London's account: or, A calculation of the arbitrary and tyrannicall exactions, taxations, impositions, excises, contributions, subsidies, twentieth parts, and other assessements, within the lines of communication, during the foure yeers of this unnaturall warre.: What the totall summe amounts unto, what hath beene disbursed out of it, and what remaines in the accomptants hands.

LONDONS ACCOUNT, &c.

IT is (saith the wisest of Kings and men) the greatest of afflictions and oppressions, when subjects and ser∣vants rule; and if this Kingdome in generall, and this City in particular, hath not found this Truth, then they are both to learne what Affliction and Oppres∣sion is. But (to confirme its verity) I have here (and I hope it will not be expected exactly, because I protest I have not seen any Roll of Sellement of any one parish, and therefore have no guide to this my Calculation, but first, the order for assessing, and next, the order for a re∣view, lest any through favour or friendship were not ful∣ly assessed. This considered, see what a masse of treasure in this City (and her Weekly Bills) hath been levyed to∣wards the Kings, the Kingdomes, and her owne ruine. And leave the Reader to judge by these few particulars, how neere the truth this Calculation comes; yet herein is not comprehended neither Pole-money, Royall Sub∣sidies, sale of the Irish Lands, (because these passed by Royall consent) and was at the Parliaments disposu••e; and had they not been diverted from their prop••r intend∣ments, doubtlesse would have done more then dischar∣ged them: Nor that voluntary Contribution to the re∣liefe of the poore distressed Protestants in Ireland: Nor that fast and loose trick by inviting such as formerly had paid summes in for Land in Ireland, to pay half as much more; for which halfe (if an Order speake truth)

they shal have as much Land, as for their former summes paid; and I assure you, both of these were not inconside∣rable.

Now, to leven the lump of factious and contentious persons, the first course must be to fill the peoples eares with oppressions of Conscience, and infringements of Liberties, (pills covered with gold, that are treason and poyson within.) Then to displace solid Magistrates and grave Citizens, lest if such good men were in authority, they might sowre our lump before it was (by our usurp∣ing Masters) well kneaded, by understanding mens spe∣culative insight into their proceedings. Those must be removed, and in their steads, covetous sharks, and gri∣ping men, (such as never knew faire dealing) shallow braind fooles, and little better then insolent persons, (men that desire the place, not deserve it) must be elect∣ed in their roomes, whose ignorance proclaimes what they are in their daily consenting to they knew not well what. For oppression of conscience, who can justly al∣ledge (that is a Royall and a loyal subject) that that is an oppression which the Law hath established? But the same forme of Doctrine and Discipline which was esta∣blished in the Church of England, by Parliaments, in blessed Queene Elizabeths Raigue, disputed and defended by her successor, King James, (of happy memory) and the opponents so sa isfied, they consented and subscribed thereunto; maintained and (to his uttermost) defended by our now most gracious and mercifull Soveraign with the hazard of his life, and according to Law performed in his Chappels and Cathedrall Churches. Now if any Church within His Maiesties Dominions, did wilfully or carel••sly omit what the Law enioyned, it is no oppres∣sion to compell them thereunto, for the Law doth it.

But doe not those who have cryed out of the oppression of their ten••et consciences, straine gnats, and swallow beetles? Are their consciences so tender against Unifor∣mity of Prayer, (yea and the Lords Prayer too) and yet consider not how often they have sworne to submit to it, and their Superiours that imposed it? Obedience is bet∣ter then sacrifice. Wherefore all that doe adhere to such, doe deserve our Saviours woe. Observe but Gods Judg∣ment on these men, that cannot agree either in doctrine or discipline, their daily invective pens doe witnesse this for a truth. For our Liberties, we had them, and enioyed them, whilst we maintained the Lawes; since we have violated those, we are in worse condition then Turkish slaves: for who is it that enioyes life or livelyhood lon∣ger then the beneplacite of his fellow. Subiects? And if God (for our sinnes) hath decreed us slaves, better it is to be so to a Royal King, then to those whose cruelties we already so much have had tryal of. Our Pulpits and Declarations thunder into the eares of the people, the unlawfulnesse of Ship, Coat, and Conduct money; As I wil not justifie them, so (under favour) I cannot con∣ceive them unlawful in a time of necessity. And could it be otherwise then an urgent need, when His Maiesties Subiects of Scotland were in Armes against the Kings Ho∣nour, Crowne and Dign ty, marching to intest this our peaceable Kingdome, with the calamities of Warre? Besides, if such Levies were against former Lawes, what need we then of our late Acts, that from thence forward no Levies should be laid upon the Subiect, til it passed by an Act of Parliament; for was it formerly unlawful, the Law would have censured it; and now we know it is so. I admire what those men can alledge, that craved, and had this Act passed, to curb the prerogative of Kings,

and yet are the first violators of the same Law themselves, whilst they are sitting in the same place, as they were when they craved to have the same Law enacted.

Since, they have acknowledged the Lawes cannot question the King for a Breach, (but it can question all and every Subject.) But the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England, established by law, and the Sub∣jects liberty, hath been, and ever will be maintained and defended against all Sectaries and contentious men, by more abler pens: And therefore I will returne to the Cities inconsideratenes, and desire them (since the hard∣nesse of their hearts disswades them) to beleeve, at least they would fancie what the whole Kingdome grones under. And withall to call to mind, that they were not onely the causers, but they are still the continuers, and maine actors of all its miseries. That since His Maiesties mercies so often tendred cannot, their owne follies so plainly evidenced (to so great oppression) may reduce their iudgements, to know to whom rightly they doe owe their obediecce, for the Disciples are not above their Master, and obedience is first commanded to Em∣perours and Kings, and next, to those whom they set over us.

I desire to shew my selfe a true Patriot, and doubt not but al Loyall and faithfull Subjects will doe the like; as for those who have done otherwayes, God and King Charles (upon their true Repentance) take them into favo••r and forgive them; And I would not have them offended if I say their owne factions hath caused their own fractions, and the flye and under-hand Courses of many of them hath made them in this world too hastily R ch; And all such doe make little conscience of any thing they undertake, for from the begining the Lawes

of God or man was not, nor to their end shal not be their guide. It is worth your consideration to remember how peny-wise you were at the begining of this long-winded Parliament, refusing the loane of but 100000. l. except His Maiesty would condescend, some conceive, to an everlasting Parliament, for an assurance of your re∣payment, (which ir you be all re-paid, tis wel) But since you have embraced an authority is desired to be made lawful, and by that unlawful power forced so many uniust Taxes, as hath (as you shal see anon) amounted to above seuenteene millions and an halfe of pounds within these foure yeeres; I may say as the Replyer said to you, You have done, but did you ever understand what you did doe? be∣sides the Loanes, plunder, and the many Sequestrations, (which I have heard are no fewer then 80000 in Eng∣land and Wales) which your sharking Committee-men resolve to give no good account of: And so know you have been in general pound foolish; for look but upon the issue, it is but a cipher to that which hath been col∣lected.

But you may obiect, There is not so much come to the Parliaments hands.

That cleeres not the Charge, were it iust, I see no rea∣son but it should. And as some of our now Magistrates and griping Citizens know it, Uniust—The report goes, neere halfe the said Collections are fleeced away by sharking Officers—which is and wil be an ever∣lasting shame, and Gods curse wil attend it, on them and theirs, in regard it hath maintained a most bloody and native Warre against God, his Church, our Soveraigne, his Loyal Nobility, Gentry and Commonalty, and the blood of thousands doth cry aloud to the Almighties

Tribunall for vengeance on the causers of these unnatu∣rall divisions. Your inconstant and wavering thoughts first commenc'd this Warre; your hands and purses (by fraud and violence) have maintained it; and if (from the bottome of your soules) you repent not of it, God in the fulnesse of his time will be avenged on you for it. Let the Lawes of God and the Land be your rule, then I doubt not but we may enjoy peace again. And though the Replyer to your Remonstrance told you, it is in the Parliaments power to ruine you, they and he knowes (if you resolve to be honest) the contrary. In the mean time, God in mercy look down upon our dread Soveraign, whom you (originally) have necessitated, and iniured most uniustly, with our Queene, Prince, and the rest of the Royall issue. Preserve (O Lord) and prolong his life, because a more religious, gracious, and mercifull King never reigned in this Kingdome, nor ever was a good King more abused by Subiects, nor more undeser∣vingly worse spoken of. Good God confound and scat∣ter all those that delight in, or make a trade of rebellious warre; let them fly and be disperst like dust before the wind: This shall be mine, and ought to be the prayer of all loyall Subjects, and true Patriots.

And now behold (I may say in part) the summes which have been assessed, payed, and received in London, and her Weekly Bils only.

I conceive in the 129. parishes, there cannot be fewer inhabi∣tants then the number of 600000. Families, out of that proportion I doubt not for their Twentieth part, not f••wer have been assessed then 400000 my reasons are, first, by the Ordinance the Assessors were to estanate all men, and so selfe them. Now these being facti∣ous men, fessed not according to reason or judgement, but (for the Cause sake) according to their will, malice, and spleene. I con∣fesse the Ordinance gave way that men might ease themselves (if over-rated) by declaring upon oath their worth; but this re∣medy was worse then the disease, for thereby they must discover their estates, or pay what they were assessed at. To discover their estates, endangered their credit, which could not but occasion their ruine, and so necessitated to pay summes far above mens abilities. Secondly, all Halls of Corporations have been largely estimated, & great store of men of known ability forced to pay large summs: Now if you consider every Corporation and man that paid 1000. l at the rate all are valued at one with another, hath paid for 49. more then himselfe, and so for greater or lesser summes according∣ly, for rating these 400000 families one with another but at 20. l. a family, it amounts to for the whole,	8:000000
The 50 Subsidi••s granted, if I have not been misinformed, every Subsidy is 2800. l. which for the 50. is	0:140000
The weekly Fast dayes, 400000. families for six months, rating each family 6. d. a week, though the greatest part paid 1. s. and 2. s. but rate them one with another at 6. d. a week, it amounts for 6. months to	0:240000
The assessement for bringing in the Scots, though none were to be assessed but such as would not take their oathes they were not worth 1000. l. yet it could not amount to lesse then	0:100000
	8: 480000

Now to bring this into an Annuall Calculation to the severall summes following, which by Orders hath been levyed by Excises, take the fourth part of the summe above, and you shall find it	2: 120000
The weekly assessement to maintaine the Armie from 400000 families, at 6. d. a family one with another, and not without just cause, for I know a poore Porter was compelled to pay 12. d. or go

a souldier, and no able housholder but payed far larger, and for any thing I could learne, all payed that received not almes. This for six months, amounts to	0: 240000
There is not vented in this City in Grocery ware, lesse then 600000. l. a yeere, which at 1. s. per l. is for the yeere	0: 030000
There is not vented in all sorts of Mercery ware in this City, lesse then 500000. at 1. s. per l.	0: 025000
There is not vented by Silkmen lesse then 400000. a yeere, at 1. s. per l.	0: 020000
There is not vented of all sorts of Haberdashers ware lesse then 500000. l. a yeere, at 1. s. per l.	0: 025000
There is not vented by Salters and Oylemen lesse yeerly then 600000. at 1. s. per l.	0: 030000
There is not vented by Linnen Drapers in generall lesse then 600000. l. a yeere, at 1. s. per l.	0: 030000
There is not vented by Woollen Drapers lesse then 500000. l. a yeere, at 6 d. per l.	0: 012500
H••••••••rs of all sorts cannot vent lesse then 100000 a yeere, at 1. s. per l.	0: 005000
Upholsters in their several dealings 80000 l. a yeer, at 1. s. per l.	0: 004000
Stationers and Paper-sellers 80000. a yeere, at 1. s. per l.	0: 004000
Leather-sellers and Trunk-makers in these times 200000. at 1. s. per l.	0: 010000
Ironmongers in generall 300000 a yeere, at 1. s. per l.	0: 015000
Spanish Tobacco there cannot be lesse imported then 200000. l. weight, at 2. s. per l. is	0: 020000
English Plantations 1200000. at 2. d. per l.	0: 010000
Six shill beere in 400000. families, admitting one family with another spend but 20. barrels a yeere each family, it is 8: 000000. of barrels, at 6. d. the barrell, amounts to	0: 200000
Strong Beere and Ale vented in Innes, Cooks houses, Ale∣houses, and Chandlers, of all which in the 129 parishes there cannot be lesse then 8000. if every of these draw but one barrell a week, it is 416000. which at 2. s. per barrell amounts to	0: 041600
Strong beere and ale in private houses, if 200000. of them spend but 2. barr. a yeer apiece, it is 400000. bar. at 1. s. per bar.	0: 020000
Wine of all sorts, there is not lesse imported yeerly then 20000. Tonnes, at 5. l. a Tonne,	0: 100000
Butchers and Poultrers for 400000 families, for they must all eate, now one with another cannot spend lesse then 8. s. a weeke, for if some poorer sort spend but 5. s. and lesse they cannot spend in a family, others spend 15.20.30. yea 40. s. a weeke: But as above at 8. s. a week one with another, it is 8000. l. a week, at 1. s. per l. and for the yeere	0: 416000

The Annuall Revenue of the Crowne they say is eleven hun∣dred thousand pounds a yeere, but I place here but	1:—
	4: 378100.

Which for the foure yeeres is seventeene millions, five hundred and twelve thousand foure hundred pounds. 17. mil. 512400. l.

I doubt not but it will be expected this yeerly large Income in this City onely should have as large, or (indeed as the Pub∣lique Faith stands indebted) farre larger issues, else it cannot be engaged without unsufferable fraud from the Kingdoms op∣pression. But since all their Orders, and Speeches to this City, have expressed no other issues but the Armies pay, consider, that if this City alone hath for these foure yeeres maintained tenne thousand Foot, pay every soulder 8. d. a day for the whole yeere, so he should have no free Quarter nor Plunder since he is payd, or should be for the whole yeere, excepting Sundaies, and that amounts to but 104333. l. 15. s. But I here adde the Sundayes, and cast it for 365 dayes to the yeer, allotting the 17333. l. 15. s. to pay all their Officers as duly, yet all together is but	121666. l.
Grant they likewise maintaine 2000. Horse, pay these for 313 dayes 2. s. 6. d. a day, it amounts to but 78250. l. But for the payment of their Officers, adde the 52 dayes, which is 13000. l. and both these summes for the whole yeere is but	91250. l.
Grant twenty of His majesties Ships, great and small, be em∣ployed yeerly, allotting to every Ship 100 men, which is for the whole 2000 men, though few or none are so well manned, pay these 2000 fifteen shil. a month for the whole yeere, their wages amounts to but 18000. l. but to pay Officers in them, adde 2000. l. more, and all makes but	20000: l.
Victuall these 20 Ships with 2000. allotting every man 8. d. a day for the whole yeere, it amounts to little more then	24433. l:
Grant you have 30. merchants Ships great and small in the service, hire them one with another mann'd, victualled, and furnished for the Warre at 200. pounds a month, (and so you

may doe) say they are in your service nine months in the yeere, it is but	54000. l.
	311349:—

These charges I am certain are the maine ones, and with the largest that this City ever was put to, and were it well examined, I conceive a third part of every charge here was not employed from hence alone, for all Counties had their share in pay of the Army, how it is possible for such large incomes to be so much indebted, since the issues are not answerable, as you shall see by that should remaine for ballance is to me a riddle, since the yeers rest that this Credit▪ hath, stands indebted to the Debit.

4: 066751

4: 378100

Grave Booker shews th' Aspects, and Lilly helps To lick those Meteors (as Bears their whelps) Into his fancies shape: But could these two Can count the Stars (which few but they can doe) Make a just ballance to this large Account, The Danish Tycho Brahe they'l surmount.

FINIS.