In the Twelfth Year of King Edward the IIId, the King being gone into Flanders, the French and Genoese, with Fifty Gallies, as Pyrates, came upon divers of the Coasts of England, to sack, burn and destroy the chief Maritime Towns. So they served Southampton: They attempted the same at the Isle of Wight, Hastings, Thanet, the Havens of Cornwal, Dover, Harwich, Sailing about the Coasts, from their Ships, and doing great Mischief. The Tidings whereof was brought to the King, lying then in Brabant, that divers Ports in England were spoiled by those Pirates: Which made him the speedier in taking Revenge upon France. This put the City of London, no doubt, into a Consternation, and put them upon defending themselves; and the Maior, being now, in the King's Absence, the Chief Magistrate, (and to whom the King had especially committed the Care of the City,) made an extraordinary Preparation, by stopping up the Thames, to hinder the Enemies Ships from coming up to annoy the City. For that Purpose, besides a strong Fortification, he fixed Pallisadoes quite through the River, at a Place called, The Pengales, or rather Petty Galeis. Of which we have this Record:

" London. Maior, audito Remore quod alienie genæ Hostes, cum galeis, [Gallies] &c. ad Civitat. Lond. venisse, ordinabat quandum Domum Bretagiatum, & ad sumptus proprios in Loco vocat. Pengales (potius legend. Pettegaleis) de novo construxit, & palos ex ea transverso Aquæ Thames, figi secit. Et nunc habet Licentiam dict. Domum prosternere, & amoliend. post pacem factam. "

From their Valour we might come to their Loyalty. The City hath loved their Princes. Of their Love to Queen Elizabeth, I will give some Instances. September the 7th, 1586, being her Birth Day, in the Morning, all the Bells of London rang for Joy; and there was great Feasting, especially at Supper, the Citizens concluding the Day with all the Gladness imaginable. And the rather, for that this Year 1586, was discovered a very desperate Plot against her Life and Government, by Bigotted Papists, wherein Mary Queen of Scots was concerned. And as many of the Nobility and Gentry had the Year before entred into a voluntary Association under their Hands and Seals, to revenge the Queen's Death, so this Year these Matters made the Parliament confirm it by Act. Which in a Speech to the Parliament, she took particular Notice of: Looking upon it as a Miracle, that after Twenty Eight Years Reign, her Subjects good Will and Affection to her was the same, if not greater than at first. At this very Time several Traitors were to be tried, as Babington, and others, about the Scots Queen. The Attorney General sent his Man to the Recorder, to set his Hand and Seal unto a Warrant, to summon a Quest of Enquiry, to appear the next Day at Westminster Hall. Whereupon the said Recorder wrote in a Letter to the Court, that when the Citizens should hear of it, they would like of it very well, for all their Cry was unanimous, that Justice might be done upon these Traitors.

And when Thomas Blank was to be sworn Maior, which was in the Year 1582, the Citizens minding to take this Opportunity to express their Love and Loyalty towards their Queen, when the Maior Elect was presented to her in a great Appearance of Aldermen, and other Citizens, Fleetwood, the Recorder, as their Mouth, made an eloquent Speech to her, abounding in her Praises, but chiefly for her Care of Religion, so much undermined by Papists. This Speech, she answered, that she took in very good Part, only, she said, that he had given her more Praises than she deserved. Though indeed he had said nothing but truly and justly, and as it was indeed; as he seriously told a Friend, upon Occasion of these modest Words spoken by the Queen. She commanded her Lord Chamberlain to Knight the Maior, who kissed her Hand; and so they departed with mutual Satisfactions. And observing her wonderfully pleased in all Things, the Maior, and his Brethren, took great Delight thereat. Only it was observed, that some young Gentlmen, being more bold than well Mannered, stood upon the Carpet of the Cloth of State, and did almost lean upon the Cushions. Whereat the Queen found Fault with the Chamberlain, and Vice-chamberlain, and with the Gentlemen Ushers, for suffering it.

In the Year 1588, that Critical Year, when all the Popish Powers resolved upon an Invasion of England, the City gave a signal Mark of their Fidelity and Generosity. For when the Queen's Council had asked, whey they would do in their Princes and Countries Right, at this dangerous Juncture, Sir George Bond, Maior, and the Aldermen, his Brethren, humbly besought their Honours to set down what their Wisdoms held requisite in such a Case: Whereat the Lords demanded Five Thousand Men, and Fifteen Ships. The City craved Two Days Respit for giving in their Answer. Which being granted them, when the Day of their Answer was come, they most generously and nobly granted Double to what was desired: Entreating their Lordships, in Token of their perfect Love, and Loyalty to their Prince and Country, to accept Ten Thousand Men, and Thirty Ships amply furnished.

The City gave a most Splendid and Magnificent Entertainment to King Charles the First, November the 25th, 1641, upon his safe and happy Return from Scotland, when he Dined at Guild Hall. The Triumphant Manner, and Order whereof, and the Lord Maiors, meeting and receiving his Majesty, for an Honourable Remembrance of the Cities Loyalty, was as follows.

The Right Honourable the Lord Maior, Sir Richard Gurney, and the rest of the grave Senate of the City of London, the Aldermen his Brethren, being Advertised, that his Majesty, in his happy Return from Scotland, would graciously condescend to pass through the City, with his Royal Consort, the Queen, the Prince, and other of the Princely Issue; at a Court among themselves, took into their Consideration, how to give Entertainment fit for his Majesties Gracious Acceptance. And thereupon they selected a Committee of Six Aldermen, and Twelve Commoners: Who should meet, consult and order, what they in their Discretions should think fit to conduce to the Honour of the City, and the Acceptance of his Majesty. Yet before these Committees should effect any Thing, it was thought necessary to Assemble a Common Council, as well to understand the Affection of the Commons, as to confirm those Committees chosen.

The Matter, being propounded there, was entertained with an unanimous Consent, and general Approbation, and the before-mentioned Committees were by the Court confirmed. Who thereupon met Daily, bending all their Thoughts how to satisfy the Trust imposed on them. And calling before them the Officers of the City, directed them what they should do; charging them to leave nothing undone, which either Art, Labour or Cost, in so short a Time, could Compass.