Likewiſe the proper Officers, call’d my Lord Mayor's Officers, conſtantly attended in their Turns, as they were in waiting; and if any of them were ſick or infected, as ſome of them were, others were inſtantly employed to fill up and officiate in their Places, till it was known whether the other ſhould live or die.
In like manner the Sheriffs and Aldermen did in their ſeveral Stations and Wards, where they were placed by Office; and the Sheriff’s Officers or Sergeants were appointed to receive Orders from the reſpetive Aldermen in their Turn; ſo that Juſtice was executed in all Caſes without Interruption. In the next Place, it was one of their particular Cares, to ſee the Orders for the Freedom of the Markets obſerv’d; and in this part either the Lord Mayor, or one or both of the Sheriffs, were every Market-day on Horſeback to ſee their Orders executed, and to ſee that the Country People had all poſſible Encouragement and Freedom in their coming to the Markets, and going back again; and that no Nuſances or frightful Objects ſhould be ſeen in the Streets to terrify them, or make them unwilling to come. Alſo the Bakers were taken under particular Order, and the Maſter of the Bakers Company was, with his Court of Aſſiſtance, directed to ſee the Order of my Lord Mayor for their Regulation put in Execution, and the due Aſſize of Bread, which was weekly appointed by my Lord Mayor, obſerv’d, and all the Bakers were oblig’d to keep their Ovens going conſtantly, on pain of loſing the Privileges of a Freeman of the City of London.
By this means, Bread was always to be had in Plenty, and as cheap as uſual, as I ſaid above; and Proviſions were never wanting in the Markets, even to ſuch a Degree, that I often wonder’d at it, and reproach’d my ſelf with being ſo timorous and cau-
