Of course "Houndsditch" is here meant; but for what purpose were the
hounds kept? And, indeed, what kind of hounds were they, that thus
formed a part of the City establishment? Were they bloodhounds for
tracking criminals, or hounds kept for the special behoof and pleasure
of the "Lord Mair, Aldermen, and Comen Coûsel?" The Houndsditch of that
time bore a strong resemblance to the Fleet ditch of times scarcely
exceeding the memory of many living men.

I come now to the passages relating to the clergy.

"Also, where as the curatis of the cyte have used often tyme
herebefore to selle their offring (at mariag), whereby the
pisshês where such sales be made comenly be lettid fro messe or
matyns, and otherwhiles from both, by so moch as the frendis of
the pties maryed vsen to goo abowte vij. or viij. dayes before,
and desiryg men to offryg at such tymes as more conuenyent it
were to be at diunyne seruice. Plese it my Lord Mair, Aldirmê,
and Comê Coûseile, to puide remedy, so that the sayd custume be
fordone and leid aparte."--p. 86.

"Also, to thentent that the ordre of priesthood be had in dew
reuerence according to the dignite therof, and that none
occasions of incontinence growe bee the famylyarite of seculer
people. Plese it my Lord Mayre, Aldirmen, and Comon Counsyll, to
enacte that no maner persone beyng free of this citee take,
receyue, and kepe from hensforth ony priest in comons, or to
borde by the weke, moneth, or yere, or ony other terme more or
lesse, vpon peine thervpon to be lymytyd, prouided that this
acte extêde not to ony prieste retayned wyth a citezen in
famyliar housolde."--p. 89.