magnanimity of all well-disposed persons, and we do heartily pray
unto Almighty God, that he will infuse it into the hearts of men,
speedily to endeavour by degrees to re-edify some of those many
churches, which, in this lamentable fire, have been burned down and
defaced; that so men may have those public places of God's worship
to resort to, to humble themselves together before him upon this his
heavy displeasure, and join in their devotion for his future mercy
and blessing upon us; and, as soon as we shall be informed of any
readiness to begin such a good work, we shall not only give our
assistance and direction for the model of it, and freeing it from
buildings at too near a distance, but shall encourage it by our own
bounty, and all other ways we shall be desired.
Lastly, that we may encourage men by our own example, we will use
all the expedition we can to re-build our custom-house in the place
where it formerly stood, and enlarge it with the most conveniences
for the merchants that can be devised; and, upon all the other lands
which belong unto us, we shall depart with any thing of our own
right and benefit, for the advancement of the public service and
beauty of the city; and shall further remit, to all those who shall
erect any buildings according to this declaration, all duties
arising to us upon the hearth-money for the space of seven years.
Given at our court at Whitehall the thirteenth day of September, one
thousand six hundred and sixty-six, in the eighteenth year of our
reign.
EVELYN'S PLANS FOR REBUILDING THE CITY
(1667).
After the Fire had demolished a considerable portion of the City, many
plans and suggestions were submitted for its reconstruction, and those
of Sir Christopher Wren and of John Evelyn were distinguished by their
excellence and thoroughness. The occasion offered a magnificent
opportunity for a wise and far-seeing scheme of town-planning, and the
ingenious ideas of Evelyn are particularly interesting in view of the
attention which is now being given to the subject.
=Source.=—_London Restored_, quoted by Maitland, vol. i., p. 447.
It might haply be thought fit to fill up, or at least give a partial
level to some of the deepest valleys, holes and more sudden
declivities within the City, for the more ease of commerce,
carriages, coaches and people in the streets; and not a little for
the more handsome ranging of the buildings: for instance, that from
about the Fleet to Ludgate; which yet should be no more than might
only afford a graceful and just ascent from thence up towards St.
Paul's; the only spot in the whole city, where I would plant that
ancient and venerable Cathedral again: but here is to be considered
the Channel running thence through Holborn, which would be so
enlarged, as not only to be preserved sweet (by scouring it through
flood-gates into the Thames on all occasions) but commodious for the
intercourse of considerable vessels thwart this portion of the town;
and which therefore should be accordingly wharfed on both sides to
the very key of the river, and made contiguous to the streets by
bridges arched to a due level, as it might easily be contrived, (and
with passage sufficient for lusty barges and lighters under them)
were the valley so elevated as it is projected. There is only this
care incumbent; that all foundations upon this new ground be
searched to the old and more solid basis; from whence they may also
store themselves with vaults and cellarage in abundance: The same
might be considered in some sort from the descent of the hill
towards Thames-Street, so as to come down upon the future key by a
far less declivity, which would give those houses that should be
built fronting to the river a more becoming aspect, and an easier
footing to the ranges above them, which would peep over one another
successively; with a far better grace, than those do at Genoa, where
the ascent is too precipitious.
These considerations and employments would greatly forward the
prompt and natural disposal of the more useless and cumbersome
rubbish; unless it might be thought more expedient (if there should
not be sufficient for both) to design it rather towards the
enlargement of a new and ample key; which I wish might run parallel
from the very Tower to the Temple at least, and, if it were possible
(without augmenting the rapidity of the stream) extend itself even
as far as the very low-water mark; the basin by this means kept
perpetually full, without Slub or annoyance, and to the infinite
benefit and ease of access, like that of Constantinople, than which
nothing could be imagined more noble: what fractions and confusions
our ugly stairs, bridges and causeways make, and how dirty and nasty
it is at every ebb, we are sufficiently sensible of; so as, next to
the hellish smoke of the town, there is nothing doubtless which does
more impair the health of its inhabitants....
For the rest of those necessary evils, the brew-houses, bake-houses,
dyers, salt, soap and sugar-boilers, chandlers, hat-makers,
slaughter-houses, some sort of fish-mongers, etc. whose
neighbourhood cannot be safe, (as I have elsewhere shewed, and a sad
experience has confirmed) I hope his Majesty will now dispose of to
some other parts about the river; towards Bow and Wandsworth on the
water; Islington and about Spital-Fields, etc. The charge of
bringing all their commodities into the City would be very
inconsiderable, opposed to the peril of their being continued
amongst the inhabitants, and the benefit of the carriage, which
would employ a world of people, both by land and water, without the
least prejudice.
I suppose the Custom-house cannot be better situated than where it
was, and as it may hold communication with the Tower: here might the
Admiralty and Navy-Office be fitly placed.
I have not forgotten the hospitals, public workhouses to employ the
poor in, and prisons; which being built and re-endowed at the common
charge, should be disposed of in convenient quarters of the City:
the hospitals would become one of the principal streets: but the
prisons, and tribunal for trial of criminal offenders, might be
built (as of old) near some entrance of the City; about Newgate were
a fitting place, as my plate represents it.
The College of Physicians would be in one of the best parts of the
town, encircled with an handsome Piazza for the dwelling of those
learned persons, with the Chirurgeons, Apothecaries and Druggists in
the streets about them; for I am greatly inclined to wish, that all
of a mystery should be destined to their several quarters: those of
the better sort of shop-keepers, who sell by retail, might be
allotted to the sweetest and most eminent streets and piazzas: the
artificers to the more ordinary houses, intermediate and narrower
passages (for such will hardly be avoided) that the noise and
tintamar of their instruments may be the less importunate: the
taverns and victualling houses sprinkled amongst them, and built
accordingly: but all these too, even the very meanest, should
exactly respect uniformity, and be more substantially built than
those in Covent-Garden, and other places; where once in twenty or
thirty years they had need be built again, and therefore to be
indulged a longer term.
Spaces for ample courts, yards and gardens, even in the heart of the
City there may be some to the principal houses, for state and
refreshment; but with great reservation, because of the fractions
they will make; and therefore rarely towards any principal street:
and I hope it will please his Majesty to prescribe by a public and
irreversible edict, that no houses whatsoever, may for the future
presume to be erected, not only about this City, but all the Nation
besides, within such a distance from magazines, places of public
records and Churches, which should be preserved as sanctuaries.
The gates and entries of the City, which are to be rebuilt, might be
the subjects of handsome architecture, in form of triumphal arches,
adorned with statues, relievo's and apposite inscriptions, as
prefaces to the rest within, and should therefore by no means be
obstructed by sheds, and ugly shops, or houses adhering to them: and
I wish this reformation, and the infinite danger of their being
continued, might extend to the demolishing those deformed buildings
on London-Bridge; which not only endanger all the rest, but take
away from the beauty of it, and indeed of the whole City near the
Thames: instead of them, if there went a substantial baluster of
iron, decorated with statues upon their pedestals at convenient
distances, and the footway on each side, it would be exceedingly
convenient; whilst, to secure the passengers by night, it might be
guarded by responsible house-keepers in their turns: or, if they
will need have shops, let them be built of solid stone, made narrow
and very low, like to those upon the Rialto at Venice; but it were
far better without them.
AN ACT CONCERNING THE STREETS (1671).
Such statutes as the following are particularly useful in enabling us to
understand in detail the conditions which governed matters of everyday
life in the City. The fact that certain proceedings are forbidden
implies that it was found necessary to issue the prohibition by reason
of the common occurrence of such proceedings. From this statute and from
similar sources we obtain the inevitable impression that the streets of
London during the seventeenth century must have been dangerous and
disagreeable places. These instructions, of course, were issued at a
time when special attention was being directed to the care of the city
from reasons of health and safety.
I. Item, That hereafter all streets within this city, called, known,
or set down to be High Streets, shall be paved round, or causeway
fashion: and upon notice given to the commissioners of any defective
pavements in any of the streets, lanes, and passages within this
city and liberties, the same shall be forthwith made good and
amended, unless by general consent some better expedient be found
and published.
II. That inasmuch as it hath been found by common experience that
the paviours, to hide and cover their bad workmanship, have
oftentimes spread and laid great quantities of gravel over their
pavements, to greater charge of the persons setting them on work
than was needful, and which, upon a sudden rain, did either choke
the common sewers, or turn to dirt and mire in the streets;
therefore the said paviours are required, that hereafter they do
forbear to lay or spread any more gravel on the pavements than will
only fill up the joints of their work, and cause the same to be
swept and well rammed, and leave the pavements bare of gravel, and
keep a regular method of paving, not paving one door higher than
another, upon pain of paying five shillings for every complaint.
III. That the breadth of six foot at the least from the foundation
of the houses, in such of the said High Streets which shall be
allowed to be posted, shall be paved by the inhabitants or owners
with flat or broad stone for a foot passage; unless such parts
thereof as shall lie before any gateway, which may be done with
square rag by the said breadth of six feet, upon pain of paying five
shillings for every week the same shall be omitted to be done after
notice given.
VIII. That the several inhabitants within this city and liberties,
or their servants, do take care that the dirt, ashes, and soil of
their houses be in readiness for the carmen, their agents, or
servants, either by setting out the same over night in tubs, boxes,
baskets, or other vessel, near and contiguous to their houses, or by
bringing out the same within convenient time, before the hours for
their departure as aforesaid.
XIII. That the said carmen undertakers, their agents or servants,
shall give notice of their being in the street with their tumbrels
or cars by loudly knocking a wooden clapper, especially in courts,
alleys, and other back passages, upon pain to forfeit three
shillings and fourpence upon every complaint duly proved.
XX. That no man shall cast or lay in the streets, lanes, or common
passages, or channels within this city or liberties, any dogs, cats,
inwards of beasts, cleaves of beasts feet, bones, horns, dregs or
dross of ale or beer, or any noisome thing, upon pain of ten
shillings for every offence.
XXVI. That no artificer, labourer, or other person, shall make any
stop or dam in any channel, nor shall slake any lime in the streets,
lanes, or passages, upon pain to pay two shillings for every
offence.
XXVII. That no man shall feed any kine, goats, hogs, or any kind of
poultry, in the open streets, upon pain to forfeit three shillings
and fourpence for every offence.
XXVIII. That no man shall cast into the ditches or sewers, grates or
gullets of the city, any manner of carrion, stinking flesh, rotten
oranges or onions, rubbish, dung, sand, gravel, or any other thing
that may stop the course of the same, upon pain of forfeiting forty
shillings for every offence.
XXXI. That no tyler, bricklayer, or other person, do throw out of
gutters, or off roofs or other parts of houses, any tyles, loam, or
rubbish, into any street, lane, or common passage; but do bring down
the same in baskets or trays; upon pain to forfeit three shillings
and four pence for every offence.
A LORD MAYOR'S PROCLAMATION (1679).
Among documents relating to the City there are many of a similar nature
to the following proclamation. Many of the Mayors and Corporations
appear to have been of opinion that although they might be unable to
organise an efficient government of the City, which should definitely
prevent crime and disorder, at any rate they might draw up elaborate
codes of rules and instructions, as a manifestation of their earnestness
of purpose. Many of these rules and orders are proclaimed and enacted
over and over again; the precautions and the measures taken against the
flagrant evils which existed were very often utterly futile, and
improvement was extremely slow.
BY THE MAYOR.
The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor having taken into his serious
consideration the many dreadful afflictions which this City hath of
late years suffered, by a raging plague, a most unheard-of devouring
fire, and otherwise; and justly fearing that the same have been
occasioned by the many heinous crying sins and provocations to the
Divine Majesty: and his Lordship also considering the present
dangers of greater mischiefs and misery which seem still to threaten
this City, if the execution of the righteous judgments of God
Almighty be not prevented by an universal timely repentance and
reformation: he hath, therefore, thought it one duty of his office,
being intrusted to take all possible care for the good government,
peace and welfare of this City, first, to pray and persuade all and
every the inhabitants thereof to reform, themselves and families,
all sins and enormities whereof they know themselves to be guilty;
and if neither the fear of the Great God, nor of his impending
judgments, shall prevail upon them, he shall be obliged to let them
know, that, as he is their Chief Magistrate, he ought not to bear
the sword in vain; and therefore doth resolve, by God's grace, to
take the assistance of his brethren the Aldermen, and to require the
aid of all the Officers of this City in their several places, to
punish and suppress, according to the laws of the land, and the good
customs of this City, those scandalous and provoking sins which have
of late increased and abounded amongst us, even without shame, to
the dishonour of Christianity, and the scandal of the government of
this City, heretofore so famous over the world for its piety,
sobriety, and good order.
To the end therefore that the laws may become a terror unto
evil-doers, and that such, in whose hearts the fear of God, and the
love of virtue, shall not prevail, being forewarned, may amend their
lives for fear of punishment, his Lordship hath thought fit to
remember them of several penalties provided by law against notorious
offenders; as also of all Constables and Public Officers (who are to
put the said laws in execution) of their duty therein.
First, Every profane curser and swearer ought to be punished by the
payment of twelve pence for every oath; and if the same cannot be
levied upon the offenders goods, then he is to sit three hours in
the stocks.
Secondly, Every drunkard is to pay for the first offence five
shillings; and in default thereof to sit six hours in the stocks,
and for the second offence, to find sureties for his good behaviour,
or to be committed to the common gaol; and the like punishment is to
be inflicted upon all common haunters of ale-houses and taverns, and
common gamesters, and persons justly suspected to live by any
unlawful means, having no visible way to support themselves in their
manner of living. And no person is to sit or continue tippling or
drinking more than one hour, unless upon some extraordinary
occasion, in any tavern, victualling-house, ale-house, or other
tippling-house, upon the penalty of ten shillings for every offence
upon the master of such house; and upon the person that shall so
continue drinking, three shillings four pence....
Fourthly, All persons using any unlawful exercises on the Lord's
day, or tippling in taverns, inns or ale-houses, and coffee-houses,
during divine service on that day, are to forfeit three shillings
four pence for every offence, to be levied by distress, and where
none can be had, to sit three hours in the stocks; and every
vintner, innkeeper, or ale-house keeper that shall suffer any such
drinking or tippling in his house, is to forfeit ten shillings for
every offence; and no person may sit in the streets, with herbs,
fruits, or other things, to expose them to sale, nor no hackney
coachman may stand or ply in the streets on that day.
And therefore all Constables and other Officers, whom it doth or may
concern, are required, according to their oaths solemnly taken in
that behalf, to take care for discovering and bringing to punishment
whosoever shall offend in any of the premises; and for that end they
are to enter into any suspected houses before mentioned to search
for any such disorderly persons as shall be found misbehaving
themselves, or doing contrary to the said laws, and to levy the
penalties, and bring the offenders before some of his Majesties
Justices of the Peace of this City, to be dealt withall according to
law.
And whereas there are other disorders of another nature, very
dishonourable, and a great scandal to the government of this City,
and very prejudicial to the trade and commerce of the same; his
Lordship, therefore, is resolved by God's blessing, with the
assistance of his brethren the Aldermen, to use his utmost endeavour
to prevent the same, by putting in execution the good and wholesome
laws in force for that purpose, with all strictness and severity;
some of which he hath thought fit to enumerate, with the duties and
penalties upon every Constable and other officer concerned therein.
As first, the great resort of rogues, vagrants, idle persons, and
common beggars, pestering and annoying the streets and common
passages, and all places of public meetings and resort, against whom
very good provision is made by the law, viz.
That all such persons shall be openly whipped, and forthwith sent
from parish to parish to the place where he or she was born, if
known; if not, to the place where he or she last dwelt for the space
of one year, to be set to work; or not being known, where he or she
was born or dwelt, then to be sent to the parish where he or she
last passed through without punishment.
That every Constable that shall not do his best endeavour for the
apprehension of such vagabond, rogue or sturdy beggar, and cause him
or her to be punished or conveyed according to law, shall forfeit
ten shillings for every default.
Secondly, The not paving and cleansing of the streets: the
redressing whereof being by a late act of Parliament put into
Commissioners appointed by Common Council, his Lordship doth hereby
recommend the same to the Deputies and Common Council of the several
wards within this City, to use their utmost diligence in that
affair, and especially to mind their respective Commissioners of the
duty incumbent upon them, and of the daily damage which the City
suffers by the neglect thereof. And his Lordship doth declare he
will appear at the said Commission of Sewers as often as his more
urgent occasions will give him leave, and doth expect such
attendance of the other Commissioners as may render the act more
effectual than hitherto it hath been.
Thirdly, The neglect of the inhabitants of this City in hanging and
keeping out their lights at the accustomed hours, according to the
good and ancient usage of this City, and acts of Common Council in
that behalf.
Fourthly, the not setting and continuing the watches at such hours,
and in such numbers, and in such sober and orderly manner in all
other respects, as by the acts of Common Council in that behalf is
directed and appointed.
And his Lordship doth strictly require the Fellowship of Carmen to
be very careful in the due observance of the good and wholesome
rules and orders which have been made for their regulation: his
Lordship intending severely to inflict the penalties imposed in
default thereof.
And to the end that no Constable or other Officers or Ministers of
Justice may be any ways discouraged in their lawful, diligent, and
vigorous prosecution of the premises, it is provided, that if they
or any of them shall be resisted, in the just and lawful execution
of their charge and duty, or in any wise affronted or abused, they
shall be encouraged, maintained, and vindicated by the justice,
order, and authority of his Lordship and the Court of Aldermen, and
the offenders prosecuted and punished according to law.
Dated at the Guildhall, London, the 29th day of November 1679, in
the 31 year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles the Second,
by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland,
King, defender of the faith, etc.
GOD SAVE THE KING.
THE POPISH PANIC (1681).
The Monument, in commemoration of the Great Fire of 1666, was erected in
1671 near Pudding Lane, where the fire began, and the following
inscription was added in 1681. The suspicion, which was attached to the
Roman Catholics, of deliberately setting fire to the City was altogether
unreasonable and baseless, but the people who had listened to Titus
Oates were ready to believe anything, and the inscription is sufficient
indication of the prevalent feeling against Papists. It is referred to
by Pope—himself a Roman Catholic—in the lines:
"Where London's column, pointing to the skies,
Like a tall bully, lifts its head and lies."
The inscription was effaced during the reign of James II., was again
placed on the base of the column in the reign of William III., and was
finally removed in 1831.
This Pillar was set vp in Perpetvall Remembrance of that most
dreadful burning of this Protestant city, begun and carryed on by ye
treachery and malice of ye Popish faction, in ye beginning of Septem
in ye year of our Lord 1666, in order to ye carrying on their horrid
Plott for extirpating the Protestant Religion and old English
liberty, and the introducing Popery and Slavery.
POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS (1681).
The Government monopoly of Post Office business dates back to the reign
of James I., who appointed a Postmaster to have the "sole taking up,
sending, and conveying of all packets and letters concerning our service
or business to be despatched to foreign parts," others being forbidden
to convey letters; and our postal system was first really founded by an
Act of Parliament in 1656 "to settle the postage of England, Scotland,
and Ireland." It ordered the erection of one general post office, and
one officer styled the Postmaster-General of England and Comptroller of
the Post Office. Private individuals occasionally attempted to establish
postal services, and in 1680 William Dockwra set up a profitable penny
post for London. This, like Povey's halfpenny post in 1708, was
suppressed by a lawsuit, and the management and profits of the Post
Office were definitely attached to the Government.