View report page

167
widows. If the Commissioners licensed more than four
hundred coaches they were each to be liable to a penalty of
£100. The rates of hire were controlled by the same
authority, within the limit of 10s. per day, or 1s. 6d. for the
first hour, and 1s. per hour afterwards, with shilling fares
between certain specified places. A duty of five pounds
per annum was payable by the owner of each coach, which
duty, with the fines levied under the recited provisions,
were to be paid to the Commissioners for the repair of the
highways.
Shortly after (in 1680) the Vestry were allowed a voice
in the nomination of the Commissioners of Hackney
Coaches, the opportunity being then taken of offering some
suggestions for the amendment of the law:
Sunday, 12th Dear., 1680. That Sr Wm Waller Sr John Cutler
with ye Steward & High Burgesses for the time being be
nominated Commrs in St. Margarts Westmr for Regulating
Hackney Coaches.
Clauses to be inserted in ye Act of Parliament for regulateing
Hackney Coaches Vizt.
A Clause for Distreyening for ye Highwaies.
A Clause to widen the passages at the Gate House prison at
ye New Palace Yard & the Olde Gate House prison at the
Easte End of Tuttle Streete.
A Clause that no person shall be capable of electing Members
of Parliament but such as paye to ye Church & Poore.
Politics and
Parliamentary
Representation.
The spirit of zealous patriotism which fired
the heart of every Englishman at the time of
the threatened invasion by the Spanish Armada,
took practical form in Westminster. The under-written is
copied from the Vestry minute book of 1588:—
A note of money received by the churchwardens to
the payment of robt carre, High constable, for
money wh he laid out about the setting forth
Soldiers,
Received first of Mr. Ffyscher which remayned in his
hands iijl. xijs. vjd.
Wch iijl. xijs. vjd. he the sayd Mr. Ffysher had of George
Lee and Ric Fferris out of the Church boxe.
Recevide of Mr. Peiroson wh. he did collect in his warde
for the same purpose xxixs. ijd.
***