History of Norfolk/Volume 3/Chapter 28

by Francis Blomefield

CHAPTER XXVIII

OF THE CITY IN JAMES THE FIRST'S TIME.

James the First, being proclaimed King of England at London, on the 24th of March, 1602, at which time the plague raged exceedingly there, so that 30,578 died of it, as well as here, where there died 3076, ordered that there should be as little concourse of people as possible on such occasions, least they should spread the infection, which same wise course was taken by the magistrates here, though alderman Gibson resisted it, and behaved so as he was disfranchised for it, but afterwards on submission was restored.

Soon after he was seated on his throne, he granted a general pardon to the mayor, sheriffs, and commons, of this city, for all offences whatever past, to the 20th of March in the 40th year of Queen Elizabeth.

The infection caused such a scarcity in the city, that wheat was sold for 10s. a bushel; rye for 6, and barley for 5.

In 1605, there was a quo warranto brought against the city, by the dean and prebends of Christ Church, concerning the charging the inhabitants in their precinct to the poor, with the rest of the city; which contention lasted some time; for in 1614, the dean and prebends, wrote to the court, that they understood their tenant Stefenson, who dwelt in the Popinjay was taxed to the maintenance of the city poor, and they taking the house to be within the iimits of their liberties granted them by his Majesty, could not submit to it, but were very willing to live at peace with the city, and so for clearing this doubt, and avoiding this expense of suit, they would, if the city would, consent to leave it to Mr. Richardson, the deputy steward of their church, and Mr. Gwynne, recorder of Norwich, or else to the judges of assize at the next circuit; and soon after it was made up, the precinct being excepted from paying to the city poor, and obliged wholly to maintain their own.

This year there was a petition to the parliament from the city ministers, and a bill drawn upon it; the consequence of which we learn from a letter directed to Tho. Sotherton, then mayor, from Sir John Pettus at London dated March 6, 1606, in which he says, "as to the minister's bill, which petitions for two shillings on the pound upon every house, shop, &c. as they be now letten; there have not been so many committees together upon any private bill since the beginning of the parliament, and the more part were for passing the bill, had not Sir Henry Hobart [steward] given them to understand the inconveniences that might grow thereupon. And the committees then agreed to draw a new bill, but Sir John Pettus, by reason of the inconvenience to the meaner sort of people, and to such as pay great rents, and Mr. Fidell [the city's solicitor] perswaded Mr. Batho [one of the ministers] to desist, upon promising him that some good course should be taken by the magistrates to assess every parish for the increase of the ministers wages."

Upon which the following order of council was directed,

"To our loving friends the mayor of the cittie of Norwich for the time being, or to any three or more of the justices of peace of that cittie, whereof the mayor always to be one.

"After our very hearty commendacions, whereas by petition expressed on the behalf of the preachers and ministers of the many several parishes of the cittie of Norwich, and by the verbal testimonie of some of the aldermen at the counsell board, it appeareth that the yearly mayntenance allowed the ministers, (consisting only on the voluntary contributions of the people in general) is very small and insufficient, to sustain them in their function and calling, as becometh, wherein the inferior sorte are found most backward to the ministers of their own parish, which we conceive to proceed, either out of want of religious zeale towards the Gospel, or out of their own corrupt disposition, to factious sectaries, and pretended reformacion, whereby the ministers may be driven through necessity into contempt and other inconveniences, and consequently their profession much scandalized. The King's majesty (as matter not little concerning him in honor and dignitie) have thought it very expedient some good order be taken, for provision in the cause, to be set down for the time to come, and therefore in his princely wisdom (for the better advancement and propagation of God's word, hath commaunded us seriously to confer of the matter, whereupon it is resolved and ordered, and accordingly in his Majesties name, we do require you, by authoritie of these our letters, to take paynes forthwith to enter into the due consideration of the estates and abilities of all the inhabitants of the said parishes, and from time to time to set down a proportionable tax on every of them, such as shall be competent for the maintenance of the said ministers respectively, to be yearly paid them according to their difference in guifts, sufficiency, and diligence in their function, as in your good discrecions shall be meet and convenient, not doubting your care and circumspection in the indifference of such imposicions, that no party may have just cause to complain of any grevance by pareiallitie or otherwise. Wherein we also hold it fit, you intimate unto them in your proceeding to this business, the religious forwardness of the straungers there inhabiting, and the backwardness of a natural subject in a cause of this nature, and likewise that if a strict course be taken with them for the paiment of tenths proportionable to their true value and worth in substance, &c. it would grow to be much more burthensome to them, than this voluntary benevolence and contribution now required, whatsoever they may pretend to the contrary: in your proceedings herein, if you shall find any inhabitant obstinately wilfull, refusing to conform himself to the payment of such rate or taxacion, as he shall be set down by you, we thinke it requisite and necessary, for you to take bonds of them to appear personally before us at the councell board, at a day prefixed by you, to answer their contempt, and to give us account for such their obstinacie and refusal, sending therewithall your certificate that such further order may be taken with them as shall appertain. And so eftsoones recommending the due execution hereof to your extraordinary paynes and diligence from time to time as occasion shall be offered, we bid you heartily farewell. From the court at Whitehall the 15th Feb. 1606.

"Your very loving friends,
R. Cant. Fellemere Canc. F. Dorset. Nottingham. F. Suffolke, Exeter. Northampton. Salisbury. Zouche. Knowles. Wotton."

And thus the ministers wages used to be raised for some time, till Matthew Wren Bishop of Norwich, in 1638, procured his Majesty King Charles the First, to declare his royal pleasure under the great seal of England, "That if any person within the said city of Norwich, should refuse to pay according to the rate of two shillings the pound in lieu of the tithes of houses, unto the minister of any parish within the sayd city, that the same should be heard in the court of Chancery, or in the consistory of the Bishop of Norwich, and that in such case no prohibition should be granted against the said Bishop of Norwich, their chancellors or commissioners, in the said courts of consistory." Which, by reason of the succeeding troubles, never took effect.

In 1608, Sir John Pettus, then mayor, built the fish-stalls by Fybridge, and the next year the house over the spring by Bishopgates.

And the same year, in pursuance of the will of Tho. Pettus, Esq. late alderman of Norwich, he paid 20l. to the court, as a stock to set on work such as should be committed to Bridewell; and 100l. 50l. of which was to be lent among the poor worsted weavers, and 50l. among the poor dornix weavers, by 5l. or 10l each, giving security for repayment, in the same manner as for Mr. Rogers's gift. And also settled on the city 6 acres of land, belonging to Heigham manor, lying just out of St. Giles's-gates, against the road leading to Eaton west, and the way leading under the walls, and the land called AllSaints east, to the intent that 4l. 6s. 8d. of the rent be employed to perform the gift of Rich. Rugg, late deceased, to whom the said Tho. Pettus was executor, he ordering him to settle lands sufficient that there should be divided yearly on Ash-Wednesday to the poor 4l. and the mayor for his trouble to have 3s. 4d. and the sheriffs as much.

At this time, there were such violent inundations occasioned by the high winds, that incredible damage both to houses, men, and beasts, was done in many parts of England, and in several places of this county, to such a degree, that an act passed for the speedy recovery of many thousand acres of marsh and other grounds, lately overflown, &c. in the county of Norfolk, and for the prevention of the like hereafter; which sets forth, that a part of the sea shore lying between the towns of great Yarmouth and Happisborrow (or Haseboro) lying low, and being sand only, was lately broken down and washed away by the violence of the tides, so that the sea broke in every tide, and with every sea-wind came up the Norwich river into the very body and heart of the county of Norfolk, drowning much hard grounds, and many thousand acres of marsh, upon which great part of the wealth of the county depends, being most rich grounds; and without which, the uplands which are mostly dry and barren, cannot be husbanded: and by means of the salt water, the fisheries between Yarmouth and Norwich, as well in rivers as broads, were much damaged, so that the great plenty which used to maintain many poor men, was gone, and the markets badly served with fresh fish; to remedy which, there were appointed 18 commissioners, who, according to the direction of the act, were to stop the breaches, it being to be feared that in time to come, further mischief might follow by other breaches, or enlarging of those already made, if speedy remedy be not provided, and God of his mercy stop not the same.

In 1609, the plague was here in the summer season, but did not carry off many; the river was watched least they should bring stuff or infected persons from Yarmouth.

In 1611, the city received of Mr. Peter Wood 200 marks, given by Mr. Augustine Wood, to be lent to poor tradesmen, by 20 nobles a man, half in Berstreet ward, and half in Fibridge ward. And also 40l. to the prisoners in the castle.

This year there was a mutiny designed to be raised in the city, on pretence, as in other places, of hindering new enclosures; and Tho. Townesend and Tho. Harrison were sent for, and examined by the privy council, who found vehement suspicion that they were guilty of what they were charged with, and so ordered them to Norwich, to be imprisoned there, but afterwards finding sureties for their good behaviour, they were discharged: the Earl of Northampton, in a letter to the mayor, mentions the mutiny in Norwich very happily discovered and suppressed.

The privy council directed letters to the mayor and aldermen dated Jan. 8, for quickening them earnestly to put in execution his Majesty's orders last year, for the keeping the ancient strictness and severity of Lent.

Easter day being the King's coronation, the mayor and aldermen sat in the Green Yard without a sermon, because the chancellor would not have it there, but in the church, and having sat till the sermon was done in the church, they departed having heard no sermon.

On the 18th of June, (it being the gild-day) a sumptuous pageant was prepared at the new mayor's gate on Tombland, and certain fireworks, as had been usual, were fired off in the evening, some of which breaking, frighted the people (who were very numerous) to such a degree, that hurrying away in crowds for fear of hurt, there were no less than 33 persons trodden down and pressed to death, as the register of the parish of St. Simon and Jude declares.

"In 1611, June 19, Edmund Hall of Ludham, Margaret Dybald, Anne Baglet, Rose Firman, Joan Bakon, Rebecka Love, buried the same day and yeare, thes 6, and 27 more weare all slayne at the fyer-works in Tumbland, Mr. Tho. Angwyshe [who founded the Boys Hospital] then entering his mayoralty:" on which account, at a court held the 22d of March following, it was ordered, in regard of that lamentable mishap that fell at the last gild by reason of fireworks, that no more be used on any feast or gild-day, on penalty of 20l. to be levied by distress on them that use them.

Thomas Doughty of Norwich draper, by will dated 26 Aug. 1612, gave to the poor of the parish he dwelt in 1l. to the poor of the 4 wards 2l. 10s. to 12 poor citizens a gown each. To every lazar-house 6s. To the court 100l. to be lent freely to 10 worsted weavers for 7 years, viz. 10l. each, they using the trade and giving good security for the repayment &c. for ever. To Berstreet 50 chaldrons of coals. To Mr. Furnice, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Galliard, Mr. Yates, Mr. Wells, and Mr. Haylett, ministers, 4l. each. To the preacher at Berstreet church, a house worth 60l. To the prisoners at the gild-hall 20s. and at the castle 20s.

In 1618 Mr. Will. Doughty, alderman of Lyn, paid the legacies; and in 1695, mention is made in the assembly book, of 250l. of Mr. William Doughty's gift, to be lent by 25l. a man to 10 worsted weavers for five years, and as much to 10 shop-keepers, also 100l. to 5 watermen.

In 1613, on the 3d of May, 50l. was paid to the new elected mayor of the gift of Sir John Pettus, for the yearly buying of coals for the word beyond the water, which payment is to endure for ever, it being given by his will, and was this year paid by Tho. Pettus, his son and executor.

About this time, Peter Barker, alderman, gave 40l. to the city.

At this time also, there arose great disturbances between the citizens and Dutch strangers, who began to attempt to exercise the ancient trades of the city, contrary to their agreement at their admission, and against the will of the Walloons, who lived peaceably, and aimed at no such thing: and proceeded so far without knowledge of the city or their countrymen, as to procure a charter from the King, dated Feb. 6, A^o. reg. x. by which all strangers communicants of the Dutch congregation were to come in, and use the trade of making any particular stuff, knit stockings, dying, and all foreign draperies, &c. by which they became a company not depending on the city, or their countrymen; but after much contest, George Cock, mayor, got it cancelled by the privy council, on Nov. 13, 1613, to the great satisfaction of the city and French congregation And it was then determined, that the strangers, according to their first patent, should not be assessed by the court to the ministers wages in their parishes, for any thing but their houses and grounds, the payment for their values and stocks being left to their own congregations; they being to be governed by the bishop as to spirituals, by the city as to temporals, and their own church by their elders and deacons. But in 1621, another dispute arose among themselves, many refusing to serve as elders, withdrew, and went to their own parish churches, so that the congregations applied to the privy council, who referred them to the bishop, mayor, and justices. Upon which Dennis Larmett, complained, that though he was a freeman, and duly frequented his own parish church, and paid all duties to Mr. Fulk Roberts, minister of St. Saviour's, and to that parish, yet the French congregation made him pay to their minister, and frequent their congregation, and lately elected him an elder, and he was obliged to serve, and pay as heretofore, and therefore afterwards, he refused to pay the minister of St. Saviour's 20s, a year, "according to order from the counsell board formerly established, and now lately by ther honourable letters of the 30th of May last, commanded to be observed, since which submission and consent of the said Dennis Lermitt, he still refuseth to pay to Mr. Foulke Roberts minister of St. Saviours parish, the yearly some of xxs. by us reasonably and advisedly assessed and set according to the yearly value of his house. And hath also associated himself unto Joel Deformeaux, and Samuel Camby, two principal men of that congregation, who being rich in means, and refractory in condition, have upon some displeasure misconceived against Mr. Peter de Lawne, their minister, whom we know to be a learned, grave, and discreet preacher, not only withheld from him their usual contribution, but have withdrawn themselves from their congregation and church, wherein they had formerly born several offices, and continued members thereof ever since their baptism; albey those personal differences have been heard and discussed by their own synode more than two yeares since, and the same have been often particularly ripped up and heard before the now Lord Bishop of Norwich, and at other times before diverse justices of the peace of this citty, at which hearing they have been worthily blamed for their unjust calumpnies concerning their minister, and no just cause found of their separacion." And so they were forced to pay to, and be members of the French church, and pay to St. Saviour's officers and minister for their houses only, as heretofore, by order of council dated 10th Oct. 1621; and in 1622, upon a petition of his Majesty's natural born subjects against strangers for using trades in this realm, there came a letter to the city, signed by Tho. Coventry and Robert Heath, two of the commissioners for ordering the business about strangers, dated the 14th of June, ordering the names and professions of all strangers, born and such as are born of parents strangers, to be returned them, by two or three strangers, to whom, on the part of the rest, may be imparted the King's pleasure; and the like letters were sent to all places where there were strangers inhabiting; and on the 24th of July, came another letter to know what the English citizens would have the commissioners take it into consideration for them. The design of his Majesty being to give encouragement to the English, and yet no just cause of complaint to the strangers. Upon which the city returned such an answer, as the strangers remained unmolested.

In 1614, the Lords of the privy council, by letters dated the 22d of March, desired the city to given encouragement to a lottery, set on foot for the benefit of the English Virginia plantation, wherein haply they may be gainers, and whatsoever lost, shall be bestowed on so good a work; and by another letter dated 21 Dec. 1617, they desired them to assist Gabriel Barbor, &c. in the management of a running lottery, to be by them kept in Norwich; Sir John Suckling sent a letter for its encouragement, and the mayor was to apppoint two persons to inspect the drawing of it, as well as the child to draw out the lots.

The Lords of the council, by letter dated the 14th of July, acquainted the city that the parliament late dissolved, not having granted sufficient supplies to his Majesty, many of the lords out of their affection, had given him plate, or money, or both; which example several gentlemen of the shires, cities, and burghs, had resolved to follow, and that they designed the like from the city of Norwich, desiring them to send a register of the names and gifts of every person to the King's jewel-house, which they did; but their presents were not much liked; for the Earl of Suffolk, in a letter dated Feb. 17, directed to the mayor and aldermen, tells them that he is displeased with them for not having enlarged themselves in their free gift to his Majesty, what they sent being unworthy, as he said, to come from such a city, the second or third of the kingdom; assuring them, the little town of Yarmouth had contributed a sum almost as great, telling them, that their excuse of having formerly lent his Majesty money by way of loan, was none at all, because all the kingdom had done the same.

Nov. 12, Mrs. Anne Layer paid into court 50l. given to be lent out to young tradesmen, by Mr. Tho. Layer, late alderman, her husband.

In 1615, so great were the inundations in Norfolk, that the sea came 12 miles into land; and on St. Andrew's day there was such a flood in the city, that it was as high as Candlemas flood within two inches; it did much hurt in the churches, cellars, houses, tanners' yards, &c. but no one lost their life. There began a snow and frost the 20th of Jan. which continued 8 weeks, and when it brake up, much damage was done here by a flood on the 15th of March.

This same year, Tho. Tunstall, priest, was hanged drawn, and quartered, at the gallows out of Magdalen-gates, his head was set on a pole on St. Benedict's-gates, and his quarters hung on four other gates; he confessed he was a Benedictine friar by vow, but not by act.

In 1616, divers orders for the worsted-weavers, signed by the mayor and Tho. Bedingfield Steward of the Dutchy of Lancaster, and confirmed by the Judges of Assize, were published for all of that business in Norwich, Lyn, Yarmouth, Thetford, and elsewhere in Norfolk to observe.

In 1617, farthing tokens of copper, were received by the mayor, from the Duke of Lenox, to put forth and disperse in the city, paying 19s. for every 20s. put off. And in 1620, Tho. Garnet, one of the patentees for the tokens, offered to give any officer the mayor would appoint, either 6l. 13s. 4d. for his pains for one year, or 12d. in the pound.

At the assizes held on Monday the 14th of August, Sir Henry Montague, Knt. Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench, and Sir John Dodridge, Knt. being justices of assize for the city and county, came in on Saturday night, and heard service on Sunday morning in the cathedral, sitting in the seat where the Bishop sits in sermon time; and after service ended, Mr. John Mingay, then mayor, with the sheriffs and aldermen, according to custom, met with the judges at the stair's feet, and accompanied them to the preaching place in the Green Yard; Sir Austin Palgrave, Knt. then high sheriff of Norfolk, went indiscreetly on the right hand of Mr. Mayor, and untruly informed the Lord Chief Justice, that it was his place to sit in the chair in the preaching place, and Mr. Mayor on his left hand; upon which, the Lord Chief Justice (never having been in the place before) did sit down in the chair, which Mr. Mayor very discreetly and stoutly challenged to be his seat, but his Lordship, by the high-sheriff's mis-information, opposed the same, till he was informed by the steward of the city, the town-clerk, the sword-bearer, and others, of Mr. Mayor's right to hold his place. So that the next morning, the high-sheriff, upon better advice, did at the Judge's lodgings, before the mayor, sheriffs, aldermen, and many knights and gentlemen of the county, confess that he had erred in his information: and in the afternoon Mr. Mayor waited on their Lordships about another contention, concerning their going first to the Castle, it being affirmed that both judges usually had gone first to the Gild-hall. Upon which the judges coming out of their lodgings into their chamber of audience, sat down, and ordered the mayor to sit down by them, and the said high sheriff standing bareheaded before them, the Lord Chief Justice reprimanded him for his untrue information touching the seat; and whereas the high-sheriff in the forenoon had with the sheriffs of the city attended the Lord Chief Justice from the Castle Bridge to the Gild-hall, in all which way Mr. Will. Browne, sheriff of the city, took the upper hand of the high-sheriff of Norfolk, (which the county would suffer no more,) it was decreed by the said judges, that for ever hereafter the high-sheriff only should attend the judges when they were about the county business; and the sheriff's of Norwich only and not the high-sheriff of Norfolk, should attend them, when they go about the city business, and thereupon the city sheriffs did presently on horseback attend the Lord Chief Justice to the Gild-hall, and the high-sheriff of Norfolk did in like manner attend the other judge to the Castle.

In 1618, Nathaniel de Lawne, son of Mr. Peter de Lawne, minister of the French congregation, was sent from Norwich school to Bennet college in Cambridge, as a Norwich scholar, who when he was bachelor of arts, translated Peter du Moulin's Elements of Logick, with the author's approbation, and published it in 1624.

In 1619, the King directed his letters, dated Apr. 26, by advice of his privy council, to the mayor, &c. of the city, commanding them to choose the senior alderman for their mayor year by year, to avoid all contentions for the future in their elections, in like manner as was observed in the city of London: and as their charters were interpreted before Sir Hen. Montague, Knt. Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench, and Sir John Dodridge, Knt. Justices of Assize for the said city and county; but on May day, at the election of their mayor, Rich. Wyth, Tho. Claxton, John Ling, and alderman Rosse, opposed it, and were all bound over to appear before the privy council, in 500l. a man, "for being disturbers of orders, and contemners of the King's directions." And in 1620, Michael Parker, alderman, Tho. Seaman, and Rog. Sedgewick, were bound over for the same offence: but in 1621, the affair was settled, at an assembly held the 14th of August, before Ric. Tolye, mayor, Sir Hen. Montague, Knt. Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, Sir John Dodridge, Knt. Sir Rob. Houghton, Knt. Justices of the Common Pleas, Rich. Gwyne, Esq. recorder, Will. Denney, Esq. steward, 9 justices for the city, the 2 sheriffs, 9 aldermen, and 48 of the common council, viz. that according to the King's letter, in order to avoid all future dissensions, it was agreed, that the citizens should for ever nominate the 2 senior aldermen, that have been sheriff's, not having been mayor before, or not having been dispensed with at some assembly before the feast of St. Matthias preceding the election, from bearing that office, and the mayor and aldermen shall choose the ancientest in rank for mayor for the ensuing year; and when an alderman is to be elected, the mayor and aldermen shall propose to the citizens of the ward, four persons of the ancientest rank, that have been sheriffs, and if there be not four, then the present sheriffs; and the citizens shall choose those of most ancient rank, the persons so elected standing free of all just exceptions, and the sheriffs to be elected as heretofore, "great circumspection and care being used to choose men sufficient in estate and fit for government, as being afterwards to succeed to be aldermen and mayors," and this form of election lasted many years.

Mr. Henry Fawcet, alderman, by will dated May 14, 1619, gave 10l. to be distributed immediately.

300l. to be lent by the mayor, aldermen, and the wardens of the company of worsted-weavers, to the poorest worsted-weavers in Norwich, by 10l. a man, for three years together, on security given for repayment, and no one that had it once is to have it again, by the space of three years after; no interest is to be paid for any of the money given by him to be lent out.

He gave also 30l. to be lent to dornix weavers by 5l. a man.

20l. to be lent in like manner to the poorest of the trade and company of shoemakers by 5l. a man.

10l. to two poor smiths, 5l. each, and the same sum to two poor joiners, by the mayor, &c. and wardens of the said trades.

40l. to be yearly lent by the mayor, &c. to some man who will in winter undertake to prepare stones out of the mines fit to be worked, whereby the poor masons may be set on work in winter time.

35l. 6s. 8d. to be laid out by the church-wardens and overseers of the five following parishes yearly, by the appointment of the mayor and aldermen, in sea-coals, to be delivered to the poor at the price they cost, viz. St. Paul's 10l. St. James and Pockthorp 10l. St. Clement's 5l. St. Edmund's 5l. and St. Saviour's 5 marks.

He gave a tenement in St. Paul's, and another in St. Austin's, which he purchased of Eliz. Wright, widow; and another in St. George's Colgate, which he purchased of Albert Austin, and a close behind the Cock in Magdalen-street, to the mayor, &c. "for ever to maynteyne and kepe in the hospytall of St. Gyles or God's-house in Norwich, two poor old worsted weavers, to be chosen out of the ward of Fibrigge, by the appointment of his nephew John Fawcet for life, and afterwards of the said mayor and aldermen, with consent of the wardens of the worsted weavers for the time beying."

He gave also towards the maintenance "of the New Hospital erected by Tho. Anguish late alderman, (viz. the Boys Hospital) 100l. and

To every lazer-house in the liberties of Norwich 10s.

Also 5 chaldrons of coals to the prisoners in the castle and the same quantity to the prisoners in the Gild-hall; and

10l. to be yearly laid out in coals by the church-wardens and overseers of St. Michael at Coslany, and to be sold to the poor there in winter, as they are bought in, in summer, and so the stock to remain for ever.

To the Dutch poor 20l. and the same to the French poor.

He settled on his nephew aforesaid, and his heirs, two houses in St. Martyn's at the Oak, part whereof are called the Stag, and a tenement it St. Laurence's parish, on condition that he and the future owners for ever shall pay to every preacher that shall preach at the common place in the Green Yard in Norwich every Sunday throughout the year for ever, 5s. each, and to the minister of the parish of St. Michael's of Coslany 20s. for a sermon by him there to be made yearly upon New-Year's day for ever, and to the parish clerk there yearly for ever 3s. 4d. In 1663, Mr. Rich. Fawcet, who then owned the houses, refused to pay the preacher, alleging it not to be due, as there were no sermons in the common place in the Green Yard, as the will appointed, but in the cathedral; however the commissioners of chritable uses passed a decree against him, Dec. 13, 1664.

Feb. 12, 1620, the city, to express their affections to the King and his only daughter Elizabeth, married to Frederick Count Palatine of the Rhine, sent by way of loan for the defence of the Palatinate, the sum of 326l. 6s. 8d.; but yet in 1622, another letter came desiring a further voluntary contribution for that purpose, the parliament not having yielded a speedy supply, as was necessary to enable his Majesty by force of arms to recover the patrimony of his children in Germany.

In 1622, Mr. Edw. Hobard, executor to Mrs. Barney, sent 50l of her gift to be divided among the city poor.

In 1623, one Bloome was hung in chains at Mile-Cross, for murdering a man.

Mr. Rob. Cock gave 40l. which was paid by Mr. George and Francis Cock, aldermen, his brothers, to be put out on security by 10l. a man, and Mr. John Humfry of St. Saviour's comber, had 10l. of it, and gave security to repay it without interest at one year's end, and in the mean time to set such poor on work as should be sent to him by the court or by the aldermen of the great ward beyond the water, or any of them.

This year, watch and ward was appointed at all the city gates, and great rejoicings were made for the return of Prince Charles from Spain, where he had inconsiderately gone to solicit his match personally with the Infanta, to the great uneasiness of the people, who feared the King of Spain would hinder his return. And on Dec. 31, a petition signed by above 300 citizens was delivered to the mayor at court, desiring that the Bishop might be moved "for restoring the morning exercises on the Sabbath dayes."

At the assizes held here, Tho. Scot, bachelor of divinity, preached a sermon, which was published in quarto at London, entitled, The Projector, teaching a direct, sure, and ready way, to restore the decays of the church and state, both in honour and revenue.

Dec. 1, 1624, Sir Charles Cornwalleis and Sir Henry Bedingfield, two of the deputy lieutenants of the county, sent their warrant to the mayor, to press 100 men out of the city, and the aldermen in their several wards walked all night, and took up 127 in all; and the next day 100 being chosen out of them, they were conducted to Dover to be embarked there; and a few days after, 500 men were brought to the city by the deputy lieutenants, whereupon a letter was written to the Earl-Marshal, to signify the fear and terrour the city was in by reason of such a number of soldiers, and therefore they hoped he would order his deputy lieutenants to withdraw them; the messenger found him at Cambridge, and he agreed to their desire, to the great satisfaction of the city.

On the 27th of March, 1625, James the First died of an ague at Theobald's, and was afterwards buried at Westminster.

Burgesses In Parliament

1 Jac. I. Parl. at Westm. Sir Henry Hobart, Knt. John Pettus, Esq.

12 Ditto. Sir Thomas Hyrne, Knt. Rice Gwynne, Esq. recorder.

18 Ditto. Sir Ric. Rosse, Knt. Will. Denny, Esq.

21 Ditto. Sir Tho. Hyrne, Knt. Will. Denny, Esq.