LONDON
AND ITS
ENVIRONS
DESCRIBED.
VOL. IV.
LONDON
AND ITS
ENVIRONS
DESCRIBED.
CONTAINING
An Account of whatever is most remarkable for GRANDEUR, ELEGANCE,
CURIOSITY or USE,
In the CITY and in the COUNTRY Twenty Miles round it.
COMPREHENDING ALSO
Whatever is most material in the History and Antiquities of this great
Metropolis.
Decorated and illustrated with a great Number of Views in Perspective,
engraved from original Drawings, taken on purpose for this Work.
Together with a PLAN of LONDON, A Map of the ENVIRONS, and several other
useful CUTS.
VOL. IV.
LONDON:
Printed by R. and J. DODSLEY in Pall-Mall.
M DCC LXI.
[Illustration: A New and Correct PLAN of LONDON, WESTMINSTER and
SOUTHWARK, _with several Additional Improvements, not in any former
Survey._]
LONDON
AND ITS
ENVIRONS
DESCRIBED, &c.
LONDON, the metropolis of Great Britain, and one of the largest and
richest cities upon earth, is of such antiquity that it is impossible to
give any certain account of its origin. It probably existed in the time
of the ancient Britons, before the art of writing was brought into
England, and when there were no other monuments of ancient facts, than
what were found in the songs of the bards, which were preserved only by
memory.
It would be ridiculous therefore to lay any stress on the fabulous tales
of Geffry of Monmouth, who pretends that it was founded by Brutus, the
second nephew of the famous Æneas, and called _Trinovantum_, or New
Troy, and that it was at length walled by King Lud, when it obtained the
name of _Caer Lud_, or _Lud’s Town_. Upon which suppositions some of our
later historians have had the weakness to compute, that it had its
origin 1107 years before the birth of Christ; 600 years before the fall
of the Assyrian empire by the death of Belshazzar, and 350 before the
building of Rome.
But to leave these fabulous tales. Camden supposes that this city
derived the name of London from the British words _Llhwn_ a wood, and
_Dinas_ a town; by which etymology of the word, London signifies _a town
in a wood_: this exactly agrees with the manner in which the Britons
formed their towns, by building them in the midst of woods, and fencing
them with trees cut down: but lest this derivation should not please,
the same learned writer gives another, from the British word _Lhong_, a
ship, and _Dinas_ a city, and then the word London will signify a city
or harbour for ships: and indeed it has been supposed by many learned
authors, that before Cæsar’s time London was the ancient emporium or
mart of the British trade with the Phœnicians, Greeks and Gauls.
London had however no buildings either of brick or stone, till it was
inhabited by the Romans; for the dwellings of the Britons were only huts
formed of twigs wattled together; however, Tacitus observes, that in the
year 26, Londinum was very famous for the multitude of its merchants,
and the greatness of its traffic; but soon after Suetonius abandoned the
city to the fury of Boadicea, because it was too large to be defended by
his little army of 10,000 Romans, which is certainly a proof of its
being even then of a considerable extent. That British Princess however
burnt this great city, and put all the inhabitants to the sword.
London soon recovered from this dreadful catastrophe, and in a few years
increased so much in the number of its inhabitants, its trade and
buildings, that _Herodian_, in the life of the Emperor Severus, calls it
a great and wealthy city, and about this time it changed the name of
_Londinum_, for that of _Augusta_; probably from its being the capital
of the British dominions, and was made a prefecture by the Romans, in
imitation of Rome itself: but it soon after changed the name of Augusta
for that of _Caer-Llundain_.
It will not be improper here to observe, that a dispute has arisen about
the situation of this city in these early times; the Rev. and learned
Dr. Gale, Dean of York, and Mr. Salmon, having offered many arguments to
prove that it was a Roman station erected in St. George’s Fields, to
secure their conquests on that side the river, before they reduced the
Trinobantines; particularly from the great quantities of Roman
antiquities found in St. George’s Fields; from the name of Cyningston,
or Kennington, which Dr. Gale supposes was an ancient town and castle
belonging to the Kings of England, and therefore probably a Roman
station, because the Saxons generally used to settle in such places; and
from the authority of Ptolemy, who has placed London on the south side
of the Thames. In answer to these arguments, it has been very justly
observed by Mr. Maitland, that the Romans were too wise to make use of
so noisome and unhealthful a place for a station, as St. George’s Fields
then was, from their being overflowed by every spring tide; as they must
have been before the river was confined by artificial banks, and before
the building of London bridge, where, upon an ordinary spring tide, the
water rises upwards of nineteen inches higher on the east side than on
the west: that, if the antiquities discovered are any proof, above
twenty times the quantity of Roman antiquities have been found on the
north side of the river. With respect to the argument produced from the
name of Kennington, the learned Mr. Woodward observes, that the Kings of
England were, from our oldest notices of things, intitled to all such
lands as were gained from the sea, or from such rivers as ebbed and
flowed; and that with respect to the authority of Ptolemy, he had not
only misplaced several other towns in Britain, but in countries much
nearer to him.
The time when the city wall was first erected, is very uncertain, some
authors ascribing this work to Constantine the Great, and others to his
mother Helena; but Mr. Maitland brings several arguments to prove, that
it was erected by Valentinian, about the year 368, and that it entirely
surrounded the city, to secure it from being invaded by water as well as
by land.
This wall was composed alternately of layers of flat Roman brick, and
rag stones, and had many lofty towers. Those on the land side were
fifteen in number. The remains of one of these is still to be seen in
Shoemaker row, fronting the passage into Duke’s Place; and there is
another a little nearer Aldgate, twenty-one feet high. From the remains
of the Roman work in the city wall, Mr. Maitland supposes, that, at the
time of its erection, it was twenty-two feet in height, and that of the
towers about forty feet. See LONDON WALL.
During the Saxon heptarchy, London was the metropolis of the kingdom of
the East Saxons, and was then, as we are told by Bede, a princely
mart-town, governed by a magistrate called a Portreve, that is, a
governor or guardian of a port. We find this city then first called
London-Byrig, which they soon after changed into Lunden-Ceaster,
Lunden-Wye, Lundenne, Lunden-Berk, or Lunden-Burgh. At length Augustine
the Monk, having introduced christianity into England, in the year 400,
he was made Archbishop of Canterbury, when he ordained Mellitus bishop
of the East Saxons, who had a church erected for him in this city by
Ethelbert, King of Kent. Thus London first became the seat of a bishop;
but this prelate was afterwards expelled, and paganism again for some
time publicly established.
The history of the heptarchy is so very defective, that no mention is
made of this city from the year 616, to that of 764. After this last
period we find that London frequently suffered by fires, and was twice
plundered by the Danes; the last time they transported an army in 350
ships up the Thames, and landing near London, soon reduced and plundered
it; when looking upon it as a convenient fortress, whence they might at
pleasure invade the kingdom of Wessex, made it a place of arms, and left
in it a considerable garrison; but the wise and brave Alfred recovered
the city, drove out the invaders, and then not only repaired the wall
and towers, but embellished the city with additional buildings. But we
have no account of the nature of the buildings or the edifices erected,
only that in the year 961, there were but few houses within the city
walls, and those irregularly dispersed; most of them being without
Ludgate, so that Canterbury, York, and other places, contained more
houses than London. The city having no bridge, the citizens cross’d the
Thames by means of ferries.
But between the years 993, and 1016, a wooden bridge was erected. This
great work was performed in the reign of Ethelred, and in the last
mentioned year, Canute King of Denmark sailing up the river, in order to
plunder the city, and finding that he could not pass the bridge with his
ships, caused a canal to be cut through the marshes on the south side of
the river, which probably began at the place now called Dockhead, and
extending in a semicircle by Margaret’s Hill, entered the Thames about
St. Saviour’s Dock, a little above the bridge. This work being
accomplished, Canute brought his ships to the west of London bridge, and
attacked the city on all sides; however the citizens exerting themselves
with extraordinary bravery, he was repulsed with considerable loss, and
obliged to raise the siege. Yet he afterwards renewed it with greater
vigour than before, but with no better success. At last a peace was
concluded between King Edmund and Canute, by which the kingdom was
divided between them, when Mercia, of which London was the capital,
falling to Canute’s share, the city submitted to him; and Edmund dying a
few months after, Canute summoned a parliament to meet in London, who
chose that prince sole monarch of England.
Canute now, resolving to win the hearts of his new subjects, disbanded
his army, and threw himself entirely upon the affections of the English,
at which the above parliament were so pleased, that they granted him
83,000l. a prodigious sum at that time! for, according to the price of
land and provisions then, it must have been equal to nine millions at
present; and of this immense sum, London alone raised 11,000l. which is
a convincing proof of the opulence of the city, since it must be
possessed of above one seventh part of the wealth of the whole kingdom.
But we are not writing a history of England, but of its capital, we
shall therefore pass over the following reigns, till we come to the
invasion of William the Conqueror, who laid Southwark in ashes; but the
Londoners afterwards submitting to him, he, in the year 1067, granted
them his first charter in their own language, which consists of little
more than four lines, beautifully written in the Saxon character on a
slip of parchment, six inches long, and one broad, and is still
preserved in the city archives.
In 1077 happened the greatest casual fire, that till this time ever
befel the city, by which the greatest part of it was laid in ashes; and
about two years after, the Conqueror beginning to suspect the fidelity
of his subjects, caused the present square tower of London to be
erected, to keep them in awe. See the TOWER OF LONDON.
In this reign were several other dreadful fires, and London bridge was
in 1091 carried away by a land flood; but a few years after another
wooden bridge was built in its room. In 1099 a high flood caused the
Thames to overflow its banks, by which a great number of villages were
laid under water, and many of their inhabitants drowned: at this time
part of the lands belonging to Godwin Earl of Kent, were swallowed up by
the sea, and are now denominated Goodwin’s Sands; and this being a reign
of prodigies, there happened fifteen years after such a defect of water
in the river Thames, that numbers of people crossed not only above and
below London bridge, but even through some of the arches, without
wetting their feet.
We have already mentioned the first charter granted by William the
Conqueror to the city; he afterwards granted them another; but London
obtained one much more extensive from Henry I. by which the citizens not
only had their ancient customs and immunities confirmed, but the county
of Middlesex added to their jurisdiction, on paying the quit rent of
300l. a year; with a power of appointing not only a Sheriff but a
Justiciary from among themselves. This was granted to prevent that
county’s being any longer an asylum for bankrupts, and fraudulent
persons, who having deserted London with the goods and effects of their
creditors, lived there in open defiance of those they had injured.
By this charter the citizens were allowed the privilege of not being
compelled to plead without the walls of the city, and excused from
paying scot, lot, and danegelt, duties payable to the King by all his
other subjects. The city was not to be amerced for the escape of a
murderer; nor any citizen, when accused of a crime, be obliged to
vindicate his innocence by a duel. They were exempted from paying toll
in fairs or markets in any part of the kingdom; and if any was exacted,
they might make reprisals in London, upon the inhabitants of the town
where it was exacted, &c.
Before the grant of this charter, London seems to have been entirely
subject to the arbitrary will of the King. But the liberties of the
citizens being now guarded by so strong a fence, they endeavoured to
secure their customs by converting them into written laws; and the
several bodies professing the arts and mysteries of trade and
manufacture, which had hitherto been kept up by prescription only, were
now strengthened by being formed into established companies. The King
however reserved to himself the power of appointing the Portreve, or
chief officer of the city.
Upon the death of Henry I. the citizens assisted King Stephen in his
endeavours to obtain the crown, and in 1135 received him into the city;
but the next year, a dreadful fire laid the greatest part of the city in
ashes; for according to Mr. Stow, it began near London Stone, and
consumed all the buildings east to Aldgate, and west to St. Erkenwald’s
shrine in St. Paul’s cathedral; both of which it destroyed, together
with London bridge, which was then of wood.
In the year 1139, the citizens purchased of King Stephen, for an hundred
marks of silver, the right of chusing their own Sheriffs; but that
prince being soon after defeated and taken prisoner by the Empress
Matilda, the daughter of Henry I. she resolved to be revenged on the
citizens, for the assistance they had given to that usurper; and
therefore, entering into a convention with Geffrey, Earl of Essex, she
granted him all the possessions and places which either his grandfather,
father, or himself had held of the crown, among which were the
sheriffwicks of London and Middlesex: and also the office of Judiciary
of the city and county, so that no person could hold pleas in either,
without his permission. This compact was executed with the greatest
solemnity; and thus the citizens were divested of some of their most
valuable privileges.
The citizens soon after humbly entreated Matilda to re-establish the
laws of King Edward the Confessor, which had been confirmed to them by
the Conqueror’s charter, and to ease them of their insupportable taxes:
but instead of granting either of these requests, she, with a disdainful
countenance, told them, that since they had assisted her enemy to the
utmost of their power, they were to expect no favour from her.
From this haughty answer, they concluded that they had no other
treatment to expect from this imperious Princess, than that of slaves.
To prevent this, it was resolved, to seize her person; she however
escaped; but the populace plundered her palace; after which Stephen was
restored, and she compelled to fly the kingdom.
King Henry II. some years after, granted the citizens a charter, by
which he confirmed their liberties and immunities.
The 2d of September 1189, the day preceding the coronation of Richard I.
surnamed Coeur de Lyon, was remarkable for the dreadful massacre of the
Jews in this city. Intimation was given to that people not to appear at
the ceremony; but many endeavouring to satisfy their curiosity, by
carrying presents to the King, attempted to get into the abbey church of
St. Peter’s Westminster: but being repulsed by his Majesty’s domestics,
a rumour spread among the populace, that the King had given orders for
the entire destruction of that people. Upon which the mob, barbarously
falling upon these poor defenceless wretches, murdered all who fell in
their way, and then hastening to the city, with a more than diabolical
fury massacred all they could find, and then plundered and burnt their
houses. However, the next day, the wicked ringleaders of these horrid
barbarities were seized, and immediately hanged.
In the year 1197, the citizens purchased of King Richard a charter, for
15,000 marks, by which they were impowered to remove all wears out of
the river Thames, and the King resigned all his right to the annual
duties arising from them. This is the first charter from which the city
claims its jurisdiction and conservacy of that river.
In the next reign the citizens obtained several charters from King John,
by which this and all their other privileges were confirmed: and in the
year 1207, Henry Fitz-Alwyn took the title of Mayor, instead of Custos
and Bailiff, under which names he had held that dignity for twenty years
successively.
In the year 1211, the citizens, as an additional security, began to
encompass the wall with a deep ditch 200 feet wide; a work in which a
vast number of hands was employed. The same year London bridge was
consumed by a dreadful fire.
In the beginning of the reign of King Henry III. the city obtained from
that Prince five charters, on condition of paying him a fifteenth of
their personal estates, by which all their former privileges were
confirmed, and some others added. But these were only made to be broken;
for this perfidious Monarch frequently extorted money from the citizens,
and upon the slightest pretences imprisoned the Mayor and Sheriffs. He
seized the charters he had granted, and made the citizens purchase new
ones; and in the whole of his behaviour acted like a sharper, void of
every principle of honour and justice, or the least regard to his word,
his promises, or his oaths.
In this reign the forest of Middlesex being disforested, the citizens
obtained an opportunity of purchasing land, and building houses upon it,
by which the suburbs of the city were greatly increased, and soon
enlarged to a considerable extent without the walls, though all the
ground within them was far from being converted into regular streets.
It will not be unentertaining if we give a description of the city as it
appeared about this time. The houses were mostly built of wood, and
thatched with straw or reeds, which was the occasion of very frequent
fires; and the city was supplied with water by men who brought it in
carriages from the Thames, and from the brooks which ran through many of
the principal streets. Thus the river of Wells, so called from many
springs or wells uniting to supply its stream, arose in the north west
part of the city, and ran into Fleet Ditch, at the bottom of Holborn
hill. This small river, or brook, supplied several water mills, and at
length from thence obtained the name of Turnmill Brook.
The Olborn, or Holborn, which arose where Middle row now stands, and
flowed down the hill, also fell into Fleet Ditch; and a few houses on
its banks were called a village, and distinguished by the name of this
rivulet. While the Fleet ran down Fleet street, and also fell into Fleet
Ditch.
Wall brook entered the city through the wall between Bishopsgate and
Moorgate, and after many turnings emptied itself into the Thames at
Dowgate.
The brook Langbourn rose near the east end of Fenchurch street, where
mixing with the soil, it rendered it marshy; but ran from thence with a
swift current to Sherborne lane, and then dividing into several rills,
was lost in the Wall brook on Dowgate hill.
The springs from whence all these streams arose were pretty numerous,
and several of them at their source formed deep ponds; particularly
there was a large pond in Smithfield, supplied by its own spring; and
near Cripplegate a deep and dangerous pool, formed by Crowder’s Well.
At length the citizens being deprived of their usual supplies of water
from the above brooks, by the encroachments of buildings, and other
ways, water was brought from six springs in the town of Tyburn, by a
leaden pipe of a six-inch bore, which was made to supply leaden cisterns
castellated with stone. The first and largest of these conduits was
erected in West-cheap, in the year 1285, and afterwards the number of
these conduits were increased to about twenty. Mr. Stow informs us, that
it was customary for the Lord Mayor, accompanied by the Aldermen, and
principal citizens on horseback, to visit the heads from whence the
conduits were supplied, on the 18th of September, when they hunted a
hare before dinner, and a fox after it, in the fields beyond St.
Giles’s.
About this time the city was divided into twenty four wards, under the
government of the Aldermen; and each ward chose some of the inhabitants
as Common Council men, who were sworn into their office; these were to
be consulted by the Aldermen, and their advice followed, in all public
affairs relating to the city.
The above regulation was made in the reign of King Edward I. who also
granted the citizens a charter, by which he confirmed all their ancient
privileges. Some years before their receiving this favour, the Lord
Treasurer summoned the Mayor, Aldermen, and citizens, to attend him in
the Tower, to give an account how the peace of the city had been kept;
but Gregory Rockesley, the Mayor, resolving not to attend in that
quality, laid aside the ensigns of his office at Barking church, and
repaired to the Tower as a private gentleman; which was so highly
resented by the Treasurer, that he committed him and several of the
principal citizens to prison. This proceeding the King so far approved,
that though he discharged the Mayor, he seized the city liberties, and
having appointed a Custos of the city, there was no Mayor of London for
twelve years after.
In 1306, sea-coal beginning to be much used in the suburbs of London, by
brewers, dyers, and others requiring great fires; the nobility and
gentry complained to King Edward II. that the air was infected by the
noisome smell, and the thick clouds of smoke it occasioned, to the
endangering of the health of the inhabitants; upon which a proclamation
was issued; forbidding it to be used: but little regard being paid to
it, the King appointed a commission of oyer and terminer, to enquire
after those who had acted in open defiance of this injunction.
In the beginning of the next reign, the city obtained a very great
addition to its privileges; for in the year 1327, King Edward III.
granted the citizens two charters; the first of which contained not only
a confirmation of the ancient and valuable liberties and immunities of
the citizens, but also the following additional privileges.
1. That the Mayor shall be constantly one of the Judges of oyer and
terminer, for the trial of criminals confined in Newgate.
2. The citizens to have the privilege of trying a thief or robber within
the jurisdiction of the city, and the power of reclaiming a citizen
apprehended elsewhere for felony, in order to try him within the city;
with a right to all the goods and chattels of all felons, convicted
within the jurisdiction of the city.
3. The office of Escheator is conferred upon, and given in perpetuity to
the Mayor.
4. The King’s Marshal, Steward, and Clerk of the houshold, are exempted
from having any authority in the city.
5. For the greater convenience of citizens resorting to country fairs,
they are granted the privilege of holding a court of Pye-powder in such
places, for the determination of all contests that happen in each of
those fairs.
6. That the citizens should be only assessed in common with their fellow
subjects, towards general subsidies, grants, and contributions.
7. That no market be kept within seven miles of the city of London.
8. And that the city liberties shall not be seized for a personal
offence, or iniquitous judgment of any of its magistrates, &c.
By the second charter, Southwark is granted for the good and benefit of
the citizens.
The same Prince, in the year 1354, granted the city the privilege of
having gold or silver maces carried before the chief magistrate; a
privilege then peculiar to London; for all other cities and towns in the
kingdom were, by a royal precept, expresly commanded not to use maces of
any other metal than copper; and this is the time when, it is supposed
by some, that the title of _Lord_ was first added to that of Mayor.
In the year 1348, the city was visited by a most terrible pestilence,
which continued to rage till the church yards were found not capacious
enough to receive the bodies. This induced several persons to purchase
ground to supply that defect; and in one of these burying grounds,
bought by Sir Walter Manny, were interred the next year 50,000 persons;
an amazing number, considering the small extent of this metropolis at
that time: by this dreadful pestilence 100,000 persons are said to have
died in this city. This is a very convincing proof that London was at
that time extremely populous.
By this terrible pestilence provisions were reduced so low, that the
best fed ox was sold for 4s. the best cow at 1s. the best heifer or
steer at 6d. the best wether at 4d. the best ewe at 3d. the best lamb at
2d. the best hog at 5d. and a fine horse, formerly worth 40s. at 6s. 8d.
_Arnold’s Chronicle._
But notwithstanding this deplorable calamity, the wealth and dignity of
the city were soon after so great, that in the year 1363, the Kings of
Scotland, France, and Cyprus, who came into England to visit King Edward
III. were entertained at dinner, with his Majesty, the Prince of Wales
his son, and most of the nobility, by Henry Picard, late Mayor of
London.
In the fifth year of the reign of King Richard II. the city suffered
greatly by the rebellion of Wat Hilliard, commonly called Wat Tyler,
from his employment; he being a tyler of Dartford in Kent. This fellow,
exasperated at the impudence and insolence of the collectors of the poll
tax, one of whom pulled up his daughter’s cloaths to see if she was
arrived at the age of puberty; after killing the collector, excited the
people to join him, in defence of their daughters, and to abolish the
laws and taxes, which were thought extremely burthensome. They readily
entered into this proposal, marched to Black Heath, and were soon
increased to 100,000 men.
This prodigious mob entered Southwark on the 10th of June 1381, set at
liberty the prisoners in the King’s Bench and Marshalsea prisons, and
levelled to the ground the houses of all lawyers and questmen, and while
one party went to Lambeth, where they burnt the archiepiscopal palace,
with the rich furniture, books and registers, another destroyed the
common stews along the bankside, then kept by Flemish bawds, who farmed
them of the city.
In this dreadful confusion, the Lord Mayor caused the bridge gate to be
shut, and fortified; but the next day they were admitted into the city,
and the shambles and wine cellars set open for their accommodation.
Being now joined by the city rabble, they hasted to the Savoy, the Duke
of Lancaster’s palace, which was the most magnificent edifice in the
kingdom, and setting fire to it, caused proclamation to be made, that
none should appropriate any thing to his own use, upon pain of death.
They then ran to the Temple, which at that time belonged to the Lord
High Treasurer; that edifice they also burnt, with all the records in
Chancery, and the books and papers belonging to the students of the law;
and all the inns of court they served in the same manner.
After this, dividing themselves into three bodies, one proceeded to the
rich priory of St. John of Jerusalem, near Smithfield, which they
likewise burnt; and then marching to the stately mansion house at
Highbury, beyond Islington, set fire to that edifice, through hatred to
Sir Robert Hales, the High Treasurer, who was prior of the one, and
proprietor of the other.
The second division marched to the Tower, which they entered,
notwithstanding its being guarded by six hundred men at arms, and the
same number of archers, and there seizing Simon Sudbury, Archbishop of
Canterbury, and the above Sir Robert Hales, caused them both to be
beheaded on Tower hill.
The third division, which were the Essex party, proceeded to Mile-end,
where being met by the King, who agreed to all their demands, they the
same day dispersed, and returned home.
Wat Tyler, with the rest of his desperate crew, however, continued
committing the greatest disorders in London and Westminster, and, under
the plausible pretence of reforming public abuses, they set open the
prisons of the Fleet and Newgate, murdered many of the most eminent
citizens, and dragging the Flemish merchants from the churches, where
they had fled for refuge, beheaded them in the streets. Nor did their
monstrous cruelty stop here; for they proceeded murdering and burning in
a most horrid manner in many parts of the city; and not only made
proclamation for the beheading of all lawyers, and persons concerned in
the Exchequer, but even of all who were able to write.
At length King Richard, encouraged by his success at Mile-end, sent to
let Wat Tyler know that he would have a conference with him in
Smithfield, upon which that rebel marched slowly thither, at the head of
his forces; but no sooner saw the King, than setting spurs to his horse,
he boldly rode up to his Majesty, leaving all his companions behind. His
behaviour and proposals were equally brutish and absurd, for he would be
satisfied with nothing less than a commission to behead all lawyers, and
the abolition of all the ancient laws of the kingdom; at which, William
Walworth, the Lord Mayor, was ordered to arrest him, when that brave
magistrate gave him such a blow on the head with his sword, that he fell
wounded from his horse, and was soon dispatched.
The rebels, in the mean time, observing what was done, cried out, Our
Captain is murdered, let us revenge his death, and immediately bent
their bows: when Richard, though but fifteen years of age, with
astonishing prudence and bravery rode up to them, crying, “My friends,
will you kill your King? be not troubled for the loss of your leader. I
will be your captain, and grant what you desire.” Upon which they
changed their resolution, and marched under his conduct to St. George’s
Fields, where finding a thousand citizens completely armed, they were
struck with such an amazing panic, that, throwing down their arms, they
begged for mercy, which being granted, they immediately dispersed.
Several writers ascribe to the action of this day, the addition of the
dagger to the arms of the city, in remembrance of the good service done
by them, and particularly by the Lord Mayor.
This, and other rebellions, being suppressed, King Richard, in the year
1390, appointed a great tournament to be held in Smithfield, on the
Sunday after Michaelmas; and having caused it to be proclaimed in all
the principal courts of Europe, several princes and noblemen from
Germany, France, the Netherlands, and other countries, came to
distinguish themselves by their courage and military skill. On the day
appointed, which was Sunday in the afternoon, a pompous cavalcade of
sixty ladies set out from the Tower, all richly dressed, and mounted on
fine horses, each leading an armed Knight by a silver chain, attended by
their Esquires, who passing through Cheapside proceeded to Smithfield,
where the justs continued four days, in the presence of the King, the
Queen, and the whole court; his Majesty himself giving proofs of his
skill and dexterity on the second day. During the whole time open house
was kept at the King’s expence, at the Bishop of London’s palace, for
the entertainment of all persons of distinction, and every night the
diversions concluded with a ball.
Two years after, the city refusing to lend the King a sum of money, and
some of the citizens beating and abusing a Lombard merchant, for
offering to advance the sum required, the King was so exasperated, that
he sent for the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, Sheriffs, and twenty four of the
principal commoners of the city, to attend him at Nottingham, which
having done, the Mayor was committed prisoner to Windsor castle, and the
rest to other prisons. A commission, under the great seal, was then
granted to the Dukes of York and Gloucester, the King’s uncles, to
enquire into that and other offences, of which the above persons being
found guilty, they were not only fined 3000 marks, but the liberties of
the city were seized; the Mayor was degraded from his office, and a
Custos appointed in his room; the Sheriffs were also degraded, and
others chosen; and, by the King’s precept, seventeen persons were
appointed Aldermen, during the royal pleasure. As a farther
mortification to the city, the King not only withdrew, with the
nobility, to York, but removed the courts of justice to that city.
However, upon payment of the fine of 3000 marks, all the city liberties
were restored, except the privilege of chusing her own Mayor. And the
King, returning to London, was met at Shene, or Richmond Heath, by four
hundred citizens on horseback, dressed in a rich uniform, with the
Recorder at their head, who made a speech, in which he humbly begged
pardon for their past offences, and earnestly entreated his Majesty to
honour the Chamber of London with his presence; to which he consenting,
they attended him to St. George’s church in Southwark, where he was
received by a solemn procession of the clergy, and five hundred boys in
surplices, with the Bishop of London at their head. At London bridge he
was presented with a fine horse, adorned with trappings of gold brocade,
and his Queen with a fine pad, and very noble furniture.
Never was the city more richly embellished than on this occasion, for
the citizens of all ranks strove to outvie each other, in honour of
their reconciled Sovereign; the streets were lined with the city
companies in their formalities, and the conduits all the while ran with
variety of wines.
At the standard in Cheapside, a boy dressed in white, to represent an
angel, stood in a magnificent pageant, and upon the King’s approach,
presented him with wine in a gold cup, and placed on his head a crown of
gold, adorned with a variety of pearls and precious stones, and likewise
another on the head of the Queen. After which their Majesties were
conducted to their palace at Westminster, by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen,
and Sheriffs, who, the next day, made his Majesty a present of two
silver basons gilt, with 1000 nobles of gold in each, curious pictures
of the Trinity, valued at 800l. and several other valuable presents. But
after all, they were obliged to pay him 10,000l. before he would restore
them the right of chusing their own magistrates.
The King, and his royal consort Isabella, a daughter of France, were
some years after again conducted, with extraordinary magnificence, thro’
the city; but in 1398, the citizens petitioning to have their taxes
taken off, and against entering into a treaty with the French King,
about the delivering up of Calais, Richard was so exasperated against
them, that he obliged many of the richest of the citizens to sign and
seal several blank papers sent them by the ministry, who afterwards
filled them up at their pleasure, with such sums as would effectually
drain them; and this rendered him so odious to the citizens, that when
Henry Duke of Lancaster arrived from France, they received him with open
gates, and expressed their joy by magnificent shews, solemn processions
of the clergy, and loud acclamations; and, in short, after the late King
was made prisoner, Henry was received in great pomp by the Lord Mayor,
Aldermen, Sheriffs, and all the several companies in their formalities.
The reign of Henry IV. was not distinguished by any remarkable disputes
between that King and the citizens; but in the year 1407, a dreadful
plague carried off 30,000 of the inhabitants, whereby corn became so
cheap, that wheat sold at 3s. 4d. the quarter.
In the reign of Henry V. the citizens chiefly distinguished themselves
by the splendid cavalcade, with which they conducted that brave Prince
through the city, after the glorious battle of Agincourt, In this reign
Moorgate was first built, and Sir Henry Barton, the Lord Mayor, first
ordered lanthorns to be hung out, for illuminating the streets by night.
Indeed it is surprizing, that so useful and necessary a regulation was
not made much earlier, considering the multitude and wealth of the
inhabitants, the brooks which still ran through some of the streets, and
the dirt occasioned by their lying much lower than at present.
After the death of this great conqueror, his young son Henry VI. being
crowned King of France at Paris, the citizens, on his return, expressed
their loyalty in a very extraordinary manner; for the royal infant was
met on Black Heath by the Lord Mayor of London, dressed in crimson
velvet, with a large furred hat, a girdle of gold about his waist, and a
bawdrick of gold about his neck, waving down his back. He was followed
by three horsemen, dressed in scarlet and silver, and attended by the
Aldermen in scarlet gowns, and crimson hoods, while the citizens were
cloathed in white gowns, and scarlet hoods, with the symbol belonging to
each mystery, richly embroidered upon their sleeves. They were all on
horseback, and from thence preceded his Majesty to London, where he was
received with the utmost pomp. The city on this occasion was decorated
with rich silks and carpets, and on the bridge, and in the streets,
through which the cavalcade passed, were erected a variety of stately
pageants, filled with persons representing the Muses, Graces, and
Sciences; and from these pageants, orations were made, and concerts
performed of vocal and instrumental music. Two days after, the Lord
Mayor and Aldermen attended the King at Westminster, and presented him
with a golden hamper, containing 1000l. in nobles.
It is impossible, in the short compass allotted to this part of the
work, to give an account of the several rebellions and revolutions
during the life of this unhappy Sovereign, and of the manner in which
the citizens interested themselves in each: it is sufficient to add,
that notwithstanding these early professions of loyalty, the ill success
and weakness of Henry, made them almost constantly join his enemies, and
was one principal cause of his ruin.
King Edward IV. therefore, in the second year of his reign, shewed his
gratitude for the favours he had received from them, by granting the
city a charter, by which all the ancient rights and privileges of the
citizens were confirmed, and the following additional privileges
bestowed.
1. The Lord Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen past the chair, are appointed
perpetual justices of peace in the city; and are constituted justices of
oyer and terminer, for the trial of all malefactors within their own
jurisdiction.
2. For the better ascertaining the customs of the city, when a plea is
brought in any of the superior courts, relating to those customs, the
Lord Mayor and Aldermen are impowered to declare, by the mouth of their
Recorder, whether the point in controversy be a custom of London, or
not; and if, upon enquiry, it be found to be such, then it is to be
recorded, and remain an established custom to all futurity.
3. The Lord Mayor and Aldermen are for ever exempted from serving in all
foreign assizes, juries, or attaints, and from the offices of assessor,
collector of taxes, overseer, or comptroller of all public duties
without the jurisdiction of the city.
4. The citizens are allowed the privilege of holding an annual fair in
the borough of Southwark, together with a court of Pye-powder, with the
rights and customs thereto belonging, &c. all at the ancient fee farm of
10l. _per annum_.
Afterwards, in the year 1479, the city gave the same Prince 1923l. 19s.
8d. for the liberty of purchasing lands, &c. in mortmain, to the value
of 200 marks _per annum_; and also purchased of the King, for 7000l. the
offices of package, portage, garbling, gauging, wine-drawer and coroner,
to be enjoyed by them and their successors for ever.
In the same year, a dreadful pestilence raged in London, which swept
away an incredible number of people.
On the death of Edward IV. the Duke of Buckingham strove in vain to make
the citizens join in raising the Duke of Gloucester to the throne, to
the prejudice of the young Prince, Edward V. by making a long speech to
them in Guildhall. The Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and some of the Common
Council, were, however, prevailed upon to go and persuade that inhuman
monster to accept of the crown; and afterwards the Lord Mayor contested
with the citizens of Winchester the right of being chief Butler at the
coronation of a man who was a disgrace to human nature: but the Mayor of
London had for some ages enjoyed this privilege, and was not now denied
it.
In the beginning of the reign of Henry VII. the sweating sickness first
raged in London, carrying off great numbers within twenty-four hours;
but those who survived that time generally recovered; and of this
disease died two Lord Mayors and one of the Sheriffs, in the space of
the year.
The next year the privileges of the citizens were struck at by their own
magistrates, in a very extraordinary act of Common Council, which
enjoined the citizens, under the penalty of an hundred pounds, not to
carry any goods or merchandize to any fair or market within the kingdom,
for the term of seven years; but this scandalous and unjust by-law was
the next year set aside by act of Parliament.
In the year 1500, the plague carried off 20,000 persons in London; and
during this reign the city also suffered greatly by the oppressions of
the King’s ministers Empson and Dudley; Alderman Capel was, upon several
penal laws, condemned to pay a fine of 2700l. but by the intercession of
friends, it was mitigated to 1600l. Thomas Knesworth, who had been
Mayor, with Richard Shoare and Roger Grove, his Sheriffs, were accused
of abuses committed in their offices, for which they were dragged to the
Marshalsea, and confined without any legal process, till they redeemed
themselves by paying 14,000l. and, in short, Sir Laurence Aylmer was, in
the next year after he had served the office of Mayor, also imprisoned
by these rapacious ministers, in order to extort a sum of money for his
liberty: but the death of Henry VII. delivered him and many others from
their troubles.
King Henry VIII. the year after his accession to the throne, came in the
habit of one of the yeomen of the guard, to see the march of the city
watch; it being an ancient custom for the watch, who were then a body of
military forces, to make a pompous march on the vigils of St. John
Baptist, and St. Peter and Paul. His Majesty was a spectator on St.
John’s eve, and was so highly delighted with the sight, that he returned
on the eve of St. Peter, accompanied by his royal consort, and the
principal nobility, and staid in Mercer’s Hall, Cheapside, to see the
procession repeated.
The march was begun by the city music, followed by the Lord Mayor’s
officers, in party-coloured liveries; then the swordbearer, on
horseback, in beautiful armour, preceded the Lord Mayor, mounted on a
stately horse adorned with rich trappings, attended by a giant and two
pages on horseback, three pageants, morrice dancers and footmen; next
came the Sheriffs, preceded by their officers, and attended by their
giants, pages, pageants, and morrice dancers. Then marched a great body
of demi-lancers in bright armour, on stately horses: next followed a
body of carabineers in white fustian coats, with the city arms on their
backs and breasts: then marched a body of archers with their bows bent,
and shafts of arrows by their sides; followed by a party of pikemen with
their corslets and helmets; after whom marched a body of halberdiers in
their corslets and helmets; and the march was closed by a great party of
billmen, with helmets and aprons of mail.
The whole body, which consisted of about 2000 men, had between every
division a certain number of musicians, who were answered in their
proper places by the like number of drums, with standards and ensigns,
in the same manner as veteran troops. This nocturnal march was lighted
by 940 cressets, which were large lanthorns fixed at the end of poles,
and carried over mens shoulders; two hundred of which were at the city
expence, five hundred at that of the companies, and two hundred and
forty were found by the city constables.
The march began at the conduit in Cheapside, and passed through that
street, Cornhill, and Leadenhall street to Aldgate; whence it returned
by Fenchurch street, Gracechurch street, Cornhill, and Cheapside, to the
conduit.
During this march, the houses on each side the streets were decorated
with greens and flowers wrought into garlands, and intermixed with a
great number of lamps. _Stow._
This splendid procession constantly repeated twice a year, is not only a
proof of the fondness for shew which then prevailed, but lets us see
that the city was then watched by men completely armed; a body of troops
of a peculiar kind, raised and maintained by the city.
The same year, Sir William Fitz-William, Alderman of Bread street ward,
was disfranchised for refusing to serve the office of Sheriff. _Fabian’s
Chronicle._
And in 1512, the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex were first impowered
to impannel juries for the city courts, each juror so impannelled to be
a citizen worth an hundred marks.
As the history of the city of London must necessarily include that of
the manners of the inhabitants, we have given some instances of their
fondness for pompous and splendid processions, and it may hereafter be
necessary to add others, to enable the reader to form an idea of the
difference between the past times and the present. I shall here mention
amusements of a different kind, graced with the presence of a sovereign
Prince, and which cannot fail of entertaining the reader.
It was usual, on the first of May, for all the citizens who were able,
to divert themselves in the woods and meadows with May-games, diversions
not confined to the lower class, but equally the entertainment of
persons of the highest rank; a remarkable instance of which is inserted
in _Hall’s Chronicle_, under the year 1515, when that author observes,
that King Henry VIII. and Queen Catharine, accompanied by many Lords and
Ladies, rode a maying from Greenwich to the high ground of Shooter’s
Hill, where, as they passed along, they saw a company of 200 tall
yeomen, all cloathed in green, with green hoods and bows and arrows.
One, who was their Chieftain, was called Robin Hood, and desired the
King and all his company to stay and see his men shoot, to which the
King agreeing, he whistled, and all the two hundred discharged their
arrows at once, which they repeated on his whistling again. Their arrows
had something placed in the heads of them that made them whistle as they
flew, and all together made a loud and very uncommon noise, at which the
King and Queen were greatly delighted. The gentleman who assumed the
character of Robin Hood then desired the King and Queen, with their
retinue, to enter the Green Wood, where, in arbours made with boughs
intermixed with flowers, they were plentifully served with venison and
wine, by Robin Hood and his men.
About two years after an event happened, which occasioned the epithet of
Evil to be added to this day of rejoicing. The citizens being extremely
exasperated at the encouragement given to foreigners, a Priest named
Bell was persuaded to preach against them at the Spital, and in a very
inflaming sermon he incited the people to oppose all strangers; this
occasioned frequent quarrels in the streets, for which some Englishmen
were committed to prison.