"My humble Duty remembred unto your good Lordship. Where it pleased your good Lordship to refer to Mr. Atturny and Solicitor, for perusing of the Book that is to pass from the Queen's Majesty to the City of London, as touching the Measurage of Sea-Coal, and other things measurable upon the River of Thames; it may please you to understand, that they have accordingly perused the same, and have reformed it in what Points they thought good. Which now we return again to your good Lordship, in that Form as by them is corrected and set down. And forasmuch as the said Mr. Atturny and Solicitor (besides Allowance from my Lord Admiral, which they have already) do further require your Lordship's Warrant, for their Ap- probation of the same under their Hands, we humbly beseech your good Lordship to peruse the said Book, and to vouchsafe us your good Favour, in directing your Warrant to her Majesties said learned Council, for the signing of the same. That this Controversy being ended between my Lord Admiral and this City, we may enjoy the said Measurage peaceably, as in Times past we have done. Wherein, as for many other honourable Favours and good Turns towards this City, we shall be much bound to your good Lordship. And thus humbly I take my Leave from London, the 5th of Jan. 1591."
Your Lordship's most humble,
William Webb, Maior.]

IT is acknowledged, the Laws and Constitutions of the City have been as yet but very imperfectly represented. And therefore to improve this Part of the Knowledge of London, (which seems indeed to be the usefullest part of the whole Book) here shall moreover,

First, Notice be taken of the Charters of the Kings and Queens granted to the City, which is the Ground of all their Laws, Liberties and Privileges. Then shall be shewn the several Courts belonging to the City, and kept in Guild-Hall, London, or elsewhere; where the Laws of it are explained, and Causes adjudged and decided. Thirdly, to come to some particular Specification of the Laws, together with the Acts of Common Council. And lastly, to subjoin some Collections of special Laws and Orders, by way of Journal, through the Reign of Queen Elizabeth.

And here, whereas the Charters of the City, when they are recited, are commonly begun at William the Conqueror, I shall first mention somewhat more early, namely, a Liberty belonging to the City, by the Grant of St. Edward, commonly called Edward the Confessor, that deserveth to be taken Notice of; and that is, That whosoever of servile Condition abode in it peaceably for a Year and a Day, was from thenceforth ever free from his Lord or Master, and a Freeman. King Henry VI. in the seventh of his Reign, which was Anno, 1428, sent his Letters to the Lord Maior and Aldermen, to be informed about this particular Privilege, and other like Customs of the said City. To whom they sent an Answer worthy Remark. I shall set down both as they were communicated to me by my Friend, the Deputy-Keeper of the Tower Records.

HENRICUS Dei gratia, Angliæ, &c. In English thus, "HENRY, by the Grace of God, King of England and France, and Lord of Ireland, to the Maior and Aldermen of the City of London, Greeting. Willing for certain Causes to be certified upon the Tenors of divers Liiberties and Customs of the foresaid City, and concerning the Records and Memoranda of Servants and Natives coming to the foresaid City, and tarrying there for a Year and a Day, absque Calumpnia Dominorum suorum; i.e. without Complaint of their Lords or Masters, before you had, and enrolled, in our Court of the Chamber of Guild-Hall of the foresaid City, as is said; We command you the Maior distinctly and openly to send the Tenor of the Liberties, Customs, Records and Memoranda beforesaid, to Us in our Chancery, under your Seal, and this our Brief. Witness Myself at Westminster, the 20th day of January, in the seventh Year of our Reign."

Then followeth the Maior's Answer.

NOS Henricus Barton, Maior, &c. "We Henry Barton, Maior, and the Aldermen of the City of London, send before the Lord the King in his Chancery, as within is commanded us, the Tenors of divers Liberties, Customs, Records and Memorials concerning Servants and Natives, had and enrolled in our Court in the Chamber of Guild-Hall of the said City. Which Tenors lie open in a Scedule fastened to this Brief."

Then follow two Extracts: One out of the Book Reportorium, fo. 21. of thje second Part, beginning Inter nobilis urbis, &c. which I have exemplified in the first Book.

The second Extract is taken out of the Book in the Chamber, De antiquis Legibus, Libertatibus & Consuetudinibus Civit. London. Which Book is called Speculum; wherein is a certain Record contained to this Tenor:

Memorandum, quod tempore, &c. i.e. "Be it remembred, that in the Time of holy King Edward, heretofore King of England, and before from all Time no Memory of Man then was extant, such Dignity, Liberty, and Royal Custom, among others, was had, used and approved, in the City of London, which is, and from all Time hath been called, The Free Chamber of the King of England, as from antient Time it was used and had in the great City of Troy; to wit; that every Servant, whosoever he were, that came to the City of London, and tarried in it for a Year and a Day, without reclamation of his Lord there; afterwards he may, ought"