Chapter V: Part 5

Now what shall we say of these rich artisans of London? What shall I
say of them? Shall I call them proud men of London, malicious men of
London, merciless men of London? No, no, I may not say so, they will
be offended with me then. Yet must I speak. For is there reigning in
London as much pride, as much covetousness, as much cruelty, as much
oppression, as much superstition, as was in Nebo? Yes, I think so
and much more too. Therefore I say, repent, O London! repent,
repent! Thou hearest thy faults told thee; amend them, amend them.
And you rulers and officers, be wise and circumspect, look to your
charge and see you do your duties and rather be glad to amend your
ill living than to be angry when you are warned or told of your
fault.... But London cannot abide to be rebuked; such is the nature
of men. If they be pricked, they will kick. If they be rubbed on the
gall, they will wince. But yet they will not amend their faults,
they will not be ill spoken of. But how shall I speak well of them?
If you could be content to receive and follow the word of God and
favour good preachers, if you could bear to be told of your faults,
if you could amend when you hear of them: if you would be glad to
reform what is amiss: if I might see any such inclination in you,
that leave to be merciless and begin to be charitable, I would then
hope well of you, I would speak well of you. But London was never so
ill as it is now. In times past men were full of pity and compassion
but now there is no pity; for in London their brother shall die in
the streets for cold, he shall lie sick at the door between stock
and stock, I cannot tell what to call it, and perish there for
hunger. In times past when any rich men died in London, they were
wont to help the poor scholars of the university with exhibitions.
When any man died, they would bequeath great sums of money towards
the relief of the poor. When I was a scholar at Cambridge myself, I
heard very good report of London and knew many that had relief of
the rich men of London; but now I can hear no such good report and
yet I inquire of it and hearken for it; but now charity is waxed
cold, none help the scholar nor yet the poor. And in those days what
did they when they helped the scholars? Many they maintained and
gave them living that were very papists and professed the pope's
doctrines; and now that the knowledge of God's word is brought to
light, and many earnestly study and labour to set it forth, now
almost no man helpeth to maintain them. Oh! London! London! repent,
repent, for I think God is more displeased with London than ever he
was with the city of Nebo. Amend therefore; and ye that be prelates,
look well to your office, for right prelating is busy labouring and
not lording. Therefore preach and teach, and let your plough be
doing; ye lords, I say, that live like loiterers, look well to your
office; the plough is your office and charge. If you live idle and
loiter, you do not your duty, you follow not your vocation; let your
plough therefore be going and not cease, that true ground may bring
forth good fruit.

MARY'S SPEECH TO THE CITIZENS (1553).

The project of the marriage between Mary and Philip of Spain caused profound uneasiness throughout England, and the fear of persecution and the anxiety of the nobles for their possessions brought about a formidable conspiracy. The standard of revolt was raised in many parts of the country, but only Sir Thomas Wyatt achieved any success. He was soon at the head of fifteen hundred Kentish men, and his avowed object was to save England from Spain. A force of soldiers sent against him deserted to his side, and he marched upon London. The situation was saved by Mary's coolness and courage; she showed no signs of fear, refused to take refuge in flight, and addressed the citizens of London assembled in the Guildhall. Her resolute bearing and discreet promises aroused enthusiasm among her hearers, who had heard of Jack Cade, and did not wish to see their city in the hands of an armed mob. Men were hastily enrolled, the drawbridge on London Bridge was raised, and Wyatt was unable to enter the City. He crossed the river at Kingston, but his men began to drop away, and he surrendered at Temple Bar. He was executed shortly afterwards.

This incident, like many others, illustrates the immense importance of London in connection with political affairs; over and over again the destinies of the kingdom have been settled by the attitude of the citizens of London.

=Source.=—Speed's _History_, book ix., chap. xxiii.

In my own person I am come unto you, to tell you that which
yourselves already do see and know; I mean, the traitorous and
seditious number of the Kentish Rebels, that are assembled against
us and you. Their pretence, as they say, is to resist a marriage
between us and the Prince of Spain. Of all their plots, pretended
quarrels and evil-contrived articles, you have been made privy;
since which time our Council have resorted to the rebels, demanding
the cause of their continued enterprise; by whose answers the
marriage is found to be the reason of their quarrel; or rather, a
cloak to cover their pretended purposes against our religion; for
swerving from their former articles, they now manifestly betray the
inward treason of their hearts, most arrogantly demanding the
possession of our person, the keeping of our Tower, and not only the
placing and displacing of our Counsellors, but also to use them and
us at their pleasures: what I am, loving Subjects, you right well
know—your Queen, to whom at my Coronation, when I was wedded to the
Realm, and to the laws of the same, (the spousal ring whereof I have
on my finger, which never hitherto was, nor hereafter shall be left
off) ye promised your allegiance and obedience unto me; and that I
am the right and true inheritor to the English Crown, I not only
take all Christendom to witness, but also your Acts of Parliament
confirming the same.

My Father, as you all know, possessed the Regal estate by right of
inheritance, which now by the same right, is descended unto me: to
him you always shewed yourselves both faithful and loving subjects,
as to your liege Lord and King, and therefore I doubt not, but you
will shew yourselves so to me his Daughter which if you do, then may
you not suffer any rebel to usurp the government of our person, or
interpose our estate, especially so presumptuous a traitor as this
Wyat hath shewed himself to be; who most certainly, as he hath
abused our ignorant subjects to be adherents to his traitorous
quarrel, so doth he intend by the colour of the same to subdue the
laws to his will, and to give scope to the rascal and forlorn
persons, to make general havoc and spoil of your goods.

And this I say further unto you in the word of a Prince, I cannot
tell how naturally a mother loveth her children, for I was never the
mother of any; but certainly, if a Prince and Governour may as
naturally love their subjects, as the mother doth her child, then
assure yourselves, that I, being your Sovereign Lady and Queen, do
as earnestly and tenderly love and favour you; and I, thus loving
you, cannot but think, that you as heartily and faithfully love me
again; and so, this love bound together in the knot of concord, we
shall be able, I doubt not, to give these rebels a short and speedy
overthrow.

Now, as concerning my intended marriage, you shall understand, that
I entered not into the Treaty thereof without the advice of our
Privy Council, yea, and by the assent of those to whom my Father
committed his trust, who have so considered the great commodities
that may thereof ensue, as they not only have thought it very
honourable, but also expedient both for the wealth of our realm, and
also to our loving subjects.

But as touching myself, I assure you, I am not so desirous of
wedding, neither am I so precisely wedded to my will, that either
for mine own pleasure I will choose where I list, or else so
amorous, as needs I must have one; for I thank God, to whom be the
praise, I have hitherto lived a Virgin, and doubt not but, with
God's grace to be able to live so still.

But if, as my progenitors have done before, it might please God that
I might leave some fruit of my body to be your governour, I trust,
you would not only rejoice thereat, but also I know, it would be to
your great comfort; and certainly, if I either did know or think,
that this marriage should either turn to the danger or loss of any
of you, my loving subjects, or to the detriment of any part of the
Royal estate of the English realm, I would never consent thereunto,
neither would I ever marry, whilst I lived; and in the word of a
Queen, I promise and assure you, if it shall not probably appear
before the nobility and commons in the High Court of Parliament,
that this marriage shall be for the singular benefit and commodity
of the whole realm, that then I will abstain, not only from this
marriage, but also from any other.

Wherefore, good subjects, pluck up your hearts, and, like true men,
stand fast with your lawful Prince against these rebels, both ours
and yours, and fear them not, for I assure you, I do not, and will
leave with you my Lord Howard and my Lord Treasurer, to be assistant
with my Lord Mayor, for the safeguard of the City from spoil and
sackage, which is the only scope of this rebellious company.

SORANZO'S REPORT ON LONDON (1554).

The following is the impression of a Venetian Ambassador, contained in his report to the Senate:

=Source.=—_Calendar of State Papers, Venetian, 1534-1554_, No. 934.

The principal cities of the kingdom are London and York, but London
is the most noble, both on account of its being the royal residence,
and because the river Thames runs through it, very much to the
convenience and profit of the inhabitants, as it ebbs and flows
every six hours like the sea, scarcely ever causing inundation or
any extraordinary floods; and up to London Bridge it is navigable
for ships of 400 butts burden, of which a great plenty arrive with
every sort of merchandise. This bridge connects the city with the
borough, and is built of stone with twenty arches, and shops on both
sides. On the banks of the river there are many large palaces,
making a very fine show, but the city is much disfigured by the
ruins of a multitude of churches and monasteries belonging
heretofore to friars and nuns. It has a dense population, said to
number 180,000 souls; and is beyond measure commercial, the
merchants of the entire kingdom flocking thither, as, by a privilege
conceded to the citizens of London, from them alone can they
purchase merchandise, so they soon became very wealthy; and the same
privileges placed in their hands the government of the city of
London, which is divided into 24 trades or crafts, each of which
elects a certain individual, styled alderman, the election being
made solely in the persons of those who are considered the most
wealthy, and the office is for life; the which aldermen, after
assembling these trades, create annually a person as their head for
the current year entitled Mayor.

THE ROYAL EXCHANGE (1566).

Sir Thomas Gresham, a wealthy and munificent London merchant, offered in 1563 to build, at his own expense, a Bourse or Exchange, if the City would provide the ground. The need for some such building was becoming rather serious; the commerce of the country was growing very rapidly, and Lombard Street had long been too small for the business of London. Men were exposed there to all weathers, and had to crowd into small shops. For twenty or thirty years there had been talk of making a new place of resort for the merchants, and the example of Antwerp, London's great rival in trade, inspired Gresham to make his magnificent gift to his fellow-citizens.

Gresham's building was destroyed in the Fire of 1666, and its successor was burned down in 1838.

=Source.=—Stow's _Survey_, p. 193.

Then next is the Royal Exchange, erected in the year 1566, after
this order, viz., certain houses upon Cornhill, and the like upon
the back thereof, in the ward of Broad street, with three alleys,
the first called Swan Alley, opening into Cornhill, the second New
Alley, passing throughout of Cornhill into Broad-street ward, over
against Saint Bartholomew lane, the third Saint Christophers Alley,
opening into Broad street ward, and into Saint Christophers parish,
containing in all fourscore households: were first purchased by the
Citizens of London, for more than £3532, and were sold for £478, to
such persons as should take them down and carry them thence, also
the ground or plot was made plain at the charges of the City, and
then possession thereof was by certain Aldermen, in name of the
whole Citizens, given to Sir Thomas Gresham, Knight, Agent to the
Queen's Highness, thereupon to build a Bourse, or place for
merchants to assemble in, at his own proper charges: and he on the
seventh of June laying the first stone of the foundation, being
brick, accompanied with some Aldermen, everyone of them laid a piece
of gold, which the workmen took up, and forthwith followed upon the
same with such diligence, that by the month of November, in the year
1567, the same was covered with slate, and shortly after fully
finished.

In the year 1570, on the 23. of January, the Queen's Majesty,
attended with her nobility, came from her house at the Strand called
Somerset house, and entered the City by Temple Bar, through Fleet
Street, Cheap, and so by the north side of the Bourse through
Threadneedle Street, to Sir Thomas Gresham's in Bishopsgate Street,
where she dined. After dinner her Majesty returning through
Cornhill, entered the Bourse on the south side, and after that she
had viewed every part thereof above the ground, especially the pawn,
which was richly furnished with all sorts of the finest wares in the
City: she caused the same Bourse by an herald and a trumpet, to be
proclaimed the Royal Exchange, and so to be called from thenceforth,
and not otherwise.

A LORD MAYOR'S SHOW (1575).

It is supposed that the annual pageant connected with the election of the Mayor had its origin in an old custom that the newly-elected officer should be presented to the King or his justiciar; we have, however, little information concerning the earlier processions, and they are hardly noticed by chroniclers until the fifteenth century. It appears that the practice of proceeding to Westminster on horseback was started in 1415, but an infirm Mayor in 1453 introduced the custom of making the progress by barge on the river; this lasted until the middle of the seventeenth century, but there was, in addition, always the ride on horseback from the Guildhall to the point of embarkation. The fashion for pageantry and display, which was so prominent a feature of Henry VIII.'s reign, influenced this annual function, which tended to become more and more elaborate.

=Source.=—William Smith's _Brief Description of London_ (1575).

The day of St. Simon and Jude, he (the Mayor) entered into his
estate and office; and the next day following he goeth by water to
Westminster in most triumphlike manner. His barge being garnished
with the arms of the city; and near the said barge goeth a ship boat
of the Queen's Majesty, being trimmed up, and rigged like a ship of
war, with divers pieces of ordinance, standards, pennons, and
targets of the proper arms of the said Mayor, the arms of the City,
of his company; and of the merchants adventurers, or of the staple,
or of the company of the new trades; next before him goeth the barge
of the livery of his own company, decked with their own proper arms,
then the bachelors' barge, and so all the companies in London, in
order, every one having their own proper barge garnished with the
arms of their company. And so passing along the Thames, landeth at
Westminster, where he taketh his oath in the Exchequer, before the
judge there (which is one of the chief judges of England), which
done, he returneth by water as aforesaid, and landeth at Powles
wharf, where he and the rest of the Aldermen take their horses, and
in great pomp pass through the great street of the City, called
Cheapside. And first of all cometh two great standards, one having
the arms of the City, and the other the arms of the Mayor's Company;
next them two drums and a flute, then an ensign of the City, and
then about xx or xxx poor men marching two and two together in blue
gowns, with red sleeves and caps, with every one bearing a pike and
a target, whereon is painted the arms of all them that have been
Mayor of the same company that this new mayor is of. Then two
banners, one of the King's arms, the other of the Mayor's own proper
arms. Then a set of hautboys playing, and after them certain
wyfflers, in velvet coats, and chains of gold, with white staves in
their hands, then the pageant of triumph richly decked, whereupon by
certain figures and writings, some matter touching justice, and the
office of a magistrate is represented. Then sixteen trumpeters,
eight and eight in a company, having banners of the Mayor's company.
Then certain wyfflers in velvet coats and chains, with white staves
aforesaid. Then the bachelors two and two together, in long gowns
with crimson hoods on their shoulders of satin; which bachelors are
chosen every year of the same Company that the Mayor is of (but not
of the livery) and serve as gentlemen on that and other festival
days, to wait on the Mayor, being in number according to the
quantity of the company, sometimes sixty or one hundred. After them
twelve trumpeters more, with banners of the Mayor's Company, then
the drum and flute of the city, and an ensign of the Mayor's
company, and after, the waits of the city in blue gowns, red sleeves
and caps, every one having his silver collar about his neck. Then
they of the livery in their long gowns, every one having his hood on
his left shoulder, half black and half red, the number of them is
according to the greatness of the company whereof they are. After
them follow Sheriffs' officers, and then the Mayor's officers, with
other officers of the city, as the common serjeant, and the
chamberlain, next before the Mayor goeth the sword-bearer, having on
his head the cap of honour, and the sword of the city in his right
hand, in a rich scabard, set with pearl, and on his left hand goeth
the common crier of the city, with his great mace on his shoulder,
all gilt. The Mayor elect in a long gown of scarlet, and on his left
shoulder a hood of black velvet, and a rich collar of gold of SS.
about his neck, and with him rideth the old Mayor also, in his
scarlet gown, hood of velvet, and a chain of gold about his neck.
Then all the Aldermen two and two together (amongst whom is the
Recorder) all in scarlet gowns; and those that have been Mayors,
have chains of gold, the other have black velvet tippets. The two
Sheriffs come last of all, in their black and scarlet gowns and
chains of gold.

In this order they pass along through the city, to the Guildhall,
where they dine that day, to the number of 1000 persons, all at the
charge of the Mayor and the two Sheriffs. This feast costeth £400,
whereof the Mayor payeth £200 and each of the Sheriffs £100.
Immediately after dinner, they go to the church of St. Paul, every
one of the aforesaid poor men bearing staff torches and targets,
which torches are lighted when it is late, before they come from
evening prayer.

LONDON AND THE ARMADA (1587).

The threatened invasion by the "Grand Fleet" of Philip of Spain was the occasion of a splendid manifestation of loyalty throughout the kingdom. The royal fleet contained only thirty-four ships, but every seaport made its contribution, and every man between the ages of eighteen and sixty was enrolled for defence, in the event of the successful landing of the enemy. The instructions conveyed in the Queen's letter to the citizens of London are an indication of the friendly relations between the City and the Sovereign, and serve also to show the wealth and power which London possessed at the time.

=Source.=—Document quoted by Maitland, vol. i., p. 272.

Trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well.

Whereas upon information given unto us of great preparations made in
foreign parts with an intent to attempt somewhat against this our
realm, we gave present order that our said realm should be put in
order of defence; which we have caused to be performed in all parts
accordingly, saving in the City of London.

We therefore knowing your readiness, by former experience, to
perform any service that well-affected subjects ought to yield to
their Prince and Sovereign, do let you understand, that within our
said City our pleasure is, that there be forthwith put in a
readiness to serve for defence of our own person, upon such
occasions as may fall out, the number of ten thousand able men,
furnished with armour and weapons convenient; of which number, our
meaning is, that six thousand be enrolled under Captains and
Ensigns, and to be trained at times convenient, according to such
further direction as you shall receive from our Privy Council, under
six of their hands, which our pleasure is you do follow from time to
time in the ordering and training of the said numbers of men.

And these our letters shall be your sufficient warrant for the doing
of the same.

Given under our Signet at our Manor of Greenwich,
the 8th of March, 1587, in the thirtieth year of
our Reign.

THE CITY'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE STAGE
(1592).

The drama experienced an extraordinary development during the latter half of the sixteenth century, and its growth was altogether irresistible. In spite of the opposition of moralists and preachers the theatre flourished more and more; and the mayors and aldermen of London were faced with a somewhat serious problem. They looked upon the play with disfavour; the actors were men of no trade or position, they were merely vagabonds. All the idlers in the town would assemble to see a play, and where there was a crowd there was danger to peace and order. Brawls and disorders would frequently arise, and the thieves and rogues of the city would take every advantage of the throng. Urged partly by fear of disorder, partly by the spirit of Puritanism which was rapidly gaining ground, the city officials did their best to drive out plays and players from their boundaries; and the theatres had at first to be set up outside the city jurisdiction. The ordinances of 1574 set forth in lurid terms the evils which theatres were alleged to bring in their train, and strict regulations were made, providing that only properly licensed players should act, in such places as might be approved. The following documents show how the trouble still continued, and was the source of great anxiety.

=Source.=—Malone Society, _Collections_, 1., i., xviii, xxvi:
(_a_) The Lord Mayor to Archbishop Whitgift (1592);
(_b_) An Order of the Privy Council (1600).

(_a_) Our most humble duties to your Grace. Whereas by the daily and
disorderly exercise of a number of players and playing houses
erected within this City, the youth thereof is greatly corrupted and
their manners infected with many evil and ungodly qualities, by
reason of the wanton and profane devices represented on the stages
by the said players, the prentices and servants withdrawn from their
works and all sorts in general from the daily resort unto sermons
and other Christian exercises, to the great hindrance of the trades
and traders of this City, and profanation of the good and godly
religions established among us. To which places also do resort great
numbers of light and lewd disposed persons as cutpurses, cozeners,
pilferers and such like, and there under the colour of resort to
those places to hear the plays devise divers evil and ungodly
matches, confederacies, and conspiracies, which by means of the
opportunity of the place cannot be prevented nor discovered, as
otherwise they might be. In consideration whereof we most humbly
beseech your Grace for your godly care for the reforming of so great
abuses tending to the offence of Almighty God, the profanation and
slander of his true religion, and the corrupting of our youth, which
are the seed of the Church of God and the common wealth among us, to
vouchsafe us your good favour and help for the reforming and
banishing of so great evil out of this city, which ourselves of long
time though to small purpose have so earnestly desired and
endeavoured by all means that possibly we could. And because we
understand that the Queen's Majesty is and must be served at certain
times by this sort of people, for which purpose she hath granted her
Letters Patent to Mr. Tilney, Master of her Revels, by virtue
whereof he being authorised to reform, exercise, or suppress all
manner of players, plays and playing-houses whatsoever, did first
license the said playing-houses within the city for Her Majesty's
said service, which before that time lay open to all the statutes
for the punishing of these and such like disorders. We are most
humbly and earnestly to beseech your Grace to call unto you the said
Master of Her Majesty's Revels, with whom also we have conferred of
late to that purpose, and to treat with him, if by any means it may
be devised that Her Majesty may be served with these recreations as
hath been accustomed, which in our opinions may easily be done by
the private exercise of Her Majesty's own players in convenient
place, and the city freed from these continual disorders, which
thereby do grow and increase daily among us. Whereby your Grace
shall not only benefit and bind unto you the politic state and
government of this city, which by no one thing is so greatly annoyed
and disquieted as by players and plays and the disorders which
follow thereon, but also to take away a great offence from the
Church of God and hindrance to His gospel, to the great contentment
of all good Christians, specially the preachers and ministers of the
Word of God about this city, who have long time and yet do make
their earnest continual complaint unto us for the redress hereof.
And thus recommending our most humble duties and service to your
Grace we commit the same to the grace of the Almighty.

(_b_) An order set down by the Lords and others of Her Majesty's
Privy Council, the 22 of June 1600 to restrain the excessive number
of play-houses and the immoderate use of stage plays in and about
the city.

Whereas divers complaints have been heretofore made unto the Lords
and others of Her Majesty's Council of the manifold abuses and
disorders that have grown and do continue by occasion of many houses
erected and employed in and about the city of London for common
stage plays; and now very lately by reason of some complaint
exhibited by sundry persons against the building of the like house
in or near Golding Lane by one Edward Allen, a servant of the right
honourable the Lord Admiral, the matter as well in generality
touching all the said houses for stage plays and the use of playing
as in particular concerning the said house now in hand to be built
in or near Golding Lane hath been brought into question and
consultation among their Lordships; forasmuch as it is manifestly
known and granted that the multitude of the said houses and the
misgovernment of them hath been made and is daily occasion of the
idle, riotous and dissolute living of great numbers of people, who,
leaving all such honest and painful course of life as they should
follow, do meet and assemble there; and of many particular abuses
and disorders that do thereupon ensue. And yet nevertheless it is
considered that the use and exercise of such plays not being evil in
itself may with a good order and moderation be suffered in a
well-governed estate, and that Her Majesty being pleased at some
times to take delight and recreation in the sight and hearing of
them, some order is fit to be taken for the allowance and
maintenance, of such persons as are thought meetest in that kind, to
yield Her Majesty recreation and delight, and consequently of the
houses that must serve for public playing to keep them in exercise.
To the end therefore that both the greatest abuses of the plays and
playing houses may be redressed and the use and moderation of them
retained, the Lords and the rest of Her Majesty's Privy Council have
ordered in manner and form as followeth.

First, that there shall be about the city two houses and no more
allowed to serve for the use of the common stage plays; of the which
houses one shall be in Surrey, in that place which is commonly
called the Bankside, or thereabouts, and the other in Middlesex....
It is likewise ordered that the house of Allen shall be allowed to
be one of the two houses, and namely for the house to be allowed in
Middlesex. And for the other, allowed to be on Surrey side, their
Lordships are pleased to permit to the company of players that shall
play there, to make their own choice which they will have, choosing
one of them and no more. And especially is it forbidden that any
stage plays shall be played (as sometimes they have been) in any
common inn for public assembly in or near about the city.

Secondly, forasmuch as these stage plays by the multitude of houses
and company of players have been too frequent, not serving for
recreation, but inviting and calling the people daily from their
trade and work to misspend their time; it is likewise ordered that
the two several companies of players, assigned unto the two houses
allowed, may play each of them in their several house twice a week
and no oftener; and especially that they shall refrain to play on
the sabbath day, upon pain of imprisonment and further penalty; and
that they shall forbear altogether in the time of Lent and likewise
at such time and times as any extraordinary sickness or infection of
disease shall appear to be in or about the city.

Thirdly, because these orders will be of little force and effect
unless they be duly put into execution, it is ordered that several
copies shall be sent to the Lord Mayor of London and to the Justices
of the Peace of the counties of Middlesex and Surrey, and that
letters should be written to them straightly charging them to see
the execution of the same by committing to prison the owners of
playhouses and players who shall disobey and resist these orders.

A PLAGUE ORDER (1593).

Since the Great Plague of 1665 there has been no similar outbreak in this country, but before that year plagues were of comparatively frequent occurrence. Despite the enormous loss of life which these pestilences caused, no effective measures were taken to prevent their recurrence. Although the outbreaks were by no means confined to the towns, they appear invariably to have commenced there, and the blame was usually attached to immigrants, or to the importation of infected foreign goods. The conditions in the towns, particularly London, were so utterly insanitary that infectious diseases were positively encouraged, and the annals of London contain periodical accounts of disastrous visitations such as the one described by Stow as occurring in 1603. The early literature concerning the Plague is not very illuminating, and we get very few details as to treatment. The chief points of the regulations which were issued on the occasion of every serious outbreak appear to be isolation of infected persons and special attention to sanitation. These measures, of course, are exactly those which are adopted at the present day; but it seems that, excellent though the regulations themselves might be, they were very imperfectly enforced, and we are almost entirely in the dark as to the treatment accorded to the sufferers and the remedies, if any, which were found to prove at all effective.

=Sources.=—(_a_) Lansdowne MSS.,
Malone Society, _Collections_, 1., ii., xix;
(_b_) Stow,_Annals_, p. 857.

(_a_) 1593. Orders to be sett downe by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen
of London for taking awaie such enormities as be meanes not only to
continue but increase the plague and disorders of the Citie; being
taken out of the proclamations set out by the Citie and the articles
sett downe for providing for the poor and setting them to work.

_Aldermen or their Deputies._

1. To give charge to Churchwardens, Constables, Parish Clerks and
Bedells to enquire what houses be infected.

2. To visit the ward often to see orders observed, especially
touching cleanness in the streets.

3. The Aldermen or their deputies in their own persons to appoint
Surveyors monthly in every parishe.

4. To appoint that certificate may be made to them what houses be
infected.

5. To give charge to all teachers of children that (as nere as they
can) they permit no children to come to their scoles from infected
houses, especiallie till such houses have bene clere by the space of
28 daies, and that none kepe a greater number than their Roomes
shall be thought fit by the Aldermen or their deputies to conteyne.

_Surveyours._

1. To see the orders for the sick executed daylie and diligentlie,
upon knowledge from the Aldermen what houses be infected.

2. To appoint purveyours of necessaries for infected houses (being
of the same houses), and deliver them reed rods to carry, and see
that none other resort to their houses.

_Constables._

1. To bring every daie notice in writing to the Aldermen or their
deputies what houses be infected.

_Constable and Churchwarden._

1. To provyde to have in readiness women to be providers and
deliverers of necessaries to infected houses, and to attend the
infected persons, and they to bear reed wandes, so that the sicke
maie be kept from the whole, as nere as maie be, nedefull attendance
weighed.

_Constable and Bedell._

1. To inquire what houses be infected.

2. To view dailie that papers remaine upon doors xxviii daies or to
place newe.

_Clarkes and Sextons._

1. To understand what houses be infected.

2. To see bills set upon the doors of houses infected.

3. To suffer no corpses infected to be buried or remain in the
churche during prayer or sermon, and to keep children from coming
nere them.

_Scavengers and Rakers._

1. To see the streets made cleane every daie saving Sunday and the
soile to be carried away.

2. To warn all inhabitants, against their houses to keep channels
clere from fylth (by only turning it aside) that the water maie have
passage.

_Common Hunt._

1. To kyll dogs, etc., or to lose his place.

_Householders and Houses._

1. Houses having some sicke though none die, or from whence some
sicke have bene removed, are infected houses, and such are to be
shut up for a month.

2. The whole familie to tarry in xxviii days.

3. To keep shut the lower rooms for the like space.

4. One licensed to go for provision, etc.

5. No clothes hanged into the streets.

6. Such as have wells or pumpes, every morning by six and every
evening after eight a clocke, shall cause ten bucketts full to run
into the streets.

7. Every evening at that hour the streets and channels to be made
cleane, the water not swept out of the channell, nor the streets
overwett but sprinkled, etc.

8. The houses infected and things in them to be aired in the xxviii
days and no clothes or things about the infected persons to be given
awaie or sold, but either destroyed or sufficientlie purified.

9. Owners of houses infected with their familie, may within the
month depart to any their houses in the countrye, or to any other
house in the Cyttye without being shut up, so that they abstain from
returning to the Cyttye, or from going abroad out of house in the
Cyttye, for a month.

10. None shall keep dogg or bitche abroad unled nor within howling
or disturbing of their neighbours.

11. To have no assembly at funeral dynners or usual meeting in
houses infected.

12. None shall for a month come into infected houses but such as be
of the house and licensed to do service abroad.

13. No donghills out of stables, Bearhouses or other places to be
made in the strete.

14. To have double time of Restraint for consenting to pull down
bills, and the taker awaie to suffer imprisonement for viii days.

_Two Viewers of Dead Bodies,
Two Viewers of sick suspected_,

Shall be appointed and sworne.

These viewers to report to the Constable, he to the Clarke, and he
to the chief of Clarkes, all upon pain of imprisonment.

A pain of standing on the pillory for false reports by the viewers.
A loss of pension to such as shall refuse.

_Mendinge of Pavements._

That diligent care be had, that pavements be amended where nede is,
and that principall paviers be appointed to survey the wants of
paving, especiallie in Channels, and that the dwellers against such
may be forced to amend them.

_Interludes and Plaies._

If the increase of the sicknes be feared, that Interludes and plaies
be restrained within the libertyes of the Cyttye.

_Phisicions and Surgeons._

That skilful and learned physicions and surgeons may be provided to
minister to the sicke.

_Vagrant, Masterless, and poore people._

1. That all such as be diseased be sent to St. Thomas or St.
Bartylmewes hospitall, there to be first cured and made cleane, and
afterwards those which be not of the Cyttye to be sent awaie
according to the statute in that case provided, and the other to be
sett to worke, in such as are least used by the Inhabitants of the
Cyttye, for the avoyding of all such vagrant persons as well as
children male and female, soldiers lame and maymed, as other idle
and loytering persons that swarme in the streets and wander up and
downe begging to the great daunger and infecting of the Cyttye for
th' increase of the plague and annoyance to the same.

2. That all maisterless men who live idlie in the Cyttye without any
lawfull calling, frequenting places of common assemblies, as
Interludes, gaming houses, cockpitts, bowling allies, and such other
places, may be banished the Cyttye according to the laws in that
case provyded.

(_b_) In the former year, 1603, the plague of pestilence being great
in Ostend, and divers other parties of the Low countries, and many
soldiers returning thence into England, and many ships of war lying
long at Sea became also infected, who in their return, brought that
contagion into divers parts of this land, chiefly into the City of
London: by reason whereof many citizens, and other inhabitants
thereof, for their better safety went into most shires of this
kingdom, where in divers places they were kindly entertained, and
entreated, and in many places most unchristianly, and despitefully
reviled, and not suffered to have relief, neither for love, nor
money, saying God must needs plague you, for your monstrous
wickedness etc. many died in high-ways, fields and barns, near unto
good towns, and villages, where too many of them were let remain too
long unburied, but God whose mercy is above all his works, stayed
his visitation in London, to the honour of his own name, and
admiration of all men.

The City of London, the year ensuing viz. 1604, was cleared of all
infection, and the other cities of this kingdom, most villages, and
towns corporate, more extremely visited, and some by proclamation
prohibited from coming to London: and it was Christianly observed in
the year 1604, in the which it pleased Almighty God to visit the
whole land with pestilence (London only excepted) that all those
places were least, or not at all visited, which the year before had
relieved the distressed. There died in London, and the liberties
thereof, from the 23rd of December 1602, unto the 22nd of December
1603, of all diseases, 38,244, whereof of the plague, 30,578: the
next March following, against the time the King should ride in
triumph through London, to behold the state and beauty thereof
besides the Clergy, Nobility, and chief gentry, of every country,
and great numbers of strangers from beyond seas, there repaired
thither such great multitudes of people from all places, as the like
in London was never seen until that day, all which notwithstanding,
there died that year of all diseases within London, and the
liberties of London but 4,263.

LONDON SCHOOLS (1598).

During the Middle Ages there was little provision for education; the monasteries and the Universities kept alive such learning as existed, and it was not until the sixteenth century that the revival of learning affected England and brought about a widespread interest in education and the pursuit of knowledge. It is well known that Wolsey and Henry VIII. at first proposed to divert some of the wealth of the monasteries to educational purposes, such as the endowment of schools and colleges in the Universities; and although this intention was not fully carried out, the cause of education in London was advanced by some of the City Companies and by private benefactions. The following passage from Stow gives an entertaining description of the educational methods of his day.

=Source.=—Stow's _Survey_, p. 74.

But touching schools more lately advanced in this City, I read that
King Henry the fifth having suppressed the priories aliens whereof
some were about London, namely one Hospital, called Our Lady of
Rouncivall by Charing Cross: one other Hospital in Oldborne
[Holborn]: one other without Cripplegate: and the fourth without
Aldersgate, besides other that are now worn out of memory, and
whereof there is no monument remaining more than Rouncivall
converted to a brotherhood, which continued till the reign of Henry
the 8. or Edward the 6., this I say, and their schools being broken
up and ceased: King Henry the sixth in the 24. of his reign, by
patent appointed that there should be in London, Grammar schools,
besides St. Paul's, at St. Martin's le Grand, S. Mary le Bow in
Cheap, S. Dunstans in the west and S. Anthony's. And in the next
year, to wit, 1394, the said King ordained by Parliament that four
other grammar schools should be erected, to wit, in the parishes of
Saint Andrew in Holborn, All Hallows the great in Thames Street, S.
Peters upon Cornhill, and in the Hospital of S. Thomas of Acons in
west Cheap, since the which time as divers schools by suppressing of
religious houses, whereof they were members, in the reign of Henry
the 8. have been decayed, so again have some others been newly
erected, and founded for them: as namely Paul's school, in place of
an old ruined house, was built in most ample manner, and largely
endowed in the year 1512 by John Collet Doctor of Divinity, Dean of
Pauls, for 153 poor mens children: for which there was ordained a
master, surmaster, or usher, and a chaplain. Again in the year 1553
after the erection of Christ's Hospital in the late dissolved house
of the Grey Friars, a great number of poor children being taken in,
a school was also ordained there, at the Citizens charges. Also in
the year 1561 the Merchant Tailors of London founded one notable
free Grammar-School in the Parish of St. Laurence Poulteney by
Candlewick street, Richard Hills late master of that Company, having
given £500 toward the purchase of an house, called the Manor of the
Rose, sometime the Duke of Buckingham's, wherein the school is kept.
As for the meeting of the Schoolmasters, on festival days, at
festival Churches, and the disputing of their Scholars logically,
etc., whereof I have before spoken, the same was long since
discontinued: but the arguing of the school boys about the
principles of grammar, hath been continued even till our time: for I
my self in my youth have yearly seen on the Eve of S. Bartholomew
the Apostle, the scholars of divers grammar schools repair unto the
Churchyard of S. Bartholomew, the Priory in Smithfield, where upon a
bank boarded about under a tree, some one scholar hath stepped up,
and there hath opposed and answered, till he were by some better
scholar overcome and put down: and then the overcomer taking the
place, did like as the first: and in the end the best opposers and
answerers had rewards, which I observed not but it made both good
schoolmasters, and also good scholars, diligently against such times
to prepare themselves for the obtaining of this garland. I remember
there repaired to these exercises amongst others the masters and
scholars of the free schools of Saint Pauls in London: of Saint
Peters at Westminster: of Saint Thomas Acons Hospital: and of Saint
Anthony's Hospital: whereof the last named commonly presented the
best scholars, and had the prize in those days.

A GERMAN VIEW OF LONDON (1600).

The author of the following passage was a German lawyer who visited England while on a three years' tour as tutor to a young Silesian nobleman, from 1597 to 1600. On his return to Germany he published a description of his travels, written in Latin, under the title of "Itinerarium Germaniæ, Galliæ, Angliæ, Italiæ."

=Source.=—Paul Hentzner's _Travels in England_.

This most ancient city is in the county of Middlesex, the
fruitfullest and wholesomest soil in England.... The city being very
large of itself, has very extensive suburbs, and a fort called the
Tower, of beautiful structure. It is magnificently ornamented with
public buildings and churches, of which there are above one hundred
and twenty parochial. On the south is a bridge of stone eight
hundred feet in length of wonderful work; it is supported upon
twenty piers of stone, sixty feet high and thirty broad, joined by
arches of about twenty feet diameter. The whole is covered on each
side with houses so disposed as to have the appearance of a
continued street, not at all of a bridge. Upon this is built a
tower, on whose top the heads of such as have been executed for high
treason are placed on iron spikes; we counted above thirty.

The wealth of the world is wafted to London by the Thames, swelled
by the tide; and navigable to merchant ships through a safe and deep
channel, for sixty miles, from its mouth to the city; its banks are
everywhere beautified with fine country seats, woods and farms....

The government of the city is lodged by ancient grant of the Kings
of England in twenty-five aldermen, that is, seniors; these annually
elect out of their own body a mayor and two sheriffs, who determine
causes according to municipal laws.

It is worthy of observation, that every year, upon St. Bartholomew's
Day, when the fair is held, it is usual for the mayor, attended by
the twelve principal aldermen, to walk in a neighbouring field,
dressed in his scarlet gown, and about his neck a golden chain, to
which is hung a golden fleece, and besides, that particular ornament
which distinguishes the most noble order of the garter. During the
year of his magistracy he is obliged to live so magnificently, that
foreigner or native without any expense, is free, if he can find a
chair empty, to dine at his table, where there is always the
greatest plenty. When the mayor goes out of the precincts of the
city, a sceptre, a sword and a cap are borne before him, and he is
followed by the principal aldermen in scarlet gowns, with gold
chains; himself and they on horseback. Upon their arrival at a place
appointed for that purpose, where a tent is pitched, the mob begin
to wrestle before them, two at a time; the conquerors receive
rewards from the magistrates. While we were at this show, one of our
company, Tobias Salander, doctor of physic, had his pocket picked of
his purse, with nine crowns du soleil, which, without doubt, was so
cleverly taken from him by an Englishman who always kept very close
to him, that the doctor did not in the least perceive it....

The Mint for coining money is in the Tower. It is to be noted that
when any of the nobility are sent hither, on the charge of high
crimes such as treason, they seldom or never recover their
liberty.... On coming out of the Tower we were led to a small house
close by, where are kept variety of creatures, viz.—three lionesses;
one lion of great size, called Edward VI. from his having been born
in that reign; a tiger; a lynx; a wolf excessively old—this is a
very scarce animal in England, so that their sheep and cattle stray
about in great numbers, free from any danger. Near to this Tower is
a large open space; on the highest part of it is erected a wooden
scaffold, for the execution of noble criminals; upon which, they
say, three princes of England, the last of their families, have been
beheaded for high treason.

The next thing worthy of note is the Royal Exchange, so named by
Queen Elizabeth, built by Sir Thomas Gresham, citizen, for public
ornament and the convenience of merchants. It has a great effect,
whether you consider the stateliness of the building, the assemblage
of different nations, or the quantities of merchandise....

The streets in this city are very handsome and clean; but that which
is named from the goldsmiths who inhabit it surpasses all the rest;
there is in it a gilt tower, with a fountain that plays. Near it, on
the farther side, is a handsome house built by a goldsmith and
presented by him to the city. There are besides to be seen in this
street, as in all others where there are goldsmiths' shops, all
sorts of gold and silver vessels exposed to sale, as well as ancient
and modern metals, in such quantities as must surprise a man the
first time he sees and considers them.

LONDON AND ULSTER (1609).

The growth of colonisation which marked the beginning of the seventeenth century is one of the most notable features of our commercial history, and the plantation of Ulster was in accordance with the new spirit. This province had become depopulated and almost entirely forfeited to the Crown, by reason of the frequent rebellions which had occurred there during the previous century. On the presentation of the following report a charter was received by the Corporation of London, granting powers to raise a sum of money and take measures for the plantation of the province. The first arrangement was that the bulk of the land should be assigned to the twelve great livery companies, while the City of Derry and the town of Coleraine should be handed over to a society which was formed by City merchants for the purpose of exploiting the new colony.

=Source.=—_Calendar of State Papers (Ireland)_, 1608-1610, p. 207.

The late ruined city of Derry, situate upon the river of Lough
Foyle, navigable above Derry, and another place near the Castle of
Coleraine, situate on the river Ban, navigable with small vessels
only, by reason of the bar a little above Coleraine, seem to be the
fittest places for the City of London to plant.

2. With small charges, these places (especially Derry) may be made
impregnable.

3. His Majesty offers to grant to these two places charters of
incorporation; the whole territory betwixt them, however, which is
above 20 miles in length, bounded by the sea on the north, by the
Ban on the east, and the river Derry or Lough Foyle on the west (out
of which 3,000 acres or more may be allotted to each of the towns
for their commons), to be planted with such undertakers as the City
of London shall think fit, paying only for the same the easy rent of
the undertakers.