London in the Time of the Great Rebellion. By Charles
M. Clode. (Harrison and Sons.)—Mr. Clode, who is a Past-Master of the Merchant Taylors' Company, has put together in this volume some interesting facts about a distinguished predecessor in that office. Sir Abraham Reynardson was chosen Master in July, 1640. Eight years afterwards he became Lord Mayor of London. In January, 1643-9, the promoters of the King's trial sought to en- list the City authorities on their side, Reynardson resolutely refused. When the Act for abolishing the King's office was passed in March of this year, a copy was sent to him to proclaim according to custom. It was left at his house in Bishopsgate Street, being given to his wife. "That lady, not suffering him that brought the order to drink in her house, bade him return to his master for his wages." On April 2nd, 1649, he was called to answer at the bar of the House, was fined £2,000, committed to the Tower for two months, and degraded from the office of Lord Mayor. In 1660, he was elected to the Mayoralty, but was discharged, at his own request, on the ground of ill- health. He died. on October 4th in the following year. He was buried "under the pew where he was last seated," in St Martin 0 utvsich Church. St. Martin's has now disappeared, and the good knight's bones repose at Ilford. Mr, Clode gives us an interesting account of the negotiations for loans carried on both by the King and the Pa liament with the City and the Companies: Of these latter, the Merchant Taylors' was, at the time, the richest. It is noteworthy that when Reynardson came into office as Master in 1640, he received from his predecessor £2,400 in cash (but liable to trust claims) and £4,000 in bonds at ..t8 per cent. The Com- pany had lands, and a large quantity of valuable plate. Reynard- son lent considerable sums out of his own private resources to the Company. Between the years 1641-1660, these amounted to .49,000, of which £6,500 was repaid. Some of this money was to help in the loans which the King got from the Companies, loans which, as Mr. Clode remarks, with all the emphasis of italics, are still due.
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