The central concern of this book is the relations between the crown and the City of London. In the early seventeenth century, as today, the latter term has two distinct connotations which are not always clearly distinguished by historians; it is used to describe both the municipal government of the metropolitan square mile between Temple Bar and Aldgate and the big-business activities which are so thickly concentrated within that area. Accordingly it will be necessary to distinguish carefully between the impact of royal policies on, and the relations of the crown with, each of these elements. The present chapter deals with the ruling class of the City in both these senses, and the chapter following it with the City livery companies, membership of which was a necessary passport not only to the exercise of a trade or craft within the City, but also for those who wished to attain municipal distinction via entry into this ruling class.

The freedom of the City of London could be obtained in any one of three ways – by apprenticeship, patrimony and redemption (purchase). After attaining the freedom many years might elapse before the aspirant to high municipal office entered the ranks of the lesser city notables, if indeed he got even as far as this.