pleaseth. But if he shall have no Children, then his Widow hath a Right to half his Personal Estate, together with her Widows Chamber furnished. And if he shall make his Will contrary to this Custom, and give away more than a Third of his Estate from his Wife and Children, they may be relieved against such Will, by exhibiting their Bill in this Court against the Executor. And so much of his Will as shall be contrary to the Custom, will be declared void, and of no Effect.

If a Freeman shall, in the time of his last Sickness, give and deliver any Part of his Goods, Chattels or Monies to his Wife or Child, or any other Person, with intent that such Person shall keep the same to her or his own Use; such Gift is against the Custom of London; and the Monies and Goods so given, shall be accounted Part of the Estate that belonged to such Freeman at the time of his Death; and may be recovered by Bill in this Court.

If an Unfreeman, or any other Person, shall by his Will give a Legacy to an Orphan, the Court of Aldermen may compel the Executor of such Testator to pay the Money bequeathed into the Chamber of London, or give Bond to pay the same, according to the Purport of the Will.

If a Freeman die without a Will, and leave a Wife and Children, Administration of his Estate will be granted to his Widow; and she will claim a third Part of his Estate by the Custom of London; and one other Third must be divided among his Children. And of the Third remaining, one Third is by the Act 22 & 23 Car. II. cap. 10. for settling of Intestates Estates, allowed to the Widow; and the Children take the other two Thirds.

If a Freeman shall give Part of his Estate to any of his Children in Marriage, or otherwise, in his Life-time; and afterwards die, and make a Will, and give away his Estate to his other Children; and shall declare, that the Child he so disposed in Marriage, had received 500l. or more, of his Estate, and was thereby fully advanced; such Declaration shall not bar the Person so married, but.he or she may recover an equal Share, with the other Children, of the Personal Estate that belonged to such Freeman at the time of his Death. But then such Person must bring in the Money received of his Father in his Life-time, and reckon it Part of the Estate left by such Freeman at his Death. And such bringing in the Money is called bringing it into Hotchpot.

If a Freeman shall settle or make over any Part of his Estate to the Use of his Children, with design to defraud his Wife of her full third Part, the Widow may, after his Death, set aside such Settlement, by a Bill in this Court.

This Court will also take care, when Inventories are brought in, wherein any of the Freemens Goods are omitted or undervalued, or Debts charged to be owing from the Deceased which were not real and just: And it compels Executors of Freemen to give Bond to render a true Account from time to time. For which, and the like, and for the Fees of this Court, Recourse may be had to the Book called The City Law, and other Books.

THIS is a Court of Record: All Matters touching Lights, Water Courses, and Party Walls, may be tried and determined in this Court. In this Court also the Assize of Bread is always appointed. And here all Bonds and Leases that pass under the City Seal, must be sealed. ThePlace where this Court is held, is the inner Chamber of Guild-Hall: the Days are, Tuesdays and Thursdays, except Holidays, and the three first Weeks in August, and in the time of the Sessions of Goal Delivery.

The yearly Election of eleven Overseers and Rulers of all the Wherrymen, Watermen, and Lightermen, that exercise rowing between Gravesend and Windsor, is in the Maior and this Court of Aldermen, by vertue of an Act of Parliament 11 & 12 W. 3. and likewise by an Act 2 & 3 Ph. & M. this Court has Power to limit, set, and assess the Price that Watermen shall take of their Passengers, as their Fare and Reward; the said Assessments being first brought to be viewed by some of the Privy Council, and signed and sealed with the Hands of any two of them. And accordingly, Sept. 7. in the Year 1671, Sir Richard Ford being Maior, the Fares of the Watermen were appointed; which stand to this Day. The List whereof shall be set down in its Place.

This Court also may punish any of the City Officers, misbehaving themselves, upon Complaint made to the said Court, and Proof of the Fact; by suspending them from the Profits of their Places, during the Pleasure of the Court. These Officers are divers; most of whose Places are bestowed by the Lord Maior and this Court of Aldermen; and are these which follow:

The Recorder.
Four Common Pleaders.
The Comptroller of the Chamber.
The two Secondaries.
The Remembrancer.
The City Sollicitor.
The Sword-bearer.
The Common Hunt.
The Water Bailiff.
Four Attorneys of the Lord Maior's Court.
The Clerk of the Chamber.
Three Serjeant Carvers.
Three Serjeants of the Chamber.
The Serjeant of the Channel.
The two Marshals.
The Hall Keeper.
The Yeomen of the Chamber.
Four Yeomen of the Water-side.
The Yeoman of the Channel.
The Under Water Bailiff.
Two Meal Weighers.
Two Fruit Meeters.
The Foreign Taker.
The Clark of the City Works.
Six Young Men.
Two Clerks of the Papers.
Eight Attorneys in the Sheriffs Court.
Eight Clerks Sitters.
Two Prothonotaries.
The Clerk of the Bridgehouse.
The Clerk of the Court of Requests.
The Beadle of the Court of Requests.
Thirty six Serjeants at Mace.
Thirty six Yeomen.
The Gager.
The Sealers and Searchers of Leather.
The Keeper of the Green Yard.
Two Keepers of the two Compters.
The Keeper of Newgate.
The Keeper of Ludgate.
The Measurer.
The Steward of Southwark. [But the Bailiff of Southwark is appointed by the Common Council.]
The Bailiff of the Hundred of Ossulston.
The City Artificers.
The Rents-Gatherer, hath been put in by Mr. Chamberlain.