Camera regis, or, A short view of London containing the antiquity, fame, walls, bridge, river, gates, tower, cathedral, officers, courts, customs, franchises, &c. of that renowned city / collected out of law & history and methodized for the benefit of the present inhabitants by John Brydall ...

2. Of the Franchises, Liberties, or Sin∣gularities, which the Londoners have obtained from the favor of our Kings in the high Court of Parliament.

Singularity 1.

King Athelstan in his Laws or Con∣stitutions, appointing,* 1.1 how many Mint-Masters should be in each City, alloweth 8. to London, and not so many to any other City.

Singularity 2.

King H. 1. in his Laws,* 1.2 comman∣deth that no Citizen of London shall be amerced above 100 s. for any pecu∣niary pain.

Singularity 3.

It is granted to the Citizens of London,* 1.3 that the Lords of Rents in London may recover them by a writ of Gavelet. 10. E. 2.

Singularity 4.

The Kng granted, that the Citizens of London should not be constrained to go out of the City to any War,* 1.4 and that the Liberties of this City should not for any cause whatsoever be taken into the Kings hands Rot. Parl. 1. E. 3. Authoritate Parliamenti.

Singularity. 5.

* 1.5It is enacted, that the Statute of 28. E. 3. c. 10. shall not extend to any erroneous judgment given, or to be given in the City of London. Parl. 7. R. 2. nu. 26.

Singularity 6.

* 1.6The Aldermen of London shall not be hereafter elected yearly, but re∣main, until they be put out for rea∣sonable cause. 17. R. 2. c. 11.

Singularity 7.

* 1.7The Lord Mayor, and Aldermen

may reform the defaults of Victuallers.* 1.8 7. R. 2. c. 11. vide 31. E. 3. c. 10.

Singularity. 8.

Mault sold to London shall be cleansed from Dust. 17. R. 2. c. 3.* 1.9

Singularity 9.

It is Enacted in the Reign of R. 2. That the Mayor,* 1.10 and Chamberlain of London, shall have the keeping of all the Lands, and goods of such Orphans, as happen within the City.

Singularity 10.

The Mayor of London shall redress such Errors, Defaults,* 1.11 and Mispri∣sons, notoriously used in the same City. 1. H. 4. c. 15.

Singularity 11.

The Stat. of Ed. 4. c. 2. doth not extend to the Sheriffs of London,* 1.12 as touching Indictments and Presentments.

Singularity 12.

Citizens, and Freemen of London, may carry their wares to any Fairs,* 1.13 or Markets throughout England. 3. H. 7. c. 9.

Singularity 13.

Butchers shall kill no beasts in Lon∣don.* 1.14 11. H. 7. c. 21.

Singularity 14.

By the Stat. of 9. H. 7. c. 8. no scavage,* 1.15 or shewage shall be paid in any place, but it shall be taken by the Mayor, and Sheriffs of London.

Singularity 15.

The Mayor of London, and his Suc∣cessors have like Authority in all issues, Breaches,* 1.16 ground over flown, as far as the water ebbeth, and floweth, grown out of the River of Thames, as touching the punishment for using un∣lawful nets, and engines, as his Lord∣ship

hath within this said River 4. H. 7. c. 15.

Singularity 16.

For all issues forfeited by Jurors in the Mayors Court,* 1.17 it is lawful for his Lord-ship, and his Successors, to distrein, and the same distress detain, until he, or they be satisfied of the said issues. 4. H. 8. c. 3.

Singularity 17.

All Strangers within two miles of London shall be under the Reformation of the Wardens of Handy Crafts within the City of London.* 1.18 15. and 16. H. 8. c. 2.

Singularity 18.

Wardens of Cowpers shall search,* 1.19 &c. and gage all manner of Barrells, &c. For Ale, Soap, to be put to sale within 2. miles compass, without the Suburbs of the City of London. 23. H. 8. c. 4.

Singularity 19.

A Londoner returned upon a Jury to the Courts at Westminster, having goods to the value of 40. marks, shall be sworn,* 1.20 and do, in all such Juries, in every thing, as other persons may do, having Lands, or Tenements of the yearly value of forty shillings. 4. H. 8. c 3. & 5. H. 8. c. 5.

Singularity 20.

By the Stat. of 4. H. 8. c. 14. It is Enacted, that the Mayor of the City of London may search oyle,* 1.21 in the City of London, and punish all such as sell false oyle.

Singularity 21.

The Lord Mayor of London may set fines upon those,* 1.22 which do not pave or repair any street, or Land, 32. H. 8. c. 17.

Singularity 22.

Woods growing within the compass of 22. miles from, and about London,* 1.23 or the Suburbs of the same, shall not be felled, to be converted to Coals, for making of Iron works 23. Eliz. c. 5.

Singularity 23.

The Mayor in the Reign of Edward 3. procured an Act of Parliament,* 1.24 * 1.25 that no known Whore should wear any hood, or attire on her head; except reyed, and striped Cloth of divers Colours.

If this Law should now be put in force I am affraid; there would be very few black hoods worne.

Note, the Athenian Law was,* 1.26 Me∣retrices vestres indutae sunto.

Singularity 24.

By the Stat. of 1. Jac. c. 19.* 1.27 the ancient officer of London, called the Garbler of Spices hath authority at all, and every time, and times, in the day time to enter into shops, ware-houses,

or Cellar to view, and search Drugges, and Spices, &c. and to garble, and make them clean.

Singularity 25.

All wares from hence forth shall be utterly,* 1.28 put down by Thames and Medway. 9. E. 3. c. 22.

Singularity 26.

* 1.29King E. 1. Of his grace granted unto the Citizens of London, that whereas before times they, that were disseized of freehold in the same City, could not recover their damages, before the coming of the Justices to the Tower, that from hence forth the Disseizees shall have damages by Recognizance of the same Assize, whereby they reco∣vered their Lands. 6. E. 1. c. 14.

Singularity 27.

* 1.30By the Stat. of 20. R. 2. c. 9. it is enacted, that the Mayor, or Warden of London shall have the Conservation of the Stat. touching Salmons (viz. 13. E. 1. c. 47.13. R. 2. c. 19.) in the

waters of Thames, from the Bridge of Stane to London, and from thence over the same water, and in the water of Medway.

Singularity 28.

In 12. R. 2. c. 13. There is a pu∣nishment ordained for him,* 1.31 which shall cast corruption into any place near the City of London.

Singularity 29.

In the 13. & 14. year of the Reign of the King, (our most Gracious and Serene Soveraign) that now is,* 1.32 there was an Act made for Repairing of High wayes, and for paving, and keeping clean streets, &c. in and about the City of London; and by that Act it is ordained, that the Lord Mayor, Re∣corder, and Aldermen shall be joynt Commissioners in exercising all the powers of this said Act, within the City, and Liberties thereof.

Singularity 30.

* 1.33In the Stat. of 14. of this Kings Reign (which was enacted for the restraining the exportation of Leather, and Raw Hides out of the Realm) it is ordered, that the Master, and Wardens of the Company of Curriers shall enter into any Ware-house, &c. within the City of London, or 3. miles of the same City, belonging to any of the Cordwayners, &c. to search for, and seize, all such Leather, intended to be prohibited, to be used, by a clause in the said Act, &c.

Singularity 31.

In the 19.* 1.34 year of the same King there was an Act made for the Rebuilding of the City of London, and for the further enabling the Lord Mayor, &c. to per∣form all the works mentioned in the said Law; It is ordained, that for all sorts of Coals, which shall be brought into the Port of London, shall be paid by way of Imposition thereupon, viz. For such sort of Coals as were usually

sold by the Chauldron the sum of 12. pence, and for such sort of Coales as are sold by the Tun the like sum of 12. pence. And likewise in 22 year of his Majesties Reign it was enacted, that there should be paid for every Chauldron, or sum of Coales, two shillings over, and beside the aforesaid Imposition of 12d. for the Rebuilding Cathedral, and Parochial Churches, within the City of London; His Ma∣jesties beloved and native City, towards which his Royal Heart hath been so gra∣tious, and so full of Princely designs, to inprove its Honour, Wealth and Beauty.

Having thus attempted to present to the Courteous Readers view some of those Notable, Rare, and Special Li∣berties, and Priviledges, that the Ci∣tizens of London have, and do claim by vertue of Charters Royal, and Acts of Parliament, I shall now come to a con∣clusion of this small, and slender Treatise with a Rehearsal of some of the Sta∣tutes, both conservant, and confirmant, appertaining to this most glorious, and most renowned City of London.

Amongst the Acts of Parliament, that

are called preserving,* 1.35 or saving Laws viz. of the Liberties, belonging to Lon∣don, take these following, sc.

* 1.36The liberties of great Saint Martins in London reserved by the Statute of 3. E. 4. c. 4. touching Marchandizes.

* 1.37The Citizens of London may take Apprentices, according to their old Custom notwithstanding the Stat. of 7. H. 4.

* 1.38By the Stat. of 19. H. 7. c. 23. All Acts made in Derogation of the Mer∣chants of Stillyard are void, provided that the Statute shall not prejudice the Liberties of London.

* 1.39In the Stat. of 5. Eliz. touching Ap∣prentices there is a proviso, that the Act shall not be prejudicial to the City of London, or priviledges of the same City.

* 1.40In the Stat. of 1. Jac. touching Sale of goods purloyned in London, &c. Is a proviso; that the said Act shall not be prejudicial to the ancient Trade of of Brokers, within the City of London, &c. or other trades within the said City, and Liberties of the same, being setled, as it is mentioned in the said Act.

In the 12. of the King that now is, it was enacted in the Stat. touching

Wards, and Liveries, that the Act shall not extend, to alter, or prejudice the Custom of the City of London con∣cerning Orphans.

In the 14. year of his Majesties Reign there is a Law made for preventing Abuses in printing; in which Act there is this proviso, that this said Act shall not extend to prohibit any Book-Seller, who hath served 7. years, and is Free of the Company of Stationers of London, from importing into the Realm any Books ready bound, not formerly pro∣hibited.

Amongst the Statutes, that have been enacted for the strengthning,* 1.41 and con∣firming of the Customs and Liberties of London, there are 3. of them most notorious; one enacted in the Reign of H. 3. Another, in the time of E. 3. And a third made in the dayes of R. 2.

In the Reign of H. 3. it was enacted in these words. sc. Civita. London habeat omnes Libertates suas antiquas & Consue∣tudines suas, the City of London shall have all the old Liberties, and Customs, which it hath been used to have.

In the Reign of Ed. 3. it was or∣dained, that the Liberties of this City

shall not for any cause be taken into the King Hands. Rot. Parl. 1. E. 3. au∣thoritate Parliamenti.

In the Reign of R. 2. there is a most beneficial Statute made which no other Corporation hath; it is enacted that the Citizens of London shall enjoy all their whole Liberties whatsoever with this Clause, licet usi non fuerunt, vel abusi fuerunt,* 1.42 and notwithstanding any Statute to the contrary, &c. Lege Statutum; for by this Act the City of London may clayme Liberties by pro∣scription, Charter, or Parliament, not∣withstanding any Stat. mad before 7. R. 2.

Note; the most gracious, and Royal Concession of his late Majesty (the most glorious Martyr, that willingly died for the preservation of established Re∣ligion and Laws) at Newport was, That an Act be passed for granting, and con∣firming, the Charters, Customs, Li∣berties, and Franchises of the City of London, notwithstanding any Non-user, Misuser, or Abuser.

I have no more to say, in honour of this City, but only to conjure the In∣habitants thereof for all these singular

tokens of the Liberal favour and good likeing of our Princes, to honour, and obey their King, that now is, and to say with me, their fellow subject, scil.

VIVAT REX, ac Maximè flo∣reat Triplex Corona Serenissimi, Poten∣tissimi, Sacratissimique Principis nostri, Caroli à Carolo.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mint-Masters.
• * 1.2

  Amerciament.
• * 1.3

  Gavelet.
• * 1.4

  Warr.
• * 1.5

  Erroneous Judgment.
• * 1.6

  Aldermen.
• * 1.7

  Mault.
• * 1.8

  Victuallers.
• * 1.9

  Mault.
• * 1.10

  Guardian-ship of Orphans
• * 1.11

  Redressing of Errours.
• * 1.12

  Sheriffs of London.
• * 1.13

  Wares.
• * 1.14

  Butchers.
• * 1.15

  Scavage, or Shewage.
• * 1.16

  Sewars.
• * 1.17

  Issue forfeited
• * 1.18

  Warden: of Handy-Crafts.
• * 1.19

  Wardens of Cowpers.
• * 1.20

  Jurors.
• * 1.21

  Oyles.
• * 1.22

  Paving.
• * 1.23

  Woods.
• * 1.24

  Whores.
• * 1.25

  Vide Daniels History f. 243.
• * 1.26

  Floridas.
• * 1.27

  Garbler of London.
• * 1.28

  Wares.
• * 1.29

  Damages.
• * 1.30

  Salmons.
• * 1.31

  Corruption.
• * 1.32

  Higwayes and streets.
• * 1.33

  Curriers
• * 1.34

  Imposition on Coals for build∣ing•• of Cathe∣dral, &c. Churches.
• * 1.35

  Statutes Con∣servant or sa∣ving.
• * 1.36

  3. E. 4. c: 4,
• * 1.37

  7: H. 4. c. 17.
• * 1.38

  19. H. 7. c. 23:
• * 1.39

  5. Eliz. c. 4.
• * 1.40

  1. Jac. c. 21.
• * 1.41

  Statutes Con∣firmant.
• * 1.42

  Co. 4. Inst. f. 250,