The history of the worthies of England who for parts and learning have been eminent in the several counties : together with an historical narrative of the native commodities and rarities in each county / endeavoured by Thomas Fuller.

CHAP. XIII. Of Lord Maiors of LONDON.

I Have concluded this Work with these Chief Officers in that great City. A place of so great Honour and Trust, that it hath commonly been said, that on the death of an English King, The Lord Maior is the Subject of the greatest Authority in England, Many other Offices determining with the Kings Life (till such time as their Charters be renewed by his Successor) whereas the Lord Maiors Trust continueth for a whole year, without any renewing after the Inter-Regnum.

Objection. Such persons had better been omitted, whereof many were little better then 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Though by good fortune they have loaded themselves with Thick clay, and will be but a burden in your Book to the Readers thereof.

Answer. All Wise men will behold them under a better Notion, as the Pregnant proofs of the truth of 2. Proverbs, not contradictory, but confirmatory one to another.

Prov. 10. 22.	Prov. 10. 4.
The Blessing of the Lord maketh Rich.	The hand of the Diligent maketh Rich.

The one as the principal, the other as the Instrumental cause, and both meeting in the persons aforesaid.

For though some of them were the Younger Sons of Worshipful and Wealthy Parents, and so had good Sums of Money left them; Yet being generally of mean extraction, They raised themselves by Gods Providence, and their own Painfulness. The City in this Respect, being observed like unto a Court, where Elder Brothers commonly spend, and the younger gain an Estate.

But such Lord Maiors are here inserted, to quicken the Industry of Youth, whose Parents are only able to send them up to (not to set them up in) London. For wha•…•… a comfort is it, to a poor Apprentice of that City, to see the Prime Magistrate there∣of, Riding in his Majoralibus with such Pomp and Attendance, which another day may be his hap and happiness.

Objection. It commeth not to the share of one in twenty thousand, to attain to that Honour; and it is as impossible for every poor Apprentice in process of time to prove Lord Maior, as that a Minum with long living mould become a Whale.

Answer. Not so, the later is an utter Impossibility as debarred by nature, being Fishes of several kinds. Whereas there is a Capacity in the other, to arive at it,

which puts hopes (the only Tie which keeps the heart from breaking) into the hearts of all of the attainablenesse of such preferment to themselves.

Doctor Hutton Arch-bishop of York, when he came into any Great Grammar School (which he did constantly visit in his visitations) was wont to say to the young Scholars, Ply your Books Boys, ply your Books, for Bishops are old men, and surely the possibility of such dignity is a great Encouragement to the Endévours of Students.

Lord Maiors being generally aged, and always but Annual, soon make Room for Succession, whereby the Indevours of all Freemen in Companies are incouraged. But if they should chance to fall short, as unable to reach the Home of Honour (I mean the Majoralty it self, yet if they take up their Lodgings at Sheriffe, Alderman, and Common-Councellour with a good Estàtè, they will have no cause to complain.

I confess some Counties in our ensuing Discourse, will appear Lord-Maior-less, as Cumberland, Dorset-shire, Hant-Shire, &c. However though, hitherto, they have not had, hereafter they may have Natives advanced to that Honour, and it may put a lawful Ambition into them, to contend who shall be their Leader, and who should first of those Shires attain to that Dignity. As lately Sir Richard Cheverton Skinner descended (I assure you) of a right antient and worshipful Family, was the first in Cornwall, who opened the Dore for others (no doubt) to follow after him.

Nor must it be forgotten that many have been Lord-Maiors Mates, though never rémembred in their Catalogues, viz. Such, who by Fine declined that Dignity, and as I am glad that some will Fine, that so the Stock of the Chamber of London may be increased, so am I glad that some will not fine, that so the State of the City of London may be maintained.

I begin the observing of their Nativities, from Sir William Sevenoke, Grocer, Lord Maior 1418. For though there were Lord Maiors 200. years before, yet their Birth∣places generally are unknown. It was, I confess, well for me in this particular, that Mr. Stow was born before me, being herein the Heir of Endevours, without any pain of my own. For knowing that Cuilibet Artifici in sua Arte est credendum, I have followed him and who him continued, till the year 1633. at what time their Labours do determine. Since which Term, to the present year, I have made the Catalogue out by my own Inquiry, and friends Intelligence. To speak truth to their due praise, one may be generally directed to their Cradles, though by no other Candle, then the Light of their good works, and Benefactions to such places.