PROPOSALS Moderately offered for the full PEOPLEING AND INHABITING THE CITY OF LONDON, And to restore the same to her ancient flourishing Trade, which will suit with her splendid Structure.  
LONDON Printed in the Year, 1672.   

PROPOSALS Moderately offered for the full PEOPLING and INHABITING The City of LONDON, &c.  
HAving oftentimes with much reluctancy of Spirit, seen whole Streets of Houses new built within this City, standing uninhabited, and no Person so much as asks the price of any, hath occasioned this Essay, as a proper Expedient to remedy the same. The nobleness of the fabric, the pleasantness of the Scite, and Commodious part for Trade, with all things desirable for the life of Mankind, would invite Inhabitants enough, If the main Obstruction were taken away.  
This hath given cause of divers Considerations, and the reason why the Out parts about the City, are inhabited as soon as built, and the Houses yielding good Rents.  
In the days of King Edgar, Records testify, 
Stow.  that the City of London was made a Franchise, or Freedom,( as it is called) that there is now above 500 Shops and Houses, for one that was in those dayes, or in some Centuries of years since.  
Let it be rationally considered how it could be otherwise, when there were within the Walls of the City of London, four Kings Palaces, twenty eight Religious Houses, Bishops and Deans Palaces, thirty Noblemens Houses; All which had Gardens, Yards, Out houses, Courts and large Apartments; also most Merchants Houses in those dayes had large Apartments, all which now are reduced into Tenements close built.  
And in the dayes of Ed. IV. and since, few Noblemen had less then 400 Men Servants to attend them; Which may clearly convince any Person, that these Monasteries and Palaces, took up most part of the City.  
Since time hath altered the property thereof, and People much increasing, yet being denied the liberty of using or exercising any Trade in the Freedom( so called) of the City, unless they acquire the same by Purchase or Servitude. This is the main and onely cause of the Nonpeopling this New-built fabric.  
The People of this Kingdom increasing to a great multitude, and the thing called the Freedom, barring all those who have not served their Term to a Freeman, or otherwise purchased the same, to be the trading Inhabitants within the limits of the said Freedom, was certainly the Primum-mobile of the Building so many Houses, or rather Cities, in the out-Parts about this City, and they inhabited as soon as built, and flourish in Trade; many Houses yielding better Rents than those by the Royal Exchange.  
It is obvious to every Eye, the flourishing Trade and Condition of multitudes who inhabit the burrow of Southwark, and Parts adjoining, which anciently consisted of Religious-houses, Bishops Palaces, and Houses of Noblemen, being now all built into Tenements, is more populous than any City in England, the onely Cause is Exemption from the thing,( mistaken or misnamed Freedom) but it is a real Freedom, all Persons exercising Trades in that place with free Liberty, and in other Parts adjacent.  
It is humbly proposed, That it will be of essential Benefit, to have this City forthwith inhabited, if they might have free liberty of Trading; And so clear a Maxim which none can deny, That the People make a Market, not the Market-place.  
And that where there is a vast Community of People, there cannot be want of Trade.  
It is as obvious and clear as the Sun upon the Meridian, that where there is a whole Street or Place all of one Trade, that that particular Trade in that place, flourishes better than where they are soarce, or promiscuously intermixed one among another.  
That this City by reason of it's commodious situation, and Reception, is the first rebound of all Goods; And being now newly adorned with such sweet and beautiful convenient Dwellings, aptly prepared for all Trades, cannot but be forthwith Inhabited, if the City would admit all Merchants, tradesman, and Artificers to be Free of the same City for 20 s. Frank of all other charge, he or they taking a House within the same City for 21 years at least.  
There is no doubt but the People of Holland, will forthwith come and inhabit this City, if not prevented and amused by some of their 〈…〉 Correspondents here, who have great profits from them by their Factory. And these being of the Genealogy of Alexander the Copper-Smith, for fear of losing their private profit, will amaze and detam them from coming into the City, with their affrighting Arguments deduced from this Text, viz. The great charge of obtaining the Freedom of the City, and of being a Freeman therein, or the impossibility of using any Trade there without it.  
That it is humbly conceived, this Remedy lies solely and properly in the power of the Lord Mayor, and Court of Aldermen: For they now, and at all times heretofore, have admitted any Subject to be free of any Company, and to enjoy all Rights and privileges thereunto belonging, either by Purchase for about 30 l. or favour, often bestowed upon some Noblemans Letter.  

Reasons to induce all Persons to desire the Freedom of the City.  
1. A Citizen hath commonly a competent Portion with a Wife, for that if he die without Issue, the Widdow enjoys half his Estate; and if with Children, a third part, which the Husband cannot give from her, besides what she secretly secures to her self in her Chamber, &c. and their Orphans Portions are well secured, &c.  
2. Wives of all sorts, upon the foregoing reason, may cheerfully induce their Husbands to come and be free Inhabitants of the City.  
Object. It may be probably objected, That many will dread to come into the City, because of the great charge amongst their Company they come to be Free of; and Parochial charge, which may stand a man in bearing Offices, a Childes Portion.  
Answ. This may be remedied by the Court of Aldermen, by ordering none to pay above a fourth part to the Company of what hath been paid, which is all clear gains to the company; And to moderate the Fines for not serving of Offices in Parishes.  
2. It may be said by People whose Eyes are evil because others are good; That there is no reason they having served a Time, and paid so much money in their Company, and a Stranger without Service should enjoy the same privilege, upon such easy Rates.  
Answ. That is soon answered; for they will not onely help to bear the burden of both Company, Parish, and public Taxes, but be the means of increasing Trade, and quick disposal of Commodities in the place, and inviting Customers by the greater choice of Commodities.  
Lastly, It seems undeniable,( if this Proposal take its desired effect,) That the City will always be in a ready capacity to furnish and assist His Majesty, whensoever urgent affairs of the Kingdom requires it, both with Men and Money.    

Postscript.  
IF this my Essay or Proposals, published out of my zealous Well-wishes to the future happiness of this ancient, Renowned and honourable City, shall attain to its desired success, it will be an Encouragement to me to speed the Publication of certain Papers, upon serious Consideration, orderly digested for the prevention of Fire; And the Office of Ensurance of Houses and Goods from damage by Fire, at the Rate of one pound per cent. Rent per annum; which hath for several Moneths been seriously debated with very many judicious Persons within this City.  By Londinophilos. 
FINIS.