In the year 1500, the plague carried off
20,000 persons in London; and during
this reign the city also suffered greatly by
the oppressions of the King's ministers
Empson and Dudley; Alderman Capel
was, upon several penal laws, condemned
to pay a fine of 2700l. but by the inter-
cession of friends, it was mitigated to
1600l.  Thomas Knesworth, who had
been Mayor, with Richard Shoare and
Roger Grove, his Sheriffs, were accused
of abuses committed in their offices, for
which they were dragged to the Marshal-
sea, and confined without any legal pro-
cess, till they redeemed themselves by
paying 14,000l. and, in short, Sir Lau-
rence Aylmer was, in the next year after
he had served the office of Mayor, also
imprisoned by these rapacious ministers,
in order to extort a sum of money for his
liberty: but the death of Henry VII.
delivered him and many others from their
troubles.

King Henry VIII. the year after his ac-
cession to the throne, came in the habit of
one of the yeomen of the guard, to see
the march of the city watch; it being an
ancient custom for the watch, who were

The march was begun by the city mu-
sic, followed by the Lord Mayor's officers,
in party-coloured liveries; then the sword-
bearer, on horseback, in beautiful armour,
preceded the Lord Mayor, mounted on a
stately horse adorned with rich trappings,
attended by a giant and two pages on
horseback, three pageants, morrice dancers
and footmen; next came the Sheriifs, pre-
ceded by their officers, and attended by
their giants, pages, pageants, and morrice
dancers.  Then marched a great body of
demi-lancers in bright armour, on stately
horses: next followed a body of carabi-
neers in white fustian coats, with the city
arms on their backs and breasts: then
marched a body of archers with their bows
bent, and shafts of arrows by their sides;
followed by a party of pikemen with their
corslets and helmets; after whom march-
ed a body of halberdiers in their corslets