PREFACE.

Illustration: CHARTER OF WILLIAM I TO THE CITIZENS OF LONDON.CHARTER OF WILLIAM I TO THE CITIZENS OF LONDON.Illustration: CHARTER OF WILLIAM I GRANTING LANDS TO DEORMAN.CHARTER OF WILLIAM I GRANTING LANDS TO DEORMAN.London and the KingdomA HISTORY—DERIVED MAINLY FROM THE ARCHIVES AT GUILDHALL IN THE CUSTODY OF THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF LONDON.ByREGINALD R. SHARPE, D.C.L.,RECORDS CLERK IN THE OFFICE OF THE TOWN CLERK OF THE CITY OF LONDON; EDITOR OF "CALENDAR OF WILLS ENROLLED IN THE COURT OF HUSTING," ETC.IN THREE VOLUMES.VOL. I.PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE CORPORATION UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE LIBRARY COMMITTEE.LondonLONGMANS, GREEN & Co.AND NEW YORK: 15 EAST 16TH STREET.1894London:Printed by Blades, East & Blades,23, Abchurch Lane, E.C.[pg iii]PREFACE.Of the numerous works that have been written on London, by which I mean more especially the City of London, few have been devoted to an adequate, if indeed any, consideration of its political importance in the history of the Kingdom. The history of the City is so many-sided that writers have to be content with the study of some particular phase or some special epoch. Thus we have those who have concentrated their efforts to evolving out of the remote past the municipal organization of the City. Their task has been to unfold the origin and institution of the Mayoralty and Shrievalty of London, the division of the City into wards with Aldermen at their head, the development of the various trade and craft guilds, and the respective powers and duties of the Courts of Aldermen and Common Council, and of the Livery of London assembled in their Common Hall. Others have devoted themselves to the study of the ecclesiastical and monastic side of the City's history—its Cathedral, its religious houses, and hundred and more parish[pg iv]churches, which occupied so large an extent of the City's area. The ecclesiastical importance of the City, however, is too often ignored. "We are prone," writes Bishop Stubbs, "in examining into the municipal and mercantile history of London, to forget that it was a very great ecclesiastical centre." Others, again, have confined themselves to depicting the every-day life of the City burgess, his social condition, his commercial pursuits, his amusements; whilst others have been content to perpetuate the memory of streets and houses long since lost to the eye, and thus to keep alive an interest in scenes and places which otherwise would be forgotten.The political aspect of the City's history has rarely been touched by writers, and yet its geographical position combined with the innate courage and enterprise of its citizens served to give it no small political power and no insignificant place in the history of the Kingdom. This being the case, the Corporation resolved to fill the void, and in view of the year 1889 being the 700th Anniversary of the Mayoralty of London—according to popular tradition—instructed the Library Committee to prepare a work showing "the pre-eminent position occupied by the City of London and the important function it exercised in the shaping and making of England."[pg v]It is in accordance with these instructions that this and succeeding volumes have been compiled. As the title of the work has been taken from a chapter in Mr. Loftie's book on London ("Historic Towns" series, chap. ix), so its main features are delineated in that chapter. "It would be interesting"—writes Mr. Loftie—"to go over all the recorded instances in which the City of London interfered directly in the affairs of the Kingdom. Such a survey would be the history of England as seen from the windows of the Guildhall." No words could better describe the character of the work now submitted to the public. It has been compiled mainly from the City's own archives. The City has been allowed to tell its own story. If, therefore, its pages should appear to be too much taken up with accounts of loans advanced by the City to impecunious monarchs or with wearisome repetition of calls for troops to be raised in the City for foreign service, it is because the City's records of the day are chiefly if not wholly concerned with these matters. If, on the other hand, an event which may be rightly deemed of national importance be here omitted, it is because the citizens were little affected thereby, and the City's records are almost, if not altogether, silent on the subject.[pg vi]The work does not affect to be a critical history so much as achronique pour servir, to which the historical student may have recourse in order to learn what was the attitude taken up by the citizens of London at important crises in the nation's history. He will there see how, in the contest between Stephen and the Empress Matilda, the City of London held as it were the balance; how it helped to overthrow the tyranny of Longchamp, and to wrest from the reluctant John the Great Charter of our liberties; how it was with men and money supplied by the City that Edward III and Henry V were enabled to conquer France, and how in after years the London trained bands raised the siege of Gloucester and turned the tide of the Civil War in favour of Parliament. He will not fail to note the significant fact that before Monk put into execution his plan for restoring Charles II to the Crown, the taciturn general—little given to opening his mind to anyone—deemed it advisable to take up his abode in the City in order to first test the feelings of the inhabitants as to whether the Restoration would be acceptable to them or not. He will see that the citizens of London have at times been bold of speech even in the presence of their sovereign when the cause of justice and the liberty of the subject were at stake, and that they did not hesitate to suffer for[pg vii]their opinions; that, "at many of the most critical periods of our history, the influence of London and its Lord Mayors has turned the scale in favour of those liberties of which we are so justly proud"; and that had the entreaties of the City been listened to by the King and his ministers, the American Colonies would never have been lost to England.There are two Appendices to the work; one comprising copies from the City's Records of letters, early proclamations and documents of special interest to which reference is made in the text; the other consisting of a more complete list of the City's representatives in Parliament from the earliest times than has yet been printed, supplemented as it has been by returns to writs recorded in the City's archives and (apparently) no where else. The returns for the City in the Blue Books published in 1878 and 1879 are very imperfect.R. R. S.The Guildhall, London,April, 1894.ContentsPREFACE.CHAPTER I.THE PORT OF LONDON.THE CITY NOT IN DEMESNE.THE ROMAN OCCUPATION.THE SAXONS IN ENGLAND.THE BISHOP OF LONDON.THE DANES IN LONDON.ALFRED "RESTORES" LONDON.THE FRITH-GILD OF THE CITY.THE FIRST PAYMENT OF DANEGELT.LONDON SUBMITS TO SWEYN.CNUT EXPELLED BY ETHELRED.THE LAWS OF ETHELRED.THE "LITHSMEN" OF LONDON.LONDON THE CAPITAL.EARL GODWINE AND THE CITIZENS.CHAPTER II.THE NORMAN CONQUEROR.LONDON SUBMITS TO WILLIAM.WILLIAM'S CHARTER TO THE CITY.THE "DOOMSDAY" BOOK.THE ELECTION OF HENRY I.HENRY'S CHARTER TO THE CITY.THE SHERIFF-WICK OF MIDDLESEX.LONDON'S ELECTION OF STEPHEN.THE EMPRESS MATILDA.LONDON AND THE SYNOD AT WINCHESTER.THE EMPRESS MATILDA IN LONDON.LONDON HOLDS THE BALANCE.CHAPTER III.FITZ-STEPHEN'S DESCRIPTION OF LONDONCHARTER OF HENRY II TO THE CITY.THE REVOLT OF THE BARONSRICHARD I AND HIS CHANCELLOR.THE CITY AND ITS "COMMUNE."SUBSTITUTION OF MAYOR FOR PORT-REEVE.CHRONICLE OF ARNALD FITZ-THEDMAR.THE CITY'S CLAIM AT CORONATION BANQUETS.INSURRECTION UNDER LONGBEARD.THE GOLDEN BULL.FITZ-WALTER THE CITY'S CASTELLAIN.LONDON AND THE GREAT CHARTER.DEATH OF KING JOHN.CHAPTER IV.THE TREATY OF LAMBETH.TUMULT RAISED BY CONSTANTINE.THE KINGDOM OVER-RUN BY FOREIGNERS.TAKEN INTO THE KING'S HAND.LONDON SUPPORTS THE BARONS.THE CITY AT THE MERCY OF THE KING.ORGANIZATION OF CRAFT GUILDS.THE MISE OF AMIENS.SIMON DE MONTFORT'S PARLIAMENT.THE BATTLE OF EVESHAM AND ITS RESULTS.THE FATE OF FITZ-THOMAS, MAYOR.THE MAYORALTY RESTORED.WALTER HERVY RE-ELECTED MAYOR.CHAPTER V.FITZ-THEDMAR'S PREJUDICE AGAINST HERVY.CHARGES AGAINST WALTER HERVY.THE RESULTS OF HERVY'S POLICY.INTERRUPTION OF TRADE WITH FLANDERS.FLEMINGS EXPELLED FROM ENGLAND.ARRIVAL OF EDWARD I IN ENGLAND.THE MURDER OF LAURENCE DUKET.THE ITER AT THE TOWER.THE EXPULSION OF THE JEWS.DEATH OF QUEEN ELEANOR.THE KING IN DIFFICULTIES.RISING OF THE SCOTS UNDER WALLACE.DEATH OF EDWARD I.CHAPTER VI.THE ORDAINERS AND THEIR WORK.RICHER DE REFHAM, MAYOR.THE FALL OF GAVESTON.THE CITIZENS RESIST A TALLIAGE.DISSENSION IN THE CITY.PROCEEDINGS AT THE ITER OF 1321.CLAIMS PUT FORWARD BY THE CITY.CONTINUATION OF THE ITER.HAMO DE CHIGWELL, MAYOR.MILITARY SERVICE OF LONDONERS.ESCAPE OF MORTIMER FROM THE TOWER.THE CITY LOST TO EDWARD II.MURDER OF BISHOP STAPLETON.DEATH OF THE KING.CHAPTER VII.THE CITY MARKET MONOPOLY.THE CORONATION STONE.JOHN DE GRANTHAM ELECTED MAYOR.THE KING AND THE EARL OF LANCASTER.TRIAL OF HAMO DE CHIGWELL.LONDON MERCHANTS AND THE STAPLES.A NEW TAX ON WOOL.RICHARD DE BETOYNE, MAYOR OF THE STAPLE.BETOYNE'S CONDUCT AT YORK APPROVED.EXPIRATION OF TREATY OF NORTHAMPTON.THE KING'S MONOPOLY OF WOOL.THE CITY PREPARES TO DEFEND ITSELF.THE BATTLE OF SLUYS.CHAPTER VIII.THE KING'S UNEXPECTED RETURN, 30 NOV., 1340.THE CITY'S RIGHT TO VARY CUSTOMS.EDWARD AGAIN SETS SAIL FOR FRANCE.SURRENDER OF CALAIS.THE BLACK DEATH.THE BATTLE OF POITIERS.THE PEACE OF BRETIGNY.RENEWAL OF THE WAR WITH FRANCE.ASSESSMENT ON CITY PARISHES.PROCEEDINGS OF THE GOOD PARLIAMENT.THE COMMON COUNCIL CHOSEN FROM THE GUILDS.THE CITY AND THE DUKE OF LANCASTER.THE MAYOR AND ALDERMEN REMOVED.CHAPTER IX.RICHARD THE "LONDONERS' KING."JOHN PHILIPOT.A CITY LOAN OF £5,000.THE POLL-TAX AND PEASANTS' REVOLT.REFORMS UNDER JOHN DE NORTHAMPTON.NICHOLAS EXTON, ALDERMAN, DEPOSED.PROCEEDINGS AGAINST JOHN DE NORTHAMPTON.NORTHAMPTON CONFINED IN TINTAGEL CASTLE.THE BOOK CALLED "JUBILEE."EFFORTS TO OBTAIN NORTHAMPTON'S RELEASE.DISAFFECTION TOWARDS THE KING.THE LORDS APPELLANT IN THE CITY.RE-APPEARANCE OF NORTHAMPTON.THE CITY REFUSES A LOAN TO RICHARD.FARRINGDON WARD—WITHIN AND WITHOUT.CHAPTER X.DOUBTFUL REPORTS AS TO THE LATE KING'S DEATH.THE STATUTE OF HERESY.RICHARD WHITTINGTON, MAYOR.THE MAYOR'S PRECEDENCE IN THE CITY.BATTLE OF AGINCOURT.MORE CITY LOANS.HENRY'S CONQUEST OF NORMANDY.THE TREATY OF TROVES.DEATH OF KING HENRY V.CHAPTER XI.RIVAL CLAIMS OF BEDFORD AND GLOUCESTER.RELIEF OF ORLEANS.CORONATION OF HENRY VI.THE KING'S RETURN FROM FRANCE.CALAIS APPEALS TO LONDON.THE PENANCE OF ELEANOR COBHAM.CAPTURE AND DEATH OF CADE.RIVALRY BETWEEN YORK ANS SOMERSET.THE DUKE OF YORK NOMINATED PROTECTOR.A GENERAL RECONCILIATION AT ST. PAUL'S.COMMISSIONS OF ARRAY.THE CITY AND THE YORKISTS.THE DUKE OF YORK CLAIMS THE CROWN.LONDON FORSAKEN BY HENRY.CHAPTER XII.CHARTERS OF EDWARD IV TO THE CITY.RENEWAL OF THE CIVIL WAR.HENRY VI RESTORED TO THE CROWN.THE "BASTARD" FAUCONBERG.RESTORATION OF EDWARD IV.ACCESSION OF EDWARD V.THE CITY AND THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER.CORONATION OF RICHARD III.BOLD SPEECH OF THE CITIZENS.VISIT OF HENRY VII TO THE CITY.THE PERKIN WARBECK CONSPIRACY.DEFEAT AND CAPTURE OF WARBECK.THE MARRIAGE OF PRINCE ARTHUR.THE CITY'S CONTROL OVER THE COMPANIES.MARRIAGE OF THE PRINCESS MARY.LAST DAYS OF HENRY VII.CHAPTER XIII.PROCEEDINGS AGAINST EMPSON AND DUDLEY.CORONATION OF HENRY VIII.SOLDIERS FURNISHED BY THE CITY.EDUCATION IN THE CITY.DEAN COLLET AND ST. PAUL'S SCHOOL.PROVINCIAL SCHOOLS FOUNDED BY CITIZENS.THE CITY BEFORE THE STAR CHAMBER.EVIL—MAY-DAY.THE CITY OBTAINS THE KING'S PARDON.AN EPIDEMIC IN THE CITY.RECEPTION OF CARDINAL CAMPEGGIO.THE EMPEROR CHARLES VISITS THE CITY.TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF BUCKINGHAM.LIVERY COMPANIES TO SURRENDER THEIR PLATE.PARLIAMENT THREATENED BY WOLSEY.LONDON AND THE KINGDOM.DIPLOMATIC INTRIGUE.THE AMICABLE LOAN.A TRUCE WITH FRANCE.PAUL WYTHYPOL, MERCHANT-TAILOR.THE FALL OF WOLSEY.CHAPTER XIV.THE HOUSE OF COMMONS AND THE CLERGY.TITHES PAYABLE IN THE CITY.THE CITY AND THE GREAT BEAM.ANNE BOLEYN AND THE CITY.THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE CHARTERHOUSE.EXECUTION OF FISHER AND MORE.THE PILGRIMAGE OF GRACE.JANE SEYMOUR—ANNE OF CLEVES.THE DISSOLUTION OF RELIGIOUS HOUSES.RELIGIOUS HOUSES FOSTERED BY THE CITY.INSTITUTION OF PARISH REGISTERS.THE CITY AND THE DISSOLVED HOUSES.PRECAUTIONS AGAINST INFECTIOUS DISEASES.RENEWAL OF WAR WITH FRANCE.A BENEVOLENCE RAISED IN THE CITY.MORE LEVIES TO BE RAISED IN THE CITY.ENFORCEMENT OF UNIFORMITY.THE CITY AS GOVERNORS OF ROYAL HOSPITALS.FUNERAL OF HENRY THE EIGHTH.CHAPTER XV.THE CORONATION OF EDWARD VI.THE REFORMATION.SUPERSTITIOUS USES.SPOLIATION OF THE CHURCHES.THE TUNING OF THE PULPITS.CRANMER AT ST. PAUL'S.KETS REBELLION.THE CITY OPPOSED TO THE PROTECTOR.THE PROTECTOR LODGED IN THE TOWER.THE KING ENTERTAINED BY SHERIFF YORK.THE BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK.THE WARD OF BRIDGE WITHOUT.UNPOPULARITY OF WARWICK.THE FALL OF SOMERSET.THE CITY AND THE ROYAL HOSPITALS.ALDERMAN DOBBS AND CHRIST'S HOSPITAL.CHAPTER XVI.NORTHUMBERLAND'S CONSPIRACY, 1553.MARY PROCLAIMED QUEEN IN THE CITY.THE MASS RESTORED.CORONATION OF QUEEN MARY.WYATT'S REBELLION.QUEEN MARY AT THE GUILDHALL.SUPPRESSION OF THE REBELLION.MEN AND MONEY DEMANDED OF THE CITY.THE QUEEN'S MARRIAGE.RECONCILIATION WITH THE POPE.THE MARIAN PERSECUTION.FOREIGNERS IN THE CITY.DECLARATION OF WAR WITH FRANCE.SOLDIERS FURNISHED BY THE CITY.THE LOSS OF CALAIS.DEATH OF MARY.CHAPTER XVII.CORONATION OF QUEEN ELIZABETH.RESTORATION OF THE PRAYER BOOK.THE WAR WITH FRANCE.THE LOSS OF HAVRE OR NEWHAVEN.THE RESTORATION OF ST. PAUL'S.THE INCEPTION OF THE ROYAL EXCHANGE.SIR THOMAS GRESHAM.THE ROYAL EXCHANGE COMPLETED.INSURANCE BUSINESS AT ROYAL EXCHANGE.GRESHAM COLLEGE.THE CITY FLOODED WIH POLITICAL REFUGEES.THE FIRST PUBLIC LOTTERY.SEIZURE OF SPANISH VESSELS.THE DUKE OF ALVA'S ENVOY IN THE CITY.MEASURES OF RETALIATION AGAINST SPAIN.THE RISING IN THE NORTH.THE BATTLE OF LEPANTO.FURTHER CALLS FOR MONEY AND MEN.COUNT CASIMIR ENTERTAINED BY GRESHAM.CHAPTER XVIII.PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.JESUITS IN THE CITY.SPECIAL PREACHERS FOR THE CITY.PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.THE FALL OF ANTWERP.THE BABINGTON CONSPIRACY.PREPARATIONS TO MEET THE ARMADA.THE ADVENT OF THE ARMADA.RICHARD TOMSON AND HIS EXPLOIT.THANKSGIVING SERVICE AT ST. PAUL'S.THE CAMP AT TILBURY.THE CITY AND DISBANDED SOLDIERS.THE CITY AND THE EARL OF ESSEX.PRIVATEERING AGAINST SPAIN.ALDERMAN SIR JOHN SPENCER.THE CAPTURE OF CADIZ.THE CITY REFUSES FURTHER SUPPLIES.THE TYRONE REBELLION.INSURRECTION OF EARL OF ESSEX.MOUNTJOY IN IRELAND.THE LAST DAYS OF ELIZABETH.

Illustration: CHARTER OF WILLIAM I TO THE CITIZENS OF LONDON.CHARTER OF WILLIAM I TO THE CITIZENS OF LONDON.

CHARTER OF WILLIAM I TO THE CITIZENS OF LONDON.

Illustration: CHARTER OF WILLIAM I GRANTING LANDS TO DEORMAN.CHARTER OF WILLIAM I GRANTING LANDS TO DEORMAN.

CHARTER OF WILLIAM I GRANTING LANDS TO DEORMAN.

London and the KingdomA HISTORY—DERIVED MAINLY FROM THE ARCHIVES AT GUILDHALL IN THE CUSTODY OF THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF LONDON.ByREGINALD R. SHARPE, D.C.L.,RECORDS CLERK IN THE OFFICE OF THE TOWN CLERK OF THE CITY OF LONDON; EDITOR OF "CALENDAR OF WILLS ENROLLED IN THE COURT OF HUSTING," ETC.IN THREE VOLUMES.VOL. I.PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE CORPORATION UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE LIBRARY COMMITTEE.LondonLONGMANS, GREEN & Co.AND NEW YORK: 15 EAST 16TH STREET.1894

ByREGINALD R. SHARPE, D.C.L.,RECORDS CLERK IN THE OFFICE OF THE TOWN CLERK OF THE CITY OF LONDON; EDITOR OF "CALENDAR OF WILLS ENROLLED IN THE COURT OF HUSTING," ETC.IN THREE VOLUMES.VOL. I.

London:Printed by Blades, East & Blades,23, Abchurch Lane, E.C.

[pg iii]PREFACE.Of the numerous works that have been written on London, by which I mean more especially the City of London, few have been devoted to an adequate, if indeed any, consideration of its political importance in the history of the Kingdom. The history of the City is so many-sided that writers have to be content with the study of some particular phase or some special epoch. Thus we have those who have concentrated their efforts to evolving out of the remote past the municipal organization of the City. Their task has been to unfold the origin and institution of the Mayoralty and Shrievalty of London, the division of the City into wards with Aldermen at their head, the development of the various trade and craft guilds, and the respective powers and duties of the Courts of Aldermen and Common Council, and of the Livery of London assembled in their Common Hall. Others have devoted themselves to the study of the ecclesiastical and monastic side of the City's history—its Cathedral, its religious houses, and hundred and more parish[pg iv]churches, which occupied so large an extent of the City's area. The ecclesiastical importance of the City, however, is too often ignored. "We are prone," writes Bishop Stubbs, "in examining into the municipal and mercantile history of London, to forget that it was a very great ecclesiastical centre." Others, again, have confined themselves to depicting the every-day life of the City burgess, his social condition, his commercial pursuits, his amusements; whilst others have been content to perpetuate the memory of streets and houses long since lost to the eye, and thus to keep alive an interest in scenes and places which otherwise would be forgotten.The political aspect of the City's history has rarely been touched by writers, and yet its geographical position combined with the innate courage and enterprise of its citizens served to give it no small political power and no insignificant place in the history of the Kingdom. This being the case, the Corporation resolved to fill the void, and in view of the year 1889 being the 700th Anniversary of the Mayoralty of London—according to popular tradition—instructed the Library Committee to prepare a work showing "the pre-eminent position occupied by the City of London and the important function it exercised in the shaping and making of England."[pg v]It is in accordance with these instructions that this and succeeding volumes have been compiled. As the title of the work has been taken from a chapter in Mr. Loftie's book on London ("Historic Towns" series, chap. ix), so its main features are delineated in that chapter. "It would be interesting"—writes Mr. Loftie—"to go over all the recorded instances in which the City of London interfered directly in the affairs of the Kingdom. Such a survey would be the history of England as seen from the windows of the Guildhall." No words could better describe the character of the work now submitted to the public. It has been compiled mainly from the City's own archives. The City has been allowed to tell its own story. If, therefore, its pages should appear to be too much taken up with accounts of loans advanced by the City to impecunious monarchs or with wearisome repetition of calls for troops to be raised in the City for foreign service, it is because the City's records of the day are chiefly if not wholly concerned with these matters. If, on the other hand, an event which may be rightly deemed of national importance be here omitted, it is because the citizens were little affected thereby, and the City's records are almost, if not altogether, silent on the subject.[pg vi]The work does not affect to be a critical history so much as achronique pour servir, to which the historical student may have recourse in order to learn what was the attitude taken up by the citizens of London at important crises in the nation's history. He will there see how, in the contest between Stephen and the Empress Matilda, the City of London held as it were the balance; how it helped to overthrow the tyranny of Longchamp, and to wrest from the reluctant John the Great Charter of our liberties; how it was with men and money supplied by the City that Edward III and Henry V were enabled to conquer France, and how in after years the London trained bands raised the siege of Gloucester and turned the tide of the Civil War in favour of Parliament. He will not fail to note the significant fact that before Monk put into execution his plan for restoring Charles II to the Crown, the taciturn general—little given to opening his mind to anyone—deemed it advisable to take up his abode in the City in order to first test the feelings of the inhabitants as to whether the Restoration would be acceptable to them or not. He will see that the citizens of London have at times been bold of speech even in the presence of their sovereign when the cause of justice and the liberty of the subject were at stake, and that they did not hesitate to suffer for[pg vii]their opinions; that, "at many of the most critical periods of our history, the influence of London and its Lord Mayors has turned the scale in favour of those liberties of which we are so justly proud"; and that had the entreaties of the City been listened to by the King and his ministers, the American Colonies would never have been lost to England.There are two Appendices to the work; one comprising copies from the City's Records of letters, early proclamations and documents of special interest to which reference is made in the text; the other consisting of a more complete list of the City's representatives in Parliament from the earliest times than has yet been printed, supplemented as it has been by returns to writs recorded in the City's archives and (apparently) no where else. The returns for the City in the Blue Books published in 1878 and 1879 are very imperfect.R. R. S.The Guildhall, London,April, 1894.

Of the numerous works that have been written on London, by which I mean more especially the City of London, few have been devoted to an adequate, if indeed any, consideration of its political importance in the history of the Kingdom. The history of the City is so many-sided that writers have to be content with the study of some particular phase or some special epoch. Thus we have those who have concentrated their efforts to evolving out of the remote past the municipal organization of the City. Their task has been to unfold the origin and institution of the Mayoralty and Shrievalty of London, the division of the City into wards with Aldermen at their head, the development of the various trade and craft guilds, and the respective powers and duties of the Courts of Aldermen and Common Council, and of the Livery of London assembled in their Common Hall. Others have devoted themselves to the study of the ecclesiastical and monastic side of the City's history—its Cathedral, its religious houses, and hundred and more parish[pg iv]churches, which occupied so large an extent of the City's area. The ecclesiastical importance of the City, however, is too often ignored. "We are prone," writes Bishop Stubbs, "in examining into the municipal and mercantile history of London, to forget that it was a very great ecclesiastical centre." Others, again, have confined themselves to depicting the every-day life of the City burgess, his social condition, his commercial pursuits, his amusements; whilst others have been content to perpetuate the memory of streets and houses long since lost to the eye, and thus to keep alive an interest in scenes and places which otherwise would be forgotten.

The political aspect of the City's history has rarely been touched by writers, and yet its geographical position combined with the innate courage and enterprise of its citizens served to give it no small political power and no insignificant place in the history of the Kingdom. This being the case, the Corporation resolved to fill the void, and in view of the year 1889 being the 700th Anniversary of the Mayoralty of London—according to popular tradition—instructed the Library Committee to prepare a work showing "the pre-eminent position occupied by the City of London and the important function it exercised in the shaping and making of England."

It is in accordance with these instructions that this and succeeding volumes have been compiled. As the title of the work has been taken from a chapter in Mr. Loftie's book on London ("Historic Towns" series, chap. ix), so its main features are delineated in that chapter. "It would be interesting"—writes Mr. Loftie—"to go over all the recorded instances in which the City of London interfered directly in the affairs of the Kingdom. Such a survey would be the history of England as seen from the windows of the Guildhall." No words could better describe the character of the work now submitted to the public. It has been compiled mainly from the City's own archives. The City has been allowed to tell its own story. If, therefore, its pages should appear to be too much taken up with accounts of loans advanced by the City to impecunious monarchs or with wearisome repetition of calls for troops to be raised in the City for foreign service, it is because the City's records of the day are chiefly if not wholly concerned with these matters. If, on the other hand, an event which may be rightly deemed of national importance be here omitted, it is because the citizens were little affected thereby, and the City's records are almost, if not altogether, silent on the subject.

The work does not affect to be a critical history so much as achronique pour servir, to which the historical student may have recourse in order to learn what was the attitude taken up by the citizens of London at important crises in the nation's history. He will there see how, in the contest between Stephen and the Empress Matilda, the City of London held as it were the balance; how it helped to overthrow the tyranny of Longchamp, and to wrest from the reluctant John the Great Charter of our liberties; how it was with men and money supplied by the City that Edward III and Henry V were enabled to conquer France, and how in after years the London trained bands raised the siege of Gloucester and turned the tide of the Civil War in favour of Parliament. He will not fail to note the significant fact that before Monk put into execution his plan for restoring Charles II to the Crown, the taciturn general—little given to opening his mind to anyone—deemed it advisable to take up his abode in the City in order to first test the feelings of the inhabitants as to whether the Restoration would be acceptable to them or not. He will see that the citizens of London have at times been bold of speech even in the presence of their sovereign when the cause of justice and the liberty of the subject were at stake, and that they did not hesitate to suffer for[pg vii]their opinions; that, "at many of the most critical periods of our history, the influence of London and its Lord Mayors has turned the scale in favour of those liberties of which we are so justly proud"; and that had the entreaties of the City been listened to by the King and his ministers, the American Colonies would never have been lost to England.

There are two Appendices to the work; one comprising copies from the City's Records of letters, early proclamations and documents of special interest to which reference is made in the text; the other consisting of a more complete list of the City's representatives in Parliament from the earliest times than has yet been printed, supplemented as it has been by returns to writs recorded in the City's archives and (apparently) no where else. The returns for the City in the Blue Books published in 1878 and 1879 are very imperfect.

R. R. S.

The Guildhall, London,April, 1894.

ContentsPREFACE.CHAPTER I.THE PORT OF LONDON.THE CITY NOT IN DEMESNE.THE ROMAN OCCUPATION.THE SAXONS IN ENGLAND.THE BISHOP OF LONDON.THE DANES IN LONDON.ALFRED "RESTORES" LONDON.THE FRITH-GILD OF THE CITY.THE FIRST PAYMENT OF DANEGELT.LONDON SUBMITS TO SWEYN.CNUT EXPELLED BY ETHELRED.THE LAWS OF ETHELRED.THE "LITHSMEN" OF LONDON.LONDON THE CAPITAL.EARL GODWINE AND THE CITIZENS.CHAPTER II.THE NORMAN CONQUEROR.LONDON SUBMITS TO WILLIAM.WILLIAM'S CHARTER TO THE CITY.THE "DOOMSDAY" BOOK.THE ELECTION OF HENRY I.HENRY'S CHARTER TO THE CITY.THE SHERIFF-WICK OF MIDDLESEX.LONDON'S ELECTION OF STEPHEN.THE EMPRESS MATILDA.LONDON AND THE SYNOD AT WINCHESTER.THE EMPRESS MATILDA IN LONDON.LONDON HOLDS THE BALANCE.CHAPTER III.FITZ-STEPHEN'S DESCRIPTION OF LONDONCHARTER OF HENRY II TO THE CITY.THE REVOLT OF THE BARONSRICHARD I AND HIS CHANCELLOR.THE CITY AND ITS "COMMUNE."SUBSTITUTION OF MAYOR FOR PORT-REEVE.CHRONICLE OF ARNALD FITZ-THEDMAR.THE CITY'S CLAIM AT CORONATION BANQUETS.INSURRECTION UNDER LONGBEARD.THE GOLDEN BULL.FITZ-WALTER THE CITY'S CASTELLAIN.LONDON AND THE GREAT CHARTER.DEATH OF KING JOHN.CHAPTER IV.THE TREATY OF LAMBETH.TUMULT RAISED BY CONSTANTINE.THE KINGDOM OVER-RUN BY FOREIGNERS.TAKEN INTO THE KING'S HAND.LONDON SUPPORTS THE BARONS.THE CITY AT THE MERCY OF THE KING.ORGANIZATION OF CRAFT GUILDS.THE MISE OF AMIENS.SIMON DE MONTFORT'S PARLIAMENT.THE BATTLE OF EVESHAM AND ITS RESULTS.THE FATE OF FITZ-THOMAS, MAYOR.THE MAYORALTY RESTORED.WALTER HERVY RE-ELECTED MAYOR.CHAPTER V.FITZ-THEDMAR'S PREJUDICE AGAINST HERVY.CHARGES AGAINST WALTER HERVY.THE RESULTS OF HERVY'S POLICY.INTERRUPTION OF TRADE WITH FLANDERS.FLEMINGS EXPELLED FROM ENGLAND.ARRIVAL OF EDWARD I IN ENGLAND.THE MURDER OF LAURENCE DUKET.THE ITER AT THE TOWER.THE EXPULSION OF THE JEWS.DEATH OF QUEEN ELEANOR.THE KING IN DIFFICULTIES.RISING OF THE SCOTS UNDER WALLACE.DEATH OF EDWARD I.CHAPTER VI.THE ORDAINERS AND THEIR WORK.RICHER DE REFHAM, MAYOR.THE FALL OF GAVESTON.THE CITIZENS RESIST A TALLIAGE.DISSENSION IN THE CITY.PROCEEDINGS AT THE ITER OF 1321.CLAIMS PUT FORWARD BY THE CITY.CONTINUATION OF THE ITER.HAMO DE CHIGWELL, MAYOR.MILITARY SERVICE OF LONDONERS.ESCAPE OF MORTIMER FROM THE TOWER.THE CITY LOST TO EDWARD II.MURDER OF BISHOP STAPLETON.DEATH OF THE KING.CHAPTER VII.THE CITY MARKET MONOPOLY.THE CORONATION STONE.JOHN DE GRANTHAM ELECTED MAYOR.THE KING AND THE EARL OF LANCASTER.TRIAL OF HAMO DE CHIGWELL.LONDON MERCHANTS AND THE STAPLES.A NEW TAX ON WOOL.RICHARD DE BETOYNE, MAYOR OF THE STAPLE.BETOYNE'S CONDUCT AT YORK APPROVED.EXPIRATION OF TREATY OF NORTHAMPTON.THE KING'S MONOPOLY OF WOOL.THE CITY PREPARES TO DEFEND ITSELF.THE BATTLE OF SLUYS.CHAPTER VIII.THE KING'S UNEXPECTED RETURN, 30 NOV., 1340.THE CITY'S RIGHT TO VARY CUSTOMS.EDWARD AGAIN SETS SAIL FOR FRANCE.SURRENDER OF CALAIS.THE BLACK DEATH.THE BATTLE OF POITIERS.THE PEACE OF BRETIGNY.RENEWAL OF THE WAR WITH FRANCE.ASSESSMENT ON CITY PARISHES.PROCEEDINGS OF THE GOOD PARLIAMENT.THE COMMON COUNCIL CHOSEN FROM THE GUILDS.THE CITY AND THE DUKE OF LANCASTER.THE MAYOR AND ALDERMEN REMOVED.CHAPTER IX.RICHARD THE "LONDONERS' KING."JOHN PHILIPOT.A CITY LOAN OF £5,000.THE POLL-TAX AND PEASANTS' REVOLT.REFORMS UNDER JOHN DE NORTHAMPTON.NICHOLAS EXTON, ALDERMAN, DEPOSED.PROCEEDINGS AGAINST JOHN DE NORTHAMPTON.NORTHAMPTON CONFINED IN TINTAGEL CASTLE.THE BOOK CALLED "JUBILEE."EFFORTS TO OBTAIN NORTHAMPTON'S RELEASE.DISAFFECTION TOWARDS THE KING.THE LORDS APPELLANT IN THE CITY.RE-APPEARANCE OF NORTHAMPTON.THE CITY REFUSES A LOAN TO RICHARD.FARRINGDON WARD—WITHIN AND WITHOUT.CHAPTER X.DOUBTFUL REPORTS AS TO THE LATE KING'S DEATH.THE STATUTE OF HERESY.RICHARD WHITTINGTON, MAYOR.THE MAYOR'S PRECEDENCE IN THE CITY.BATTLE OF AGINCOURT.MORE CITY LOANS.HENRY'S CONQUEST OF NORMANDY.THE TREATY OF TROVES.DEATH OF KING HENRY V.CHAPTER XI.RIVAL CLAIMS OF BEDFORD AND GLOUCESTER.RELIEF OF ORLEANS.CORONATION OF HENRY VI.THE KING'S RETURN FROM FRANCE.CALAIS APPEALS TO LONDON.THE PENANCE OF ELEANOR COBHAM.CAPTURE AND DEATH OF CADE.RIVALRY BETWEEN YORK ANS SOMERSET.THE DUKE OF YORK NOMINATED PROTECTOR.A GENERAL RECONCILIATION AT ST. PAUL'S.COMMISSIONS OF ARRAY.THE CITY AND THE YORKISTS.THE DUKE OF YORK CLAIMS THE CROWN.LONDON FORSAKEN BY HENRY.CHAPTER XII.CHARTERS OF EDWARD IV TO THE CITY.RENEWAL OF THE CIVIL WAR.HENRY VI RESTORED TO THE CROWN.THE "BASTARD" FAUCONBERG.RESTORATION OF EDWARD IV.ACCESSION OF EDWARD V.THE CITY AND THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER.CORONATION OF RICHARD III.BOLD SPEECH OF THE CITIZENS.VISIT OF HENRY VII TO THE CITY.THE PERKIN WARBECK CONSPIRACY.DEFEAT AND CAPTURE OF WARBECK.THE MARRIAGE OF PRINCE ARTHUR.THE CITY'S CONTROL OVER THE COMPANIES.MARRIAGE OF THE PRINCESS MARY.LAST DAYS OF HENRY VII.CHAPTER XIII.PROCEEDINGS AGAINST EMPSON AND DUDLEY.CORONATION OF HENRY VIII.SOLDIERS FURNISHED BY THE CITY.EDUCATION IN THE CITY.DEAN COLLET AND ST. PAUL'S SCHOOL.PROVINCIAL SCHOOLS FOUNDED BY CITIZENS.THE CITY BEFORE THE STAR CHAMBER.EVIL—MAY-DAY.THE CITY OBTAINS THE KING'S PARDON.AN EPIDEMIC IN THE CITY.RECEPTION OF CARDINAL CAMPEGGIO.THE EMPEROR CHARLES VISITS THE CITY.TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF BUCKINGHAM.LIVERY COMPANIES TO SURRENDER THEIR PLATE.PARLIAMENT THREATENED BY WOLSEY.LONDON AND THE KINGDOM.DIPLOMATIC INTRIGUE.THE AMICABLE LOAN.A TRUCE WITH FRANCE.PAUL WYTHYPOL, MERCHANT-TAILOR.THE FALL OF WOLSEY.CHAPTER XIV.THE HOUSE OF COMMONS AND THE CLERGY.TITHES PAYABLE IN THE CITY.THE CITY AND THE GREAT BEAM.ANNE BOLEYN AND THE CITY.THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE CHARTERHOUSE.EXECUTION OF FISHER AND MORE.THE PILGRIMAGE OF GRACE.JANE SEYMOUR—ANNE OF CLEVES.THE DISSOLUTION OF RELIGIOUS HOUSES.RELIGIOUS HOUSES FOSTERED BY THE CITY.INSTITUTION OF PARISH REGISTERS.THE CITY AND THE DISSOLVED HOUSES.PRECAUTIONS AGAINST INFECTIOUS DISEASES.RENEWAL OF WAR WITH FRANCE.A BENEVOLENCE RAISED IN THE CITY.MORE LEVIES TO BE RAISED IN THE CITY.ENFORCEMENT OF UNIFORMITY.THE CITY AS GOVERNORS OF ROYAL HOSPITALS.FUNERAL OF HENRY THE EIGHTH.CHAPTER XV.THE CORONATION OF EDWARD VI.THE REFORMATION.SUPERSTITIOUS USES.SPOLIATION OF THE CHURCHES.THE TUNING OF THE PULPITS.CRANMER AT ST. PAUL'S.KETS REBELLION.THE CITY OPPOSED TO THE PROTECTOR.THE PROTECTOR LODGED IN THE TOWER.THE KING ENTERTAINED BY SHERIFF YORK.THE BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK.THE WARD OF BRIDGE WITHOUT.UNPOPULARITY OF WARWICK.THE FALL OF SOMERSET.THE CITY AND THE ROYAL HOSPITALS.ALDERMAN DOBBS AND CHRIST'S HOSPITAL.CHAPTER XVI.NORTHUMBERLAND'S CONSPIRACY, 1553.MARY PROCLAIMED QUEEN IN THE CITY.THE MASS RESTORED.CORONATION OF QUEEN MARY.WYATT'S REBELLION.QUEEN MARY AT THE GUILDHALL.SUPPRESSION OF THE REBELLION.MEN AND MONEY DEMANDED OF THE CITY.THE QUEEN'S MARRIAGE.RECONCILIATION WITH THE POPE.THE MARIAN PERSECUTION.FOREIGNERS IN THE CITY.DECLARATION OF WAR WITH FRANCE.SOLDIERS FURNISHED BY THE CITY.THE LOSS OF CALAIS.DEATH OF MARY.CHAPTER XVII.CORONATION OF QUEEN ELIZABETH.RESTORATION OF THE PRAYER BOOK.THE WAR WITH FRANCE.THE LOSS OF HAVRE OR NEWHAVEN.THE RESTORATION OF ST. PAUL'S.THE INCEPTION OF THE ROYAL EXCHANGE.SIR THOMAS GRESHAM.THE ROYAL EXCHANGE COMPLETED.INSURANCE BUSINESS AT ROYAL EXCHANGE.GRESHAM COLLEGE.THE CITY FLOODED WIH POLITICAL REFUGEES.THE FIRST PUBLIC LOTTERY.SEIZURE OF SPANISH VESSELS.THE DUKE OF ALVA'S ENVOY IN THE CITY.MEASURES OF RETALIATION AGAINST SPAIN.THE RISING IN THE NORTH.THE BATTLE OF LEPANTO.FURTHER CALLS FOR MONEY AND MEN.COUNT CASIMIR ENTERTAINED BY GRESHAM.CHAPTER XVIII.PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.JESUITS IN THE CITY.SPECIAL PREACHERS FOR THE CITY.PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.THE FALL OF ANTWERP.THE BABINGTON CONSPIRACY.PREPARATIONS TO MEET THE ARMADA.THE ADVENT OF THE ARMADA.RICHARD TOMSON AND HIS EXPLOIT.THANKSGIVING SERVICE AT ST. PAUL'S.THE CAMP AT TILBURY.THE CITY AND DISBANDED SOLDIERS.THE CITY AND THE EARL OF ESSEX.PRIVATEERING AGAINST SPAIN.ALDERMAN SIR JOHN SPENCER.THE CAPTURE OF CADIZ.THE CITY REFUSES FURTHER SUPPLIES.THE TYRONE REBELLION.INSURRECTION OF EARL OF ESSEX.MOUNTJOY IN IRELAND.THE LAST DAYS OF ELIZABETH.

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