Edward VI. who succeeded to the crown by the demise of his father, was only in the year of his age at his accession to the dominion of England: it was therefore necessary to choose a protector, who might exercise the regal power during his minority, to which high station the Earl of Hertford, the king's maternal uncle, was chosen, and soon after created Duke of Somerset.

On the , the Lord Protector commenced the exercise of his high office, by knighting the young king in the presence of the Lord Mayor, and many other lords and gentlemen; immediately after which, the king, standing under his canopy of state, took the sword from the Lord Protector, and conferred the honour of knighthood on Henry Hoblethorn, the Lord Mayor; which was the act of sovereignty done by him.

In this year, according to Howell, in his Londinopolis, the price of Malmsey wine, the only sweet wine then imported, and that by the Lombards alone, was but halfpence the pint: for which he quotes the churchwarden's accounts of St. Andrew , from which it appears that they had

paid

ten shillings

for

eighty

pints of Malmsey, spent in the church.

From the accession of Edward, the Reformation, which, in his father's life-time, was a monstrous medley of Protestantism and Catholicism, proceeded with calm and steady steps. In the Easter

The combinations and conspiracies which were daily concerted by the journeymen and labourers, being found very detrimental to trade, the parliament, among other things enacted,

That, if any artificers, workmen, or labourers, do conspire, covenant, or promise together, that they shall not make or do their work but at a certain price or rate, or shall not enterprise or take upon them to finish that work which another hath begun, or shall do but a certain work in a day, or shall not work but at certain hours or times; that then every person so conspiring, covenanting, or offending, being thereof convicted by witnesses, confession, or otherwise, shall forfeit, for the

first

offence,

ten pounds

, or have

twenty

days imprisonment: for the

second

offence,

twenty pounds

, or pillory; and for the

third

offence,

forty pounds

, or to sit on the pillory, and

one

ear cut off, besides being rendered infamous, and incapable of giving evidence upon oath.

In the year , the march of the city watch was revived by Sir John Gresham, the mayor. The procession received an additional splendor from light horsemen, which had been raised by the citizens to reinforce the king's army in Scotland.

On day, Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, a zealous Catholic, preached before the king, at . He had been warned not to speak of controversial subjects, and the answer he gave was moderate and satisfactory. But when in the pulpit, he forgot his promises. and warmly supported the real presence in the sacrament. The effect of this ill-judged conduct was grossly indecent. Each party, although in the church, and before the king, cried out aloud, and with vehemence to support or to insult the preacher; and, on his leaving the pulpit, the orator was taken to prison.

London was again visited by the plague, in the month of July of this year, which carried off a great number of its inhabitants.

From Strype's Ecclesiastical Memorials, we learn, that, in this year, wheat sold at per quarter; barley, malt, and rye, at ; and pease and beans, at . And, by an act of parliament for regulating the purveyors of the king's household, the rate of post-horses is fixed at penny per mile.

In the year , at the instigation of Archbishop Cranmer, encouragement was given to persecuted foreign Protestants, to come over and settle in England, where they were allowed the free exercise of their religion; and, in return, enriched the nation by the manufactures they brought with them. They settled principally in London, , Canterbury, and other great towns in that part of the country.

The Protector (the Duke of Somerset) having been guilty of some acts of imprudence, his enemies took the advantage of it, and several of the members of the council entered into a cabal against his person. They met at Ely-house, and taking the whole authority into their own hands, acted independent of him. They sent injunctions to the magistrates of London, and the lieutenant of the Tower to obey no orders from the Protector, but to keep the city and Tower in a state of defence, and at the same time demanded a supply of men. The magistrates so far agreed with their request as to order the several companies to mount guard alternately, but would not proceed any farther without consulting the common-council: for which purpose they were summoned by the lord mayor to attend next day at .

The Protector, who was at this time with the king at , receiving advice of these proceedings, was so intimidated, that he retired with his majesty to Windsor, and began strongly to fortify the castle.

The common-council, meeting at the appointed time, a letter was produced from his majesty to the city, wherein he demanded men, completely armed, to be immediately sent to Windsor. Robert Brook, the recorder, opposed this, and, on the contrary, earnestly requested them to supply the lords with that number, as it would enable them to bring the Protector to an account, and thereby redress the grievances of the people. He was heard by the court with great attention, but was interrupted by George Stadlow, a member of the common-council, who, after a very elaborate harangue, in which he recited the bad consequences of the city's joining the barons against King Henry III. concluded thus:

Wherefore, as this aid is required of the king's majesty, it is our duty to hearken thereto, for he is our high shepherd, rather than unto the lords; and yet I should not wish the lords to be clearly shaken off; but they with us and we with them may join in suit, and make our most humble petition to the king's majesty, that it would please his majesty to hear such complaint against the government of the Lord Protector, as may be justly alleged and proved;

that neither shall the king, nor yet the lords, have cause to seek for further aid, neither we to offend any of them.

This plain and honest speech had so good an effect, that the common council broke up without coming to any resolution in that affair; wherefore, the Lord Mayor and aldermen held a conference with the lords in the star-chamber, at the conclusion of which Sir Philip Hobby was dispatched with a letter of credence, wherein they most humbly implored his majesty to give credit to all the said Sir Philip should declare to him in their names: which message he delivered in a very emphatical manner; and, though in the presence of the Protector, he bitterly inveighed against his grievous proceedings, insomuch that the Protector was not only commanded instantly to withdraw, but soon after committed to Beauchamp's Tower in the castle; from whence he was brought to London, and, in a kind of triumph, rode down between the Earls of Southampton and Huntingdon, followed by noblemen and gentlemen on horseback. At Holborn-bridge, certain of the aldermen attended on horseback, and the streets through which he passed were lined with armed citizens; and at the upper end of Soper-lane (now ), in , he was received by the Lord Mayor, recorder, and sheriffs, with a numerous attendance of halberdiers, who conducted him to the .

The Earl of Warwick, who had taken the lead in depriving the Protector of his power, retained the chief management of public affairs for some time; but Somerset was at length restored to liberty, and took his place again at the council. The fine which he was to have paid for his misconduct, was also remitted by the king.

House-rents musts have been very low at this time; for, archbishop Nicholson, in his Historical Library, says,

a house, in the very precincts of King Edward VI.'s court, in Channel-row,

Westminster

, was let to no less a person than the Comptroller of that king's household, for the yearly rent of

thirty shillings

.

In the year , the Thames at London-bridge was observed to ebb and flow times within hours, occasioned by a strong easterly wind repelling the ebb before it could perform its natural course.

Mary, Queen of Scotland and Dowager of France, (after the demise of the king her husband), in her return from France through England. was sumptuously entertained at the Bishop of London's palace, by the mayor and citizens for days successively; and, at her departure from hence, was attended by the prime nobility with the utmost magnificence. On which occasion, the Duke of Northumberland had in men on horseback, armed with javelins, whereof were dressed in black velvet, with velvet hats and feathers, and golden chains about their necks; and next to whom stood horsemen belonging to the Earl of Pembroke, with javelins, hats, and feathers; then

In this year a Captain Bodenham made a trading voyage to the isles of Candia and Chios, in the Levant, from whence he loaded home with wines, &c. and returned in the following year.

The parliament in Edward's reign having given all the lands and possession of colleges, chantries, &c. to the king, the different companies of London redeemed those which they had held for the payment of priests' wages, obits, and lights, at the price of and applied the rents arising from them to charitable purposes.

The butchers of London having greatly enhanced the price of meat, owing to a combination between the graziers and salesmen, the king and council, to restrain the like imposition for the future, fixed the prices of cattle sold in the different seasons, in the following manner:--

A great dearth happening the same year, the following prices of provisions were also fixed by the king and council:

In , the king, in consideration of the sum of granted various lands and tenements in and to the city of London, together with

all that our lordship and manor of

Southwark

, with their rights, members, and appurtenances in the said county of Surrey, late pertaining to the late monastery of

Bermondsey

in the said county: and all messuages, houses, buildings, barns, stables, dove-houses, ponds, pools, springs, orchards, gardens, lands, tenements, meadows, feedings, pastures, commons, waste-street, void ground-rent, reversions, services, court leet, view of frankpledge, chattels, waifs, strays, free warren, and all other rights, profits, commodities, emoluments, and hereditaments whatsoever.

On St. Barnaby's day, the high altar at was pulled down, and a table placed where the altar stood, with a veil drawn beneath, and steps; and, on the next Sunday, a communion was sung at the same table; and, shortly after, all the altars in London were taken down, and tables placed in their rooms.

In , the sweating-sickness broke out again in London, and carried off a great number of people:

eight hundred

,

died in the

first

week:

seven

honest householders did sup together; and before

eight

of the clock in the next morning,

six

of them were dead!

The king being greatly distressed for money, had recourse to the bank of Anthony Fugger and company of Antwerp, of whom he borrowed a large sum of money, and as a security for the payment, the corporation of London were bound jointly with him,

In consequence of an act of common-council passed this year, a postern gate was made in the wall, on the north side of the dissolved cloister of the Gray Friars, now , to pass through to the hospital of St. Bartholomew.

The time was at length come that the eyes of the English nation were to be opened to the immense injury sustained by permitting the German merchants of the Steel-yard to enjoy such advantages in the duty on the exportation of English cloths, which now began to be more generally seen and felt, as the foreign commerce of England became more diffused.

In , the privy council, upon the pressing remonstrances of the English merchant-adventurers, inquired into the injuries sustained by native traders, in consequence of their immunities; and after mature consideration, determined that their privileges, liberties, and franchises, should be resumed by the king; allowing them, however, the liberty of traffic in as ample a manner as any merchant-strangers have it. The difference in the duty being per cent. instead of per cent. their ancient duty, had such an effect, that, according to Wheeler's Treatise of Commerce, our own merchants in this year shipped cloths for Flanders.

The government being apprehensive of a disturbance in the city, through the approaching trial of the Duke of Somerset, a royal precept was sent to the mayor, commanding him strictly to enjoin all the citizens to have an eye over their respective families, and likewise to cause each householder to provide a man completely armed, but not to stir abroad till called for. The mayor was also enjoined to provide a strong guard of citizens in each ward. All which being carefully performed, the peace and quiet of the city was thereby effectually preserved.

On the , the Duke was conveyed by water to Hall, where he was arraigned for treason and felony,

and after tried by the peeres, the nobles there present, which did acquit him of the treason, but found him giltie of the felonie.-The people in the hall supposing he had been cleerely quit when they saw the axe of the Tower put down, made such a shrike, casting up of their caps, &c. that their crie was heard to the

Long Acre

, beyond Charing Crosse.

seven

a clocke was covered with a great multitude repairing from all parts of the citie, as well as out of the suburbs.

The duke being ready to have been executed, suddenly the people were driven into a great feare, and some ran

one

way, some another; many fell into the

Tower ditch

, and they which tarried thought

some pardon had been brought: some said it thundered; some that a great rumbling was in the earth under them, that the ground moved; but there was no such matter, more than the trampling of the feete of the people of a certain hamlet, which were warned to be there by

seven

of the clock, to give their attendance on the lieutenant,

when the foremost began to run, crying to their fellows to follow close after; which suddenness of these men, being weaponed with bils and halbards, thus running, caused the people which

first

saw them to think some power had come to have rescued the duke from execution, and therefore, to crie

away, away

.

On the in the same year,

being the feast of All Saints,

in Paule's church, and the like through the whole citie.

without coape or vestment.

About this time a statute was made for regulating the number of taverns and wine vaults. Its preamble states that it was enacted

for the avoiding of many inconveniences, much evil rule, and common resort to misruled persons, used and frequented in many taverns of late newly set up, in back lanes, corners, and suspicious places, both in London and other towns and villages.

By it the prices of wines are fixed thus: Gascony and Guienne wines at per gallon; Rochelle wines at ; and no other sorts of wine to be sold higher than per gallon, on forfeiture of . No taverns are to be kept for retailing of wines, unless licensed, and the number of them is not to exceed in London and in : and no wine to be drank in any of these taverns.

The citizens of London having purchased of the king the manor of , with all its appurtenances, they became possessed of a hospital dedicated to St. Thomas the Apostle; which being greatly decayed, they repaired and enlarged the same at a considerable expence, for the reception of poor, sick, and helpless objects. The king incorporated the lord mayor, commonalty, and citizens of London, governors of the hospital, together with those of Christ and .

King Edward VI. also, but a short time before his death, founded , in the Grey-friars' convent, for the relief and education of young and helpless children; and incorporated the governors by the title of

The mayor, commonalty, and citizens of the city of London, governors of the possessions, revenues, and goods of the hospitals of Edward VI. King of England, &c.

The city having appointed for the education of poor children, and St. Thomas's, in , for the maimed and diseased, the king formed these charitable foundations into a corporation; as appears by a charter granted for that purpose, wherein it is declared as follows:

And, that our intention may take the better effect, and that the lands, revenues, and other things granted for the support of the said hospitals, houses and poor people, may be the better governed, for the establishment of the same, We do will and ordain, that the hospitals aforesaid, when they shall be so founded, erected, and established, shall be named, called, and styled, "The hospitals of Edward VI. of England, of Christ, Bridewell, and St. Thomas the Apostle; and that the aforesaid mayor, commonalty, and citizens of London, and their successors, shall be stiled, The governors of Bridewell, Christ, and St. Thomas the Apostle; and that the same governors, in deed, and in fact, and in name, shall be hereafter one body corporate and politic of themselves for ever. And we will that the same governors shall have perpetual succession.

On the , Edward VI. died at Greenwich, and was buried in the chapel of his grandfather, at , with great funeral pomp, and the unfeigned mourning of an affectionate people.

During his illness, his crafty adviser Northumberland had persuaded him to make a will, setting aside his sisters, Mary and Elizabeth, and leaving the crown to Lady Jane Grey, on pretence that this was necessary for the quiet of his people, and the security of their newly adopted religion. But sensible that it could not be carried into effect without the co-operation of the city of London, he concealed the king's death for some days; and on the , the Lord Mayor received an order to attend the council at Greenwich, and to bring with him aldermen, merchants of the staple, and as many merchant-adventurers, to whom, under an oath of secrecy, the death of the king was communicated, and also the choice he had made of a successor.

Accordingly, on the , Lady Jane was received into the as queen, and in the afternoon, proclamation was made through the city of the death of King Edward VI. and that he had ordained by letters patent that the Lady Jane should be heir to the crown of England.

Some preparations were made for supporting this nomination by force of arms; but it being found that the sense of the nation was against disturbing the succession, the council met at Baynard's Castle, on the , from whence, having consulted the lord mayor, aldermen, and recorder, they all proceeded in cavalcade to , where they proclaimed the princess Mary,

Soon afterwards the Duke of Northumberland, with most of his family, the Marquis of Northampton, the Earls of Warwick and Huntingdon, and other supporters of Lady Jane, were sent prisoners to the Tower, and on the , the new queen rode into London in triumph. Almost immediately afterwards all the opposers of the late Reformation, who had been in confinement, were released, the Catholic bishops were restored to their sees, and various preliminary measures were taken to re-establish papal supremacy.

The adherents of the Roman church were so confident of the queen's attentions that they every where began to inveigh publicly against the Protestants. So early as the day after Mary's entry into London, Bourn, chaplain to bishop Bonner, preached a sermon at

Paule's crosse,

a side poste

they could repress the rage of the populace in a moment,

doubtless they set it on.

feare of the like tumulte, as had been the Sundaie last past,

been warned by the maior to be present in their liveries.

On the d of August, the Duke of Northumberland, Sir Thomas Palmer, and Sir John Gates were beheaded on Towerhill, for the part they had taken in the elevation of Lady Jane Grey. On the , a prest or forced loan, of was demanded of the city for the queen's use,

which summe was levied by the alderman and

120

commoners.

who forgot not

one

formality,

practised before the Reformation.

Stow's description of the pageant is curious:

The last of September,

Queene Mary rode through the city of London towards

Westminster

, sitting in a chariot of cloth of tissue, drawne with

six

horses, al trapped with the like cloth of tissue. She sate in a gowne of purple velvet furred with powdered ermine, having on her head a caule of cloth of tinsell, beset with pearle and stone, and above the same upon her heard, a round circlet of gold beset so richly with pretious stones, that the value thereof was inestimable; the same caule and circlet being so massy and ponderous, that she was fine to beare up her head with her hand, and the canopy was borne over her chariot. Before her rode a number of gentlemen and knights, then judges, then doctors, then bishops, then lords, then the council: after whom followed the knyghts of the Bathe,

13

in number, in their robes; the Bi. of Winchester lord chancellor. and the Marquesse of Winchester lord high treasurer: next came the Duke of Norffolke, and after him the Erle of Oxford, who bare the sword before hir: the maior of London, in a gone of crimosin velvet, bare the sceptre of gold, &c. After the Q. chariot, Sir Edward Hastings led her horse in his hand: then came another chariot, having a covering all of cloth of silver al white, and

six

horses trapped with the like; therein sate the Lady Elizabeth and the Lady Anne of Cleve; then ladies and gentlewomen riding on horses trapped with red velvet, and their gowns and kirtles likewise of red velvet; after them followed

two

other chariots covered with red satin, and their horses betrapped with the same, and certain gentlewomen between every of the said chariots riding in crimosin satin, their horses betrapped with the same: the numbers of the gentlewomen so riding were

46

, besides them in the chariots. At Fenchurch was a costly pageant, made by the Genoways: at Grace Church corner there was another pageant made by the Easterlings. At the upper end of Grace-streete there was another pageant made by the Florentines very high, on the top whereof there stood

four

pictures; and in the midst of them, and most highest, there stood an angell all in greene, with a trumpet in his hand; and when the trumpetter, who stood secretly in the pageant, did sound his trump, the angel did put his trump to his mouth, as though it had been the same that had sounded, to the great marvelling of many ignorant persons: this pageant was made with

three

thorow-fares, orgates, &c. The conduit on Cornehill ran wine; and beneath the conduit a pageant made at the charges of the city; and another at the great conduit in Cheape, and a fountain by it running wine. The Standart in Cheape new painted, with the waites of the city thereof playing. The crosse in Cheap new washed and burnished.

One

other pageant at the little conduit in Cheape, next to Paules, made by the citie, where the aldermen stoode: and when the Q. came against them, the recorder made a short proposition to her; and then the chamberlaine presented to her, in the name of the maior and the city, a purse of cloth of gold, and

1,000 marks

of gold in it: then she rode foorth, and in Paules churchyard, against the school,

one

M. Heywod sate in a pageant under a vine, and made to her an oration in Latin and English. Then was there

one

Peter, a Dutchman, strode on the weathercock of Paules steeple, holding a streamer in his hand of

5

yards long, and waving thereof, stoode sometime on the

one

foote, and shook the other, and then kneeled on his knees, to the great marvel of al people. He had made

two

scaffoldes under him;

one

above the crosse, having torches and streamers set on it; and

one

other over the bole of the crosse, likewise set with streamers and torches, which could not burn, the wind was so great: the said Peter had

16 pound 13 shillings and four pence

given him by the citie, for his costs and paines, and all his stuffe. Then was there a pageant made against the deane of St. Paules gate, where the queristers of Paules played on vialles, and song. Ludgate was newely repaired, painted, and richly hanged, with minstrelles playing and singing there: then there was another pageant at the conduite in Fleete-streete; and the Temple-barre was newly painted and hanged.-And thus she passed to

Whitehall

at

Westminster

, where she took her leave of the L. maior, giving him great thanks for his paines, and the city for their cost. On the morrow, which was the

first day of October

, the Queene wont by water to the olde palace, and there remained till about

eleven

of the clocke, and then went on foote upon blew cloth, being railed on either side unto

St. Peter's Church

, where she was solemnly crowned and anointed by the Bishop of Winchester; which coronation, and other ceremonies and solemnities then used according to the olde customer, was not fully ended till it was nigh

four

of the clock at night that she returned from the church; before whom was then borne

three

swordes sheathed, and

one

naked. The great service that day done in Westminster-hall at dinner by divers noble men, would aske long time to write. The Lord Maior of London and

twelve

citizens kept the high cupboard of plate as butlers; and the queene gave to the maior for his fee a cup of gold with a cover, waying seaventeene ounces.

The proposed marriage between Mary and Philip of Spain, was announced to the council in the beginning of ; and the day after, the lord mayor and aldermen were sent for to attend the court, and to bring with them of the principal commoners, to whom the lord chancellor declared the queen's intention, requiring them to behave like good subjects on the occasion.

As soon as this intention was made public, the nation took the alarm, and its discontent was expressed so openly, that the government thought it necessary to provide against the probable consequences of the ferment. Nor were these precautions useless, for in a very short time intelligence arrived from several counties that the people had taken up arms. In this conjuncture the privy council ordered the lord mayor to exert himself for the preservation of the peace in the city, and, upon advice that Sir Thomas Wyat was in arms, in Kent, they directed that the city should be put in a posture of defence.

In obedience to this command, the mayor and aldermen forthwith ordered a strong guard to be kept in every ward, and at every gate of the city, not only for preventing any sudden attack, but likewise for hindering a rising of the citizens in favour of the said Wyat.

Soon after., the lord treasurer came to , to solicit in the queen's name for a supply of men, to march against Wyat; which were got ready with such an incredible expedition, that the very next day, under the conduct of Alexander Brett, an experienced officer, they were sent by water to Gravesend, where they joined the duke of Norfolk, who thereupon began his march to Rochester, to dispossess Wyat thereof. Upon his approach to the city, he dispatched Norroy, king at arms, with an offer of a general pardon to Wyat and his men upon their submission: which being rejected, he advanced to attack the bridge; but Brett, the commander of the Londoners, drawing his sword, turned to his men, and addressed himself to them after this manner:

Gentlemen; Nothing can be more barbarous and unjust, than for us to fight against our friends and countrymen, especially conssidering, that they are engaged in defence of the rights and liberties of our dear country, in opposition to the proud and imperious Spaniard; from whom, if the intended match succeeds, we can expect no other favour, than that (if it may be called so) of becoming their slaves; therefore, as that worthy patriot Sir Thomas Wyat has laudably undertaken to protect and prevent us from being imposed upon by those lordly foreigners, I am humbly of opinion, that, instead of opposing, we ought in duty to our country to join him, for the more easily obtaining so salutary an end.

This speech met with such a reception among his followers, that they not only instantly cried out

a Wyat, a Wyat,

By this time was Wyat in Kent-streete, and so by St George's church into Southwarke. Himself and part of his company came in good array down Barmondsey-streete, and they were suffered peaceably to enter Southwarke without repulse, or any stroke stricken, either by the inhabitants or of any other: yet was there many men of the country in the Innes raised and brought thither by the lorde William and other, to have gone against the said Wyat, but they all joyned themselves to the Kentish men, and the inhabitants with their best entertained them. Immediately upon the said Wyat's coming, he made proclamation, that no soldier should take any thing, but that he should pay for it, and that his coming was to resist the Spanish king, &c. Notwithstanding, they forthwith made havocke of the Bishop of Win chester's goods, victuals, or whatsoever, not leaving so muche as one locke of a doore, nor a booke in his gallery or library uncut, or unrent into pieces, in his house of that borough.

The queen, in this general confusion, came to the city, and repairing to , was attended by the mayor, aldermen, sheriffs, and several of the city companies in their formalities; to whom she addressed herself to the following purport:

In my owne person I am come unto you, to tell you that which yourselves already doe see and know; I mean the traiterous and seditious number of the Kentish rebels that are assembled against us and you: their pretence, as they say, is to resist a marriage between us and the prince of Spain. Of all their plots, pretended quarrels and evil-contrived articles, you have been made privy; since which time our council have resorted to the rebels, demanding the cause of their continued enterprise; by whose answers the marriage is found to be the least of their quarrel, or rather a cloake to cover their pretended purposes against our religion; for, swarving from their former articles, they now manifestly bewray the inward treason of their hearts, most arrogantly demanding the possession of our person, the keeping of our Tower, and not only the placing and displacing of our counsellors, but also to use them and us at their pleasures; what I am, loving subjects, you right well know, your queene, to whom at my coronation, when I was wedded to the realme, and to the lawes of the same (the spousal ring whereof I have on my finger, which never hitherto was, nor hereafter shall be left off) ye promised your allegiance and obedience unto me; and that I am the right and true inheritor to the English crown, I not only take all Christendome to witness, but also your acts of parliaments confirming the same.

My father, as you all know, possessed the regal estate by right of inheritance, which now, by the same right, is descended unto me: to him you always shewed yourselves both faithful and loving subjects, as to your liege lord and king, and therefore I doubt not, but you will shew yourselves so to me his daughter; which if you doe, then may you not suffer any rebel to usurpe the government of our person, or interpose our estate, especially so presumptuous a traitor as this Wyat hath shewed himself to be; who most certainly, as he hath abused our ignorant subjects to be adherents to his traiterous quarel, so doth he intend by the colour of the same to subdue the lawes to his will, and to give scope to the rascal and forlorne persons, to make general havocke and spoile of your goods.

And this I further say unto you in the word of a prince, I cannot tell how naturally a mother loveth her children, for I was never the mother of any; but certainly, if a prince and governor may as naturally love their subjects, as the mother doth her child, then assure yourselves, that I, being your soveraigne lady and queene, doe as earnestly and tenderly love and favour you; and I, thus loving you, cannot but think, that you as heartily and faithfully love me again; and so, this love bound together in the knot of concord, we shall be able, I doubt not, to give these rebels a short and speedy overthrow.

Now, as concerning my intended marriage, you shall understand, that I entered not into the treaty thereof without the advice of our privy council, yea, and by the assent of those to whom my father committed his trust, who have so considered the great commodities that may thereof ensue, as they not only have thought it very honourable, but also expedient both for the wealth of our realme, and also of our loving subjects.

But as touching myself, I assure you, I am not so desirous of wedding, neither am I so precisely wedded to my will, that either for mine own pleasure I will chuse where I list, or else so amorous, as needs I must have one; for I thanke God, to whom be the praise, I have hitherto lived a virgin, and doubt not but, with God's grace, to be able to live so still.

But if, as my progenitors have done before, it might please God that I might leave some fruit of my body to be your governour, I trust, you would not only rejoice threat, but also I know, it would be to your great comfort; and certainly, if either I did know or think, that this marriage should either turne to the danger or loss of any of you, my loving subjects, or to the detriment of any part of the royal estate of this English realme, I would never consent thereunto, neither would I ever marry, whilst I lived; and in the word of a queene, I promise and assure you, if it shall not probably appeared before the nobility and commons in the high court of parliament, that this marriage shall be for the singular benefit and commodity of the whole realme, that then I will abstaine, not only from this marriage, but also from any other.

Wherefore, good subjects, plucke up your hearts, and, like true men, stand fast with your lawful prince against these rebels, both ours and yours, and fear them not, for I assure you, I do not, and will leave you my Lord Howard and my Lord Treasurer, to be assistant with my lord maior, for the safeguard of the city from spoile and sackage, which is the only scope of this rebellious company.

As the queen, on an information that Wyat had many friends in London, had joined the Lord Howard as an assistant to the lord mayor, they unanimously and assiduously set about the defence of the city. In the mean time, Wyat on the arriving with his army in , he was joyfully received, and plentifully supplied with all sorts of necessaries for his men but instead of being admitted into London, according to his expectation, the gates were shut against him, and the drawbridge cut down; and the mayor and sheriffs in armour riding up and down the streets, commanded all shops to be immediately shut, and the citizens forthwith to appear in arms, to be ready upon all emergencies. Wyat, highly enraged at this unexpected opposition, raised a battery of guns, in order to batter the city; but, considering that the destruction of London would rather irritate than oblige the citizens to a compliance, he changed his resolution, and marched towards Kingston, in order to pass the river Thames over the bridge at that place. Wyat, on his way thither. met Dorrell, a merchant of London, whom he desired to remember him to his fellow-citizens, and to acquaint them, that as they had denied them entrance, and rejected liberty when offered, they deserved no pity when under the cruellest treatment and oppression that strangers could inflict.

The same day, about in the afternoon, Wyat arrived at Kingston; when finding the bridge broke down to prevent his passage, and the adverse bank guarded by men, he instantly played upon them with pieces of ordnance; which had so good an effect, that they were soon compelled to exchange their post for a place of greater security; whereupon, he caused divers sailors to swim across the Thames, to bring over the barges that lay on the other side; which, being performed without opposition, he repaired the bridge with an admirable celerity, and passed both his army and ordnance over it the night followings He then proceeded towards London, where, had he arrived before day-light, it is probable that he would have obtained possession of the city, as many of his friends were expecting him, and as it was not till about in the morning that the queen was informed

which sodaine newes,

made all the Courte wonderfully afraide

Wyat hearing that the Earl of Pembroke was come into the fields, he staide at Knights bridge until day, his men being very wearie with travel of that night and the day before, and also partly feebled and faint, having received small sustenance since their coming out of Southwarke. There was no small adoo in London and likewise the Tower made great preparation of defence. By

ten

of the clocke, the Earl of Pembroke had set his troupe of horsemen on the hill in the high waie above the new bridge, over against St. James: his footemen were set in

two

battels, somewhat lower, and nearer Charing crosse, at the lane turning down by the bricke wall from Islington-ward, where he had set also certain other horsemen, and he had planted his ordnance upon the hill side. In the meane season, Wyat and his company planted his ordinance upon a hill beyond Saint James,

This must have been Hay Hill, on which Wyat's head was afterwards set upon a pole.

almost over against the Parke corner, and himself, after a few words spoken to his soldiers, came down the old lane on foote, hard by the court gate at Saint James, with

four

or

five

ancients, his men marching in good array: Cuthbert Vaughan, and

two

ancients, turned down toward

Westminster

. The Earl of Pembroke's horsemen hovered all this while without moving, until all was passed by saving the taile, upon which they did set and cut off; the other marched forward in array, and never staid or returned to the aide of their taile: the great ordinance shot off freshly on both sides. Wyat's ordinance overshot the troupe of horsemen; the queenes ordinance,

one

piece strake

three

of Wyat's company in a ranked upon the head, and slaying them, strake through the wall into the Parke. More harme was not done by the great shot of neither parties. The Queenes whole battaile of footemen standing still, Wyat passed along by the wall

towards Charing-crosse, where the side horsmen that were there set upon part of them, but was soone forced backe.

At , Wyat was attacked by Sir John Gage, with nearly men, yet he quickly repulsed him, and obliged him to seek shelter within the gates of palace. At this repulse

many cryed

Treason

in the court; and there was running and crying out of ladies and gentlewomen, shutting of doores and windows, and such a shriking and noise, as was wonderfull to heare.

along by a great company of harnessed men, which stood on both sides the streetes,

men going not in any good order or array.

At Ludgate, Wyat attempted to gain admission, but the opportunity was lost; and the lord William Howard, who defended the gate, said,

Avant, traitor, thou shalt not come in here!

upon a stall over against the Bell Savadge Gate, and at the last seeing he could not get into the city, and being deceived of the aydes he hoped for, he turned him back in array towards Charing Crosse.

perchance,

you may find the queen mercifull, and the rather, if ye stint so great a bloudshead as is here like to be: the day is sore against you, and in resisting you can get no good.

bade him leape up behind him,

Then,

was taking of men on all sides; and it is said that in this conflict

one

pikeman, setting his back to the wall at St. James, kept

seventeen

horsemen off him a great time, but at the last was slaine.

The suppression of this revolt was followed by a dreadful scene of sanguinary triumph. Even bigotry itself had hitherto respected the youth of Lady Jane Grey, who was scarcely , and whose only real crime was an imprudent submission to a parent's will; but she was now devoted to death with her husband, Lord

On the and , about

fifty

of Wyat's faction were hanged on

twenty

paire of gallowes made for that purpose in divers places about the citie.

who looked forth of her gallery.

days after Wyat's execution, Sir Nicholas Throckmorton was brought to trial as an accomplice, in , but the jury acquitted him; which so enraged the queen's council, that in defiance of all justice, they commanded the jurors to appear before them at an hour's warning, and fined each of them . On the , the Lord Thomas Grey, uncle to Lady Jane, was beheaded on . On the , William Thomas, Esq. who had been clerk of the council, was

hanged, headed, and quartered

The parliament having confirmed the articles of marriage between the queen and Philip II. of Spain, that prince arrived at Southampton on the . The queen had set out on a progress to the west, that she might meet her bridegroom at Winchester, where she intended to be married, and where the ceremony was accordingly performed with great magnificence on the of the same month. On the following, the

The sumptuous and extravagant manner of living of the city magistrates had gradually risen to such a height, that many of the principal citizens retired from the city, rather than incur the enormous expense of serving the city offices. To remedy this growing evil, an act of common council was passed in this year, whereby it was enacted, That thenceforth the mayor should have but course either at dinner or supper; and that, on a festival, being a flesh-day, to consist of no more than dishes, whether hot or cold; and on every festival, being a fish day, dishes; and on every common flesh day, dishes; and on every common day, dishes, exclusive of brawn, collops with eggs, sallads, pottage, butter, cheese, eggs, herrings, sprats, shrimps, and all sorts of shell fish and fruits. That the aldermen and sheriffs should have dish less than the above-mentioned; and all the city companies, at their several entertainments, to have the same number of dishes as the aldermen and sheriffs; but with this restriction, to have neither swan, crane, or bustard, upon the penalty of That all the serjeants and officers belonging to the mayor or sheriffs, on flesh days, to have , on fish days dishes. But, when any foreign ministers or privy councillors are invited to any of the city entertainments, then the regulations or additions to be left to the discretion of the mayor: provided always, that no other entertainment be given after dinner, except ipocras and wafers. And the annual feasts, on the days after Whitsunday and Bartholomew-tide, were entirely laid aside.

It was also about the same time and by the same authority enacted, that each of the sheriffs for the future should only have serjeants and their yeomen, who, instead of having liveries given them, were each to have in money annually, to supply themselves and the clerks of the computers; and such as had been accustomed to have liveries, were each to have a gown annually at Christmas.

It was likewise enacted, that thenceforth no wyth should be carried away from the mayor's or sheriffs houses, nor shall any of them keep a lord of misrule; and that in consideration of the great and annual expense the mayor and sheriffs are at in providing a sumptuous entertainment every Lord Mayor's day at , for the honour of the city, and regaling of persons of the greatest distinction; it was therefore ordained, that every subsequent mayor, as an alleviation of that charge, shall be paid out of the chamber of the city the sum of . This act was revived in the year , with reasons shewing that a part of the charge of a shrievalty is in wine.

The keeper of Compter, having not only ill

The citizens of London, being still greatly injured by the encroachments of foreigners on their respective professions, applied to the lord mayor and commonalty for further relief; when an act of common council was passed, in which it was ordained,

That thenceforth no citizen should presume to employ any foreigner in any manner of business, exclusive of felt-makers, capthickers, carders, spinners, knitters, and brewers, upon penalty of

five pounds

for every offence; and all offenders, upon conviction, refusing to pay, to be committed to prison, without bail or main-prize, till such fines were paid.

In this year we find that an Englishman, named Thomson, making a voyage from Cadiz to New Spain, touched at the Canaries, and found the factors of some London merchants already settled there. This is the mention of a commercial intercourse between London and these islands.

The statutes against heretics were now revived by the commons, whose obsequiousness indeed was so great, that the council thought it prudent to check their zeal, lest despair should induce the Protestants to fly to arms. The bloody tragedy was, however, resolved on, and the decided victim of religious persecution was John Rogers, the vicar of St. Sepulchre's, who, with Bradford, had assisted Bourn to escape from the rage of the populace at Paul's Cross. He was burnt in Smithfield on the . Before his death, he requested to have a parting interview with his wife, whom he tenderly loved; but Gardiner, blending insult with cruelty, ironically answered, that being

a priest, he could not possibly have a wife.

On the last of September, by occasion of great wind and raine that had fallen, was such fluds, that that morning the king's palace at , and Hall, was overflowen with water unto the staire foote going to the Chauncerie and King's Bench, so that when the Lord Maior of London should come to present the sherifes to the barons of the exchequer, all Hall was full of water; and by report there that morning, a wherrie-man rowed with his boate over Westminster-bridge

A raging fever prevailed in London from the end of , to the autumn of , which carried off great numbers of people. aldermen fell victims to its ravages within months.

In the year , Alderman Draper, of Cordwainer's Ward, instituted the office of bellman, whose business was to go about the ward by night, and ringing his bell at certain places, exhort the inhabitants, with an audible voice, to take care of their fires and lights, to help the poor, and to pray for the dead. This institution was soon after adopted in all the other wards of the city.

According to the author of the Present State of England, printed in , it was in the year , that glasses were begun to be made in England. The finer sort was made in the place called , in London; and the fine flint glass little inferior to that of Venice, was made in the Savoy-house, in .

This was a year both of dearth and plenty. Before harvest, wheat was sold at the quarter, malt at , beans and rye , and pease the quarter; but after harvest, wheat was sold at , malt at , and rye at the quarter;

so that,

the penny wheat loaf that weighed in London the last year, but

eleven

ounces troy, weighed now

fifty-six

ounces troy, according to the assize set down by the mayor at the time.

According to the same author, the Michaelmas term of this year did not produce a single cause either in the courts of King's Bench or Common Pleas.

In , the queen borrowed of the city companies, on the security of certain lands; and allowed them per cent interest for it.

On the of the same month, King Philip entered London on a visit to the queen, whom he had not seen for years and a half. The chief aim of his visit appears to have been to engage her in a war with France; which having done, he passed over to Calais on the . In the following winter, the French took Calais in a few days, it having been left almost totally unprovided for defence. This loss, conjoined to the neglect of her

the loss of Calais would be found at her heart.

[] Howe's Chronicle.

[] Stow's Ann. p. 1025.

[] Stow's Ann. p. 1226.

[] Ibid.

[] Ibid, p. 1028.

[] Stow's Ann. p. 1040.

[] Ibid. p. 1043.

[] Stow's Ann. p. 1048-49.

[] Stow's Ann. p. 1051.

[] Stow's Ann. p. 1052.

[] Stow's Ann. p. 1052.

[] Stow's Ann. p. 1052.

[] Stow's Ann. p. 1054.

[] Stow's Ann. p. 1055.

[] Brayley's London, i. 276.

[] Hakluyt's Voyages, vol. iii.

[] Fox's Mar. iii. 119.

[] Stow's Ann. p. 1064.