Don Jordan - The King’s City: A History of London During The Restoration: The City that Transformed a Nation

It is a wonderful gift to be allowed to write about people, to say what one thinks of them - the good, the bad, the great, the misguided and the entertaining. This task is made not easier but less hazardous when those under scrutiny are dead, as with the dramatis personae of this book. But this section is the place to write about the living - about those without whom this book would not have been born.

The gift of being asked to write this book was bestowed by Tim Whiting, my publisher at Little, Brown. For this, and for his unflappable support and faith, much gratitude. My thanks are due to all at Little, Brown who have helped to see this book through to completion. Commissioning Editor Claudia Connals kindness and support was always unwavering. When she left for new challenges elsewhere, Dominic Wakeford picked up the project at a late stage. In view of this, his clarity of direction was all the more remarkable. Doms wise counsel ensured a rough first draft moved through to a final manuscript. Thanks also go to Senior Project Editor Nithya Rae, whose clear-headedness has been a blessing, especially as she also had to take on the project at a late point when her stalwart predecessor Iain Hunt left for new pastures. I must also thank the meticulous Steve Gove for his copyediting; Picture Research Manager Linda Silverman who, as always, provided marvellous pictures; and Bekki Guyatt, who designed the arresting cover. And I must thank Ted Vallance, Professor of Early Modern British Political Culture at Roehampton University, for his penetrating comments on the manuscript and for helping to steer me away from some seventeenth-century political quicksand I might otherwise have headed into.

Finally, I must say a few words about my friend and long-standing collaborator, Michael Walsh. Shortly after this book was commissioned, Mike had to bow out of what was set to be yet another enjoyable partnership when he was hit by a chronic illness. This was to have been our fifth book together. We first met more than thirty years ago when working on ITVs investigative current affairs series World in Action. After we separately left the series, we continued to make television programmes together. From writing documentary scripts it was a natural, if daunting, progression to writing books. With his encyclopaedic knowledge of English history and a nose for a good story, Mike was always a pleasure to work with. While writing The Kings City I have missed our regular editorial meetings in the office - in reality, a pub halfway between our homes in West London, But Mike still enjoys a pint and it is still my pleasure to join him.

Also by Don Jordan (with Michael Walsh)

Van Hoogstraten: Blood and Retribution

White Cargo: The Forgotten History of Britains White Slaves in America

The Kings Bed

The Kings Revenge

Thomas Muns instructions to his son John on how to be a good merchant, written in 1628, published as Englands Treasure, in 1664:

My Son, In a former Discourse I have endeavoured after my manner briefly to teach thee two things: The first is Piety, how to fear God aright, according to his Works and Word: The second is Policy, how to love and serve thy Country, by instructing thee in the duties and proceedings of sundry Vocations, which either order, or else act the affairs of the Common-wealth; In which as some things doe especially lend to Preserve, and others are more apt to Enlarge the same: So am I now to speak of Money, which doth indifferently [unconsciously] serve to both those happy ends. Wherein I will observe this order, First, to show the general means whereby a Kingdome may be enriched; and then to proceed to those particular courses by which Princes are accustomed to be supplyed with Treasure. But first of all I will say something of the Merchant, because he must be a Principal Agent in this great business.

The Qualities which are required in a perfect Merchant of Forraign Trade.

The love and service of our Country consisteth not so much in the knowledge of those duties which are to be performed by others, as in the skilful practice of that which is done our selves; and therefore (my Son) it is now fit that I say something of the Merchant, which I hope in due time shall be thy Vocation; Yet herein are my thoughts free from all Ambition, although I rank thee in a place of so high esteem; for the Merchant is worthily called The Stewart of the Kingdoms Stock, by way of Commerce with other Nations; a work of no less Reputation than Trust, which ought to be performed with great skill and conscience, that so the private gain may ever accompany the publique good. And because the nobleness of this profession may the better stir up thy desires and endeavours to obtain those abilities which may effect it worthily, I will briefly set down the excellent qualities which are required in a perfect Merchant.

1. He ought to be a good Penman, a good Arithmetician, and a good Accountant, by that noble order of Debtor and Creditor, which is used only amongst Merchants; also to be expert in the order and form of Charter-parties, Bills of Lading, Invoices, Contracts, Bills of Exchange, and policies of Insurance.

2. He ought to know the Measures, Weights, and Monies of all foreign Countries, especially where we have Trade, & the Monies not only by their several denominations, but also by their intrinsic values in weight & fineness, compared with the Standard of this Kingdome, without which he cannot well direct his affairs.

3. He ought to know the Customs, Tolls, Taxes, Impositions, Conducts and other charges upon all matters of Merchandise exported or imported to and from the said Foreign Countries.

4. He ought to know in what several commodities each Country abounds, and what be the wares which they want [lack], and how and from whence they are furnished with the same.

5. He ought to understand, and to be a diligent observer of the rates of Exchanges by Bills, from one State to another, whereby he may the better direct his affairs, and remit over and receive home his Monies to the most advantage possible.

6. He ought to know what goods are prohibited to be exported or imported in the said foreign Countries, lest otherwise he should incur great danger and loss in the ordering of his affairs.

7. He ought to know upon what rates and conditions to freight his Ships, and ensure his adventures from one Countrey to another, and to be well acquainted with the laws, orders and customs of the Insurance office both here and beyond the Seas, in the many accidents which may happen upon the damage or loss of Ships or goods, or both these.

8. He ought to have knowledge in the goodness and in the prices of all the several materials which are required for the building and repairing of Ships, and the diverse workmanships of the same, as also for the Masts, Tackling, Cordage, Ordnance, Victuals, Munition and Provisions of many kinds; together with the ordinary wages of Commanders, Officers and Mariners, all which concern the Merchant as he is an Owner of Ships.

9. He ought (by the diverse occasions which happen sometime in the buying and selling of one commodity and sometimes in another) to have indifferent if not perfect knowledge in all manner of Merchandise or wares, which is to be as it were a man of all occupations and trades.

10. He ought by his voyaging on the Seas to become skilful in the Art of Navigation.

11. He ought as he is a Traveler, and sometimes abiding in foreign Countreys to attain to the speaking of diverse Languages, and to be a diligent observer of the ordinary Revenues and expences of foreign Princes, together with their strength both by Sea and Land, their laws, customes, policies, manners, religions, arts, and the like; to be able to give account thereof in all occasions for the good of his Countrey.