" or otherwise to get himself great improved Rents. A Matter, which if permitted, would work the undoing of most of his Lordship's Orators." The Lord Treasurer referred the Examination of this Business to one Necton, who understood by the said Gentleman Porter, that he, as Lord, would not allow of any Petty Landlords, not suffering them to be Tenants to him; but only such of the Tenants as were commorant Tenants to the Petty Landlords, quite excluding the Petty Landlords from him; and that upon these two Causes; the one, for that they did not dwell upon any of their Tenements; the other, that they had reserved to themselves far greater Rents than they paid to him, which he then minded to take to his own Use, as he found them improved; but yet he was willing to allow every Petty Landlord for their several Buildings, as much in reason as they by Proof had laid out.

This Petition of the Petty Landlords against the Gentleman Porter was seconded with another of the Tenants against the Petty Landlords. The Effect whereof was; "That they complained, that the said Landlords had molested them, and threatned daily to arrest them for their Rents that they had then paid to the Gentleman Porter."

The Rents which the Gentleman Porter at this time received were as follows:

In the Particulars I observe, that the Yearly Rent of a Tenement ordinarily amounted to 20, 21, or 22 Shillings; and of a Shop 5 Shillings, or 6 Shillings 8 Pence, rarely 10 Shillings per Annum.

The said Worthington, Gentleman Porter held for his Garden a longish Plot of Ground, adjoining to that Part of the Tower called The Queen's Lodgings on the West; on which bordered a less Piece of Ground, being the Garden of the Queen's Bowyer, whose Mansion House was contiguous. The Bowyer contemporary with the said Worthington, was named Bolt, who about the Year 1596, contended with him about this Garden, which he claimed a Right to by Vertue of the Queen's Letters Patents, assigning him, as chief Bowyer, a Mansion House and a Garden, which was so bounded and abutted that he took the whole Plot, containing both the Gardens, to be his. And indeed the Words of the Patents granted to the chief Bowyer of the Tower by divers Princes successively from Edward IV. to Q. Elizabeth, seemed to favour him against the Porter. In all which Patents the Words were, "A certain Mansion within the Tower of London, with a Garden to the Mansion adjoining, and situate between the Tower called The round Tower, of the Artillery on the West Part, and the Tower, called The King's Lodging on the East Part." Which took in the whole Plot of Ground, and included all the Porters Garden. However, the said Worthington kept and challenged the greater Part of the said Garden, being found divided from the other Part in the Time of Pykeman the Queen's Bowyer, immediate Predecessor to Bolt, and quietly possest and used by Mr. Chamberlain and Sir William Gorge, Gentlemen Porters, until the time of Mr. Shelton their next Successor; with whom Bolt first contended for the same. This Matter at length came into the Exchequer; and the Lord Treasurer Burghley, committed the Examination thereof to Richard Barkely and N. Raynberd, who made their Report of the same to him accordingly.

By the Testimony of the Witnesses it appeared, that Pykeman (whose Patent bears Date Jan. 13. in the 10. of the Queen) enjoyed the whole Plot. And that in his Time Partitions were made partly by himself, and partly by Gorge the Gentleman Porter. That after his Death Bolt pulled down the Partition. But Shelton, that was Porter next after, laid Claim thereto, and made up the Partition; which Bolt pulled down again. The Suit depended at the Court within the Tower, till Bolt removed it into the Exchequer, and before the same was determined Shelton dyed. Other Witnesses said, that there was never a Bowyer heretofore before Bolt, that had the Possession of that Part of the Garden the Gentleman Porter challenged; and that to their knowledge there never was any Claim laid thereto by any other Bowyer. What Issue this Business had I am ignorant.]

The Gentleman Jaylor is an Officer put in by the Lieutenant of the Tower. His Fee is 40s. for a Gentleman, and 5l. for a Knight.

There are likewise Forty Warders of the Tower; who are accounted the King's Domestick Servants; and are sworn by the Lord Chamberlain of his Majesties Houshold, or by the Clerk of the Check. They were all to be habited with the same Caps and Coats as those of the Yeomen of the Guard that attend the King.]

This is a more modern State of the Officers of the Tower. For in a Paper of the Fees of all the Officers in the beginning of Q. Elizabeth's Reign, there were but 23 Warders, and no Gentleman Jaylor at all. Which I shall here exemplify from the Original Draught of the ordinary Charges of the Tower for one half Year, given into the Exchequer by Sir Edward Warner the Lieutenant, signed by his own Hand.

Item, For the Yeoman Warders, (being 23) at 8d. by the Day, whose Names be underwritten,

Item, more that was not reckoned in the last Book for

Item, For Six Gunners at 2d. by the Day, whose Names be underwritten.

EDWARD WARNER.