait alſo in the Preſence Chamber, and are to give Directions in the abſence of the Gentlemen-Ʋſhers daily Waiters to the Grooms and Pages, and other Under-Officers, who are to attend in all Offices, next below the Gentlemen-Ʋſhers Quarter-Waiters. The Grooms of the great Chamber are Fourteen; Six Gentlemen-Waiters, Four Cup-Bearers, Four Carvers, Four Sewers, p. 110Four Eſquires of the Body, whoſe Office is to guard the King's Perſon by Night, to ſet the Watch, and to give the Word, and to keep good Order in the whole Houſe by Night; as the Lord Chamberlain, and his other Officers, are to do by day. The Sewers of the Chamber are Eight. The Groom-Porter's Office is to ſee the King's Lodgings furniſhed with Tables, Chairs, Stools, Firing; to furniſh Cards, Dice, &c. to decide Diſputes ariſing at Cards, Dice, Bowling, &c.

There are Sixteen Sergeants at Arms, all Gentlemen, or Knights, attending upon His Majeſty. There are alſo Four other Sergeants at Arms, whereof one attends the Lord Preſident of Wales, another the Speaker of the Houſe of Commons, and another the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

There are Forty eight Chaplains in Ordinary, uſually Doctors in Divinity, and, for the moſt part, Deans or Prebends, and all principal Preachers, who attend by Four every month to Preach before the King.

There are Four Phyſicians in Ordinary for the King's Perſon, whereof one is aſſigned to attend the Queen. There are alſo Phyſicians in Ordinary to the Houſhold, of which one is for the Tower of London. There are, beſides theſe, above Twelve able Phyſicians, who are the King's Sworn Servants, but wait not, nor have Fee.

There is a Maſter and Treaſurer of the Jewel-houſe, and three Under-Officers, called Yeomen and Grooms, whoſe Office is to take charge of all Veſſels of Gold, or Silver Gilt, for the King and Queens Table of all Plate in the Tower, of Chains and looſe Jewels not fix'd to any Garment.

The Maſter of the Ceremonies, has a Fee of 200 l. his Aſſiſtant 120 l. 13 s. 4 d. and one Marſhal, 100 l. per Annum. This Office of Maſter of the Ceremonies. was inſtituted by King James, for p. 111the more Honourable Reception of Ambaſſadors, and Strangers of Quality. The Aſſiſtant Maſter of the Ceremonies, is to execute the ſame Imployment in all Points, whenſoever the other is abſent. The Marſhal of the Ceremonies is their Officer, for the more eaſie performance of the ſaid Services, and being ſubordinate to them both, is to act nothing but by the directions of one of them.

Amongſt the King's Servants in Ordinary, are three Kings of Arms, ſix Heralds, or Dukes of Arms, and four Purſuivants at Arms. The Title of the firſt is Garter, whoſe Office is to attend and direct at thoſe Ceremonies and Solemnities that concern the moſt Noble Order of the Garter, and to Marſhal the Solemn Funerals of the Knights of that Order, as alſo of the Peers of England, and to direct all things elſe relating to Arms, which appertain to the Peerage.

The Title of the Second is Clarencieux, who regulates and directs the Proceedings at Solemn Funerals of all Degrees under Peers as ſhall be celebrated in his Province, which is the Counties on the South of Trent, and whatſoever elſe there relateth to Arms.

The Title of the Third is Norroy, who regulates and directs like the Second throughout his Province on the North of Frent.

The Offices of the Heralds and Purſuivants, beſides their Services at the aforeſaid Solemnities, are (together with the Kings of Arms) to attend at Publick Solemnities, and ſome or all of them to proclaim War or Peace, carry Defiances, ſummon Fortified Places, or Rebels in Arms, proclaim Traytors, and to do their beſt Service in whatſoever relateth to the Nobility and Gentry of England in point of Honour and Arms.

Amongſt the King's Servants in Ordinary, are reckoned one Geographer, one Hiſtoriographer, one p. 112Hydrographer, one Library-keeper, one Coſmographer, one Poet Laureat, and one Publick Notary.

The King, beſides the Great Wardrobe, hath divers ſtanding Wardrobes at Whitehal, Windſor, Hampton-Court, the Tower of London, and Greenwich, &c. whereof there are divers Officers.

There is the Removing Wardrobe, which always attends upon the Perſon of the King, Queen, and the Children, as alſo upon Ambaſſadors, Chriſtenings, Masks, Plays, &c. at the Command of the Lord Chamberlain, who hath the diſpoſing of vacant places. Here are fix Officers, one Yeoman, two Grooms, and three Pages; the Salary of the Yeoman is 200 l. of the Grooms 100 l. and of the Pages 100 Marks. And to all together, ſix Diſhes each Meal. The Moveables of this Wardrobe are at length divided into three parts, whereof the Yeoman hath one for his own uſe, the Grooms another, and the Pages the third.

In the Office of the Tents, Soyls, Hayes, and Pavilions, are two Maſters, four Yeomen, one Groom, one Clerk Comptroller, and one Clerk of the Tents. The Maſter of the Revels is to order all things concerning Comedies, &c. there is one Yeoman, one Groom. Engraver Sculptor, one in each Office. In the Office of the Robes, beſides the Maſter abovementioned, there is one Yeoman, three Grooms, one Page, two Purveyors, one Bruſher, one Taylor, one Dyer, one Girdler, one Clerk, one Lace-man, one Cutter and Racer, two Embroiderers, two Silkmen, one Shoemaker, one Perfumer, one Feather-maker, one Millener, one Mercer, one Hoſier, one Draper, one Surveyor, &c.

Falconer with Thirty three Officers under him. Maſter of the Buck-Hounds, with a Sergeant, and Thirty four perſons under him. Maſter of the Otter-Hounds. Maſter of the Harriers, and five under p. 113him. Maſter of the Ordnance, a Lieutenant, and Maſter Armorer, with Seventeen Under-Officers. Meſſengers of the Chamber in Ordinary, two Clerks of the Check, and Forty more, in all Forty two.

Muſitians in Ordinary, Sixty two. Trumpeters and Kittle-Drummers, Fifteen. Drummers and Fifes, Seven. Apothecaries Two, one for the King's Perſon, and one for the Houſhold. Chyrurgeo…s two. B…rbers two. Printers three, beſides one for the Oriental Tongues. Bookseller, Stationer, and Book-binder. Sil…man, Woollen-Draper, and two Taylors. Poſt-Maſters for all the Port-Towns in England, all ſworn to, and paid by the King. A Maſter of the Game of Cock-fighting.

One Sergeant Skinner, who hath the care of His Majeſties Furrs. Two Embroiderers. Two Keepers of the Privy Lodging. Two Gentlemen and one Yeoman of the Bows. One Croſs-Bow-maker. One Fletcher. One Cormorant-Keeper. One Hand-Gun-maker. One Maſter and Marker of Tennis. One Miſtriſs Semſtreſs, and one Laundreſs. One Perſpective-Maker. One Maſter-Fencer. One Haberdaſher of Hats. One Comb-maker. One Sergeant Painter. One Painter. One Limner. One Picture-Drawer. One Silver-Smith. One Goldſmith. One Jeweller. One Peruque-maker. One Keeper of Pheaſants and Turkies. Joyner. Copier of Pictures. Watch-maker. Cabinet-maker. Lock-Smith, of each one. Game of Bears and Bulls, one Maſter, one Sergeant, one Yeoman. Two Operators for the Teeth. Two Coffer-bearers for the Back-ſtairs. One Yeoman of the Leaſh. Fifty five Watermen. Ʋpholſterer, Letter-Carrier, Foreign-Post, Coffee-maker, of each one.

Ten Officers beionging to Gardens, Bowling-Greens, Tennis-Court, Pall-Mall, Keeper of the Theatre at Whitehall. Cutler, Spurrier, Girdler, p. 114Corn-cutter, Button-maker, Emboſſer, Enameler, of each one. Writer, Flouriſher, and Embelliſher, Scenographer, or Deſigner of Proſpects, Letter-Founder, of each one. Comedians, Seventeen Men, and Eight Women, Actors.

Gunner, Gilder, Cleanſer of Pictures, Scene-keeper, Coffer-maker, Wax-chandler, of each one. Keeper of Birds and Fowl in St. James's-Park, one. Keeper of the Volery, Coffee-club-maker, Sergeant-Painter, of each one; with divers other Officers and Servants under the Lord Chamberlain to ſerve His Majeſty upon occaſion. Many of which Offices and Places are of good Credit, and great Profit, and enjoyed by Perſons of Quality.

As to the Officers under the Maſter of the Horſe, there are Twelve Querries, ſo called of the French Eſcayer, derived from Eſcury, a Stable. Their Office is to attend the King on Hunting or Progreſs, or on any occaſion of Riding abroad, to help His Majeſty up and down from his Horſe, &c. Four of theſe are called Querries of the Crown-Stable, and the others are called Querries of the Hunting-Stable. The Fee to each of theſe is only 20 l. yearly, according to the ancient Cuſtom; but they have allowance for Diet, to each 100 l. yearly, beſides Lodgings, and two Horſe-Liveries.

Next is the chief Avener, from Avena, Oats, whoſe yearly Fee is 40 l. There is, moreover, one Clerk of the Stable, four Yeomen-Riders, four Child-Riders, Yeomen of the Stirrup, Sergeant-Marſhal, and Yeomen-Farriers, four Groom-Farriers, Sergeants of the Carriage, three Surveyors, a Squire and Yeomen-Sadlers, four Yeomen-Granators, four Yeomen-Purveyors, a Yeoman-Peckman, a Yeoman-Bitmaker, four Coach-men, eight Litter-men, a Yeoman of the Cloſe Wagon, Sixty four Grooms of the Stable, whereof 30 are called Grooms of the Crown Stable, and Thirty four of the Hunting and Pad-Stable. p. 115Twenty ſix Footmen in their Liveries, to run by the King's Horſe. All theſe Places are in the Gift of the Maſter of the Horſe.

There is beſides theſe an antient Officer, called Clerk of the Market, who within the Verge of the King's Houſhold, is to keep a Standard of all Weights and Meaſures, and to burn all that are falſe. From the Pattern of this Standard, all the Weights and Meaſures of the Kingdom are to be taken.

There are divers other conſiderable Officers, not Subordinate to the Three Great Officers, as the Maſter of the great Wardrobe, Poſt-Maſter, Maſter of the Ordinance, Warden of the Mint, &c.

Upon the King are alſo attending in his Court the Lords of the Privy-Council, Secretaries of State, the Judges, the College of Civilians, the King's Council at Law, the King's Serjeants at Law, the Maſters of Requeſts, Clerks of the Signet, Clerks of the Council, Keeper of the Paper-Office, or Papers of State, &c.

There is always a Military Force to preſerve the King's Perſon, which are His Guards of Horſe and Foot. The Guards of Horſe are in Number 600 Men, well Armed and Equipped; who are generally Young Gentlemen of conſiderable Families, who are there made fit for Military Commands. They are divided into Three Troops, viz. The King's Troop, diſtinguiſhed by their Blew Ribbons and Carbine Belts, their Red Hooſes, and Houlſter-Caps, Embroidered with His Majeſties Cypher and Crown. The Queens Troops by Green Ribbons, Carbine Belts, covered with Green Velvet, and Gold Lace, alſo Green Hooſes and Houſter Caps, Embroidered with the ſame Cypher and Crown. And the Dukes Troop by Yellow Ribbons, and Carbine Belts, and Yellow Hooſes, Embroidered as the others. In which Troops, are 200 Gentlemen, beſides Officers. Each of theſe Three Troops is divided into p. 116Four Squadrons or Diviſions, Two of which conſiſting of one hundred Gentlemen, and Commanded by one Principal Commiſſioned Officer, two Brigadiers, and two Sub-Brigadiers, with two Trumpets mount the Guards one day in ſix, and are Relieved in their turns. Their Duty is always by Parties from the Guard, to attend the Perſon of the KING, the Queen, the Duke, and the Dutcheſs, whereſoever they go near home, but if out of town, they are attended by Detachments out of the ſaid Three Troops.

Beſides this, there is a more ſtrict Duty and Attendance W…ly on the KING's Perſon on Foot, whereſoever He walks, from His Riſing to His going to Bed, by one of the three Captains, who always waits immediatly next the KING's own Perſon, before all others, carrying in his hand an Ebony-ſtaff or Truncheon, with a Gold head, Engraved with His MAJESTIES Cyper and Crown. Near him alſo attends a Principal Commiſſioned Officer, with an Ebony-ſtaff, and Silver head, who is ready to Relieve the Captain on occaſion; and at the ſame time alſo, two Brigadiers, having alſo Ebony-ſtaves, headed with Ivory, and Engraven as the others.

There is added a Troop of Grenadiers to each Troop of Guards, one Diviſion of which mounts with a Diviſion of the Troop to which they belong; they never go out on ſmall Parties from the Guard, only perform Centry-Duty on Foot, and attend the KING alſo on Foot when he walks abroad, but always March with great Detachments. The KING's Troop conſiſts of a Captain, two Lieutenants, three Sergeants, three Corporals, two Drums, two Hautbois, and eighty private Souldiers Mounted. The Queens Troop, of a Captain, two Lieutenants, two Serjeants, two Corporals, two Hautbois, and Sixty private Souldiers Mounted. The Dukes Troop conſiſts of the like Number with the Queens.

p. 117The Captains of His MAJESTIES Guards always Command as Eldeſt Colonels of Horſe; the Lieutenants as Eldeſt Lieutenant-Colonels of Horſe; the Cornets and Guidons, as Eldeſt Majors of Horſe; the Quartermaſters, as Youngeſt Captains of Horſe; the Brigadiers as Eldeſt Lieutenants of Horſe; and amongſt themſelves every Officer, according to the Date of his Commiſſion, takes precedency, when on Detachments, but not when the Three Troops march with their Colours, for then the Officer of the Eldeſt Troop, commands thoſe of equal Rank with him in the others, though their Commiſſion be of Elder Date.

Next immediatly after the Three Troops of Guards, His MAJESTIES Regiment of Horſe Commanded by the Earl of Oxford takes place, and the Colonel of it is to have precedency, after the Captains of the Guards, and before all other Colonels of Horſe, whatſoever change may be of the Colonel; and all the Officers thereof, in their proper Degree, are to take place according to the Dates of their Commiſſions. As to the Foot, the King's Regiment, Commanded by the Honorable Colonel John Ruſſel, takes place of all other Regiments, and the Colonel thereof is always to precede as the firſt Colonel. The Coleſtream Regiment, Commanded by the Earl of Craven, takes the next; the Duke of Yorks Regiment next, then His Majeſties Holland Regiment, Commanded by the Earl of Mulgrave, and all other Colonels, according to the Dates of their Commiſſions. All other Regiments of Horſe and Foot, not of the Guards, take place according to their Reſpective Seniority, from the time they were firſt Raiſed, and no Regiment loſes its precedency by the Death of its Colonel.

At the KING's Houſe there is a Guard for His Perſon, both above and below ſtairs. In the Preſence Chamber the Band of Gentlemen Penſioners p. 118wait, inſtituted by King Henry the VII. and choſen out of the beſt and antienteſt Families in England, to be a Guard to His Majeſties Perſon, and alſo to be a Nurſery to breed up hopeful Gentlemen, and fit them for Employments, Civil and Military, as well abroad as at home; as Deputies of Ireland, Embaſſadors in Foreign Parts, Counſellors of State, Captains of the Guard, Governours of places, Commanders in the Wars, both by Sea and Land, of all which there have been Examples. They are to attend the King's Perſon to and from His Chappel, only as far as the Privy Chamber: alſo in all other Solemnity, as Coronations, publick Audience of Embaſſadors, &c. They are 40 in Number, over whom there is a Captain, uſually ſome Peer of the Realm, a Lieutenant, a Standard-bearer, and a Clerk of the Check. They wait half at a time quarterly. Thoſe in quarter wait daily five at a time upon the King in the Houſe, and when He walks abroad. Upon extraordinary occaſions, all of them are Summoned. Their ordinary Arms are Gilt Pole-Axes. Their Arms on Horſe-back in time of War, are Cuiraſſiers Arms, with Sword and Piſtol. Theſe are only under their own Officers, and are always Sworn by the Clerk of the Check, who is to take Notice of ſuch as are abſent when they ſhould be upon their Duty. Their Standard in time of War, is a Croſs Gules in a Field Argent, alſo 4 bends.

In the firſt Room above ſtairs, called the Guard-Chamber, attend the Yeomen of the Guard of His Majeſties Body; whereof there were wont to be 250 Men of the beſt quality under Gentry, and of larger Stature then ordinary (for every one was to be Six Foot high) there are at preſent 100 Yeomen in dayly waiting, and 70 more not in waiting, and as any of the 100 die, his place is filled up out of the 70. Theſe wear Scarlet Coats Down to the knee, and Scarlet Breeches, both richly Guarded p. 119with black Velvet, and rich Badges upon their Coats both before and behind, moreover black Velvet round broad Crown'd Caps, with Ribbons of the King's Colour: One half of them of late bear in their hands Harquebuzes, and the other half Partizans, with large Swords by their ſides: they have Wages and Diet allowed them. Their Office is to wait upon the King in His ſtanding Houſes, 40 by by Day, and 20 to Watch by Night; about the City to wait upon the King's Perſon abroad by Water or Land.

The KING's Palace Royal (ratione Regiae dignitatis) is exempted from all Jurisdiction of any Court, Civil or Eccleſiaſtick, but only to the Lord Steward, and in his abſence to the Treaſurer and Comptroller of the King's Houſhold, with the Steward of the Marſhalſea, who by vertue of their Office, without Commiſſion, may Hear and Determin all Treaſons, Fellonies, Breaches of the Peace, Committed within the KING's Court or Palace. The Orders and Rules for the Demeanor of all Officers and Servants, are hung upon Tables in ſeveral Rooms at the Court, and Signed with the King's own hand, worthy to be Read of all Strangers.

The Court or Houſe where the King reſides, is accounted a Place ſo Sacred, that if any Man preſume to ſtrike another there, and, only draw blood, his Right hand ſhall be cut off, and he Committed to perpetual Impriſonment, and Fined. All occaſions of ſtriking are alſo there forbidden.

The Court of England, for Magnificence, Order, Number… and Quality of Officers, rich Furniture, Entertainment and Civility to Strangers, and for plentiful Tables, might compare with the beſt in Chriſtendom, and far Excels moſt Courts abroad. It hath for a long time been a Pattern of Hoſpitality and Charity, to the Nobility and Gentry of Eugland. All Noblemen or Gentlemen, Subjects p. 120or Strangers, were freely Entertained at the plentiful Tables of His Majeſties Officers. Divers Diſhes were provided every day extraordinary for the King's Honour. Two hundred and fourty Gallons of Beer a day, were allowed at the Buttery-Bar for the Poor, beſides all the broken Meat, Bread, &c. gathered into Baskets, and given to the Poor, at the Court-Gates, by Two Grooms, and Two Yeomen, of the Almonry, who have Salaries of His Majeſty for that Service. The Lord Almoner hath the Priviledge to give the King's Diſh, to whatſoever Poor Man he pleaſes; that is, the firſt Diſh at Dinner which is ſet upon the King's Table, or in ſtead thereof four pence a day, (which anciently was equivalent to four ſhillings now;) next he diſtributes to 24 poor men, named by the Pariſhioners of the Pariſh adjacent to the King's place of Reſidence, to each of them four pence in money, a Two-penny Loaf, and a Gallon of Beer, or in ſtead thereof three pence in money, equally to be divided among them every morning at ſeven of the Clock at the Court-gate. The Sub-Almoner is to ſcatter New-coined Two-pences in the Towns and Places where the King paſſes through in his Progreſſes, to a certain Sum by the year. Beſides there are many poor Penſioners, either becauſe ſo old that they are unfit for ſervice, or the Widows of any of the King's Servants that dyed poor, who have a Competency duly paid them: Beſides, there are diſtributed among the Poor the large Offerings which the King gives in Collar days.

The magnificent and abundant plenty of the King's Tables, hath cauſed amazement in Foreigners. In the Reign of King Charles I. there were daily in his Court 86 Tables well furniſhed each Meal, whereof the King's Tables had 28 Diſhes, the Queens 24, 4 other Tables 16 Diſhes each, 3 other 10 Diſhes, 12 other 7 Diſhes, 17 other 5 Diſhes, 3 other 4, 32 had 3, and 13 had each two; in all about p. 121500 Diſhes each Meal, with Bread, Beer, Wine, and all other things neceſſary. There was ſpent yearly in the King's Houſe of groſs meat 1500 Oxen, 7000 Sheep, 1200 Veals, 300 Porkers, 400 Sturks, or young Beefs, 6800 Lambs, 300 Flitches of Bacon, and 26 Boars. Alſo 140 dozen of Geeſe, 250 dozen of Capons, 470 dozen of Hens, 750 dozen of Pullets, 1470 dozen of Chickens, for Bread 36400 Buſhels of Wheat, and for Drink 600 Tun of Wine, and 1700 Tun of Beer. Moreover, of Butter 46640, together with the Fiſh, and Fowl, Veniſon, Fruit, Spice proportionably. This prodigious plenty in the King's Court, cauſed Foreigners to put a higher value upon the King, and was much for the Honor of the Kingdom. The King's Servants being Men of Quality, by His Majeſties ſpecial Order went to Weſtminſter-Hall in Term-time, to invite Gentlemen, to eat of the King's Acates or Viands, and in Parliament-time, to invite the Parliament-men thereto.

On the Thurſday before Eaſter, called Maunday Thurſday, the King, or his Lord Almoner, was wont to waſh the Feet of as many poor Men, as His Majeſty had Reigned years, and then to wipe them with a Towel, (according to the Pattern of our Saviour) and then to give every one of them two Yards and a half of Woollen Cloth, to make a Suit of Cloaths; alſo Linnen Cloth for two Shirts, and a pair of Stockings, and a pair of Shoes, three Diſhes of Fiſh in Wooden Platters, one of Salt Salmon, a ſecond of Green Fiſh or Cod, a third of Pickle-Herrings, Red Herrings, and Red Sprats, a Gallon of Beer, a Quart Pottle of Wine, and four ſix-penny Loaves of Bread, alſo a Red Leather-purſe with as many ſingle Pence as the King is years old, and in ſuch another Purſe as many ſhillings as the King hath reigned years. The Queen doth the like to divers poor Women.

The Form of Government is by the wiſdom of many Ages, ſo contrived and regulated, that it is almoſt p. 122impoſſible to mend it. The Account (which is of ſo many Natures, and is therefore very difficult, muſt paſs through many hands, and is therefore very exact) is ſo wiſely contrived and methodized, that without the Combination of every one of theſe following Officers, viz. the Cofferer, a Clerk of the Green Cloth, a Clerk Comptroller, a Clerk of the Kitchin, of the Spicery or Avery, or a particular Clerk, together with the conjunction of a Purveyor and Waiter in the Office, it is impoſſible to defraud the King of a Loaf of Bread, of a Pint of Wine, a Quart of Beer, or Joint of Meat, or Money, or any thing elſe.

Having given this brief Abſtract, if any would be more curious to read it more at large, or about the Courts of the Queen and Royal Family, they are referred to the Preſent State of England.

II. Weſt from Charing-Croſs, there ſtood ſometimes an Hoſpital of St. James, founded by the Citizens of London, before the time of any Mans memory, for 14 Siſters, Maidens that were Leprous. This Hoſpital was ſurrendred to King Henry VIII. in the 23 of his Reign. The Siſters being compounded with, were allowed Penſions for term of their Lives, and the King built there a goodly Mannor, now the Duke of York's Palace, annexing thereunto the beautiful Park called St. James's incloſed with a Wall of Brick, ſerving ind…erently for that Palace, and the Court or Palace of Whitehall, which, in a word, for extraordinary Commodiouſneſs, Conveniency and Situation, being ſeated between a Noble Navigable River, and a moſt Deiectable and Spacious Park, full of great and rare Varieties, (as hath been hinted) for the Great Chamber there, called the Banquetting-Houſe, the like whereof for Spaciouſneſs, Beauty Peinture, and exact Proportion, no King in Europe can parallel, deſerves the View and Notice of all Strangers.

p. 123III. Although it might ſeem more proper to treat of Weſtminſter-Hall, under the Head or Chapter of Publick Halls or Courts, yet being a Place ſo Eminent, above any other in this Renowned City, and formerly a Royal Palace, we ſhall leave our Remarks upon it with the Reader in this place, and give a brief Account, (1) of its Foundation and Antiquity; (2) of the Courts held there, eſpecially the High Court of Parliament, which, we hope, will be acceptable.

1. Many Eminent Authors do affirm, That this Great Hall was built by William Rufus, about the year of our Lord 1097. amongſt whom, Roger of Windover, and Matthew Paris write, that King William being returned out of Normandy into England, kept his Feaſt of Whitſontide very Royally at Weſtminſter in the New-Hall, which he had lately built. This Hall, for all Dimenſions, is not to be equalled by any Hall in Chriſtendom. It is (ſay ſome) 270 Foot in length, and 74 broad. It is reported that the King ſhould ſay to one that thought the Hall too big, That it was not big enough by one half, and was but a Bed-chamber in compariſon of what he meant to make.

This Palace was Repaired Anno 1163. by Thomas Becket Chancellor of England, with exceeding great celerity and ſpeed, being before ready to have fallen down. It hath been the principal Seat and Palace of all the Kings of England ſince the Conqueſt, where they kept Coronation, and other Solemn Feaſts, till the time of King Henry VIII. In this Palace (by a marvelous Inundation or Overflowing of the River of Thames in the year 1236, which drowned many Cattle and Men, Women and Children) Men did Row with Wherries in the midſt of the Hall. The like (or rather more dreadful Inundation) hapned in the year 1242. the Thames overflowing the Banks about Lambeth. duplicate page p. 118duplicate page p. 119duplicate page p. 120duplicate page p. 121duplicate page p. 122duplicate page

p. 124In the year 1299, 27 Edw. 1. this Palace was burnt by a vehement Fire, kindled in the leſſer Hall of the King's Houſe, by which the ſame (with many other Houſes adjoining, together with the Queens Chamber) was conſumed, but after that repaired.

In the year 1397, King Richard II. cauſed the Walls, Windows and Roof to be taken down, and new made, with a ſtately Porch, and divers Lodgings of a marvelous Work, and with great Coſts, which being finiſhed, Anno 1399. He kept a moſt Royal Chriſtmas there, with daily Juſtings and Runnings at Tilt, whereunto reſorted ſuch a number of People, that there was every day ſpent 28 or 26 Oxen, 300 Sheep, and Fowl without number. He cauſed a Gown to be made for himſelf of Gold, garniſhed with Pearl and precious Stones, to the value of 3000 Marks. There daily fed there 10000 People, as appeareth by the Meſſes, told out from the Kitchin, to 300 Servitors.

A great part of this Palace was burnt Anno 1512, the 4th of Henry VIII. ſince which time it hath not been Re-edified: Only the Great Hall, with the Offices near adjoining, are kept in good Reparations, and ſerveth, as afore, for Feaſts at Coronations, Arraignments of Great Perſons charged with Treaſon, and keeping of the Courts of Juſtice. For whereas formerly the Courts and Benches followed the King whereſoever he went, before and ſince the Conqueſt, but being found to be troubleſom, chargeable, and inconvenient to the People, it was, Anno 1224, 9 H. 3. agreed, that the…e ſhould be a ſtanding place appointed, where Matters ſhould be heard and judged, which was in the Great Hall at Weſtminſter.

I. The Court of COMMON-PLEAS.

Where he appointed Three Judgment-Seats, viz. at the Entry on the Right-hand, the Court of Common-Pleas; p. 125So called, becauſe there are debated the uſual Pleas between Subject and Subject, as about Tenures of Lands, and Civil Actions. None but Sergeants 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.

Pleas are diſtinguiſhed into Pleas of the Crown, (as Treaſon and Felony, with Miſpriſion of Felony, which belong to the Kings-Bench) and Common or Civil Pleas, whereof this Court takes Cognizance.

This Court may grant Prohibitions, as the Kings-Bench doth. The Chief Judge is called the Lord Chief Juſtice of the Common-Pleas, or de Communi Banco, the Common Bench, who holds his place by Letters Patents, Durante Beneplacito, and ſo do the other inferior Judges of this Court, whereof there are commonly Three.

Here 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 levied, or Recoveries ſuffered, but only in this Court. The King allows to the Lord Chief Juſtice of this Court, a Fee, Reward, Robes, and two Tun of Wine. Alſo to the other Judges of this Court, and to four Sergeants, is allow'd Fees, Reward and Robes to each one. The Officers are many, Cuſtos Brevium, three Protonatories, Clerk of the Warrants, Clerk of the Kings Silver, four Exigenters, fourteen Filazers, Clerk of the Juries, Clerk of the Eſſoignes, Clerk of the Outlawries, which belongeth to the Attorney General, who exerciſes it by Deputy, &c. For which at large, ſee the Preſent State of England, Pag. 102. Edit. 1679.

p. 126II. KINGS-BENCH.

At the upper End of the Hall, on the Right-hand, or South-eaſt Corner, the Court of Kings-Bench was appointed, which is of a larger Extent of Power, and more Uncontroulable than any other Tribunal: For the Law preſumes, that the King is there ſtill in Perſon, He being Lord Chief Juſtice of England Himſelf; yet it is obſervable, that though He ſhould perſonally ſit upon the Bench, He can paſs no Sentence of Judgment, but by the Mouths of His Judges, who did uſe to ſit there at His Feet when He was preſent. After the Houſe of Lords in Parliament, this is the Higheſt Court in England, and the Judicature, in the Abſence of the King, belongs to His Judges.

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 concern'd, becauſe the Life and Limb of the Subject (in the ſenſe of the Law) belong only to the King, ſo that the Pleas here are between the King and the Subject. Here are handled all Treaſons, Felonies, Breach of Peace, Oppreſſion, Miſgovernment, &c.

This Court hath power to Examine and Correct all Errors in Facto, and in Jure, of all the Judges and Juſtices of England in their Judgments 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, yet of large Extent in point of Authority, thus—

Rex, &c. Mathaeo Hale Militi, ſalutem.

Sciatis quod conſtituimus vos Juſticiarium noſtrum Capitalem ad placita p. 127coram nobis tenenda, Durante beneplacito noſtro,

teſte Me Ipſo apud Weſtm. &c.

That is in Engliſh,

The King, &c. To Sir Matthew Hale Kt. Greeting.

Know ye, That we have Conſtituted you our Capital (or Chief) Juſtice in Pleas held before Ʋs, during Our Pleaſure.

Witneſs My Self at Weſtminſter, &c.

The reſt of the Judges of the Kings-Bench, hold their Pleas by Letters Patents, in theſe words— Rex omniblis ad quos praeſentes literae pervenerint, Salutem. Sciatis quod Conſtituimus Dilectum & Fidelem noſtrum A. B. 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 practiſe.

This Court may grant Prohibitions, to keep other Courts, both Eccleſiaſtical and Temporal, within their due Bounds and Juriſdiction. The Juriſdiction of this Court is general, extending to all England, as before. None can be a Judge in this Court, unleſs he be a Sergeant of the Degree of the Coif, that is, a Sergeant at Law, (and yet in the Writ or Patent to them made, they are not called Sergeants) who upon taking this high Degree, is obliged to wear a Lawn Coif under his Cap for ever after. For the Officers of this Court, ſee the Preſent State of England, of the ſame Edition, Pag. 98.

III. CHANCERY.

On the Left-hand, or South-weſt Corner, ſitteth the Lord Chancellor, accompanied with the Maſter of the Rolls, and eleven other Men learned in the p. 128Civil Law, and called Maſters of Chancery, which have the King's Fee. This Court is placed next the Kings-Bench, to mitigate the Rigor of it. It is Curia Cancellariae, becauſe (as ſome think) the Judge of this Court ſate anciently intra Cancellos, or Lattices, as the Eaſt-end of Churches are ſeparated per Cancellos, from the Body of the Church, as peculiarly belonging to the Prieſt, and were thence called Chancels.

This Court is Officina Justitiae, the Fountain of all our Fundamental Laws, and Proceedings in Law, and the Original of all other Courts. It is as antient as the Civility of the Nation, though perhaps by another Name.

This Court proceeds, either ordinarily according to the Laws, Statutes and Cuſtoms, of the Nation, and in Latin, granting out Writs Mandatory, and Remedial, Writs of Grace: or elſe according to Equity and Conſcience, and by Engliſh Bill: ſo that the Chancery hath two Courts in one: The Equitable part is by Bills, Anſwers, and Decrees, to Examin Frauds, Combinations, Trusts, Secret Ʋſes, &c. To moderate the Rigour of the Laws, and Reſcue Men out of the hands of their Oppreſſors. To Relieve a Man eſpecially in three things, viz. againſt Cheats, unfortunate Accidents, and Breaches of Truſt.

Out of this Court Iſſue out Writs, or Summons for Parliaments, Edicts, Proclamations, Charters, Protections, ſafe Conducts, Writs of Moderata Miſericordia, when any Perſon hath been Amerced too high, are for a reaſonable part of Goods for Widows and Orphans, Patents for Sheriffs, Writs of Certiorari to remove Records, and falſe Judgments in inferior Courts, Writs of Audita Querela, and Scire Facias: here are Sealed and Inrolled, Letters Patents, Treaties and Leagues with Foreign Princes, Deeds between Party and Party touching Lands, Eſtates, or Purchaſers, taking Recognizances, p. 129and making Extents upon Statutes, and Recognizances for Payment of Money, or ſecuring of Contracts, Writs Remedial or Magiſterial, Commiſſions of Appeal, Oyer and Terminer, &c. The Court of Common Pleas, which are between Subject and Subject, hath its Original and Commiſſion from the Chancery, and cannot hold Pleas without it.

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

The Court of Equity, that proceeds not according to Law, is no Court of Record, and therefore binds only the Perſon, not his Lands or Goods. The Judge of this Court is the Lord Chancellor, or Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England. He is here the Sole Judge, whereas in other Courts there are three or four Judges. But he may and doth often, in Caſes of greater Weight and Difficulty, in Caſes of Law, call ſome of the other Judges to his aſſiſtance; and therefore it is ſaid, this Office may be diſcharged by one that is no profeſſed Lawyer, as it has been frequently to their great Praiſe. It is the highest Dignity in England, that a Lay-Man is capable of, it is Summum ambientis animi quaſi ſolſtitium; and the Chancellor is, Magiſtratum omnium Antiſtes. Antiently the Lord Chancellor had ſomtimes his Vice-Chancellor, commonly called Keeper of the Great Seal, but of latter times they differ only in Name.

The Chancellor is ſaid to be Keeper of the King's Conſcience, to Judge ſecundum aequum & bonum; according to Equity and Conſcience; he is to moderate the foreign; the exact Rigor and Letter of the Law, whereunto other Judges are exactly tyed: For the Princes of this Realm, (in imitation of the KING of Kings, governing the Wo…ld by Juſtice and Mercy) have Erected two Supre…m Tribunals together, at the upper end of p. 130Weſtminster-Hall, one of Justice, wherein nothing but the ſtrict Letter of the Law is obſerved; and the other of Mercy, where in the Rigor of the Law is tempered with the ſweetneſs of Equity; which is nothing elſe, but Mercy qualifying the ſharpneſs of Juſtice.

This Court being a Court of Conſcience, the leſs it is perplexed with the Quirks of Lawyers, the more it is guided by Conſcience and Equity.

The manner of proceeding in this Court is thus; the Action is by Bill or Plaint, the Witneſſes Examined in private, the Decrees in Engliſh or Latin, not in French. No Jury of Twelve Men, but all Sentences are given by the Judge of the Court.

The place of Maſter of the Rolls is of great Dignity, in the Gift of the King, for life, or during pleaſure. This Officer hath Jure Officii, the Gift of thoſe conſiderable Officers of the Six Clerks in Chancery, hath the keeping of the Rolls, and in the abſence of the Chancellor, hears Cauſes, and makes Orders by Vertue of a Commiſſion, with two Maſters, and that Jure Officii by right of Office.

This Court is always open, whereas all the others are ſhut, but only in Term time; ſo that if a Man be wrongfully Impriſoned, in the Vacation time out of Term, the Lord Chancellor may Grant his Writ of Habeas Corpus. and do him Juſtice according to Law, ſo likewiſe may this Gourt Grant Prohibitions in time of Vacation, as well as in Term time.

The Defendant is to Anſwer Bills and Interrogatories upon Oath, though to the accuſing of himſelf in divers matters Dammageable and Penal; the Witneſſes are to Depoſe upon Interrogatories and in perpetuam rei Memoriam, by the Term and uſe of Final Decree, agreeable with the Civil Law.

In the Maſter of the Rolls Office are kept all the Rolls, ſince the beginning of King Henry the VII. the reſt are kept in the Tower of London. In this p. 131Gift are beſides the Six Clerks Office, the Offices of the Examiners, and three of the Clerks of the Petty-Bag-Office.

The Office of Clerk of the Crown, is of High importance; he is either by himſelf or Deputy continually to attend the Lord Chancellor for ſpecial matters of State, and hath place in the Higher Houſe of Parliament. He makes all Writs for Election of Members of Parliament, Sitting in Parliament, upon Warrant directed to him upon the Death or Removal of any Member; and alſo Commiſſions of Oyer and Terminer, Goal-Delivery, Commiſſions of Peace, and many other Commiſſions diſtributing Juſtice to His Majeſties Subjects.

The Office of the Protonotary of this Court is chiefly to expedite Commiſſions for Embaſſies.

The Office of the Clerk of the Hanaper (or Hamper) is to receive all the Money due to the King for the Seals of Charters, Patents, Commiſſions, and Writs, and to attend the Keeper of the Seal daily in Term time, and at all times of Sealing, with Leather Bags now (but antiently probably with Hampers) wherein are put all the Sealed Charters, Patents, &c. And then thoſe Bags delivered to the Comptroller of the Hamper.

The Office of Warden of the Fleet, or Keeper of the Fleet-Priſon, is very Conſiderable. He is to take care of the Priſoners there, who are commonly ſuch as are ſent thither from this Court, for contempt of the King, or His Laws, on ſuch as will not pay their Debts, &c. The Sergeant at Arms Office, is to bear a Gilt Mace before the Lord Chancellor or Keeper for the time being. The Six Clerks are Officers of great account, next in Degree to the Twelve Maſters in Chancery, whoſe Office is to Inroll Commiſſions, Pardons, Patents, Warrants, &c. that are paſſed the Great Seal. They are Attorneys for Plaintiffs and Defendants, in Cauſes depending p. 132in this Court. Their Offices are at a place called Six-Clerks-Office in Chancery-Lane; they keep Commons together in Term time.

The Three Clerks of the Petty-Bag, are under the Maſter of the Rolls, they make all Patents, for Cuſtomers Comptrollers, all Conge…d' Eſtires, firſt Summons of Nobility, Clergy, Knights, Citizens, and Burgeſſes to Parliament. From the Subpoena-Office, are Iſſued Writs to Summon Perſons to appear in Chancery. There are two Examiners who are to examin Witneſſes upon upon their Oaths in any ſuit on both ſides. The Curſſiters Office is to make out Original Writs, they were antiently called Clerici de Curſu. They are in Number 24, whereof each one hath certain Counties and Cities allotted to him. They are a Corporation of themſelves, &c.

IV. EXCHEQƲER.

Within the Port or Entry into the Hall, on either ſide, are aſcendings up into large Chambers without the Hall, adjoyning thereunto, wherein certain Courts be kept, namely on the Right hand, is the Court of Exchequer, which is ſo called▪ as ſome think, from a Chequer-wrought-Carpet, covering the great Table in that Court, or elſe from the French word Exchequer, a Cheſs Board, becauſe the Accomptants in that Office, were wont to uſe ſuch Boards in their Calculation. Here are Tried all Cauſes that belong to the King's Treaſury or Revenue, as touching Accounts, Disburſements, Cuſtoms, and all Fines impoſed upon any Man. In this Court do Sit the Lord Treaſurer, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Lord Chief Baron, and Four other Learned Judges, called Barons of the Exchequ…r, and one other Curſitor-Baron, but the two firſt …dom Sit, and the five laſt ſeldom fail. The firſt p. 133of theſe five is the Principal Judge of this Court which is a place of High Honour and Profit, he i… ſtiled Lord Chief Baron, is created by Letters Pa…tents to hold this Dignity, quam diu bene ſe geſſeri… wherein he hath a more fixed Eſtate than the Chi… Juſtices of either Bench, for the Law intends this a… Eſtate for Life: In the abſence of the Lord Chie… Baron, the other three Barons ſupply his place, ac…cording to their Seniority; but the 5th is ſaid to b… Curſitor of the Court, and Adminiſters the Oaths t… the Sheriffs, under-Sheriffs, Bayliffs, Searchers, Surveyors, &c. of the Cuſtom-Houſe.

In the Exchequer are held two Courts, one o… Law, another of Equity, all Judicial proceedings according to Law, are Coram Baronibus, before the Barons; but the Court of Equity held in the Exchequer-Chamber, is, Coram Theſaurario, Cancellario, & Baronibus, before the Treaſurer, Chancellor, and Barons.

The Authority of this Court is of Original Juriſdiction, without any Commiſſion. All the Twelve Judges belonging to theſe High Tribunals, ſit in Robes, and Square Caps like Doctors of Divinity, becauſe (as ſome ſay,) they were in old times moſt commonly Clergy Men.

There are divers Officers belonging to the upper Exchequer, as the King's Remembrancer, in whoſe Office are Eight Sworn Clerks. All Accounts paſs there that concern the King's Revenue, for Cuſtoms, Exciſe, Hearth-Money, Subſidies, and all aids granted to the King in Parliament, and all other Accounts of what nature ſoever, concerning the King's Revenue, either Certain or Caſual; all Securities whether by Bond or Recognizances to the King for any of His Debts, are taken here. All proceedings upon any Statute, by information for Cuſtom, Exciſes, or any other Penal Law. All proceedings upon the ſaid Bonds or Recognizances, or any other Bonds p. 134taken in the King's Name by Officers appointed thereunto, under the Great Seal of England, and tranſmitted into this Office for Recovery thereof. From whence Iſſue forth Proceſs, to cauſe all Accountants to come in and Account, &c. This Office is in the King's Gift.

The Office of the Lord Treaſurer's Remembrancer is to make Proceſs againſt all Sheriffs, Receivers, Bayliffs, &c. for their Accounts, and many other things of Moment, as Eſtreal Rules, all Charters and Letters Patents, whereupon any Rents are reſerved to the King. This alſo is in the KING's Gift.

The Clerk of the Pipe hath all the Accounts and Debts due to the King, drawn down out of the Remembrancers Office, and chargeth them down out of the Remembrancers Office, and chargeth them down in the Great Roll or Pipe, (and therefore probably called the Pipe-Office;) he hath under him Eight Sworn Clerks. Here Accountants have their quietus eſt, and here are made Leafes of extended Lands.

The Comptroller of the Pipe writes out all Summons twice every Year to the High Sheriffs, to Levy the Farms and Debts of the Pipe. He keeps a Roll of the Pipe-Office Accounts, whereby to diſcover any thing that ſhall be amiſs.

In the Office of the Clerk of the Pleas, all the Officers of the Exchequer, and other priviledged Perſons, as Debtors to the King, &c. are to have their Priviledge to Plead, and be Impleaded, as to all matters at the Common Law. And the Proceedings are accordingly by Declarations, Pleas, and Trials, as at the Common Law, becauſe they ſhould not be drawn out of their own Court, where their attendance is Required. In this Office are four Sworn Attorneys.

To the For…ign Oppoſers-Office, all Sheriffs repair p. 135to be by him oppoſed of their Green-Wax, and from thence is drawn down a Charge upon the Sheriffs, to the Clerk of the Pipe. This Office is kept in Grays-Inn.

The Office of the Clerk of the Eſtreats is to receive every Term the Eſtreats or Extracts out of the Office of the Lord Treaſurer's Remembrancer, and to write them out to be Levied for the King. Alſo to make Schedules for ſuch Sums as are to be diſcharged.

The Auditors of the Impreſt, Audit the Great accounts of the King's Cuſtoms, Wardrobe, Mint, Firſt Fruits and Tenths, Naval and Military Expences, Moneys impreſted, &c.

The Auditors of the Revenue, Audit all the accounts of the King's other Revenue, that ariſe by Aids granted in Parliament.

The Remembrancer of the firſt Fruits and Tenths, takes all Compoſitions, for firſt Fruits and Tenths, and makes Proceſs againſt ſuch as pay not the ſame. This Office is kept in Hatton-Garden, &c.

As to the other part of the Exchequer, where the King's Revenue is received and disburſed, the Principal Officer is the Lord Treaſurer, whoſe place is ſomtimes (and is at this preſent) managed by Commiſſioners, appointed by His Majeſty.

The next is the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who is an Officer of great Account and Authority. He hath a Principal Power, not only in the Exchequer-Court, but alſo here, in the managing and diſpoſing of the King's Revenue: he hath the Cuſtody of the Exchequer-Seal. He hath the Gift of the Comptroller, or Clerk of the Pipe, of the Clerk of the Pleas, of the Clerk of the Nichils, and of the Seal of the Court. He is alſo under Treaſurer, and hath the Gift of the two Praiſers of the Court. Then there are two Chamberlains of the Exchequer, in whoſe Cuſtody are many ancient Records, Leagues and p. 136Treaties with Foreign Princes, the Standards of Moneys, Weights and Meaſures, thoſe antient Books called Dooms-Day, and the Black Book of the Exchequer. The former was ſix Years a making by William the Conqueror, and is a Cenſe or compute of all England as it was then, viz. all the Lands, with the value and Owners, and Account of all Cities, Towns, Villages, Families, Men, Souldiers, Husbandmen, Bondmen, Servants, Cattle; how much Money, Rents, Meadow, Paſture, Woods, Tillage, Common, Marſh, Heath, every one poſſeſſed. So that in Diſputes about Taxes, this determined it without further controverſie, as the Book of the Great day of Doom will then, (and therefore ſo called.) It is kept under three Locks, and not to be lookt into under 6 s. 8 d. And for every Line Tranſcribed, is to be paid 4. d.

The Auditor of the Receipts, is to File the Bills of The Tellers, whereby they charge themſelves with all Money Received, and to draw all Orders to be Signed by the Lord High Treaſurer, for Iſſuing forth all Moneys by Vertue of the Privy Seals, which are Recorded and Lodged in his Office. He makes all Debentures to the ſeveral Perſons who have Fees, Annuities, or Penſions, by Letters Patents, from the King, out of the Exchequer, and directs them for payment to the Tellers. He receives every Week the ſtate of the Account of each Teller, and alſo Weekly certifies the whole to the Lord High Treaſurer, who preſently preſents the Eſtimate or Ballance to the King. He takes the Tellers Account in Groſs at Eaſter and Michaelmas. By him are kept the ſeveral Regiſters appointed for paying all Perſons in Courſe, upon ſeveral Branches of the King's Revenue; he is Scriptor Talliorum, hath five Clerks to manage the whole Eſtate of Moneys received, disburſed and remaining.

There are four Tellers who Receive all Moneys▪ p. 137due to the King, and thereupon throw down a Bill through a Pipe into the Tally-Court, where it is received by the Auditors Clerk, who there attends to write the words of the ſaid Bill upon a Tally, and then delivers the ſame to be Entred by the Clerk of the Pells, or his under Clerk, who Enters it in his Book. Then the Tally is cloven by the two Deputy Chamberlains, who have the Seals; and while the Senior Deputy reads one part, the Junior Examines the other part with the other two Clerks.

The Clerk of the Pels, Enters every Tellers Bill into a Parchment of Skin, (in Latin Pellis, whence this Office hath its Name,) all Receipts and Payments for the King, for what cauſe, or by whomſoever, and is in Nature of a Comptroller, hath four Clerks, whereof one is for the Introitus, and another for the Exitus. Moreover he is to make Weekly and half Yearly Books, both of the Receipts and Payments which are delivered to the Lord Treaſurer.

He that Pays the King any Moneys, receives▪ for his Acquittance a Tally; (ſo called from the French Verb Tallier to cut) that is, one half of a Stick cloven, with certain proportionable Notches thereon, expreſſive of the Sum from the ſaid Deputy Chamberlains, who keep the other cloven part of the Stick, called the Foyl, and Delivers it to the Tally-Joyners on the other ſide of the Exchequer, who are alſo Deputies to the Chamberlains, an… they joyn it with the Foyl, which agreeing, the… give it their Teſt, and ſend it by an Officer of the… own to the Pipe, where their quietus eſt is Ingroſſe… in Parchment.

In the Office of the Deputy-Chamberlains: Weſtminſter, are preſerved all the Counterfoyls … theſe Tallies, ſo exactly ranged by Months an… Years, that they are to be preſently found out, t… p. 138be joined with their reſpective Stock or Tally, when required, which proving true, they deliver it Atteſted for a Lawful Tally, to the Clerk of the Pipe, for to be allowed in the great Roll; but in Caſe any Corruption hath been uſed, the ſame is eaſily and ſoon diſcovered, and the Offender ſeverely puniſhed, by Fine and Impriſonment.

This Antient way of ſtriking of Tallies hath been found, by long experience, to be abſolutely the beſt way that ever was invented, for it is Morally impoſſible ſo to Falſifie or Counterfeit a Tally, but that upon rejoyning it with the Counterfoyl, it will be obvious to every Eye, either in the Notches, or in the Cleaving, in the Longitude, Latitude, Natural growth or ſhape of the Counterfoyl; whereas Acquittances in Writing cannot be ſo done, but that they may be Counterfeited by skilful Penmen, and that ſo exactly, as that he who wrote the Original, ſhall not be able to know his own hand from the Counterfeit, as hath been frequently ſeen in all the Courts of Westminſter.

There are two Ʋſhers, whoſe Office it is to ſecure the Exchequer by Day and Night, and all the Avenues leading to the ſame, and to furniſh all Neceſſaries, as Books, Paper, &c.

There is a Tally-Cutter, and four Meſſengers. This Exchequer is the beſt ordered publick Revenue in the World.

Court of the Dutchy of Lancaſter.

Before we come to treat of the High Court of Parliament, we will give an Account of the Court of the Dutchy of Lancaſter, kept at Weſtminſter-Hall, on the left hand above Stairs, which takes Cognizance of all Cauſes that any way concern the Revenue of that Dutchy, which hath been long ſince Annexed to the Crown.

p. 139The Chief Judge of this Court, is the Chancellor of the Dutchy, who is aſſiſted by the Attorney of the Dutchy. To this Court belong divers other Officers. It is kept near the lower Exchequer, and at the Office of Sir Gilbert Gerrard at Grays-Inn.

Of the High Court of PARLIAMENT.

Sir Richard Baker tell us in his Chronicle that King Henry the I. inſtituted the Form of the High Court of Parliament: and that the firſt Council of this ſort was held at Salisbury, on the 19th of April, and the 16th of his Reign, which is 560 and odd Years ago. Before the Conqueſt, the great Council of the King, conſiſting only of the Great Men of the Kingdom, was called Magnatum Conventus, the Convention or Meeting of the Grandees, or Great Men, or elſe Prelatorum Procerumque Concilium, and by the Saxons in their own Tongue, Michel Gemot, the great Aſſembly. After the Conqueſt it was called Parlementum, a French word derived of Parler, to talk together, conſiſting ſtill only of the great Men of the Nation, till the aforeſaid King's Reign.

None but the King hath Authority to Summon a Parliament: In the King's abſence out of the Realm, the Cuſtos Regni in the King's Name, doth Summon a Parliament; and During the King's Minority within the Realm, the Protector Regni doth the ſame.

When the King of England is with His Parliament, in time of peace, He is then ſaid to be in the height of His Royal Dignity, as well as when He is at the head of His Army in time of War.

He can with the concurrence of his Lords and Commons then do any thing in point of Enacting or Repealing Laws, Legitimate one that is born duplicate page p. 134duplicate page p. 135duplicate page p. 136duplicate page p. 137duplicate page p. 138duplicate page p. 139p. 140Illegitimate, Baſtardize one that is born Legitimate. He can make an Infant of full Age, make an Alien or Foreigner an Engliſh Man, can Attaint a Man of Treaſon when he is Dead, and when he is no more a Man, &c.

A Parliament is Summoned in manner following: About fourty Days before the Parliament doth Aſſemble, the King Iſſues out His Writ out of the Chancery, cum adviſamento Conſilii ſui, with the advice of His Council, and the Warrant is, per ipſum Regem & Conſilium, by the King Himſelf and His Council.

The King's Writ (which is a ſhort Letter or Epiſtle) is directed and ſent to every particular Perſon of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, commanding the Lords Spiritual, in Fide & Dilectione, in Faith and Love; and the Lords Temporal, per fidem & allegantiam, by their Faith and Allegiance, to appear at a certain time, and place, to Treat and give their Advice in ſome certain Important Affairs, concerning the Church and State, &c.

Other Writs are ſent to the High Sheriff of each County, to Summon the People to Elect two Knights for each County, two Citizens for each City, and one or two Burgeſſes for each Burrough, according to Statute, Charter, or Cuſtom.

In theſe Elections, antiently all the People had their Votes, and moſt Votes carried it, but for avoiding of Tumults and Trouble, it was Enacted by Henry the VI. that none ſhould have any ſuffrage in the Election of Knights of the Shire, but ſuch as were Free-holders, did Reſide in the County, and had of Yearly Revenue 40 s. which till the diſcovery of Gold and Silver in America, was as much as 30 or 40 l. now.

The Perſons Elected for each County, are to be Milites Notabiles, or at leaſt Eſqs. or Gentlemen, fit to be made Knights, as it is in the Statutes of p. 141Henry the VI. they ought to be de diſcretionibus Militibus & ad laborandum potentioribus, of the diſcreeteſt Knights, and moſt able to endure Labour, of age, (viz. 21 Years at leaſt,) and Experience, without Rancor, Malice, Heat and Envy to be conſtant ſo as not to be ſwerved from Right, by Fear, Reward, or Favour, and in Judgment no reſpecters of Perſons; of a ripe and good Memory, that remembring Perils paſt, they may prevent Dangers to come. They are to be Vigorous, Active and Temperate, and content to give their Attendance for Publick Good, with which they are Intruſted, Men of Noble Spirits and good Eſtates, to prevent their being Mercenary or Bribed, to betray their great Truſt; Men well verſt in National and Political Affairs, and of Capacious Underſtandings, that ſo they might not be impoſed upon' by the Subtilty of ſuch as would over-reach them. They ought alſo to be well acquainted with the Laws of the Land, and the Tranſactions of former Parliaments, in order to the Repeal of Old Laws; which though fit for the times they were made, may not be ſo for the preſent times, (the Circumſtances of things being varyed much from what they were, by divers Revolutions,) and to Enact New Laws for general Good. And indeed we have had of late Parliaments of this Character, Men of ſuch brave Spirits, ſuch Sagacity, Prudence, and Integrity, to promote the General Welfare of that Great Body Politick, whoſe Worthy Repreſentatives they were, as have exceeded their Predeceſſors, and will hardly be outdone in ſucceeding times.

They ought to be Native Engliſh Men, or at leaſt ſuch as have been Naturalized by Act of Parliament. No Alien or Denizen, none of the twelve Judges, no Sheriff of a County, no Eccleſiaſtical Perſon that hath curam animarum, the cure (or care) of Souls, may be choſen to Serve for any County, City, or Burrough.

p. 142This Grand and Illuſtrious Senate, Conſiſts of the three great Eſtates of the Kingdom, (the King's moſt Excellent Majeſty being the head,) viz. The Prelates and the Peers of the Realm, and the Commons; in which is ſuch a Co-ordination of Power, ſuch a Wholſom mixture betwixt Prince and Commonalty, during the time of Conſultation, that they make but one Body Politique, their Reſults when they concur, being as ſo many Harmonious Diapaſons, ariſing from the Touch of different Strings. This Great Council is the great Bulwark of the Engliſh Liberty, Property, and Religion, and the great Bank that keeps them from Slavery, and the Inundations of Tyrannical Incroachments, and unbounded Will-Government.

The People are lyable to no Laws but what they themſelves make, and are ſubject to no Contribution, Tax, Aſſeſsment, or Pecuniary Leveys whatſoever, but what they themſelves Vote, and Voluntarily yield to. For there all Degrees of People be Repreſented, the Yeoman, Merchant, Tradeſman, Mechanick, &c. have their incluſive Votes, as well as the Gentry, and Free-holders, their Burgeſſes, and Knights.

The Houſe of Lords conſiſts of Eleven Dukes, whereof two are of the Royal Family, viz. the Duke of York, and Prince Rupert, then the Lord Chancellor, or Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, the Lord Treaſurer, and the Lord Privy Seal, takes Place before all Dukes not of the Royal Blood.

There are two Marqueſſes, the Lord High Chamberlain of England, the Lord Steward of the King's Houſhold, and the Lord Chamberlain of the King's Houſhould (in reſpect of their Offices) takes place of all Earls, who at preſent are in Number, (viz. ſuch as may Sit in the Houſe of Lords) 64. Then there are 7 Viſcounts, and 60 Barons, (according to the Printed Liſt of the laſt Parliament that met at p. 143Oxford March 21. this preſent Year 1681.) Then there are two Archbiſhops, and twenty four Biſhops, ſo that the whole Number may be about 176, ſome of which Lords are under Age, ſome Employed abroad by the King, ſome Sick or Infirm: ſo that the ordinary Number that Sits, (beſides the Peers in the Tower, and ſuch as are Excluded by Act of Parliament for Recuſancy, &c.) may be about one hundred.

The Houſe of Commons conſiſts of two Knights for each of the 40 Shires in England, being 80. One for each County in Wales, being 12 Knights. Two for each of the 25 Cities in England, and four for London, in all 52. Sixteen Barons for the Cinque-Ports. Two Burgeſſes for each of the two Ʋniverſities. About 330 Burgeſſes, for 168 Burroughs in England, of which, ſome few ſend but one Burgeſs a piece. Laſtly, of twelve Burgeſſes, (viz. one for one Burrough in each County of Wales, ſo that the Total, according to the aforeſaid Liſt, is 513. Of which many are abſent, ſomtimes by permiſſion of the Houſe upon buſineſs, or becauſe of Sickneſs, &c.

The Number of the Parliament Men, that each County ſends, are as followeth:

1. Bedfordſhire. 4

2. Berkshire. 9

3. Buckinghamſhire. 14

4. Cambridgeſhire. 6

5. Cheſhire. 4

6. Cornwall. 44

7. Cumberland. 6

8. Derbyſhire. 4

9. Devonſhire. 26

10. Dorſerſhire. 20

11. Durham. 4

12. Eſſex. 8

13. Gloceſterſhire. 8

14. Herefordſhire. 8

15. Hartfordſhire. 6

16. Huntingtonſhire. 4

17. Kent. 10

18. Lancaſhire. 14

19. Leiceſterſhire. 4

20. Lincolnſhire. 12

21. Middleſex. 8

22. Monmouthſhire. 3.

p. 14423. Norfolk. 12

24. Northamptonſhire. 9

25. Northumberland. 8

26. Nottinghamſhire. 8

27. Oxfordſhire. 9

28. Rutland. 2

29. Shropſhire. 12

30. Somerſetſhire. 18

31. Southampton, Or, Southamptonſhire. 26

32. Staffordſhire. 10

33. Suffolk. 16

34. Surrey. 14

35. Suſſex. 20

36. Warwickshire. 6

37. Weſtmorland. 4

38. Wiltſhire. 34

39. Worceſterſhire. 9

40. Yorkshire. 30

BARONS of the CINQUE-PORTS.

Port of Haſtings. 2

Town of Winchelſey. 2

Town of Rye. 2

Port of new Rumney. 2

Port of Hieth. 2

Port of Dover. 2

Port of Sandwich. 2

Port of Seaford. 2

WALES.

1. Angleſey. 1

Bewmaris. 1

2. Brecon. 1

Town of Brecon. 1

3. Cardigan. 1

Town of Cardigan. 1

4. Carmarthen. 1

Town of Carmarthen. 1

5. Carnarvan. 1

Town of Carnarvan. 1

6. Denbigh. 1

Town of Denbigh. 1

7. Flint. 1

Town of Flint. 1

8. Glamorgan. 1

Town of Cardiff. 1

9. Merioneth. 1

10. Pembrook. 1

Town of Haverford-west. 1

Town of Pembrook. 1

11. Montgomery. 1

Town of Montgomery. 1

12. Radnor. 1

Town of Radnor. 1

The Barons of the Cinque-Ports, are at this Day, only as Burgeſſes in Parliament, yet they are ſtill called Barons, after the antient manner, becauſe heretofore they got Renown by their Exploits at Sea, in p. 145defending the Kingdom, in Memory whereof, they have yet the priviledge to ſend Burgeſſes, to bear the Cloth of State over the King's Head on the day of His Coronation, and to Dine that Day in the King's preſence.

The Writ or Summons to the Sheriff, for Election of Members to Serve in the Houſe of Commons, runs to this purpoſe:

The KING to the Sheriff, &c. Greeting.

WHereas by the Advice and Aſſent of our Council, for certain arduous and urgent Affairs concerning Ʋs, the State and Defence of our Kingdom of England, and the Church of England, We have Ordamed a certain Parliament of Ours, to be held at this Our City of—the—Day of—next Enſuing, and there to have Conference, and to Treat with the Prelates, Great Men and Peers of Our ſaid Kingdom; We command and ſtrictly enjoyn you, that making Proclamation at Our next County Court, after the Receipt of this Our Writ, to be holden the day and Place aforeſaid, you cauſe two Knights girt with Swords, the moſt fit and diſcreet of the County aforeſaid, and of every City of that County two Citizens; of every Burrough, two Burgeſſes, of the diſcreeteſt and moſt ſufficient, to be freely and indifferently choſen, by them who ſhall be preſent at ſuch Proclamation, according to the Tenor of the Statutes in that Caſe made and provided; and the Names of the ſaid Knights, Citizens and Burgeſſes ſo ch…ſen, to be inſerted in certain Indentures, to be then made between you and thoſe that ſhall be preſent at ſuch Election, whether the Parties ſo Elected be preſent or abſent, and ſhall make them to come at the ſaid Day and Place; ſo that the ſaid Knights for themſelves, and the p. 146County aforeſaid, and the Citizens and the Burgeſſes for themſelves and the Commonalty of the ſaid Cities and Boroughs may have ſeverally from them, full and ſufficient Power, to do, and to conſent to thoſe things, which then by the Favour of GOD, ſhall happen to be Ordained by the Common Councel of Our ſaid Kingdom, concerning the buſineſſes aforeſaid, ſo that the buſineſs may not by any means remain undone for want of ſuch Power, or by reaſon of the improvident Election of the foreſaid Knights, Citizens and Burgeſſes: But we will not in any Caſe that you, or any other Sheriff of Our ſaid Kingdom, ſhall be Elected, and at the Day and Place aforeſaid, the ſaid Election being made in a full County Court, you ſhall certify without Delay unto Ʋs, in Our Chancery under your Seal, and the Seals of them who ſhall be preſent at the Election, ſending back unto Ʋs the other part of the Indenture aforeſaid, affixed to theſe preſents, together with the Writ. Witneſs Our Self at, &c.

The King is in the ſence of Law the Fountain of Juſtice, He is Lord Chief Juſtice of England, and therefore all the Laws of the Realm are called His Laws; for He is Caput, principium, & finis Parliamenti, (that is, the head, beginning, and end of Parliament,) and nothing can have the Force of a Law, but what has His Royal Aſſent.

The higheſt Court of Judicature in England, is the Houſe of Lords in Parliament, who are aſſiſted with the moſt Grave and Eminent Lawyers of England, both in Common and Civil Law, who are only Miniſterial there, and have no Voices; but to give their Opinions in matters of Law which become doubtful.

To the Judicature of this Supreme and moſt Honorable Court, all other Courts and Perſons that p. 147are Subjects of England, are accountable for all Crimes not properly Tryable, Remediable, or Puniſhable in other inferiours Courts of Juſtice, and to this Court all laſt Appeals are made, from whoſe Sentence there lies no Appeal, but to a ſucceeding Parliament; and this Supreme Judicatory, or Judicial Power, lies only in the King and Houſe of Lords, and at the Bar of this High Court may the Houſe of Commons, as the Grand Inquest of the Nation, Impeach the Higheſt Subject of England, whether of the Clergy or of the Laity, and proſecute them till it come to a Sentence.

All Members of Parliament, both Lords and Commons, that they may attend the publick Service of their Country, are priviledged with their Menial Servants attending on their Perſons, together with all their neceſſary Goods brought along with them, from all Attachments and Impriſonments, for Debts, Treſpaſſes, Account, or Covenant, all the time that they are on the way to the Place of Parliament, all the time that they tarry there, and return Eundo, Morando, & ad propria redeundo, but not from Arreſts for Treaſon, Felony, or breach of the Peace.

The place of Meeting for this High and Honorable Aſſembly, is in whatſoever City, Town, or Houſe, the King pleaſeth; but moſt uſually at Weſtminſter. All the Lords Sit in a fair Room by themſelves, and the Commons not far from them in another Fair Room, heretofore the antient Free Chappel of St. Stephen.

The King, as oft as he comes, (which is uſually at the opening of Parliaments, paſſing of Bills, or Solemn Debates) is placed at the upper end of the Room in a Chair of State, under a Cloth of State, under which, on either hand, ſit none but the King's Children.

On the King's right hand is a Seat for the Prince p. 148of Wales, on His left hand is a Seat for the Duke of York.

On the King's right hand next the Wall, are placed on a Form, the two Archbiſhops, next below on another Form, the Biſhops of London, Durham and Wincheſter.

Upon other Forms, on the ſame ſide, the reſt of the Biſhops ſit, according to the Priority of their Conſecration.

On the King's left hand, upon Forms are placed the Lord Chancellor, Treaſurer, Preſident of the King's Council, the Lord Privy Seal, if they are Barons, above all Dukes, except thoſe of the Royal Family; if they are not Barons, then they Sit uppermoſt on the Wool-ſacks.

On the ſame ſide Sit the Dukes, Marqueſſes, and Earls, according to their Creations. Upon the firſt Form, acroſs the Houſe below the Woolſacks, ſit the Viſcounts, and upon the next Forms the Barons, all in Order.

The Lord Chancellor or Keeper (if the King be preſent,) ſtands behind the Cloth of Eſtate, otherwiſe ſits on the firſt Woolſack, thwart the Chair of State, his Great Seal and Mace by him, he is Lord Speaker of the Lords Houſe. Upon other Woolſacks ſit the Judges, the Privy Counſellors, and Secretaris of State, the King's Council at Law, the Maſters of Chancery; who being not Barons, have no ſuffrage by Vo…ce in Parliament, but only ſit (as was ſaid,) to give Advice when required.

The Reaſon of their ſitting upon Woolſacks, is thought to be to put them in mind of the Great Importance of our Woollen Manufactories, which is the Grand Staple Commodity of England, and ſo not to be by any means neglected.

On the Lowermoſt Woolſack are placed the Clerk of the Crown, and Clerk of the Parliament, whereof the former is concern'd in all Writs of p. 149Parliament, and Pardons in Parliament. The other Recordeth all things done in Parliament, and keepeth the Records of the ſame. This Clerk hath alſo two Clerks under him, who kneel behind the ſame Woolſack, and write thereon.

Without the Bar of the Lords Houſe, ſits the King's firſt Gentleman Uſher, called the Black-Rod, from a Black-ſtaff he carries in his hand, under whom is a Yeoman Uſher that waits at the Door within, a Cryer without, and a Serjeant at Mace, always attending the Lord Chancellor.

When the King is preſent with His Crown on his Head, none of the Lords are covered. The Judges ſtand till the King gives them leave to ſit. When the King is abſent, the Lords at their entrance do Reverence to the Chair of State, as is or ſhould be done by all that enter into the King's Preſence Chamber.

The Judges then may ſit, but may not be covered, till the Chancellor or Keeper ſignifies unto them the leave of the Lords. The King's Council, and Maſters of Chancery ſit alſo, but may not be covered at all.

The Commons in their Houſe ſit Promiſcuouſly, only the Speaker hath a Chair placed in the middle, and the Clerk of that Houſe near him at the Table. They never had any Robes, (as the Lords ever had,) but wear every one what he fancyeth moſt.

The time of Sitting in Parliament, is on any day in the Morning, or before Dinner. When the day prefixt by the King in His Writs of Summons is come, the KING uſually in his Royal Robes, with His Crown on His Head, declares the cauſe of their being Aſſembled, in a ſhort Speech, leaving the reſt to the Lord Chancellor, who then ſtands behind His MAJESTY; the Commons in the mean time ſtanding bare at the Bar of the Lords Houſe, who are Commanded to chuſe then a Speaker, which p. 150without the KING's Command they may not do; whereupon they Return to their own Houſe, and chooſe one of their own Members, whom they preſent on another Day to the KING; and being approved of by His MAJESTY, ſitting in His Chair, and all the Lords in their Scarlet Robes, he makes a modeſt refuſal, which not allowed, he Petitioneth His Majeſty, That the Commons may have, during their Sitting,

1. A free Acceſs to His Majeſty.

2. A freedom of Speech in their own Houſe.

3. Freedom from Arreſts.

Which the King Grants.

Before they enter upon Affairs, all the Members of the Houſe of Commons take the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, in the preſence of an Officer, appointed by the KING. And ſince the Papists have been found (by the Wiſdom of the KING and Parliament) to be Plotting and Contriving to introduce the pretended Supremacy of their Pope, and inſlave the Nation to their Tyrannical Anti-ſpiritual Juriſdiction, by Horrid Projections, Plots, Intrigues, &c. to prevent any ſuch from Voting in either Houſe, it was thought meet, (though no Oaths can bind ſuch who profeſs the Impious Doctrine of Equivocation,) that all are to declare their Opinion againſt the Doctrines of Tranſubſtantiation, Invocation and Adoration of Saints, the Sacrifice of the Maſs: which Teſt, the Lords alſo are Obliged to take in their Houſe, before they can Sit and Debate upon any Affair.

The Lords Houſe hath a power not only in Making and Repealing Laws, but alſo in tractando & Conſilium impendendo, (that is, in Treating and Counſelling, &c.) as the words of the Writ are; alſo in Judging of Controverſies, Judging in the Arraignment p. 151of any Peer of the Realm, putting Men to their Oaths, eſpecially in matters of Importance, as the Corruption of Judges and Magiſtrates in Illegal proceeding in other Courts, in Appeals from Decrees in Chancery. No Papiſt is to Sit, or have Suffrage in the Lords Houſe.

The Lords, in caſe of neceſſary or unavoidable abſence, may make their Proxies to Vote in their place, after Licenſe obtained under the KING's Signet.

The Commons (as was ſaid,) have a power in Making and Repealing Laws: they have a Negative Voice, as the KING and Lords have; for nothing can paſs into a Law without the joint concurrence of the King and both Houſes. Bills for Levying of Mony upon the Subject, begin in the Houſe of Commons, becauſe the greater part of the ſame ariſes from them. The Commons have a power to Supplicate and propoſe Laws, and (as before,) to Impeach publick Delinquents of the Higheſt Quality that are Subjects; for they are the Grand Inquest of the Nation, and are to preſent Publick Grievances to be Redreſſed, and Delinquents to be puniſhed.

To this end the Lords ſit in their Robes on the Bench covered, they Swear and Examine Witneſſes, and at laſt paſs Sentence; the Members of the Houſe of Commons ſtand bare at the Bar of the Lords Houſe, produce Witneſſes, manage Evidences, &c.

Though every Member of the Houſe of Commons is choſen to Serve for one particular County, City, or Borough, yet he Serves for the whole Kingdom, and his Voice is equal to any other; his power is abſolute to conſent or diſſent.

They are to make it their ſpecial care to promote the good of that County, City, or Borough, for which they Serve; ſo as that, no particular benefit may interfere with, or be prejudicial to the Good of the whole Kingdom.

p. 152The Lords are to bear their own Charges, becauſe they Repreſent only themſelves. The Commons uſually had their Reaſonable expences. In the 17 of Ed. II. they had Ten Groats for Knights, and Five Groats for Burgeſſes a day, and not long after, Four s. a day for Dubbed Knights, and Two s. for all others, which in thoſe days, as appears by the Prices of all things, was a conſiderable Sum, above Twenty times more than it is now. So that ſome decayed Boroughs finding the expence heavy, Petitioned that they might not be obliged to ſend Burgeſſes to Parliament, and ſo were Ʋnburgeſſed, &c.

It is the Practice of each Houſe to debate all publick Affairs, relating to the general or particular Welfare, of the Kingdom or Subject. And every Parliament may get a Bill drawn, and give it to the Speaker, or Clerk of the Parliament, to be preſented in convenient time. Whatſoever is propoſed for a Law, is firſt put in Writing and called a Bill, which being read in a full Aſſembly, it is either unanimouſly rejected, or elſe allowed to be Debated, and then it is Committed to a certain Number of the Houſe, preſently Nominated, and called a Committee. After it hath been Amended, and twice Read two ſeveral Days in the Houſe, it is Ingroſſed, that is, Written Fair in a Parchment, and Read the Third time another day, and then (if in the Lords Houſe) the Chancellor, or (if in the Houſe of Commons,) the Speaker demands if they will have it put to the queſtion, whether, a Law or no Law? If the Major part be for it, there is Written on the Bill by the Clerk (of the Lords Houſe,) Soit baille aux Seigneurs,—or (of the Houſe of Commons,) Soit baille aux Communes, retaining the Antient Cuſtom, which was to ſpeak in French.

When the Speaker finds divers Bills prepared to be put to the Queſtion, he gives Notice the day be… p. 153before, that to morrow he intends to put ſuch Bills to the paſſing, or third Reading, and deſires the ſpecial attendance of all the Members.

If a Bill be rejected, it cannot be any more propoſed during that Seſſion. All Bills ſent by the Commons to the Lords Houſe, are uſually attended (to ſhew their reſpect) with ſeveral of their Members, and as they come up to the Lords Bar, the Member that's to preſent the Bill maketh three profound Reverences, and delivers it to the Lord Chancellor, who comes down to the Bar to receive it.

A Bill ſent by the Lords to the Commons is uſually by ſome of the Maſters of Chancery, or ſome other whoſe ſeat is on the Wool-ſacks (and by none of the Members) who coming up to the Speaker, bow thrice, and deliver it to him, after one of them hath read the Title, and deſired it might be taken into Conſideration. If it paſs that Houſe, then is Written on it, Les Communes ont aſſentez.

When any Member of the Houſe of Commons ſpeaks to a Bill, he ſtands up uncovered, and directs his Speech only to the Speaker; then if what he Delivers be confuted by another, yet he is not allowed to Anſwer again the ſame day, leſt the whole time ſhould be ſpent in a Diſpute between two talkative perſons.

Alſo if a Bill be debating in the Houſe, no man may ſpeak to it in one day, above once. If any one ſpeak words of offence which the Houſe takes cognizance of as ſuch, he is called to the Bar, and ſometimes ſent to the Tower. The Speaker is not allowed to perſuade or diſſuade in paſſing of a Bill, but only to make a ſhort and plain Narrative, nor to Vote, except the Houſe be equally Divided. In Committees, though of the whole Houſe, it is allowed to Speak and Reply as often as they pleaſe.

In the Houſe of Lords they give their Suffrages or Votes, beginning at the loweſt Baron, and ſo to p. 154the higheſt Peer in order, every one Anſwering apart [Content, or Not content.]

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

If a Bill paſs in one Houſe, and being ſent to the other Houſe, they of the other Houſe Demur upon it, then a Conference is demanded in the Painted Chamber, where certain deputed Members of each Houſe Meet, the Lords ſitting covered at a Table, and the Commons ſtanding bare: the buſineſs is then debated; If they agree not, it is Nulled; if they do agree, it Paſſes.

When Bills have paſt both Houſes, they are preſented to his Majeſty for his Royal aſſent, who comes in his Robes with the Crown on his Head, and being Seated in his Chair of State, (the Lords being all in their Robes,) the Clerk of the Crown reads the Ti… tle of each Bill, and as he reads, the Clerk of the Parliament, according to his Inſtructions from the King (who before hath maturely conſidered each Bill) pronounceth the Royal aſſent. If it be a Publick Bill, the Anſwer is (Le Roy le veut,) and then that Bill becomes a Law. If a Private Bill, the Anſwer is (Soit fait comms el eſt deſire.) If it be a Pubblick Bill which the King likes not, then the Anſwer is, (Le Roy s'aviſera) which is taken for an abſolute Denial, in a more Civil way, and that Bill wholly nulled. So that nothing but what the King confirms by his Royal Aſſent, hath the force of a Law.

p. 155The King can by Commiſſion granted to ſome of His Nobles, give His Royal Aſſent to any Bill that requires haſte.

If it be a Bill for Monies given to His Majeſty, then the Anſwer is, (Le Roy remercie ſes Loyaux Sujets, accepte leur Benevolence, & auſſi le veut) which is an ancient Ceremony of Thanking the Subjects for parting with their Money.

The Bill for the King's General Pardon hath but one Reading in either Houſe, becauſe they muſt take it, as the King will pleaſe to give it; ſo the Bill of Subſidies granted by the Clergy Aſſembled in Convocation for the ſame Reaſon. When the Bill for the General Pardon is paſſed by the King, the Anſwer is thus, (Les Prelates, Seigneurs & Communes en ce Parliament Aſſemblez au nom de tous vos autre Sujects, remercient tres humblement votre Majeſte & prient Dieu vous donner en ſante bonne vie & Congue.

All Acts of Parliament before the Reign of Henry 7. were Paſſed and Enrolled in French, now in Engliſh. The ſtile runs thus; Be it Enacted by the King's moſt Excellent Majeſty, by and with the Advice and Conſent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, &c.

When it pleaſes the King, the Parliament is Adjourned, Prorogued, or Diſſolved, thus:

Adjournments are uſually made in the Lords Houſe, by the Lord Chancellor in the King's name, to what other day and place the King pleaſes; and then all things already Debated and Read in one or both Houſes, may be reſumed, becauſe they continue in the ſame State they were in before, to the next Meeting.

When the Parliament is Prorogued there is a Seſſion, and then all Bills and Debates muſt begin anew, at the re-aſſembling of the Parliament.

p. 156The Speaker of the Houſe of Commons, upon notice given that it is the King's pleaſure, that that Houſe ſhall alſo Adjourn, doth ſay with the Aſſent of the Houſe, This Houſe is Adjourned.

When the King Prorogues or Diſſolves the Parliament, He commonly comes in Perſon to the Houſe of Lords in his Robes, with the Crown on his Head, and ſends (by the Ʋſher of the Black-Rod) for all the Houſe of Commons, to the Bar of that Houſe, and after the King's Anſwer to each Bill ſignified as aforeſaid, his Majeſty uſually makes a Solemn Speech, the Lord Chancellor another, and the Speaker of the Houſe of Commons a Third. Then the Lord Chancellor by the ſpecial Command of the King, doth pronounce the Parliament Prorogued or Diſſolved.

The King being Head of the Parliament, if his Death doth happen, during the Sitting of the Parliament, it is ipſo facto Diſſolved.

IV. Sommerſet-Houſe in the Strand is the Queens Palace. In the Year 1549. Edward Duke of Sommerſet Uncle to Edward the 6th, and Lord Protector, pulled down ſeveral adjoyning Buildings to make him a Manſion-Houſe there, the Stones of which Houſes, and ſome other more remote Buildings which he demolliſhed, were converted to this Spatious and Beautiful Palace; of which we cannot add much more, but that it was the Fatal place, where the wicked Romiſh Aſſaſſinates (prompted by Hell and their accurſed Principles,) moſt barbarouſly Murdered that Noble Patriot and never to be forgotten Knight, Sir EDMOND-BERRY GODFREY, on Saturday the 12th of October, 1678. The Bloody Villains being enraged at the Diſcovery of their Execrable Plot, in which this brave Gentleman was very active, made him a Sacrifice to their Revenge, ſo that he may be truly ſtiled the Martyr of the Engliſh Protestant Intereſt, and deſerves p. 157a Memorial in all Loyal Chriſtian Hearts. The Narrative is publiſhed at large, to which we refer our Reader; only we cannot omit his Majeſties Royal act, who ſo reſented this Abominable Villany, that he iſſued his Proclamation the 20th of October, promiſing 500 l. to the Diſcoverer, and a Pardon if one of the Malefactors; and another ſoon after promiſing on the word of a King, not only the ſaid Reward of 500 l, but ſuch care for the Security of the Diſcoverer as he could in Reaſon propoſe; upon which Captain William Bedlow (ſince Dead,) and Mr. Miles Praunce, a Silver-ſmith in Princesſtreet, (which laſt confeſſed to have been in the Fact,) made the Diſcovery; and upon their clear and undoubted Evidence, three of the Wretches were Executed, viz. Green, Berry, and Hill, the reſt fled from Juſtice, but cannot eſcape Divine Vengeance.

Having ſpoken of theſe principal Palaces, it may be expected that we ſhould ſpeak ſomething of the Great and Famous Houſes of the Nobility, which are very many and Magnificent, not yielding to any in Europe; as Clarendon-Houſe, which for Situation, ſtately Architecture, ſpacious ſolid uniform Structure, is admirable; Berkley-Houſe, Wallingford-Houſe, Northumberland-Houſe, Salisbury and Worceſter Houſes, Bedford, Leiceſter, Newport, Mountague and Southampton Houſes, and indeed moſt Houſes of the great Peers: But the brevity of our Volume will not admit a large Deſcription, only in General we ſhall ſay ſomething of them in the Section that Treats of the Fire, Anno 1666. and the Rebuilding of the City.