Hitherto the mayor and sheriffs for the time being had been accustomed to sell offices and places as they happened to become vacant and to use the money so obtained towards defraying the expenses of their own year of office. This was to be no longer allowed. They were henceforth to be content with the allowance made to them by the Common Council, viz., a monthly allowance of £208 6s. 8d. for the mayor, and a monthly allowance of £150 to each of the sheriffs.
Means for replenishing the City's Chamber.
A committee was at the same time appointed to manage and let to farm to the best advantage for the City a number of offices, including those of garbling, package and scavage, metage of grain, coal, salt and fruit, as well as all fines, issues, amerciaments and estreated recognisances under the greenwax. It was to have entire control over the City's new acquisition, Richmond Park, the timber of which it was empowered to sell (notwithstanding a proviso in the Act of Parliament to the contrary), as well as the woods of the manors of Middleham and Richmond, which formed part of the Royal Contract estate in[pg 322] Yorkshire. All sums of money thus raised were to be paid forthwith into the Chamber.[984]
Proposed postal system in order to raise money for the poor of the city, 18 Sept., 1649.
The question how to deal with the poor of the city had been for some time past growing more pressing every day, and in September last (1649) the "President and Governors for the Poor of the city" suggested to the Common Council the establishment of a postal system as a means of raising money for the purpose. The court welcomed the proposal, and promised to forward any scheme that might be laid before it.[985] A committee was appointed (25 Sept.) to wait upon the Earl of Warwick, Prideaux, the attorney-general, and Witheringe, who had the management of the inland post—a government monopoly recently established—and inform them of the desire of the court "that the President and Governors for the Poor of the city of London may use and dispose of the said postage for the good of the poor, without any obstructions from them in the work."[986] An attempt
The City's petition to parliament, 16 Nov., 1649.
to lay a petition before parliament on Friday, the 16th November, having failed, the deputation not being admitted, the court appointed a committee (24 Nov.) to consider the best way of setting the scheme on foot without delay.[987] The committee had
Danger of a Quo Warranto against the City.
not proceeded far in the matter when it was deemed advisable (23 Jan., 1650) to take counsel's opinion as to whether there might not be some danger of a Quo Warranto against the City before allowing any further steps to be taken.[988] For a fortnight, therefore, matters were in abeyance, but on the 6th February, 1650, the opinion of counsel having presumably[pg 323] been favourable to the city's action, the committee received instructions to proceed to settle stages and other matters connected with a postal system without delay.[989] Before another six weeks had elapsed the City had established a postal system with Scotland and other places. Complaint was thereupon
The City's post to Scotland a subject of complaint to parliament, 21 March, 1650.