Reports of special cases touching several customes and liberties of the city of London collected by Sir H. Calthrop ... ; whereunto is annexed divers ancient customes and usages of the said city of London.

The Articles of the charge of the Ward-mote Inquest.

1. YE shall swear, that ye shall truly inquire if the Peace of the King our Soveraign Lord be not kept as it ought to be, and in whose default, and by whom it is broken or disturbed.

2. Also, if there dwell any man with∣in the Ward, that is outlawed or indit∣ed of Treason, or Fellony, or be any re∣ceiver of Traitors or Fellons.

3. Also, ye shall inquire and truly present all the offences and defaults done by any person or persons within the River of Thames, according to the intent and purport of an Act made by our late Soveraign Lord King Edward the sixth, in his high Court of Parlia∣ment, and also of divers other things or∣dained by Act of Common Councel of

this City, for the redress and amend∣ment of the said River which as now is in great decay and ruine, and will be in short time past all remedy if high and substantial provision and great help be not had with all speed and diligence possible: as more plainly appeareth in the said Act of Parliament, and the said Act of Common Councel of this City.

4. Also, if any manner of person make Congregation, or be Receiver or Garherer of evil companies.

5. Also if any man be a common Ri∣otor, or a Barrator walking by Nighter∣tale without light, against the rule and custome of this City.

6. Also, if there be any man within this Ward that will not help, aid, ne succour the Constables, Beadle, and o∣ther Ministers of this City in keeping of the Peace, and Arrest the evil dooers with rearing of Hue and Cry.

7. Also, if there be any Huckster of Ale and Beer, that commonly useth to receive any Apprentices, Servants, Arti∣ficers or Labourers, that commonly use to play at the Dice, Cards, or Tables, contrary to the form of the Statute in that Case ordained and provided.

8. Also, if there be any Inholder, Ta∣verner, Brewer, Huckster, or other Vi∣ctualer, that hold open their Houses af∣ter the hour limited by the Mayor.

9. Also, if any Parish Clark do ring the Bell called the Curfue Bell, after Cur∣fue rungen at the Churches of Bow, Barking Church, Saint Brides, and Saint Gile's without Cripplegate.

10. Also, ye shall inquire if any Pu∣tour, that is to say, Man-baud, or Wo∣man-baud, common Hazerdours, Con∣tectour, maintainer of Quarrels, Cham∣partours, or Embracers of Inquests, or other common misdoers be dwelling within this Ward, and present their Names.

11. Also, if any Baud, common Strumpet common Adulterer, Witch, or common Scold be dwelling within this Ward.

12. Also, if there be any House, wherein is kept and holden any Hot∣house, or Sweating-house, for ease and health of men to the which be resort∣ing or conversant any Strumpers, or wo∣men of evil Name, or Fame, or if there be any Hothouse or Sweating ordained for women, to the which is any com∣mon

recourse of young men, or other persons of evil fame and suspect condi∣tions.

13. Also, if there be any such per∣sons that keep or hold any such Hot∣houses, either for men or women, and have found no surety to the Chamberlain for their good and honest behaviour according to the Laws of this City, and lodge any manner of person by night contrary to the ordinance thereof made by the which he or they shall forfeit o•• twenty pounds to the Chamber if they do the contrary.

14. Also, if any manner of person cast or lay Dung, Ordure, Rubbish, Seacole∣dust, Rushes, or any other thing noiant, in the River of Thames, Walbrook, Flett, or other Ditches of this City, or in the open Streets, Ways or Lanes, within this City.

15. Also, if any person in or after a great Rain falleth, or at any other time sweep any Dung, Ordure, Rubbish, Rushes, Seacole-dust, or any other thing noyant, down into the Channel of any Street or Lane, whereby the common course there is let, and the same things noyant driven down into the said water of Thames.

16. Also, if any manner of person nou∣rish or keep Hogges, Oxen, Kine, Ducks or any Beasts within this Ward, to the greivance and Disease of their Neigh∣bours.

17. Also, where afore this time it is ordained and enacted as hereafter fol∣loweth. Item, for to eschew the evils of misgoverned persons that dayly when they be indebted in one Ward, fly into another: It is ordained by the Mayor and Aldermen that as soon as a man or woman suspect, first do come to dwell within any house, in any Ward within the City, the Constables, Beadles, or o∣other Officers of the same, shall be charged by their Oaths, at the general Court, to inquire and espie from whence they come. And if they find by their own confession, or by the Record of any of the Books of any Alderman of the City, that they be Indited or cast of evil & noyous life, and will not find sure∣ly for their good abeating and honest go∣vernance to the Alderman for the time being, that then they shall not dwell there from thenceforth, but shall be warned to aviod within three or four dayes, or more, or less after, as it shall

be seen to the Alderman of the Wa•• for the time being, and that the Land lo•• that letteth the house or his Attorney shall be also warned to make them •••• avoid out of his house aforesaid, with the said time limited by the Alderman and if they be sou•• there after the tim•• that then not only the said dishone•••• persons shall have imprisonment of the bodies after the discretion of the Mayo•• and Aldermen, but also the said Land lords, Letters of the said houses, shal•• forfeit to the Guild Hall, as much as they should have had for letting of the said house, or should be paid by the year, if the said persons or others had dwel∣led in the said house: you shall duly enquire of offences against this Act, and present them.

18. Also, if any Freeman against his Oath made, conceal, cover, or colour the Goods of Forraigners, by the which the King may in any wise lose, or the Franchises of this City be imblemi∣shed.

19. Also, if any Forreigner buy and sell with any other Forreigner within this City or the Subburbs thereof, any Goods or Merchandizes, be forthwith

forfeit, to the use of the commonalty of this City.

20. Also, if every Freeman, which receiveth or taketh the benefit, and enjoy∣eth the Franchises of this City, be con∣tinually dwelling out of the City, and hath not, ••e will not (after his Oath made) be at Scot and Lot, nor partner in the charges of this City, for the wor∣ship of the same City, when he is duly required.

21. Also, if any man conceal the Goods of Orphans of this City, of whom the Ward and marriage of right belong∣eth to the Mayor and Aldermen of this City.

22. And if any Officer by colour of his Office, do extortion unto any man, or be maintainer of Quarrels against right, or take carriage, or arrest Victual unduly.

23. Also, if any Boteman or Feriour be dwelling in the Ward, that taketh more for Botemanage or Feriage, then is ordained.

24. Also, if any man make Purpre∣st••res, that is to say, incroach, or take of the common ground of this City, by Land or by Water, as in Walls, Pales,

Stoops, Grieces or Dores of Cellars, o•• in any other like within the Ward, o•• if any Porch, Penthouse or Jetty be to•• low, in letting of men that ride beside or Carts that go thede forth.

25. Also, that Penthouses and Je••∣ties be at the least the height of nine foot and that the Stalles be not but of two foot and a half in breadth, and to be flex∣ible or moveable, that is to say, to hang by Icmewes or Garnets, so that they may be taken up and let down.

26. Also, if any common way or common course of water be foreclosed or letted, that it may not have his course as it was wont, to the noyance of the Ward, and by whom it is done.

27. Also, if any Pavement be de∣fective, or too high in one place, and too low in another, to the disturbance of Riders and Goers thereby, and Carte that go thereupon.

28. Also, if any Regrator or Forestal∣ler of Victual, or of any other Merchan∣dizes which should come to this City to be sold, be dwelling in this Ward: a Re∣grator is as much to say, as he that buy∣up all the Victual, or Merchandizes, or the most part thereof when it is come to

the City or the Suburbs of the same at a low price, and then afterwards sel∣leth it at his own pleasure, at a high and excessive price: a Forestaller is he that goeth out of the City, and meeteth with the Victual and Merchandize by the way, coming unto the City to be sold, and there buyeth it, both these be called in the Law Inimici publici patriae, which is to say, open Enemies to a coun∣try.

29. Also, if any Butcher, Fishmon∣ger, Poulter, Vintner, Hostler, Cook or sellar of Victual, do sell Victual at un∣reasonable prizes.

30. Also, if any Hostler sell Hay Oats or Provender at excessive prizes, taking greater gain thereby then is rea∣sonable and lawful.

31. Also, if any Victualler sell any Victuals not covenable, or unwholesome for mans body, or else dearer then is proclaimed by the Mayor, when any such Proclamation is or shall be.

32. Ye shall diligently make search and inquity, whether there be any Vint∣ner, Inholder, Alehouse-keeper, or any other person or persons whatsoever within your Ward, that do use or keep

in his or their house, or houses, any Cans, Stone pots, or other Measures which be unsealed, and by Law not al∣lowed to sell Beer or Ale thereby, and whether they do sell any of their best Beer or Ale, above a penny the quart, or any small Ale or Beer above a half-pen∣ny the quart, and whether any of them do sell by any Measure not sealed. If there be any such you shall seize them, and send them to the Guild Hall to the Chamberlains Office, and present their names and faults by Indenture, so oft as there shall be any occasion so to do.

33. Ye shall also make search in the Shops and Houses of all the Chandlers, and of all others, which sell by weight or measure, dwelling within your Ward, and see that their Scales be not one hea∣vier then another, and that their Weights and Measures aswel Bushels as lesser Measures, aswel those that they sell Sea-coales by, (which ought to be heaped) that they be in breadth accord∣ing to the new Standard, sealed as all others, and that all Yards and Ells that they be their just lengths and sealed that the poor and other his Majesties Sub∣iects be not deceived, And further, if

any do buy by one Weight or Measure, and sell by others: and if in your search you find any false Weights, Measures, or Scales, ye shall seize them and send them unto the Guild-Hall to the Chamber∣lain: and you shall also do the like if you shall find any that do sell any thing by Venice Weights, contrary to the Law and his Majesties Proclamations, present their Names and faults.

34. Also, if any Inholder bake any Bread to sell within his house: and if a∣ny Baker of sower Bread, bake white Bread to sell, or mark not his Bread, or else take more for the baking then six pence for a bushel.

35. Also ye shall inquire, if any house be covered otherwise then with Tile, Stone, Lead, for peril of Fire.

36. Also, if any Leaper, Faitour, or mighty Begger be dwelling with in this Ward.

37. Also, if any Baker or Brewer, bake or brew with Straw, or any other thing which is perillous for Fire.

38. Also, if any mango with painted visage.

39. Also, if there be any man that hangeth nor out a Lantern with a Candle

therein burning after the usage, accord∣ing to the Commandement thereupon given.

40. Also, if any person bring or cause to be brought to this City or the Liber∣ties thereof, to be sold or sell, offer or put to saile any Tallwood, Billets, Fag∣gots, or other Firewood, not being of the full Assize which the same ought to hold.

41. Also, if any Freeman of this Ci∣ty, use to resort into the Countries near to this City, and there to ingross and buy up much Billet, Talwood, Faggot, Tosard, or other Firewood, and convey the same by Water unto this City, and there lay it upon their Wharfs and other places, and so keep it till they may sell it at high and excessive prizes, at their own wills.

42. Also, if any Woodmonger, or any other; sell any Billets or other fire∣wood above the price set by the Lord Mayor.

43. Also, if any Citizen of this City by himself, or any other person for him, or to his use, use to resort into the Country, and there buy and ingross greav quantity of Cheese and Butter at

wellbarrelled as otherwise, and after con∣veigh it by Water or otherwise to this City to be sold at deer and excessive prizes.

44. Also, forasmuch as it is thought that divers and many persons dwelling within the Liberties of this City, day∣ly occupy as Freemen, whereas indeed they be none, nor never were admitted into the Liberties of this City, ye shall therefore require every such person dwelling within this Ward, whom ye shall suspect of the same, to shew you the Copy of his Freedome under the Seal of Office of the Chamberlain of the said City, and such as ye shall find with∣out their Copies, or deny to shew their Copies, ye shall write and present their Names in your Indentures.

45. Also, you shall inquire and truly present all such persons as use melting of Tallow, contrary to an Act of Com∣mon Councel in that case made and provided.

46. Also, you shall inquire of all Ar∣morers and other Artificers using to work in mettal, which have or use any Reardorses, or any other places dange∣rous or perillous for Fire.

47. Also, if any have appraised any Goods of any Freeman deceased, leav∣ing behind him any Orphan or Orphans, and the Appraisers not sworn before the Lord Mayor or the Alderman of the Ward.

48. Also, if any Freeman buy any Wares or Merchandizes unweighed, which ought to be weighed at the Kings Beam, of any Stranger or Forreign free of the Liberties of this City, con∣trary to the Act of Common Councel in that case made and provided.

49. Also, if any buy and sell any Cloth or Clothes in the House, Shop, Ware-house, or other place of any Clothworker or other person against any ordinance or custome of this City, or if any Clothworker or other do receive or harbour any Clothes before the same be brought to Blackwell-Hall, con∣trary to the ordinance made in that be∣half.

50. Also, if any Carman take any money for carriage of any Goods, Wares, or Merchandizes, above the rates or∣dained.

51. Also, if any make or cause to be made any new Building or Buildings

or divided or cause to be divided any house or houses, or receive any Inmate or Inmates, contrary to Law, or any Statute of this Realm.

52. Also, if any be dwelling within this Ward, which do offer or put to sale any Wares or Merchandizes in the o∣pen Streets or Lanes of this City, or go from house to house to sell the same, commonly called Hawkers contrary to an Act made in that behalf.

53. Also, if any have covenously, fraudulently, or unduely obtained the freedome of this City.

54. Also, if any Collector of Fifteens or other duties for the publike service of the King or of this City, do retain in his hands any part of the money col∣lected to his own use.

55. Ye shall also enquire if there be dwelling within your Ward any Wo∣man broker, such as resort unto mens houses, demanding of their Maid ser∣vants if they do like of their services: if not, then they will tell them that they will help them to a better service, and so al∣lure them to come from their Masters to their houses, where they abide as boorders until they be provided for. In

which time it falleth out that by lewd young men that resort to those houses they be oftentimes made Harlots to their utter undoing and the great hurt of the Common wealth: wherefore if any such be, you shall present them, that order may be taken for reforma∣tion.

56. Also, if any have or use any com∣mon Privy, having lssne into any com∣mon Sewer of the City.

57. Also, if any Constable, Beadle, or other Officer, be negligent or remiss in discharging his duty, touching the Execution of the Statute made for pu∣nishment of Rogues, Vagabons, and study Beggars, or otherwise, and wherein the default is, and the Statute of 1. 4. and 21. Iae. concerning the re∣straint of inordinate haunting and tipling in Innes and Alehouses, and repressing of drunkeness and other offences in the same Statute, and wherein the default is.

58. Also, if any to whom the Execu∣tion of the Statute made for relief of the Poor doth appertain. he remiss in discharging his duty touching the Exe∣cution of the same Statute, and wherein default is.

59. Also, if any Executor or other person retain in his hands any Legacy, sum of money, or other thing given to any charitable use.

60. Ye shall inquire whether there be within your Ward any common Drunkard, Whoremonger, Blasphemer of Gods holy Name, Prophaner of the Sabbath, Jesuite, Seminary or Secular Priest or any Receiver, Releiver or Maintainer of any of them, or any Po∣pish Recusant, Cozener, or swagger∣ing idle companion, such as cannot give account how they live; if there be any such you shall present them and the Names of those that lodge them, or aid them.

61. Ye shall also enquire, whether any person or persons do or shall say or sing Mass within your Ward, or be pre∣sent at any Mass.

62. Also, if any person or persons within your Ward being evil affected, do or shall extol the Roman Catholick Religion above the Religion professed and established by the Kings Maje∣sties Authority in England, or do or shall deprave the Religion now professed in this Realm by Authority, as above,

which may breed discord in the City, and dissention in the Common wealth, ye shall carefully present the same per∣sons and their offences.

63. Also, if any person or persons that keepeth Horses in their houses, do lay his or their Stable Dung, or such kind of stinking filth in any Streets or Lanes of this City, to the great an∣noyance of the people passing that way and do not lead his Dung Cart at his Stable door as he ought to do.

64. You shall assemble your selves once every moneth or oftner if need re∣quire, so long as you shall continue of this Inquest, and present the defaults which you shall find to be commit∣ted concerning any of the Articles of your charge, to the end due reme∣dy may be speedily supplied, and the offenders punished as occasion shall re∣quire.

65. And in making your Present∣ments, your Clerk is carefully to write the Christian Name, Sur-name and ad∣dition, or calling of every offender, and the name of the Parish wherein the Of∣fence was committed and some certain, time, how long the offence hath been con∣tinued

and in presenting any persons, for dividing Houses or Inmates, to write the Names and addition to the present Landlord receiving the Rent, and the Names of the Tenants in possession, and of the Inmate in any house, and also to write in the Margent on the side of e∣very Presentment the Name or Names, upon whose evidence you make such Presentment.

Notes

• Peace.
• Outlaws, Traitots, Fellons, &c.
• Thames.
• Congre∣gations.
• Riotör. Barrator.
• Peace, Hue and Cry.
• Hucksters, Receiv∣ers of Ap∣prentices, Artificers, &c.
• Inholder, Taverner, Victualer.
• Curfue.
• Bauds, Maintain∣ers, of Quarrels.
• Strumpet, Adulterer, Witch, Scold.
• Hot∣house.
• Thames, Ditches, Streets, &c.
• Channel.
• Hogges. Kine, Oxen, Ducks,
• Persons Indited in one Ward, flying in∣to ano∣ther.
• Colour∣ing for∣raign Goods.
• Forreign buying and sel∣ing.
• Freemen not resi∣dent.
• Orphans, Wards, Mar∣ringes.
• Officers.
• Boteman, Feriour.
• Purpre∣stures.
• Pent∣houses, Jetties, Stalles, &c.
• Way, Wa∣ter course.
• Pave∣ments.
• Regra∣tors, Forestal∣lers.
• Price of Victual.
• Hay.
• Victuals unwhole∣some price.
• Measures unsealed.
• Weights and Mea∣sures.
• Inholder, brown Baker.
• House, Tile
• Leaper, Beggar.
• Bakers, Brewers.
• Painted visage.
• Candle light.
• Wood.
• Country.
• Cheese, Butter.
• Freemen to shew their Co∣pies.
• Melting Tallow.
• Apprai∣sers.
• Beam.
• Clothes.
• Carmen.
• Buildings, divided houses, Inmates
• Hawkers.
• Freedome.
• Collect∣ors.
• Women Receiv∣ers of Servants.
• Privies.
• Vagabons
• Poor.
• Legacies.
• Drun∣kard, Whore∣monger, Sabbath, Jesuite, Seminary Priest, Se∣cular Priest, Popish Recusant, Cozenes, &c.
• Mass.
• Roman Catholick Religion.
• Assembly monthly.
• making of Pre∣sentments.