where the same shall be attempted. And for the avoiding the multitudes of families heaped up in one dwelling house, or for the converting of any one house into multitude of such tenements for dwelling or victualling places, the said lord mayor, and all other officers, in their several liberties, within the limits of three miles, as above mentioned, shall commit any person giving cause of offence, from the day of the publication of this present proclamation, to close prison, as is afore limited. And also for the offences in this part of the increase of many indwellers, or, as they be commonly termed inmates, or undersitters, which have been suffered within these seven years, contrary to the good ancient laws or customs of the city, or of the boroughs and parishes within the aforesaid limit of three miles aforementioned, the said lord mayor and other the officers above mentioned, shall speedily cause to be redressed in their ordinary courts and law days, betwixt this and the feast of All Saints next coming, within which times such undersetters, or inmates, may provide themselves other places abroade in the realm, where many houses rest uninhabited to the decay of divers ancient good boroughs and towns. And because her majesty intendeth to have this ordinance duly executed, her pleasure is, that the said lord mayor of London, and other the officers having jurisdiction within the space of three miles above-mentioned, shall, after the proclamation hereof, as speedily as they may, meet in some convenient places near to the said city, and there, after conference had, accord among themselves how to proceed to the execution hereof; and, if cause shall so require, to impart to her majesty's privie counsell, any let or impediment that may arise, to the intent that remedy be given to any such impediment, according to her majesty's pleasure heretofore expressed.

"Given at Nonesuch *, the 7th day of July, 1580, in the twenty-second year of her majesty's reign.

"GOD Save the QUEEN."

* A royal palace near Ewel, in Surrey, now dilapidated; of which 2 more particular account will be given in the progress of this work.

In consequence of the admonitions of lord treasurer Burleigh, to Sir John Branch, lord mayor, the following orders of the mayor, for the better government of the city, were issued in the same year:

"For New Buildings."

"First, for the matter of new building and multiplication of families, precepts shall be directed to the several aidermen of the wards of this city, to call their several inquests of wardmote, upon their oaths, to enquire and present all offences against the said proclamation, both in erecting of new buildings, and in letting out or converting of former houses to greater number of habitations than heretofore have been; and also of the pestering of the city and places adjoining, with inmates and with increase of allies, and with strangers, such as either come not hither for their conscience in true religion, or be of such places as they may safely return; and also to enquire, so near as they can by credible information, all offences against the said proclamation, in places pretended exempt, and within three miles, without the walls of the said city:

"To the intent that for such things as are in the jurisdiction of this city, speedy remedy be given: And for the rest, petition be made to the most honourable council, and that precepts be sent to the wardens of the several companies of the Carpenters and Bricklayers, that none of their com panies do work in any such new building or severance of former houses, on pain of imprisonment, during the council's pleasure, or disfranchisement for ever.

"Secondly, For the matters of plague and infection, the ministers of this court shall be commanded to seek out the orders heretofore sent by the lords of the most honourable privy counsil, and also those that have been considered by the common council of this city, and allowed by the said lords in this behalf; and certain grave persons, both aldermen and commoners, shall be appointed in commission again to consider thereof, and of all places convenient, and for further orders, both in clean keeping the streets, lanes, and VOL. I. No. 7. houses,

X

houses, and otherwise requisite in that behalf and thereof inform this court, that order may be taken accordingly, with the good liking of the most honorable lords.

"Thirdly, For the matters of conservation of the river of Thames; and first, for weyers and stops about the bridge, it is ordered that the water bailiff shall be called, and commanded to deliver in writing, a true, distinct, and particular report of the state of the river, and how her majesty's late commandment hath been executed, according to the laws of this realm, and right of the city: And for the matters of trinkers, (or such as used unlawful nets,) he shall likewise enquire by all lawful means, and certify this court of the quantity of those trinkers, either num. ber their place and manner of fishing, what harm they do, and how and in what sort they may and ought to be reformed, and for all other matters pertaining to this city, to redress touching the river, and the navigableness and fishing thereof he shall truly inform, that for such things as lie within the power of this city to amend, remedy be given speedily; and for the rest, suit be made to her majesty and her council, and reformation sought by order of her majesty's laws."

"Inconveniency of too much Building.

"Concerning the over-building in the city, great care was taken, that the city grew not too populous, to prevent the increase of poor and needy people, and the danger that might come to the city in plagues by too great multitudes: also care was taken for the preventing of drinking-houses, now used to be much in cellars; and when old houses were repaired that were of good amplitude, they would make two or three tenements of them, to increase the rent; and these were turned, some into ale houses, or let to such as were of the poorer sort; great houses also were turned sometimes in alleys, consisting of divers houses; many sheds also were set up, to serve for small shops, which did but harbour poor people. There were also made holes under the shops, for the poorer sorts of artisans, which were injurious both to the beauty and wholesomness of the city; stalls also were set out

from

from the houses into the streets upon London Bridge, and in other places of the city, to the streightening of the streets for passage. Moreover, to the further inconvenience of the city, many were made free by redemption, the lords making requests for certain people of the city for that purpose, and hereby it became much filled by such, their wives and children; it was looked upon also, as no ways conducing to the wealthy state of the city, for young men to set up their trades, as soon as they were out of their time, without being journey men for some time; nor was it liked by the graver citizens, that the young citizens should keep fairs: which to do, was required double number of servants to the over-peopling of London: and whereas before, there were many large gardens belonging to the houses of the city, espe cially such houses as were of the greater size of building: now in these gardens were houses built, and many of them used for lewd and evil purposes, and many private contracts, - were here made for the sale of children: Moorfields, which formerly the citizens used for their health and pleasure to walk in, and to take the air, began now to be enclosed, to the hindrance of these healthful and useful walkings.

"For the remedying of all things, a device by the Recorder Fleetwood, was prepared, Anno 1583, to be offered to the lords of the council:

"1. Against setting up new buildings in or near London. "2. Against converting great houses to alleys, or multitude of habitations: and,

"3. Against inmates; in these several articles following: "To provide for time to come, that her majesty's proclamation be better observed.

"Some correction or blame, where negligence hath been in execution, and a more severe charge hereafter.

"How lawfully to reache, in some exemplary manner, for the houses already bylded against the proclamation, that the same may be some way redressed, because law wanteth to pull them downe.

"That the offenders, some at least of each sort, be holden in imprisonment during her majesty's pleasure, and under

assessment of great fines, till they come to submission to abide the order of the lords, upon which submission and bond for observing thereof, the lords may take order touching reforming the houses already bylded.

"That it be ordered, and the parties bound, that where new houses have been builded in place of old, they be put two or more into one, till they be reduced at the most, not to exceed the number they were before.

"That they be also bound, that in those houses they shall place none but such as shall not burthen the citie with their poverty, and that shall be of good behaviour.

"That the mayor and justices of London, &c. be commanded not to allow any in such house, to keep alehouse or other victualling.

"That no inn of court or chancery, receive more than the house can conveniently lodge, and for execution thereof, that all such as lodge out of the house, be judged in

mates.

"That her majesty's order may be executed as well to sheds as to dwelling houses, because men used to lie in those sheds under the stall, where if one die infected, it is more dangerous than in any house, and such people do commonly sojourn at the ale house.

"That the mayor of London be commanded to execute the city's law against tippling in cellars, and to put the bonds in sute that he hath against such as turne houses to alleys, and to place poor in their tenements burdenous to the city.

"That making holes under stalls for artisans be taken away, which is to be done very well, by an indirect mean, to the beauty and wholesomeness of the citie, viz. That the lord mayor be commended for the good reformation made upon London Bridge, to take away the forestalling or setting out of stalls into the street, beyond the posts of their houses; and that he be commanded to do the like throughout London.

"That such as your Lordships doe not choose out to be imprisoned and made examples, may nevertheless not be discharged, but remain in terror of suffering the like, that they may also submit and be bound.

"That