Of the Colledge of Heralds.
NOt far from the Colledge of Doctors Commons, stood the Colledge of Heralds, that is, of such as are to be Mes∣sengers of War and Peace, that are skil∣ful in Descents, Pedigrees, and Coats or Page 267 Armories, an Ancient House, built by Thomas Stanley, Earl of Derby, who mar∣ried the Mother of King Henry the Seventh, and bestowed by Queen Mary on the Kings Heralds, and Pursuivants at Arms for ever, to the end that they, and their Suc∣cessors might dwell together (if they so pleased) and assemble, confer, and agree for the good Government of their Faculty, and that their Records might there safely be preserved, &c.
They were made a Colledge or Corpora∣tion, by Charter of King Richard the Third, and by him had several Priviledges granted unto them; as, to be free from Subsidies, Tolls, and all troublesome Offi∣ces of the Kingdom.
Afterwards, another Charter of Privi∣ledges was granted unto this Society by King Edward the Sixth, in the third year of His Reign.
Of this Collegiate Society are first; three, stiled Reges Armorum Anglorum, Kings at Arms, six called Heralds, and four Pursuivants at Arms.
Amongst the Kings at Arms; the first and principal is called Garter, instituted by King Henry the Fifth, whose office is to attend the Knights of the Garter at their So∣lemnities, and to Marshal the Solemnities at the Funerals of all the higher Nobility of England, to advertise those that are chosen, of their new Election, to call on them to be installed at Windsor, to cause their Arms to be hung up upon their Page 268 Seats there, to carry the Garter to Kings and Princes beyond the Seas; for which purpose, he was wont to be joyned in Com∣mission with some Principal Peer of the Realm, &c.
The next is Clarencieux, so called from the Duke of Clarence, to whom he first belonged; for Lionel, Third Son to Edward the Third, marrying the daughter and heir of the Earl of Ulster in Ireland, had with her the Honor of Clare in the County of Twomond, whereupon he was afterwards created Duke of Clarence, or the Territory about Clare, which Dukedom escheating to King Edward the Fourth, by the death of His Brother George, Duke of Clarence, He made this Herald, who properly be∣longed to that Duke, a King at Arms, and named him Clarentieux in French, and Clarentius in Latin. His Office is to marshal and dispose the Funerals of all the lower Nobility, as, Baronets, Knights, Esquires, and Gentlemen on the South-side of Trent, and therefore sometimes called Surroy or Southroy.
The third King at Arms is Norroy or Northroy, whose Office is to do the like on all the North-side of Trent.
The two last are called Provincial He∣ralds, England being by them divided into two Provinces.
These by Charter have power to visit Noblemens Families, to set down their Pedigrees, to distinguish their Arms, to appoint Men their Arms or Ensigns, Page 269 and with Garter to direct the Heralds.
The Six Heralds anciently belonging properly to Dukes, have been sometimes named Dukes at Arms, and are thus cal∣led and ranked: First, Windsor; secondly, Richmond; thirdly, Chester; fourthly, Somerset; fifthly, York; sixthly, Lan∣caster. Whose Office was anciently to at∣tend Dukes in Marshal Executions: Now they are to wait at Court, attend Pub∣lick Solemnities, Proclaim War and Peace, &c. thence perhaps named Heralds, from two German words, Here and Healt, that is, the Armies Champion, to denounce War, or offer Peace, as the Feciales of the Romans did; and from hence probably Seven Danish Kings, and some Kings of Norway, and of Sweden, and some of England, before the Conquest, have had the name of Harold, which is all one (saith Verstegan) with Herald.
These have no certain Province under them, but by turns wait upon the Kings at Arms, and have part of their Fees.
Of these Heralds in England, there were anciently many, and so likewise of Pursuivants, whereof at present, there are but four thus named, Rouge Cross, Rouge Dragon, Portcullice, and Blewmantle, from such Badges heretofore worn by them, as it is thought.
The service of these, and of the He∣ralds, and of the whole Colledge, is used in marshalling and ordering Coronati∣ons, Marriages, Christnings, Funerals, Page 270 Interviews, Feasts of Kings and Princes, Cavalcades, Shews, Justs, Tournaments, Combats before the Constable and Mar∣shal, &c. Also they take care of the Coats of Arms, of the Genealogies of the Nobility and Gentry, briefly, what∣soever concerns Honor, is their care and study, they are Tanquam Sacrorum Custodes & Templi Honoris Aeditui.
All these receive Annual Stipends out of the Kings Exchequer. They are all to be Gentlemen at the least, and the Six Heralds are expresly made Esquires by the King, when they are created He∣ralds.
Anciently the Kings at Arms were Created, and solemnly Crowned by the Kings of England themselves, and the Heralds and Pursuivants had their Crea∣tions from the Kings hand; but of later times the Earl Marshal hath had a special Commission for every particular Creation, and to do all that before was done by the King.
For the Creating and Crowning of Garter, King at Arms; there are first to be provided a Sword and a Book, whereon to take a Solemn Oath, then a Gilt Crown, a Coller of S's, a Bowl of Wine; which Bowl is the Fee of the new created King, also a Coat of Arms of Velvet richly embroidered: His Creation is on this manner; first, he kneels down be∣fore the Earl Marshal, and laying his hand Page 271 on the Book and Sword, another King at Armes reads the Oath, which being ta∣ken, and the Book and Sword kissed; next are read the Letters Patents of his Of∣fice, during which, the Earl Marshal powres the Wine on his head, and gives him the Name of Garter, then puts on him the Coat of Armes and Collar of S's, and the Crown on his head.
The Oath is to obey, first, the Supream head of the most noble Order of the Gar∣ter, and then the Noble Knights of that Order, in such things as belong to his Office, to inquire diligently of all the Noble and notable Acts of every Knight of this Order, and thereof to certify the Re∣gister of that Order, that he may record the same, and to give notice to the King, and the Knights of the Order, of the death of any of that Society: to have an exact knowledge of all the Nobility, to instruct Heralds and Pursuivants in doubts concerning the Office of Arms, to eschew and avoid all persons of ill reputation, to be more ready to excuse then to blame any noble person, unless called by Authority, to witness against them, &c. This Offi∣cer hath a double Salary, double to the two other Kings, and hath moreover Fees at the Instalments; yearly wages given by the Knights of the Garter, hath the upper∣most Garment at their Installments, &c.
The two Provincial Kings at Armes, Clarentius and Norroy, are created by Letters Patents, a Book, a Sword, &c. Page 272 as Garter, and with almost the same Ce∣remonies.
A Herald at Armes is also created with the like Ceremony; onely his Coat of Armes must be Sattin, embroidered and en∣richt with gold, and must be brought in with two Heralds, as the Kings at Arms are by two Kings at Armes.
They take a solemn Oath to be true to the King, to be serviceable to Gentlemen, to keep secrets of Knights, Esquires, La∣dies and Gentlewomen, to assist distressed Gentlemen and Gentlewomen, Widows and Virgins; to avoid Taverns, Dicing, and Whore-houses, &c. Pursuivants at Armes, are created also by Letters Patents, a Book, a Bowl of Wine, and a Coat of Arms of Damask, and to be brought in, as the Heralds, before the Earl Marshal, or his Deputy, and to swear in solemn manner to be true to the King, to be serviceable to all Christians, to be secret and sober, to be more ready to com∣mend then to blame, to be humble, lowly, &c.
This Office since the late dreadful fire, is held in the Queens Court at Westminster, where are some always waiting, to satis∣fy comers touching Descents, Pedigrees, Coates of Armes, &c. as was formerly done at the forementioned house up in London, which is now begun to be rebuilt by the Members of the Colledge, and (it is hoped) may in a short time, by the Page 273 bountiful Contributions of all men that have any sence of Honour remaining, be compleated to the glory of this City and Kingdom.
All of this Colledge, being the Kings sworn servants, the Reader may find a List of their Names, in the First Part, about the Kings Court.
Within the Walls of London also is sea∣ted a Colledge, built by the forementioned worthy person Sir Thomas Gresham, and in∣dowed in manner following: After he had built the Royal Exchange, he gave the Re∣venue thereof, the one Moity to the May∣or and Commonalty of London, and their Successors; and the other moity to the Company of Mercers in trust, that the Mayor and Aldermen should find in all time to come, four able persons to read within this Colledge, Divinity, Geometry, Astro∣nomy, and Musick, and to allow to each of them, besides their fair lodging 50 l. a year. And that the Company of Mercers should find Three more able men, to read Civil Law, Physick and Rhetorick, and to allow to each one of them besides fair Lodgings 50 l. a year. And that these se∣veral Lecturers should read in Term time, every day in the week (except Sundayes) aforenoon, in Latin, and afternoon the same in English: The Musick Lecture to be read onely in English.
Page 274There is also within London another cal∣led Sion Colledge, founded by Thomas White Doctor in Divinity, for the use of the Clergy of London, and of the Liber∣ties thereof; and a part thereof to be for 20 poor people, to perform all which, he gave 3000 l. and for the maintenance of those poor he setled 120 l▪ a year, for ever; and 40 l. a year for a Sermon in Latin, at the beginning of every quarter, and a plentiful Dinner for all the Clergy that shall then meet there. In this Colledge is a fair spacious Library, built by John Symp∣son, Rector of Saint Olaves Hart street, and one of the said Doctor Whites Execu∣tors, and by the bounty of divers Bene∣factors, this Library hath been well fur∣nished with Books, chiefly such as are use∣ful for Divines. This Colledge felt the rage of the late Fire, but is almost repai∣red again.
A little without the Walls stands ano∣ther Colledge or Collegiate House, cal∣led antiently the Chartreuse, now corrupt∣ly the Charter house, it being heretofore a Covent of Carthusian Monks, called in French des Chartreux. This Colledge cal∣led also Suttons Hospital, consists of a Master or Governor, at present Sir Ralph Sidenham, a Chaplain Doctor Thriscross, a Master and Usher to instruct 44 Scholars; besides fourscore decayed Gentlemen, Soul∣diers and Merchants, who have all a plen∣tiful Page 275 maintenance of Dyet, Lodging, Clothes and Physick, &c. and live alto∣gether in a Collegiate manner, with much cleanliness and neatness: and the four and fourty Scholars have not onely all necessaries whilst they are here taught, but if they become fit for the Univer∣sities, there is allowed unto each one, out of the yearly Revenues of this Colledge 20 l. yearly, and duly paid, for 8 years af∣ter they come to the University, and to o∣thers fitter for Trades, there is allowed a considerable Sum of money to bind them Apprentices. There are moreover all sorts of officers expedient for such a Society, as Physitian, Apothecary, Steward, Cooks, Butlers, &c. who have all competent Sa∣laries. This vast Revenue and Princely Foundation was the sole Gift of an ordina∣ry Gentleman, Mr. Thomas Sutton, born in Lincoln-shire: and 'twas of such high Ac∣count as it was thought fit, that by the Kings Letters Patents under the Great Seal, di∣vers persons of the highest Dignity and Quality in Church and State, should al∣wayes be the Overseers and Regulators of this Society; as the Archbishop of Can∣terbury, the Lord Keeper, Lord Treasurer, and 13 others.
Besides, there are in London divers en∣dowed Schools, which in France, would be stiled Colledges; as Paul's School, found∣ded 1512. by John Collet, Doctor of Di∣vinity, and Dean of Pauls, for 153 Chil∣dren to be taught there gratis, for which Page 276 purpose he appointed a Master, a Sub-ma∣ster or Usher, and a Chaplain, with large stipends for ever, committing the oversight thereof to the Masters, Wardens, and Assi∣stants of the Mercers in London; for his father Henry Collet, sometime Lord May∣or of London, was of the Mercers Compa∣ny. This famous School was also lately burnt down, and now is reedified in a far more magnificent, commodious and beau∣tiful manner, the worthy Master thereof is Mr. Samuel Crumholm alias Cromlum.
There are in London divers other endow∣ed Schools, as Merchant-Taylors, Mercers-Chappel, &c. a particular Account where∣of the designed Brevity of this Treatise will not admit.
It would also make this Book too much swell to give an Account of the many rich∣ly endowed Hospitals, Almes-houses, Work-houses, or Houses of Correction, the many stately built Taverns, Inns, and Coffee Houses, some whereof surpass all others in foreign parts, and are worthy to be viewed by curious Travellers, who may also find it worthy their pains, to remarque the several spatious well-built Theaters, which for variety of Scenes, excellent A∣ctors, Language, Designs, Musick, &c. are hardly to be equalled: Moreover they may observe the many well furnisht Mar∣kets, the weekly Horse-fairs, the great com∣modiousness of Hackney-Coaches, of Se∣dans, of Boats, &c. belonging to this fa∣mous City; also to consider the City of Page 277 Westminster and the Burrough of South∣wark, both which now seem to be swallow∣ed up in London.
Within the Precincts of Westminster are many Magnalia, several things are as re∣markable as any aforementioned: the an∣tient stately Abby Church founded before the Norman Conquest, by the Pious King Edward the Confessor, and most rich∣ly endowed; afterwards rebuilt from the ground by Henry the III. with that rare Architecture now seen, wherein are the most magnificent Tombs and Monuments of our Kings and Queens, and greatest Nobles of England. To the East end of which is added a Chappel of King Henry the VII. which, for the most admirable ar∣tificial work without and within, for a Mo∣nument of massy Brass, most curiously wrought, is scarce to be paralleld in the World.
This huge Fabrick stands where first was the Temple of Apollo, and afterwards King Sebert, the East Saxon King, that first built St. Pauls aforementioned, built here a Church to St. Peter.
Queen Elizabeth converted this Abbey into a Collegiate Church, and therein pla∣ced a Dean, 12 Secular Canons or Pre∣bendaries, Petty Canons and others of the Quire to the number of 30, ten Officers belonging to the Church, as many servants belonging to the Collegiate Dyet, two Schoolmasters, 40 Scholars, 12 Almes∣men, with plentiful maintenance for all, Page 278 besides Stewards, Receivers, Registers, Collectors, and other Officers, the prin∣cipal whereof is the high Steward of West∣minster, who is usually one of the prime Nobility, and is at present the Lord Cham∣berlain. The Dean is entrusted with the custody of the Regalia at the Coronation, honored with a place of necessary service at all Coronations, and a Commission of Peace within the City and Liberties of Westminster, the Dean and Chapter inve∣sted with all manner of Jurisdiction, both Ecclesiastical and Civil, not onely within the City and Liberties of Westminster, but within the Precincts of St. Martin le grand, within the Walls of London, and in some Towns of Essex, exempted in the one, from the Jurisdiction of the Bishop of London; and in the other, from that of the Archbi∣shop of Canterbury.
For Ecclesiastical Causes and probate of Wills, it hath a Royal Jurisdiction, Dr. Richard Lloyd is Commissary, from whom Appeal must be onely to the King in his High Court of Chancery, who thereupon issueth out a Commission of Delegates un∣der the Great Seal of England.
When the Convocation is adjourned from St. Pauls (for the conveniency of being nearer to the Parliament) to Westminster, the Bishops first declare (upon a Protesta∣tion made by the Dean there) that they in∣tend not thereby to violate that high Pri∣viledge, viz. That no Bishop or Archbi∣shop may come there without leave of the Dean first obtained.
Page 279There is also a fair Publick Library, free for all strangers to study both morning and afternoon alwayes in Term time.
Next this Church stood the Royal Pa∣lace, and usual place of Residence for the Kings of England, who ordinarily held their Parliaments, and all their Courts of Judicature in their dwelling Houses (as is done at this day at Madrid by the King of Spain) and many times sate themselves in the said Courts of Judicature, as they do still in their Court of Parliament.
A great part of this huge Palace was in the time of Henry the VIII. destroyed by fire, what remained hath still been employ∣ed for the use of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, and for the chief Courts of Judicature. The great Hall where these are kept, some say, was built by King William Rufus, others by King Richard the II. about 300 years agoe, and for all dimensions is not to be equalled by any Hall in Christendom.
Moreover, Strangers and Foreigners may take notice of the extraordinary com∣modiousness, conveniency and situation of the present Royal Palace, and usual place of Residence, called Whitehall, belonging heretofore to Cardinal Woolsey, seated be∣tween a noble navigable River, and a most delectable Park; of the great Chamber there, called the Banquetting-House, the like whereof, for spatiousness, beauty, and exact, proportion, no King in Europe can parallel; of another Royal Palace, called Page 280 Saint James's, of Clarendon-House, which, for situation, and a uniform solid structure is admirable; of the many stately uniform Piles in S. James's Fields, of Northumber∣land-House, of Britains Burse, or the New Exchange, a place excellently fur∣nished with all kinde of choice Commodi∣ties and Wares for Ladies; of York, Sa∣lisbury, and Worcester Houses; of the Savoy, a vast building, first erected by Peter Earl of Savoy and Richmond, Uncle to Eleanor, Wife to our King Henry the Third, who after purchased the same for Her Son Edmund, Duke of Lancaster; and is now a famous Hospital, built all of huge Stone, and more like a Kings Palace; of another Palace called Somerset-House, built by Edward, Duke of Somerset, Uncle to King Edward the Sixth; of the uniform stately Buildings, and forementioned large Piaz∣za's or open places (for which the Cities in Italy are so highly esteemed) in Covent-Garden, Lincolns-Inn Fields, and Southamp∣ton Buildings, not to be equalled in any of our Neighbor Countreys.
As for the Borough of Southwark, grant∣ed by King Edward the Sixth, by His Let∣ters Patents, to the Major, Commonalty, and Citizens of London, called The Bridge Ward without, and governed by one of the Twenty six Aldermen of London; it hath nothing much remarkable, onely, that it is so rich and populous, that it pays more in a Subsidy to the King, and musters more Page 281 Men, then any other City in England, be∣sides London.
Lastly, Very remarkable also is the Cam∣paign or Country on all sides of this great City, for the number of Royal Palaces, the multitude of Stately Houses, and Gar∣dens of Noblemen; the innumerable fair Summer Dwelling-Houses of the Wealthy Citizens; the pleasant fertile Meadows, enclosed Pastures and Corn Fields; the a∣bundance of Nurseries and Seminaries, where are to be sold all sorts of Fruit-Trees, Flowers, Herbs, Roots, as well for Phy∣sick, as for Food and Delight; the frequen∣cy, populousness, and wealthiness of the Villages, whereas the Campaigns about Rome and Madrid, are more like Desarts.
The Arms of the City of London, are Argent Cross-Gules, with the Sword of S. Paul, not the Dagger of William Wal∣worth, as some have conceited; for this Coat did belong to this City before Wal∣worth slew Wat Tyler, the Rebel, as Learn∣ed Antiquaries affirm.
