“The last document of this nature recorded in ‘_Arnold’s Chronicle_,’ is for the year 1484, and it contains the following particulars.--‘Ther Acompte, Anno ij. Ric. Tercij. The Charge. First, the arreragis of ther last acompte, C. lxxxix. _li._ xi. _s._ xi. _d._ _ob._ _qu._ Item, all maner ressaitis, vii. C. xliiij. _li._ x. _s._ v. _d._ _qu._ Somma of the Charge, ix. C. xxxiiij. _li._ ij. _s._ iiij. _d._ Discharge. Fyrst, allowaunce of paymentis the same yere, vi. C. xxiij. _li._ iiij. _s._ x. _d._ Soo there remayneth the somme CCC. x. _li._ xvij. _s._ v. _d._ _ob._ Wherof is dieu by Edward Stone and other of their arrerage in their tyme, liij. _li._ vi. _s._ vi. _d._ _ob._ And soo remayneth clerly dieu by William Gale and Herry Bounsted CC. lvij. _li._ x. _s._ xi. _d._’ I must not omit to notice, before quitting these particulars of the ancient expenses of London Bridge, that they are to be found also printed in Maitland’s ‘_History_,’ volume i., pages 48, 49. “We have frequently, in the course of these fragmenta, mentioned various officers set over the affairs of London Bridge, and some of the instruments which I have quoted, have shewn that several of them were anciently appointed by the King’s Writ or Patent. The principal of these Officers are two Bridge-Masters, having certain fees and profits, yearly elected, or continued, by the Livery at the Common Hall, held upon Midsummer day, after the Sheriffs and Chamberlain. Strype, the continuator of Stow’s ‘_Survey_,’ whose signature is J. S., states, in volume ii., page 25, that the Bridge-Master is some freeman elected by the City and set over the Bridge-House, ‘to look after the reparations of the Bridge;’ he adds, too, that ‘he hath a liberal salary allowed him; and that the place hath sometimes been a good relief for some honest citizens fallen to decay.’ We are also farther told by the same author, on page 472 of the same work and volume, that at a Court of Common Council, held on Friday, April 15th, 1491, in the 6th year of King Henry VII., it was enacted that at the election of Bridge-Master, the Lord Mayor and Aldermen should annually present four men to the Commonalty, from whom they were to elect two to be Bridge-Masters. This act appears to have been in force until Thursday, April the 15th, 1643, when it was repealed, and the whole election has since remained in the Livery. Of the names and ancient fees of these Bridge-Masters I have already given you some specimens, and shall cite you several others in the future years of our history.