University of Virginia Library

London and Westminster are two Twin-sister-Cities; as joyned by one Street, so watered by one streame: the first a breeder of grave Magistrates, the second, the buriall-place of great Monarchs; Both famous for their two Cathedrals: the one Dedicated to the honour of Saint Paul, the other of Saint Peter. These I rather concatenate, because as in the one, the Right Honourable the Lord Major receiveth his honour, so in the other he takes his Oath: yet London may be presum'd to be the elder, and more excellent in Birth, Meanes, and Issue; in the first for her Antiquity, in the second for her Ability, in the

third, for her numerous Progeny: she and her Suburbs being decored with two severall Burses or Exchanges, and beautified with two eminent Gardens of Exercise, knowne by the names of Artillery and Military. I shall not need to insist much either upon her Extension, or Dimension, nor to compare her with other eminent Cities that were, or are, it having beene an Argument treated of by Authentick Authors, and the laborious project of many learned Pennes, and frequently celebrated upon the like dayes of Solemnity.

And although by the space of Tenne yeares last past, there hath not beene any Lord Major free of that Company, yet was there within Twelve yeeres before that sixe Lord Majors of the same. And it shall not bee amisse to give you a briefe Nomination of some Honourable Prætors, and those of prime Remarke in that Company: Sir Henry Fitz-Alwin Draper, was the first Lord Major of this Citie, which place hee held for foure and twenty yeeres together, and upward; and in the first yeere of his Majoralty, Anno 1210. London-Bridge, which was before made of Timber, was begun to be built of Stone. Sir William Powltney was foure times Lord Major; 1337 he built a Chappell in Pauls, where hee lyeth buried, and erected a Colledge neere unto the Church of St. Laurence Powltney, London: He moreover built the Church of little Alhallows in Thames street, with other pious and devout Acts. John Hind Draper, Lord

Major 1405, built the Church of Sr. Swithen by London-stone, &c. Sir John Norman was the first that rowed in his Bardge to Westminster, when hee went to take his Oath: Sir Richard Hardell face in the Judicatory Seate sixe yeares together: Simon Eyre Lord Major, built Leaden-Hall at his owne proper costs and charges: Sir Richard Pipe, George Monox, Lord Major 1515, and Sir John Milborne, were great Erectors of Almes-houses, Hospitalls, &c. and left liberally to the poore: Sir Richard Campion perfected divers charitable workes, left unfinish't by Sir John Milborne before named. Sir Thomas Hayes 1615, Sir John Jolls 1616, Sir Edward Barkham, Sir Martin Lumley, Sir Allan Cotten, Sir Cuthbert Hacket, &c. To speake of them all, I should but spend Paper in a meere capitulation of their names, and neglect the project now in agitation.