LONDON'S Account: OR, A Calculation of the Arbitrary and Tyrannical Exactions, Taxations, Impositions, Excises, Contributions, Subsidies, Twentieth Parts, and other Assessments, within the Lines of Communication, during the four years of this Unnatural War.  
What the total sum amounts unto, What hath been disbursed out of it, and what remains in the Accomptants hands.  
Imprinted in the Year, 1647.   

To any READER that loves Reason or Understanding.  
YOu that read, I would have you know and consider this great oppression that hath been laid upon all men, (except the Members of both Houses) hath occasioned me to spend some few hours to make a Calculation of that mass of wealth which hath been within these four years collected in London, and the Parishes comprehended within the Weekly Bills. I doubt not, but all have paid who were able, and none escaped but my former exception.) Now if thy support be not out of those unlawful Taxes, (by which means thou mayst be prejudicated) Read and judge; and thou canst not but find that I have written, as being free from favour, falsehood, and partiality: For I have omitted the Taxes laid on all Halls and Companies, which hath been great and large sums; besides divers Trades liable to the Excise, it must needs be fare greater.  
But thou mayst perceive or guess by the bigness of the Paw, of what a huge bulk and body the Beast is, as well as the Author can; and know, all the Counties and Cities in England and Wales, have likewise been charged to the uttermost. I confess I have purposely omitted the Charge for Arms, and I did it, in regard they invested themselves of all which His Majesty was owner of at London, Hull, and all other places they could, which cost them nothing (but the taking.) We leave to consideration, the direful effects of the issues of those collections, which only hath been the Causes of shedding Innocent Blood, (if our Laws be Judge) Ruined the Kingdom, most intolerably dishonoured our merciful and Gracious King, Queen, the Prince, withal the Royal Issue, and useing all the cruelties, and Avaricious demenours upon the Persons, Lives, Liberties, Estates and Consciences of as many as have dared either to be Protestants or true Subjects; to the increase of Thiefs and Beggars, to the making of Widows and fatherless Children, to the plucking down of the divine vengeance upon this afflicted Land, to maintain and enrich only factious, contentious, and insolent persons, the shame of Kingdom and City.   

LONDON'S ACCOUNT, etc.  
IT is (saith the wisest of Kings and men) the greatest of afflictions and oppressions, when subjects and servants rule; and if this Kingdom in general, and this City in particular, hath not found this Truth, than they are both to learn what Affliction and Oppression is. But (to confirm its verity) I have here (and I hope it will not be expected exactly, because I protest I have not seen any Roll of Sellement of any one parish, and therefore have no guide to this my Calculation, but first, the order for assessing, and next, the order for a review, lest any through favour or friendship were not fully assessed. This considered, see what a mass of treasure in this City (and her Weekly Bills) hath been levied towards the Kings, the Kingdoms, and her own ruin. And leave the Reader to judge by these few particulars, how near the truth this Calculation comes; yet herein is not comprehended neither Pole-money, Royal Subsidies, sale of the Irish Lands, (because these passed by Royal consent) and was at the Parliaments disposure; and had they not been diverted from their prop●r intendments, doubtless would have done more than discharged them: Nor that voluntary Contribution to the relief of the poor distressed Protestants in Ireland: Nor that fast and lose trick by inviting such as formerly had paid sums in for Land in Ireland, to pay half as much more; for which half (if an Order speak truth) they shall have as much Land, as for their former sums paid; and I assure you, both of these were not inconsiderable.  
Now, to leven the lump of factious and contentious persons, the first course must be to fill the people's ears with oppressions of Conscience, and infringements of Liberties, (pills covered with gold, that are treason and poison within.) Then to displace solid Magistrates and grave Citizens, lest if such good men were in authority, they might sour our lump before it was (by our usurping Masters) well kneaded, by understanding men's speculative insight into their proceed. Those must be removed, and in their steads, covetous sharks, and griping men, (such as never knew fair dealing) shallow brained fools, and little better than insolent persons, (men that desire the place, not deserve it) must be elected in their rooms, whose ignorance proclaims what they are in their daily consenting to they knew not well what. For oppression of conscience, who can justly allege (that is a Royal and a loyal subject) that that is an oppression which the Law hath established? But the same form of Doctrine and Discipline which was established in the Church of England, by Parliaments, in blessed Queen Elizabeth's Raigue, disputed and defended by her successor, King James, (of happy memory) and the opponents so sa isfied, they consented and subscribed thereunto; maintained and (to his uttermost) defended by our now most gracious and merciful Sovereign with the hazard of his life, and according to Law performed in his Chapels and Cathedral Churches. Now if any Church within His Majesty's Dominions, did wilfully or carelessly omit what the Law enjoined, it is no oppression to compel them thereunto, for the Law doth it. But do not those who have cried out of the oppression of their ten●et consciences, strain gnats, and swallow beetles? Are their consciences so tender against Uniformity of Prayer, (yea and the Lords Prayer too) and yet consider not how often they have sworn to submit to it, and their Superiors that imposed it? Obedience is better than sacrifice. Wherefore all that do adhere to such, do deserve our Saviour's woe. Observe but God's Judgement on these men, that cannot agree either in doctrine or discipline, their daily invective pens do witness this for a truth. For our Liberties, we had them, and enjoyed them, whilst we maintained the Laws; since we have violated those, we are in worse condition than Turkish slaves: for who is it that enjoys life or livelihood longer than the beneplacite of his fellow. Subjects? And if God (for our sins) hath decreed us slaves, better it is to be so to a Royal King, then to those whose cruelties we already so much have had trial of. Our Pulpits and Declarations thunder into the ears of the people, the unlawfulness of Ship, Coat, and Conduct money; As I will not justify them, so (under favour) I cannot conceive them unlawful in a time of necessity. And could it be otherwise then an urgent need, when His Majesty's Subjects of Scotland were in Arms against the King's Honour, Crown and Dignity, marching to intest this our peaceable Kingdom, with the calamities of War? Besides, if such Levies were against former Laws, what need we then of our late Acts, that from thence forward no Levies should be laid upon the Subject, till it passed by an Act of Parliament; for was it formerly unlawful, the Law would have censured it; and now we know it is so. I admire what those men can allege, that craved, and had this Act passed, to curb the prerogative of Kings, and yet are the first violators of the same Law themselves, whilst they are sitting in the same place, as they were when they craved to have the same Law enacted.  
Since, they have acknowledged the Laws cannot question the King for a Breach, (but it can question all and every Subject.) But the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England, established by law, and the Subjects liberty, hath been, and ever will be maintained and defended against all Sectaries and contentious men, by more abler pens: And therefore I will return to the City's inconsiderateness, and desire them (since the hardness of their hearts dissuades them) to believe, at least they would fancy what the whole Kingdom groans under. And withal to call to mind, that they were not only the causers, but they are still the continuers, and main actors of all its miseries. That since His Majesty's mercies so often tendered cannot, their own follies so plainly evidenced (to so great oppression) may reduce their judgements, to know to whom rightly they do owe their obediecce, for the Disciples are not above their Master, and obedience is first commanded to Emperors and Kings, and next, to those whom they set over us.  
I desire to show myself a true Patriot, and doubt not but all Loyal and faithful Subjects will do the like; as for those who have done otherways, God and King Charles (upon their true Repentance) take them into favour and forgive them; And I would not have them offended if I say their own factions hath caused their own fractions, and the fly and underhand Courses of many of them hath made them in this world too hastily R ch; And all such do make little conscience of any thing they undertake, for from the beginning the Laws of God or man was not, nor to their end shall not be their guide. It is worth your consideration to remember how peny-wise you were at the beginning of this longwinded Parliament, refusing the loan of but 100000. l. except His Majesty would condescend, some conceive, to an everlasting Parliament, for an assurance of your repayment, (which it you be all repaid, 'tis well) But since you have embraced an authority is desired to be made lawful, and by that unlawful power forced so many unjust Taxes, as hath (as you shall see anon) amounted to above seventeen millions and an half of pounds within these four years; I may say as the Replyer said to you, You have done, but did you ever understand what you did do? besides the Loans, plunder, and the many Sequestrations, (which I have heard are no fewer than 80000 in England and Wales) which your sharking Committee-men resolve to give no good account of: And so know you have been in general pound foolish; for look but upon the issue, it is but a cipher to that which hath been collected.  
But you may object, There is not so much come to the Parliaments hands.  
That clears not the Charge, were it just, I see no reason but it should. And as some of our now Magistrates and griping Citizens know it, Unjust— The report goes, near half the said Collections are fleeced away by sharking Officers— which is and will be an everlasting shame, and God's curse will attend it, on them and theirs, in regard it hath maintained a most bloody and native War against God, his Church, our Sovereign, his Loyal Nobility, Gentry and Commonalty, and the blood of thousands doth cry aloud to the Almighty's Tribunal for vengeance on the causers of these unnatural divisions. Your inconstant and wavering thoughts first commenced this War; your hands and purses (by fraud and violence) have maintained it; and if (from the bottom of your souls) you repent not of it, God in the fullness of his time will be avenged on you for it. Let the Laws of God and the Land be your rule, than I doubt not but we may enjoy peace again. And though the Replyer to your Remonstrance told you, it is in the Parliaments power to ruin you, they and he knows (if you resolve to be honest) the contrary. In the mean time, God in mercy look down upon our dread Sovereign, whom you (originally) have necessitated, and injured most unjustly, with our Queen, Prince, and the rest of the Royal issue. Preserve (O Lord) and prolong his life, because a more religious, gracious, and merciful King never reigned in this Kingdom, nor ever was a good King more abused by Subjects, nor more undeservingly worse spoken of. Good God confound and scatter all those that delight in, or make a trade of rebellious war; let them fly and be dispersed like dust before the wind: This shall be mine, and aught to be the prayer of all loyal Subjects, and true Patriots.  

And now behold (I may say in part) the sums which have been assessed, paid, and received in London, and her Weekly Bills only.  I conceive in the 129. parishes, there cannot be fewer inhabitants than the number of 600000. Families, out of that proportion I doubt not for their Twentieth part, not f●wer have been assessed then 400000 my reasons are, first, by the Ordinance the Assessors were to estanate all men, and so self them. Now these being factious men, fessed not according to reason or judgement, but (for the Cause sake) according to their will, malice, and spleen. I confess the Ordinance gave way that men might ease themselves (if overrated) by declaring upon oath their worth; but this remedy was worse than the disease, for thereby they must discover their estates, or pay what they were assessed at. To discover their estates, endangered their credit, which could not but occasion their ruin, and so necessitated to pay sums far above men's abilities. Secondly, all Halls of Corporations have been largely estimated, & great store of men of known ability forced to pay large sums: Now if you consider every Corporation and man that paid 1000 l at the rate all are valued at one with another, hath paid for 49. more than himself, and so for greater or lesser sums accordingly, for rating these 400000 families one with another but at 20. l. a family, it amounts to for the whole, 8: 000000 The 50 Subsidies granted, if I have not been misinformed, every Subsidy is 2800. l. which for the 50. is 0: 140000 The weekly Fast days, 400000. families for six months, rating each family 6. d. a week, though the greatest part paid 1. s. and 2. s. but rate them one with another at 6. d. a week, it amounts for 6. months to 0: 240000 The assessment for bringing in the Scots, though none were to be assessed but such as would not take their oaths they were not worth 1000 l. yet it could not amount to less than 0: 100000  8: 480000  
Now to bring this into an Annual Calculation to the several sums following, which by Orders hath been levied by Excises, take the fourth part of the sum above, and you shall find it 2: 120000 The weekly assessment to maintain the Army from 400000 families, at 6. d. a family one with another, and not without just cause, for I know a poor Porter was compelled to pay 12. d. or go a soldier, and no able householder but paid far larger, and for any thing I could learn, all paid that received not alms. This for six months, amounts to 0: 240000 There is not vented in this City in Grocery ware, less than 600000. l. a year, which at 1. s. per l. is for the year 0: 030000 There is not vented in all sorts of Mercery ware in this City, less than 500000. at 1. s. per l. 0: 025000 There is not vented by Silkmen less than 400000. a year, at 1. s. per l. 0: 020000 There is not vented of all sorts of Haberdashers beware less than 500000. l. a year, at 1. s. per l. 0: 025000 There is not vented by Salters and Oylemen less yearly than 600000. at 1. s. per l. 0: 030000 There is not vented by Linen Drapers in general less than 600000. l. a year, at 1. s. per l. 0: 030000 There is not vented by Woollen Drapers less than 500000. l. a year, at 6 d. per l. 0: 012500 H●●●●rs of all sorts cannot vent less than 100000 a year, at 1. s. per l. 0: 005000 Upholsters in their several deal 80000 l. a year, at 1. s. per l. 0: 004000 Stationers and Paper-sellers 80000. a year, at 1. s. per l. 0: 004000 Leather-sellers and Trunk-makers in these times 200000. at 1. s. per l. 0: 010000 Ironmongers in general 300000 a year, at 1. s. per l. 0: 015000 Spanish Tobacco there cannot be less imported then 200000. l. weight, at 2. s. per l. is 0: 020000 English Plantations 1200000. at 2. d. per l. 0: 010000 Six shill beer in 400000. families, admitting one family with another spend but 20. barrels a year each family, it is 8: 000000. of barrels, at 6. d. the barrel, amounts to 0: 200000 Strong Beer and Ale vented in Inns, Cooks houses, Alehouses, and Chandler's, of all which in the 129 parishes there cannot be less than 8000. if every of these draw but one barrel a week, it is 416000. which at 2. s. per barrel amounts to 0: 041600 Strong beer and ale in private houses, if 200000. of them spend but 2. bar. a year apiece, it is 400000. bar. at 1. s. per bar. 0: 020000 Wine of all sorts, there is not less imported yearly then 20000. Tons, at 5. l. a Ton, 0: 100000 Butchers and Poulterer's for 400000 families, for they must all eat, now one with another cannot spend less than 8. s. a week, for if some poorer sort spend but 5. s. and less they cannot spend in a family, others spend 15.20.30. yea 40. s. a week: But as above at 8. s. a week one with another, it is 8000. l. a week, at 1. s. per l. and for the year 0: 416000 The Annual Revenue of the Crown they say is eleven hundred thousand pounds a year, but I place here but 1:—  4: 378100.  
Which for the four years is seventeen millions, five hundred and twelve thousand four hundred pounds. 17. mil. 512400. l.  
I doubt not but it will be expected this yearly large Income in this City only should have as large, or (indeed as the Public Faith stands indebted) fare larger issues, else it cannot be engaged without unsufferable fraud from the Kingdom's oppression. But since all their Orders, and Speeches to this City, have expressed no other issues but the Armies pay, consider, that if this City alone hath for these four years maintained ten thousand Foot, pay every soldier 8. d. a day for the whole year, so he should have no free Quarter nor Plunder since he is paid, or should be for the whole year, excepting Sundays, and that amounts to but 104333. l. 15. s. But I here add the Sundays, and cast it for 365 days to the year, allotting the 17333. l. 15. s. to pay all their Officers as duly, yet all together is but 121666. l. Grant they likewise maintain 2000 Horse, pay these for 313 days 2. s. 6. d. a day, it amounts to but 78250. l. But for the payment of their Officers, add the 52 days, which is 13000. l. and both these sums for the whole year is but 91250. l. Grant twenty of His majesties Ships, great and small, be employed yearly, allotting to every Ship 100 men, which is for the whole 2000 men, though few or none are so well manned, pay these 2000 fifteen shil. a month for the whole year, their wages amounts to but 18000. l. but to pay Officers in them, add 2000 l. more, and all makes but 20000: l. Victual these 20 Ships with 2000 allotting every man 8. d. a day for the whole year, it amounts to little more than 24433. l: Grant you have 30. merchants Ships great and small in the service, hire them one with another manned, victualled, and furnished for the War at 200. pounds a month, (and so you may do) say they are in your service nine months in the year, it is but 54000. l.  311349:—  
These charges I am certain are the main ones, and with the largest that this City ever was put to, and were it well examined, I conceive a third part of every charge here was not employed from hence alone, for all Counties had their share in pay of the Army, how it is possible for such large incomes to be so much indebted, since the issues are not answerable, as you shall see by that should remain for balance is to me a riddle, since the years rest that this Credit▪ hath, stands indebted to the Debit. 4: 066751  4: 378100  
Grave Booker shows th' Aspects, and Lily helps  
To lick those Meteors (as Bears their whelps)  
Into his fancy's shape: But could these two  
Can count the Stars (which few but they can do)  
Make a just balance to this large Account,  
The Danish Tycho Brahe they'll surmount.  
FINIS.