A short account of the Company of Grocers from their original : together with their case and condition (in their present circumstances) truly stated : as also how their revenue is settled for payment of their charities, and provision made for the well-governing their members and mystery, to preserve a succession in their society : designed for information of all, and benefit of the members, and for satisfaction and encouragement of their friends and benefactors.

The several Tables, &c.

THE Right Ho∣nourable Charles Earl of Dorset and Mid∣dlesex, Lord Cham∣belain of his Ma∣iesty's Houshold, a Faithful Friend and Patron of this So∣ciety; admitted in∣to this Fraternity, October the 22d. 1689. Our most Gracious Sovereign Lord King William having been first chosen the same day their Sovereign Master.

WILLIAM the III. King of England, &c. by his Majesty's Royal Per∣mission, was on the 22d. day of October, in the First Year of their Majesty's Reign, chosen, &c. Sovereign Master of this Com∣pany, graciously ac∣cepting the Instru∣ment of such his Ma∣jesty's Election and Freedom in a Gold Box. Soon after which, the Ordinances for well-governing and regulating the Mem∣bers and Mystery of the Grocery, were examined, and like∣wise approved of (as the Law directs) by the Right Honourable the Lords Commissio∣ners for the Custody of the Great Seal, and the Lords Chief Justices of either Bench. War∣dens. Sir Ralph Box, Kt. John Butterfield. Richard Peirce. Francis Chamberlaine.

CHARLES the II. late King of England, &c. and Sovereign Master of this Company, was graciously pleased by Special Warrant, un∣der his Sign Manual, to ascertain the several Branches of the Mystery of the Grocery, de∣claring Druggists, Confectioners, To∣bacconists, and To∣bacco-Cutters, (as all springing from it) to be a part of the My∣stery; and pursuant thereto, they were af∣terwards by Charter, under the Great Seal, duely Incorporated, and made one Body with the Grocers, (never to be sepa∣rated) to preserve a Succession of Mem∣bers in this Com∣pany.

THE Right Ho∣nourable John Earl of Mul∣grave, one of the Lords of the Bed-Chamber to King Charles the Second, and after that Lord Chamberlain, &c. having taken his Freedom of this Company, was most affectionately assist∣ing to procure the Species of the My∣stery explained and settled in order to preserve a Suc∣cession of Members in this Society.

THE Site of this Hall and Garden, with the Ground whereon Sir Robert Clayton's Dwelling-House stands, was for∣merly the Mansion-House and In∣heritance of the Right Honourable the Lord Fitzwater, of whom the Company purchased the same, in the Reign of King Henry the Sixth, and soon after built their Hall thereon; for both which, they borrowed great Summs of Money: And afterwards, in their languishing Condition, Sir Henry Keble, Kt. and Al∣derman, some time Lord Mayor, lent them Money, on Security of their Hall and Revenue, to clear their Debts. And, by his last Will and Testa∣ment, dated in the sixth Year of King Henry the Eighth, freely gave all back to the Company for ever, to support their Charities.

SIR William Laxton Kt. and Alderman, also some time Lord Mayor, by his last Will and Testament, dated the 17th Day of July, 1556. gave, for ever, to this Com∣pany, all his Lands and Te∣nements in Canning-Street, and the several Lanes adja∣cent, whereon are now erected many fair Dwelling-Houses, by the Lessees, after the late dreadful Fire; To maintain a School-Ma∣ster and Ʋsher, and seven Alms-men, and a Woman to attend them, at Gundle in Northamptonshire; and the Surplusage to support their Charities.

The Bodies of these two Worthy Members and Benefactors, were both laid in one Vault in St. Mary Aldermary Church, with fair Monuments over them, demolished by the said late Fire.

The said Sir Henry Keble, at his own proper Charges, built the said St. Mary Aldermary Church.

BENEFACTORS, From whom the Company have received their Revenue, designed for the Support and Relief of their poor Members, and Discharge of other charitable Ʋses.

BENEFACTORS, Who gave the Company Summs of Money to purchase Lands and Tenements; which (with much more) they laid out in improving the Lands and Tenements so gi∣ven by other Benefactors, that the same might also answer the yearly Charities appointed by those Donors of such Moneys.

The DONORS Names, and the Streets and Places where their Lands and Tene∣ments so given are situate. Sir Henry Keble, Broad-Street. Sir William Butler, Thames-Street. Mincing Lane. John Maldon, Botolph-Lane. Thomas Gore, Grace Church-Street. Lombard-Street. John Billesdon, Cornhil. Sir William Laxton, Canning-Street. Bush-Lane. Abchurch-Lane. St. Nicholas-Lane. Eastcheap. Sherborn Lane. St. Swithins Lane. John Wardall, Walbrook. Thomas Knowles, St. Antholins. Emme Bachus, Wood-Street. Steyning-Lane. Sir Thomas Middleton, Baynerd's Castle. William Robinson, Grub-Street. Elizabeth Burrel, Cheap-Side. Peter Bloundell, Donning's Alley. Sir John Hart, Shore-Ditch. Lady Anne Middleton, Montgomery-Shire. Cornwall.

lb Lady Conway 1441 Gilbert Keate 600 William Robinson 400 Alderman Saunders 210 Francis Tyrrel 700 John Heydon 100 Edmond Turvill 1000 Robert Lambert 100 Nicholas Stiles 100 Sir John Peachy 500 Richard Haile 200 Mr. Wheatley 100 Humphry Walwyn 600 Mary Robinson 500 Total Summ 6551

The present Rents (with some small Addition from the casual yearly Profits) do discharge the whole yearly Charities of both kinds; and the Arrears of each Branch are secured to be paid out of the first Fines on renewing Leases, and other Improvement of the same.

And to preserve and augment their Revenue, they have made provision to pre∣vent adding to any Term, whilst five Years remain in being; and not to reserve less than 10 l. per Cent. per Annum, of the full improved yearly Value, on Demise of any part thereof.

Benefactors,

WHO gave Summs of Money, to be lent to young Members of the Com∣pany, on small or no Interest, at the Discretion of the Wardens and Assistants; wherewith the Company having charged themselves, the same are now decreed to be raised out of the first Fines on renewing Leases, or other Profits arising out of their Revenue, (above their yearly Charities,) imme∣diately after the Arrears of their yearly Charities shall be discharged; and for ever to be continued a Stock for these, and to be applied to no other Ʋses whatsoever.

	l.	s.	d
The Lady Slaney	100	0	0
Edmond Turvyll	100	0	0
Henry Anderson	100	0	0
John Newman	100	0	0
Gilbert Keate	50	0	0
Thomas Wheatley	50	0	0
Sir John Lyon	200	0	0
Edward Elmer	50	0	0
Thomas Farmer	100	0	0
Lettice Deane	200	0	0
Richard Lambert	100	0	0
Edward Jakeman	200	0	0
Katharine Hall	100	0	0
Roger Knott	100	0	0
John Heydon	100	0	0
Sir Thomas Ramsey	200	0	0
Peter Houghton	400	0	0
Thomas Ridge	100	0	0
John Grove	100	0	0
Gilbert Keate	50	0	0
Thomas Dawkins	20	0	0
Robert Brooke	100	0	0
Mary Robinson	200	0	0
George Holman	100	0	0
Richard-Hall	100	0	0
Thomas Westraw	100	0	0
Robert Bowyer	50	0	0
John Hudson	100	0	0
Sir Robert Nappier	100	0	0
William Pennyfather	100	0	0
Thomas Moulston	200	0	0
Stephen Abberley	250	0	0
John Mevil	100	0	0
Thomas Gamull	200	0	0
Constance Wrightman	100	0	0
Sir Edmond Wright	50	0	0
Thomas Freeman	100	0	0
William Pennyfather	233	6	8

This was not only a great Encouragement for young Men so to behave them∣selves, during their Apprenticeship, as, by a good Report, to recommend them∣selves capable of such a Favour from the Company; but is a great Obligation on such of them as, by God's Blessing on their Endeavours, shall, from small Beginnings, gain ample Estates, to become themselves also liberal Benefactors.

IN the Reign of King Henry the IV. Henry Chicheley, the Eldest Brother, being then Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, his two younger Brethren were both Aldermen, and Members of this Company, viz. Sir William (the Second) and Sir Robert (the Third) both in their turn Sheriffs, and Sir Robert afterwards twice Lord Mayor, who purchased the Ground whereon St. Stephen's Church in Walbrook now stands, which he built at his own charge, the Advowson whereof remains in the Company of Grocers to this Day; which Church being consumed by the Fire, Anno 1666.

The Right Honourabie Sir Thomas Chicheley, (also a Member of this Company,) who descended in a right Line from the said Sir Robert,) late Master of the Ordnance, afterwards Chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancaster; and to King Charles the Second, and (some time) to King James the Second, of Their Majesties most Honourable Privy Council, laid the first Stone, and was a liberal Benefactor towards re∣building thereof.

And being their Master, Annis 1686/7. at his own charge built the Company a new Barge, and purchased them the Ten∣nant Right of a Barge-House; in grateful remembrance where∣of they have caused his Picture, and this Inscription to be here set up.

If I were to give a Title to this following Table, I humbly conceive it might be (not improperly) called

The Insurance Office.

That the Heir may not sooner prodigally waste, than his Ancestor frugally got the Estate.

ΑΠΟΚΑΛΥΨΙΣ, ιδ. ιγ. * 1.1 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

ALthough Good Works (or well-husbanding our Ta∣lent, lent for Improvement) be not Meritorious; yet (in the Dialect of the Apostle) they are esteemed the best Evidence of Faith, and Obedience, and remain a surviving Testimony of a Faithful Steward, when silent in his Grave.

And it is observable, that in all Ages, Honour and Estate have been most lasting in their Families, who have most a∣bounded in Works of this Nature.

So that if it were modest to assign the Cause why so many great Estates have been sooner wasted by a Prodigal Heir, than gotten by his Frugal Parent; we may (with humble submission) conclude it is from a defect in this great and necessary Duty, so generally Crown'd with a Blessing on Posterity.

SIR JOHN CUTLER, Knight and Baronet, a Worthy Member of this Company, having Fined for Sheriff and Alderman, nigh forty years since, was chosen and held Master-Warden, Annis 1652/3. and did immediately after the dreadful Fire, Anno 1666. at his own proper charge, erect (out of its ashes) the fair Pile of Building, now the great Parlour, and entertaining-Room over it, and again was chosen and held Master-Warden, Annis 1685/6. And also in kindness to the Company, Annis 1686/7. was Assistant, and Locum Tenens to the Right Honourable, their then Master-Warden: And this present year 1688. in their greatest Exigence, (when others, whose turn it was, de∣clined them,) consented to be chosen the fourth time their Master-Warden.

Under whose happy conduct, the Company's Revenue hath been settled, (as a most righteous Sanction,) to secure the due payment of their yearly Charities.

And the Members now restored to act in their several Ca∣pacities, (according to their Seniority and Merit,) in order compleat the Company's Deliverance.

SIR JOHN MOORE, Knight and Alderman, and late Lord Mayor, a Member of this Company, at his own charge, repaired and beautifyed the Body of this Hall, Annis 1680/81. whose leading Example therein, gave such encouragement to other Worthy Mem∣bers, liberally to contribute towards enlarging and compleating it with additional Building, so as to make it the most Commodious Seat for the Chief Magistrate in this City; in grate∣ful acknowledgement of whose kindness, the Company afterwards caused his Picture, and this Inscription (as a Memorial thereof) to be here set up.

This HALL

BEing situate in the centre of the City, was designed and adapted for the Seat of the Chief Magistrate, at the ex∣pence of 4800 l. in new Building and accommodations, added to the Body of the Hall, Kitchen, and Sir John Cutler's Build∣ing, on this Confidence, that as it is every way the most Com∣modious Place for that Publick Use, and would yearly save the Lord Mayor so great and unavoidable Charge elsewhere, so it should be considered accordingly, and in some proportion aug∣ment the yearly Revenue of the Company, for support and dis∣charge of their yearly Charities, and other incident charge of Repairs and Duties, &c.

Annis 1679, and 1680.

• Sir James Edwards, Alderman, and late Lord Mayor, Master-Wardens.
• John Beale, Warden.
• Thomas Bourne, Warden.
• William Buckeridge, Warden.

Annis 1680, and 1681.

• Sir Henry Tulse, Alderman, and afterwards Lord Mayor, Master-Wardens.
• Ralph Box, Warden.
• William Winch, Warden.
• Roger Reeve, Warden.

Justice and Charity Revived.

IN a most Righteous and Voluntary Settlement of the whole Revenue of the Company of Grocers, by Inquisition, De∣cree, and Coveyance, (in Trustees,) for ever to secure the due payment of the yearly Charities, appointed by their Donors and Benefactors.

Annis Domini 1686, 1687.

• The Right Honourable Sir Thomas Chicheley, by Sir John Cutler, Knight and Baronet, and Sir John Moore, Knight, Master-Wardens.
• William Hart, Warden.
• Thomas Horton, Warden.
• Edward Sheerwood, Warden.

Annis Domini 1687, 1688.

• Ralph Box, Esq; Master-Wardens.
• John Banks, Warden.
• Stephen Coleman, Warden.
• Jonadab Balaam, Warden.

• Edward Underhill, Esq; Alderman, Master-Wardens.
• John Banks continued, Warden.
• Robert Knight, Warden.
• Francis Lasco, Warden.

• Thomas Short, formerly Warden, assisting therein.
• Samuel Brewster, formerly Warden, assisting therein.

All Glory be to GOD.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rev. 14.13. They rest from their Labours, and their Works do follow them.