The following mention is made of the Custom-House in a large volume now before us, consisting of upwards of 1200 pages, and entitled, _The Historie of the Life and Reigne of that famous Princesse Elizabeth_; printed at Oxford, 1634: "About this time [1590] the commodity of the Custom-House amounted to an unexpected value; for the queen being made acquainted by the means of a subtle fellow, named Caermardine, with the mystery of their gains, so enhanced the rate, that Sir Thomas Smith, master of the Custom-House, who heretofore farmed it of the queen for 14,000_l._ yearly, was now 'mounted' [raised] to 42,000_l._, and afterwards to 50,000_l._, which, notwithstanding, was valued but as an ordinary sum for such oppressing [extortionate?] gaine. The Lord Treasurer [Cecil?], the Earls of Leicester and Walsingham, much opposed themselves against this Caermardine, denying him entrance into the Privy Chamber, insomuch that, expostulating with the queen, they traduced her [for] harkening to such a fellow's information, to the disparagement of the judgment of her council, and the discredit of their case." [A little "palm-oil," we guess, did this, in the shape of a free distribution of rose-nobles on the part of Sir Thomas Smith. Bribery, bribery! But look at the reply of that real John Bull-like old queen.] "But the queen answered them, that all princes ought to be, if not as favourable, yet as just, to the lowest as to the highest, desiring that they who falsely accuse her Privy Council of sloth or indiscretion should be severely punished; but [that?] they who _justly accused them_ should be heard." [Glorious Queen Bess!] "That she was queen as well to the poorest as to the proudest, and that therefore she would never be deaf to their just complaints. Likewise [further?], that she would not suffer that these _toll-takers_, like _horse-leeches_, should glut themselves with the riches of the realm, and starve her exchequer; which, as she will not bear it to be 'docked'(?), so hateth she to enrich it with the poverty of the people." (Page 31, second part, or volume, translated out of the French by Abraham Darcie. Initials of the original author, P. D. B., who knew Cecil intimately, had access to the original letters, and was present at the trial of Mary Queen of Scots.) The first book or volume is dedicated to King James I. I have been thus particular in describing this old volume, as it contains matter relating to London in the time of Elizabeth which I have not found in any other history. The "Long Room" of the Custom-House is worthy of its name, as it measures 190 feet, with a breadth of 66 feet, and there is not a pleasanter place for viewing the traffic on the Thames below London Bridge than the parade of the Custom-House quay. The present building has been erected but little more than thirty years. The revenue now derived from customs is near twenty millions a year. [Illustration: ST. DUNSTAN'S-IN-THE-EAST]