Analytical Index to the Series of Records Known as the Remembrancia 1579-1664. Originally published by EJ Francis, London, 1878.
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'Public affairs', in Analytical Index to the Series of Records Known as the Remembrancia 1579-1664, ed. W H Overall, H C Overall( London, 1878), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/index-remembrancia/1579-1664/pp406-425 [accessed 10 December 2024].
'Public affairs', in Analytical Index to the Series of Records Known as the Remembrancia 1579-1664. Edited by W H Overall, H C Overall( London, 1878), British History Online, accessed December 10, 2024, https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/index-remembrancia/1579-1664/pp406-425.
"Public affairs". Analytical Index to the Series of Records Known as the Remembrancia 1579-1664. Ed. W H Overall, H C Overall(London, 1878), , British History Online. Web. 10 December 2024. https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/index-remembrancia/1579-1664/pp406-425.
Public Affairs.
I. 201. Letter from William Lord Burghley, to the Lord Mayor,
by command of Her Majesty, thanking his lordship, the Aldermen,
and other governors in the City for the courtesy and entertainment
shown to the noblemen of France, the King's Commissioners, which
Her Majesty fully appreciated and would keep in her memory, and
upon any just occasion reward.
11th May, 1581.
I. 373. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Mayor
and Sheriffs, informing them that John Symcot, merchant of London,
stood bound to Her Majesty in the sum of 2,000l. for the bringing over
from Barbary of a certain quantity of saltpetre and other commodities
necessary for the maintenance of Her Majesty's munition, and that
this was the time to carry out his engagement. They understood
that he was likely to be called upon for certain sums of money by his
creditors, and to have his goods seized, they therefore desired that he
should be exempted from molestation for six or eight months from
this date.
10th July, 1582.
I. 378. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the Council
in reply. The Court of Aldermen were persuaded that Symcot's suit
had been made without reasonable cause, to delay or defraud his
creditors. They did not see why he might not serve Her Majesty,
according to his bargain, by his factors or otherwise, without fraud to
his creditors.
19th July, 1582.
I. 406. Letter from Robert Earl of Leicester to Sir James
Harvey, Knight, Lord Mayor. The Lords of the Council had lately
written to him and the Sheriffs of London concerning John Simcott,
desiring that he should have liberty for himself and his goods for six
or eight months, which instruction had been disregarded, and licence
had been given to sundry persons to attach his goods; he had lately
also been arrested, to the great hindrance of Her Majesty's service.
If any stay were made either of Simcott or his goods, there would be
great negligence found in the Lord Mayor, and it might peradventure
breed great trouble to the ships and the merchants of London.
Beaudley, 20th September, 1582.
I. 407. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Earl of Leicester, in
reply. The doings of Simcott being suspected to have proceeded
from fraud, he had written to the Council thereon, and requested
further instructions. Not receiving any reply, he thought they were
satisfied, and having first called Simcott, together with his creditors,
before him, and endeavoured to make some arrangement between
them, to which he would not consent, he had permitted Mr. Campion
to take proceeding against him. He trusted that the Council would
take what he had done in good faith.
4th October, 1582.
I. 557. Letter from Sir Christopher Hatton to the Lord
Mayor. The Queen had been pleased, for her private recreation, to
take the air abroad for the last two or three days, and she intended
to return to St. James's on Friday evening next by the same road as
before. He thought it expedient to give him notice thereof, in case
the citizens should desire the comfort of beholding her royal person.
From the Court at Hampton Court, 27th November, 1583.
I. 558. Letter from the Lord Mayor to Sir Thomas Heneage.
When the Duke of Anjou and his train visited London, certain poor
men in the City supplied horses for their use by commandment, for
which they had not been paid. He requested that their claim might
be favourably considered.
26th November, 1583.
I. 558*. Letter from the Lord Mayor to Sir Christopher Hatton,
thanking him for his intimation of the return of Her Majesty, and
asking his advice as to his attendance with the Aldermen and the
Members of the several Companies.
27th November, 1583.
I. 599. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Earl of Essex,
forwarding him a small present on behalf of the City for the great
assistance he had rendered to the glory of God, the safety of the
realm, and the general defence of all Christian estates that professed
the Gospel and true religion of Almighty God. (fn. 1) If some offence had
been given to him they besought him to wrap it up in this public
testimony of their hearty good will.
24th July, 1591.
II. 34. Letter from Lord Hunsdon to the Lord Mayor, Aldermen,
and Common Council, recommending the employment of Captain
Allen Lewis to train and view the arms and weapons kept in
private houses of citizens, and to be allowed to receive 6d. a year
from each householder for that service.
14th October, 1594.
II. 41. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Mayor
and Aldermen, bringing to their notice the decay of the piers at
Whitby, in Yorkshire, and the distress in trade therefrom, and
soliciting contributions from the merchants of the City for their
repair.
31st November, 1594.
II. 160. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Treasurer.
He had removed the Gramies, (fn. 2) and kept them apart without arresting
them, according to his directions; they appeared discontented, and
desired to have some attendants to wait upon them, and permission
for their friends to visit them. He therefore requested further instructions.
27th June, 1596.
II. 180. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Mayor
and Aldermen, requiring them, in conjunction with the Justices of the
Peace for the counties of Middlesex, Kent, and Surrey, to make a
return of the names of the knights, gentlemen, and others of good
possessions and abilities, who continued to reside within the City and
the suburbs, contrary to the express command of Her Majesty to
reside upon their estates in the country.
12th July, 1601.
II. 205. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Justices of the Peace
for the County of Middlesex, enclosing a letter received from the
Lords of the Council (No. 180), and directing them to make a return
to him of the names of any such persons residing in the suburbs or
the county.
14th July, 1601.
II. 215. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the Council,
acknowledging the receipt of their letter, enclosing a petition from the
upholdsters and others for an allowance for furnishing the Duke
Byron (fn. 3) and his train with stuffs, saddles, &c., and requesting them to
excuse the City from this service, as they were hardly pressed for payment of the many demands made upon them for the service of the
State.
10th December, 1601.
II. 262. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the Council,
acknowledging their order to supply 200 carts, with two horses to each,
together with the Lord Mayor's barge, for removing His Majesty's
effects to Greenwich, and calling their attention to the great inconvenience occasioned to trade by the withdrawal of so many carts
from the City. The barge had been some time since borrowed by the
Lord Chamberlain to carry the Guards; it was not fitted to carry
luggage.
26th May, 1606.
II. 291. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Haddington,
enclosing a petition to the King, and praying his mediation for the
obtaining of His Majesty's Letters to the French King for present
satisfaction of the Money so unjustly detained from him after a
sentence obtained for the restitution thereof, and for treating with the
French Ambassador thereon; also sending two warrants for Bucks,
which had always been granted in her late Majesty's time, and praying
that the custom might be continued.
17th June, 1607.
II. 300. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the Council,
enclosing a petition from certain Merchants trading to "Biskey," and
such as used the trade of making Vardingales, (fn. 4) Boddyes, and Sleeves
for Women in and about the City, requesting that the Duty proposed,
6d. in the pound upon Whalebone-fins, might not be enforced.
12th December, 1607.
III. 20. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Mayor,
stating that the Landgrave of Hesse had sent his son into England, to
visit the King and to see the country. It would be well taken that
he might return with some such note of welcome and good acceptance from the City as might be afforded to the son of so great
a Prince. They, therefore, according to His Majesty's pleasure,
prayed his Lordship to invite him and his train, one day before his
going away, to dinner at his house, where he might see the manner
and fashion of his Lordship's entertainment, as no little part of the
state of the City, and such as he would not find in any City elsewhere.
23rd July, 1611.
III. 41. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord
Mayor. The King of Denmark, being at war, had solicited the
King by an express ambassador for leave to make levies within this
kingdom, and had commissioned Lord Willoughby (fn. 5) and others to raise
them upon such terms as might invite men to volunteer into his service.
The King had, therefore, directed the Council to write to the Lord
Mayor, and to his Majesty's Lieutenants in several counties, requiring
them to take notice of his gracious pleasure in the matter, and to give
order that whenever Lord Willoughby, or others authorized by the
King of Denmark, levied men in the City or its Liberties for the
service aforesaid, by sound of drum or otherwise, he should not only
have free permission, but should be assisted and furthered in the
matter, but so that there should be no press or coercion of any man
against his will. If any man, having, voluntarily or by persuasion,
engaged himself, should attempt to leave his captain, or run away,
all possible means should be taken to apprehend him and commit
him to the common gaol, there to receive such punishment as his
offence deserved.
10th March, 1611.
III. 64. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord
Mayor, announcing the death of the Prince of Wales. (fn. 6) They had
addressed letters to the Justices of the Peace of Middlesex and
Surrey for the suppressing of all plays or shows within those counties,
and required him to prohibit all plays, shows, bearbaitings, or other
such sights within the City and Liberties, until further orders, and to
commit offenders to prison.
8th November, 1612.
III. 167. Letter from the Earl of Nottingham to the Lord
Mayor, by command of His Majesty, requesting that a pension might
be granted to Ottwell Astmore, who had been maimed upon the River
Thames in the triumphs (fn. 7) at the marriage of the Lady Elizabeth.
Chelsea, 25th July, 1614.
IV. 140. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord
Mayor, requiring him to appoint two or three principal citizens in
every ward to take notice what strangers were remaining or dwelling
therein, and to cause each of such strangers to set down under what
Prince or State he was born, and to what sovereignty he belonged,
and to take special care as well of all inmates and lodgers as of the
principal householders. The certificate to be returned as soon as
possible.
6th September, 1618.
V. 39. Letter from Frederick, Count Palatine, (fn. 8) King of Bohemia,
to the Lord Mayor. He had instructed the Baron Achatius de Dona,
his Ambassador to the King of Great Britain, to give assurances of his
good will, and to represent to the Lord Mayor the state of his affairs in the
kingdom of Bohemia and the countries thereupon depending. He
prayed that he would hear what the said Baron would more especially
deliver by word of mouth, and further his request in respect of the
most apparent justice of a cause which concerned the glory of God, the
advancement and maintenance of the religion of the Gospel, and the
common interest of all Christendom.
Nuremberg, 26th November, 1619.
V. 58. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the King, enclosing the
letter received from the Count Palatine, and intimating that either
himself or the Recorder would wait upon His Majesty thereon when
convenient.
(Circa November, 1619.)
V. 60. Letter from Mr. Secretary Calvert to the Lord Mayor.
The King had received his letter, with the enclosed letter from the
Prince Palatine. Understanding that some request had been made to
the City for a loan of money, His Majesty had desired him to say that
he was a mere stranger to the business, and could say nothing to it
until he was satisfied as to the justness of the cause. In the mean
time, if the Lord Mayor desired to say anything else to His Majesty,
he would shortly draw towards London; or if the matter were urgent,
the Lord Mayor or the Recorder might attend His Majesty at
Theobalds.
Newmarket, 13th February, 1619.
V. 62. Letter from Achatius, Baron de Dona, Ambassador
from the King of Bohemia, to the Lord Mayor and Court of
Aldermen, referring to the letter which they had received from His
Majesty, and informing them that he was charged by the King to pray
them to grant him the loan of 10,000l. towards the maintenance of the
forces they were constrained to entertain for the safety of their persons
and the defence of the Crown. He further begged that some speedy
resolution might be taken, considering how urgent were His Majesty's
occasions, and how much a present relief would advance the business.
28th February, 1619.
V. 65. Letter from Frederick, Count Palatine, King of Bohemia,
&c., to the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen, intimating his
satisfaction at the information received from his Ambassador, that the
opinion and confidence in them expressed in his former letter had
been so fully answered, and praying them to continue their good
intention, and to make no scruple now, in this time of alteration and
trouble of his affairs, to listen with effect to the request propounded by
his Ambassador.
Prague, 25th March, 1620.
V. 89. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Mayor
and Aldermen. They had already heard of the invasion of the
Palatinate by a foreign enemy; many of the principal towns had been
surprised, a great part of the country being in the possession of
strangers, and the inhabitants forced to take oath against their natural
prince. The King had declared for an auxiliary war for the defence
and recovery thereof. The occasion, being so weighty and pressing,
had moved His Majesty, by the general advice of his Council, to
think of some course for providing treasure for the maintenance of
the succours already sent, and for reinforcing them as the occasion
of the war should require. Because the present occasion did not
permit a supply by other means so readily as was needful, the Council
had all concurred to begin with themselves in offering a voluntary
gift to His Majesty, assuring themselves (the City being the principal
port of this land, and the King's Chamber) that the Lord Mayor and
the rest would readily follow their example. If so much alacrity was
found in the nobility and others to contribute when the Palatinate
was not invaded, and the King had not declared himself, they would
do it the more readily and in better proportion now.
Whitehall, 31st October, 1620.
V. 92. Letter from Sir Clement Edmonds to the Lord Mayor,
reminding him that no answer had been sent to the letter from the
Council of the 31st October, last, concerning a contribution for the
defence of the Palatinate. They had directed him to call for the
City's answer, and to request it might be sent to the Council tomorrow by certain Aldermen, named, when the Council would meet
on purpose to receive it.
3rd December, 1620.
V. 94. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Mayor
and Court of Aldermen. They understood some scruples had arisen
as to the persons who were intended by their former letters to be
called upon to contribute for the defence of the Palatinate. Their
meaning was that, besides the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, all those
who had fined either for Sheriff or Alderman should assist in that
service.
4th December, 1620.
V. 102. Letter from Henry Viscount Mandeville, Lord Treasurer,
to the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen. A difference having
arisen between the Grocers and Apothecaries Companies as to the
rateable proportion of each of them towards the contribution for the
Palatinate, he had heard them; but as they were both Companies of
London, to be ruled and guided in all such matters by the Court of
Aldermen, he had directed that they should attend the Lord
Mayor and such of the Aldermen as were not of the Grocers Company, who should determine the matter. In the event of their not
submitting the Privy Council would send for the parties, and give
such order as they should see fit.
Whitehall, 26th March, 1621.
Note in margin, "Delivered 26th April: the date supposed to be mistaken."
V. 103. Letter from the Lord Treasurer to the Lord Mayor and
Court of Aldermen. His Majesty, having occasion presently to use
a good sum of money for the service of the Palatinate, had directed
him to pray them by way of advance to lend him 20,000l., to be paid
back with interest out of the first subsidies granted and payable by
the City. If they could not suddenly advance the whole sum, they
should give credit for the rest to the merchant to be appointed by the
Baron de Dona for receiving and transferring the said 20,000l., by
bills of exchange, to the Palatinate.
Whitehall, 27th March, 1621.
Note in margin, "The answer of this Letter, sent by word of mouth by the Common Serjeant and the City's Remembrancer, was that the City hoped rather to receive part of the moneys lent than to run in further."
V. 118. Petition of the Apothecaries Company of London to
the King, reciting that His Majesty had been pleased to divide them
from the Grocers and to make them a Company of themselves, and
had further required the Court of Aldermen to conform themselves
thereto, and to provide that being incorporated they might without
impeachment enjoy all grants and privileges conferred upon them by
His Majesty. They were constrained to trouble him, touching a most
unequal assessment, imposed upon them by the Court of Aldermen
towards the contribution money to the Palatinate. After a collection
had been made in all the parishes of London towards the contribution, the total not rising to the proportion required, the Lord Mayor
and Court of Aldermen had ordered that 5,000l. should be collected
from the Companies of London, each Company paying rateably
according to their usual rates for other assessments, which the Companies had accordingly paid. The petitioners had offered to pay
according to their rate 25l., as much as they ever paid when they
were with the Grocers, which the Court of Aldermen had refused to
accept, and had ordered that no apprentice of the Company should
be made free of the City until the Company had paid 200l. towards
the contribution, which was as much as any Company under the
twelve had paid, one only excepted. Most of the Companies had not
paid a fourth part, many not a sixth part, some not a tenth part,
and some not a twentieth part of the assessment made upon the
Apothecaries, which inequalities they left to His Majesty's consideration, and prayed him to write to the Lord Mayor and Court of
Aldermen, and require them not to exact from them any other proportion to this or any other charge than they paid when they were
with the Grocers, the same rates being now paid by them severally
as were formerly paid by the two Companies jointly; otherwise they
feared that the Grocers would procure them on all occasions to be so
overcharged that they could not long subsist, which was the principal
scope the Grocers had in view.
October, 1621.
V. 119. Order of the King on the foregoing petition, directing it
to be shown to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, that they might give
order for the admission of the apprentices of the Company to the
freedom according to His Majesty's letters, and agreeably to an order
made by themselves on the 18th April, 1618, without laying any
greater taxation upon the Apothecaries in their ordinary assessments
now or hereafter, than they were charged with whilst they were united
to the Grocers; and further directing that if the Lord Mayor and
Aldermen did not conform, the Lords and others of the Privy Council
should call the Master and Wardens of the Grocers Company before
them, and set such final order in the matter as they should think
meet.
Dated "At the Court at Royston, 10th October, 1621."
Signed, "Henry Montagu."
VI. 10. Certificate from the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen to Viscount Mandeville, Lord High Treasurer. Upon the levy
of moneys towards the recovery of the Palatinate, they had followed
the usual course of rating the Companies of London; and although
they found the Apothecaries lately divided into a Company from the
Grocers (fn. 9) they rated them as formerly, altogether at 500l., of which
the Grocers paid 300l. and allotted the residue for payment by the
Apothecaries, upon whose refusal the Court had called both Companies
before them and heard them thereon. The Grocers readily assented
to submit to such order as the Court might think fit, but the Apothecaries refused, holding the sum of 200l. to be too great a proportion
for them; and the money was still unpaid. The Court having gone as
far in the business as they lawfully could, and the Apothecaries as they
then stood being a divided Company, and not so far bound to
obedience by oath as they were before their separation from the
Grocers, and the Court being unable by their own authority to compel
them, they referred the ordering of the matter to his Lordship.
15th May, 1621.
VI. 34. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Mayor
and Court of Aldermen, intimating that His Majesty upon very great
and important occasions had determined to send Mr. Auditor Phillips
as a Commissioner into Ireland, and requesting that during his absence
the service upon which he was engaged by the City of London might
be performed by his clerks, with the assistance of Mr. Auditor Sawyer.
Whitehall, 31st December, 1623.
VI. 67. Letter from the King, under his signet, to the Lord Mayor.
It was well known what careful endeavours he had made to obtain
restitution of his children's inheritance by such fair and peaceable ways
as best stood with his own natural desire to avoid the effusion of
Christian blood. Finding all endeavours fruitless, he had been moved
by his son-in-law and daughter to lend them the assistance of men, to
be impressed in this kingdom and employed in their service under
Count Mainsfield, (fn. 10) for the recovery of the Palatinate. He therefore
required the Lord Mayor to levy and impress within the City of
London 2,000 men for the wars, and to observe the orders to be
given them by the Privy Council as to their ordering and disposal.
At the Court at Royston, 29th October, 22 James I. (1624.)
VI. 68. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord
Mayor thereon, requiring him to take especial care that the men
were of able bodies and years meet for the employment, but not
taken out of the Trained Bands; and that they were ready before the
last of November to be received at an hour's warning by such
officers as the Council should send for the charge and leading of
them to the port of Dover. As, on account of the diversity of their
habitations, it would be uncertain what conduct—money, which was
accustomed to be a halfpenny per mile, would suffice them to the
seaside, the Council thought it better to allow them their ordinary
pay of 8d. per day, from the time they assembled and were delivered
to the captains, &c. As by the Act of Parliament the charges of
coats, conduct, armour, and otherwise were to be paid out of the
subsidy thereby granted, the Council desired the Lord Mayor to
require of the collectors so much as should suffice for the press and
conduct of the men to the above port, where coats would be provided for them. They desired that the men should be delivered
over to the captains by indenture, giving the number and quality
of the persons to be received, a duplicate thereof being sent to the
Council.
Whitehall, the last of October, 1624.
VI. 69. Further Letter of the Council to the Lord Mayor thereon
nominating the officers to receive the men and conduct them to
Dover by the 24th of December, and requesting the Lord Mayor
to take care that the men were delivered to the officers by roll, indented, to be subscribed by himself or his deputy—lieutenants on the
one part, and the said captains or officers on the other.
Whitehall, 30th November, 1624.
VI. 86. Letter from the Earl of Pembroke, Lord Chamberlain,
to the Lord Mayor. The Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen had
been directed by letters from the Earl Marshal to prepare and erect
in several places in the City sundry pageants for the fuller and more
significant expression of their joy on the King and his Royal Consort's
intended entrance through the City. His Majesty having altered his
purpose, and directed him to signify so much to the Lord Mayor, he
requested him to take notice thereof, and to remove such pageants,
which, besides the charge they caused in the City, hindered the
passage of coaches or carriages.
Whitehall, 25th May, 1626.
VI. 154. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord
Mayor, requiring him to aid and assist Captain Francis Trafford (who
was to be employed in the service of the King of Denmark) in
taking up and impressing within the City and Liberties eighty idle
and vagrant people, if so many could be found, who were unable to
give any good account of how they got their living.
Whitehall, 5th July, 1628.
VI. 162. Extract from the proceedings of the Court of Aldermen,
reciting that a letter from the Privy Council and a copy of a petition
presented to them by the Master, Wardens, and Assistants of the
Trinity House, had been read, from which it appeared that, upon request
of the owners and masters of ships trading to Newcastle for coals to
Russia, Greenland, Norway, the Hostland, and Hamburg, the Trinity
House had set out a safe and convenient channel (the accustomed one,
"the Spitts," having become dangerous), in consideration whereof, and
to defray the annual cost of keeping such channel, the owners and
masters had voluntarily granted to the Trinity House 6d. per 100
tons burden on their ships brought into the Thames and Medway, and
for every fifty chaldrons, Newcastle measure, 6d.; and that the Trinity
House prayed for a warrant from the Council, authorizing them to
collect the same in the Custom Houses of London and Rochester.
As by the Council's letters the Lord Mayor was required to hear
such persons as he should think best, and to certify in writing whether
he found the said shipowners and masters within the City of London
willing to make such grants, the Court of Aldermen directed certain
Aldermen named to conduct the inquiry and report thereon.
22nd January, 1628.
VI. 175. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the
Council in reply to the letter referred to in No. 162, Vol. VI., stating
that the matter had been referred by the Court of Aldermen to a
Committee, whose certificate he enclosed.
Dated in margin, 28th April, 1629.
VI. 176. Certificate of the Committee above referred to, stating
that having called before them, and conferred with, divers owners and
masters of coal ships belonging to the City of London, and also
received certificates from the port of Kingston-upon-Hull, and other
outports using the channel, they found such masters and owners, both
of London and the outports, willing to allow the said 6d. per 100
tons, provided the channel were well buoyed and duly maintained.
Dated the last of April, 1629.
VI. 186. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord
Mayor, concerning the petition of the Trinity House referred to in
No. 162, Vol. VI.
Whitehall, 24th December, 1628.
VI. 187. Petition of the Master, Wardens, and Assistants of the
Trinity House of Deptford, referred to in the above order.
(Circa 1628.)
(The new channel is called Goldimore Gatt.)
VII. 14. Order of the Privy Council, reciting that the differences
between His Majesty's Post (fn. 11) of the Western Stages between London
and Plymouth, and Samuel Jude, calling himself the Travelling Post
for the dispatch of merchants' affairs between the said places, had
been heard before the Council. The complaint of the Post was that,
under pretence of carrying private letters only of merchants willing
to employ him, he endeavoured not only to appropriate the sole
carriage of all merchants' letters and dispatches, but had taken upon
him and used the speedy carriage of men and packets on horseback
in the nature of a Post. To prevent the Posts from carrying the
letters of any merchants willing to employ them, he had caused their
bills at London and Plymouth to be pulled down. The Council, finding that Jude's proceedings were contrary to any of their former orders
made in his favour, which were not intended to permit him to maintain and keep horses and servants at several stages on the road for
the carriage of passengers and the dispatch of business in the nature
of a Post, much less to give him power to take up horses by Warrant
from the Postmasters or others, ordered that he should be licensed to
continue the carriage of letters and dispatches of merchants, &c.,
willing to employ him, and that His Majesty's Post should also be
permitted to do the same, without the pulling down of bills or giving
them other interruption.
Whitehall, 24th February, 1629.
VII. 20. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Mayor
of London, the Mayors of Salisbury, Plymouth, and Exeter, and all
other His Majesty's loving subjects, reciting that His Majesty's Posts
of the Western Stages, from London to Plymouth, had proposed that,
for the better dispatch of the King's service and the common good of
others, they would undertake the speedy dispatch of all private letters
weekly between London and Plymouth, and the faithful delivery of all
letters and dispatch of other business on the road, or within twenty
miles of it, if necessary, and to provide post horses for all such as would
ride with the letters for single-post pay, from stage to stage, viz., 2d.
ob. per mile, without further charge, except 4d. to the guide for return
of his horses, which course the Council approved, and entreated the
Lord Mayor, &c., and all others, to countenance, encourage, and assist
them.
In margin, March, 1629.
VII. 40. Letter from the King, under his signet, to the Lord
Mayor and Common Council announcing the birth, on the 29th instant,
at St. James's Palace, of a son. (fn. 12) According to the laudable custom
of his Royal progenitors, he had thought fit to make the joyful tidings
known to them as to his principal City and Chamber. He had therefore sent his letters by Sir Wm. Segar, (fn. 13) Garter King-at-Arms.
Westminster, 29th May, 1630 (6 Charles I.).
VII. 74. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Mayor
and Aldermen, requiring a return to be made of the names of all such
persons as might stay and reside within the City beyond the time
limited by the late Proclamation directing all noblemen, gentlemen,
and persons of quality to repair to their country houses, there to reside
and keep hospitality according to their several degrees.
29th October, 1632.
VII. 89. Order in Council, reciting that information had been
given to them that, contrary to the King's Proclamation of the
20th June, 1632, there were still great numbers of people, especially
noblemen and gentlemen of quality, who resorted to the City and
suburbs, and also to Westminster and the places adjacent; and directing
the Lord Mayor and the Justices of the Peace of Westminster, Surrey,
and Middlesex forthwith to return the names of all persons who, since
the making of the last certificate, had come to lodge or inhabit,
Termers only excepted, in the aforesaid places.
Star Chamber, 29th May, 1633.
VII. 95. Letter from the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen to
the Lords of the Council, forwarding certificate thereon (in answer to
No. 89).
Dated in margin, 8th October, 1633.
VII. 125. Order in Council directing the Lord Mayor, the
Justices of the Peace of Westminster, Middlesex, and Surrey, to cause
diligent inquiry to be made within their several jurisdictions of all noblemen and gentlemen of quality who had come to lodge and inhabit,
out of Term times, in the City and suburbs, and also in the City of
Westminster and adjacent places, and particularly in the last vacation,
contrary to the Proclamation of the 20th June, 1632, and to report
their names to the Board.
15th October, 1634.
VII. 130. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the
Council, forwarding certificate of persons (Termers excepted) who had
come to reside within the City and liberties since his last certificate.
Dated in margin, 11th November, 1634.
VII. 135. Order in Council with respect to their order of the 15th
October last for a return of the names of all noblemen and gentlemen
residing in London and Westminster out of Term times, requiring a
more strict and particular return to be made, it appearing that the
former one was defective, and that connivance had been used in
omitting the names of divers persons.
9th January, 1634.
VII. 140. Further certificate from the Lord Mayor to the Lords
of the Council to the same effect as No. 130.
7th March, 1634.
VII. 156. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord
Mayor. They were daily importuned by pitiful petitions from tradesmen and shopkeepers of London, Westminster, and part of the county
of Middlesex that their labours and livelihood were taken from them
by the multitude of strangers and foreigners exercising manual trades.
They required him to certify the number of strangers, born beyond the
seas, who dwelt or carried on any manual trade within his jurisdiction,
and their countries, qualities, and professions.
Whitehall, 30th September, 1635.
VII. 165. Certificate from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the Council of the number of strangers born beyond seas dwelling within the City and suburbs.
(The numbers are given under Wards, &c., the total amounting to
2,547; but their trades and countries, as required by the Privy Council,
are not stated.)
Dated in margin, 20th December, 1635.
VII. 171. Petition of the Lord Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, and
Chamberlain of the City of London to the King, reciting that, by a
late Proclamation, he had prohibited persons from going in the streets
of London or Westminster, or the suburbs or liberties, in a coach,
unless the owner of such coach should constantly keep four sufficient
horses or geldings fit for the King's service; and praying that as the
petitioners were aged men in public places as Magistrates of the City,
and often required to attend His Majesty's service, they might be permitted to keep horses and coaches as formerly.
(Circa 1635–6.)
(Note in margin: "Not granted till Fen, Mayor.")
Subjoined is a note signed by Secretary Windebank, intimating
that the King was pleased to comply with the prayer of the petition,
and directing the Attorney-General to take notice thereof, and not to
prosecute or inform against them in the Star Chamber or elsewhere.
Greenwich, 3rd July, 1638.
VIII. 66. Letter from Sir Edward Conway to the Lord Mayor,
certifying, by His Majesty's command, that news had arrived from his
ambassadors that his marriage with the excellent Lady Mary, (fn. 14) sister
to the French King, had been accomplished on Sunday last at Paris,
and requesting that joy be expressed thereat by bonfires and all other
ways usual.
(— May, 1625.)
VIII. 105. Same as No. 74, Vol. VII.
29th October, 1632.
VIII. 112. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord
Mayor, requesting contributions towards the expense of repairing the
highway at Broughton Bleane, between Canterbury and Faversham,
on the main road between Canterbury and London, which was almost
impassable.
31st March, 1632.
VIII. 142. Same as No. 125, Vol. VII.
25th October, 1634.
VIII. 146. Same as No. 135, Vol. VII.
9th January, 1634.
VIII. 176. Letter from the King to the Lord Mayor and Court
of Aldermen, requesting them to solicit contributions from the citizens
towards the erection of an Academy for the education of the young
nobility and gentry in the practice of arms and arts.
3rd June, 1636.
VIII. 190. Letter from the King to the Lord Mayor and Court
of Aldermen, complaining that, after nearly a year's delay, his letters
requesting contributions for the erection of an Academy had not been
answered in effect, and requiring a speedy answer in writing as to what
had been done, and what was intended to be done, in the matter.
4th May, 1637.
VIII. 211. Order in Council, directing the Lord Mayor and
Aldermen of the City, and the Justices of the Peace of Middlesex,
Surrey, and Westminster, to cause a survey to be forthwith made in
their several jurisdictions of the number, names, qualities, and conditions of all strangers inhabiting, lodging, or remaining therein.
10th March, 1638.
VIII. 230. Letter from Sir H. Vane, (fn. 15) addressed "To my very
good Lords," intimating that His Majesty had taken notice of a
rumour, spread by some factious spirits ill affected to the good of his
affairs, that, upon receipt of the Londoners' petition, he had
publicly spoken reproachful words against them, and had
commanded him to acquaint them how untrue it was; and that,
could the authors be found out, he would make them public
examples.
15th May, 1640.
VIII. 231. Letter from Thomas (Moreton), Lord Bishop of
Durham, to the Lords' Committee for London, giving an account
of the ravages committed by the Scots in the countries of the
Bishopric, Northumberland, and the Town of (New) Castle.
(Circa 1640.)
IX. 1. Letter from the King, Charles the Second, to the Lord
Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council. He had received much
satisfaction from the frequent and public manifestations of the
affections of the Citizens of London in encouraging and asserting that
form of Government under which they had enjoyed as great felicity
as any nation in Europe, and discountenancing the imagination of
those who desired an arbitrary from of Government, which would only
satisfy the pride and ambition of a few ill men, and would introduce
the most tyrannical power ever heard of. How much he desired to
obtain, without further bloodshed or war, the peace and happiness of
his subjects and the restoration of the laws, would be seen from the
Declaration forwarded to them by the hands of Viscount Mordaunt (fn. 16)
and Sir John Granville, Knight, (fn. 17) to be published for the information
of all his subjects. The letter contains a promise to renew the City's
charter, and to restore to them all the privileges which they had
received from his predecessors.
Dated from Breda, April, 1660.
IX. 2. A copy of the Declaration forwarded to the Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council, given under the King's sign manual, from the Court at Breda, the 14th April, 1660, in the twelfth year of his reign. The document sets forth the King's desire to heal the wounds under which the kingdom had so long suffered, and his wish to regain quiet and peaceful possession of his throne, and to restore law and justice throughout the land, and promises, upon his restoration and that of the peers and people to their just, ancient, and fundamental rights, to grant a free and general pardon under the Great Seal to all who within forty days after the publication of this Declaration should return to their obedience, excepting such persons as should afterwards be excepted by Parliament, and engages that no crime committed against him or his royal father should ever be brought in question against them. It also expresses His Majesty's desire that all discord and differences between parties should be utterly abolished; promises freedom of opinion in matters of religion, and intimates his readiness to consent to an Act of Parliament granting these indulgences. With reference to the titles to estates purchased during the Revolution by officers, soldiers, and others, he would be willing to leave all differences to be settled by Parliament. In conclusion, the King promises to satisfy all arrears due to the officers and soldiers of the army under the command of General Monk, and to receive them into his service.
IX. 9. Letter from Secretary Edward Nicholas, by command of
the King, to the Lord Mayor, directing that the oaths of allegiance
and supremacy should be taken by all Constables, Headboroughs,
Churchwardens, and other officers and inhabitants of age within the
City and Liberties, and that proceedings in law should be taken
against all who refused.
27th September, 1660.
IX. 15. Letter from the Duke of Albemarle and the principal
Secretaries of State to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen. For the preservation of the peace of the City, which might be endangered by the
resort of a great number of cashiered officers, soldiers, and other
disaffected persons, many of them residing within the City and suburbs,
the King had commanded them to require the Lord Mayor and Aldermen to cause the keepers of all inns, victualling houses, or hostelries,
within twenty-four hours after receiving the order, to return in writing
the names of all persons lodging in their houses, and how long they
had been there; of the number of horses kept in their several stables,
to whom they belonged, &c.
15th December, 1660.
IX. 16. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Mayor
and Aldermen. Notwithstanding all the Acts and concessions made
by His Majesty for the settlement of peace, there were many factious
and turbulent persons who still retained rebellious designs. Some of
them had lately entered into dangerous plots and conspiracies; had
held meetings, and had purchased arms and ammunition. The
Council recommended that all suspected persons should be disarmed,
and compelled to take the oaths of allegiance and supremacy, as
directed by the several Statutes, and that such other security should
be taken for their good behaviour as might appear advisable. In case of
refusal they should be proceeded against.
7th January, 1660.
IX. 18. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Mayor
and Aldermen. On account of the late barbarous and bloody
rebellious attempts of some wicked persons in the City of London,
especial care should be taken to observe their motions and meetings;
to disarm, apprehend, secure, and imprison the leading persons who
might influence the multitude to disturb the public peace, and any
who should refuse to take the oath of allegiance. The Council should
be informed of the steps taken to carry into effect this order.
22nd January, 1660.
IX. 21. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Mayor
and Aldermen, referring to the foregoing Letter, and approving of the
steps taken in imprisoning many persons under the notion of Quakers.
The danger which occasioned their commitment being past, His
Majesty had been petitioned to release the multitudes committed to
prison. He desired to leave the Lord Mayor free to discharge all
such persons as had been secured only upon suspicion, except the
ringleaders of faction.
4th March, 1660.
IX. 24. Letter from the King to the Lord Mayor, directing him
to call a meeting of the Common Council for Monday, the 11th of
March instant, when some of the Lords of the Council would attend
with a communication from His Majesty.
8th March, 1660.
IX. 27 Letter from Sir William Morrice, Secretary of State, to
the Lord Mayor, Sir Richard Browne, Knight and Baronet, directing
that collections should be made in the several churches for the relief
of persons wounded, and the widows and orphans of those slain, in
the late insurrection of the Fifth Monarchists.
15th March, 1660.