A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE COMPANY GROCERS, From their ORIGINAL. TOGETHER, With their Cafe and Condition fin their preftnt Circumftances) truly Rated. AS ALSO How their is fettled, for Payment of their Qoaritiesi and Provifion made for the well-governing xkmUmhrs m^ UyHeryj to preferve a Succejfion in their Society. Defigned for Jnfomation of all, and IBeneJit of the JPMemhers, and for Satisfadtion and Encourage¬ ment of their and BenefaSlors. LONDON, Printed by Eli:^. Holt, for the Conipany of grocers. MDCLXXXIX. To THE SACRED MAJESTY King WILLIAM AND,^ Queen MARY. May it pleafe Your i^ajeflksj H aving already prefumed to offer to Your Majefties Sacred Hands, a mean Prefent, (in a fmall Treatife,) Emitlcd, NOSCE TEITSVM, wherein I have endeavoured to give fome account, how I have fpent my Holy Days, lince I have been Clerk of the Company of GR.0CEKS j with the Reafons and Arguments inducing me to join in the Communion of our National Churich, when I had examined and tryed all other, different Perfuafions. Your IV^jeffies .Gracious Acceptance of that, together with You my Dread Sove- :: . . A z reigns The Epjlle T)edicatory. reign’s vouchfafing to become our Supreme Matter, have embolden’d me to,offer at Your Majefties Sacred Feet the following Sheets, as the Produd of my Working Days in the fame Service. I may not hope Your Majefties ttiould fpare time to look farther; but I moft humbly be- feech Your Majefties to caft Your Gracious Eyes on the few following Lines, which I have recorded in our Regitter, immediately before the entry of fuch Your Majefties Gracious Condefcention: Whereby I humbly Hope it will plainly appear, no other Company in London^ might fo juftly prefume, to beg the Honour of Adoption by a Crowned Head. That Your Majefties Sacred Names may be Illuttriousj from this little Orb, thi'augh- out all Your Majefties Dominions, to the ends of the EartJi, ttiall be the daily, and hearty Prayers of, yHay it pleafe Your JMajeJl'ksj ■ Your S^apjiies- mofi 'Dutiful^ Loyal, Okdient SuhieH and Servant, \William-RA yENHiLL, i Clerk of the Company of Grocers, ■ A ilioit Account of the Gm’ers. A ula. AROMATARIORUM (yulgmter Grocers Hall) olim nominabaiur 'Domm lUuJlrifi fimi Domini Fitz^water, mins e hujus Darihns, ^mnh ngnmte Henrico Sexto, Societati ^mnatariomn yendidit. Sita ejl in ipjo urhis 3\editti\lio., cui adjacet Hortus, qui Jeri liheriori fpqtium det^ necnon Ana prd. forihns folk am^la^ qua Senaiormi, VtceComitmique, dum^utori, rekfque fublicis injeyymt, Nobtlium etiam qitacimque de caufa. hue accedentiuiUj curm recifiantur-, aceade caufa Communitas Aromatariomnypofl Confiagrationem Urbis hornndam, n-edifjea- but, am^lioreni. fecit, (y omnis generis, necejfariis adoniaVit, ut Domns ad Summum SMagiflratum magnifice recipiendum pr catorum opulentorum, pioriim Chium, O fidellum Subditorm, Senmarium. JVhich may be thus read in Englifh : G <^0CE<\S hall was once the Manfion- Houfeof the Lord F : and che ’Scfiiorits A jhort 'Account of the Grocers. atthe Old-Baily j or as the Nobility, and other Perfons of Qjialityj fiiall either ^pay their Vifits, or be thither in¬ vited by his Lordfliip: For thefe Realbns the Company of Grocers^ after the late dreadful Fire, rebuilt and inlarged itwith all Offices and Accommodations, far beyond any other Place that ever was, or now is, for the moft Com¬ modious Seat of the Chief Magiftrate,, as he is for the time being his Majefty’s Reprefentativc in this Famous City, at the expence of many thoufand pounds, as defigning it for encouragement of their Members, and conveniency of the Citizens reforting thither, as to the Fountain of Juftice,. from all Parts of the City i as it may alfo redound to the Honour of the Kingdom, being confpicuous (in their tranfient view) to Embaffadors and Foreigners, as well as Natives of his Majefty's Dominions, paffing and re»= paffing through this City. And as this Society may boafl: ofitS Antiquity, deriving- its Original from Merchants in/iowe, trading'in Spices to> the Eaftern Parts, who from tranlplanted them* felvcs to this City with the Conqueft of this Ifland, and firft gave Wings to Navigation here, from whence this^, Ifland hath been able to give Law (by Sea), to all the World 5 fo hath it (above all other Companies in London)-. abounded in wealthy Members, trading both at home and abroad j from whence have fprung many honourable Families,being incorporate by the Name of Four-Wardens asSuper-intendents,without a Matter, and Ib mott capable of Adoption by a Crowned Head j King Q}arks the Se¬ cond of Bleffed Memory, having been their latt Sovereign Matter j and, as other Companies have done, in. Memory A Jhort Account of the Grocers. of the King from whom they have received the like Ho¬ nour, To this Company hath fet up his. faid late Majefty s Statue in the Exdange^ and recorded his Sacred >5ame here in their Regifter^ that fo the Generations to come may know how far they are Debtors to his Me¬ mory, for the Foundation he laid,. whereon his Royal Suc- cefTors might build, to carry on and complete their Hap pinefs,. in reftoring and fetling fo Pious a Nurfery of Cha¬ rities, and fruitful Seminary of Eminent Merchants and Good Citizens. God fa^oe the King and Qmen. T 0 TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL OF and Lord Chamberlain of his Majefty’s Ho uflioid My Lord, T Hough my Station he but low in this little Trovince-jet Ican(rim)without ‘Breach of my good Behaviour, humbly boajl of the Honour of being (therein) four Vordlhifs Fellow^ Servant, under one Sovereign MaHer, fo Good and Gracious, that He delights in nothing more, than to encourage the ‘Diligent and the Faithful. The Company of Gioceis, who have fuffered an Eclipfe of (ate Years, from the fad Effetls of JVar and Fire^ are noWy under the Smfhmeof His Ma- jejly's Gracious Infuhwe, to be rejlored to their Trijiine Lujlre, fo as with Courage and Comfort they, may improve their Brivileges and Immunities B for An Epiftla ^or Tuhlkk^ and T)ifulhe Good, in difcharge of their great Trup, agreeable to the Original End and T>efign of their Corporation.. My Lord, Lhough this Society had not the Mammon of Trofit and Advantage^ to Court four Lordjhifs Eatronage ; yet I may adventure to tell' Your Lordfoip,. that by implanting Your Self into it, You gave the Grocers more than their due for it cannot be doubted, that a 'Body Politick^., that 'makes out fo fair a claim to a Crowned Head, can he. defeCiivs in their-jufi Ekle to the mofi Honour-^ able and Heroick^ Member. This I have here-en¬ deavoured to demonHrate, as a Tefiimony,.how am¬ bitious I am to manifejl my felf Their Mayejl ks. Dutiful and Loyal SubyeCland . May it pleafe Your Lordfliip^. . Your Hbnours moft Eaithful Obliged, and moft Humble Servanr, William Krtvenhill, , , ' . Clerk.ofthffCompaDy. To the Right Honourable^ Right Worjhi^ful, and the refi of the Worthy ME MINERS of tk SOCIETY of the MYSTERY of GKO. CERYy London^ William Ravenhill, their Clerk, hmhly ojfers and prays, their Acceptance andferufal of thefe following Tapers ; as a Teflh many of his Hearty 'Defires, and Sincere Endeavours, to vin¬ dicate the^putation, and improve the Intereft of this Society. A S loon as by the good Providence of God I obtained the Favour, and had the Happinels to be chofen your Clerk, I refolved with my utmoft Diligence, to purfue and perform ray Duty in this Place, and thereby gratefully anfwer the expectation of my Friends, who promoted my Election; and alfo lay hold on fo fait an opportunity, to ingra¬ tiate my felfinto the Favour and Efteem of Good Meii: Being convinced, that if I fhould negleCt my Duty, it • would render my Folly and Ingratitude more conlpi- cuous to the World : Therefore, that I might in doing the one avoid the other, I endeavoured, in the firft place, to inform my felf of the true State and Condition of the ■ Company; upon Inqueft whereof, I found it plain and mahifeft, that for want of Knowledge of the Truth thereof, many Reproaches and Reflexions were caft upon this Society, both from Strangers (with whom B 2 they JaEpijlle. they have been no way concerned) and atfo their Cre¬ ditors, who rendred them obnoxious in Courts of Law and Equity, and before the Commiffioners for Chari=> table Ufes, as if they had been a Company that poffefled a great Revenue, fufficient to pay all their Debts; yet were fo averfe from doing that, that they wafted and confumed their Eftate ip feafting themlelves, refufing to pay, unlefs they were compelled by - Chargeable Suits; which not only aggravated their Creditors, but alienated the Afteftions of many good Perlbns, as well Members as others; and caufed many chargeable Suits and vexatious Prolecutions againft them,, notwichftan- dingthe great Care and Endeavours oflbme Worthyand Good Members, who ufed all poflible means to avoid the fame: Therefore I made it my great Deiign to ac=- quaint my felfwith all their Affairs, and paft Trail- factions, that I might be able to make a true Reprefen- tation of the Company’s Condition, both what it was before they contracted their Debts, and how they be» came indebted; what they haveT already done towards it, and what means and methods they may beft ufe and profecuce to difeharge themfelvcs; to the end thofe great Reproaches and. Prejudices (vyhich through Mif=appres henfionsa.nd falfe Repbrtshave been.caft on this Com¬ pany) may. be remo.ved. ’ And every true-hearted Mem¬ ber, that bears a Chriftian relped to the Pious Memory ' of our Anceftors, (who were Worthy Benefadors,) and would iri difeharge of his Duty commend himfelf; after their Example, to Pofterity, may willingly and'chear- An Eptjlle. fuUjbbiy 'tojHis: helipiM hand. And as S farthef Te^l* racany '^my hdaitydefifes to-ferve the Members^ having, fo briefly fiated the' Cotnpany’s Gafe, f Otati endeavour to':givfe';yoiE acGount'c^^ and foft (Greatiblii,. landGonttni^ance o^' the G B^^S, -as far and clear as I qaii haake Conjedture,, or-have received any probable Account j alfa I have regulated and db gdted tire Ccwapany’s-Books into an orderly Ivfethod ; as alfo tlaeir EvitlenGesto-cl'ear-their ficles to their feverai Rents, Lands, and Houfes, and the 'feveral Schools un¬ der their.Government: Andf al'fb the feveral Ecclefiaftb cal Livings, in the diipofition of this Society,, with the Names of their Founders, and' how they became Vefted in their Right j and alfo other Privileges peculiar tathis. Society j and how their whole Revenue ( as a moR righteous San^ion) is fettled^ to .fecure the due payment of all their yearly^Ghatities j fo as it may appear obvious and plain to be'underftood* by eVery individual Member j of which it wiU not be proper here to give an account but 1 refer to. the Books and Records ti^mfelves, nK)re flc to be infpe(Red at thb Hatt^ by fiaeh a&have Right to know them, thanto be expofed-tovtew of others, whom it no way concerns.' To which d bavendded-a fliert account of fome En* largement ofPrivil%es, Ranted them'by King Qjarles the Second, after the Qw Warranto brought againft them j which though it were an Invafion of the Subjed’s Rights, yet, by the over-ruling Providence of God, it became an occafioii of advantage to this Gompany, as it put them upon , Epiflk. upon fearching intp,;and .Examinatibri of tkir Confix tution, fo as to difcbver their Defeds and Irregularities $ and by advice of Learned Couniel to obtain a fubfe- quenc Charter, Jependme on^or Hlating to any Surren¬ der ; and without injury to, or interfering "wjth any other fompany, other wife than to regulate mif-ufage, and to.preferye their om ^hts ; but rather tending, to the benefit and advantage of the tnhole City, as it explains and fettles the. Species of their 3lyfiery, and incorporates the '^hole London and fvithin three Miles) into one Body, to aiifwer the Original End arid Defign of their Corporation,, and to .prevent a Spurious Mixture, (the Caufe of all Abule and Dilbrder in every Myftery,) by putting in Execution the ByLaws and Ordinances, made and provided, purluanc tndeto, for well-govern¬ ing and regulating their Members and Myftery; which By-Laws laxd Qrdinams nOwi .examined \and approved of (as th? Law direds) .by the .Right Honourable the LorjsCommifJmersSqit the Cuftody of the Great Seal, and the Lord Chief Juftice of either Bench, (Sk John Holt, and Sir Henry Boftexfo},) to oblige; all Perfons ufing their fiery.,: as grocers,' CenffBimrj, f)ruggifts, ■fkbacconiU.s, or Tobacco-Cutters, in:lWo» and three Miles, diftant, (as being fo incorporate and declared a part of their My fte<> ry,) to a compliance therewith, jn. order to.'fopport their Charities, and to preforve a Succejjfion of Members in the Qompany. ' ; THE THE COMPANY’S CASE. Briefly Stated. M ost pan of the fat'd Company's Revenue is charged with yearly Charities to fvcral Parfjhes, Places, and Vfes, amounting to near the yearly Profits they receive ; mofi part whereof conftfied of Houfes in London, which Were all conflmed by the late dreadfitlFire, when they expehed.to have ad¬ vanced: great Summs of Money, by way of Pints, On renewing of Leafes, towards Payment of their Debts,: . . j ■ They had alfo heretofore many and'great Sitmmsiof Money paidinto their Hands, as a Fund for the Vfes following, (viz.); To pay\yearly Summs in Co,tls, Faggots, and'Money, JO feveral P-ariJjies and Wards about London,, andelfewhere. To feveral Prifo'ns for Redemption and Releafe of Rrifoners, To the Poor Members of the Comp.tny, To be lent to Toimg Men that had ferved their Times to Members of this Com¬ pany on Security, with httleorno Inttrefl, tofettip, and to be returned again. To buy. Impropriations, for. maintenance of, Minijlers,. where their Livings are ffnall. Jnd. To maintain feveral Schools and Alins. Houfes, They comply ed punbiually with all their Trufi's, continuing.in very-great Credit and'Repiitaiion, until'the fad EjfeBsof War and Fire rendred them uncapableto difeharge their yearly Charities, where they have no Fund left. And The remaining part oftheir great Debts which they contracted, asfolloweth, viz. Anno 1 6ip. To accommodate the late .King Charles the Firfi^ in his Exigencies, tn Security of fame of his Peers,. -;-^,-- 4500 1 . Anno 1641. To Subdue the Rebedm in Ireland, and Relieve his faid late Ma. jefifs Protefiant Subjells there in difirefs, -----9000 1 . Anno 1643. They were- compelled to. lend the City, for which they had their Common Seal, -——------4500 !. All which, they took. up. on the Company’s Seal, nor were fingular therein, but necejfitated thereto, in compliance. witb-aRtthsr--Companies, and indeed with the whole'City. ' ' ' . Vpon The Compan^^s Cafe briefly flated. Vpn ikeir^i^iagjipjih Miiuy, 4hey made tt By-Luro to levy the fme on them- fdves,if their Stock^fdlfliorf, and fo they continued fnymetii ofthsh Interefi-, and as one Creditor called for hit Money in^ they took up of others, and paid them off, dependivgtipongettingin theirfaidPrincipal', a'.lvi!hichfmledthem,tillatlafi their foie hope was of advancing Money iy renewing of Leafes, snany whereof were nigh expired', hut the Fire in i(S66- con fumed their whole Revenue in London; they havittgalready paid for Jntereft of Money,between i6ep0.and i(J55.-30ooo/. jis their Debts exceeded a ny other .Companies, fo their lofs herein was exceeding great, fo that norO they were uncapable any longer to payfDebts or Charities. They applied tbemfekes to the Parliament, then fitting, on their faid By-Law, but were rejeiied, as binding to no more than were Parties to it, mofi of whom ■mere dead. They'thad then nomeans to raife Money, hut by letting their Ground to Builders for Fines, on long Leafes, great part whereof they were compelled to, by decree of the Judges at CViSbrd's-Jnn. find by voluntary Subfcriptions, both which were fee m foot foon after the Fire ; .and to encourage Stibfcriptions, Sir John Cutler, ereBed the firft Building in the Carden. . » TheyraifedconpderableSumms, and propounded topay their Creditors their Prin¬ cipal, part thereof down, and the refi at two Payments. Jnd after many Meetings, mofi of their Creditors inclined to accept offuch Pro- ■pofals,finding how it mufl he advanced ; hut fame of their Members being backyoard, and fame Creditors ill advifed. Sued the Company, and feizcd their Hall in Rnines, •which put a flop to all, though thofe Creditors themfelvcs repent this ; afterwards Joofing their Charges, .andglad to comply on lower terms, than at firft offered. ulpterwards the Company r.tife Money, what they could of kind Members them- felves, andhskpup the refidue on the uljfignment of the Sequeftration and C onveyance of ad their Eftate, to pay offthe Credittrrs that Sequeftrea, andfome other remaining propo-rtions to Creditors, who had not yet received any: And to fupply what was wanting, they let their Land in Ireland, on Fine, finkjng their Rent fo i o 1. per Annum. But the Hall continuing in Ruines,. the Company was thereby rendred reproachful. The Apprentices, botind at other Halls, and turned over. T he Freemen takp their Freedoms of other Companies. AndaliBenefaBors decline as defpairingy any good to Pofterity. So-that the Members every year dying and failing, and many removing into the Country, and none to fucceed in their Pldces, It nuift needs follow, that the Coshpany in ft'w years mufi dijfolvefor want'of aSiwcefim of Members f which would mofi reproachfullyhave rendredthe Members then living, who were numerous, and:, equal, jfhpj.md're eminent, than any other Company, not only tnofi.fhitigratefui toih'ek'Pfedecejfiri, who have been fo liberal BenefaUers, imdhaveif^tfucbGrminds'fiybHghihe''B'Hildirigswerefo'confimedby Fire) yet now built on, gives a great hope to Pojferity, but alfo obnoxious to Vofte- rity.- ■ Ihe TKe Companys Cafe briefly ftated. thevatrjldsratmvi’hereofttlime, moved Sir J<)hn Moore, another Worthy Mcm- ■kr, (tknvtxt in conrfeto fiicetedinthe Chair,) to ref air the Body of the Hall, and alfo Sir James Edwards, and other ^nd Members, to enlarge imith Com¬ modious Bmldingsfor the Seat ofa Chief Mdgiftrate ; that it might not only encou¬ rage thoFreemen, Affrentices, and Benefablors, to freferve the Comfany a Ntsr- fery of charity, and Seminary of good Citmns, but aifo anfmr the Charge of the 'Building, in improving the yearly Revenue of the Co/spany, and is indeed (if rightly conjidered) in the Companys preftnt Cirtitmfiances, of greater advantage to the Company, than any one thing that hath been done for them. For I, It hath much incouraged the Apprentices and Freemen, fo that tohereas there nfed to-be bound one, two, or three Apprentices in a Month, and one or two made free before, and thofe but poor Artificers ■, they encreafed afterwards to a far greater Number, aswell of Freemen^ as Apprentices and many of them of good Quality. ■ U. It hath given great fatUfailm to feveral Eminent Members, who have de¬ clared themfelves very inclinable to contribute largly towards difcharge of the Com- panfs Debts and Charities, if they fee bttt any Encouragement from mrefioftbe Members. III. This Building, though it amounts to much more than what it wad^t firfide- figned, yet a great part there^ hath been freely laid down, on purpofe far this workj, and matever is farther laid down towards it, {which it is hoped the whole will be raifedby kind.Memhers to anfwer thefegood ends,) would never have been fa given, but for this very purpofe. And that the Bssilding and Beautifying the Hall, may not be a bait to Creditors again to feiae it, fo again to difeourage the Members, The Hall, and the Company's Revenue, is, by advice of Counjel, fettled by Con- veyanceand Decree. I . SubjeSi to fecure the Money fo taken up to difcharge the Sequefrations, 8cc. And when thofe, and what Monies they fiould be fonecejfttated to takeupto cempleat the Buildings, faallhe difeharged. II. Thento fecure (fo far as the fame will extend) the yearly Ckirities where¬ with the Company is chargeable, by many Benefablors who fo heretofore lefc Money in their Hands, as a Fund to fecure the fame', no part whereof now remains', as being a trttfl they are liable in the frfi place, as a Duty incumbent on them, both to avoid a Cur fa, and in order to obtain a Ble(fwgfrom God upon their Endeavours ; and alfo to avoid profecution of the Commifioners, upon the Statute for Charitable 'Vfes, who have yearly put the Company to va(I expences already upon that Account. An dthefe things havingbeen made k^own to their Creditors, who werealfocon- viuced (by the ill fuccefs of others) how vain and fruitlefs it wotdd be te put thesn- felves and the Company to trouble and charge, whereby they might hax/trd thelofs of their Debts, but not in the leafi better fecure them', the Company have been not only free from Suits and Profecutions, which they were not at any time before, fince their troiiblesbegan, hut alfo the Wirdens and Afiftams have been (in a great mea- fure) freed from tbefe daily Clamotsrs, which diftiirbed them in the Compa-ay's Service, G The Company’s Cafe briefly fi:ated. And now fo fair an opportHnity hem offered to deliver the Company, and to give Encouragement to BenefaUors^ it isltopedthere is no Member hut mil chearfally embraccit, rvherebytheyjhallmt only draw others on, by their Example, topreferve this Society fill a Nurfery of Charity, and Seminary of good Citizens •, biitalfo encourage BenefaUors for the future, fome in their Lives, andothers at their Death, liberally to extend their Kindnefs towards this Company, and mthout all doubt, fuch work^ as thefe are acceptable to Cod, in times ofgreateft Trouble and Danger 5 andfich BenefaUors may hope (on no lefs Security than God’s own JFbrd) for Eafe and Comfort on a Sick.Bed, aud Deliverence in time of Trouble. And moreover their Creditors (being now made fenfible loftbe Truth of the Com¬ pany’s Conditipii) are inclined to comp^ with any reafonable Propofals fbali be siiade by any on the Company’s behalf, and (as fome have already done') others are willing, and ready to embrace fuch Terms, as may be agreeable to the Company's Condition in their prefent Circumfiances, for their Satisfatlion- I havethus abllradted the Company’s Cafe in thefe four Pages: To the end all Perfons concerned f whether Members, Creditors, or BenefadtorsJ whofe time will not permit them to read the following Sheets, may be more readily informed upon all Occalions of the Truth of their Condition; And for their eafe, who (hall deCre farther Sadsfadtion in any particular, I have added marginal Notes in the following Pages for their Diredtion. And now having at laft by God’s alfiftance, and with unwearied induitry, accomplilhed my defign; and haying alfo traced their Revenue to the Ori¬ ginal Donors and Purchafers, I did (by order of the Affiltants) prepare and caufe- the fevcral following Tables to be fet up in their Hall, which I have here inferted, (as a Monument more laldng) to the end the Names of their Friends and Benefadlors, from whom they have received All, may be kept in Memory, that the Generations to come, as well as the prefent Age, may notonly blefs God for fuch a Foundation, but be quicken’^ from their Example ito build and enlarge thereupon, that their Names may in like man¬ ner furvive in the blolTom of a fyveet fmelling favour, when their Bodies are turned to doft. W ILLIAM the UI. King of England, G-c. by his own Royal Permifton, was on the I2d. day of _ Oftobcr, in the Firft Tear of their Majellies • j. Reign , chofen , &c. Sovereign Mafier of I 7 j Company ^ graci- d,„ ossjly accepting the In- '‘ff firment of fnch his 1 w- Majejlks EleBion and ad I Freedom in a Cold- ntfj} Box, I I'^^i jind afterwards was frf gracioufly plea fed to re- fore and confrm their j Charters and Privi¬ leges, adding the Su¬ gar-Ba kers,^ Branch of their My- Jlery \ whereupon their Ordinances were again examined, and appro¬ ved of (as the Law MreHs ) for well gOr verning of their Mem¬ bers and Myfieiy, C HARLES then. late King of Es\^- land, &c. and Sove¬ reign Mafier of this \ Comp any was grad- ! on/ly pleafed by Special' I ly arrant, under his lyffi Riffm Sign Manual, to af- certain the feveral, Igayc.m fn Branches of the Myfie- ry of the Grocery, de- |ch3ricB/fefcra" daring Druggifts-,] Confeftioners, Ta- *••■»»? f-t/. i, bacconifts, and Tz- bacco-Cutters (as ad frY&hftitjto 7 .:zz:h be a pan of the Myfte- fit's twM « ry, and purfuant there- to, they were after- "fitn wards by Charter, un- der the Great Seal,du¬ ly Incorporated, and made one Body with the Grocers ( never to he feparated ) to pre- ferve a Succeffwn of Members in this Com- Siticr«x.Kt. ■) ^clm Buntrftld, VWar- Kufutrd Peirct, C dens. ' Bands OMmkrUine, J ' T H E Site of-this Hall'and i Garden, with the Ground whereon Sir Robert Clayton r • | Divelling-Houje jlands, was for¬ merly the Manfion-Houfe and In¬ heritance of the Right Honour able | Fitzvvater, of whom the j Company parchajedthe fame, in j the Reign of King' Henfy the j Sixth, and foon after built their j Hall thereon^ for both which, . they borrowed great Simms of ' Money: And afterwards, in their j languijhing Condition, j Sir Henry Keble,. Kt. and Al-' i derman, fame time Lord Mayor, lent them Money, on Securitj of the Hall and' Revenue, to clear their Debts : Jnd,hyhh la!i WiS and Tejla- ment, dated in the fixthfearof HingHenry the Eighth, freely gave all back to the Company for ever, to fupport their Charities, O IR William Laxton Ht. and Aiderman.aljo fome time Lord Mayor, by his lafi Will and Tefiament, dated the ijthDay of July, gave, for ever, to this Compa¬ ny, all his Lands and Tene¬ ments in Canning^treetjflW the feveral Lanes adjacent, ivhereon are now ereUed many fair Dwelling-Houfes, by the Leffees, after the late Dread¬ ful Fire i To maintain aSchool-Ma- fter and Vfher, and feven ' Almes-men, and a Woman to attend them, at Oundle in Northamptonlhire ; and the Surflufage to fupport their Charities^ The Bodies of thefe two Worthy Members and Benefadors were both laid in one Vault in St. Maty Jldermary-Ckmch, with . fair Monuments over them, deraoliflied by the faid late Fire. " The faid Sir Henry Keble, at his own'Jiroper Charges, built the liid St. M.ary Aldermary Church. BENEFA-CTQi'lCs. ^ Vrom whom the^ Gdmpirt^ havf. receiveil}, their R(vcmi\ iejigned for the Support and Relief of their poor Members, and Bift harge of other chmtable Vfes.' '' Tus DONORS Notnes , and. the Streets and Places mhere thetr Lauds akd^Tene- ■mnts Jg ghmi'are\-'jicu,iee.- S!>Hcni7 Kebfej Sir William Butler, —' I John Maid •Brgad-Strect. ,, Tl^lm'esStr«^ ' {.Mincing Lane. { Grace Church Street. toinbaiid-.Street —'CbrilHil: “ ' ' ’ ‘ ^'C3niiing-Shofe turn it ioas, de¬ clined them,) confented to he chofen the fourth time their SMafer-Warden. Under whofe happy conduB, the Company s feymuehaOi been fettled, (as a moB righteous SanBion,) to fecure the due payment of their yearly Charities, Jnd the ^Members now reftored to aB in their feyeral Ca* pacities, (according to their Seniority and Merit,) in order compleat the Company’s DeTtyerance. D -The feverd Tables S IR JOHN MOORE, Knight and Alderman^ and late Lord Mayor, a Member of this CompMy, at his om charge, repaired and beautjfyed the ^ody of this Hall, Annis 1457°. tsihdfe leading Example therein, gave fuch encouragement to other JVorthy Mem¬ bers, liberally to contribute to'wards enlarging and compleating it mth additional building ^ Jo as to ma^e it the mojl Commodious "^eat for the Chief Magijlrate in this City', in grate¬ ful acfnoteledgement of lOfhofe kj,ndnefs, the Company afterstards caufed his TiBure, and this Infcription (^as a. Memorial thereof') to be here fet up.. 1 ■L fet up in the Hall This HALL B Emg fituate in the centre of the Qty, was defigned and adapted for the Seat of the Chief Magijirate, at the ex* pence of 4800 /. in ne-ia ^Building and accommodations^ added to the Bpdy of the Hall, J^tchen, and S/r John CiitlerV iBwW-; ing-, on this Confidence, that as it U eyery Ttay th'e 'moft (om- modious flace for that Bublick, life, and "saould yearly fave, the Lord Mayor fo great and unayoidable Charge elfewhere, fd, it fhould he conJTdered accordingly, and in fame proportion'atig* ment the yearly ^yetm of the Company , for fupport and dif charge of their yearly (parities, and other incident charge of Repairs and Duties, &c. Annis 167^, arid 80. Sir Jarries Edwards, Merman,"^ and late Lord JMayor, JMaUer-] John-Beale, > Wardens. Thbriias Bourne, [ William -Buckeridge, J, Arinis 1680, and 1681,’ Sir]iemy T\i\(e,Alderman, and')' afterTtards Lord dMayor, cMajler- { Ralph Box, ‘>WaKdet}si :William Winch, ; ^j, , , : Roger Reeve, _ j Juftice ^and Charity Revivedo I N a moH ^khtem and VolmtarySetilpnm of the lohole ^Venue of the CStn^dny of Grocers, by Inquifition, De¬ em, and Coyefance, (uiTruBees,) for eyer to feewe the due payment of theyearljffh'arltleSy af^ointed.hy their Donors and DmfdHm. \ ■ Annis Domini 1 68 ( 5 j 1687. y 7 ;e Right HoHourahk Sir Tljoriias Ch'ielije^ey",'], . JohnCWtier'':^Migfeheremth the grGiving Revenue ofEoe Qwcms mil be charge- able) afpointed bj pious ‘dnd dielh difgofed Ter- fons-, IVho in li^e 'tnanrier left 'feveral Summs of Money, which were laid out in improving the Company’s Lands by Tuilding, and conjiimed by the fame unhappy Fate^, particularly^ ■ F or. fi|pport and relief pfdecayed Members, and.their fickl^^ Familiesy as «ifo foil iheir Widow and Chil¬ dren in like diftrefsi- ■ ' For augmentation of maintenance for Godly Minifters, where Livings are fmall. . '^For encouragement and advahcemerit of Maid-Ser¬ vants in Marriage, 'who have faithfully ferved Members for a certain nuttiber of years. And for defraying the charge .of (ober A nniverfary Fefti® vals^ih moderate E'ntertainmenc of the Members, to main¬ tain and' eriereafe'mutual Friendfliip, and Chnftiah Con- verfation in the Fraternity, as well in Eiafe, as for Encou¬ ragement of the Members who ffiould fucceffively hap¬ pen to-be Stewards, whbfe Burden;‘is in the mean time made light by the preient' Ordinances, (whereby ^ all other charge of Members is^Kb made very ealie,) to the end the Stewards and M^bers, who ;are to- contribute towards thedhargei,- iTiay%e as-merfjrfhentfelvcsas their Guefts, at thofe Feftivals. ' All Exhortation to Charity, ... All which are faithfully .recor 4 ed, to take place, and be difcharged out of the yearly Revenue of the Company, (which will be very great,) upon expiring Leafes, (all decreed and fettled, fo as to be improved to the utraoftj to anfwer thole great Triifts fo repofed in the Members at the Helm, as being firft fo well defigned by the Donors, and now again made Sacred for fuch ules. And let be pronounced by every Faithful Member,' againft every one (and who can be now igno¬ rant, that is concerned as a Truftee) that flhall (know¬ ingly) attempt or endeavour , to alien, take away to them- . felves, or again mifapply the fame. And may the great Pilot of Hearts quicken and in¬ cline many others, (to whom God hath lent large Ta-; lents,) from the Example of thofe worthy Benefadors, whofe Nanaes are now here revived with a fweet fmelling favour, when their Bodies have fo long peaceably llept in the dull, to build on their Foundation, in chearfully con¬ tributing towards the llipport and relief of fuch numerous Objeds of each, kind, as the prefent Age affords, (in whom the voice of God calls aloud for it,) till fuch help (hall arife from the Holy Seed here fown, for a better fupply in a future Harveft froin thence. There would nf;ed noj rtlptiye to this Sacred Duty, would [Men confider that they are no Proprietors, but Stewards{inTruft)ofalhhey have; for which, as well as for what they leave of it, to Pofterity, (without fuch allowance as is here .^okenjoT); they flull moft affured- ly render a ftridt Account. ' And and Anathema againfl: Sacrilege, . And therefore the beft and iareft way,; to entail a Blefling on'their Children' and Pofterity; in what they leave them when they die, on like Tnift, ; to improve-, for the good, of others, (for die property caii never be al¬ tered,} is,- by .thus, taking care,- and. liberal lyyproviding- for 'the miferable and helplefs Members of their Mafters great Family-. A.tid. certainly, hadmany Men (efpe.cially fuch as made prpfeflion.pf Rehgion}. in their life-time, forefeenhow- foon a; Vicious Gonfuittption hath been made, by their- Childreri or Succeffors, of all they left them” for want of a better infurance of it, by thus dilpofing fome confide* rabler part of their iEord’sEftate, according to his own Willj they would (if it veere^to doe againf moft willing¬ ly have difpofed ofmore to fiich ufesas thefe^ , An^ therefore, .1 hope fuch asare convinced of this Truth, arid have been Eye-Wunefftt of fuch; fad effects in others, will .begin-in .their-life»time, and prevent the fraud or negligence (befides other contingencies}- at¬ tending their Executors, in difoofition of their. Charities^ when they are dead i for when their.o\yn. Eyesare Over* foers of fuch God-like ;difpofitionf they-may fweetly tafte that Peace and Comfort in their own Bofoms, whilif they liye, which. ;the. World .cannot: givey anttper- fevering in their Chriftian Duty they jEhali. thereby affuredly (though not meritodoully) treafure up to them* felves Eternal Happinels hereafter, When neither Moth can Eat, nor^ft Corrupt, nor Thkves break through and Steals and where they (hall he for ever above all nccefiity of aid Exhortation to Chartjy See. aid from the fading: JEitjoymetits, I of this World,’ when they (hall bfe' there;'enter rained with a Well ■ done Gooi md Faithful Servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord and 3 iajier : For mofi: afluredly as the fuccour and relief ofthe Hungry and Naked, the Aged and Impotent, do daily afeend in filent Prayers to the Ears of the Om* nifeient Father of Mercies, and bring down (at leaft) Temporal BlelTings in this Life, on their Children and Pofterity, who thus, as Faithful Stewards, become their Patrons and Benefadors ; as we; may read to this pur- pofe, that Jehu (for the fmall Good he did^ fwayed the Sceptre tO the Fourth GenerationSo moft afluredly, the filent Sighs and Groans of the Widow and Orphans’ the Aged, the Captive, and the Impotent, under op- preflion, and in their Want and Milery, do cry as loud in the Eats of the fame righteous Judge, for Vengeance (in all the Curfes and Miferies attending Mortality) on the Heads and Families, not only :of all fueh as either covet, defraud, take away from, or hinder thofe poor Objeds of their Right, their Portion or Relief, butalfo offuch as come fliort in their Duty herein, according to their Power, Inteteft, and the opportunity they have, to (hcwittowatds:themi- asthey therafelves are appointed of God,but Stewards inTruftjfor thofe poor Members of one ChriftiaiH Body,v ^ ; r : ■ ■ ' J port Account of the Original of the G R O- C E R S, and their fiip Incorporation: Jnd their Condition, in their prefent Circumjlances, truly ^prefented. “Grocers (injuit Umthevi') dinitio, viovi Gmmms ut cx legihm noftrii fnhat nihil mi- B a term at firft diftin- ^ Merchants dcrc rntfuni. In Ubro Statutorum of this Society, in oppolition to titfirorum ftgmficat Mercatores, sui Inferiour Retailers; for that rt/;yaoj'(f6;hSghly irfiprovable upon ^ijliring fo sutfimMmi*} . good,Examples,^aye,fuch Interruption as occalioned fome their Creditors, , unadviffdiy, tofuethe Company, and the very Ruines. of their,Hall to,be.fequeftred and feized; although thofe Creditors vyere afterwards fenlible they had not only put them- ”’-v felves to great Charges,(which they could never be re-imburfed,) ::butha,d thereby ,injured the reft of the Creditors, in difeouraging/»«•". \ . fo gooia dufign, .and obUrufting the gifts of fo many Worthy F i Members, 11 Jjhiri Accumt/of Members, of whom feveral afterwards-^ed, before their help could be again feafonably.fougbt for, which wholly Eclijifed the Reputation of the Company, rendring them ffor the prefent) nncapable of farther paying: Butfoonafter it fdeafed God to fiir up feveral Worthy Members, who. (continuing their Endeavours to carry on fo good a Work begun) procured'Money to be.raifed on Security of their Ret'enue, todifeharge -thofe Sequeftrations, and by letting their Lands in /rc W, (inking the Rent to i o /. per , AnnKiu-y and-by Benevolences and Gifts of their Members, paid ;• ofFa good part of their Debts', and to-fupply what'they could not otherways, for the prdenc adt'ance they, took .ijp il^ongy ’npon Security of the Equity of redemption of their wholeEftatcy wncreny, it plainly appears, they ufed all Ways and'Means to . » L » prefene their Hall, and Ground-rent, as a Seed iortheir Pofte- ' tity ytiiey having already paid, of their own Benevolence, .and what they have fo borrowed on Security of the remaining part ofXfceir E(bate, far above the real value (to-be fold)'Of.wthatithcy receive thereout, over and above the yearly'pharitie%,'rwb?be- with the fame are charged by the Donours: However, the Woric sx-;rf-v,-ent on but flowly; the generality of the Members, that Ibould have now contributed their Alliftance to difcharge.the li;^U »-^W'hole, being unlatisfied, as looking on the Gifts offomepar- timlan Perfons, would ligniiie little towards fo great a Wor-k,nn- fome better Encouragement might be given;, as'being of Opinion, That fo long as theHall lay thus Ruinous-, itiwould Pe a vain thing to attempt it. And under thefe fad circumftances ” the Co'mpany continued till the year i<58o. when Sir John Maorc, Worthy Member) taking into his confideration its deplo- Table condition, -every year kfleningidRepatation; byrealbnof their Hall thus iirRnmeSjVthich not only diicouraged Men to take 'their Freedoms,' and'Apprentices to be bound there,' 'and Bene- fadloTS from their Liberality, but alfo rendredthe Society aimoft contemptible-,) he was therefore very inclinable, at his own j , : charce, to repair the Great Hall, thereby to encourageother .-1 ^fcmncrs by'hisExarople, to contribute their A'fliftance,-tore- X- e-Lne and angmenr it,' fo 'as to make- it the ‘ molb Commodious »r ,, .jr;,;- the Ghicf MagHlrate, in this (iityp as the pffly-rtieafis.to ,, y- a iVce^Iion or Members’in this doihpai?y;>Y)h’feft Mbg nr',*: k-o\rn bv Sir,jfffwtr £(hr«r•, 'j-;:,rp;;i-jviii 'trioJu-g And therefore concluded thisghatWorkto be theMme^hi,^ Means left-toipreferwthe Spd^yj thx,^MJph^Cf^r . had fo long before for thofe very pnds,at his pwn,Charges begun, aadSirJofvt jH^ore had now, undertaken,to.,yepair.aijd bpautinQ mujJcliMmji the great'Haih;fo,they held:themfelves highly obliged to pro- mote and carry -pn fo .e3t(;ellent; p ;Wjork i and haying caufed thehhf^^7if‘^Fdp.'^^^^ wurageaU chftiV1snil«fPfo^,Qnstihutfi^?.yrards.TOy,5ge^^^ CorapaDy;s.neto,^and .Arrears pfa?xjriesj,(srhetein|^ Ham •flool!jr,..tben pne.of ahe;hft!Dg;;AW«“>^?F> Mayor, and.uu,aw i.#2r .Wi9#Y 'LuIZd tributed, | 3 & goOdi M towards, the yrmfng)!?^ > alrit,* t, dcclaringtheinfel^ys0hf3#Rj9??l#flS4fP^?ffly(f^iMr^'« theraffi'ftingtocompkatfp gwda Nil^prhjnQtdW^tlWhuiiflKir Brethren, the reftio6theMembery, .iyoihd; 9 ye):y;. 9 ne foUow,ac-.o„™„^ mw,- cordinglothsir<.Dfgrensgnd.^.3ldies.;, j-r- ■". , ' ,ch»iuLi,r''' And that thei.Wfyi,n6Wd.li?Pi«»r6i^® prove.aBdfe;0jfehGrfld#t@S^i,^a8y;toii^Hfe . theRm0esp£th^ft9JP,to^3WWVl^aSes^ it; hut'tni^thnfiwyrilii# ^odEPhS;W, hy;tw d?fened. The Compariy,;by'Bdyic^lpft4‘.fiawd: gonnfehpffor, an Inquitoon taken^or«.thejC;«»jn(H®qn£r5for,^ar^tabIe Iffes^and purfuant toa 'Deaiee.jj)adP byilhpf§dQoW®lffi9h“^ b^ve conveyed the .fame, a04$'?«,^c> bat alfogreat Incou- ragemenc to the then Wardens,- to begin','ahdW Sif/ferry Talfe, Mr. the Company of Gtoc^ts. j y Mr. Box, and Mr.Wmh, (thefucceeding Wardens,) to carry on that great Work of finiihingthej Hall, in fo fhorta time, -fas is almoft incredible to relate,) for reception of Sir John Maafc, ('thefucceeding'Lord .Mayor,)’ at-Mffc/K/w^i'foJIo 5 King;i elpe-i cially coijlideriag the.fame' wa? mmy .wgys .^ppqij! farther,com iideration had) enlarged, and;made.more- convenient (thanat firlb was intended) with many accoram6dacrdhs,“(not at,6rft thought oil) to render it fo exadt, (as indeed it is,) far excelling any Hall that now is (or probably ever was) in-ioWw, fo that the whole charge of compleating the fame, 1 believcywith as good 'JvZTg/irgm!, Husbandry as Wasipofliblft to bc'nianaged; ;yiet fwells.to doable SJwfrfA the Sum which wasiatfirft prdpoundtd to be disburJed,and tlwre- fore called for farther affiftence of pur Members, thanat firlt was defigned, to contribute to the fame j which Work being focom- pleatly finilhed, manifeftly appears to have been the only means left to keep the Company upon a Foundation, which othervyife, mult in a Ihort time,, have naturally dlflblyed of it felf f fob that the A pprentices and' Ffetmert, ofariy eltai{e«r value' who before wholly declined, have nPw daily mcreafed i-as having a profpbdf, by what is vifible, of a profperous carrying on the whole Work anfwerable thereto: Which work now.compleated,; is in it felf of far greater value, than all tjjc other part of the Com- pa'ny’s Revenue, (oyer and above, the(,Charities' ifluing there;- out;) aiidUhat thofe feveral Summs fo lubftfibed/'wer'e'tHu's mnkmiy'mum frcei^ given by feveral Worthy Members,- dn’ pufpofeJ for this '^Z 7 .''immgi great WorK; that it mightincourage the whole Members, freely R‘"^'“nd Jp-_ and liberaUy to contribute towards the refidueof this, Worl^ and the Debts: .To which end I have, to the belt of my Capa¬ city, compofed thefe Sheets for their .Information and Encou- ragepent, to follow fo good Exani^eSjbhatfo gfeat and good jUni!ig>>£ a Work, wherein fo pany Thoufands are and may be concerned, ZiZ^wlrirZir may be chearfully carried on, and they may all (as Fellow- helpers) have the honour to be recorded amongit the Gene- rations to come, The happy Repairers and Reltorers ofthcCom- w pany of Grocers^ T His is a Work wherein thofe that are moff Zealous i’""’"#. fliall be moft Illuftrious, and is that alone which will abide the Scrutiny of the rnoft Malicious and Cen- forious in all Changes; and is a root from which thej;™f'"*'‘^'”'i moft Avaricious and Luxurious, as well as the Ambitious, after many Generations, will- efteem it the Chief Honour of of tlieir Fartiily to derive their PeJigree. ’Tis founded jo 6bedkn€€ to a Divine Command, and anchor’d on f»jl» ^IfalliWbProfrti^^^6lSAS'il^Terd^r:thelfmGere D6^s impfegffifele,- agaififtah the^liO' afld'Defigtis of 'bur Common EnetiH^s, who with dqual Subtilty and Malice to dh'ide and deftroy, have of late yedrs, Charafterized the two extremes in each Corporation, by the diftinaion of and Tory, and though with no lels Malice, they endeavouredfo 'blemiflt Moderatm with'the fquiat- ■ Grocer, By declaring the Species of the Myllery, which before in the former Charters, was; exprefled generally under the Denorai- cLkaSi nation of Grocery, but thereby declared to include all Dmggifit, TohaamHiP.,nd Confeflioners, Tohacconifts, and Tobacco-Cutters, as having been branched out of, andbredby Cwer/, (there being then lao Com-'fl’ruMhamf.-.fi pany of-them, or any of them.) ZciUZZT'mviy Afterwards that Charter, (fo granted upon and after this iJ'JfipMJfim Warranto) with thofe Additional Claufes and Privileges, being vacated, a new Charter (by advice of Six .Henry PoMxfcn, and G other 'ig ' J p?ort Account oj other Learned Counfel) was obtained,(independent of any furren- der) whereby all Perfons ufing thefe Species, as well as Gra¬ ces, in London^ or within three Miles of the Liberties of the fame, ate incorporated into this Company, and never to be fcparated from them, or otherwife incorporated ■, with liberty ■ given to all Perfons uling any part of the Myftery, whether Free of any other Company or no, to incorporate themfelves therein j not judging it realonable to compel them, (as Men ^ that have born Office in one Parilh, from thence into any other) to doc thc like. Toloan’c”’' fiofitively enjoyns them all to bind their Apprentices, for. the fututc, to MemberS of the Gmers Company, and to be turned. m! JrhT totheir Matters, to ferve their Apprenticeffiips, and all (as well thofe whofe terms are expired, as) thofe that are not to cake Freedoms of the Gmers, in order to preferve a Succeffion JSm’f Mi in this Company, which otherwife mutt in few years have funk, want of Members, to the total mine and dettruftion of their “ “"charities and Government: And for their Accommodation in that hehalf, there is an Order of the Court of Affittents, for the Beadle Zvt'mZ‘ “ of the Grocers Company, to be the Medium, (in cafes where they Friend of the Company,) for their Apprentices ta ,j'Apihm‘fir be bound to him, and fo turned over to the Matter whom he is to fervei which Claufe in the Charter for fo doing, was at Gro^rs'Zd” firtt much fcrupled, by reafon of the Cuttom (fuppofed ro be) in London, for a Freeman’s Son to have his Freedom by ihLuift ifuiqrg Patrimony (at his own Eledtion) of whatfoever Company his Father was a Member, though the Son had been bound Appren- iiit tice to a Member of another Myttery j wherein (upon due Exa- mination) it was found to be a vulgar Error, and a great Miftake, to ,»uo by long ufage, grown into a Cuttom, extending this Cuttom of Patrimony (whichisreftrainedonly toaFreedom oftheCity)to iStry,rou,'r/bii evccy Company in the City; whereas the Apprentice,though he ftioritoirtt. jjjgy Freedom (whether he ferve or no) of the City, by his Father’s Copy, yet he ought (according to the Original De- fignand Intent of every Charter of Incorporation), to take his- Freedom of his proper Myftery, where there is any Corporation of fuch Myftery; For that every Myftery hath been incorporated to no other end, but to have all their Members, and all ufing their, Myftery, well governed by proper Judges, •viz. by Men bett kno wing and experienced therein y whereas the contrary pradice hath introduced a fpurious Mixture in all Societies, and caufed all abufes, poffibly in the Government of the City, and made Men c as la wlefs and ungovernable, as their corrupt and loofe Principles j ■ wtl lead them to,. As the Com^my of Grocers. As for Example, zMzmhsr ofths Barkr-Chirnrjms, puts his Son Apprentice to a Carpenter or Black^Smirh, or any other Me- ■chanick Trade, if the Son (having thus ferved his Apprentice-.rBUckfeS"”’ (hip) outjof Pride, Prejudice, or linifter End, (hall take, his Free- dom by Patrimony of the Barber. Chiriirgions, (whereof his Father b«r chimgionr was a Member,) he is thereupon Sworn to obferve the By-Laws and Ordinances, made for well-governing of the Barber-Chirm-a 2 ,^'. pons, which is to bleed, drefs Wounds, &c. things unknown to him, and impoflible for him to obferve, and (which is worfe) makes him never after mindful of his Oath, and frees him from all Obligation to take notice of, or to obferve thofe Ordinances made for well-governing the Carpenters, which is his proper Myitery; and fo he becomes a lawlefs Perfon, and from thence, in that, as in other like Cafes, the End and Dehgn of all Corpo¬ rations is totally abufed and defeated, belides the greaf wrong done to the Company, which is thus deprived of its Members, which Ihould lupport the Charge and Grandeur of their Society, ■of which Injury no Company in London, have more caufe to com¬ plain than the Grocers-, but all other Perfons uling a Calling, of which there is no Corporation, in being as Norwich-tfoCrors Merchants, &c. are at liberty to take their Freedom of what Company they have ferved to, or by Patrimony of their Fathers, or by Redemption of what Company they pleafe, but having once made their Eleftion, they are obliged to continue therein, unlefs they (hall be tranflated thence by order of the Court of Aldermen, and confent of the Company, into another. And whereas two Caufes have been alEgned for difcouragement of Perfons totake their Freedom of the Grocer/,. ragmgpJpJfiHi, taipg thtir Free- Firft, The great Charge they were incident to bear above other Companies. ^ Secondly, The Reproach contracted, by reafon of their Hall lying inRuines,and under Sequeftration, and the great Debts they owe j both which, by the Prudence and Care of our Government, (now blefled be God) are removed, and on the contrary, greater Arguments may be nfed to incourage fuch as left us to return, and others to incorporate themfelves into this Company, belides the many ancient Privileges, which the Members of the Grocers Com- pany are intituled unto: For eafe of their Members they do not '■"S"”®' take Fines to excufe them of Warden or Steward, as heretofore, but in fpecial cafes, neither do they call them onthe Cloathing, (as in moft other Complies,) but when it is molt manifeft they 1 -.^^:."" ■ G 2 ' have ■20 j^port Jccomt af have beenofIongcontinuance,orare of fufficient Ability,freely to accept it •, and fo it is ( ufually ) a long time before it comes to a Young Man’s turn, to bffir any charge or burthen here, and when Md m„, mf«f- it doth, the charge of Livery, Steward, and other Offices, are all reduced to a very low and ealie rate; or if they Fine, or Hold, r-bcvch^iff, mud, the charge is not much above half fo much as it was heretofore ^ all fo fettled by the Court of Affiftents, forea'feand encourage¬ ment of their Members. Tutr: u frreiyj™ Our Hall haviog been new built and beautified, there is a molt ^^ttain Ground-rent, by Decree fettled, to anfwer all our yearly ami,,!, which Charities, as well (where we have, as where before we had no tofecure the due and conftant yearly paymentof them to n^iccicd end cc their proper Objedl, to remove all that daily Clamour and Re- ‘£^nds^%, flexion, which for fcveral years pall in all places, rendred them .»(fa cmpm,. reproachful throughout the City and Kingdom. Our B,.um mi By-Laws by moll learned Counfelare fettled, and again perufed, examined, and approved of, as the Lawdirefts, (in the mdiftemd Sovereign Lord and Lady ccuufii, King William and Queen Mary,) by the Right Honourable the Commffioners for Cuftody of the-Great Seal, and the two Member"md “5 Lotd Chief JuIHces, Sir John Holt, and Sir Henry Follixfcn, pur- Chatter fo enlarged, whereby our ancient Ufages mm; and Privileges, for well Governing and Ordering our Members M'a'fifirfpH Myllery are in every kind regulated, augmented, and fup- ufmer^teflii plyed with addition of new, fuited to all our defefts, which w ill fl°ubt encourage oiir Benefadtors, liberally to contribute towards difeharge of the Remainder of our Company’s Debts; fo cannot be a better foundation laid, to raife and reftore loojelrefMc, et our Company, as it was loo years lince, a Seminary of good Citi- zens, and Nurfery ofthe bell Charities in London-, andfo confe- tKdcniiim.' qnently no Apprentice can well, or probably may hope to be planted in a betterCorporation,in order to his future advantage. iAudthutthiecem. And,to the end that all Perfons concerned uCng this Myllery, either as Grocer, Uruggifi, ConfeElioner, Tobacconift, or Tobacco- Clitter, in London, and within three Miles of the Liberties thereof, trefmgehemythe may havB noticB thereof,and givedue Obedience and Conformity meSIiiufmgthe 1° ^hat hath been fo defigned by the faid Charter,' By-Laws, and •j!#nyi»Lon- ancient Ufages, and this Company fuffer no longer by their De- faults?either in not obferving, or tranfgrelling the fame; the wMe Primed md Hcuds thercof wilUp Ihort time be Printed and Publilhed, and left at their feyeral Dwellings, and places of abode, for their ccufermihiami,. Cautionand bettcf Infonnation.. And certalnlyiallthis confidered. the Company of: Grocers; 2 1 it cannot be doubted but every Member of this Company, will call to mind the great obligation he lies under fif he will mind his Oath, cither as a good Chriftian, or an’honeft Man,^ in and by all things according to his Power, on all opportunities, not only to publilh and make known unto all Perlons concerned, what isfo required of them, but will, alfo move and excite them, by the belt Arguments and Ways they can, fpeedily to comply with their duty herein, and fo avoid the Penalties and Charges they will otherwifeexpofe themfelves to, in a chargeable way, and. be compelled at laft to yield Obedience .and Conformity thereunto. ill) : T H E CONCLUSION. In a few Motives to Good JVorl^s^ as the very Life and Soul of Religion, and the heft Evidence of a fincere Chriftian, e Aving thus fi/tted the condition 'of the Comp/my, as it long flourified in Splendor, and gradually through various Pro¬ vidences, and the fad EjfeEts of War and Fire ; how it groaned of late under fo great prefnre in its fadder Circumflances ; And having fet before you the happy encouragement already now given, and the Methods propounded again to raife and re fore this Company to MtU hmVym-..' its fornicr fplcudor, I now tst n to the Honourable and Worthy Astern- (XVfafre/. whom it conffis; And you, my noble and good Maflers,[under whom I hold my Station in this place, I mofi httmbly pray you (of your wonted Benignity)ro bear with my Zeal and Freedom,and the boldnefs I ajfume, moft humbly to move you, tofet to your helping hands in this Winf;, fo excellent and acceptable to Cod and every good Man. M ^^»tembring you ofthofe eminent good Charities, for which thofi (1 orthy Members mho went before you infontier tinses, atid are to tfZ'Jf'tb-s’at day celebrated ; and have left tts ftsch grounds as (being now built) Day profpeS of a great Revemte when the Leafes are out, which (‘hough far diftans) are astd will be every year (likgufefttl Timber) a d/m" " mpregrowingJsopetoPofierity. ' 2. That you would not only think it enough to praife them, best be pnovekfd by a generous Emulation, to follow their Exatsiple, liberally Ki. . and bountifully to affordyottr Ajfiflence, not only to fecure, butalfoto increafe this growing hope, that our Burthen and Reproach being re¬ moved, otsr BenefaSiors may be encouraged, and this Society fill pre- fervcd Conclufion. ’ i ^. fcrved n S'emmry of good Merchants, and as a treafmy of Charity i that fo the fiicceedingCenerations may Bkfsand Honour you, as much as you do thofe Worthy Members in former times, when your Names Jhall he recorded, as Raifers and Refiorers of the Company of Gro¬ cers. ' 3 . That what you doe,yotfwOHU doe fpeedily, whereby you will draw on others, that need quicksmng'and encouragement, by your Example', • and in fo doing, you will not only hate the Comfort of what you doe your fekes, but be the happy Fromoters in others, of what the Company will have Call fe to blefs Cod, and give you thanks for. ey.'That you will cenfider how great a deliverance you hadtoefcape the late dreadful Fire withyoiirlives ; andhow CracmsGasd hath been to you fill, to entrufi you with his Talents fur improvement (as Stewards) in his Work ; Jnd that this Company which fufered fo < much in that Calamity, hath no other Hands but yours to repair her breaches. 5 . That you can have no fuch true comfort in the World ona Sifk. Bed, or in any other Calamity, as to be-confcious of doing good Works of this Nature,when as faithful Stewards of that which is not configned to you into Property, but into Trufi, you have (as Good and Faithful Servants) but well difpofed of a Parcel of your great Lord's Efiate, according to his own Will. '■ Hnd for your encouragement, this is a Work, moft acceptable to God, and inviting to every good Man, the Redemption, Relief, and Support of the mofi Ancient and Illuftrious Corporation in this Metropolis,iW//; all her numerous Offspring, the Aged, the Widow, and the Father- Icfs, the Blind, the Lame, and the Impotent, all that God (who is WifdomandGoodnefs) himfelf commends (after his own example) your Charity, and as capable of Alms, -with mofk extenfive Blefingf, Fromifes of Rewards, andtobe negletlcd under the moft fevere Threat.- nings and Puniftments. And farther, this your kindnefs will not perifb as a Meals-Meat, or ji, „„ aija m:r: a draught of cold Water (though that has encouragement,,a Man would amnMiu g”j, think, that will give credit to our Saviour himfelf,) but this your Cha- rity will be as a lafting Seed, laid on the pnreft Foundation of thofe HolyandGood Men, who were our Pirns Founders, and whofe Names,, after fo many hundred years, fmell fweet and blojfominthe duft •, and\ arenow Bleffed with God, receiving the Recompenfe of their Reward, whilft their Workj follow them, andpraife themdn the Oates fo that what you jhall here beftow, will be to open and feed thofe Fountains, as their lafting and refrejhing Comforts and Relief. For though Good Workpin themfelves (as flowing back.to the Foun¬ tain from whence they fpring) can be no way meritorious) yet theyhave .14 Gonclulion. - ^ ^tPtysf, mtfubie toGod, thatwefitidm mry Agt, Ep.tes and Family of fuch as have ken M , mofi difuftve tnlForfsof tbtj Nature^ tka if it were modejl to render vbyfortsaaygreat F.fiattS: are foatitr.w4edhyaloQfeHeir^ ^thangotten byhu frugal Parent, it may be well prefiimed, it is becaufe ■ ®/ l^ffiowed to fueh ufes, when return fo little to moftaffurvdly no Article in ' >3*^ at th^nat\Asidt(. willbe fooner allowedto * cover many • r-j » k .rkr. cither Errors, thats'wlsat is t^ difpof^ And new as Spice is a great X-XXX ^’^S^<^‘^'‘?^‘f'’tthis Slyfiery, atsdis a paSofyoiir Arms, fo / pray con- Isow Alms ill Scripture are called, an Odor of a fwect-fmelling Savour •, and it ts thefe Perfumes that will prove accsptable to God, M oir ■•'.I a good Savour amongfi Men. So 1 conclude, with my Prayers 1^- to Almighty Cod, to incline all your Hearts, according to your feveral vu,.::«. . Degr.ees and Qrahties in this great IVork., to actymt your felves as goid Men, and .isgood Citkcns Grocers; andthatlsnay be ktppy in d^harac of my Duty, which alone rr^ed me to maky this my humble .A^^fstoymtall, .i,!dil,.iUbernyendhvoitrstiperf»rm. ^ -r. .t.s- . r ’ ^ r' $ I N I S.