old Weights unreformed; because the old Standard and Weights of Troy being lighter than the new, they kept the old Standard thereof to sell by, and the new, being the heavier, to buy by: And the old Standard and Weights of the Avoir de Poiz, being much heavier than the New, they kept the Old thereof to buy by, and the New to sell by; and so fraudulently bought by one, and sold by another; to the manifest Robbery of the Subjects, and to the great Gain of the Offenders, against God's Law, and the manifest Intent of her Majesty's Proclamation.

Therefore, for the Exercise of just Weights, agreeable to her Majesties approved Standards, and abolishing of all others, he thought it convenient, that some Law or Order might be set down, for the receiving and using these approved Standards; as in a like Case was made in the Eleventh Year of King Henry the VIIth. And that the Warden of the Mint by himself, or his Deputies, might have Authority in London, and thereabouts, to search and punish the Offenders, and take as Forfeit, all Weights used contrary to the Law. And the Clerk of the Market, as to his Office appertaineth, and some other, to whom it may appertain, to have the like Charge in other Places.

The Third Matter was this, that there was a false Weight used in the Realm, to the great Loss of the Nobility and Subjects, that used all Kinds of Gold Lace, Gold Wyer, and divers other the like; the which was made by the Goldbeaters, whose Ounce weighed not above Three Quarters of an Ounce of Troy Weight; and the Pound Weight not above Nine Ounces. Which was a meer Deceit for their private Gain, and for the Advantage of the Strangers, that brought the same out of Foreign Countries. A Matter in his Judgment wanting Reformation. Such a Care was there in this Magistrate of the publick Good.

In the Year 1590, Sir John Allot was Maior: A Man so just and honest in all his Actions, and who had ever been of so unblemished a Reputation, that he would not endure to have the least Reflection made upon him: And especially being Maior, his Care was, that not any Evil Surmises should be spread of him. Which made him once complain and appeal to the Lords of the Council, upon a false Report raised on him by one Mr. Ashely, a Courtier. The Case was this. The Lords directed their Letters to the said Maior, for the appointing of Six Butchers within the City for the next Lent; and another, in Favour of the said Ashely, to appoint Four of them. So there was left but Two for the Maior to appoint. And the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Buckhurst, the Lord Cobham, the Earl of Essex, the Earl of Ormond, Sir Thomas Heneage, and others, had severally written to him in Favour of divers meet Men for that Purpose: Whose Requests he promised to accomplish to his Power. It appears hence, that the Maior had a hard Game to play, viz. for him to satisfy all these Noblemen, in appointing as many Butchers as they recommended, and yet having but Two at his own Dispose. Therefore he thought to stay Proceedings therein, before he had made the Lords privy thereto. But upon his Advertisement of it, the Lords nevertheless continued their Minds towards Mr. Ashley, for his Appointment of Four of the Six; whose Pleasure the Lord Maior submitted to. But Ashley, (though he had his Will, yet) upon some Displeasure conceived hereby, or some other ill Purpose toward the Maior, had, in the Presence of the Lords, in a slanderous Manner, constantly affirmed that he had received Thirty Pounds for the Admittance of one Butcher; and that he had caused some Butchers, by whom he meant to make his Profit, to procure some Noblemen to write to him in that Behalf. These Reports, as they were most false, he being a Person ever of great Integrity, could not bear: But petitioned the Lords; and said, that this Report being most untrue and slanderous, he was unwilling to bear; considering that Place of Service, wherein it had pleased God to place him, and the good Opinion and Favour their Honours had ever, he trusted, conceived of his plain and upright Dealing; and that Shame that should grow to him in the City where he had lived all his Life an honest Man. His humble Suit therefore unto the Lords was, that in regard of his Innocency in this Matter, they would cause, by some way as should seem good to them, the said slanderous Reports to be examined, that his Innocency might appear to their Lordships, and his good Name be somewhat restored, to his Credit and Comfort. Thus he, like a good and stout Magistrate and Citizen, so valued himself for his Integrity, that he required a Vindication of his good Name before the most Honourable Privy Council, where he had been traduced.

One William Harris, in this Year 1590, endeavoured to get a Patent for the Search and Allowance of all the Seacoal that was to pass out of the Realm. Sir John Hart, Maior immediately before Allot, above-said, apprehended this to be of little Use, and meerly for the said Harris's own Ends. For he was to have Twelve Pence a Chaldron. Whereupon, like a Publick-spirited Magistrate, he seasonably applied himself to the Lord Treasurer to stop the Patent. The Suit was commended under divers Pretences of a publick Benefit, but the End was nothing else, as appeared by the Patent, but a new Imposition of Twelve Pence upon every Chaldron of Coals that should be transported, for a private Man's Advantage. For the Inconvenience that would arise hence to the City, and others whom it might concern, he prayed the Treasurer to make Stay of this Patent, and to inform her Highness of the Inconveniences, as to his Lordship should seem meet.]

Now besides the Wealth and Honour many Aldemen and other Citizens have attained to, the City hath justly acquired Lustre and Glory from other Accomplishments of her Members: Namely, such as have given notable Testimonies of Bravery and Valour, or of their Loyalty and Fidelity to their Princes.

Sir William Walworth's Valour is well known in arresting Wat Tyler, the Traitor, at the Head of some Thousand of Rebels.

Ralph Basset, Alderman, in King Edward the IVth's Time, when the City was Besieged by the Bastard Fauconbridge, and the Besiegers had well near broke through Algate, and a Fight was there maintained dubiously between the Citizens and the Bastard, this Alderman Basset, and Urswic, the Recorder, being both well Armed, commanded the Portcullis, which was hitherto shut down, to be taken up. Which being done, they rushed forth upon the Enemies, and forced them back as far as Algate Church: And then by other Help utterly routed them.

Rafe Josselyn, another Alderman of the City, that guarded the Bridge, where another Assault was made by the Bastard, and who had set the Bridge on Fire; such was his Manhood, that he sallied out upon him and his Men, and followed them in Chase along the Waterside, till they were beyond Ratcliffe, and slew and took many of them.