three hundred foot of the feet of St. Paul in breadth eighty nine foot and in heighth from the ground to the roof sixty four foot and two inches c. It was consecrated 1325 and at the Generall suppression was valued at thirty two pound nineteen shillings and surrendred the twelfth of November 1538 the thirty of Henry the eighth the Ornaments and goods being taken to the Kings use the Church was shut up for a time and used as a Store-house of goods taken prizes from the French but in the year 1546 on the third of January it was again set open on the which day preached at Pauls Crosse the Bishop of Rochester where he declared the Kings gift thereof to the City for the relieving of the poor which gift was inroll'd by Patents St. Bartholmews Spittle in Smithfield lately valued at three hundred five pounds six shillings seven pence and surrendred to the King was of the said Church of the Gray Fryars and of two Parish Churches the one of St. Nicholas in the Shambles and the other of St. Ewins in Newgate-Market they were to be made one Parish Church in the said Fryers Church In Lands he gave for maintenance of the said Church with Divine Service reparations c. five hundred Marks by year for ever The thirteenth of January the thirty eighth of Henry the eighth an agreement was made betwixt the King and the Mayor and Communalty of London dated the twenty seven of December by which the said gift of the Gray Fryers Church with all the Edifices and ground the Fratrie the Library the Portar and Chapter House the great Cloistry and the lesser Tenements Gardens and vacant grounds Lead Stone Iron c. The Hospitall of St. Bartholmew in West Smithfield the Church of the same the Lead Bells and Ornaments of the same Hospitall with all the Messuages Tenements and appurtenances The Parishes of Saint Nicholas and of Saint Ewin and so much of Saint Sepulchres Parish as is within Newgate were made one Parish Church in the Grey Fryers Church and called Christs Church founded by King Henry the eighth In the year 1552 began the repairing of the Gray Fryars House for the poor fatherlesse Children and in the Month of November the children were taken into the same to the number of almost four hundred On Christmas day in the afternoon while the Lord Mayor and Aldermen rod to Pauls the Children of Christs Hospital stood from Saint Lawrence Lane end in Cheap towards Pauls all in one Livery of Russet Cotton three hundred and forty in Number and in the Easter next they were in Blue at the Spittle and so have continued ever since For these sorts of poor three several Houses were provided First for the innocent and fatherlesse which is the Beggars Child they provided the House that was the late Gray Fryers in London and called it by the name of Christs Hospitall where poor Children are trained up in the Knowledge of God and some vertuous exercises to the overthrow of beggary For the second degree was provided the Hospitals of Saint Thomas in Southwark and Saint Bartholmew in West Smithfield where are continually at least two hundred diseased persons which are not only there lodged and cured but also fed and nourished For the third degree they provided Bridewell where the Vagabond and idle Strumpet is chastised and compelled to labour to the overthrow of the vicious life of idlenesse They provided also for the honest decayed housholder that he should be relieved at home at his House and in the Parish where he dwelled by weekly relief and Pension And in like manner they provided for the Lazer to keep him out of the City from clapping of dishes and ringing of Bells to the great trouble of the Citizens also to the dangerous infection of many that they should be relieved at home at their Houses by several Pensions St. Bartholmewes Hospital is incorporated by the name of Mayor Communalty and Citizens of the City of London Governours of the Hospital for the poor called little St. Bartholmews near to West Smithfield of the Foundation of King Henry the eighth Christs Hospitall Bridewell and Saint Thomas the Apostle in Southwarke are incorporated by the names of the Mayor Communalty and Citizens of London Governours of the Possessions Revenues aâ—d Goods of the Hospitals of Edward King of England the sixth of Christ Bridewell and Saint Thomas the Apostle c. This Church was full of many great Monuments as of the Lady Margaret Daughter to Philip of France and Wife to Edward the first Of Queen Isabel Wife to Edward the second Of Joane Queen of the Scots Wife to David Bruce Of Isabel Daughter to Edward the third Of Eleanor Dutchesse of Britain Of the Lady Beatrix Dutchesse of Britain Daughter to Henry the third Of Roger Mortimer Earl of March Of John Hastings Earl of Pembrook Of John Duke of Bourton who had been taken Prisoner at Agencourt with divers other great Personages There is lately erected there in the South end of the Chancel and extraordinary hansome Monument to the Lady Venetia Stanley Wife to the noble Knight Sir Kenelme Digby Now for the South side of this Ward beginning again at the Crosse in Cheap from thence to Fryday-street and down that street on the West side till over against the North-west corner of Saint Matthewes Church And on the West side to the South corner of the said Church is wholly in the Ward of Faringdon From this Fryday-street West to the old Exchange a street so called of Kings Exchange there kept which was for the receipt of Bullion to be coyned For Henry the third in the sixth year of his Reign wrote to the Scahines and men of Ipreâ— that he and his Councel had given prohibition that no Englishmen or other should make change of Plate or other Masse of Silver but only in his Exchange at London or at Canterbury Andrew Bukerel then had to â—arm the Exchange of England was Maior of London in the Reign of Henry the third Iohn Somercote had the keeping of the Kings Exchange overall England In the eighth of Edward the first Gregory Rockâ—ley was Keeper of the said Exchange for the Kingâ— in the fiâ—th of Edward the second William Hausted was Keeper thereof And in the eighteenth Roger de Frowick c. These received the old stamps or Coyning-Irons from time to time as the same were worn and delivered new to all the Mints in England This street beginneth by VVest-Cheap in the North and runneth down South to Knight-rider-street that part thereof which is called Old Fish-street But the very Housing and Office of the Exchange and Coynage was about the midst thereof South from the East Gate that entreth Pauls Church-yard and on the West side in Baynards-Castle Ward On the East side of this Lane betwixt West-Cheap and the Church of St. Augustine Henry VValleis Mayor by Licence of Edward the first builded one row of Houses
a publick Lecture in Surgery to be read twice every week c. as is shewed else-where Towards the South is called the Lollards Tower and hath been used as the Bishops prison for such as were detected for opinions in Religion contrary to the Faith of the Church Adjoyning to this Lowlards Tower is the Parish Church of St. Gregory appointed to the Petty Chanons of Pauls Of the Twentie fifth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Farringdon Ward without or Extra THe farthest West-ward of this City being the twenty fifth Ward of London but without the Walls is called Farringdon without and was of old time part of the other Faringdon within until the seventeenth of Richard the second that it was devided and made twain by the names of Faringdon Intra and Faringdon Extra as is afore shewed Touching Ornaments and Antiquities in this Ward First betwixt the said Newgate and the Parish of St. Sepulchres is a way towards Smithfield called Gilt-Spur or Knight-Riders street of the Knights and other riding that way into Smithfield replenished with buildings on both sides up to Pye-corner a place so called of such a Sign sometimes a fair Inne for receipt of Travellers but now divided into Tenements and over against the said Pye-corner lyeth Cock-lane which runneth down to Oldburn Conduit Beyond this Pye-corner lyeth VVest Smithfield compassed about with buildings at first on the South side following the right hand standeth the large Hospital of St. Bartholmews founded by Rahere the first Prior of Saint Bartholmewes thereto near adjoyning in the year 1102. Alfune that had not long before builded the Parish Church of Saint Giles without Creplegate became first Hospitelar or Proctor for the poor of this House and went himself daily to the Shambles and other Markets where he Begged the Charity of devout people for their relief promising to the liberall givers and that by alledging Testimonies of the holy Scripture reward at the hands of God Henry the third granted to Katherine late Wife to VVilliam Hardell twenty foot of Land in length and breadth in Smithfield next to the Chappel of St. Bartholomew to build a Recluse or Ankorage commanding the Mayor and Sheriffs of London to assign the said twenty foot to the said Katherine the eleventh of Henry the third the foundation of this Hospital for the poor and diseased and their special sustentation was confirmed by Edward the third the twenty sixth of his Reign It was governed by a Master and eight Brethren being Priests for the Church and four Sisters to see the poor served This Hospitall was valued at the suppression in the year 1539 the thirty one of Henry the eighth to five and thirty pounds six shillings seven pence yearly The Church remaineth a Parish Church to the Tenents dwelling in the Precinct of the Hospital But in the year 1546 on the thirteenth of Ianuary the Bishop of Rochester preaching at Pauls Crosse declared the gift of the said King to the Citizens for relieving of the poor which contained the Church of the Grey Fryers the Church of Saint Bartholomew with the Hospital the Messuages and appurrenances in Gilt-Spur aliàs Knight-Riders street Briton street Peter Key in the Parish of Saint Mary Magdalen in old Fish-street and in the Parish of Saint Bennet Huda Linie-hurst or Limehost in the Parish of Stebunheth c. Then also were Orders devised for relief of the poor the Inhabitants were all called to their Parish Churches where by Sir Richard Dobbs then Mayor their several Aldermen or other grave Citizens they were by eloquent Orations perswaded how great and how many Commodities would ensue unto them and their City if the poor of divers sorts which they named were taken from out their streets Lanes and Alleys and were bestowed and provided for in Hospitals abroad c. Therefore was every man moved liberally to grant what they would impart towards the preparing and furnishing of such Hospitals and also what they would contribute weekly towards their maintenance for a time which they said should not be past one year or twain until they were better furnished of endowment To make short every man granted liberally according to his ability Books were drawn of the Relief in every Ward of the City towards the new Hospitals and were delivered by the Major to the Kings Commissioners on the seventeenth of February and order was taken therein at the six and twenty of Iuly In the year 1552 the repairing of the Gray Fryers House for poor Fatherless Children was taken in hand and also in the latter end of the same Moneth began the repairing of this Hospitall of St. Bartholmew and was of new endowed and furnished at the charges of the Citizens On the East side of this Hospital lyeth Duck-lane which runneth out of Smithfield South to the North end of Little Britain street On the East side of this Duck-lane and also of Smithfield lyeth the late dissolved Priory of St. Bartholmew founded also by Rahere a pleasant witted Gentleman and therefore in his time called the Kings Minstrel about the year of Christ 1102. He founded it in a part of the before named Moorish ground which was therefore a common Lay-stall of all filth that was to be voided out of the City He placed Canons there himself became their first Prior and so continued till his dying day and was there buried in a fair Monument renewed afterwards by Prior Bolton To this Priory King Henry the second granted the priviledge of a Faire to be kept yearly at Bartholomew-tyde for three dayes to wit the Eve the Day and the next Morrow to the which the Clothiers of England and Drapers of London repaired and had their Boothes and standings within the Church-yard of this Prioty closed in with Walls and Gates locked every night and watched for safety of Mens Goods and Wares a Court of Pipepowders was daily during the Faire holden for debts and Contracts On the North side of this Priory is the lane truly called Long which reacheth from Smithfield to Aldersgate-street This Lane is now lately builded on both the sides with Tenements for Brokers Tiplers and such like the rest of Smithfield from Long lane end to the Barres is inclosed with Inns Brew-houses and large Tenements On the West side is Chicken-lane down to Cow-bridge then be the Pens or Folds so called of Sheep there parted and penned up to be sold on the Market dayes Then is Smithfield Pond which of old time in Records was called Horse-Poole for that men watered Horses there and was a great water In the sixth of Henry the fifth a new Building was made in the West part of Smithfield betwixt the said Pool and the River of the Wells or Turnmill-brook in a place then called the Elmes for that there grew many Elm-Trees and this had bin the place of Execution for offenders since the which time the building there hath bin so increased that now remaineth not one Tree growing Amongst
was made one of the six and twenty Wards belonging to the City of London which was in this manner After the dissolution of the Monasteries Abbeys Priories and other Religious Houses in this Realm of England The Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of this City of London taking into their Considerations how commodious and convenient it would be unto the City to have the Burough of Southwark annexed thereunto and that the same Burough was in the Kings hands wholly they became humble suiters unto King Henry the eighth and unto the Lords of his Highness Privy Councel for the obtaining of the same Which suit not being granted unto them after the Decease of King Henry the eighth they renewed their Suit unto his Sonne and next Successour King Edward the sixth and to the Lords of his Privie Councel for the obtaining of the same Borough At the length after long suit and much labour it pleased King Edward the fixth by his Letters Parents sealed with the great Seal of England bearing date at VVestminster the three and twentieth day of April in the fourth year of his Reign as well in consideration of the sum of six hundred forty seven pounds two shillings and a penny of lawful money of England paid to his Highnesses use by the Mayor Communalty and Citizens of London as for divers other considerations him thereunto moving To give and grant unto the said Mayor and Communalty and Citizens of London divers Messuages Lands and Tenements lying near the Borough of Southwark in the said Letters Parents particularly expressed which were sometimes the Lands of Charles late Duke of Suffolk and of whom King Henry the eighth did buy and purchase the same But there was excepted out of the said grant and reserved unto the said King Edward the sixth his Heirs and Successors and all that his Capitall Messuage or Mansion Hoâ—se called Southwark place late of the said Duke of Suffolke and all Gardens and Land to the same adjoyning and all that his Park in Southwarke and all that his Messuage and all Edifices and ground called the Antelope there And the said King Edward the 6th did by his said Letters Patents give grant to the said Mayor Communalty and Citizens and their Successors all that his Lordship and Mannor of Southwarke with all and singular the Rights Members and Appurtenances thereof in the said County of Surrey then late belonging to the late Monastery of Bermondsey in the same County And also all that his Mannor and Borough of Southwarke with all and singular the Rights Members and Appurtenances thereof in the said County of Surrey then late parcel of the Possessions of the Arch-Bishop and Bishoprick of Canterbury together with divers yearly Rents issuing out of the divers Messuages or Tenements in the said Letters Patents particularly expressed But there was excepted and reserved out of the said Grant to the said King Edward the sixth his Heirs and Successors all his Rights Jurisdictions Liberties and Franchises whatsoever within the Walk Circuit and Precinct of his Capital Messuage Gardens and Park in Southwarke and in all Gardens Curtilages and Lands to the said Mansion House Gardens and Park belonging Also there was excepted and reserved out of the said Grant the House Messuage or lodging there called the Kings-Bench and the Gardens to the same belonging so long as it should be used as a Prison for prisoners as it was then used Also there was excepted and reserved out of the said Grant the House Messuage or Lodging there called the Marshalsey and the Gardens to the same belonging so long as it should be used as a Prison for prisoners as it was then used Also it was provided that the said Letters Patents should not be prejudicial to the Offices of the great Master or Steward of the Kings Houshold within the Borough and Precincts aforesaid to be executed while the same Borough and Precincts should be within the Verge Nor to Iohn Gates Knight one of the Gentlemen of the Kings Privy Chamber concerning any Lands Tenements Offices Profits Franchises or Liberties to him granted during his life by the said King Edward the sixth or by his Father King Henry the eighth About the space of a Month after the said Borough of Southwark was so granted by King Edward the sixth to the Mayor Communalty and Citizens of London and that they by force of the said Letters Patents stood charged with the Ordering Survey and Government of the same Borough and of all the Kings Subjects inhabiting therein and repairing thither At a Court holden before Sir Rowland Hill Knight then Lord Mayor of London and the Aldermen of the same City in the Guild-Hall of London on Tuesday the eight and twentieth of May in the said fourth year of the Reign of King Edward the sixth the said Town or Borough was named and called the Ward or Bridge VVard without Not long after it was enacted that besides the then ancient accustomed number of five and twenty Aldermen there should be one Alderman more elected to have the Rule Charge and Governance of the said Borough and Town And that four discreet persons or more being Freemen of London and dwelling within the said City or the Borough of Southwarke or in other the Liberties of the said City should from thenceforth as often as the Case shall require be from time to time nominated appointed and chosen by the Inhabitants of the said Borough for the time being before the Lord Mayor of London for the time being And that the said Lord Mayor for the time being should at the next Court of Aldermen to be holden at the Guild-Hall of the said City next after such election present the Names and Sirnames of all such persons as to should be named before him and put in the said Election And that the said Lord Mayor and Aldermen for the time being should of those four persons or mo so presented Elect and Chuse one by way of Scrutinie to be an Alderman of the said City and to have the peculiar Ordering Rule and Governance of the said Borough and Town of Southwarke and of the Inhabitants thereof and of all other the Kings liege people repairing to the same This Borough being in the County of Surrey consisteth of divers streets waies and winding Lanes all full of Buildings inhabited And first to begin at the West part thereof over against the West Suburbe of the City on the Bank of the River Thames there is now a continual building of Tenements about half a mile in length to the Bridge Then South a continual street called Long Southwark builded on both sides with divers Lanes and Alleys up to St. Georges Church and beyond it through Blackman street towards New Town or Newington the Liberties of which Borough extend almost to the Parish Church of New Town aforesaid distant one mile from London Bridge and also South-west a continual building almost to Lambeth more than one mile from the said Bridge Then from
Paulinus but that after he had leavied a power of the Citizens to ayd him he would needes dislodge and remove from thence leaving the City naked to the Enemy who forthwith surprized and slew some few whom either weakness of Sex feeblenesse of age or sweetness of the place had detained there Neither had she sustained lesse losse and misery at the hands of the Gaules if she had not suddenly and beyond all expectation by Gods providence bin relieved For when C. Alectus had by a deceitful stratagem made away Caraâ—sius who taking advantage of our rough Seas and of Dioclesians dangerous Warres in the East and withall presuming of the Gauls now French and most venturous Marriners and Servitors at Sea withheld to himself the Revenues of Britain and Holland and born for the space of six years the Title of Emperour Augustus as his Coines here very oft do shew When M. Aurelius Asclepiedotus had in a Battail slain Alectus in the third year now of his Usurpation of the Imperial Purple and State those French who remained alive after the Battle hastening to London would have sack'd the City had not the Thames who never faiâ—'d to help the Londoners very opportunely brought in the Roman Legions who by reason of a Fog at Sea were severed from the Navy For they put the Barbarians to the Sword all the City over and thereby gave the Citizens not only safety by the slaughter of their Enemies but pleasure in beholding such a sight And then it was as our Chronicles record that Lucius Gallus was slain by a Brook side which ran almost through the middle of the City and of him was called by the British Nantgall in English Wallbrook which name remains yet in a Street under which there is a â—ewer within the ground to rid away the filth and ordures of the City Not far from London-stone which I take to be a Mile-mark or Milliary such as was in the Market places at Roms from which were taken dimensions of all journies every way considering it is neer the midst of the City as it lyeth in length Neither is it probable she was yet wall'd about But a little after our Stories report that Constantine the Great at the instance of his Mother Helena did first fence her about with a Wall made of rough stone and British Bricks which took up in compasse above three miles so that it inclosed the Model of the City almost four-square but not equal on every side considering that from East to VVest she is far longer then from South to North. That part of this Wall which stood on the Thames side is by the continual flowing and washings of the River fallen down and decayed yet there appear'd certain remains thereof in Henry the seconds time as Fitzstephen who then liv'd doth testifie The rest now standing is stronger towards the North which not many years since was reedified by the meanes of Ioceline Lord Mayor of London But towards East and VVest although the Barons in old time during their Warres repaired and renewed it with the ruynes of the Iewes houses then demolished yet it grew quickly all thorow out of decay For Londoners like to those old Lacedemonians laughed at strong walled Towns as Cot-houses for Women thinking their own Cities sufficiently fenc'd when they are fortified with bones and not with stones This Wall giveth entrance at seven principal double Gates for I willingly omit the smaller which as they have bin lately repaired so they have also new names given them On the West side there be two to wit Ludgate of King Lud a Britain or Flud-gate as Leland is of opinion of a little flud running beneath it like as the Gate Fluentana in Rome built again from the foundation This Gate was made a free Prison Anno 1378 Bremer being Major which was confirm'd 1382. by a Common Councel in the Guild-Hall where 't was ordained that all Freemen of London should for debts trespasses accounts and contempts be imprisoned in Ludgate where at first for lodging and water they did not pay any thing We go next to Newgate the fairest of all the Gates so call'd from the newness thereof whereas before it was call'd Chamberlane Gate which now is the publick Gaol or Prison for Criminalls and also for civil actions for the County of Middlesex And it hath bin so many Ages as appears by Records in King Iohns time as also in King Henry the third who as an old Authour testifieth sent a Command to the Sheriffs of London to repair the Gaol of Newgate On the North side are four Gates viz. Aldersgate or Oldersgate from the antiquity thereof or as others would have it from Aldrich a Saxon the second is Cripplegate of a Spitle of Cripples sometimes adjoyning thereunto The third is Mooregate call'd so of a Moory ground hard by which is now draind up and made fair and firm and turn'd into a field delightful walks Which Gate was first built by Falâ—oner Lord Mayor in the year of our Lord 1414. Then Bishopsgate of a Bishop the Benefactor which Gate the Dutch Marchants or Hans of the Styliard were bound by Covenant both to repair and defend at all times of danger and extremity On the East side there is Aldgate so named from the oldnesse or Elbegate as others terme it which hath bin oft re-edified It is thought that two Gates more stood besides the Bridge gate by the Thames side namely Belmsgate now a Wharfe or a Key for the Scots Trade and Donregate or the Watergate commonly call'd Dowgate There be some Posterns besides that may go for Gates as that of Christs Hospital which was made in the Reign of Edward the sixth Another was made out of the wall lately into Moorfields But the Postern by the Tower shews that it hath bin very ancient and an arch'd Gate of much trust for in times past there was alwaies a person of quality who was Custos of that Posterne Towards the Rivers side there are also many water gates for the better security of the City Where the wall endeth towards the River there were two strong Forts or Bastions of which the one Eastward remaineth yet usually called the Tower of London called in the old British Bringwin or Tourgwin which in English is the White Tower a most famous and goodly Cittadel encompassed about with thick and strong Walls full of lofty and stately Turrets fenc'd about with a broad and a deep ditch furnish'd also with an Armory or Magazine of Warlick munition with other buildings besides so that it resembleth a Town of it self and one may well suppose that those two Castles which Fitz-stephens recordeth to have bin on the East side of this City went both to the making of this one The other Fort was on the West side of this City where Fleet a little riveret ran whence Fleetstreet took its name and in time it was able to bear Vessels as appears in some Parliament Rolls which Riveret
there was a Pool in Records called Horse pool and another in the Parish of St. Giles without Cripplegate Besides which they had in every street and lane of the City divers fair Wells and fresh Springs after which manner the City was then served with sweet and fresh waters which being since decayed other meanes have bin found to supply the want But the prime and principal device was found out by that worthy Briton and Citizen of London Sir Hugh Middleton by whose wit care and cost the new River of Ware was brought from Chadwel and Amwel to water and refresh the heart and bowels of the City The business was long in suspence and under weighty deliberation it receiv'd heat and cold a long time being exposed to so many difficulties and vast expence able to terrifie the stoutest man At last courage and resolution with a love to the publique good met in the breast of the Adventurer and spur'd him on to so glorious an enterprise which hath proved so happily commodious and of such infinite utility to the whole City that had he lived under some other Meridians that I know he should have had his Statue erected in the eminentest place of the City to eternize his name transmit his memory and keep it fresh like his waters to all future Ages Now as Mr. Stow speaks very ingeniously if those enemies to all good actions Danger difficulty detraction contempt scorn envy could have prevail'd by their malevolent interposition either before at the beginning and in the very birth of the attempt and a good while after this work had never bin accomplished 'T is true Queen Elizabeth gave way by act of Parliament to her Citizens of London and power for cutting and conveying of a River from any part of Middlesex or Hartfordshire into the City of London with a limitation of ten years time for the performance thereof but that Enterprize expir'd with her life King James her immediate successor did grant the like but without-date of time for the same effect And when the courage of others were quite quail'd and utterly refused the business Sir Hugh Middleton did undertake it and â—o with infinite pains and no lesse expence he finish'd the work by bringing a River of wholsom fine chearful water from Chadwel and Amwel to the North side of London near Islington where he built a large Cistern to receive it The work began the 28. day of February Anno Dom. 1608. and in the compaâ—s of five years was fully compleated Touching the Aquaeduct or the conveyance thereof to London it hardly can be imagined what difficulties and rubs there were in the way by reason of the various qualities of grounds through which the water was to passe some being ozie â—oft and muddy others again as stiffe and craggy The depth of the Trench in some places descended full thirty foot and more whereas in other places it required as much artifice to mount it over a valley in troughs betwixt Hills and those troughs to be supported by woodden Arches some of them fix'd in the Earth very deep and rising in height above 23. foot Being brought to the foresaid great Cestern the water was not yet let in till on Michaelmas day Anno 1613. being the day that Sir Thomas Middleton Brother to the said Sir Hugh was elected Lord Maior of London for the year ensuing In the afternoon of the same day Sir John Swinerton then Lord Maior accompanied with the said Sir Thomas Sir Henry Mountague Recorder of London and many of the worthy Aldermen rode in a solemn manner to see the great Cestern and first issuing of the strange River thereunto which then was made free Denizon of London and the Solemnity was thus A Troop of Labourers to the number of threescore or more well apparell'd and wearing green Monmouth Caps after the British manner all alike carried Spades Shovels Pickaxes and such like Instruments of laborious Employment and marching after Drums twice or thrice about the Cistern presented themselves before the Mount where the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen were where after a handsome speech the Flud-gates flew open the stream ran chearfully into the Cistern the Drums and Trumpets sounding in triumphant manner and a gallant peal of Chambers gave a Period to the entertainment A noble achievement it was as this reracted to Sir Hugh Middleton doth partly set forth which never saw publique light until now Ad Hugonem Middleton equiteâ—s Auratum de stupenda hac aquarum operâ Compita qui fluvium per Londinensia duÌ„xti Ut jam quisque suis vicus abundet aquis Non Aganippe tuas satis est depromere laudes Haec scaturigo nova quam tibi fundit aquae Of the famous great Navigable River of Thames VVEE will go now from the New River to the Old the Famous and Ancient River of Thames and find out her source bed and streams She hath her head or spring out of the flank of a hill in Catswold Downs about a mile from Tetbury near unto the Fosse a high road so call'd in ancient times where it was heretofore call'd Isis or the Ouse from hence it runs towards the East not without some Meanders and windings and meets with the Cirne or Chiurne a Brook whereof Cirncester town by which it runs takes the name From hence it hasteneth to Creekelade otherwise call'd Crekanford Lechlade Ratcotebridg Newbridg and Evâ—sham receiving in her passage many other small Rivelets Brooks Becks and Rundels And on this side the Town divideth her self into two streams whereof one goeth streight to Hincksey and Botley the other passeth by Godstow This latter spreadeth it self for a while into divers small streams which run not far before they meet again and then embracing sundry fruitful Medowes she passeth at length by Oxenford who some imagine should rather be call'd Ouseford of this River where she joyns with the Charwell a little from whence the original branches do joyn and keep company to Abbandune or Abington call'd by some Senshum although at first no part of her did approach so near the Town as now she doth till a branch thereof was led thither by the main stream through the industry of the Monks as 〈◊〉 by the decay of Caerdoure now call'd Dorchester sometimes the high road from Wales and the West Countrey to London From hence she goeth to Dorchester and so into Tame where contracting friendship with a River of the like name she loseth the name of Isis or Ouse whereof Ousenny or Osney at Oxford is derived and from thence she assumes the name of Thamesis all along as she glides From Tame she passeth to Wallingford and so to Rending which in ages pass'd was call'd Pontium in regard of the number of Bridges There she receives the Kenet which comes from the hills that lye about Marleborough Westward and then the Thetis commonly call'd the Tyde that comes from Thetisford She hasteneth thence to Sudlington otherwise call'd Maydenhead and
so to Windlestore or Winsore Eton and then to Chertsey where Erkenwald Bishop of London did erect a Religious house or Cell From Chertsey she directs her course to Stanes and receiving another stream by the way call'd the Cole whereupon Colebrook stands she goes by Kingstone Richmond Sheene Sion Brentford or Bregentford where she meets with the Brane or the Brenâ— another 〈◊〉 descending from Edgworth From Brentford she visits Morlach 〈…〉 Cheisoy Lambeth Westminster and so to London Having accompanied our gentle and smooth-gliding Riâ—â—r now to London she now makes great haste to meet with Neptune her lovely husband the first water she greets is the Brome on Kent side West of Greenwich whose spring is Bromis in Bromley Parish and so goeth thence to Lewshant taking 〈◊〉 from the East The next water she meets withal is on Essex side almost against Woolwich and that is the Lee And being pass'd that the Darwent also dischargeth her self into the Thames on Kent side two miles and more beneath Erith having its rising at Tunbridge or Tanridge The next River that disgorgeth her self into the Thames is West of the Wam Isles a rill of no great note or long course for rising about Coringham it rune not many miles East and by South till it falls into the mouth of this River Last of all the Thames takes acquaintance and mingleth with Medway a conâ—derable River watering all the South parts of Kent This noble navigable River flows and fills all her Channels twice ev'ry natural day by the flux and reflux of the Sea which holdeth on for the space of 70 miles within the main Land the stream or tyde being highest at London when the Moon doth exactly touch the Norh-east and South or West points or the Heavens whereof one is visible the other underneath us These rydes do also differ in their times each one coming later than the other by so many mâ—nutes as passe yet the revolution and natural course of the Heavens do reduce and bring about the said Planet to these her former places whereby the common difference 'twixt one tyde and another is sound to consist of 24 minutes which wanteth but twelve of a whole hour in 24 as experience doth confirm In like manner we daily find that each tyde is not of equal heighth and fulness For at the 〈◊〉 and the Change of the Moon we have the highest â—â—ouds and such is their extraordinary course that as they diminish from their Changes and Fulls unto their first and last Quarters so afterwards they encrease again until they come to the Fall and Change sometimes they rise also â—o high eâ—pecially if the wind be at the North or North-east which brings in the water with more vehemency because the tyde which fills the Channel cometh Northward that the Thames often inounds the bankes about London which happeneth most frequently in Ianuary and February which makes the grounds afterwards more fertiâ—e Neither do the tydes after a whit unlesse some impetuous winds from the West or South-west do keep back and check the stream as the East and North-East do hasten the coming in thereof or else some other extraordinary occasion put by the course of the German Seas which do fill the River by their nâ—tural 〈◊〉 and flowings And the probabiest reason why three or four tydes do chop in in one day is because the winds blowing more strong than ordinarily North or North-east make the Sea to rush in with more speed and abundance or water The Land streams or white waters do oftentimes thicken the finenesse of the River in so much that after a Land floud 't is usual to take up Haddocks with ones hâ—nd beneath the Bridge as they float aloft on the water their eyes being so blinded with the thicknesse of the water that they cannot see whither they swimme and how to make shift for themselves before the poor creaâ—â—re be surpriz'd otherwise the Thames water useth to be as clear and 〈◊〉 as any such great River in the world Having gone along so fat with this great goodly River even from her source until she diâ—â—mboques and payes Tribute to Nepume and cast her self into his imbraces It will be now expedient to go on further and acquaint the Reader with the jurisdiction and Prerogatives of the Thâ—mes with the extent thereof Which begins at a place call'd Colnie ditch a little above Stâ—nes-bridge Weâ—â—ward as far as London-bridge and â—rom thence to a place call'd Yendil 〈…〉 and the waters or Medmay all which extent is under the jurisdiction and conservancy of the Lord Mayor the Comminalty and Citizens of London True it is that there have been some Contests betwixt the Lord Mayor and the Lord high Admiral of England concerning the said Jurisdiction and power but after a fair and judicial Tryal in open Court the controversie was decided in favour of the City and the Lord Mayor adjudged to be Conservator of the Thames There were also some other controversial points about the Rivers of Thames and Medway but all differences were absolutely concluded Anno 1613 Sir Iohn Swinerton being then Lord Mayor and Mr. Sparry being then his Deputy or respective Bayliff for the execution of such a great trust repos'd in him Ever since is well as in former times the Lord Mayor of London hath been styl'd the Conservator of the said River within the forenamed limits and bounds having plenary power to inflict punishments upon all transgressors relating to the said Rivers the Water-Bayly of London being his substitute And whereas there are a company of Fishermen call'd Tinckermen frequenting the River of Thames Eastward who in times pass'd have been reported and found out to make an infinit destruction of the young brood or fry of fish by using unlawful Nets and other Engines feeding their Hoggs with them by the singular care and cost of the Lord Mayor and vigilance of the City those prohibited Engines and Nets are now quite suppress'd and a true and orderly manner of fishing brought into use that such a havock may not be made of the young fry Moreover there are a great number of other kind of Fishermen beside Tinckermen belonging to the Thames call'd Hebbermen Petermen and Trawlermen that had lived in former times by unlawful fishing on the said River to the destruction of the young fish as aforesaid but now they are restrain'd and regulated to a more orderly way of fishing There have bin other kind of abuses reformed herein as upon complaint made to the Lord Mayor concerning certain Timbers standing in Tilbury Hope a matter not only dangerous to the Passengers but a cause also to destroy the young brood of fish by the dammage those Timbers did to the Fishermens Nets in regard of their continual standing in the main course and curâ—ent of the River that great grievance was speedily redressed by the providence and prudence of the Lord Mayor and the Water-Bayly Furthermore there hath been care taken to clear
and cleanse the said noble River Westward of seventy nine stops or hatches consisting of sundry great stakes and piles purposely erected by Fishermen for their private lucre and standing illfavouredly for passengers near unto the Fair deep but none of them remain now but such as stand out of the passable high stream and can be no prejudice to passers by yet some are permitted to be planted at the waters bottome and so they serve as a great succour to the young brood of fish being placed so remote on the River Nor is this provident care for security of passengers and conservation of the young fry or fish a new thing for it appears that the like course was kept in the Reign of Henry the fourth and after in Henry the eighth as Records and Chronicles do shew Moreover there is a watchful eye that no carren or dead carkasses be thrown into the River to pollute or infect the stream To all these intents and purposes the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen his Brethren with the under Officers do use to meet eight times yearly in the four Counties of Middlesex Surrey Kent and Essex and have a judicial sitting for maintenance of the Rivers Rights and Priviledges where they have power to empanel Juries to make Inquisition after all offences committed upon the River within their extent And as the Verdict given up by the Jury make it appear so they proceed to the punishment of the transgressors according to the quality of the offence and it is worthy the observation to know the manner of their so solemn proceedings whereof this instance shall be produced extracted out of authentick Records Sir Iohn Iolles Knight and Lord Mayor of the City of London and Conservator of the River of Thames and waters of Medway assisted and accompanyed by the Aldermen and two Sheriffs then contemporary and attended by the Recorder and the Sub-conservator or Water-bayly with fifty Officers and servants took their Barges at Belmsgate the third of Iuly 1616 and within few hours arriv'd at Gravesend in Kent where a Session for the conservancy of the said River was kept before the said Lord Mayor and his forenamed Assistants At which time and place a Jury of the Freeholders of the said County being sworn to enquire of all offences committed in any part of the River whatsoever within the said County the Common Sergeant of the City the Recorder being then absent upon extraordinary occasions deliver'd them a charge to this effect That forasmuch as there had not been any Session of Conservancy in many years passed kept by any Lord Mayor of London in that place it was probable and evident they could not be well informed neither of the Lord Mayors jurisdiction and power to reform annoyances and offences there and to inflict due punishments upon the Offendors nor of the nature of the service to be by them performed in the course of their enquiry therefore he thought it convenient to make it known unto them both the one and the other Hereupon he shew'd them The Jurisdiction of the Court of London in the River of Thames from Stanes-bridge Westward unto the points of the River next the Sea Eastward appear'd to belong to the City in manner and form following First In point of right by Praescription as it appeareth by an ancient Book call'd Dunthorne that Civitatis fundationis aedificationis constructionis causa erat Thamesis Fluvius quorum vero Civitatis Fluminis gubernationem tam Duces Majores Custodes Vicecomites Aldr. magnates Civitatis memoratae hucusque obtinuerunt habuerunt Whence he inferr'd that the government of the River hath belong'd to the City time out of mind In 21. Hen. 3. Iorden Coventry one of the Sheriffs of the City was sent by the Mayor and Aldermen to remove certain Kiddles that annoy'd the Rivers of Thames and Medway who ultra Yenland versus Mare did take divers persons that were Offendors and imprison'd them Whereupon complaint being made to the King he took the matter ill at the first and sent for the Lord Mayor and Citizens to Kennington where upon hearing of the matter before the said King the Cityes Jurisdiction over the said River was set forth and allow'd and the Complainants convinc'd and every one of them amerc'd at 10 l. and the amercements adjudged to the City And afterward their Nets were burnt by judgement given by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen in the Hustings Moreover 1. Richardi secundi Writs were directed to the Sheriffs of Essex and Kent reciting the Cities Title with command not to suffer the Citizens of London to be molested contrary to the Liberties formerly granted and allowed unto them Secondly in point of right by allowance in Eire the conservation of the Thames belongs to the City for it was produc'd that 1. Rich. ◠before Hugh Bigot being Justice Itinerant the Sheriffs and Citizens of London were call'd in question for their Jurisdiction exercised on the Thames before whom it was found by a Jury in Southwark Quod nullus habeat aliquid juris in Thamisia usque ad novum gurgitem nisi Cives Londonens In the 14. of Ed. 2. the Constable of the Tower was indited by divers Wards of London before the Justices in Eire at the Tower De muneris et recep cove pro kidellis in Thamisiis et Constabularius ad Kidellas respondet quód Iustic non habent jurisdictionem extra London plitum inde cognoscere cum predict kidelli sunt in aliis comitatibus et Justic. dixerunt Aqua Thamisiae pertinet ad Civitatem London usque mart si velit respondeat who then pleaded Not guilty 3. He went further that this Jurisdiction belonged to the City by ancient Charters 8. R. 1. Dominus Ricardus Rex filius Regis Henrici secundi concessit firmiter praecepit ut omnes Kidelli qui sunt in Thamisia amoveantur ubicunque fuerint in Thamisia 1. Ioh. Rex concessit firmiter praecepit ut omnes kidelli qui sunt in Thamisia vel in Medway amoveantur ne caeteri kidelli alicubi ponantur in Thamisia vel in Medway super sort X. li. sterlingorum Then he urg'd the famous Charter of King Henry the third which ran thus Henry by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine and Earl of Anjou unto all Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Earls Barons Justices Sheriffs Stewards Ministers and to all Bayliffs and to all his true Men Greeting Woreth well that We for the health of our soul and the health of the soul of King John our Fader and the souls of all our Ancestors and also for common profit of our City of London and of all our Realms have granted and steadfastly commanded That all the Weares that be in Thames or in Medway be done away And that from henceforth no Weares be set in Thames or Medway upon the forfeiture of 10. l. Also we claim quit to our Citizens of London
shall be sadled with a saddle of the Arms of the said Bannerer and shall be covered with â—indalls of the said Arms. Moreover they shall present unto him twenty pounds Starling money and deliver it to the Chamberlain of the said Bannerer for his expences that day Then the said Bannerer shall mount on Horseback with the Banner in his hand and as soon as he is up he shall say to the Lord Maior that he cause a Marshal to be chosen for the Host one of the City which Marshal being nam'd the said Bannerer shall command the Maior and Burgesses of the City to warn the Commons to assemble and they shall all go under the Banner of St. Paul and the said Bannerer shall bear it himself unto Ealdgate and there the said Bannerer and the Maior shall deliver the said Banner from thence to whom they shall assent and think good And in case they make any issue out of the City then the said Bannerer ought to choose two out of every Ward the most sage Personages to foresee and look to the safe keeping of the City after they be gone forth And this Councel shall be taken in the priory of the holy Trinity near unto Aldgate And also before every Town or Castle they shall besiege if the siege continue a whole year the said Bannerer shall have for every siege one hundred shillings and no more of the Comminalty of London These be the Rights that the said Bannerer shall have in time of War But the Rights that belong unto the said Bannerer Sir Rob Fitzwater in time of peace are these that is to say The said Robert hath a Soke or Ward in the City that is to say a Wall of the Canonry of St. Paul unto the Thames so to the side of the Mill which is in the water that cometh from Fleet bridge so goeth by London walls betwixt the Fryars Preachers Ludgate so returneth back by the house of the said Fryrs unto the said Walls of the said Canonry of St. Pauls viz. all the Parish of St. Andrews which is in the gift of his Ancestors by the said Signority And so the said Robert hath appendant unto the said Soke all these things under-written if any of the Sokemanry be impleaded in Guild-hall of any thing that toucheth not the Body of the Lord Mayor or the Sheriffs for the time being it is not lawful for the Sokeman of the Sokmanry of the said Robert to demand a Court of the said Robert And the Mayor and the Citizens of London ought to grant him a Court and in his Court he ought to bring his Judgments as it is assented and agreed upon in the Guild-hall that shall be given him If any therefore be taken in his Sokemanry he ought to have his stocks and imprisonment in his Soke and he shall be brought thence to the Guild-hall before the Mayor and there they shall provide him his judgement that ought to be given of him but his judgement shall not be publish'd till he come unto the Court of the said Robert and in his Liberty And the Judgement shall be such that if he have deserved death for Treason he is to be tied to a Post in the Thames at a good Wharf where Boats are fastened two ebbings and two flowings of the water And if he be condemn'd for a common thief he ought to be led to the Elmes and there suffer his judgement as other thieves So the said Robert and his Heirs hath the honour that he holdeth a great Franchise within the City that the Mayor of the City and the Cittizens are bound to do him of Right viz. that when the Mayor will hold a great Councel he ought to call the said Robert and his Heir to be with him in the Councel of the said City and the said Robert ought to be sworn of the Councell of the said City against all people saving the King and his Heirs And when the said Robert comes to the Hustings in the Guild-hall of the said City the Mayor or his Livetenant ought to rise and set him down to sit neer him and so long as he is in the Guild-hall all the judgements ought to be given by his mouth according to the Records of the Recorders of the said Guildhall And so many Waifes as come while he he is there he ought to give them to the Bayliffs of the said Town or to whom he will by the Councel of the City These are the ancient Franchises that belong to the Bannerer of London as they stand upon ancient authentick Records But when this honor fell from the Fitzwaters and from Baynards Castle 't is incertain Now that Castle fell afterwards to the Earl of March who was Crown'd there by the Title of Edward the fourth to whom this City stuck very close But in the seventh year of King Edward's Reign many of the greatest men of London were attach'd for Treason with divers Aldermen whereof though they were acquitted yet they did forfeit their goods to the value of 40000 marks among whom Sir Thomas Coke Sir Iohn Plummer and Humfrey Howard were of the number And the said Coke Lord Mayor a little before was committed to the Tower with one Hawkins nor could Coke be acquitted until he had paied 8000 Marks to the King Henry the seventh rode in Majesty through the City with all the Knights of St. George from the Tower to St. Pauls Church where they heard Vespers and so the King lodg'd that night at Baynards Castle which he had newly repair'd before Queen Mary was also proclaim'd there notwithstanding that the Lady Jane had been proclaim'd a little before There was also another Tower or Castle near adioyning unto Baynards Castle which was call'd Legates Inne but now there is no trace of it leâ—t There was also another Castle call'd the Tower of Monfiquet spoken of a little before upon the River of Thames more Westward where afterwards a Monastery of Fryars was erected call'd to this day the Black fryars first built by Kelwarby Archbishop of Canterbury to whom the Mayor of London gave two Lanes or wayes adjoyning to Baynards Castle There was also another Tower stood there above 300 years which was demolished by Iohn Sha Lord Mayor of London Anno 1502 the King giving leave to do it There was another Tower or Castle that stood in the same place that Bride-well now stands which being demolished yet notwithstanding there was a Royal Palace stood still where the Kings of England kept their Courts and call'd Parliaments and among others it stands upon good Record that King Iohn summoned a Parliament thither where he exacted of the Clergy in a Parliament held at Saint Brides in London 100000 Marks and besides this the white Monks were compelled to cancel their Priviledges and pay the King 40000 Marks This House of Saint Brides of later time being left and not used or inhabited fell to ruine yet the Platform still remained
away at last their own Legions whereupon the Iland being thus grown weak much depopulated and to a long deâ—uetude of Arms the Saxons who are now the English yet keep still their first denomination of Saxons both in the British and Irish Tongues to this day came over with a considerable strength and having in a Parly on Salsbury Plains musiered most of the British Nobility by a stratagem and taken Vortiger the King Prisoner He for his ransom was forc'd to give not only London but most part of the Iland to the Saxons And the chief Magistrate of London they call'd Portreve which is a Gardian or Governour of a Port and that name is yet used in England in some places The Saxons then changed their names into Englishmen yet they continued Pagans a long time after but at last the Britains converted them to Christianity and then the City of London flourished exceedingly for many Ages till there came over a swarm of Danes who proved more fatal to London then any other Nation for by fire and sword they had almost utterly destroyed Her had not the Londoners at last rowz'd up their spirits who making vertue of necessity did fall upon King Swein the insulting Enemy with such a resolution that by a mighty slaughter and extraordinary prowesse they utterly repel'd him The City having recovered her former lustre though 't was a good while first she continued under the English Government and the Magistracy of a Portreve till the Norman rush'd in yet the Title was not alter'd a good while after when at last he came to be call'd Bayliffe and sometimes Provost Richard the first for supporting the Croy sada and his Warres in the Holy Land got great Contributions of monies from the Londoners in lieu whereof he gave them leave to choose two Bayliffs annually King Iohn after him chang'd their Bayliffs into a Maior and two Sheriffs To these Henry the third adds some Aldermen who though yeerly Elegible at first grew afterwards Perpetual Now this Word Alderman is consonant to Senator being both derived from old Age and Gravity The first Alderman we read of in England was in the time of King Edgar about 800 years agoe whose name was Ailwine and was descended of the blood Royal as appeares by his Epitaph in that goodly Monastery in the I le of Ely whereof he was founder himself which Epitaph runs thus Hic requiescit Dom. Ailwinus inclyti Regis Edgari Cognatus totius Angliae Aldermannus hujus Sacri coenobii miraculosus Fundator Here resteth the Lord Ailwine Cousin to Noble King Edgar Alderman of all England which some interpret chief Justice miraculous Founder of this holy Abbey Hence it may be infer'd that the appellation of Alderman is not only venerable but ancient honourable And from this Lord Ailwine it seemes the first Maior of London descended who was Henry Fitz-Alwin Anno 1191. who continued many years in the Office lies buried in St. Mary Bothaw near London-stone and the next Maior to him was Roger Fitz-Alwin after whom he Office grew annual The City being thus in tract of time come to a fixed and setled Government she began to flourish exceedingly And as she increased in Men Manufactures and Merchandizing so the Kings did enlarge their royal favours unto Her Anno 1226. Henry the third confirmed unto the Citizens of London free Warren or liberty to hunt about the City and in the Warren of Stanes Moreover that the Citizens of London should passe Toll-free throughout all England and that the Keddles and Weres in the Rivers of Thames and Medway should be plucked up and destroyed for ever because Navigation to London might be more free Roger Renger was Maior when these Patents were granted A few years after the liberties and franchises of London were ratified by the same King who granted that either Sheriff should have two Clarks and two Sargeants and that the Citizens should have a Common Seal A little after the same King granted that the Maior Elect should be presented to the Barons of the Exchequer and they should admit him Moreover he gave way that the City should be fortified with Posâ—s and Iron Chains drawn athwart over the streets Anno 1326. Edward the third much increased the Immunities of the City and the Authority of the Maior for he granted that the Maior should be Iustice for the Gaol delivery at Newgate and have power to reprieve Prisoners That the Citizens of London should not be constrained to go out of the City of London to any Warre He granted also that the liberties and franchises of the City should not after that time be taken into the Kings hands as it had bin often before when a Custos was put in Moreover He granted by Letters Patents that there should be no other Eschetor in the City but the Maior Anno 1338. He granted that the Sargeants attending the Maior and the Sheriffs should bear Maces silver and gilt with the Royal Arms engraven Anno 1356. The same King ordained that whereas the Aldermen were used to be chang'd yeerly they should not be removed without special cause for the future Then for the higher honour and Authority of the Office the Sword was added with the Cap of Maintenance Thus in proceâ—s of time the Government of London grew to be more and more established Anno 1415. Sir Henry Barton being Maior ordained Lanthorns and Lights to be hang'd out on the Winter Evenings betwixt Alhollontide and Candlemas Sir Iohn Norman being Maior was the first who went upon the River to Westminster having made a stately Barge to that purpose Anno 1453. And the rest of the Companies followed that laudable Example with their Barges also Anno 1473. Sir Iohn Tate being Maior the Sheriffs of London were appointed each of them to have sixteen Serjeants and every Serjeant to have his Yeoman Moreover they were to have six Clerks a Secondary a Clark of the Papers with fower other Clarks besides the Under Sheriffs Clark Anno 1484. It happened that there was successively one after the other three Mayors and three Sheriffs of London in the compasse of one year by reason of the sweating sickness which rag'd so extreamly Anno 1501. Sir John Sha being Maior added some state to the Office for it was ordered that the Aldermen his Brethren should attend him on Horseback from Guild-hall to the Rivers side when he took Barge for Westminster Besides he was the first who kept Court in his own House for redressing of such matters that came before him Sir William Capel being Maior of London caus'd Cages to be set up in every Ward for the punishments of Vagabends and Rogues Anno 1556. Sir Thomas Ossley being Mayor the Night Bel-man was first ordained Queen Elizabeth did much favour the City of London and for the better Government thereof gave way for a Provost Marshal to be appointed Thus have we observed that the Governours in chief of the City of
at every Tyde run according to Covenant four wayes plentifully serving to the Commodity of the Inhabitants near adjoyning in their houses and also cleansed the Channels of the street toward Bishops-gate Aldgate the Bridge and the Stocks Market but now no such matter by what default I know not Then have ye a fair Conduit of sweet water castellated in the midst of that Ward This Conduit was first builded of stone in the year 1282. by Henry VVallis Maior of London to be a Prison for Night-walkers and other suspicious persons and was called the Tunne upon Cornhill because the same was builded somewhat in fashion of a Tunne standing on the one end To this Prison the Night-watchers to this City committed not only Night-walkers but also other persons as well spiritual as temporal whom they suspected of incontinency and punished them according to the customs of this City but complaint therefore being made about the year of Christ 1297. King Edward the first writeth to the Citizens thus Edward by the Grace of God c. VVhereas Richard Gravesend Bishop of London hath shewed unto us that by the great Charter of England the Church hath a privilede that no Clark should be imprisoned by a Lay-man without our Commandment and breach of peace Which notwithstanding some Citizens of London upon meer spight do enter in their vvatches into Clarks Chambers and then â—ike Felons carry them to the Tunne which Henry le Wallis sometime Maior built for Night-walkers wherefore we will that this our Commandment be proclaimed in a full Hustings and that no vvatch hereafter enter into any Clarks Chamber under the forfeit of thirty pounds Dated at Carlile the 18th of March the 25. of our Reign More we read that about the year of Christ 1299. the seven and twentieth of Edward the first certain principal Citizens of London to wit T. Romane Rich Gloucester Nicholas Faringdon Adam Helingbury T. Saly Iohn Dunstable Richard Ashwy John Wade and William Stortforde brake up this Prison called the Tunne and took out certain Prisoners for the which they were sharply punished by long Imprisonment and great fines It cost the Citizens as some have written more than 20000 Marks which they were amerced in before William de March Treasurer of the Kings Exchequer to purchase the Kings favour and the confirmation of their Liberties By the West side of the aforesaid Prison then called the Tunne was a fair Well of Spring water curbed round with hard stone but in the year 1401. the said Prison house called the Tunne was made a Cestern for sweet water conveyed by Pipes of Lead from Tyburne and was from thenceforth called the Conduit upon Cornhil Then was the Well planked over and a strong Prison made of Timber called a Cage with a pair of Stocks therein set upon it and this was for Night-walkers on the top of which Cage was placed a Pillory for the punishment of Bakers offending in the assize of Bread for Millers stealing of Corn at the Mill for Bawds Scholds and other offenders As in the year 1468. the seventh of Edward the fourth divers persons being common Jurors such as at Assizes were forsworn for rewards or favour of parties were judged to ride from Newgate to the Pillory in Corn-hill with Miters of Paper on their heads there to stand and from thence again to Newgate and this judgement was given by the Maior of London On the North side of this street from the East unto the West have ye divers fair houses for Marchants and others amongst the which one large House is called the Wey-house where Marchandizes brought from beyond the Seas are to be weighed at the Kings Beame this House hath a Master and under him four Master-Porters with Porters under them they have a strong Cart and four great Horses to draw and carry the Wates from the Marchants Houses to the Beam and back again Sir Thomas Lovel Knight builded this House with a fair front of Tenements toward tâ—e street all which he gave to the Grocers of London himself being free of the City and a Brother of that Company Then have ye the said Finks Lane the South end of which Lane on both sides is in Corn-hill Ward Then next is the Royal Exchange erected in the year 1566. after this Order viz. certain Houses upon Corn-hill and the like upon the part thereof in the Ward of Broadstreet with three Allies the first called Swan Alley opening into Corn-hill the second New Alley passing through out of Corn-hill into Broadstreet Ward over against St. Bartholomew-Lane the third St. Christophers Alley opening into Broadstreet-Ward and into St. Christophers Parish containing many thick Housholds were first purchased by the Citizens of London for more than 3532. pounds and were sold for 478. pounds to such persons as should take them down and carry them thence Also the ground or plot was made plain at the Charges of the City and then possession thereof was by certain Aldermen in name of the whole Citizens given to Sir Thomas Gresham Knight sometimes Agent to the Queens Higheness thereupon to build a Burse or place for Marchants to assemble in at his own proper charges And he on the seventh of June laying the first stone of the Foundation being Brick accompanied with some Aldermen every of them laid a piece of Gold which the Workmen took up and forthwith followed upon the same such diligence that by the Moneth of November in the year 1567. the same was covered with slate and shortly after fully finished In the year 1570. on the 23. of January the Queens Majesty attended with her Nobility came from her House at the Strand called Sommerset-House and entred the City by Temple-Barre through Fleet-street Cheape and so by the North side of the Burse through Thredneedle-street to Sir Thomas Greshams House in Bishopgate-street where she dined After dinner her Majesty returning through Corn-hill entred the Burse on the South side and after she had viewed every part thereof above the ground especially the Pawne which was richly furnished with all sorts of the finest Wares in the City she caused the same Burse by an Hauraâ—d and a Trumpet to be proclaimed at the Royal Exchange and so to to be called from thenceforth and not otherwise Next adjoyning to this Royal Exchange remaineth one part of a large stone House and is now called the Castle of such a sign at a Tavern door there is a passage thorough out of Cornhill into Threed-needle street the other part of the said stone House was taken down for enlarging the Royal Exchange This stone House was said of some to have been a Church whereof it had no proportion of others a Jewes House as though none but Jewes had dwelt in stone houses but that opinion is without warrant For beside the strong building of stone houses against 〈◊〉 of thieves in the night when no watches were kept In the first year of Richard the first to prevent casualties of fire which
Edward the black Prince sonne to Edward the third who was in his life time lodged there and 't was called the Prince of VVales his Court which was afterward for a long time a common Hostry having the sign of the Black Bell. Of the Eleventh Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Candle-wick Ward WE will now see what light Antiquity can give us of Candle-wick street or Candle-wright street Ward It beginneth at the East end of great East-cheap it passeth West through East-cheap to Candle-wright street and thorough the same down to the North end of Suffolk Lane on the South side and down that Lane by the West end of St. Lawrence Church-yard which is the farthest West part of that Ward the street of Great East-cheap is so called of the Market there kept in the East part of the City as VVest-cheap is a Market so called being in the West This East-Cheap is now a Flesh-market of Butchers there dwelling on both sides of the street it had sometime also Cooks mixed amongst the Bâ—tchers and such other as sold Victuals ready dressed of all sorts For of old time when friends did meet and were disposed to be merry they never went to dine and Sup in Taverns but to the Cooks where they called for meat what them liked 〈◊〉 they alwayes sound ready dressed and at a reasonable rate for Vintners 〈◊〉 â—old onâ—y Wine In the year 1410. the eleventh of Henry the fourth upon the Even of Saint Iohn Baptist the Kings Sonnes Thomas and Iohn being in East-Cheape at Supper or rather at break-fast for it was after the Watch was broken up betwixt two and three a Clock after mid-night a great debate happened between their men and other of the Court which lasted one houre till the Maior and Sheriffs with other Citizens appeaâ—â—d the same For the which afterwards the said Maior Aldermen and Sheriffs were called to answer before the King his Sons and divers Lords being highly moved against the City At which time William Gascoignâ— chief Justice required the Maior and Aldermen for the Citizens to put them in the Kings Grace whereunto they answered that they had not offended but according to the Law had done their best in stinting debate and maintaining of the peace upon which answer the King remitted all his Ire and dismissed them And to prove this East-Cheape to be a place replenished with Cooks it may appear by a Song called London lick-penny made by Lidgate a Monk of Bury in the Reign of Henry the fifth in the person of a Country-man comming to London and travelling thorough the same In West-Cheape saith the Song he was called on to buy fine Lawn Paris Thred Cotton Umble and other linnen Clothes and such like he speaketh of no silk In Corn-hill to buy old Apparel and Houshold-stuffe where he was forced to buy his own Hood which he had lost in Westminster-hall In Candlewright-street Drapers proâ—cred him Cheap Cloth In East-Cheape the Cooks cryed hot Ribs of Beef rosted Pies well baked and other Victuals There was clattering of Pewter-Pots Harp Pipe and Sawtry yea by cock nay by cock for greater Oaths were spared some sang of Ienkin and Julian c. All which Melody liked well the Passenger but he wanted money to abide by it and therefore gat him into Gravesend-Barge and home into Kent Candlewright so called in old Records of the Guild-hall of St. Mary Overies and other or Candlewick-street took that name as may be supposed either of Chaundlers or Makers of Candles both of Wax and Tallow for Candle-wright is a Maker of Candles and of Wick which is the Cotton or yarn thereof or otherwise which is the place where they used to work them as scalding wick by the Stocks-Market was called of the Poulterers dressing and scalding their Poultry there And in divers Countries Dairy-houses or Cottages wherein they make Butter and Cheese are usually called Wickes There dwelled also of old time divers Weavers of Woollen Clothes brought in by Edward the 3d for I read that in the four and twentieth of his Reign the Weavers brought out of Flanders were appointed their meetings to be in the Church-yard of St. Lawrence Poultney and the Weavers of Brabant in the Church-yard of St. Mary Sommerset There were then in this City Weavers of divers sorts to wit of Drapery or Tapery and Nappery these Weavers of Candlewicke street being in short time worn out their place is now possessed by rich Drapers Sellers of Woollen Cloth c. On the Northside of this Ward at the West end of East-Cheape have ye St. Clements Lane a part whereof on both sides is of Candlewicke street Ward to wit somewhat North beyond the Parish Church of St. Clement in East-cheape Though this Church be small yet there are some comely Monuments in it among others of William Chartney and William Overy who founded a Chantry there Next is St. Nicholas Lane for the most part on both sides of this Ward almost to St. Nicholas Church Then is Abchurch Lane which is on both sides almost wholly of this Ward the Parish Church there called of St. Mary Abchurch Apechurch or Upchurch as I have read it standeth somewhat near unto the South end thereof on a rising ground It is a fair Church Simon de Winchcombe sounded a Chauntery there the 19th of Richard the Littletonâ—ounded â—ounded another and Thomas Hondon another Here are likewise some remarkable Monuments particularly of Sir Iames and Sir Iohn Branch both Lord Mayors of London about the year 1570. On the South side of this Ward beginning again at the East is St. Michaels lane which lane is almost wholly of this Ward on both sides down towards Thames street to a Well or Pump there on the East side of this Lane is Crooked Lane aforesaid by St. Michaels Church towards New Fishstreet One of the most ancient Houses in this Lane is called the Leaden Porch and belonged sometime to Sir John Merston Knight the first of Edward the 4th It is now called the Swan in Crooked Lane possessed of strangers and retailing of Rhenish Wine The Parish Church of this St. Michaels was sometime but a small and homely thing standing upon part of that ground wherein now standeth the Parsonage House and the ground thereabout was a filthy plot by reason of the Butchers in East-Cheape who made the same their Lay-stall VV. de Burgo gave two Messuages to that Church in Candlewick street 1317. John Loveken Stock-fish monger fout times Maior builded in the same ground this fair Church of St. Michael and was there buried in the Quire under a fair Tombe with the Images of him and his Wise in Alabaster the said Church hath bin since increased with a new Quire and side Chappels by Sir W. Walworth Stock-fishmonger Maior sometime Servant to the said John Loveken Also the Tombe of Loveken was removed and a flat stone of gray marble garnished with Plates of Copper laid on him as it
called the Erbar neere to the Church of St. Mary Bothaw Geffery Scroop held it by the gift of Edward the third in the fourteenth of his Reign It belonged since to Iohn Nevel Lord of Raby then to Richard Nevel Earl of Warwick Nevel Earl of Salisbury was lodged there 1457. Then it came to George Duke of Clarence and his Heires Males by the gift of Edward the fourth in the fourteenth yeaâ— of his Reign It was lately builded by Sir Thomas Pullâ—son Maior and was afterward Inhabited by Sir Francis Drake that famous Navigator Next to this great House is Lane turning to Bush-lane of old time called Carter-lane of Carts and Carmen having Stables there and now called Chequer-lane or Chequer-Alley of an Inne called the Chequer In Thamesstreet on the Thames side West from Downgate is Greenwitch lane of old time so called and now Fryer lane of such a signe there set up In this Lane is the Ioyners Hall and other fair Houses Then is Granthams Lane so called of Iohn Grantham sometime Maior and owner thereof whose house was very large and strong builded of stone as appeareth by Gates Arched yet remaining Ralph Dodmer first a Brewer then a Mercer Maior 1529. dwelled there and kept his Majoralty in that house it is now a Brew-house as it was before Then is Down-gate whereof is spoken in another place East from this Downegate is Cosin lane named of one VVilliam Cosin that dwelled there in the fourth of Richard the second as divers his Predecessors Father Granfather c. had done before him VVilliam Cosin was one of the Sheriffs in the year 1306. That House standeth at the South end of the Lane having an old and Artificial conveyance of Thames water into it And is now a Dye-house called Lambards Messâ—age Adjoyning to that House there was lately erected an Engine to convey â— hames water unto Downgate Conduit aforesaid Next to this Lane on the East is the Steel-yard as they terme it a place for Marchants of Almain that used to bring hither as well Wheat Rie and other Grain as Cables Ropes Masts Pitch Tarre Flax Hemp Linnen Cloth Wainscots Wax Steel and other profitable Marchandizes unto these Marchan sin the year 1259. Henry the third at the Request of his Brother Richard Earl of Cornwall King of Almain granted that all and singular the Marchants having a House in the City of London commonly called Guilda Aula Theâ—â—onicorum should be maintained and upholden through the whole Realm by aâ—l such freedoms and free usages or Liberties as by the King and his Noble Progenitors time they had and enjoyed c. Edward the first renewed and confirmed that Charter of Liberties granted by his Father And in the tenth year of the same Edward Henry Wâ—llis being Mayor a great Controversie did arise between the said Mayor and the Marchants of the Haunce of Almaine about the reparations of Bishops-gate then likely to fall for that the said Marchants enjoyed divers priviledges in respect of maintaining the said Gate which they now denyed to repair for the appeasing of which controversie the King sent his Writ to the Treasurer and Baron of his Exchequer commanding that they should make Inquisition thereof Before whom the Marchants being called when they were not able to discharge themselves sâ—â—h they enjoyed the Liberties to them granted for the same a precept was sent to the Maior and Sheriffs to distrain the said Marchants to make reparations namely Gerard Marhod Alderman of the Haunce Ralph de Cussarde a Citizen of Colen Ludero de Denauar a Burgesse of Trivar Iohn of Aras a Burgesse of Trivon Bartram of Hamburgh Godestalk of Hundoudale a Burgesse of Trivon Iohn de Deal a Burgesse of Munster then remaining in the said City of London for themselves and all other Marchants of the Haunce and so they granted 210 Marks sterling to the Maior and Citizens and undertook that they and their Successors should from time to time repair the said Gate and bear the third part of the Charges in money and men to defend it when need were And for this Agreement the said Maior and Citizens granted to the said Marchants their liberties which till of late they have enjoyed as namely amongst other that they might lay up their Grain which they brought into this Realm in Inns and sell it in their Garners by the space of forty dayes after they had laid it up except by the Mayor and Citizens they were expresly forbidden because of Dearth or other reasonable occasions Also they might have their Aldermen as they had bin accustomed provided alwayes that he were of the City and presented to the Maior and Aldermen of the City so oft as any should be chosen and should take an Oath before them to maintain Justice in their Courts and to behave themselves in their Office according to Law and as it stood with the Customs of the City Thus much for their priviledges whereby it appeareth that they were great Marchants of Corne brought out of the East parts hither insomuch that the Occupiers of Husbandry in this Land were enâ—orced to complain of them for bringing in such abundance when the Corn of this Realm was at an easie price whereupon it was ordained by Parliament That no person should bring into any part of this Realm by way of Marchandize Wheat Rie or Barley growing out of the said Realm when the Quarter of Wheat exceeded not the price of six shilling eight pence Rie four shillings the Quarter and Barley three shillings the Quarter upon forfeiture one half to the King the other half to the seisor thereof These Marchants of the Hawnce had their Guild-Hall in Thames-street in the place aforesaid by the said Cosin-lane Their Hall is large builded of Stone with three Arched Gates towards the street the middlemost whereof is far bigger than the other and is seldom opened the other two be mured up the same is now called the Old Hall In the 6th of Richard the 2d they hired one House next adjoyning to their Old Hall which sometime belonged to Richard Lions a famous Lapidary one of the Sheriffs of London in the 49 of Edward the 3d and in the 4th of Richard the 2d by the Rebels of Kent drawn out of that House and beheaded in West-Cheape This also was a great House with a large Wharf on the Thames and the way thereunto was called Windgoose or Wildgoose-lane which is now called Windgoose-Alley for that the same Alley is for the most part builded on by the Styliard Marchants The Abbat of St. Albans had a Messuage here with a key given to him 34. of Henry the 6th Then is one other great House which sometime pertained to Iohn Rainwel Stock-Fishmonger Maior and it was by him given to the Maior and Commonalty to the end that the profits thereof should be disposed in deeds of piety which House in the 15th of Edward the 4th was câ—â—firmed unto the said Marchants in manner following viz. It
founded a Chantry He lyeth under a Tombe of Stone with his Image also of Stone over him The Hair of his Head auburne long to his Shoulders but curling up and a small forked Beard on his Head a Chaplet like a Coronet of four Roses an habit of Purple damasked down to his feet a Collar of Esses of Gold about his Neck under his Feet the likenesse of three Books which he compiled The first named Speculum Meditantis written in French The second Vox clamantis penned in Latine The third Confessio Amantis written in English and this last is printed Vox Clamantis with his Chronica Tripartita other both in Latine and French were never printed Besides on the Wall where he lyeth there was painted three Virgins Crowned one of the which was named Charity holding this Device En Toy qui es Fitz de Dieu le pere Savâ—e soit qui gist soubs cest pierre In Thee who art the Son of God Be sav'd who lyes under this clod Now passing through St. Mary Overies Close once in possession of the Lord Montacute Pepper Alley into Long Southwark on the right hand thereof the Market Hill where the Leather is sold there stood the late named Parish Church of Saint Margaret given to St. Mary Overies by Henry the first put down and joyned with the Parish Church of St. Mary Magdalen and united to the late dissolved Priory Church of St. Mary Overy A part of this Parish Church of St. Margaret is now a Court wherein the Assizes and Sessions be kept and the Court of Admiralty is also there kept one other part of the same Church is now a prison called the Compter in Southwarke c. Farther up on that side almost directly over against St. Georges Church was sometime a large and most sumptuous house builded by Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke in the Reign of Henry the eighth which was called Suffolk House but coming afterwards into the Kings hands the same was called Southwark place and a Mint of Coynage was there kept for the King Queen Mary give this House to Nicholas Heth Archbishop of York and to his Successors for ever to be their Inne or Lodging for their repair to London in recompence of York House near to Westminster which King Henry her Father had taken from Cardinal Woolsey and from the See of York Then is the White Lion a Goal so called for that the same was a common Hoftery for the receit of Travellers by that Sign This â—ouse was first used as a Goal within these hundred years last since the which time the prisoners were once removed thence to an House in New-town where they remained for a short time and were returned again to the aforesaid White Lion there to remain as the appointed Goal for the Countey of Surrey Next is the Goal or Prison of the Kings-Bench but of what antiquity the same is it appears not We read that the Courts of the Kings-Bench and Chancery have oft times been removed from London to other places and so hath likewise the other Goals that serve those Courts as in the year 1304 Edward the first commanded the Courts of Kings-Bench the Exchequer which had remained seven years at York to be removed to their old places at London And in the year 1387 the eleaventh of Richard the second Robert Trisilian chief Justice came to the City of Coventry and there sat by the space of a Month as Justice of the Kings Bench and caused to be Indicted in that Court about the number of 2000 persons of that Country c. It seemeth therefore that for that time the Prison or Goale of that Court was not far off Also in the year 1392 the sixteenth of the same Richard the Archbishop of York being Lord Chancellor for good will that he bare to his City caused the Kings Bench and Chancery to be removed from London to York but ere long they were returned to London Then is the Marshalsey another Goal or Prison so called as pertaining to the Marshalls of England of what continuance kept in Southwark it appears not but likely it is that the same hath been removeable at the pleasure of the Marshalls And then Thieves Lane by St. Thomas Hospital first found by Richard Prior of Bermondsey in the Cellerers grounded against the Wall of the Monastery in the year 1213 He named it the Almery or house of Alms for Converts and poor Children In the year 1552 the Citizens of London having the void suppressed Hospital of St. Thomas in Southwark in the Month of Iuly began the reparations thereof for poor impotent lame and diseased people so that in the Month of November next following the sick and poor people were taken in And in the year 1553 on the tenth of April King Edward the sixth in the seventh of his Reign gave to the Mayor Communalty and Citizens of London to be a Work-House for the poor and idle persons of the City his House of Bridewell and seven hundred Marks Lands of the Savoy Rents which Hospital he had suppressed with all the Beds bedding and other furniture belonging to the same towards the maintenance of the said Work-house of Bridewell and of this Hospital of Saint Thomas in Southwark This gift the King confirmed by his Charter The Church of this Hospital which of old time served for the Tenements neer adjoyning and pertaining to the said Hospital remaineth as a Parish Church But now to come to St. Olaves street on the Bank of the River of Thames is the Parish Church of St. Olave a fair and meeâ—ly large Church but a far larger Parish especially of Aliens or strangers and poor people Next is the Bridge-House so called as being a Store-house for Stone Timber or whatsoever pertaining to the building or repairing of London Bridge This House seemeth to have taken beginning with the first founding of the Bridge either of Stone or Timber it is a large plot of ground on the Bank of the River of Thames containing divers large buildings for stowage of things necessary towards reparation of the said Bridge There are also divers Garners for laying up of Wheat and other Granaries for service of the City as need requireth Moreover there be certain Ovens builded in number ten of which six be very large the other four being but half so big these were purposely made to bake out the Bread Corn of the said Grayners to the best advantage for relief of the poor Cittizens when need should require Then is Battaile Bridge so called of Battaile Abbey for that it standeth on the ground over a Water-course flowing out of Thames pertaining to that Abbey and was therefore both builded and repaired by the Abbots of that House as being hard adjoyning to the Abbots Lodging Beyond this Bridge is Bermondsey street turning South in the South end whereof was sometime a Priory or Abby of St. Saviour called Bermonds Eye in Southwarke founded by Ailwin a
by force of the Kings Writ Ex debito justitiae and none of them ought to be omitted and these represent all the Commons of the whole Realm and trusted for them and were used to be in number near upon 500. Now the King and these three Estates were the great Corporation or Body politick of the Kingdom but they were to sit in two Houses viz. the King and Lords in one House called the Lords House and the Knights Citizens and Burgesses in another House called the House of Commons The Commons are in Legal understanding taken for the Franck Tenants or Freeholders of the Counties And whosoever is not a Lord of Parliament and of the Lords House is of the House of the Commons either in person or by representation partly coaugmentative and partly representative Of this Court of Parliament the Soveraign Prince by the Law is Caput principium finis the head beginning and ending And as in the natural body when all the sinews being joyned in the head do unite their forces together for the strengthening of the body there is ultimum potentiae so in the poliâ—ique Body when the King and the Lords spiritual and temporal Knights Citizens and Burgesses are all by the Kings Command assembled and joyned together under the Head in consultation for the common good of the whole Realm there is ultimum sapientiae The third year of Henry the sixth it appears in a Parliament Roll that the Parliament being called as hath bin said Commune Consilium every member of the House being a Counsellor should have the three properties of the Elephant which are First That he hath no Gall. Secondly That he be inflexible and cannot bow Thirdly That he is of a most ripe and perfect memory which properties as there it is said ought to be in every Member of the great Councel of Parliament First to be without Gall that is without malice rancor heat and envie In the Elephant Melancholia transit in nutrimentum corporis every gallish inclination if any were should tend to the good of the whole body the Common-wealth Secondly That he be constant inflexible and not to be bowed or turned from the right either for fear reward or favour nor in judgement reâ—pect any person Thirdly of a ripe memory that they remembring perils past might prevent dangers to come as in that Roll of Parliament it appeareth The Prince de advisamento consilii for so be the words of the Writ of Parliament resolving to have a Parliament doth out of the Court of Chancery send out Writs of Summons at the least forty dayes before the Parliament begins every Lord of Parliament either spiritual as Arch bishops and Bishops or temporal as Dukes Marquisses Earls Viscounts and Barons Peers of the Realm and Lords of Parliament were used to have several Writs of Summons And all the Judges of the the Realm Barons of the Exchequer of the Coif the Kings learned Cousnel and the Civilians Masters of the Chancery are called to give their assistance and attendance in the upper House of Parliament but they have no Voices in Parliament being only ministerial and their Writs differ from the Writs to the Judges for their Writs be Quòd intersitis Nobiscum cum caeteris de Concilio Nostro sometimes Nobiscum only super praemissis tractaturi vestrumque consilium impensuri But the Writ to the Barons is Quòd intersitis cum praelatis Magnatibus proceribus super dictis negotiis tractaturi vestrumque Consilium impensuri Moreover in every Writ to Summons to the Bishops there is a clause requiring them to summon these persons to appear personally at the Parliament which is in these words premonientes Decanum Capitulum Ecclesiae Vestrae Norwicensis ac Archidiâ—conos totumque clerum vestrae Dioces quod iidem Decani Archi diaconi in proprâ—is persmiss suis ac dictum capitulum per unum idemque clerus per duos proeuratores idoneos plenam sufficientem potestatem ab ipsis capitulo clero divisim habentes predict ' die loco personaliter intersint ad consentiâ—ndum hiis quae tunc ibidem de Communi concilio dicti regni Nostri divina favente clementia contigerit ordinari and the Bishop under his Seal makes Certificate accordingly And these are called Procuratores cleri and many times have appeared in Parliament as spiritual Assistants to consider consult and consent ut supra but had never voyces there because they were no Lords of Parliament And this Assembly was called the Convocation-House which the last King continuing after the dissolution of the Parliament and the Bishops comming amongst them to consult and make Canons the next Parliament protested against their proceedings as irregular and prejudicial to the priviledges of Parliament Observable it is what difference there was in the Writ whereby the spiritual Lords were summoned and that whereby the temporal Lords were called The Ecclesiastical Barons were required by the Kings Writ to be present In fide dilectione quibus nobis tenemini In the faith and Love you are bound to us But the secular Lords were summoned to appear In fide homagio quibus nobis tenemini In the faith and homage you are bound unto us Now touching the Commons their Writ or Summons to the Sheriff runs thus The King to the Vicount or Sheriff Greeting WHereas by the advice and assent of our Councel for certain Arduous and urgent Affaires concerning Us the State and defence of our Kingdom of England and the Anglican Church we have ordained a certain Parliament of ours to be held at our City of the day of next ensuing and there to have Conference and to treat with the Prelates Great men and Peers of our said Kingdom We command and strictly enjoyn you that making Proclamation at our next County Court after the receipt of this our Writ to be holden the day and place aforesaid you cause two Knights girt with Swords the most fit and discreet of the County aforesaid and of every City of that County two Citizens of every Borough two Burgesses of the discreetest and most sufficient to be freely and indifferently chosen by them who shall be present at such Proclamation according to the tenure of the Statutes in that case made and provided And the names of the said Knights Citizens and Burgesses so chosen to be inserted in certain Indentures to be then made between you and those that shall be present at such Election whether the parties so elected be present or absent and shall make them to come at the said day and place so that the said Knights for themselves and the County aforesaid and the Citizens and the Burgesses for themselves and the Commonalty of the said Cities and Beroughs may have severally from them full and sufficient power to do and to consent to those things which then by the favour of God shall happen to be ordained by the Common Councel of our said Kingdom concerning the
Discourse by way of parallel betwixt the City of London and other the most populous great Marts of the World Of the Foundation and first Rise of the City of LONDON IT is as difficult a task to finde out the Original of some Nations and Citties as it is to finde out the Spring of the mysterious River of Nile which tumbling down with a horrid noise of Cataracts through so many huge Rocks above two thousand miles comes punctually every Summer solstice to visit the gran Cairo and then takes her leave of Her as punctually the Autumnal Equinox next following having first impregnated the hot womb of Egypt with a wonderful prolificall vertue for the generation of so many species of Animalls and Vegetalls But to finde out the Original of the City of London 't is not so hard a matter yet there are variety of Opinions hereof which we will briefly examine Ptolomy Tacitus and Antonine call her sometimes Londinium and sometimes Longidinium Ammianus Marsellinus calls her Lundinum and sometimes Augusta which is the stately and magnificent City There are some who call Her Troia nova or Troynovant which appellation Edward the first in that famous long Letter he writ to Pope Boniface about the Scots Nation seemes to assert Others call her Caer Lud other Dinas Belin But that Opinion which quadrats most with truth is that her first Founders and Godfathers were the ancient Britains whom we now call Welsh who by confession of all Antiquaries both domestick and sorraign were the Aborigenes and first Inhabitants of this Countrey being contemporary and as it were concreated with the Iland her self There are three denominations which are derived from the Britans viz. Llhogdin Llhwndian and Llhandian which we shall endeavour to explane Touching the first the Britans call a ship Llhong and Dinan a Town Insomuch that Llongdin is no other then Shipton or a Town of Ships And I have read of many Cities who derive their names from Ships as Naupactum Nauplia Naualia Augusti Nauctathmos But none of these hath more right to assume the Title of Shipton or Llhongdin according to the British as the City of London hath in regard that she is situated upon the gentle ascent or flank of a Hill hard by a dainty Navigable River which swelling at certain set houres with the Ocean Tides she is able by her deep and safe Channel to entertain the greatest bottoms and Ships that can ride on Neptunes back which makes Her so famous a Mart those Ships bringing in all the rich Commodities that the VVorld can afford whereunto alludes old Robert of Glocester in the Rimes of those dayes which I thought worthy to insert here for the Antiquity of the Dialect In the Country of Canterbury most plenty of Fish is And most chase of Beasts about Salsbury I wis And London Ships most and Wine at Winchester At Hartford Sheep and Oxe and fruit at Worcester Soap about Coventry and Iron at Glocestor Metal Lead and Tin in the Country of Exceter Enorwick of fairest wood Lincoln of fairest men Cambridge and Huntingdon most plenty of deep venne Ely of fairest place of fairest sight Rochester Touching the second British appellation Llhwndian Caesar and Strabo do mention that the ancient Britans called those Woods or Groves which they had barrocadoed and fenc'd about with Trees cast down and plash'd to prevent all inrodes and assaults they call'd such a place I say Llhwn which is equivalent to a fenc'd Town or dwelling as the Poet sings of them Their Houses were the Thicks And bushy queaches hollow Caves and Hardles made of sticks And 't is more then probable that in that place where St. Pauls Church now stands there was a Wood or Grove at first in regard there was a Fane or Temple erected there to the honour of Diana for Historians observe that whereas Venus Mars and Vulcan were used to have their Temples in the Suburbs Iupiter and Apollo within the City the Goddess Diana was used to have her Temples set up in Woods which might make the Britains denominate that place Llhwndian which is as much as Diana's Grove or Town As this derivation carrieth a great semblance of truth with it so the third viz. Llhandian carrieth as much if not a greater verisimilitude and weighs most with me The Brittains to this day call a Church or Temple Llhan whereof there be a great number in Wales to this day as Llhangorse Llhansawel Llhandilo c. which signifieth the Churches of such places And whereas by the Current and consentient opinion of all Antiquaries there was a Pagan Temple or Fane erected to Diana in that place where now St. Paul's stands there being yet there a place called Camera Dianae where Oxe heads and bones are daily found which were used to be offered her as victims and sacrifices I say 't is more then probable that the Britains were induc'd thereby to call the place Nhandian which is the Temple of Diana and so in tract of time the word was contracted and came to be called London Now who was the first Founder of London is no where precisely found But whosoever first founded her they shewed much prudence in the choyce of scituation For the happy and fortunate Estate of the City hath given good proof that built she was in a good houre when some propitious Starre was then the ascendent and marked for long life and continuance and that she is for antiquity very honourable Ammianus Marcellinus giveth us to understand that she was called an ancient City in his time which is above twelve hundred years agoe Cornelius Tacitus doth seem to do the like three hundred years before who gives her this Character Londinum copiâ Negotiatorum commeatu valdè celebre for multitude of Merchants and commerce London is very renowned This only was wanting to the glory thereof that she had not the name of Free City nor of Colony Neither indeed had it stood with the Roman interest if any City flourishing with Trade should have enjoyed the right of a Free City And therefore it was as may be well supposed that they ordain'd her to be a Prefecture for so they term'd Towns where Marts were kept and Justice administred yet so that they had no Magistrates of their own but rulers were sent every year to govern them and for to execute Law in publick matters namely of Tax Tribute Tolls Customs Warfare c. from the Senate of Rome Hence it commeth that Tacitus the Panegyrist and Marcellinus aforesaid call her only a Town But although she was not lostier in name yet in Wealth Riches and Prosperity she flourished as much as any other yea and continued alwayes the same under the Dominions of Romans Saxons and Normans seldom or never afflicted with any great calamities In the raign of Nero when the Britains had conspired to recover and resume their liberty under the Conduct of Baodicia the Londoncrs could not with all their vveepings hold Suetonius
dischargeth it self into the Thames Fitz Stephen calls this the Palatin Tower or Castle And they write that in the Reign of William the Conqueror it was consumed by fire out of the ruines whereof a great part of Saint Pauls Church was newly built And also on the very plot of ground where it stood Robert Kilwarby ArchBishop of Canterbury founded a Religious House for the Dominican Fryars whence we call the place Black-fryars whereby a man may easily guess of what bigness it was howbeit in that place stood in the dayes of Henry the second Gervase of Tilbury in his Book call'd Otia Imperialia is my Author two Forts or Ramparts the one whereof belong'd to Bainard the other to the Baron of Monfichet by right of succession but nothing remaineth of them to this day yet some think that Pembroke House was a piece of them which we term Bainards Castle of Bainard a noble man of Dunmow whose possession sometimes it was whose Successors the Fitz Waters were in right of inheritance who were Ensign-bearers of the City of London as shall be told hereafter and among them Robert Fitz water had licence of K. Edward the first to sell the Site of Bainards Castle to the forenamed ArchBishop Kilwarby Neither was this City at that time wall'd only but also when the Flamins or Pagan Priests were taken away and Christian Religion established under that good Emperour Constantine a Bishop was install'd in their room for it appeareth at the Councel of Arles which in the year of grace 314 was held under the said Constantine the great the Bishop of London was present for he subscribed as it is to be seen in the first Tome of the Councel in this manner Restitutus Bishop in the City of London out of the Province of great Britain Which Restitutus and his Successors had their Seat and residence as some affirm as Saint Peters in Cornhil From that time London flourished in such honour that she began to be call'd Augusta and by that name was famous under the Emperour Valentinian For Ammianus Marcellinus in his 27 Book writeth thus And going forward to London an ancient Town which posterity call'd Augusta and in the 28 Book He went from Augusta which men of old time call'd London Whence it came that after Constantine's time there was a Mint appointed therein For we read in those Pieces of Money which he caused to be stamp'd in honour of his Father Constantius and in others this was the Inscription P. Lon. S. that is Pecunia Londino signata Mony stamp'd in London He who had the charge and overseeing thereof under the Comes of Sacrarum largitionum is in the Book of Notice term'd Praepositus the saurorum Augustensium in Britannia that is Provost of the Treasury of Augusta or London in Britany For this name Augusta was a name full of Dignity and Majesty And both Founders and Repairers of Cities when they hoped or wish'd that such Cities would become flourishing and powerful gave them significant names of good fortune But among the most auspicious names that be none is more magnificent none more auspicate and glorious than Augusta For this of Augustus the most gracious mighty Emperour Octavianus took unto himself not without the judgment of the best learned Sirnamed he was saith Dio Augustus as one of great Majesty above the nature of man for what things be most honourable and sacred are called Augusta Neither had London this name for so high an honour without the Licence of the Roman Emperours In regard that names could not be impos'd upon Cities without authority as Virgil notes in that verse of his Urbem appellabant permisso nomine Acestam The City by permission Acesta they did name But as continuance of time has outworne this so honorable a name of Augusta to it hath confirm'd that other most ancient name Londinum Whiles it enjoy'd the foresaid name Augusta it scaped fair from destruction by a rebellious rout of Ransakers But Theodosius the father of Theodosius the Emperour did cut them in pieces whiles they were encombred with their spoils entred as Mareianus saith with exceeding great joy in triumphant manner into the City distressed before overwhelm'd with grievous calamities And marching with his Army from thence he by his valour and prowesse so freed Britain from those intolerable calamities and dangers wherewith she was beset that the Romans as witnesseth Symmachus honored him among other ancient Worthies and men of high renown with the Statue of a man of Arms. Not long after when the Romans Empire in Britain was come to an end in that publick destiny and fatal defection of the whole State it fell unto the English Saxons but in what sort it is not well agreed on among Authors It is most probable that Vortigern to redeem himself being taken prisoner delivered it for his ransome unto Hengist the Saxon considering that it did belong unto the East Saxons whose Countrey also as Writers do record Vortigern upon that condition made over unto Hengist At which time the state of the Church went also to wrack and endured sore affliction the Pastors were either slain or forc'd to fly their flocks worried and havock made of all as well Church goods as others Theon the last Bishop of London of the British blood was fain to hide the holy Relique of Saints for a memorial as my Author saith and not for any superstition But although those daies of the English Saxons were such that a man might truly say Mars then brandished and shook his weapons yet was London neverthelesse as Bede testifieth a Town of Trade and traffique frequented by many Nations resorting thither by Sea and Land But afterwards when a more gracious gale of peace breath'd favourably upon this wearied Island and the English Saxon began to professe Christianity it also began to flourish afresh for Ethelbert King of Kent under whom Sebert raign'd in this tract as it 〈◊〉 his Vassal and by courtesie founded here a Church and did consecrate it to Saint Paul which being soon reedified and repaired became at last most stately and magnificent it was endowed by degrees with fair revenues livings wherewith were maintain'd a Bishop a Dean a Chanter a Chancellour a Treasurer fire Archdeacons thirty Prebendaries and divers other Incumbents and Officers who might have a hansome subsistence thereby The East part of this Church seems to be the newer and more curiously wrought having under it a very fair large arch'd Vault which also is Saint Faiths Church It was built out of the ruines of that Castle Palatine spoken of before by Mauritius the Bishop about the year of our Lord 1086 whereas it had been formerly consum'd by a wofull accidental fire whereof William of Mamesbury writeth thus The beauty whereof is so magnificent that it deserves to be numbred in the rank of the most excellent Edifices so large as that arck'd Vault underneath and the Church above it of such capacity
of the Ferry But afterwards that House of Nuns being converted into a House of Priests the Priests did build a Bridge of Timber and from time to time kept the same in good reparation till at length considering the great charges which were bestowed in the frequent repair of the woodden Bridge there was at last by the Contributions of the Citizens and others a Bridge built of Stone The Timber Bridge had stood some Ages before for the Story saith that when Sweyn King of Denmark had besieged the City of London both by Water and Land in the year 994. the Citizens manfully defended themselves under their King Ethelred so that a great number of the Enemies was slain in Battel and part of them were drown'd in the River of Thames because they could not recover the Bridge Add hereunto that in the year 1016. Canâ—tus the Dane with a great Navy came up to London and on the South of the Thames caus'd a Trench to be cast through the which his Ships were tow'd towards the West side of the Bridge and then with a deep Trench and streight siege he encompassed the City about Moreover 1052. the Earl Godwin with the like Navy taking his course up the River and finding no resistance on the Bridge he sail'd up the South side Further 1067. William the Conqueror in his Charter to the Church of St. Peter in Westminster confirmed to the Monks serving God there a Gate in London call'd Buttolphs Gate then with a Wharf which was at the head of London Bridge We read likewise that Anno 1114. in the raign of Henry 1. the River of Thames was so dryed up and the water grew so shallow that between the Tower of London and the Bridge not only with Horse but people might have passed over a foot In the year 1122 Thomas Arden gave to the Monks at Bermondsey the Church of St. George in Southwark and five shillings yearly rent out of the Land pertaining to London Bridge There is also a remarkable Charter of Hen. 1. upon Record to this tenor Henry King of England to Ralph Chichester and all the Ministers of Sussex sendeth greeting Know ye I command by my Kingly authority that the Manor call'd Alceston which my Father gave with other Lands to the Abbey of Battle be free and quiet from Shiers and Hundreds and all other Customes of earthly servitude as my Father held the same most freely and quietly and namely from the work of London-Bridge the work of the Castle at Pevensey And this I command upon my forfaiture Witnesse William de Pontdelarche at Berry The first year of King Stephen a fire began in the house of one Aâ—lwards neer unto London-stone which consum'd East unto Ludgate and West to St. Erkenswald's shrine in St. Pauls Church The Bridge of Timber upon the River of Thames was also burnt but afterwards repair'd Besides in the Reign of the said King Stephen and of Hen. 2. men stood in great numbers upon the Bridge to see pastimes that were upon the River In the year 1163 that Bridge was not only repair'd but built all of new Timber as before by Peter Colechurch Priest and Chaplain This serves to shew that there was a Timber Bridge a long tract of time over the Thames which was maintain'd partly by the proper Lands thereof partly by the Legacies and liberality of divers persons and partly by taxations in divers Sheirs at least 215 years before the Bridge of stone was erected Now about the year 1176 the stone-Bridge had its first foundation by the foresaid Peter of Cole-Church near unto the place of the Timber Bridge but somewhat more West for the Chronicle saith that Buttolphes WharF was at the end of London-Bridge The King not only countenanced but assisted the great work a Cardinal being then here Legate and Richard Archbishop of Canterbuty gave 1000 Marks towards the Foundation The course of the River for a time was turn'd another way about by a trench cast up for that purpose beginning East about Radriff and ending in the West about Patricksey now call'd Battersay This work to wit the Arches Chappel and the Stone Bridge over the Thames at London having been 33 years in building was in the year 1209 finished by the worthy Citizens of London viz. Serle Mercer William Almane and Benedict Botewrite being principal Masters of that Fabrique for Peter Colechurch was dead four years before and was as the principal Benefactor buried in the Chappel on the Bridge Certain void places were given by King Iohn to build upon about London the profits whereof were assign'd to maintain the Bridge A Mason being Master Workman of the Bridge builded from the foundation the large Chappel on that Bridge upon his own charges which Chappel was then endow'd with two Priests and four Clerks c. besides Chanteries After the finishing of this Chappel which the first building upon those Arches sundry Mansion Houses in tract of time were erected whereunto many charitable men gave Lands Tenements and sums of money towards the maintenance thereof All which was sometimes registred and fairly written in a Table for posterity which was put up in the said Chappel till at last the said Chappel was turn'd to a dwelling House and then remov'd to the Bridge-house Now in Hen. 7. time it stands upon Record that all the payments and allowances belonging to London-Bridge amounted to above 815 l. by which account made then may be partly guessed the great Revenues and incomes of the said Bridge and to what improvement and encrease it may be come unto by this time But this noble Bridge as other earthly things hath suffer'd many disasters since for four years after the finishing thereof in the year 1212 on the 10th of Iuly at night the Burrough of Southwark on the South side of Thames as also the Church of our Lady of the Canons there being on fire and an exceeding great multitude of people passing the Bridge either to extinguish and quench it or to behold and gaze upon it suddenly the North part by blowing of the South wind was also set on fire and the people which were then passing the Bridge perceiâ—ing the same would have return'd but were stopp'd by the fury of the fire and it came to passe as they stayed all in a consternation and protracted the time the other South end of the Bridge was also set on fire so that the people thronging themselves betwixt two raging fires did nothing else but expect present death Whereupon there came to save them many ships and vessels into which the multitude so inadvisedly rush'd in that the ships being thereby â—unk they all perished And it was found that above three thousand souls perished by this disastrous accident at that time whose bodies were found half burnt besides those who were turn'd to ashes Furthermore in the year 1282 through a great frost and deep snow five Arches of London Bridge were born down and destroyed A little after
Anno 1289 the Bridge was â—o sore decayed for want of reparations that people were afraiâ— to pass thereon and a subsidy was granted towards the amendment thereof Afterwards Sir Iohn Britain being then Custos of London Anno 1381 a great Collection was made by all the Clergy for the repair of London-Bridge In the year 1381 on St. Georges day was a great solemnity of Justs and Tournements upon London-Bridge between David Earl of Crawford of Scotland and the Lord Wells of England whereby one may infer that the houses were not there so thick at that time The Tower on London-bridge at the North end of the Draw-bridge which was then in a posture to be drawn up was built Anno 1426 in the Majoralty of Iohn Rainwell Anno 1471 a house call'd the Common siege on London-Bridge tumbled down into the Thames by death of diyers persons a little after But in the year sixteen hundred thirty three there happen'd a most raging dismal fire upon the North side of London-bridge which by computation consum'd above the third part of the Buildings thereof But by the commendable care of the City there are other goodly structures rais'd up in some of their rooms of a stronger and more stately way of building and pity it is that the work were not compleated there being no object after the Church of St. Pauls that can conduce more to the glory and Ornament of this renowned City Besides this Bridge that may be call'd the Bridge of the world there are other inferior Bridges which have still the names of Bridges that belong to the City of London the first is Fleet-bridge in the West fenc'd with iron Pikes on which towards the South there be certain Lanthorns of Stones for lights to be placed in Winter Evenings for commodity of passengers Under this Bridge runs a water sometimes call'd the River Wells but since Turn-hill brook and now Fleet Dike because it runs by the Fleet under ground to the River of Thames this Bridge hath been far greater in times pass'd but lessened as the water course hath been narrowed Over the sayd River of Wells northerly stands Oldenbridge now Holborn-bridge so call'd of a boorn that sometimes ran down Holborn hill into the River this Bridge like Fleet-bridge-serves for passage only Then comes Cow-bridge more Northerly over the same water near unto Cow-lane but this Bridge being decayed another of Timber is made more North towards Chicklane There are some other small Bridges over the Town-ditch viz. without Eald-gate without Bishopsgatâ— Mooregate the Postern of Cripplegate as also without Aldersgate the Postern of Christs Hospital Newgate and Ludgate which are now paved eaven with the streets only there remains one of Timber over the River of Wels or Fleet Dike There have 〈◊〉 informer ages divers Bridges in sundry places over the course of Wallbrook but 〈◊〉 they are made levell with the paâ—ements of the Streets so that the water-course can now be hardly discover'd being vaulted over with Brick Of the chief Fortresse or Tower of LONDON ANd now that we are come so near the famous and great Tower Palatine or Citâ—adel of London we will try whether we can get in thither without paying fees and take a view thereof as briefly as we can it being an ill-favoured and tedious thing to stay there long I know it is the current vulgar opinion that Julius Caesar the first Conquerour or rather indeed Discoverer of Britain was the Original Founder thereof but there is â—ery litle probability of truth in that for two Reasons The first is the little stay he made here during which he had other things to think on The second is that he himself who is so exact in his relations specially if they conduce to his honour nor any other Roman Author makes any mention of of such a work or Fabrique Therefore that opinion which approacheth truth the neerest is that William of Normandy the Conqueror was the first tracer and erector of the Tower of London as Edmond de Hadenham an old English Antiquary affirms The first part that was built was the great square and White Tower though black to some which was about the year 1078 whereof Gundulph Bishop of Rochester was principal Superviser and Surveyer who was log'd then in the house of Edmere a Burgesse of London as it stands upon Latine Record in the forenamed Author Now it is to be considered that at first the wall of the City was in many places furnish'd with sundry Bastions and Turrets in due distance one from the other and divers stood on the waters side where some of the said Wall extended at first but the Thames with her ebbings and flowings did as it were corrode and subverâ— those Buildings on the South side Wherefore the Conqueror for then the Art of fortification was come to a greater perfection for defence of the City and River pitch'd upon that place as most convenient to erect a Buâ—wark in the East part of the Wall The White square Tower as was formerly said was first erected and finished in the Conquerors time but stood naked and single without other Buildings a good while and the story â—aith that in William Rufus time it was by the injury of the Heavens and violence of tempest sore shaken and some part tumbled down which was repair'd by the said Rufus and Henry the first who also caused a Castle to be built under the said White Tower on the South side towards the Thames and he surrounded that also with a strong Wall Now Henry of Huntindon relates that VVill. Rufus challeng'd the inveâ—â—iture of Prelates and pill'd the people pitifully to spend the treasure about the Tower of London and the great Hall at VVestminster whereof he was Founder The first Keeper of the Tower of London was call'd Constable Ostowerus Acolinillus Otho and Geoffrey Magnaville were the first four Constables of the Tower of London by succession all which held a portion of Land that appertain'd to the Priory of the Holy Trinity near Algate viz. East Smithfield as belonging to that Office making thereof a Vineyard and would would not part with it till the second year of King Stephen when by judgment of the Court it was restored to the Church The foresaid Geoffery Magnaville was at one time Constable of the Tower Sherif of London Middlesex Essex Hartfordshire as the Chronicles relate He also fortified the Tower of London against King Stephen but the King took him at last at St. Albanes and would not free him till he had surrendred the Tower of London with the Castles of VValden and Plashey in Essex Richard de Lucie was Anno 1155 Constable of the Tower of London and also of Casâ—le the of VVinsore About the beginning of the Raign of Richard the first William Longshank Bishop of Ely and Chancellour of England for some dissentions 'twixt him and John the Kings Brother who was in Rebellion enclos'd the Tower of London with an outward
eighths time the Tower was eâ—er and anon full of prisoners among others Sir Thomas More Lord Chancellor of England was clap'd there close Prisoner and at last they took away from him all his Books so he did shut up all his windows and liv'd afterwards in obscurity and being asked Why he answered 'T is time to shut up shop when the Ware is all gone At his first entrance to the Tower the Gentleman Porter ask'd for his fee which is the upper Garment whereupon Sir Thomas pull'd off his Cap to give him but that not suffâ—â—ing he pull'd out a handful of Angels end gave him a good many a Knight that was in his Company telling him that he was glad to see him so full of Angels yes answered he I love to carry my friends alwayes about me The young Lady Iane was beheaded there not long after and upon the Scaffold she made a most ingenious Speech and full of pity That she came thither to serve for an example to posterity that innocence cannot be any protection against greatness And that she was come thither not for aspiring to a Crown but for not refusing one when it was offered Her Queen Elizabeth was brought up many years in that School of affliction but afterwards she may be said to have gone from the Scaffold to the Throne For the truth is that the Scaffold had made an end of her had not King Philip her Brother in Law strongly interceded for her In her dayes Robert Earl of Essex lost his head in the Tower which he might have kept on many years longer had he not bin betrayed by the Lady Walsingham to whom after the sentence of condemnation he sent a Ring which the Queen had given him as a token that she would stick to him in any danger the Lady delivered not this Ring and being a little after upon her Death-bed she desired to speak with the Queen and having disburthened a great weight which lay upon her Conscience for that act the Queen flung away in a fury and never enjoyed her self perfectly after that time but she would break out often into passion and wring her hands crying O Essex-Essex And this Earl was the last who was executed within the walls of the Tower In King Iames's time for 22 years there was no blood spilt in the Tower or upon Tower-hill only Sir Gervase Elwayes was hanged there when he was Lieutenant and one remarkable passage there was in his Speech upon the Ladder that being in the low Countries and much addicted to gaming he made a vow that if ever he played more above such a value he might be hanged but he did violate the Oath and so the just Judgement of Heaven did fall upon him accordingly as he said The Earl of Castlehaven was brought from the Tower to be executed for horrid kinds of incontinencies in Charles the first time Afterwards in the raign of the long Parliament and ever since the Tower of London hath had more number of Prisoners then it had in the compasse of a hundred years before This stately Tower of London serves not only for a Gaol to detain prisoners but for many other uses It is a strong Fort or Cittadel which secures both City and River It serves not only to defend but to command either upon occasion It serves as a royal Randezvouz for Assemblies and Treaties It is the Treasury for the Jewels and Ornaments of the Crown The great Archive which conserves all the old Records of the Courts of Justice at Westminster It is the place for the Royal Mint and Coynage of Gold and Silver It is the chief Magazin and Armory or Arâ—enal of the whole Land for Martial Engines and Provision There only is the Brake or Rack usually call'd the Duke of Exceters Daughter because he was tâ—e first Inventer of it And lastly It is a great Ornament by the situation of it both to the River and City The City of London hath divers other inferior Towers as that on the North of the great Bridge At the South end over the Gate there is also another Tower over London-Bridge which hath suffered many accidents of firing and otherwise and was still made up by the care and charge of the City specially one time when it was under bastard Fawconbridge burnt by the Marriners and Saylers of Kent The Antiquaries speak of two Castles that were in the West part of London one call'd the Castle of Monfiquet which was built by a Baron of that name who came over with the Conqueror which was afterwards demolished and the Black Fryers risen up out of the ruines of it The second Castle is Baynards Castle by Pauls Wharf built also by one Baynard who came over with the Conqueror who being ennobled the honour of Baynards Castle succeeded from Father to Son a long time till it came to Sir Robert Fitzwater a valiant Cavalier who being fallen into the displeasure of King Iohn in the Barons Warres was banished and Baynards Castle destroyed But afterwards being restâ—red to the Kings favour by an exployt he did in France he was re-invested in all his Livings and so repair'd Baynards Castle again Moreover he was made chief Banner-bearer of the City of London whereof he had a Charter which ran to this sense That he said Robert Fitzwater and his Heirs ought to be and are chief Bannerers of London in fee for the Chastilary which he and his Ancestors had from Baynards Castle and the said City In time of War the said Robert and his Heires ought to serve the City as followeth The said Robert he being the twentieth man of Armes himself ought to come on Horseback covered with Cloth or Armor under the great West door of St. Paul with his Banner displayed before him and when he is come mounted to that door and apparreld as before is said The Maior with the Aldermen and Sheriffs in their Arms shall come out of the Church of St. Paul unto the said West door the Maior bearing a Banner in his hand all on foot which Banner shall be Gules the Image of St. Paul Gold the face hands feet and Sword Argent And as soon as the said Robert shall see the Maior Aldermen and Sheriffs come on foot out of the Church armed with such a Banner he shall alight off his Horse and salute the Maior and say to him Sir Maior I am come to do my service which I owe to the City whereunto the Maior and Aldermen shall answer We give to you as to our Bannerer of fee in this City the Banner of this City to beare and govern to the honour and profit of this City to your power And the said Robert and his Heires shall receive the said Banner in his hands and shall go on foot out of the Gate with the Banner in his hands and the Maior Aldermen and Sheriffs shall follow to the door and shall bring a Horse to the said Bannerer worth twenty pounds which Horse
among the filth and rubbish together with a fair Well A great part of the House on the West side was given to the Bishop of Salisbury whence Salisbury Court derives its name to this day The other part towards the East remain'd wast until Henry the 8th did build a stately Palace there in a very short time and call'd it Bridewel which he did for the entertainment of his Nephew Charles the fifth Emperour and King of Spain who came hither Anno 1522 and was there entertain'd in a Princely and Magnificent manner There was another Tower call'd the Tower Royal in the Parish of Saint Michael de Pater noster where King Stephen was us'd to keep his Court which was call'd afterwards the Queens Wardrobe Barbican was also another Tower Besides there was an ancient Tower in Bucklersbury called Sernes Tower and the story saith that Edward the third kept his Court there appointing his exchange of moneys to be also there kept which he gave afterwards to his free Chappel of St. Stephen in VVestminster now call'd Henry the sevenths Chappel who spent 14000 ls in the building of it and about the same time a great ship was built which cost just as much Of the publick places of Sciences and Literature which London hath IT is observed that the English Nation hath bin alwaies extraordinarily addicted to Literature and to the love of Knowledge which among other instances appears in that of old times there were three principal Churches in London which had famous Schools wherein there were professors Doctors which were famous for their knowâ—edge in Philosophy and the Mathematicks The three Churches which had these Schools by Priviledges were the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul for by General Councel held in the year 1176 at Rome in the Patriarchy of Saint Lateran it was decreed that every Cathedral Church should have a School-master to teach poor Schollers and others The second was St. Peters in Westminster whereof Ingulphus Abbot of Crowland in the Reign of William the Conqueror writes thus I Ingulphus an humble servant of God born of English Parents in the most beautiful City of London for to attain to Learning was first put to Westminster and after to study aâ— Oxford c. The third School seemes to have bin in the Monastery of St. Savlour in Bermondsey at Southwark There were other Schools built afterwards as that of St Iohn by Smithfield and that of Saint Bartholmew that of Saint Mary Overies and that of the holy Trinity by Ealdgate with divers others But touching Philosophy and other Sciences in regard that the Colledges in Oxford and Cambridge did so much encrease the former meetings in London and di putes in Philosophy that were used to be did discontinue Only of late years that noble Maecenas and Patriot Sir Thomas Gresham did erect to his eternal honour a Colledge for all the Sciences in Bishopsgate-street as an attendant to his Royall Exchange The Chronicles teach us that Henry the fifth having suppressed the Prioriâ—s Aliens whereof there were some about London namely our Lady of Rouncâ—val by Charing crosse one other Hospital in Oldborn now Holborn another without Cripplegate and the fourth without Aldersgate besides others that are worne long since out of memory only that of Rouncival continued till the Reign of Henry the eighth being converted to a brotherhood But Edward the sixth appointed by Patent that there should be in London more Grammar Schooles erected to wit one in St Andrews in Holborn another in Alhallows the great another in St Peters on Cornhil and another in the Hospital of St. Thomas of Acon in West cheap The Free-school of Pauls was built of an old ruined house in ample manner and richly endowed Anno 1512 by Doctor Colet Dean of Pauls for 153 poor mens children for which there was a chief Master an Usher and Chaplain ordained Moreover in the year 1553 after the erection of Christs Hospital which risse out of the ruins of the Grey Fryers that stood there a great number of poor children were taken in and a fair School appointed at the charge of the City though Edward the sixth beat the name of Patron Anno 1561 the Marchant Taylors of London founded one notable School in the Parish of St. Lawrence Poultney The house was sometimes the Duke of Buckinghams called the Mannor of the Rose which Mr. Richard Hills Master of the company did purchase for 500 l. and bestowed it for a free School There was an old Custome in London that the School-Masters should meet on festival daies and their Schollers should dispute in Logick as well as Grammer Questions and Principles and the most common randezvouz was Saint Bartholmews in Smithfield being a priory where upon a bank boorded under a tree they used to meet and the best Schollers were rewarded with Bows and Arrows of silver which they carried away as prizes but that laudable custome is grown obsoleâ—e and quite discontinued A great emulation there was 'twixt Pauls Schollers and those of St. Anthonies the Schollers of Pauls would taunt and term them St. Anthonies Piggs and they would call St. Pauls Schollers Pigeons of Pauls and many feuds happen'd amongst them in the open streets but St. Anthonies School decaying the quarrel also ceas'd Anno 1582 a publick Lecture of Chirurgery was founded to be read in the Colledge of Physitians in Knight-rider-street twice every week The Founder thereof was the honourable Baron the Lord Lumley and Richard Chadwel Doctor of Physick and Doctor Foster was the first Reader thereof A Mathematical Lecture was also founded about the same time to be read in a fair ancient Chappel built by Simon Eyre within Leaden-hall But this Chappel being employ'd afterwards for stowage of goods taken out of a Spanish Carack the said Lecture ceas'd there and was used to be read in Mr. Tho. Smiths house in Grass-street 1184. Anno 1579 Sir Thomas Gresham Queen Elizabeths Royal Marchant or Agent spoken of before gave the Royal Exchange with all the buildings thereunto appertaining viz. the one moity to the Mayor and Comminalty of London and their Successors upon trust that they perform as shall be declared and the other moity to the Mercers on the same confidence The Maior Aldermen are to find four to read Lectures of Divinity Astronomy Musick and Geometry within that dwelling in Bishopsgate-street and to bestow the sum of 200l viz. 50l per annum to every Reader The Mercers also are to find three Readers in the same place that is The Civil Law Physick and Rhetorick and every Reader was to have 50 l. a year stipen'd which great gift was confirm'd afterwards by Act of Parliament and so to continue for ever These Lectures are to be read every day in the week in Term time Sundays excepted in the Latine Tongue in the morning and the same in English in the same dayes afternoon only the Musick Lecture whereof Doctor Bull was the first Lecturers was to be read
London have had from time to time differing appellations Under the Britains they were call'd Kings The Romans stiled them Praefects The Saxons Portreves The Norman Kings at their first comming Bayliffs and sometimes Provosts Then came the Office to be established in the Title of Maior which hath continued any time these 467. years though it was interrupted sometimes by a Custos which some of the Kings as Henry the third and Edward the first upon a displeasure against the City were used to appoint This great Urban Magistrate the Maior of London useth to be chosen upon the feast of St. Michael the Archangel every year out of the six and twenty Aldermen who are his Brethren but he takes not his place until the 28. of October next following Touching the State and Authority of the Lord Maior of London there is no Oppidan Magistrate in Christendom all things well considered lives in a greater Let us examine the particulars and first go to his domestical attendance and the Officers thereunto belonging which are 1. A Sword-bearer 2. Common Hunt 3. Common Cryer And 4. Water Bayliffs all Esquires by their places Then is there the Coroner of London three Sergeant Carvers 3. Sargeants of the Chamber Sargeant of the Channel 4 Yeomen of the Water side The Under Water-Bayliffe two Yeomen of the Chamber three Meal-weighets two Yeomen of the Wood-Wharfs and most of these have their Servants allowed them but the common Huntsman and Water-Bayliffe have two a peece some of them have Liveries from the Lord Maior and the rest from the Chamber of London There be divers other great publick Officers belong to the Government of the City of London as the two Sherifâ—s which like the Lord Maior are but annual The Recorder the Chamberlain the Common Sergeant the Town-Clark or common Clark the Remembrancer all Esquires The Sheriffs are chosen upon Midsummer day they formerly were used to be elected out of the Commonalty and sometimes they came to be Aldermen as many Aldermen were made Maiors though not having bin Sheriffs But of latter years the Sheriffs have bin Aldermen before or presently after their Election And 't is remarkable that Nicolas Faringdon was 4 times Maior of London and yet never Sheriff Now touching the Election of these Officers we shall give a brief account the prime Magistrate the Lord Maior and the Aldermen met at Guild-hall at 8. in the morning in their Scarlet Gowns and their Cloaks fur'd riding on Horseback and having bin a while in the Councel Chamber they come forth into the Orphans Court whence they go in their Cloaks to the Chappel to hear Service and Sermon where the Lord Maior with some of the Aldermen take the Communion which being ended and Offrings delivered they return to the Councel Chamber and thence to the Hustings the highest Court where the Recorder makes a Speech touching the business in hand then they go back to the Lord Maiors Court where they remain the doors shut until the Election be brought unto them Then the common Sargeant having the Sheriffs on either side and the Sheriffs other Officers about them makes another Speech touching the Custom of the City in this kind whereupon they choose two whose names are brought up to the Lord Maior and the Aldermen who by scrutiny elect one of those two whom the Commons had nominated before Then the Lord Maior returns to the Hustings and he who is chosen goeth upon his left hand and sitteth next him Then the Recorder speaks again to the Commons nominating the person whom the Lord Maior and the Aldermen had admitted and demands whether it be their free choyce the commons affirming it the Sword-bearer goes to the Lord Maior Elect and taketh off his Tipper which he takes for his fee and puts on his Chain whereupon he making a short Speech of gratitude the Lord Maior and the new Elect go to the Eldest Sheriffs House to dinner After dinner the Lord Elect taking the Common Hunt and other Officers to attend him besides a Company of Aldermen goeth to the Lord Keeper of the great Seal of England where five or six Aldermen present him wearing their Violet Gowns The morrow after Michaelmas day the Lord Maior and the Aldermen go with the two new Sheriffs to the Exchequer-chamber in Westminster where they are presented and sworn and the old Sheriffs are sworn also to their account On Simon and Iudes day the Aldermen and Sheriffs attend the old Lord Maior at his House whence they come in their formalities to the Hustings where being sate the common Cryer commands silence then the Town-Clark exhibites an Oath to the Lord Maior Elect which being done the former Lord Maior giveth place to the New which being done the Chamberlain delivers him the Scepter next the Keyes of the Common Seal and lastly the Seal of the Majoralty Then the Sword-bearer delivers him the Sword On the morrow after all the Aldermen and Sheriffs solemnly meet at the new Lord Maiors House by 8. in the morning whence they go to the Guild-Hall and thence to the Vine-Tree where they take Barge and are rowed in state to Westminster-Hall the rest of the chief Companies attending in their several Barges with their Arms Colours and Streamers in a very gay manner Being come to the Hall they go round about and salute all the Tribunals of justice then they ascend to the Exchequer Chamber to the Barons where after the Recorder hath made a Speech the Oath is administer'd Then they come down to the Hall and go first to the Kings Bench then to the Common Pleas and so to Westminster Abbey where having walk'd about the Kings Tombs they return to their Barge and so to London again where being landed they go to the Guild-hall where a most plentifull dinner is prepared which lasts many hours being called the Lord Mayors feast The Lords of the privy Councel the Judges with other Lords and Ladies of the best quality are thither invited After dinner the Lord Mayor with all the Companies attending ride solemnly to Saint Pauls to do their devotions and so the Ceremony of that great day is concluded Touching the Election of the Sheriffs the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen meet at 8 in the morning at Guild-hall in their violet-colour'd Gowns and their Cloaks of Scarlet lin'd but without horses where from the Counsel-Chamber they go to the Orphans Court so to the Hustings where the Recorder having made a speech touching the present meeting the Mayor Aldermen go to the Mayors Court the dores shut upon them then the Commons fall to the Election of Sheriffs as also a Chamberlain two Bridg-masters the Auditors of the City and Bridg-house Accounts and the Surveyors for Beer and Ale which being done the Sheriffs with the other Officers the Common Cryer going before them with his Mace go up to the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen to cary up the report of what is done at the Hustings whither the Lord
a Crosse engrail'd or between 4. Sawes Salterwayes argent 18. The Company of Masons otherwise call'd Free Masons were us'd to be a loving Brother-hood for many ages yet were they not regulated to a Society till Hen. 4. their arms sable on a cheuron between 3. Castles argent a pair of Compasses of the first 19. The Company of Plumbers were erected to a Corporation 9th Jacobi 20. The Company of Inholders came to be reduc'd to a Corporation 6. Hen. 8. their arms azure a cheuron quarterly or and gules counterchang'd between 3. garbs or 21. The Company of Founders were incorporated on the 18th of Septemb. in the 12th year of King James their Coat gules a Spoonpot betwixt two Candlesticks or 22. The Company of Embroiderers came to be a Corporation 4th Eliz. their arms barry of 8. argent and azure on a fesse or a Cup argent between as many Lyons passant regardant 23. The Company of Poulters became a Corporation in the 19th of Hen. 7th their arms are three Swans of the first as many Herons of the second 24. The Company of Cooks became a Corporation in the 12th year of Edw. 4th their arms are a cheuron Sable between three burray branches proper 25. The Company of Coopers was reduced to a Corporation the 16th of the Raign of Hen. 7th by the name of Master Wardens or keepers of the Comminalty of the Freemen of the mystery of Coopers and the Suburbs thereof Their arms party per pale gules and or a cheuron between three hoops in a chief azure 26. The Company of Tylers and Brick-layers though very ancient yet were they not made a Corporation till the 10th of Queen Eliz. Their Arms azure a cheuron â—r between a Flower-de-lice or in chief 'twixt two gads of Steel of the second 27. The Company of Bowyers though of much antiquity and honor to the English Nation yet their Incorporation was but in the 21. of King James their arms Sable on a chief 3. Mallets of the first between 3. Sawes of the first 28. The Company of Fletchers are also a Corporation their arms Sable a cheuron or between 3. Arrowes argent 29. The Company of Smiths or Black-smiths a very ancient Fraternity were first incorporated by Queen Eliz. 20th of her Raign their arms Sable a cheuron between three Hammers crown'd or 30. The Company of Joyners or Seelers were incorporated by Queen Eliz. 13th of her Raign their Arms gules a Cheuron 'twixt two Compasses and a Globe argent on a chief pale gules charg'd with an escalop or between two Roses of the first 31. The Company of Playsterers were incorporated into one fraternity in the Raign of Hen. 7th Their arms azure an Escucheon or a Rose between two Flower-de-luces gules two Hammers and a Brush argent 32. The Company of Weavers were of very ancient note indeed as having three several Societies of themselves viz. the Woollen Weavers the Arras Weavers the Linnen Weavers their arms azure three Leopards heads with three Shuttles in their mouthes argent on a cheuron gules or between 33. The Company of the Fruterers were incorporated 3d Iacobi their arms argent the Tree of Paradice between Adam and Eve proper 34. The Company of Scriveners became a Corporation 14th Jacobi their arms an Eagle volant holding in his mouth a penner and an Inkhorn 34. As for Bottle-makers and Horners though they may plead antiquity yet are they no Incorporation 35. The Company of Stationers of great antiquity before Printing was invented their old dwelling was in Paternoster Row and the adjoyning parts yet were they not incorporated till the third of Philip and Mary their arms argent on a cheuron between 3. Bibles or a Faulcon volant between two Roses the Holy Ghost in chief 36. The Company call'd the Marblers or Sculpters are in one fraternity with the Masons yet have they a differing Coat viz. a cheuron between two and a Mallet argent 37. There was a Company of Wooll-packers in the time of the Haunce when the staple of Wooll flourish'd their Coat azure a Wool-sack argent 38. The Company of Farriers had their rise from Henry de Ferraris a Norman born who was Master of the Horse to the Conqueror and had given him the honour of Tutbury which was the first preferment of the Ferrars their arms three Horshooes azure 39. The Company of Paviours are ancient their Coat argent a cheuron between three rummers Sable 40. The Company of Lorinors or Loriners have for their arms gules on a cheuron argent three Horscombs 'twixt three Roses argent 41. The Company of Brown-Bakers were incorporated 19th Jacobi their arms gules a hand issuing out of the Clouds a chief barry wavie or and azure on a cheuron gules 41. The Company of Wood-mongers came to be incorporated 3d Jacobi their Coat argent a cheuron 'twixt 3. Faggots Sable 42. The Company of the Upholsters or Upholders give for their arms Sable three tents gules on a cheuron or 3. tents of the second 43. The Company of Turners came to be incorporated 2d Jacobi their Coat azure a Katherine Wheel argent 44. The Company of Glasiers give for their arms two Crosiers Salterwayes Sable 4 sprigs on a chief gules a Lyon passant gardant or 45. The Company of the Clarks commonly call'd Parish-Clarks is ancient having bin incorporated 17th Hen. 3d their arms azure a Flower-de-lice or on a chief gules a Leopards head 'twixt two Books or 46. The Company of Watermen have for their arms barry waive of six azure and argent a Lighter proper on a chief gules a pair of Oares Salterwayes 'twixt two Cushions or 47. The Company of Silk-throwers were made a Fellowship of this City 19th Jacobi they were incorporated by the name of the Master Wardens Assistants and Comminalty of the Trade Art or Mystery of Silkthrowers of the City of London 48. The Company of the Apothecaries having separated themselves from the ancient Society of the Grocers grew so much in favour with King James that he us'd to call them his Company and therefore gave them a Charter of Incorporation the 15th of his Raign Thus have we visited all the publick Societies and Corporations of this rich and renowned City who may be called her best sorts of Children for increasing of her Wealth and advancement of Trade Now every of these Companies hath a handsome and well-furnish'd stately Hall with a Clark and other Ministerial Officers thereunto belonging to attend them when they meet there to consult and inorder what may conduce to the better regulation of the Society and promoting of the publique good They also use to meet there frequently to rejoyce and make plentiful Feasts for the increase of love and good Neighbourhood among themselves And though there be some who hold such Corporations and little Body politiques of this kind to be prejudicial to Monarchy yet they may be said to be one of the Glories of London and wherein she surpasseth all other Cities The Perambulation of LONDON
OR A Progress made through the six and twenty particular Wards Precincts or Aldermanries whereinto the whole City is divided GReat Cities have commonly their Divisions And I could heartily wish that the Noble City of London had not so many in one sense I mean so many Rents factions and feuds in the practice of Holy Duties proceeding from such extravagant heterodoxal and fanatical opinions or rather Chymeras of unsetled brains But these are not the Divisions that are here meant Those which I intend in this place are only topical distributions or Districts shewing the several position of parts and differences of their locality whereby the Reader may have a kind of Anatomy presented unto him of all the members of this great populous City thus dissected This general Division consists of six and twenty parts or precincts which in the English Diaâ—ect are called Wards and are these that follow The names of all the Wards of the City of LONDON Ward 1. Tower-street 2. Port-soken 3. Algate 4. Limestreet 5. Bishops-gate 6. Broad-street 7. Cornhill 8. Langhorn 9. Billingsgate 10. Bridge-ward within 11. Candlewick 12. Wallbrook 13. Dowgate 14. Vintry 15. Cordwainer 16. Cheape 17. Colemanstreet 18. Basings Hall 19. Cripplegate 20. Aldersgate 21. Faringdon intra 22. Faringdon extra 23. Breadstreet 24. Queen Hith 25. Castle Bainard 26. Bridgewater without viz. the Borough of Southwark Whereof the greatest is the last and Bassings-Hall the least Of the first Ward or Aldermanry called Tower-street Ward OUt of an honour which is due to the Tower of London it being the prime Fortresse and propugnacle of the City both by water and Land the chief Armory and Archive of the whole Island c. we will begin with Tower-street Ward it being the first Ward Eastward within the Wall extending it self along the River from the Tower almost to Billinsgate One half of the Tower the ditch on the West side and Bulwarks adjoyning do stand within that part where the wall of the City of old time went streight from the Postern gate South to the River of Thames before that the Tower was perfectly built Then was Tower hill sometimes a clear large plot of ground but now pester'd with encroachments of houses built upon the banks of the ditch much to the prejudice and choaking up of the said ditch This Hill hath alwaies a Scaffold and Gallowes erected for execution of Traytors and others which the City opposed at first Many clashings have been also 'twixt the Lord Mayor and the Lieutenant of the Tower about the extent of their Liberties and some Priviledges touching prisoners the Lievtenant claim'd which were reconciled 1585 in Queen Elizabeths time at Nonsuch On the Northside of Tower-hill there is Lumly house then is Tower-street stretching from Tower-hill to Saint Margaret Pattens At the end of this is the Parish Church called Alhallows Barking on the North side whereof was sometimes a fair Chappel built by Richard the first and some say that his Heart which is call'd Coeur de lion was buried there under the high Altar it became afterward a little Colledge of Priests and stood till Edward the sixth Henry Howard Earl of Surrey being beheaded was buried in Barking Church Iohn Fisher Bishop of Rochester having layen naked upon the Scaffold a long time was at last carried thither and buried in the Churchyard There were divers other men of note buried there and lately Doctor Land Archbishop of Canterbury who was beheaded by the long Parliament By the West side of Barking Church lyeth Sydon Lane commonly callâ—d Sithing Lane wherein among other large Buildings there is Walsingham House Then is there the Parish Church of Saint Olave hard by Hart-street where there are some Monuments of the noble Family of the Radcliffs Earls of Sussex Then is there Mart-lane part whereof lies in Algate Ward where there are many fair Houses rich Marchants Then is there Mincheon Lane so call'd because of Tenements there sometimes pertaining to the Minchuns or Nuns of St. Helens in Bishopsgate-street There dwelt in this Lane divers strangers in times pass'd and they were commonly call'd Gallimen because they brought up Wines and other commodities in Gallies which they landed in the Thames street in a place call'd Galley Key They brought also a Coin with them call'd Gally half pence which was a Ligurian Coin But in the Reign of Henry the fourth and Henry the fifth it was inordred that whosoever should import that Coin with Suskins or Dodkins should be punished as a Felon The Clothworkâ—rs Hall is in this Lane Then have you the Parish Church of St. Mary Pattens and Bear Lane hard by reaching to Thames street The next is Spurrier lane call'd so in times pass'd but now named Water lane then is there Hart lane call'd at first Harp-lane which likewise reaches to Thames street In this Lane is the Bakers Hall In Tower street 'twixt Hart-lane and Church-lane was in times pass'd a quadrant call'd Galley-row because Galley men dwelt there whence may be inferr'd that Galleys was a kind of shipping not unknown to England in times pass'd Then have you two Lanes out of Tower street both call'd Church lanes then hard by is there another call'd Fowl-lane Afterwards you come to the Parish Church of S. Dunstans in the East it is a fair large Church of an ancient building with a spacious Church-yard the chiefest Salters Ironmongers were us'd to be thick there There are many Monuments of Knights and other persons of ranke in this Church among others that of Sir Iohn Hawkins the great Seaman There are many Keys in this Parish among others VVooll Key where was used to be the Trouage of Woolls Then Custome-house Key which part of the Town was used to be call'd in times passd Petty VVales And some are of opinion that the Princes of Wales when they repair'd to the City had a Pallace there the ruines whereof remain to this day of firm stone There was in former times an Hospital in the Parish of Barking for the sustentation of poor Priests with other both men and women that were Lunatick And so much in brief for what concerns Tower-street Ward Of the second Ward of London called Portsoken Ward VVE will now make a salley out of Algate and visit Portsoken VVard This Portsoken signifieth Franchise where there was sometimes a very ancient Guild or particular Society which had its beginning in the Reign of King Edgar There were then 13 Knights who desir'd to have a portion of Land on the East part of the City which for some signal services done in the wars was granted them with the Liberty of a Guild The King condescended hereunto proâ—ided that each of them should victoriously perform three combats one above ground and another under ground and the third in the water They were to run in East Smithfield with Spears against all comers which was us'd to be gloriously performed So that the King namd that place Knighten Guild and so
builded houses one that sometime belonged to the Prior of Monte Joves or Monastarie Cornute a Cell to Monte Joves beyond the Seas in Essex it was the Priors Inne when he repaired to this City Then a Lane that leadeth down by Northumberland House towards the Crossed Fryers as is afore shewed This Northumberland House in the Parish of St. Katherine Coleman belonging to Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland in the 33. of Henrie the sixth but of late being left by the Earls the Gardens thereof were made into Bowling Alleys and other parts into Dicing-houses common to all commers for their money there to bowl recreate themselves But now of late so many Bowling Alleys and other houses for unlawful gaming have been raised in other parts of the City and Subburbs that this which was used to be the ancientest and only Rendezvouz of sport is left and forsaken of the Gamesters and therefore turned into a number of great Rents small Cottages for strangers and others At the East end of this Lane in the way from Aldgate toward the Crossed Friers of old time were certain Tenements called the Poor Jurie of Jewes dwelling there Next unto this Northumberland house is the Parish Church of St. Katherine called Coleman which addition of Coleman was taken of a great Haw-yard or Garden of old time called Coleman Haw in the Parish of the Trinity now called Christs Church And in the Parish of St. Katherine and All-saints called Coleman Church There are some handsome Tombs in this Church and particularly of Sir Henry Billingley Knight and Lord Mayor of London who was a Benefactor thereunto Then have ye Blanch Appleton whereof we read in the 13th of Edw. the first that a Lane behind the same Blanch Appleton was granted by the King to be inclosed and shut up This Blanch Appleton was a Mannor belonging to Sir Thomas Râ—â—os of Hamelake Knight the 7th of Rich the 2d standing at the North-East corner of Mart Lane so called of a priviledge sometime enjoyed to keep a Mart there long since discontinued and therefore forgotten so as nothing remaineth for memory but the name of Mart Lane and now corruptly termed Mark Lane Of the fourth Ward or Aldermanry of London called Limestreet Ward WE will now give a visit to Limestreet Ward which takes its denomination from the street and the street from making Lime there in times passed In Limestreet are divers fair Houses for Marchants and others there was sometime a Mansion house of the Kings called the Kings Artirce as it stands upon Record in the 14th of Edward the first but now grown out of knowledge We read also of another great House in the West side of Limestreet having a Chappel on the South and a Garden on the West belonging to the Lord Nevill which Garden is now called Green Yard of the Leaden Hall This House in the 9th of Rich. 2. pertained to Sir Simon Burley and Sir John Burley his Brother and of late the said House was taken down and the forefront thereof new builded of Timber by Hugh Offley Alderman At the North-west Corner of Limestreet was of old time one great Mesuage called Benbridges Inne Raph Holland Draper about the year 1452. gave it to John Gill Master and to the VVardens and Fraternity of Taylors and Linnen Armourers of St. John Baptist in London and to their successors for ever They did set up in places thereof a fair large frame of Timber containing in the high street one great house and before it to the corner of Limestreet three other Tenements the corner house being the largest and then down Limestreet divers handsome Tenements All which the Marchant-Taylors in the Raign of Edw. 6. sold to Stephen Kirton Marchant-Taylor and Alderman who gave with his Daughter Grisild to Nicholas Woodroffe the said great House with two Tenements before it in lieu of an hundred pounds and made it up in money three hundred sixty six pounds thirteen shillings four pence This worthy man and the Gentlewoman his Widow after him kept those houses down Limestreet in good reparations never put out but one Tenant took no fines nor raised rents for them which was ten shillings the piece yearly But whether that favour did over-live her Funeral the Tenants now can best declare the contrary The next is Leaden-Hall of which we read that in the year 1309. it belonged to Sir Hugh Nevil Knight and that the Lady Alice his Wife made a Feoffment thereof by the name of Leaden Hall with the Advousions of S. Peter on Cornhill and other Churches to Richard Earl of Arrundel and Surrey 1362. Moreover in the year 1380. Alice Nevil Widow to Sir Iohn Nevil Knight of Essex confirmed to Thomas Cogshall and others the said Mannor of Leaden-Hall and the advousions c. In the year 1384. Humphrey de Bohun Earl of Hereford had the said Mannor And in the year 1408. Robert Rikeden of Essex and Margaret his Wife confirmed to Richard Whittington and other Citizens of London the said Mannor of Leaden Hall with the Appurtenances the Advousion of St. Peters Church S. Margaret Pattens c. And in the year 141â— the said Whitington and other confirmed the same to the Maior and Comminalty of London whereby it came to the possession of the City Then in the year 1443. the one and twenty of Henry the sixth Iohn Hatheyrley Maior purchased Licence of the said King to take up 200. fodder of Lead for the building of Water Conduits a common Granary and the Crosse in West Cheape more richly for the honour of the City In the year next following the Parson and Parish of St. Dunstane in the East of London seeing the Noble and mighty Man for the words be in the Grant Cùm Nobilis Potens vir Simon Eyre Citizen of London among other his works of piety effectually determined to erect build a certain Granary upon the soil of the same City at Leaden Hall of his own charges for the common utility of the said City to the amplifying and inlarging of the said Granary granted to Henry Frowick then Maior the Aldermen and Commonalty and their Successors for ever all their Tenements with the appurtenances sometime called the Horse Mill in Grasse-street for the annual Rent of four pounds c. Also certain evidences of an Alley and Tenements pertaining to the Horse Mill adjoyning to the said Leaden Hall in Grasse-street given by VVilliam Kingstone Fishmonger unto the Parish Church of St. Peter upon Cornhill do specifie the said Granary to be builded by the said Honourable and famous Marchant Simon Eyre sometime an Upholster and â—hen a Draper in the year 1419. He builded it of squared stone in form as now it sheweth with a fair and large Chappel in the East side of the Quadrant over the Porch of which he caused to be written Dextra Domini exaltavit me The Lords right hand exalted me Within the said Church on the North wall was written Honorandus
famosus Mercator Simon Eyre hujus operis c. In English thus The honourable and famous Marchant Simon Eyre founder of this work once Maior of this City Citizen and Draper of the same departed out of this life the 18th day of Septemb. the year from the Incarnation of Christ 1459. and the 38. year of the Raign of King Henry the sixth he was buried in the Parish Church of St. Mary Wolnoth in Lumbard street he gave by his Testament to be distributed to all Prisons in London or within a mile of that City somewhat to relieve them More he gave 2000 Marks upon a condition which not performed was then to be distributed to Maids Marriages and other deeds of Charity he also gave 3000 Marks to the Drapers upon condition that they should within one year after his decease establish perpetually a Master or Warden five secular Priests six Clerks and two Queristers to sing daily Divine Service by note for ever in this Chappel of the Leaden-hall Also one Master with an Usher for Grammar one Master for Writing and the third for Song with Houses there newly builded for them for ever the Master to have for his salary ten pounds and every other Priest eight pounds every other Clarke five pounds six shillings eight pence and every other Chorister five Marks and if the Drapers refused this to do within one year after his decease then the three thousand Marks to remain to the Prior and Covent of Christs-Church in London with condition to establish things as aforesaid within two years after his decease And if they refused then the three thousand Marks to be disposed by his Executors as they best could devise in works of Charity Thus much for his Testament not performed by establishing of Divine Service in his Chappel or Free-School and Scholars neither was it known how the stock of three thousand Marks or rather five thousand Marks was employed by his Executors he left issue Thomas who had issue Thomas c. True it is that in the year 1464 the third of Edward the fourth it was agreed by the Mayor Aldermen and Commonalty of London that notwithstanding the Kings Letters Pattents lately before granted unto them touching the Trouage or weighing of Wares to be held at Leaden-hall yet Suite should be made to the King for new Letters Pattents to be granted to the Mayor of the Staple for the Trouage of Wools to be holden there and order to be taken by the discretion of Thomas Cooke then Mayor The Councel of the City Geffrey filding then Mayor of the Staple at Westminster and of the Kings Councel what should be paid to the Mayor and Aldermen of the City for the laying and housing of the Wools there that so they might be brought forth and weighed c. Touching the Chappel there we find that in the year 1466 by Licence obtained of King Edward the fourth in the sixth of his Reign a Fraternity of the Trinity of 60 Priests besides other brethren and sisters in the same Chappel was founded by Rouse Iohn Risby and Thomas Ashby Priests some of the which sixty Priests every Market-day in the fore-noon did celebrate Divine service there to such Market people as repaired to prayer and once every year they met altogether and had solemn Service with procession of all the Brethren and Sisters this foundation was in the year 1512 by a Common-Councel confirmed to the sixty Trinity Priests and to their Successors at the will of the Mayor and Commonalty In the year 1484 a great fire happened upon Leaden-hall by what casualty it was not known but much housing was there destroyed with all the Stocks for Guns and other provision belonging to the City which was a great losse and no lesse charge to be repaired by them In the year 1503. the eighteenth of Henry the seventh a request was made by the Commons of the City concerning the usage of the said Leaden-Hall in form as followeth Please it the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Councel to enact that all Frenchmen bringing Canvas Linnen cloth and other Wares to be sold and all Forreins bringing Woolsteads Sayes Stamins Kiverings Nayles Iron work or any other Wares and also all Forreins bringing Lead to the City to be sold shall bring all such their Wares aforesaid to the open Market of the Leaden-Hall and no where else to be shewed sold and uttered like as of old time it hath been used upon pain of forfeiture of all the said Wares shewed or sold in any other place than aforesaid And the shew of the said Wares to be made three daies in a week that is to lay Monday Tuesday and Wednesday It is also thought reasonable that the common Beam be kept from henceforth in the Leaden-hall the Farmer to pay therefore reasonable rent to the Chamber for better it is that the Chamber have advantage thereby than a Forreign person And also the said Leaden-hall which is more chargeable now by half than profitable shall better bear out the charges thereof Also the common Beam for Wool at Leaden-hall may pay yearly a rent to the Chamber of London toward the supportation and charges of the same place for reason it is that a common Office occupied upon a common ground bear a charge to the use of the Communalty Also that Forrains bringing Wools Felts or any other Marchandizes or Wares to Leaden-hall to be kept there for the sale and market may pay more largely for keeping of their goods than Freemen Thus much for the request of the Commons at that time Now to set down some proof that the said Hall hath been employed and used as a Granary for Corn and grain as the same was first appointed leaving all former examples this one may suffice Roger Achley Mayor of London in the year 1512 the third of Henry the eighth when the said Mayor entred the Majoralty there was not found one hundred quarters of Wheat in all the Garners of this City either within the Liberties or near adjoyning through the which scarcity when the Carts of Stratford came laden with Bread to the City as they had been accustomed there was such press about them that one man was ready to destroy another in striving to be served for their money but this scarcity lasted not long for the Mayor in short time made such provision for Wheat that the Bakers both of London and of Stratford were weary of taking it up and were forced to take much more than they would and for the rest the Mayor laid out the money and stored it up in Leaden-hall and other Garners of the City This Mayor also kept the Market so well that he would be at the Leaden-Hall by four a clock in the Summer mornings and from thence he went to other Markets to the great comfort of the Citizens We read also that in the year 1528 the twentieth of Henry the eighth Surveyers were appointed to view the Garners of the City namely the
Bridge-house and the Leaden-hall how they were stored of Grain for the service of the City And because we have here before spoken of the Bread-carts coming from Stratford at the Bow ye shall understand that of old time the Bakers of Bread at Stratford were allowed to bring daily except the Sabbath and principal Feasts divers long Carts laden with bread the same being two ounces in the penny wheaten loaf heavier than the penny wheaten loaf baked in the City the same to be sold in Cheap three or four Carts standing there 'tween Gâ—therans Lane and Fausters Lane end one Cart on Cornhil by the Conduit and one other in Grasse-street And we may read that in the fourth year of Edward the second Richard Reffeham being Mayor a Baker named Iohn of Stratford for making Bread lesser than the Assize was with a fools hood on his Head and loaves of Bread about his Neck drawn on a hurdle through the streets of the City Moreover in the four and fortieth of Edward the third Iohn Chichester being Mayor of London as we may read in the visions of Pierce Plowman a Book so called as followeth There was a careful commune when no Cart came to Town with Basket Bread from Stratford tho gan beggars weep and workmen were agast a little this will be thought long in the date of our dirte in a dry Averel a thousand and three hundred twice thirty and ten c. We read also in the twentieth of Henry the eighth Sir Iames Spencer being Mayor six Bakers of Stratford were amerced in the Guild-hall of London for baking under the size appointed But these Bakers of Stratford left serving this City I know not upon what occasion above forty years since In the year 1519 a Petition was exhibited by the Commons to the Common-Councel and was by them allowed concerning the Leaden-hall how they would have it used viz. Meekly beseeching sheweth unto your good Lordship and Masterships divers Citizens of this City which under correction think that the great place called the Leaden-hall should nor ought not to be letten out to Farme to any person or persons and in special to any fellowship or Company incorporate to have and hold the same Hall for term of years for such conveniences as thereby may ensue and come to the hurt of the Common-weale of the said City in time to come as somewhat more largely may appear in the Articles following First if any assembly or hasty gathering of the Commons of the said City for suppressing or subduing of miâ—ruled people within the said City hereafter shall happen to be called or commanded by the Mayor Aldermen and other Governours and Councellors of the said City for the time being there is none so convenient meet and necessary a place to assemble them in within the said City as the said Leaden-hall both for largenesse of room and for their sure defence in time of their counselling together about the premises Also in that place hath been used the Artillery Guns and other Armors of the said City to be safely kept in a readinesse for the safegard wealth and defence of the said City to be had and occupied at times when need required As also the store of Timber for the necessary reparations of the Tenements belonging to the Chamber of the said City there commonly hath been kept Item If any Triumph or Noblenesse were to be done or shewed by the Commonalty of the City for the honour of our Soveraign Lord the King and Realm and for the worship of the said City the said Leaden-hall is the most meet and convenient place to prepare and order the said Triumph therein and from thence to issue forth to the places thereof appointed Item at any Largesse or dole of any money made unto the poore people of this City it hath been used to be done and given in the said Leaden-hall for that the said place is most meet therefore Item the honourable Father that was maker of the said Hall had a speciall will intent and mind that as it is commonly said the Market men and women that came to the City with victuals and other things should have their free standing within the said Leaden-Hall in wet weather to keep themselves their Wares dry and thereby to encourage them and all other to have the better will and desire the more plentiously to resort to the said City to victual the same And if the said Hall should be letten to Farme the will of the said honourable Father should never be fullfilled nor take effect Item if the said place which is the chief Fortresse and most necessary place within all the City for the tuition and safegard of the same should be letten out to Farme out of the hands of the chief Heads of the same City and especially to any other Body politick it might at length by likelihood be an occasion of discord and debate between the said Bodies politick which God defend For these and many other great and reasonable causes which hereafter shall be shewed to this honourable Court your said Beseechers think it much necessary that the said Hall be still in the hands of this City and to be surely kept by sad and discreet Officers in such wise that it might alwaies be ready to be used and occupied for the Common-weale of the said City when need shall require and in no wise to be letten to any Body politick Thus much for the Petition About the year one thousand five hundred thirty four great means was made about the Leaden-hall to have the same made a Burse for the Assembly of Marchants as they had been accustomed in Lumbard-street many Common-Councels were called to that end but in the year 1535 Iohn Champneys being Mayor it was fully concluded that the Burse should remain in Lumbard-street as afore and Leaden-hall no more to be spoken of concerning that matter The use of Leaden-hall was us'd to be thus In a part of the North Quadrant on the East side of the North Gate were the common Beams for weighing of Wooll and other Wares as had been accustomed On the West side of the Gate was the Scales to weigh Meal the other three sides were reserved for the most part to the making and resting of the Pageants shewed at Mid-Summer in the watch the remnant of the sides and Quadrants were employed for the stowage of Wool-sacks but not closed up the lofts above were partly used by the Painters in working for the decking of Pageants and other devices for beautifying of the Watch and Watch-men the residue of the Lofts were letten out to Marchants the Wooll-winders and Packers therein to winde and pack their Wools. And thus much for Leaden-hall may suffice Now on the North of Limestreet Ward in the Highstreet are divers fair houses for Marchants and proper Tenements for Artificers with an Alley also called Shalt Alley of the Shaft or May-pole sometime resting over the Gate thereof as I have
Simon the Sonne of Mary sendeth greeting in our Lord where among other things and before other Lands the high Altitude of the Heavenly Councels marvellously wrought by some readier devotion it ought to be more worshipped of which things the mortal sickness after the fall of our first Father Adam hath taken the beginning of this new repairing therefore forsooth it beseemeth worthy that the place in which the Son of God is become Man and hath proceeded from the Virgins Womb which is increaser and beginning of Mans Redemption namely ought to be with Reverence worshipped and with beneficial Portions to be increased therefore it is that the said Simon Son of Mary having special and singular Devotion to the Church of the glorious Virgin at Bethelem where the same Virgin of Her brought forth our Saviour incarnate and lying in the Cratch and with her own milk nourished and where the same Child to us there born the Chivalry of the heavenly Company sang the new Hymne Gloria in Excelsis Deo The same time the increaser of our health as a King and his Mother a Queen willed to be worshipped of Kings a new Starre going before them as the Honour and Reverence of the same Child and his most meek Mother And to the exaltation of my most Noble Lord Henry King of England whose Wife and Child the foresaid Mother of God and her only Son have in their keeping and protection And to the manifold increase of this City of London in which I was born And also for the health of my soul and the souls of my Predecessors and Successors my Father Mother and my Friends And specially for the souls of Guy of Marlow Iohn Durant Ralph Ashwye Maud Margaret and Dennis Women Have given granted and by this my present Charter here have confirmed to God and to the Church of St. Mary of Bethelem all my Lands which I have in the Parish of St. Buttolph without Bishopsgate of London that is to say whatsoever I there now have or had or in time to come may have in Houses Gardens Pools Ponds Ditches and Pits and all their appurtenances as they be closed in by their bounds which now extend in length from the Kings high street East to the great Ditch in the West the which is called deep Ditch and in breadth to the Lands of Ralph Downing in the North and to the Land of the Church of St. Buttolph in the South To have and to hold the aforesaid Church of Bethelem in freâ— and perpetual Alms And also to make there a Priory and to ordain a Prior and Canons Brothers and also Sisters when Jesus Christ shall enlarge his grace upon it And in the same place the Rule and order of the said Church of Bethelem solemnly professing which shall bear the Token of a Starre openly in their Coapes and Mantles of profession and for to say Divine Service there for the souls aforesaid and all Christian souls and specially to receive there the Bishop of Bethelem Canons Brothers and Messengers of the Church of Bethelem for evermore as often as they shall come thither And that a Church or Oratory there shall be builded as soon as our Lord shall enlarge his grace under such form that the Order Institution of Priors Canons Brothers Sisters of the visitation correction and reformation of the said place to the Bishop of Bethelem and his Successors and to the Charter of his Church and of his Messengers as often as they shall come thither as shall seem them expedient no mans contradiction notwithstanding shall pertain for evermore saving alway the Services of the chief Lords as much as pertaineth to the said Land And to the more surety of this thing I have put my self out of this Land and all mine And Lord Godfrey then chosen of the Nobles of the City of Rome Bishop of Bethelem and of the Pope confirmed then by his name in England in his name and of his Successors and of his Chapter of his Church of Bethelem into bodily possession I have indented and given to his possession all the foresaid Lands which possession he hath received and entred in form abovesaid And in token of subjection and reverence the said place in London without Bishopsgate shall pay yearly in the said City a mark sterling at Easter to the Bishop of Bethelem his Successors or his Messengers in the name of a Pension and if the faculties or goods of the said place our Lord granting happen to grow more the said place shall pay more in the name of Pension at the said terme to the Mother Church of Bethelem This forsooth gift and confirmation of my Deed and the putting to of my Seal for me and mine Heires I have steadfastly made strong the year of our Lord God A thousand two hundred forty seven the VVednesday after the Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist c. King Henry the 8th gave this Hospital unto the City The Church and Chappel were taken down in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and houses builded there by the Governours of Christs Hospital in London In this place people that be distraught in their wits are now by the suit of their friends received and kept as before but not without charges to their bringers in Then is there a fair House of late builded by Iohn Powlet Next to that a far more large and beautiful House with Gardens of pleasure Bowling Allies and such like builded by Iasper Fisher free of the Goldsmiths late one of the six-Clarks of the Chancery and a Justice of Peace It hath since for a time been the Earl of Oxfords place The late Queen Elizabeth hath lodged there it now belongeth to the Earl of Devonshire This House being so large and sumptuously builded by a man of no great Calling Possessions or VVealth for he was indebted to many was mockingly called Fishers folly and a Rithme was made of it and other the like in this manner Kirbyes Castle and Fishers Folly Spinilas pleasure and Megses glory And so of other like Buildings about the City by Citizens men have not forborn to speak their pleasure From Fishers Folly up to the West end of Berwards Lane of old time so called but now Hogge-Lane because it meeteth with Hogge-Lane which commeth from the Barres without Ealdgate as is afore shewed is a continual bnilding of Tenements with Allies of Cottages pestered c. Then is there a large close called Fazel Close sometime for that there were Zazels planted for the use of Cloth-workers since letten to the Crosse-bow Makers wherein they used to shoot for Games at the Popingey Now the same being inclosed with a Brick-wall serveth to be an Artillery-yard or Garden whereunto the Gunners of the Tower weekly do repair namely every Thursday and their levelling certain Bâ—asse-Pieces of great Artillery against a But of Earth made for that purpose they discharged them for their exercise present use is made thereof by divers worthy Citizens Gentlemen and
Company by Sir VVilliam Bridges Knight first Garter King at Arms in Blazon are thus Three Sun Beams issuing out of three Clouds of flame crowned with three Crowns Imperials of Gold upon a Shield Azure From this Hall on the same side down to the Grates and course of VVallbrooke have ye divers fair houses for Marchants and other from the which Grates back again on the other side in Lotisbury so called in Record of Edward the third the thirty eighth year and now corruptly called Lothbury are Candlestick founders placed till ye come to Bartholmew Lane so called of Saint Bartholmew's Church at the South-east corner thereof In this Lane also are divers fair builded Houses on both sides and so likewise have ye in the other street which stretcheth from the Fryers Augustines South gate to the corner over against Saint Bennets Church In this street amongst other fair buildings the most ancient was of old time an house pertaining to the Abbot of Saint Albans Iohn Catcher Alderman after dwelled there Then is the free School pertaining to the late dissolved Hospital of Saint Anthony whereof more shall be shewed in another place and so up to Thred-needle-street On the South part of which street beginning at the East by the Well with two Buckets now turned to a Pump is the Parish Church of Saint Martin called Oteswitch of Martin de Oteswitch Nicholas de Oteswich William Oteswich and Iohn Oteswich Founders thereof and all buried there as appeareth by their Monuments There is also there a fair engraven Stone with a Latine Epitaph upon the Lord Iames Fulkes Treasurer of Holland and Ambassador for the States of the united Provinces here in England Sir Thomas Row gave 5 l. to perpetuity to this Parish to buy Bread and Coals for the poor Some small distance from thence is the Merchant-Taylors Hall pertaining to the Guild and Fraternity of Saint Iohn Baptist time out of mind called of Taylors and Linnen Armorers of London For we find that King Edward the first in the eight and twentieth of his Reign confirmed this Guild by the name of Taylors and Linnen Armorers and also gave to the Brethren thereof authority every year at Mid-summer to hold a feast and to choose unto them a Governour or Master with Wardens whereupon the same year one thousand three hundred on the Feast day of the Nativity of Saint John Baptist they chose Henry de Ryall to be their Pâ—lgrim For the Master of this Mystery as one that travelled for the whole Company was then so called untill the eleventh year of Richard the second and the four Wardens were then called Purveyers of Alms now called Quartredge of the said Fraternity This Merchant-Taylors Hall sometime perteining to a worthy Gentleman named Edmund Crepin Dominus Creepâ—ng after some Record he in the year of Christ 1331 the sixth of Edward the third for a certain sum of money to him paid made this grant thereof by the name of his principal Messuage in the Wards of Cornhill and Broad-street which Sir Oliver Ingham Knight did then hold to John of Yakeley the Kings Pavilion-maker This was called the New Hall or Taylors Inne for a difference from their old Hall which was about the back side of the Red Lion in Basing Lane and in the Ward of Cordwayner street The one and twentieth of Edward the fourth Thomas Holm alià s Clarentiaux King of Armes for the South part of England granted by his Paâ—ents to the said Fraternity and Guild of Saint John Baptist of Taylors and Linnen Armorers to beat in a field Silver a Pavilion between two Mantles Imperial Purple garnished with Gold in a chief Azure a holy Lamb set within a Sun the Crest upon the Helm a Pavilion purpâ—e garnished with Gold c. After this King Henry the seventh was himself a Brother of this Fraternity or Guild of S. Iohn Baptist of Taylors or Linnen Armorers as divers others of his Predecessors Kings had been to wit Râ—ohard the third Edward the fourth Henry the sixth Henry the fifth Henry the fourth and Richard the second And for that divers of that Fraternity had time out of miâ—e been great Merchants and had frequented all sorts of Merchandizes into most parts of the world to the honour of the Kings Realm and to the great profit of his Subjects and of his Progenitors and the men of the said Mystery during the time aforesaid had exercised the buying and selling of all Wares and Merchandizes especially of Woollen Cloth as well in grosse as by retaile throughout all this Realm of England and chiefly within the said City therefore â—e of his especial grace did change transfer and translate the Guild aforesaid and did incorporate them into the name of the Master and Wardens of the Merchant-Taylors of the Fraternity of S. John Baptist in the City of London Some distance West from this Merchant-Taylors Hall is Finkes Lane so called of Robert Finke and Robert Finke his son James Finke and Rosamond Finke Robert Finke the elder new builded the Parish Church of Saint Bennet commonly called Finke of the Founder his Tenements were both of St. Benuets parish and Saint Martins Oteswich Parish the one half of this Finke Lane is of Broad-street ward to wit on the West side up to the great and principal house wherein the said Finke dwelled But on the other side namely the East not so much towards Cornhil Then without this Lane in the aforesaid Threed-Needle street is the said Parish Church of Saint Bennet a handsome Church in which are sundry old Monuments There happened lately a great fire in Threed-Needle street over against Merchant-Taylors Hall which ragâ—d as far as Saint Bennets Church Walls and there the fury was sâ—opped otherwiâ—e it might have destroyed all this City The French Reformers have their Sermons in this Church and the exercise of Calvâ—nâ— Religion On the North side of this street from over against the East corner of St. Martins Osteswich Church have ye divers fair and large houses till you come to the Hospital of St. Anthony sometime a Cell of St. Anthonies of Vienna For we read that King Henry the third granted to the Brother-hood of St. Anthony of Vienna a place amongst the Jewes which was sometime their Synagogue and had been builded by them about the year 1231. But the Christians obtained of the King that it should be dedicated to our blessed Lady and since an Hospital being there builded was called St. Anthonies in London It was founded in the Parish of St. Bennet Finke for a Master two Priests one School-master and twelve poor men after which foundation amongst other things was given to this Hospital one Messuage and Garden whereon was builded the fair large Free-School and one other parcel of ground containing thirty seven foot in length and eighteen foot in breadth whereon were builded the Alms-Houses of hard Stone and Timber in the Reign of Henry the sixth Which said Henry the sixth in the twentieth of
was added and given by John VVhitwell Isabel his Wife and William Rus or Rous Alderman and Goldsmith about the year 1430 which Bell named Rus nightly at eight of the clock and otherwise for Knels and in Peals rung by one man by the space of 160 years of late over-haled by four or five at once hath been thrice broken and new cast within the space of ten years to the charges of that Parish more than 100 marks And here note of this Steeple Upon St. James night certain men in the loft next under the Bellâ— ringing of a peal a tempest of Lightning and Thunder did arise and an ugly-shapen sight appeared to them coming in at the South Window and lighted on the North for fear whereof they all fell down and lay as dead for the time letting the Bells ring and cease of their own accord When the Ringers came to themselves they found certain stones o the North Window to be raised and scratched as if they had been so much Butter printed with a Lions claw The same stones were fastned there again and so remain till this day they may be seen to this day together with the holes where the claws had entred three or four inches deep At the same time certain main Timber posts at Queen-Hith were scratched and cleft from top to the bottome and the Pulpit-crosse in Pauls Church-yard was likewise scratcht cleft and overturned One of the Ringers lived in Queen Elizabeths time who would verifie the same to be true to his knowledge Robert Fabian Alderman and Chronicler of England lieth buried in this Church with divers others persons of note This Parish Church hath on the South side thereof a handsome Cloyster and a fair Church-yard with a Pulpit-cross not much unlike to that in Pauls Church-yard Sir John Rudstone Mayor caused the same Pulpit-crosse in his life time to be builded the Church-yard to be enlarged by ground purchased of the next Parish and also hansome Houses to be raised for lodging of Quire men such as at that time were assitants to Divine Service then daily sung by note in that Church Then have ye Burchover Lane so called of Burchover the first builder and owner thereof now corruptly called Birchin Lane the North half whereof is the said Cornhill Ward the other half is of Langborn Ward This Lane and the High-street neer adjoyning hath been of old inhabited for the most part with wealthy Drapers in whose room now Mercers and Silkmen are come from Birchover Lane on that side the street down to the Stocks in the Reign of Henry the sixth had ye for the most part dwelling there Frippers or Upholders that sold Apparrel and old houshold stuff The Popes-head Taverne with other Houses adjoyning strongly builded of Stone hath of old time been all in one appertaining to some great Estate or rather to the King of this Realm as may be supposed both by largenesse thereof and by the Armes to wit three Leopards passant gardant which was the whole Arms of England before the Reign of Edward the Third that quartered them with the Armes of France the three Flower de Luces Of the Eighth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of LONDON called Langborn Ward VVE are now by discourse and degrees of observation come to Langbourn Ward so called of a long Bourn of sweet water which of old time breaking out into Fenne Church-street ran down the same street and Lomâ—ard street to the West end of St. Mary Woolnoths Church where turning South and breaking into small floares rills or streams it gave the name of Share-borne Lane or South-borne Lane as we read because it ran South to the River of of Thames This Ward beginneth at the West end of Ealdgate Ward in Fen-Church street by the Ironmongers Hall which is on the North side of that street at a place called Culver Alley where sometime was a Lane through which men went into Lime-street but that being long since stopped up for suspition of Theeves that lurked there by night as is shewed in Lime-street Ward there is now in this said Alley a Tennis-Court c. Fen-Church-street took that name of Fenny or Moorish ground so made by means of this Bourne which passed through it And therefore until this day in the Guild-Hall of this City that Ward is called by the name of Langbourne and Fenny about and not otherwise yet others be of opinion that it took that name of Faenum that is Hay sold there as Grass-street took the name of Grasse or Herbs there sold. In the midst of this street standeth a small Parish Church called S. Gabriel Fen-Church corruptly Fan-Church Helming Legget Esquire by Licence of Edward the third in the fourty ninth of his Reign gave one Tenement with a curâ—elarge thereto belonging and a Garden with an entrey thereto leading unto Sir Iohn Hariot Parson of Fen-Church and to his Successors for ever the House to be a Parsonage House the Garden to be a Church-yard or burying place for the Parish Then have ye Lombard street so called of the Longobards and other Merchants strangers of divers Nations assembling there twice every day of what original or continuance it hath been ther 's no Record more than that Edward the second in the twelfth of his Reign confirmed a Messuage sometime belonging to Robert Turk abutting on Lombard street toward the South and toward Cornhill on the North for the Marchants of Florence which proveth that street to have had the name of of Lombard street before the Reign of Edward the second The meeting of which Merchants and others there continued until the 22th of December in the year 1568 on the which day the said Merchants began to make their Meetings at the Burse a place then new builded for that purpose in the Ward of Cornhill and was since by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth named the Royal Exchange On the North side of this Ward is Lime street one half whereof on both sides is of this Langbourne Ward and therein on the West side is the Pewterers Hall which Company were admitted to be a Brotherhood in the thirteenth of Edward the fourth At the South West corner of Limestreet standeth a fair Parish Church of St. Dionys called Back-Church new builded in the Reign of Henry the sixth John Bugge Esquire was a great Benefactor to that work as appeareth by his Arms three water-Budgets and his Crest a Morions head graven in the stone-work of the Quire at the upper and end on the North side where he was buried Also John Darby Alderman added thereunto a fair Ile or Chappel on the South side and was there buried about the year 1466. He gave besides sundry Ornaments his dwelling House and others unto the said Church The Lady Wich Sir Edward Osborn Sir James Harvey with divers other persons and Benefactors to that Church lie interred there Then by the four Corners so called of Fen-Church-street in the East Bridge-street on the South Grasse-street on
up for passage of Ships with tops to the said Queen Hith Touching the ancient Customs of Billingsgate in the Reign of Edward the third every great Ship landing there paid for standage two pence every little Ship with orelocks a peny the lesser Boat called a Battle a half-peny of two quarters of Corn measured the King was to have one farthing of a Combe of Corn a peny of every weight going out of the City a half peny of two quarters of Sea-Coals measured a farthing and of every Tun of Ale going out of England beyond the Seas by Marchants strangers four pence of every thousand Herrings a farthing except the Franchises c. Next to this is Sommers Key which likewise took that name of one Sommer dwelling there as did Lyon Key of one Lyon owner thereof and since of the Signe of the Lyon Then is there a fair Wharf or Key called Buttolphs-gate by that name so called in the time of William the Conqueror and before him of Edward the Confessor Next is the Parish of St. Buttolph a comely Church and hath had many fair Monuments therein now much defaced and gone Among others there is William Rainwel and his Sonne who gave a Stone-House to be a Vestry to that Church with Lands and Tenements to discharge Billingsgate Dowgate and Algate of fifteens granted to the King and other Tolls this was about the year 1426. This Parish of St. Buttolph is no great thing notwithstanding divers strangers are there harboured as may appear by a presentment not many years since made of strangers Inhabitants in the Ward of Billingsgate in these words In Billingsgate Ward were one and fifty Housholds of strangers whereof thirty of theâ—e Housholders inhabited in the Parish of St. Buttolph in the chief and principal Houses where they give twenty pounds a year for an house letten used to be let before for four marks the nearer they dwell to the Water side the more they give for Houses and within 30. years before there was not in the whole Ward above three Nether landers at which time there was within the said Parish levied for the help of the poor seven and twenty pounds by the year but since they came so plentifully thither there cannot be gathered above eleven pounds the strangers being exempted to contribute to such charges as other Citizens do in regard they much advance the Trade of the City On the North side is Bosse Alley so called of a Bosse of Spring-water continually running which standeth by Billingsgate against this Alley and was sometimes made by the Executors of Richard Whittington Then is St. Mary Hill ane which runneth up North from Billingsgate to the end of St. Margaret Patteâ—ns commonly called Rood-lane and the greatest half of that Lane is also of Billingsgate Ward In this St. Mary Hill lane is the 〈◊〉 Parish Church of St. Mary on the Hill called so because of the ascent from Billingsgate In the year 1497. in the Moneth of April as labourers digged for the foundation of a Wall within the Church of St. Mary Hill near unto Billingsgate they found a Coffin of rotten Timber and therein the Corps of a Woman whole of skin and of bones undissevered with the joynts of her Arms plyable without breaking of the skin upon whose Sepulcher this was engraven Here lie the Bodies of Richard Hackney Fishmonger and Alice his Wife The which Richard was Sheriff in the fifteenth of Edward the second Her Body was kept above ground three or four dayes without noyance but then it waxed unsavory and was again buried This Lane on both sides is furnished with fair Houses for Marchants and hath at the North end thereof one other Lane called St. Margaret Pattens because of old time Pattens were usually there made and sold but of latter time this is called Rood Lane of a Rood there placed in the Church-yard of St. Margaret whilest the old Church was taken down and again new builded during which time the oblations made to this Rood were imployed towards building of the Church But in the year 1538. about the 23. of May in the morning the said Rood was found to have been in the night preceding by people unknown broken all to pieces together with the Tabernacle wherein it had bin placed Then have ye another Lane called Rother Lane or Red Rose Lane of such a signe there now commonly called Pudding Lane because the Butchers of East-Cheape have their Scalding-house for Hoggs there their Puddings with other fiâ—th of Beasts are voided down that way to their Dung-boats on the Thames In this Church you have the Sepulchers of sundry worthy men among other of Mr. Vandepute a very worthy Marchant whose Son Mr. Giles Vandepute was lately buried also there Then on the West side of St. Mary Hill Church is a Lane called Rope-lane of old and after Lucas-lane but now Love-lane Then have you the Parish of St. Andrew Hubbart in East-Cheape Then is there Butâ—olph-lane and afterwards the Church of St. George Buttolph-lane which though small hath divers Monuments Of the Tenth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Bridg-Ward within WE will direct ourâ— pace downward now and take a Survey of Bridge Ward within so called of London-Bridge which Bridge is a principal part of that Ward and beginning at the Stulps on the South end by Southwark runneth along the Bridge and North up Bridge-street commonly called of the Fish Market New Fish-street from Fish-street Hill up Grass-street to the North corner of Grass-Church All the Bridge is replenished on both the sides with large fait and beautiful buildings Inhabitants for the most part Rich Marchants and other wealthy Citizens Mercers and Haberdasherâ— In New Fish-street be Fishmongers and fair Taverns on Fish-street â—â—ill and Grasse-street men of divers Trades Grocers and Haberdashers In Grass-street have ye one fair Conduit of sweet water castellated with crest and vent made by the appointment of Thomas Hill Mayor 1484 who gave by his Testament a hundred Marks towards the conveyance of water to this place it was begun by his Executors in the year 1491 and finished of his goods whatsoever it cost On the East side of this Bridge Ward have ye the fair Parish Church of Saint Magnus in the which Church have been buried many men of good repute whose Monuments are now for the most part defaced Among others Sir Richard Morgan chief Justice of the Common-Pleas and Morris Griffith Bishop of Rochester both born in Wales about the year 1556. Then is the Parish Church of St. Margarets Fish-shreet Hill a proper Church but Monument it hath none of any note Up higher on this Hill is the Parish Church of St. Leonard Milk-Church so termed of one VVilliam Melker an especial builder thereof but commonly called Saint Leonards East-cheap because it standeth at East-cheap coâ—ner This Church and from thence into little East-cheap to the East end of the said Church is of the Bridge
of St. Swâ—then standeth at the South vvest corner of this Lane Licence vvas procured to new build and increase the said Church and Steeple in the year 1420. Sir Iohn Hend Draper and Maior was an especial Benefactor thereunto as appeareth by his Arms in the Glasse vvindows even in the tops of them which is in a Field Argent a Chief Azure a Lyon passant Argent a Cheueron Azure three Escalops Argent Ralph Ioceline Maior of London among others hath a Monument in this Church having bin a benefactor to it On the South side of this high street near unto the Channel is pitched upright a great stone called London stone fixed in the ground very deep fastned with Barres of Iron and otherwise so strongly set that if Carts do run against it through negligence the VVheels be broken and the Stone it self unshaken The cause vvhy this Stone was there set the time when or other memory thereof is none but that the same hath long continued there is manifest namely since or rather before the Conquest for in the end of a fair written Gospel Book given to Christs Church in Canterbury by Ethelstane King of the vvest Saxons mention is made of Lands and Rents in London belonging to the said Church whereof one parcel is described to lie near unto London Stone Of latter time we read that in the year of Christ 1135. the first of King Stephen a fire which began in the house of one Ailward near unto London stone consumed all East to Ealdgate in which fire the Priory of the Holy Trinity was burnt and vvest to St. Erkenwalds shrine in Pauls Church and these be the Eldest Notes that I read thereof Some have said this stone to be set there as a Mark in the middle of the City within the Wall but in truth it standeth far nearer to the River of Thames than to the Wall of the City Some others have said the same to be set for the tendering and making of payment by Debtors to their Creditors at their appointed dayes and times till of latter time payments were more usually made at the Font in Ponts Church and now most commonly at the Royal Exchange Some again have imagined the same to be set up by Iohn or Thomas London-stone dwelling there against it but more likely it is that such men have taken name of the Stone than the Stone of them as did John at Noke and Thomas at Stile William at Wall or at Well c. But the most probable opinion is that it was placed there by the Romans for a Milliare as was observed elswhere in this Discourse Down West from this Parish Church and from London-stone have ye Wallbroke corner from whence runneth up a street North to the Stocks called Walbrook because it standeth on the East side of the same Brook by the Bank thereof and the whole Ward taketh name of that street On the East side of this street and at the North corner thereof is the Stocks Market which had this beginning About the year of Christ 1282 Henry Wallis Mayor caused divers houses in this City to be builded towards the maintenance of London-Bridge namely in one void place neare unto the Parish Church called Wooll-Church On the North side thereof where sometime the way being very large and broad had stood a pair of Stocks for punishment of offenders This building took name of those Stooks and was appointed by him to be a Market-place for Fish Flesh in the midst of the City other Houses be builded in other places by Patent of Edward the first it doth appear dated the tenth of his Reign After this in the year 1322 the seventeenth of Edward the second a Decree was made by Hamond Chickwell Mayor that none should sell fish or flesh out of the Markets appointed to wit Bridge-street East-cheap Old Fish-street St. Nicholas Shambles and the said Stocks on pain to forfeit such fish or flesh as were there sold for the first time and the second time to lose their Freedom Which Act was made by commandment of the King under his Letters Patents dated at the Tower the 17th of his Reign then was this Stocks let to Farm for forty six pounds thirteen shillings four pence by year this Stocks Market was again begun to be builded in the year 1410 in the eleaventh of Henry the fourth and was finished in the year next following In the year 1507 the same was rented fifty six pounds nineteen shillings ten pence And in the year 1543 John Cotes being Mayor there was in this Stocks Market for Fishmongers five and twenty Boards or Stalls rented yearly to 34 pounds 13 shillings 4 pence There was for Butchers 18 Boards or stalls rented at 41 pounds 16 shillings 4 pence and there were also Chambers above sixteen rented at five pounds thirteen shillings four pence in all eighty two pounds three shillings Next unto this Stocks is the Parish Church of St. Mary VVool-Church so called of a Beam placed in the Church-yard which was thereof called Wool-Church Haw of the Tronage or weighing of Wooll there used and to verifie this we find amongst the Customs of London written in French in the Reign of Edward the second a Chapter intituled Les Customes de VVooll-Church Haw wherein is set down what was there to be paid for every parcel of Wooll weighed this Tronage or weighing of Wooll till the sixth of Richard the second was there continued John Church-man then builded the Custome-house upon VVooll Key to serve for the said Tonnage as is before shewed in Tower-street Ward This Church is reasonable fair and large and was afterwards new builded by Licence granted in the twentieth of Henry the sixth with condition to be builded fifteen foot from the Stocks Market for sparing of light to the said Stocks the Parson of this Parish is to have four Marks the year for Tyth of the said Stocks paid him by the Masters of the Bridge-house by a special Decree made the second of Henry the seventh In the year about 1500 John VVingar Lord Mayor gave two Basons of silver to this Church And Richard Shore Sheriff of London made the Porch at the West end they lye both there entombed From the Stocks Market and this Parish Church East up into Lombard-street some four or five houses on a side and also on the South side of VVooll-Church have ye Bear-Binder Lane a part whereof is of this VVallbrook Ward Then down sower in the street called Wallbrook is one other fair Church of St. Stephen builded new on the East side thereof for the old Church stood on the West side in place where now standeth the Parsonage House and therefore so much nearer to the Brook even on the Bank This Church was finished in the year 1439. The breadth thereof is sixty seven foot and length one hundred twenty five foot the Church-yard ninty foot in length and thirty seven in breadth and more Robert VVhittingham made Knight
three pence by year The Lady Stanley the Countesse of Huntingâ—on and the Lady Harbert lye buried in this Church Of the Fifteenth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Cordwayner Ward VVE will passe now from the Vintry to Cordwainer-street Ward taking that name of Cordwayners or Shoomakers Curriours and Workers of Leather dwelling there for it appeareth in the Records of Henry the sixth the ninth of his Reign that an Order was taken then for Cordwayners and Curriours in Corney-street and Sopers Lane This Ward beginneth in the East one the West side of Walbrooke and runneth West thorow Budge-row a street so called of Budge Furre and of Skinners dwelling there then up by Saint Anthenâ—es Church thorow Atheling or Noble-street as Leyland termeth it commonly called Wathling-street to the Red-Lion a place so called of a great Lion of Timber placed there at a Gate entring a large Court wherein are divers fair and large Shops well furnished with Broad-cloths and other Draperies of all sorts to be sold and this is the farthest West part of this Ward On the South side of this street from Budge-row lyeth a Lane turning down by the West-gate of the Tower Royal and to the South end of the Stone Wall beyond the said Gate which is of this Ward and is accounted a part of the Royall-street Against this West gate of the Tower-Royall is one other Lane that runneth West to Cordwainer-street and this is called Turn base Lane on the South side whereof is a piece of Wring-wren-Lane to the North-west corner of Saint Thomas Church the Apostle Then again out of the High-street called Wathling is one other street which runneth thwart the same and this is Cordwayner street whereof the whole Ward taketh name This street beginneth by West-cheap and Saint Mary Bow Church is the head thereof on the West side and it runneth down South thorow that part which of latter time was called Hosier Lane now Bow Lane and then by the West end of Aldermary Church to the new builded Houses in place of Ormond House and so to Garlick hill or Hith to St. Iames Church The upper part of this street towards Cheap was called Hosier Lane of Hosiers dwelling there in place of Shoomakers but now those Hosiers being worn out by men of other Trades as the Hosiers had worn out the Shoomakers the same is called Bow-Lane of Bow Church On the West side of Cordwainer-street is Basing-lane right over against Turn-base-lane This Basing-lane West to the back gate of the Red Lyon in Wathling-street is of this Cordwainer-street Ward Now again on the North side of this high street is Budge-row by the East end of St. Anthonies Church have ye St. Sithes Lane so called of St. Sithes Church which standeth against the North end of that Lane and this is wholly of Cordwainer-street Ward also the South side of Needlers lane which reacheth from the North end of St. Sithes lane then vvest from St. Anthonies Church is the South end of Sopers lane which lane took that name not of Sope-making as some have supposed but of Alen le Sopar in the ninth of Edward the second nor can we read of Sope-making in this City till within this hundred and fifty years that Iohn Lambe dwelling in Grasse-street set up a boyling house for this City in former time was served of white Sope in hard Cakes called Castle-Soap and other from beyond the Seas and of gray Sope speckled with white very sweet and good from Bristow sold here for a peny the pound and never above peny farthing and black Sope for an half-peny the pound Then in Bow-lane as they now call it is Goose-lane by Bow-Church Willâ—am Essex Mercer had Tenements there in the six and twentieth of Edward the third Then from the South end of Bow-lane up Wathling-street till over against the Red Lyon are the bounds of Cordwainer-street Ward Then is there a fair Parish in Budge-row called St. Anthonies at first and now St. Antlins Sir Thomas Knowles Lord Mayor of London lyeth buried there who repaired and was a great Benefactor to that Church upon whom is this Epitaph Here lyeth graven under this Stone Thomas Knowles both flesh and bone c. Next on the South side of Budge-row by the West corner thereof and on the East side of Cordwainer-street is one other fair Church called Aldermary Church because the same was very old and elder then any Church of St. Mary in the City till of late years the foundation of a very fair new Church was laid there by Henry Keeble Grocer and Mayor who deceased 1518. and was ther buried in a Vault by him prepared with a fair Monument raised over him on the North side of the Qâ—ire now destroyed and gone he gave by his Testament a thousand pound toward the building up of that Church and yet was not permitted a resting place for his bones there afterwards Richard Chawcer Vintner thought to be the Father of Ieffrey Chawcer the Poet was a great Benefactor to this Church At the upper end of Hosier-lane toward VVest-Cheape is the fair Parish Church of St. Mary Bow this Church in the Reign of VVilliam the Conqueror being the first in this City builded on Arches of Stone was therefore called New Mary Church of St. Mary de Arcubus orle Bow in VVest Cheaping As Stratford Bridge being the first builded by Matilda the Queen VVife to Henry the first with Arches of Stone was called Stratfordle Bow which names to the said Church and Bridge remain till this day the Court of the Arches is kept in this Church and taketh name of the place not the place of the Court but of what Antiquity or continuation that Court hath there continued 't is uncertain This Church is of Cordwainer-street and for divers accidents happening there hath bin made more famous than any other Parish Church of the whole City or Suburbs First we read that in the year 1090 and the third of VVilliam Rufus by tempest of vvinâ— the roof of the Church of St. Mary Bow in Cheape was overturned wherewith some persons were slain and four of the Rafters of six and twenty foot in length with such violence were pitched in the ground of the high street that scantly four foot of them remained above ground which were fain to be cut even with the ground because they could not be plucked out for the City of London was not then paved but a Moorish ground In the year 1196. VVilliam Fitz Osbert a seditious Traytor took the Steeple of Bow and fortified it with Munitions and victuals but it was assaulted and VVilllam with his Complices were taken though without blood-shed for he was forced by fire and smoak to forsake the Church and then being by the Judges condemned he was by the heels drawn to the Elmes in Smithfield and there hanged with nine of his fellowes where because his favourers came not to deliver him he forsook Maries Son as he termed
Christ our Saviour and called upon the Devil to help and deliver him such was the end of this deceiver a man of an evil life a secret murtherer a filthy fornicator a keepâ—r oâ— Concubines and amongst other his detestable facts a false accuser of his elder Brother who had in his youth brought him up in learning and done many things for his preferment In the year 1271. a great part of the Church of Bow fell down and slew many people men and women In the year 1284 the thirteenth of Edward the first Lawrence Ducket Goldsmith having grievously wounded one Ralph Crepin in West Cheap fled into Bow-Church into the which in the night time entred certain evil persons friends unto the said Ralph and slew the said Laurence lying in the Steeple and then hanged him up placing him so by the Window as if he had hanged himself and so was it found by Inquisition for the which fact Lawrence Ducket being drawn by the feet was buried in a ditch without the City but shortly after by relation of a Boy who lay with the said Lawrence at the time of his death and had hid him there for fear the truth of the matter was disclosed for the which cause Iordan Good-Cheape Ralph Crepin Gilbert Clarke and Ieffrey Clarke were attainted and a certain Woman named Alice that was chief causer of the said mischief was burned and to the number of sixteen men were drawn and hanged besides others that being richer after long imprisonment were hanged by the purse The Church was interdicted the Doors and Windows were stopped up with Thorns for a while but Lawrence was taken up and honestly buried in the Church-yard afterwards The Parish-Church of St. Mary Bow by meanes of incroachment and building of Houses wanting room in their Church-yard for burial of the Dead Iohn Rotham or Rodham Citizen and Taylor by his Testament dated the year 1465. gave to the Parson and Church-wardens a certain Garden in Hosier-lane to be a Church-yard which so continued near a hundred years but now is builded on and is a private mans house The old Steeple of this Church was by little and little re-edified and new builded up at the least so much as was fallen down many men giving sums of money to the furtherance thereof so that at length to wit in the year 1469 it was ordained by a Common Councel that the Bow Bell should be nightly rung at nine of the Clock Shortly after Iohn Donne Mercer by his Testament dated 1472 according to the trust of Reginald Longdon gave to the Parson and Church-wardens of St. Mary Bow two Tenements with the appurtenances since made into one in Hosierlane then so called to the maintenance of Bow Bell the same to be rung as aforesaid and other things to be observed as by the Will appeareth The Arches or Bowes thereupon with the Lanthorns five in number to wit one at each Corner and one on the top in the middle upon the Arches were also afterward finished of Stone brought from Cane in Normandy delivered at the Customers Key for four shillings eight pence the Tun 1515 and 1516 William Copland being Church-warden It is said that this Copland gave the great Bell which made the fifth in the Ring to be rung nightly at nine of the Clock This Bell was first rung as a Knell at the Burial of the same Copland It appeareth that the Lanthorns on the top of this Steeple were meant to have bin glazed and lights in them placed nightly in the Winter whereby Travellers to the City might have the better sight thereof and not to misse of their wayes In this Parish also was a Grammar-School by commandment of King Henry the sixth which School was of old time kept in an house for that purpose prepared in the Church-yard But that School being decayed as others about this City the School-house was let out for Rent in the Reign of Henry the 8th for four shillings the year a Cellar for two shillings the year and two Vaults under the Church for 15 s. both There are Monuments of divers Citizens of note in this Church but most of them much defac'd and mouldred away Without the North side of this Church of St. Mary Bow towards West-Cheape standeth one fair building of Stone called in Record Sildam a shed which greatly darkneth the said Church for by meanes thereof all the Windows and doors on that side are stopped up King Edward the third upon occasion as shall be shewed in the Ward of Cheap caused this side or shed to be made and strongly to be builded of Stone for himself the Queen and other States to stand there to behold the Justings and other shewes at their pleasures And this House for long time after served to that use namely in the Reign of Edward the third and Richard the second but in the year 1410. Henry the fourth in the twelfth of his Reign confirmed the said shed or building to Stephen Spilman William Marchford and John Wattle Mercers by the name of one new Sildain Shed or Building with Shops Cellars and Edifices whatsoever appertaining called Crounsild or Tamersild scituate in the Mercety of West-Cheape and in the Parish of St. Mary de Arcubus in London c. Notwithstanding which grant the Kings of England and other great Estates as well of forraign Countries repairing to this Realm as Inhabitants of the same have usually repaired to this place therein to behold the shewes of this City passing through West-Cheape namely the great Watches accustomed in the night on the Even of St. John Baptist and St. Peter at Midsommer the Examples whereof were over-long to recite wherefore let it suffice briefly to rouch one In the year 1510 on St. Johns Eve at night King Henry the eight came to this place then called the Kings-Head in Cheape in the Livery of a Yeoman of the Gard with an Halberd on his shoulder and there beholding the Watch departed privily when the Watch was done and was not known to any but whom it pleased him But on Saint Peters night next following He and the Queen came Royally riding to the said place and there with their Nobles beheld the Watch of the City and return'd in the morning Of the Sixteenth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of LONDON called Cheape-Ward WE enter now into the Center of the City which is Cheap-Ward taking name of the Market there kept called West Cheaping which Ward as a River as Mr. Stow saith that hath three heads and running along to the uttermost of his bounds issueth out on the sides into little streams so this Ward beginning on the Course of Wallbrook and is not the meanest of the Wards if for no other cause yet because it is nearest to the heart of the City hath his beginning on the East from three places The High street of the Poultrey the lower end of Buckles bury and the nether part of the Venell or entry into Scalding Alley
Reign gave the Office of being Porter or Keeper thereof unto John Stent for terme of his life by the name of his principal Pallace in the Old Jewry This was called the Old Wardrobe but of latter time the outward Strone-Wall hath bin by little and little taken down and divers fair Houses builded thereupon even round about Now or the North side of this Lothbury beginning again at the East end thereof upon the Water-Course of Wallbrook have ye a proper Parish Church called St. Margaret which was newly re-edified and builded about the year 1440. By the West end of this Parish-Church have ye a fair Warter-Conduit builded at the Charges of the City in the year 1546. Next is the Founders Hall a hansom House and so to the South-West corner of Basing-hall-street have ye fair and large Houses for Marchants namely the Corner-house at the end of Basings-Hall-street an old peece of work builded of Stone sometime belonging to a certain Jew named Mansere the Sonne of Aaron the Sonne of Coke the Jew the seventh of Edward the first since to Rahere Sopers-Lane then to Simon Francis Thomas Bradbury Mercer kept his Majoralty there deceased 1509. part of this House hath bin lately imployed as a Market-house for the sale of Woollen Bayes Watmoles Flanels and such like On this North side against the Old Iewry is Colemanstreet so called of Coleman the first builder and owner thereof is also of Cole-Church or Coleman-Church against the great Conduit in Cheape This is a fair and large street on both sides builded with divers fair Houses besides Allies with small Tenements in great number on the East side of this street almost at the North end thereof is the Armorers-Hall which Company of Armorers were made a Fraternity of Guild of St. George with a Chantry in the Chappel of St. Thomas in Pauls Church in the first of Henry the sixth also on the same side is Kings Allâ—y and Love-lane both containing many Tenements And on the West side towards the South end is the Parish Church of St. Stephen wherein the Monuments are defaced This Church was sometime a Synagogue of the Jews then a Parish Church then a Chappel to Saint Olaves in the Jewry until the seventh of Edward the fourth and was then incorporated a Parish Church Of the Eighteenth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Basings-Hall-Ward THe next adjoyning to Coleman-street-Ward on the West side thereof is Bassings-Hall-VVard a small thing and consisteth of one street called Basings-Hall-street of Basings-Hall the most principal House whereof the Ward taketh name it beginneth in the South by the late spoken Market House called the Bay Hall which is the last of Coleman-street-VVard This street runneth from thence North down to London-Wall and some distance both East and West against the said Hall And this is the bounds of Basings-Hall-VVard Amongst divers fair Houses for Marchants have ye three Halls of Companies namely the Masons Hall for the first but of what Antiquity that Company is I have not read The next is the Weavers Hall which Company hath bin of great Antiquity in this City as appeareth by a Charter of Henry the second in these words Rex omnibus ad Quos c. to be englished thus Henry King of England Duke of Normandy and of Guyan Earl of Anjou to the Bishop Justices Sheriffs Barons Ministers and all his true Lieges of London sendeth greeting Know ye that we have granted to the Weavers in London their Guild with all the Freedoms and Customs that they had in the time of King Henry my Grandfather so that they intermit none but within the City of their Craft but he be of their Guild neither in Southwark or other places pertaining to London otherwise than it was done in the time of King Henry my Grand-father wherefore I will and straightly command that over all lawfully they may treat and have all aforesaid as well in peace free worshipful and wholly as they had it ftreer better worshipfuller and whollier than in the time of King Henry my Grand-father so that they yield yearly to me two Marks of Gold at the feast of St. Michael And I forbid that any man to them do any Unright or Disease upon pain of ten pound c. Lower down is the Girdlers Hall and this is all touching the East side of this Ward On the West side almost at the South end thereof is Bakewell-Hall corruptly called Blackwell-Hall concerning the Original whereof I have heard divers Opinious which I over-passe as Fables without colour of truth for though the same seemed a Building of great Antiquity yet in mine Opinion the Foundation thereof was first laid since the Conquest of VVilliam Duke of Normandy for the same was builded upon Vaults of Stone which Stone was brought from Cane in Normandy The like of that in Pauls Church builded by Mauritius and his Successors Bishops of London but that this House hath bin a Temple or Jewish Synagogue as some have fantisied I allow not seeing that it had no such form of roundness or other likeness neither had it the form of a Church for the Assembly of Christians which are builded East and West but contrariwise the same was builded North and South and in the form of a Noblemans House and therefore the best Opinion in my judgement is that it was of old time belonging to the Family of the Bassings which was in this Realm a name of great Antiquity and Renown and that it beares also the name of that Family and was called therefore Basings-Haugh or Hall Now how Bakewell-hall took that name is another Question For which I read That Thomas Bakewel dwelled in this House in the 36. of Edward the 3d and that in the 20. of Richard the 2d the said King for the sum of 50. pounds which the Mayor and the Communalty had paid into the Hanapar granted Licence so much as was in him to Iohn Frosh William Parker and Stephen Spilman Citizens and Mercers that they the said Messuage called Bakewell-hall and one Garden with the appurtenances in the Parish of St. Michael of Bassings-Haugh and of St. Lawrence in the Jewry of London and one Messuage two Shops and one Garden in the said Parish of St. Michael which they held of the King in Burgage might give and assign to the Mayor and Communalty for ever This Bakewell-Hall thus established hath bin long since imployed as a weekly Market-place for all sorts of Woollen Clothes broad and narrow brought from all parts of this Realm there to be sold. In the 21. of Richard the second Richard Whittington Mayor and in the 22 Drew Barringtine being Mayor it was decreed that no Forraign or stranger should sell any Woollen-Cloth but in Bakewell-hall upon pain of forfeiture thereof This House of late years growing ruinous and in danger of falling Richard May Merchant-Taylor at his decease gave towards the new building of the outward part thereof 300l upon condition
where the Abbot of Garendon had an house or Cell called Saint Iames in the wall by Cripple-gate and certain Monks of their house were Chaplains there wherefore the Well belonging to that Cell or Hermitage was called Monks-well and the street of the well Monks-well street The East side of this street down against London wall and the South side thereof to Cripple-gate be of Cripple-gate Ward as is afore-shewed In this street by the corner of Monks-well street is the Bowyers Hall On the East side of Monks-well street be convenient Alms-houses twelve in number founded by Sir Ambrose Nicholas Salter Maior 1575. wherein he placed twelve poor and aged people rent-free having each of them seven pence the week and once the yeer each of them five sacks of Charcoals and one quartem of one hundred of Faggots of his gift for ever On the North side of the way turning towards Cripple-gate and even upon or close to London wall as it were are certain new erected Almes-houses six in number of the cost and gift of Mr. Robert Rogers Leather-Seller and very good maintenance allowed for ever to such people as are appointed to dwell in them Then in little VVood-street be seven proper Chambers in an Alley on the West side founded for seven poor people therein to dwell rent-free by Henry Barton Skinner Maior 1516. Now without the Postern of Cripple-gate first is the Parish Church of Saint Giles a very fair and large Church lately repaired after that the same was burned in the yeer 1545 the thirty seventh of Henry the Eighth by which mischance the Monuments of the dead in this Church are very few In VVhite Crosse-street King Henry the Fifth builded a fair house and founded there a Brotherhood of S. Giles to be kept which house had sometime been an Hospitall of the French Order by the name of Saint Giles without Cripple-gate In the reign of Edward the First the King having the Jurisdiction and pointing a Custos thereof for the Precinct of the Parish of Saint Giles c. which Hospitall being suppressed the lands were given to the Brotherhood for relief of the poor One Alley of divers Tenements over against the North wall of Saint Giles Church-yard was appointed to be Alms-houses for the poor wherein they dwelled rent-free and otherwise were releeved but the said Brotherhood was suppressed by Henry the Eighth since which time Sir Iohn Gresham Maior purchased the lands and gave part thereof to the maintenance of a Free School which he had founded at Holt a Market-town in Norfolk In Red Crosse-street on the West side from S. Giles Church-yard up to the said Crosse be many fair houses builded outward with divers Alleys turning into a large plot of ground of old time called the Iews Garden as being the only place appointed them in England wherein to bury their dead till the year 1177 the twenty fourth of Henry the Second that it was permitted them after long suit to the King and Parliament at Oxford to have a speciall place assigned them in every quarter where they dwelled On the East side of this Red Crosse-street be also divers fair houses up to the Crosse and there is Beech-lane peradventure so called of Nicholas de la Beech Lievtenant of the Tower of London put out of that office in the thirteenth of Edward the Third This Lane stretcheth from Red Crosse-street to VVhite Crosse-street replenished not with Beech trees but with beautifull houses of Stone Brick and Timber Amongst the which was of old time a great house pertaining to the Abbot of Ramsey for his lodging when he repaired to the City it is now called Drewry House of Sir Drew Drewry who dwelt there On the North side of this Beech-lane towards VVhite Crosse street the Drapers of London have lately builded eight Alms-houses of Brick and Timber for eight poor widows of their own Company whom they placed there rent-free Then is Golding-lane Richard Gallard of Islington Esquire Citizen and Painter-Stainer of London founded thirteen Alms-houses for so many poor people placed in them rent-free He gave to the poor of the same Alms-houses two pence the peece weekly and a load of Charcoals among them yeerly for ever He left fair lands about Islington to maintain his Foundation T. Hayes sometime Chamberlain of London in the latter time of Henry the Eighth married Elizabeth his daughter and heir which Hayes and Elizabeth had a daughter named Elizabeth married to Iohn Ironmonger of London Mercer who had the ordering of the Alms-people On the West side of Red Crosse-street is a street called the Barbican because sometime there stood on the North side thereof a Burghkenning or VVatch-tower of the City called in some language a Barbican as a Bikening is called Beacon This Burgh-kenning by the name of the Mannour of Base Court was given by Edward the Third to Robert Ufford Earl of Suffolk and was afterward pertaining to Peregrine Barty Lord VVilloughby of Ersby Next adjoyning to this is one other great house called Garter Place sometime builded by Sir Thomas VVrithe or VVrithesly Knight alià s Garter principall King of Arms second son of Sir Iohn VVrithe Knight alià s Garter and was Uncle to the first Thomas Earl of Southampton Knight of the Garter and Chancellor of England He built this house and in the top thereof a Chappell which he dedicated by the name of S. Trinitatis in Alto. Of the Twentieth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of LONDON callâ—d Aldersgate Ward THe Next is Aldersgate Ward taking name of that North Gate of the City this Ward also consisteth oâ— divers Streets and Lanes lying as well within the Gate and Wall as without And first to speak of that part within the Gate thus it is the East part thereof joyneth unto the West part of Cripplegate Ward in Engain lane or Maiden lane It beginneth on the North side of that Lane at Staining lane End runneth up from the Haberdashers Hall to St. Mary Staining Church and by the Church East winding almost to Wood Street and West through Oate lane and then by the South side of Bacon house in Noble-Street back again by Lilipot lane which is also of that ward to Maiden lane and so on that North side West to Saint Iohn Zacharies Church and to Foster lane Now on the south side of Engain or Maiden lane is the West side of Gutherons lane to Kery lane and Kery lane it self which is of this ward and back again into Engain lane by the North side of the Goldsmiths Hall to Foster lane are almost wholly of this Ward which beginneth in the South toward Cheap on the East side by the North side of Saint Fosters Church and runneth down North West by the East end of Engain lane by Lilipot lane and Oate lane to Noble-Street and through that by Shelly house of old time so called as belonging to the Shellies Sir Thomas Shelley Knight was owner thereof in the first of Henry the fourth It
is now called Bacon-House because the same was new builded by Sir Nicholas Bacon Lord-Keeper of the Great Seal Down on that side by Serjeant Fleet-Woods house Recorder of London who also new builded it to Saint Olaves Church in Silver-Street which is by the North-West End of this Noble-Street Then have ye Maine Street of this Ward which is called Saint Martins lane in cluding Saint Martin on the East side thereof and so down on both the sides to Aldersgate And these be the bounds of this Ward within the Wall and Gate Without the Gate the main Street called Aldersgate-Street runneth up North on the East side to the West end of Hounds-ditch or Barbican-Street a part of which Street is also of this Ward And on the West side to Long-Lane a part whereof is likewise of this Ward Beyond the which Aldersgate is Goswell Street up to the Barrs And on the West side of Hidersgate Street by Saint Buttolphs Church is Briton-Street which runneth West to a Pumpe and then North to the Gate which entreth the Church-Yard sometimes pertaining to the Priory of Saint Bartholomews on the east side on the west side towards St. Bartholomews Spittle to a paire of posts there fixed And these be the bounds of this Aldersgate Ward without The antiquities be these first in Stainâ—ng lane of old time so called as may be supposed of Painter-stainers dwelling there On the East side thereof adjoyning to the Aaberdashers Hall be ten Almes-houses pertaining to the Haberdashers wherein be placed ten Almes people of that Company every of them having Eight pence the peece every Friday for ever by the gift of Thomas Huntlow Haberdasher one of the Sheriffs in the year 1539. Then is the small Parish Church of Saint Mary called Staining because it standeth at the North end of Staining lane Then is Engain lane or Maiden lane and at the North-West Corner thereof the Parish Church of St. John Zachary a fair Church with the Monuments well preserved of Thomas Lichfield who founded a Chancery there in the fourteenth of Edward the second On the East side of this Foster Lane at Engane Lane end is Goldsmiths Hall a proper House but not large and therefore to say that Bartholmew Read Goldsmith Mayor in the year 1502 kept such a feast in this Hall as some have fabuled is far incredible and altogether unpossible considering the smallnesse of the Hall number of the Guests which as they say were more than one hundred persons of great estate But of late years the said Goldsmiths Hall is much enlarged and in a stately and sumptuous manner in so much that it may compare with any other Hall in London Then at the North end of Noble-street is the Parish Church of St. Olave in Silver-street a small thing On the West side of Foster-Lane is the small Parish Church of St. Leonards for them of St. Martins le Grand A number of Tenements being lately builded in place of the great Collegiate Church of St. Martin that Parish is mightily encreased Then in Pope-lane so called of one Pope that was owner thereof On the North side is the Parish Church of Saint Anne in the Willowes so called I know not upon what occasion but some say of Willowes growing thereabouts but now there is no such void place for Willowes to grow more than the Church-yard wherein do grow some high Ash-trees to this day Then in St. Martins Lane was of old time a fair and large Colledge of a Dean and Secular Canons or Priests and was called Saint Martins le grand founded by Ingelricus and Edwardus his Brother in the year of Christ 1056 and confirmed by William the Conqueror as appeareth by his Charter dated 1068. This Colledge claimed great Priviledges of Sanctuary and otherwise as appeareth in a Book written by a Notary of that House about the year 1442 the nineteenth of Henry the sixth wherein amongst other things is set down and declared that on the first of September in the year aforesaid a Souldier prisoner in Newgate as he was led by an Officer towards the Guild-Hall of London there came out of Panyer Alley five of his fellowship and took him from the Officer brought him into Sanctuary at the West door of St. Martins Church and took Grithe of that place But the same day Philip Malpas Robert Marshall then Sheriffs of London with many other entred the said Church and forcibly took out with them the said five men thither fled led them fettered to the Counter and from thence chained by the Necks to Newgate of which violent taking the Dean and Chapter in large manner complained to the King and required him as their Patron to defend their Priviledges like as his Predecessors had done c. All which complaint and suite the Citizens by their Counsel Markham Serjeant at the Law Iohn Carpenter common Clerk of the City and others learnedly answered offering to prove that the said place of St. Martin had no such Immunity or Liberty as was pretended Notwithstanding after long debating of this Controversie by the Kings commandment assent of his Councel in the Starr-Chamber the Chancellour and Treasurer sent a Writ unto the Sheriffs of London charging them to bring the said five persons with the cause of their taking and withholding afore the King in his Chancery on the Vigil of Alhallowes on which day the said Sheriffs with the Recorder and Counsel of the City brought and delivered them accordingly afore the said Lords where the Chancellour after he had declared the Kings Commandement sent them to St. Martins there to abide freely as in a place having Franchises whiles them liked c. Without Aldersgate on the East side of Aldersgate-street is the Cookes Hall which Cooks or Pastlers were admitted to be a Company and to have a Master and Wardens in the two and twentieth of Edward the fourth From thence along unto Houndsditch or Barbican street be many fair Houses on the West side also be the like fair buildings till ye come to Long-Lane and so to Goswell street In Britaine street which took that name of the Duke of Britain Lodging there is one proper Parish Church of St. Buttolph In which Church was sometime a Brotherhood of St. Fabian and Sebastian founded in the year 1377 the fifty one of Edward the third and confirmed by Henry the fourth in the sixth of his Reign Then Henry the sixth in the twenty fourth of his Reign to the honour of the Trinity gave Licence to Dame Joane Astley sometime his Nurse to R. Cawood and T. Smith to found the same a Fraternity perpetually to have a Master and two Custos with Brethren and Sisters This Brotherhood was endowed with Lands more than thirty pounds by the year and was suppressed by Edward the sixth Of the One and Twentieth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Faringdon Ward Intra ON the South side of Aldersgate Ward lyeth Faringdon Ward called
Intra or within for a difference from another Ward of that name which lyeth without the Walls of the City and is therefore called Farringdon Extra These two Wards of old time were but one and had also but one Alderman The whole great Ward of Faringdon both Intra and Extra took name of W. Farrendon Goldsmith Alderman of that Ward and one of the Sheriffs of London in the year 1281 the ninth of Edward the first He purchased the Aldermanry of this Ward as by the Abstract of Deeds which are yet extant may appear At the South-West corner of Wood-street is the Parish Church of St Peter the Apostle by the said Crosse a proper Church John Sha Goldsmith Mayor deceased 1503 appointed by his Testament the said Church and Steeple to be new builded of his goods with a flat roof Notwithstanding Tho. Wood Goldsmith one of the Sheriffs 1491 is accounted a principal Benefactor because the roof of the middle Isle is supported by Images of Woodmen thought to be at his charge The long Shop or Shed encroaching on the High-street before this Church Wall was licenced to be made in the year 1401 yielding to the Chamber of London three shillings four pence yearly for the time Also the same Shop was letten by the Parish for three pounds at the most many years since Then is Guthuruns Lane so called of Guthurun sometime owner thereof the Inhabitants of this Lane of old time were Gold-beaters as doth appear by Records in the Exchequer For the Easterling money was appointed to be made of fine Silver such as men made into foyle and was commonly called Silver of Guâ—hrons Lane c. The Imbroyderers Hall is in this Lane Iohn Throwstone Imbroyderer then Goldsmith Sheriff deceasing 1519. gave forty pound towards the purchase of this Hall Hugon Lane on the East side and Key Lane called of one Kery on the West Then in the High street on the same North side is the Sadlers Hall and then Foster-Lane so called of Saint Fosters a fair Church lately new builded Henry Coote Goldsmith one of the Sheriffs deceased 1509 builded St. Dunstans Chappel there Iohn Throwstone one of the Sheriffs gave to the building thereof one hundred pounds by his Testament John Brown Sergeant-painter Alderman deceased 1532 was a great Benefactor and was there buried William Trist Selerar to the King 1425. John Standelf Goldsmiths lye buried there Richard Galder 1544 Agnes Wife to William Milbourne Chamberlain of London 1500. In this West side is the Barber Chirurgions Hall This Company was Incorporated by means of Thomas Morestead Esquire one of the Sheriffs of London a thousand four hundâ—ed thirty six Chirurgion to the Kings of England Henry the fourth fifth and sixth He deceased 1450. Then Jaques Fries Physitian to Edward the fourth and William Hobbs Physician and Chirurgion to the same Kings Body continuing the Suite the full terme of twenty years Edward the fourth in the second of his Reign and Richard Duke of Glocester became Founders of the same Corporation in the Parish of Saint Cosme and Damiane The first assembling of that Mystery was by Roger Strippe William Hobbs Thomas Goddard and Richard Kent since the which time they builded their Hall in that street c. At the North corner of this street on the same side was sometime an Hermitage or Chappel of Saint James called in the Wall near Creplegate it belonged to the Abbey and Covent of Garadon as appeareth by a Record the seven and twentieth of Edward the first and also the fiftieth of Edward the third William de Lions was Hermit there and the Abbot and Convent of Garadon found two Chaplains Cestercâ—an Monkes of their House in this Hermitage one of them for Aymor de Valence Earl of Pembrooke and Mary de Saint Paul his Countesse Of these Monks and of a Well pertaining to them the street took that name and is called Monkes-Well street This Hermitage with the appurrenances was in the Reign of Edward the sixth purchased from the said King by W. Lambe one of the Gentlemen of the Kings Chappel Citizen and Cloth-worker of London He deceased in the year 1577 and then gave it to the Cloth-workers of London with other Tenements to the value of fifty pounds the year to the intent they shall hire a Minister to say Divine Service there Again to the High street of Cheap from Foster Lane end to St. Martins and by that Lane to the Shambles or Flesh-markâ—t on the North side whereof is Pentecost Lane containing divers Slaughter-houses for the Butchers Then was there of old time a hansome Parish Church of Saint Nicholas whereof the said Flesh-market took the name and was called Saint Nicholas Shambles This Church with the Tenements and Ornaments was by Henry the eighth given to the Mayor and Communalty of the City towards the maintenance of the New Parish Church then to be erected in the late dissolved Church of the Gray Fryers so was this Church dissolved and pulled down in place whereof and of the Church-yard many fair Houses are now builded in a Court with a Well in the middest whereof the Church stood Then is Stinking Lane formerly so called or Chick Lane at the East end of the Gray Fryers Church it is now kept clean and free from annoyance and called by the name of Butchers Hall Lane for there is the Butchers Hall In the third of Richard the second motion was made that no Butcher should kill any flesh within London but at Knightsbridge or such like distant place from the Walls of the City Then is there the late dissolved Church of Gray Fryars the Originall whereof was thus In the year 1224 being the 8th year of the Reign of King Henry the 3d there came out of Italy nine Fryers of the order of the Franciscans or Frior Minors five whereof were Priests and the other four Lay-men the Priests placed themselves at Canterbury in Kent but the other four came to London and were lodged for some short while among the preaching Fryers who lived then in Oldburn now Holborne Afterwards they obtained to be placed in Cornhil London man House belonging to one Iohn Travers who was then one of the Sheriffs of London in the same year 1224 in which House they made themselves Cells and inhabited there for a certain time till their number so encreased and the Citizens devotion grew to be so great that within few years after they were thence removed by the means of one Iohn Ewin Mercet who purchased a void plot of ground near to St. Nicholas Shambles where to erect an House for the said Fryers Divers Citizens seemed herein to joyn with the said Iohn Ewin and erected there very beautiful Buildings upon the same ground so formerly purchased by John Ewin and a great part builded at his own Charge which he appropriated to the Communalty of London and then entred into the same Order of Friers as a Lay-Brother himself This whole Church contained in length
these new buildings is Cow-bridge street or Cow-lane which turneth toward Holdbourn in vvhich Lane the Prior of Semperingham had his Inne or London Lodging The rest of that West side of Smithfield hath divers fair Inns and other comely Buildings up to Hosier-lane which also turneth down to Houldbourn till it meet with Cowbridge-street from this Lane to Cock-lane over against Pie-Corner In the year 1362 the thirty sixth of Edward the third on the first five dayes of May in Smithfield were Justs holden the King and Queen being present with the most part of the Chivalry of England and of France and of other Nation to the which came Spaniards Cyprians and Armenians Knightly requesting aid of the King of England against the Pagans that invaded their Confines The 48. of Edward the third Dame Alice Perrers or Pierce the Kings Concubine as Lady of the Sun rode from the Tower of London through Cheape accompanied by many Lords and Ladies every Lady leading a Lord by his Horse Bridle till they came into West Smithfield and then began a great Just vvhich endured seven dayes after In the year 1393. the 17th of Richard the second certain Lords of Scotland came into England to get vvorship by force of Arms the Earl of Marre chalenged the Earl of Nottingham to Just vvith him and so they rode together certain Courses but not the full Challenge for the Earl of Marre was cast both Horse and Man and two of his Ribs broken vvith the fall so that he vvas conveighed out of Smithfield and so towards Scotland but dyed by the vvay at York Sir VVilliam Darel Knight the Kings Banner-bearer of Scotland challenged Sir Percey Courtney Knight the Kings Banner-bearer of England and vvhen they had run certain Courses gave over vvithout conclusion of Victory Then Cookborne Esquire of Scotland challenged Sir Nicholas Hawberke Knight and rode five Courses but Cookborne vvas born over Horse and Man Now to return through Gilt-spur-street by Newgate vvhere I first began there standeth the fair Parish Church called St. Sepulchers in the Bayly or by Chamberlain Gate in a fair Church-yard though not so large as of old time for the same is letten out for buildings and a Garden plot This Church vvas newly re-edified or builded about the Reign of Henry the sixth or of Edward the fourth one of the Popham's vvas a great builder there and 't is lately also vvashed over and furbish'd Next to this Church is a fair and large Inne for the receipt of Travellers and hath to signe the Sarasens Head vvhere Oxford men resort There lyeth a street from Newgate West to the end of Turn again-lane and winding North to Oldbourne Conduit but of late a new Conduit vvas there builded in place of the old namely in the year 1577. by VVilliam Lambe sometime a Gentleman of the Chappel to King Henry the eighth and afterward a Citizen and Clothworker of London From the West side of this Conduit is the high way there called Snow-hill stretching out by Oldbourne-bridge over the oft-named Water of Turn-mill-Brook and so up to Old-bourn-hill all replenished with fair Buildings Without Ould-bourn-bridge on the right hand is Gold-lane as is before shewed up higher on the Hill be certain Inns and other fair Buildings amongst the which of old time was a Messuage called Scroops Inne for so we finde the same recorded in the 37. of Henry the sixth This House was sometime letten out to Sergeants at the Law as appeareth and was found by Inquisition taken in the Guild-hall of London before William Purchase Mayor and Escheater for King Henry the 7th in the 14th of his Reign Then is the Bishop of Elies Inne so called of belonging and pertaining to the Bishops of Ely Will de Luda Bishop of Ely deceased 1297 and gave this House by the name of his Mannor with the Appurrenances in Holdbourne to his Successors with condition that his next Successor should pay a thousand Marks towards the finding of three Chaglains in the Chappel there The first in the year 1464. the fourth of Edward the fourth in Michaelmas Terme the Sergeants at Law held their Feast in this House to the which amongst other Estates Matthew Philip Mayor of London with the Aldermen Sheriffs and Commons of divers Crafts being invited did repair but when the Mayor looked to keep the state in the Hall as it had bin used in all places within the City and Liberties out of the Kings presence the Lord Gray of Ruthen then Lord Treasurer of England unwitting the Sergeants and against their wills as they said was first placed whereupon the Mayor Aldermen and Commons departed home and the Mayor made the Aldermen to dine with him howbeit he and all the Citizens were wonderfully displeased that he was so dealt with and the new Sergeants and others were right oâ—ry therefore and had rather then much good as they said it had not so happened Next beyond this Mannor of Ely-house is Lither-lane turning into the Fields Then is Furnivals Inne now an Inne of Chancery but sometime belonging to Sir William Furnival Knight and Thomasin his Wife who had in Holdbourne two Messuages and thirteen Shops as appeareth by Record of Richard the second in the sixth of his Reign Now again from Newgate on the left hand or South side lyeth the Old Baylay which runneth down by the Wall upon the Ditch of the City called Houndsditch to Ludgate we have not read how this street took that name but it is like to have risen of some Court of old time there kept and we finde that in the year 1356. the thirty four of Edward the third the Tenement and ground upon Houndsditch between Ludgate on the South and Newgate on the North was appointed to Iohn Cambridge Fishmonger Chamberlain of London whereby it seemeth that the Chamberlains of London have there kept their Courts as now they do in the Guild-hall and till this day the Mayor and Justices of this City keep their Sessions in a part thereof now called the Sessions Hall both for the City of London and Shire of Middlesex over againâ— the which House on the right hand turneth down St. Georges Lane towards Fleet Lane In this St. Georges Lane on the North side thereof remaineth yet an old wall of stone inclosing a peece of ground up Sea-cole-Lane wherein by report sometime stood an Inne of Chancery which House being greatly decayed and standing remote from other Houses of that Profession the Company removed to a Common Hostery called of the signe out Lady Inne not far from Clements Inne which they procured from Sir Iohn Fineox Lord chief Justice of the Kings Bench and since have held it of the owners by the name of the New Inne paying therefore six pounds Rent by the year as Tenants at their own will for more as is said cannot be gotten of them and much lesse will they be put from it Beneath this Saint Georges Lane is the Lane called Fleet-lane winding
South by the Prison of the Fleet into Fleet-street by Fleet-bridge Next out of the high street turneth down a Lane called the Little Bayly which runneth down to the East end of St. Georges Lane The next is Sea-cole-lane I think called Limeburners Lane of burning Lime there with Sea-cole For we read in Record of such a Lane to have bin in the Parish of St. Sepulchre and there yet remaineth in this Lane an Alley called Lime-burners Alley Near unto this Sea-cole-lane in the turning towards Oldbourne-Conduit is Turn-again-lane or rather as in a Record of the fifth of Edward the third Wind-again-lane for that it goeth down West to Fleet Dike from whence men must turn again the same way they came for there it is stopped Then the high street turneth down Snow-hill to Holdbourne Conduit and from thence to Ouldbourn-bridge beyond the which Bridge on the left hand is Shooe-lane by the which men passe from Ouldbourne to Fleet street by the Conduit there In this Shooe-lane on the left hand is one old House called Oldbourn-Hall it is now letten out into divers Tenements On the other side at the very corner standeth the Parish Church of Saint Andrew From this Church to St. Andrew up Oldbourn-hill be divers fair builded Houses amongst the which on the left hand there standeth three Inns of Chancery whereof the first adjoyning unto Crook-horn-Alley is called Thavies Inne and standeth opposite to Ely House Then is Fewter-lane which stretcheth South into Fleet-street by the East end of St. Dunstanes Church and is so called of Fewters or idle people lying there as in a way leading to Gardens but the same is now of later years on both sides builded thorow with many fair Houses and in the wast grounds and Gardens betwixt Shooe-lane and Fewter-lane there are now many fair convenient Houses built by the Company of the Goldsmiths as also a street called New-street betwixt Aldersgate and Redcrosse-street Beyond this Fewters Lane is Baynards Inne alià s Mackworths Inne which is of the Chancery Then is Staple-Inne also of the Chancery but whereof so named I am ignorant the same of late is for a great part thereof fair builded and not a little augmented And then at the Barres endeth this Ward without Newgate Without Ludgate on the right hand or North side from the said Gate lyeth the Old Bayley as I said then the high street called Ludgate-hill down to Fleet-Lane in which Lane standeth the Fleet a Prison-house so called of the Fleet or water running by it and sometime flowing about it but now vaulted over Then also against the South end of Shooe-lane standeth a fair Water-Conduit whereof William East field sometime Mayor was Founder for the Mayor and Commonalty of London being possessed of a Conduit Head with divers Springs of water gathered thereunto in the Parish of Padington and the water conveyed from thence by Pipes of Lead towards London unto Teyborn where it had lain by the space of six years and more the Executors of Sir Willâ—am Eastfield obtained Licence of the Mayor and Communalty for them in the year 1453. with the Goods of Sir William to convey the said Water first in Pipes of Lead into a Pipe begun to be laid besides the great Conduit Head at Maribone which stretcheth from thence unto a separall late before made against the Chappel of Rounseval by Charing-Crosse and no further and then from thence to convey the said water into the City and there to make Receit or Receits for the same unto the Common-weale of the Commonalty to wit the poor to drink the rich to dresse their Meats which water was by them brought thus into Fleet-street to a Standard which they had made and finished 1471. From this Conduit up to Fewters Lane and further is the Parish Church of St. Dunstane called in the West for difference from Saint Dunstane in the East Next beyond this Church is Cliffords Inne sometime belonging to Robert Clifford by gift of Edward the second Somewhat beyond this Cliffords Inne is the South end of Newstreet or Chancelor Inne on the right hand whereof is Sergeants-Inne called in Chancery lane And then next was sometime the House of the converted Iews founded by King Henry the third in place of a Jews House to him forfeited in the year 1233. and the seventeenth of his Reign who builded there for them a fair Church now used and called the Chappel for the Custody of Rolles and Records of Chancery it standeth not far from the old Temple and the new in the which House all such Jews and Infidels as were converted to the Christian Faith were ordained and appointed under an honest rule of life sufficient maintenance whereby it came to passe that in short time there were gathered a great number of Converts which were baptized instructed in the Doctrine of Christ and there lived under a learned Christian appointed to govern them since the which time to wit in the year 1290. all the Jews in England were banished out of the Realm whereby the number of Converts in this place was decayed and therefore in the year 1377. this House was annexed by Parent to William Burstall Clark Custos Rotulorum or Keeper of the Roâ—s of the Chancery by Edward the third in the fifty one year of his Reign and this first Master of the Rolls was sworn in Westminster-Hall at the I able of Marble-stone since the which time that House hath bin commonly called the Rolls in Chancery-Lane On the West side sometime was an House pertaining to the Prior of Nectoâ— Park a House of Canons in Lincolnshire this was commonly called Hereflete Inne and was a Brew-house but now fair builded for the six Clerks of the Chancery and standeth over against the said House called the Rolls and near unto the Lane which now entreth Fickets Croft or Fickets field Then is Shere-lane opening also into Fickets field hard by the Barres Next is Bride-lane and therein Bridewell of old time the Kings House for the Kings of this Realm have bin there lodged and till the ninth of Henry the third the Courts were kept in the Kings House wheresoever he was lodged as may appear by ancient Records whereof there are many and for example have set forth one in the Chapter or Towers and Castles King Henry the eighth builded there a stately and beautiful House of new for receit of the Emperor Charles the fifth who in the year of Christ 1522. was lodged himself at the Black-Fryers but his Nobles in this new builded Bridewell a Gallery being made out of the House over the Water and thorow the Wall of the City into the Emperors Lodging at the Black-Fryers King Henry himself often times lodged there also as namely in the year 1525. a Parliament being then holden in the Black-Fryers he created States of Nobility there In the year 1553. the seventh of Edward the sixth the tenth of April sir George Barne being Mayor of this City was sent for
to the Court at White-hall and there at that time the King gave unto him for the Communalty and Citizens to be a Work-house for the poor and idle persons of the City his house of Bridewell and seven hundred Marks Land late of the possessions of the house of Savoy and all the Bedding and other Furniture of the said Hospital of the Savoy towards the maintenance of the said Work-house of Bridewel and the Hospital of St. Thomas in Southwark This gift King Edward confirmed by his Charter dated the 26. of Iune next following And in the year 1555. in the moneth of February Sir William Gerrard Mayor and the Aldermen entred Bridewel and took possession thereof according to the gift of the said King Edward the same being confirmed by Queen Mary The Bishop of St. Davids had his Inne over against the North side of this Bridewell as I have said Then is the Parish Church of St. Bridget or Bride of old time a small thing which now remaineth to be the Quire but since increased with a large Body and side Iles towards the West at the charges of William Vinor Eâ—quire Warden of the Fleet about the year 1480. all which he cauâ—ed to be wrought about in the stone in the figure of a Vine with Grapes and Leaves c. The partition betwixt the old work and the new sometime prepared as a Screne to be set up in the Hall of the Duke of Summersets House at the Strand was bought for eightscore pounds and set up in the year one thousand five hundred fifty seven The next is Salisbury Court a place so called for that it belonged to the Bishops of Salisbury and was their Inne or London House at such time as they were summoned to come to the Parliamâ—nt or came for other business It hath of late time bin the dwelling first of Sir Richard Sackvile and after of Sir Thomas Sackvile his Sonne Baron of Buckhurst Lord Treasurer who very greatly inlarged it with stately Buildings Then is Water-lane running down by the West side of a House called the Hanging Sword to the Thames Then was the White Fryers Church called Fratres beatae Mariae de monte Carmeli first founded saith Iohn Bale by Sir Richard Gray Knight Ancestor to the Lord Gray of Codner in the year 1241. King Edward the first gave to the Prior and Brethren of that house a plot of ground in Fleet-street whereupon to build their House which was since reedified or new builded by Hugh Courtney Earl of Devonshire about the year one thousand three hundred and fifty the four and twentieth of Edward the third Iohn Lufken Mayor of London and the Commonalty of the City granted a Lane called Crockers-lane reaching from Fleetstreet to the Thames to build in the West end of that Church Then is the Sergeants Inne so called for that divers Iudges and Sergeants at the Law keep a Commons and are lodged there in Terme time Next is the New Temple so called because the Templers before the building of this House had their Temple in Oldbourn This house was founded by the Knights Templers in England in the Reign of Henry the second and the same was dedicated to God and our Blessed Lady by Heraclius Patriark of the Church called the Holy Resurrection in Jerusalem in the year of Christ 1185. Many Parliaments and great Councels have been there kept as may appear by our Histories In the year 1308. all the Templers in England as also in other parts of Christendom were apprehended and committed to divers Prisons Anno 1310. a Provincial Councel was holden at London against the Templets in England upon Heresie and other Articles whereof they were accused but denyed all except one or two of them notwithstanding they all did confesse that they could not purge themselves fully as faultless and so they were condemned to perpetual penance in several Monasteries where they behaved themselves modestly Philip King of France procured their over-throw throughout the whole World and caused them to be condemned by a general Councel to his advantage as he thought for he believed to have had all their Lands in France and therefore seizing the same in his hands caused the Templers to the number of 54. or after Fabian threescore to be burnt at Paris Edward the second in the year 1313. gave unto Aimer de la Valence Earl of Pembrook the whole place house called the new Temple at London with the ground called Fiquetes Croft and all the Tenements and Rents with the appurtenances that belonged to the Templers in the City of London and Suburbs thâ—reof After Aimer de Valence saith some Hugh Spencer usurping the same held it during his life by whose death it fell again to the hands of Edward the third but in the mean time to wit 1324. by a Councel holden at Vienna all the Lands of the Templers lest the same should be put to prophane uses were given to the Knights Hospitalers of the Order of St. Iohn Baptist called Saint Iohn of Ierusalem which Knights had put the Turks out of the I le of Rhodes and after wan upon the said Turk daily for a long time In the Reign of the same Edward the third was granted for a certain Rent of ten pounds by the year the said Temple with the Appurtenances thereunto adjoyning to the Students of the Common Lawes of England in whose possession the same hath ever sithence remained and is now divided into two Houses of several Students by the name of Inns of Court to wit the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple who keep two several Halls but they resort all to the said Temple-Church in the round walk whereof which is the West part without the Quire there remain Monuments of Noblemen buried to the number of eleven eight of them are Images of Armed Knights five lying Crosse-legged as men vowed to the Holy Land against the Infidels and unbelieving Jews the other three straight-legged The rest are coaped stones all of Gray Marble the first of the Crosse-legged was William Marshal the elder Earl of Pembrooke who died 1219. William Marshall his Sonne Earl of Pembrooke was the second he dyed 1231. And Gilbert Marshall his Brother Earl of Pembrooke slain in a Turnament at Hartford besides Ware in the year 1241. Of the Twenty sixth or the last Ward of the City of LONDON called the Bridge-Ward without containing the Bourough of Southwark WE have now almost finished the Perambulation for having treated of Wards in London on the North side of the Thames in number five and twenty we are now to crosse over the said River into the Burough of Southwark which is also a Ward of London without the Walls on the South side thereof as is Portsoken on the East and Faringdon Extra on the West But before we come to the particular Description of this Ward it will not be impertinent to declare when and by what meanes the Burough of Southwark now called Bridge-Ward without
the Minister 100l per annum On the left hand of Charing-Crosse there are divers fair Houses built of late yeaâ—s specially the most stately Palace of Suffolk or Northampton House built by Henry of Northampton Son to the Duke of Norfolk and Lord Priâ—ie Seal to King Iames. Then is there a large plot of ground enclosed with Brick called Scotland yard where the Kings of Scotland were used to be lodg'd and Margaret Queen Dowager of Scotland eldest sister to Henry the 8th kept her Court there aâ—â—er the King her Husband had been kill'd in Flodden field And now we are come to White-Hall belonging of old to Hubert de Burgh Earl of Kent and Iusticier of England who gave it to the Black-Fryers in Holborne but being fallen to Henry the 8. ordained it to be called an Honor and built there a huge long Gallery with two Gate-houses thwart the street to St. Iames Park From these Gates we passe in a direct Line to Kings street on one side whereof passing through St. Stephen Alley is Canon Row but now though very corruptly calld Channel Row to called because it belonged to the Dean and Canons of Saint Stephens Chappel who were lodg'd there but now they are all turn'd to be temporal habitations Then we come to Woolstaple now the common Market place of Westminster In the Reign of Edward the first we read that the Staple being at Westminster the Pâ—rishioners of Saint Margarets and Merchants of the Staple buiâ—ded the said Church of new Henry the sixth had six Wool-houses within the Staple at Westminster which he granted to the Dean and Canons of Saint Stephens Becâ—use we are not yet ready to speak of the Abbey we will passe by it to the Gatehouse of Westminster and so to Totehill and Petty France The Gate-house is called so of two Gates the one out of the Colledge Court towards the North on the Eastside whereof was the Bishop of Londons Prison for Clerks convict the other Gate-house is a Goal or Prison for Felons one Walter Warfield Cellerer to the Monastery of VVestminster was founder of both these Gates in Edward the third's Reign On the South side of these Gates Henry the the seventh founded an Alms-House for 13 poor men one of them to be a Priest and above 45 years old the rest to be aged 50 years without Wives Near to this place was of old the Chappel of St. Anne where the Lady Margaret Henry the sevenths Mother erected an Alms-House for poor women and it was called Eleemosynary and now Almory or Ambry because the Alms of the Abbey were there distributed to the poor And there Islp Abbot of VVestminster set up the first Press of Book-printing that ever was in England Anno 1471. And one Caxton Citizen of London was the first who brought over that Art Then is there Totehill street where there are of late years sundry fair Houses on the back of St. Iames Park The Lady Anne Dacre built there an Hosptall for twenty poor Women and so many Children to be brought up under them Then is there Petty France where upon a place called St. Hermits Hill Cornelius Van Dun a Brabanter born and Yeoman of the Guard to Henry the 8th Edward the sixth Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth built twenty Houses for poor Women to dwell Rent-free And near hereunto there was of old a Chappel of St. Mary Magdalen which is now quite ruinated There is of late years a new large Chappel of Brick erected there at the entrance to Totehil fields Where Mr. Palmer a well diâ—posed and reverend Divine hath also erected lately another new Hospital with a competent allowance to the poor that shall be admitted thereinto And now we will return to the Abbey of VVestminster a place which was us'd to be of very high devotion It gives the denomination to the whole City and certainly that place cannot choose but be happy which hath Gods House for its Godfather as Munster a great and renowned City in Germany takes her name from the chief Church Of Westminster Abbey THis Church is famous especially by reason of the inauguration and sepulture of the Kings of England Sulcard writeth that there stood sometimes a Temple of Apollo in that place and that in the daies of Antoninus Pius Emperor of Rome it fell down with an Earthquake out of the remains whereof Sebert King of the East-Saxons erected another to St. Peter which being by the Danes overthrown Bishop Dunstane re-edified and granted it to some few Monks But afterwards King Edward surnamed the Confessour with the tenth penny of all his Revenues built it a new for to be his own Sepulture and a Monastery for Benedictine Monks endowing it with Livings and Lands lying dispersed in divers parts of England But listen what an Historian saith who then lived The devout King destined unto God that place both for that it was near unto the famous and wealthy City of London and also had a pleasant scituation amongst fruitful fields and green grounds lying round about it with the principal River running hard by bringing in from all parts of the World great variety of Wares and Merchandize of all sorts to the City adjoyning But chiefly for the love of the Chief Apostle whom he reverenced with a special and singular affection He made choice to have a place there for his own Sepulchre and thereupon commanded that of the Tenths of all his Rents the work of a noble Edifice should be taken in hand such as might beseem the Prince of the Apostles To the end as the Annales have it that he might procure the propitious favour of the Lord after he should finish the course of this transitory life both in regard of his devout Piety and also of his free Oblation of Lands and Ornaments wherewith he purposed to endow and enrich the same According therefore to the Kings commandement the work was nobly began and happily proceeded forward neither the charges already disbursed or to be disbursed were weighed and regarded so that it might be presented in the end unto God and Saint Peter and made worth their acceptation Thus the words of the old Record run Touching the Form of that ancient building we read in an old Manuscript Book that the principal plot or ground-work of the building was supported with most lofty Arches cast round with a four square work and semblable joynts But the compasse of the whole with a doâ—bâ—e Arch of Stone on both sides is enclosed with joyned-work firmly knit and united together every way Moreouer the Crosse of the Church which was to compasse the mid Quire of those that chaunted unto the Lord and with a twofold supportance that it had on either side to uphold and bear the lofty top of the Tower in the midst simply riseth at first with a low and strong Arch then mounteth it higher with many winding stairs artificially ascending with a number of steps But afterward with a single Wall it reacheth up
power may suffice all manner of freedom of joyous liberty and whosoever shall presume or doth contrary to this my grant I will he lose his name VVorship Dignity and Power and that with the great Traytor Judas that betrayed our Saviour he be in the everlasting fire of Hell And I will and ordain that this my Grant endure as long as there remaineth in England either love or dread of Christian name And this Record may be ranked among the most ancient of the Land About what time King Edward the Confessor did renew it he removed St. Margarets Church which before was within the Abbey to the place where now it stands Of Westminster-Hall and all the Tribunalls of Iustice which have their motion therein And first of the High Court of Parliament HAving visited God Almighties House we will now take a view of the chief Praetorium of Great Britain which is VVestminster-Hall and of the Courts of Judicature which are thereunto annexed And first of the Court Paramount the high national Court of Parliament vvhich great Councel vvas used to be the Bulwark of our liberties the boundary and bank vvhich kept us from slavery from the inundations of Tyrannical encroachments and unbounded VVill-Government And in this High Court there was used to be such a Co-ordination of power such a wholsome mixture 'twixt Monarchy Optimacy and Democracy I mean 'twixt Prince Peers and Commonalty during the time of consultation that of so many distinct parts by a rare co-operation and unanimity they made but one Body Politique like that sheaf of Arrowes in the Fable they made but one entire concentrical peece and the results of their deliberations but as so many harmonious Diapazons arising from the touch of different strings And what greater mark of freedom can there be to a people then to be lyable to no Lawes but what they make themselves to be subject to no Contribution Assement or pecuniary Levies whatsoever but what they vote and voluntarily yield unto themselves For in this great compacted Body politick there be all degrees of people represented The Yeoman Marchant Tradesman and mechanick have there their inclusive Votes as well as the Gentry and Freeholders in the persons of their Trustees viz. their Burgesses and Knights The Clergy also which make a considerable part of the Common-wealth were used to have their Representatives there not only in the persons of the Bishops which at the first constitution were the prime Parliament and continued so many Ages but in the Convocation which was an Assesmbly of Divines fairly chosen to that purpose Nor is this Soveraign super-intendent Councel and Epitome of this Iland only but it may be said to represent the whole Universe according to the primitive constitution The Soveraign Prince was as the Sun the Nobles the fixed Starres the Itinerant Iudges and other Officers that were wont to go with Messages 'twixt both Houses to the Planets The Clergy when there was a Convocation House as was said before to the Element of fire The Commons to the solid body of the Earth and the rest of the Elements He who hath bin conversant with the Chronicles of this Iland will finde it hath bin her fare to be four times conquered but the Scot never till now of late These so many Conquests must needs bring with them many tumblings and tossings many disturbances and changes in Government yet I have observed that notwithstanding these various tumblings England retained still the form of Monarchy and something there was alwayes that held an Analogy with the great Assembly of Parliament The first Conquest was made by Claudius Caesar at which time it may be said that the Standard of the Crosse came in together with the Roman Eagles 't is well known how the Roâ—an governed He had his Comitia which bore a resemblance with our Convention in Parliament the place of meeting was called praetorium and the Lawes which were enacted were called Plebiscita The Saxon Conquest succeeded next in which were the English and the Saxons governed by Parliament though it was under other names as Michel Gemote Michel Sinoth and VVitenage Mote There are Records near upon a thousand years of these Parliaments in the Raigns of King Ina Offa Ethelbert and others The third Conquest was by the Danes and they governed also by such generall Assemblies in the Raign of Canutus and others Then came the Norman whose Successors did revive and ratifie the way of governing by Parliament witness Magna Charta which was used to be called the Foundation of the English liberty and it may be compared to divers outlandish graffs set upon one stock for the choysest of the British Roman Saxon Danish and Norman Lawes being cull'd and pick'd out and gathered as it were in one bundle out of them the foresaid grand Charter was extracted the establishment whereof was a work of a Parliament Now by an ancient Statute of Edward the third it was enacted That all Statutes are repealed which are against Magna Charta or Charta de foresta Nor are the Lawes of this Iland only and the immunities of the people conserved by Parliament but all the best policed Countries of Europe have the like The Germans have their Diets The Dane and Swedes their Rich-daghs The Spaniard las Cortes and the French the Assembly of the three Estates though it hath bin for many years discontinued And touching England the Parliament was uâ—ed to be the principal Fountain whence the Soveraign Prince derived his happiness and safety It was the great Conduit-Pipe which conveighed unto him the Peoples bounty and love It was the truest Looking-Glasse wherein he discerned their affections and allegiance In Parliament the Soveraign Prince used to appear like the Sun in the Meridian in the altitude of his glory in his highest Royal State as the Law tells us But we will go now more particularly to work and treat of this great National Conncel according to the first constitution and establishment thereof This Court consisteth of the Kings Majesty sitting there as in his Royal politick Capacity and of the three Estates of the Realm viz. of the Lords spiritual Arch Bishops and Bishops being in number twenty four who sit there by succession in respect of their Counties or Baronies parcel of their Bishopricks which they hold also in their politick Capacity And every one of these when any Parliament is to be holden ought Ex debito justitiae to have a writ of Summons The Lords Temporal Dukes Marquesses Earls Viscounts and Barons who sit there by reason of their Dignities which they hold by Descent or Creation and likewise every one of these being of full age ought to have a writ of Summons ex debito justitiae for they are called Parliamentary Barons The third Estate is the Commons of the Realm whereof there be Knights of shires or Counties Citizens of Cities and Burghesses of Burghes All which are respectively elected by the Shires or Counties Cities and Burghes
and hath enjoyed it without controlement or question And now before we bid a farewel to Westminster we will acquaint the Reader in brief with the modern Civil Government thereof Now as London is divided into 26. Wards so Westminster is partition'd to 12. for the which the Dean of the Collegiat Church was wont with the high Steward to elect 12. Burgesses and as many Assistants viz. one Burgesse and one Assistant for every Ward out of which twelve two are nominated yearly upon Thursday in Easter week for chief Burgesses to continue for one entire year who have Authority to hear examine determine and punish according to the Lawes of the Realm and Customs of the City matters of incontinency common Scolds Inmates with publique annoyances and likewise to commit such persons as shall offend against the peace giving notice thereof within 24. houres to some Justice of the Peace in the County of Middlesex And this mode of Government Westminster hath by vertue of an Act of Parliament in the twenty seventh of Queen Elizabeth A PARALLEL By way of COROLLARY Betwixt LONDON AND Other great Cities of the World HAving hitherto rambled up and down the streets of London and pryed into every corner thereof having endeavoured to fetch Her from her very Cradle which may not be improperly said for we found Her at first a Grove of Wood and so attended Her all along to that marvellous degree of perfection she is now arrived unto by insensible Coalitions of people improvement of Trade and encrease of Structures We will now for the better illustration of things and further enlightning of the Reader make a Comparison or Parallel 'twixt Her and other great Cities of the World which are accounted Cities of the first Magnitude for as the Starres in Heaven are distinguish'd by degrees of Magnitude so are Cities on the Earth Or to descend lower as there are Ships of the first second and third rate so there are Cities Now among those various wayes which tend to convey knowledge to the understanding rectifie ones judgement Examples Comparisons and Parallels conduce much thereunto and Plutarch was the first that prescrib'd this way who as t' was said of him by giving life to so many noble Greeks and Romans after their deaths gave himself the longest life so it may be said that by his Parallels he made himself parallel'd The Terrestial Globe which the Great God of Nature was pleased to entail upon man-kind for his mansion and to hold it for himself and his Heirs in Capite from Him I say this Masse of Earth is compared by some to a Camels back in regard of the bunchy unevenness of it by others to a Libbards skin in regard of the sundry 〈◊〉 parts and variety of Habitations By others to a great piece of Embrodery enchas'd up and down whereof the most bossie and richest compacted parts are Towns and Cities where People are linked in a nearer bond of love and lead a more civil course of life For Urbanity and Civility derived their names first from thence These Comparisons are lesse wide and more significant then that which Lucian makes when by way of drollery he makes the greatest Cities upon Earth to appear like so many Birds Neasts It is a Catholique truth wherein all Chronologers Antiquaries do unanimously concur that in the non-age of the World man-kind had no other Habitation then Woods Groves and bushy Queaches which they fenc'd about with Hardles made of twigs and loose Stone-walls to defend them from the invasions of wild and ravenous Beasts some lived in Caves and concavities of Rocks to shelter themselves from the inclemency and rigor of the Air Insomuch that all men were Troglodites at first as there are many Nations who are housed so to this day making themselves holes and hollowes in Rocks and sandy dry grounds as we find in this Iland some of those Troglodites both in Nottingham and Bridge-north Then by degrees they made themselves small Huts from Huts they came to build Houses and so to cohabit in Hamlets and thence sprung up Towns and Cities The first of any same was that stupend or City of Babylon founded by Nimrod the great Hunter and enlarged by that notable Virago Semiramis which was girded about with Walls 200. foot high and fifty broad whereof the Circuit was 300 Furlongs she had also 300. Turrets upon the Walls which were of such a latitude that Chariots might go upon them and if old Historians may oblige us to a belief there were three hundred thousand men that were employed in the building thereof she continueth still a vast and flourishing City called by the Turks Bagdat Asia being the most Orientall Countrey on this side the Hemisphere as it was first peopled for Adam was that Countreyman so Towns Cities Castles Altars and other Buildings first began to be erected there and indeed all other knowledge besides Architecture came first from those parts being next Neighbors to the rising Sun The Indian Brachmans or Gymnosophists were the first scientifical men and Students of Philosophy The Persian Magi were her next Students Then she cross'd the red Sea and came to Memphis among the Aegyptians whence she steered down the Nile and got over the Aegean Seas to Corinth and Athens among the Greeks whence she took wing to Rome and from thence she clammer'd ore the Alps to France Germany Great Britany and other North-west Climats Now as Asia had the first Cities so she glories to have to this day the greatest we will instance only in the City of Quinzay who arrogates to her self the name of the Celestial City whereof divers modern Authours do write portentous things and truly he must have a strong Faith who will believe them She is the chief City of the Empire of China lying under the same Climate as Venice doth with whom she hath a great resemblance being built upon the South side of a huge Laque she hath in length about forty miles in latitude thirty and one hundred and twenty miles in circumference she hath above a thousand Bridges some whereof are so high that Ships under saile may passe under them Her Houses are of Stone and Earth the lowest whereof is five stories high of marvellous beauty and strength She hath many magnificent Temples but one next the Royal Palace of a stupendious structure being of that altitude that the ascent is threescore and fower marble stairs There are an incredible number of fair Palaces in her among which after that of the Emperour those of the ten Governours are the stateliest and among them that of the Captain of the Tartars About the Center of the City stands the Imperial Court which is fenc'd about with seven Walls whereof every one is garded by ten thousand Souldiers the Palace is ten miles in Circuit and hath fourscore great Halls but that where the great Councel sits is four square and hath Windows and Gates looking towards the four parts of the Heaven
Constantine and lost by a Constantine both of them the Sonnes of Helens about a thousand years after but touching her site she hath on the one side the Pontus or black Sea and the Marmora or Hellespont on the other the mouthes of which Seas are so narrow that no passage can be forced against the Castles she is built upon the utmost levant point of Europe and hath all the vast Continent of Asia before her from Sâ—utari Insomuch that she stands almost in the Center of the old World and thereby capable to send her Commands more speedily to other Countries yet since the discovery of America the new World some modern Geographers balancing the parts of the old with the new they find that Rome stands more appositly to command the whole Earth because she is rather situated more towards the middle In some things 't is confessed Constantinople may claim the precedence of London as first for the huge Palace of the Seraglio which is about three miles compasse 'T is thought also she exceeds for number of humane Souls and Houses yet in point of building they are but low and cottage-like nothing comparable to those of London And if you go to the quality of the Inhabitants Constantinople may be called but a nest or banner of slaves and herein as in many other of the particulars pointed at before London hath the start of Her We come now to Italy and first to Rome which though in circuit she be yet about as big as London yet in point of people she may be called a Wilderness in comparison of her She is also far inferior for Traffique and Wealth as also for temperature and wholsomness of Air that of Rome being not so healthy which some impute to the burning of stubble for fertilizing the bed of the Earth others to the ill-favour'd vapors that come from divers subterranean hollowes that remain up and down out of the ruines of old Rome for Rome at present may be called but a Skeleton of the old or like a tall man shrunk into the skin of a Pygmey being compared to that monstruous stature she was of in Vopiscus his time who leaves it upon Record that she was fifty miles about and had above four hundred thousand free Citizens and consequently about four millions of souls with in her bosome as some infer She then made the Ocean to do homage unto the Tyber she made Asia and Afrique feudetaries to Europe but she who daunted the World yielded to the Lawes of Time who gives all great Cities a space of growing of subsistence and of declination But a wonder it is how so much of her is left considering that from Brennus the Britain to the Duke of Bourbon she was eight times sack'd whence it may be inferr'd that there is an extraordinary providence that seems to watch over her For as she subsisted before by the Pike the Pen may be said now to support Her I mean her Ecclesiastical Courts which causeth a great confluence of people to resort thither from all corners of the Earth Insomuch that the number of strangers in Rome may be said to exceed the number of the Natives because she is accounted the Communis Patria and chief Randezvouze of all Christians in regard of the residence of the chief Bishop in whom every Catholique claimes an Interest Insomuch that Rome may be said to be more beholden to Shepheards then to any other profession for as a Shepheard was her Founder so a Shepheard is still her Preserver The next City of the first magnitude in Italy is Milan which of all other Towns may be said to have this singularity as to have no Suburbs 'T is true She may pretend much for Her Doure her Cittadel and Hospital with number of excellent Artisans yet who is well acquainted with both places will find that London is not much inferior to her in any of these fower things And for other particulars as ubiquitary Traffique by Sea as well as Land for multitude of people and divers other things pointed at before Milan comes short of London Touching the City of Venice 't is true she hath many things to glory of as her wonderful situation that she was born a Christian that she hath continued a Virgin near upon thirteen hundred years having been never ravish'd by the assaults of any enemy though some out of malice would make her a Concubine to the great Turk She may also glory of her great Arsenal and that she hath the Sea for her Husband yet if one go to multitude of Inhabitants to the magnitude of both Cities to number of Corporations with other particulars pointed at before Venice will not disdain to vail to London But touching the last thing She glorieth of London may claim as much interest in the Sea as she if regard be had to Maritime Dominion and Naval power And lastly while Venice is steeping and pickling in Salt-water London sports her self upon the banks of a fresh stately River which brings into her bosom all the Spices of the East Indies the Treasure of the West the Gems of the South and the rich Furs of the North. Naples 't is confess'd is a populous great Mercantile Town and hath three Castles with handsom Buildings and store of Nobility but besides magnitude of places and multitude of People with other advantages which London hath of Her the Sun whiles he doth as it were broyl the Neapolitan doth with the gentle reverberations of his rayes but guild the Walls of London Genoa though she be a proud City yet she stands not upon her own legs but she subsists most by the King of Spains money by being a Seal to convey it by Cambio to Flanders and else-where having little of her own to trade withall whereas London hath native substantial Commodities of her own and is far superior to her for bigness and number of souls with other advantages Touching Florence there is beauty enough to be seen there but she may partly thank London that she is so fair by the Trade she bears to Ligorn of late years Touching the rest of the Cities of Italy though they be ranked among those of the first magnitude yet they bear no proportion with London Touching Sicily there is Palermo the residence of the Viceroy a jolly neat City which may glory of one thing that neither London nor any other City in Christendom hath the like which is a fair spacious uniform street of above a mile long Next to which is that of Edenburgh in Scotland extending it self in a direct line from the Royal Palace to the Castle Concerning Spain there are divers large Cities of the first magnitude as Barcelona the metropolis of Catalonia Saragossa the cape City of Aragon Valencia the chief of that Kingdom Pampelona the head of Navarr Burgos the chief of old Castile and Toledo of the new Murcia Granada Sevill and Lisbonne in Portugal which is the biggest of them all The two last are
chief Arsenal of the French Gallies but none of these will offer I think to compare with the City of London nor any of those Towns that stand upon the Loire whereof there are many gentile ones Paris I confess may be capable of some Comparisons with London for which she hath many helps as being a Citè Vilâ—é Universitè a City a Town and an University as also the chief residence of the French Kings and the Parliament But le ts go a little to particulars And first to the populousness of both Cities They say in Paris that the Parishes of Saint Eustace and Saint Innocent have above one hundred thousand Communicants in them alone and that by the last Cense that was made there was near upon a million of humane souls found in the City and Suburbs of Paris It may be so but we shall find in the ensuing Discourse that London hath more Secondly for magnitude 't is true that Paris hath the advantage of an Orbicular figure and so is more capacious But by the judgement of those Mathematicians who have observed both Cities if London were cast into a Circle she would with all her dimensions be altogether as big as Paris Touching the Loure 't is true that it is a vast fabrick and the like is not found in London but it is the only Court the French King hath in Paris whereas in London there are fower Royal Seates with two Parks annexed to one I hope the Bastile will not offer to compare with the Tower of London nor the River of Seine with the Thames much lesse I believe will Paris offer to make any comparisons with London in point of Traffique and Societies of Noble adventuring Marchants who trade on both the Hemispheres nor of her Provost with the Lord Mayor of London I allow Paris to have rich Banquiers but they are most of them strangers and not Natives Moreover I think Paris would be loth to compare with London for neatness of streets or for sweetness of site for Paris hath scarce any verdure about her but the Proclere whereas London hath most delightful Fields round about Her of a deeper greene not so fading as that of France and touching streets the dirt and crott of Paris may be smelt ten miles off and leaves such a tenacious oily stain that it is indelible and can never be washed off 't is confessed that Paris hath waters of a singular vertue for the die of Scarlets but 't is as well known to the World what extraordinary Vertues the Thames water hath for many things Ask the Hollander and he will tell you there is no such water to fatten Eeles and all sorts of Fish Thames water Beer bears the price of Wine in many places beyond the Seas And the Portugalls have found of late such vertue in that water that they carry it away by whole Tuns to Lisbon I might enlarge my self further in shewing what advantages the City of London hath of Paris but I will suspend my Discourse till I proceed a little further only I will conclude this Paragraffe with this one Objection that London hath far better blood in her Veins then Paris I mean a greater number of wholsom Springs Conduits Aqueducts and Sources of sweet waters whereof Paris hath not so many And now there comes into my memory a facetious passage between Henry the 4th and the Provost of Paris touching those waters which happened thus The King had appointed the Suisse Ambassadors whereof there were many in Commission to be lodged in the City and that plenty of the best Wines should be provided for them The Ambassadors having lain long upon the Parisians and drunk daily very deep and being at last dismissed The Provost made an humble Remonstrance to the King how the City had so long time win'd the Suisse Ambassadors and their numerous retinue which put Her in some Arreares therefore he humbly prayed in the name of the City that his Majesty would be pleased to give leave that a small Tax might be laid for a while upon the Water-pipes and Cesterns of fresh Waters for the discharge of those Arrears for Wine c. The King pleasantly answered Ventre de Saint Gris there must be some other way found out to do this for 'T was our Saviour only that could turn water into Wine therefore he would not presume to attempt it Having thus rambled up and down the World and cast some few glances upon the most renowned Cities and having pointed before at twenty properties wherein London may well compare with any of the greatest Cities in Europe we will now more particularly treat a little of those properties and take them all single as they are ranked 1. The first is Conveniency of Situation and salubrity of Air wherein the wisdom of the old Britains our Ancestors in point of Election of the place aâ—d the benignity of the Heavens in point of influences and temperature have made London as happy as any other City under the vast Canopy of the Heavens some say that that City is best situated which resembleth a Camels back who hath protuberancies and bunches so a City should be seated upon rising grounds or small Hillocks It is the posture of London for she is builded upon the flanks sides and tops of divers small Hillocks lying near the Banks of a Noble River and being encompassed about with delightful green Medows and Fields on all sides and she is in so fair a distance from the Sea that no danger of forren invasion can surprize her but she must have notice before The nature of her Soyl sandy which is wholsomest for Habitation and conduceth much goodness of Air the barrenness whereof is made prolifical by art 2. Touching the second property which is a method of strict and punctual Government ther 's no City goes beyond her or indeed equalls her take night and day together for there is not the least misdemeanor or inconvenience that can be but there be Officers in every corner of the City to pry into them and find them out but especially the Wardmote Inquest which are to be men of repute and known integrity They by vertue of their Office inquire if any man outlawed or indited of Treason or Felony lurk within the Ward They inquire if the publique peace be any way disturbed or broken They enquire of all offences and dammages done to the River of Thames and make a speedy presentment of them to be redressed They inquire after Riotors dissolute persons and Barrators walking by nightertayle without light at unseasonable houres They inquire after those that play at unlawful Games They inquire after Potours Panders and Bawds common hazardors Champartors maintainers of quarrels or embracers of Inquests They inquire after Witches Strumpets common Punks and Scolds They inquire after hot houses and sweating houses whereunto any lewd Women resort or others of ill repute They inquire after any Inholder Taverner Brewer or Huckster that hold open at
representing whereof there were more theaters in London then any where else And it was a true observation that those comical and tragical Histories did much improve and enrich the English Language they taught young men witty Complements and how to carry their Bodies in a handsome posture Add hereunto that they instructed them in the stories of divers things which being so lively represented to the eye made firmer impressions in the memory Lastly They reclaimed many from Vice and Vanity for though a Comedy be never so wanton yet it ends with vertue and the punishment of vice 13. For a stately Cathedral Temple and Dome of devotion the time was that London did not yield to any City under the Sun in this particular Saint Pauls Church being esteemed by all Nations to be one of the eminentest and visiblest Temple one of the most glorious Piles of Stones under Heaven taking all the dimensions together with the chearful conspicuous Site thereof being near the Center of the City and upon a rising ground Being also founded upon Faith's by having a large Church of that name truckling as one may say under her Chancel Add hereunto what a comfortable Object it was to behold above twenty miles distance round about this goodly Structure raysing it self above the rest and serving as it were for a Crest to the whole City But now this famous Fabrick which was accounted the greatest glory of London is become her greatest shame For many Fortainers who are none of those that place any inherent Sanctity in senseless inanimat stones have bin overheard to say that Pauls Church in that posture she now is is the saddest sight and most ruthful Spectacle upon the Surface of the whole Earth nay some have bin heard to say that whereas a Stable became once a Temple in Palestine a Temple among us hath bin made a Stable nay they went further not sticking to say that as Christ was born in a Stable so Antichrist is like to be born in a Stable in England The time was that London was used to have a greater care of this Temple when a solemn Act of the Lord Mayors and Common Councel passed which stands yet upon good Record to this effect and stands still in force Forasmuch as the material Temples of God were first ordained for the lawfull and devout Assembly of people there to lift their hearts and lawd and prayse Almighty God and to hear his Divine Service and his holy Word and Gospel sincerely said sung and taught and not to be used as Markets and other prophane places or thorow faires by carriage of things And for that of late years many of the Inhabitants of the City of London and other people repairing thither do commonly use and accustom themselves very unseemly and unreverently the more the pitty to make their common carriage of great Vessels â—ll of Ale and Beere great Baskets full of Bread Fish Flesh and Fruit â—â—d such other things Fardels of Stuffe and other grosse Wares and things through the Cathedrall Church of Saint Pauls and some in leading Moyles Horses and other Beasts through the same unreverently to the great dishonour and displeasure of Almighty God and the great grief also and offence of all good people Be it therefore for remedy and Reformation thereof â—dained enacted and established c. That no person either fiâ—e or forren of what estate or condition soever do at any time from henceforth carry or convey or cause to be carried and conveyed through the said Cathedrall any manner of great Vessel or Basket with Bread Ale Beer Fish Flesh or any other like thing or things upon pain of forfeiture or loosing for every such his or their offence three shillings four pence for the second six shillings eight pence for the third ten shillings And for every other offence after such third time to forfeit ten shillings and to suffer two dayes and two nights imprisonment without Bayl or Mainprize The one moyety of all which pains and penalties shall be to Christs Hospital within Newgate and the other half to him that will sue for the same in any Court of Record within the City by Bill original Complaint or Information to be commenc'd or sued in the name of the Chamberlain of the said City for the time being wherein no Essoyne or wager of Law for the Defendant shall be admitted or allowed c. Such was the Reverence that London shewed her Cathedral Church not long agoe which may be said to look now like the hulk of a great weather beaten Ship that had cross'd the Line eight times forward and backward to the East Indies and lies rotting upon the Carine such is the condition of this stately Church which is like to be buried shortly in her own ruines and so become a heap of rubbish and then how bâ—ld London will look let them judge who have taken a judicious prospect of Her Moreover there 's another Reason that may induce London to prevent this for if Pauls were down She forfeits the name of a City for all Lawyers concur in this opinion that there can be no City without a Cathedral Church t' is but a Village without one or a Town at most therefore London hath great cause to wish that those unlucky Scismaticks had never bin born who first brought Pauls Church to this pittiful passe for it may well be said that all those casual fires which she suffered whereof there were many did not do her as much mischief as the faruous fires of some fanatical Zelots have done as one said also of the House of Peers that the Long Parliament was more destructive unto it then the Powder-plot had bin if it had taken effect Touching particular appropriated places for the service of God We know there were such from the beginning As soon as Noah got footing on dry ground he erected an Altar which was in liue of a Church the Patriarks had theirs then from Altars they came to have Arks and ambulatory Tabernacles and we read what a conceit of holiness was carried towards them Then Salomon by Instructions from Heaven did build a fix'd and standing material Temple And we well know how highly our Saviour himself was incensed against the money changers and others who prophan'd that place and what sharp reprehensions his Apostle gave afterwards to those who used to eat and drink in those places which were appointed for devotion That Hyperâ—â— or room where our Saviour did please to celebrate the Passe-over and institute his last Supper may well be thought to have more Sanctity in it then an ordinary Chamber considering how many holy things were done there afterwards for our Saviour appeared in that very place twice after his Resurrection the Holy Ghost came down in cloven tongues in that place Iames was created Bishop of Hierusalem and seven Deacons were elected in that place which in regard of so many holy transactions was enlarged and made afterwards a goodly Church long
Of Cordwainers-ward 107 Of Cheap-ward 111 Of the great Crosse in Cheap 115 Of Colemanstreet-ward 119 Of Cripplegate-ward 301 Of the Chappel of Jesus hard by Pauls 314 The Counter removed from Bread-street to VVood-street 319 Of Castle-Baynard-ward 324 A Clash 'twixt the Lord Mayor and the Lawyers 330 D. Of Diana's Chamber hard by Pauls 3 A Description of Pauls 7 The duty of the Lord Mayor to conserve the Thames 18 Divers small Bridges in former times in London 23 Of Drapers-Hall 73 Of Dowgate-ward 97 Dowgate-ward hath many things considerable 100 Of the Dance of Death painted at Pauls 323 The difference 'twixt Southark and London in point of Government 340 Of the Dutchy of Lancaster and Savoy with the Liberties thereof 347 Of Dorham-House 349 E. The English converted to Christianity by the Britains 33 The Emperor Charles lodged in the Black-Fryers 316 Of the Elms the place of common Execution in times passed 326 Edward the Consessors Charter to VVestminster 355 Of the Exchequer Court 369 Of the Court of Equity or Chancery 365 An Encomium of the Civil Law 377 Of the City of Florence 387 An extravagant saying of a French Baron In the Epist. Of the eminent Citizens of London 405 F. The foundation and first Rise of the City of London 2 Fitstephen reports of London 8 Of the fresh water Rivers that were in London 10. A factious saying of the Lord Mayors to King James 19 Fearful Fires on London-Bridg 21 Of the four Inns of Court 31 Of the present factions in London 47 Of Fishers Folly hard by Bishops-gate 67 Of Fenchurch 83 Of the Fishmongers Company 88 Of Faringdon Intra Ward 309 Of Faringdon Ward Extra 327 Of Bartholomew-Fair 328 Of Fewter or Fetter-lane 331 G. Of the Gates of London 4 Of the great famous River of Thames 12 Of Grayes Inne 32 Of Grâ—tham Colledge 31 The Government of London 33 Of Knighten Guild 49 Of Grasse-street vulgarly called Gracious-street 40 Of Grocers-Hall 113 Of the Guild-Hall 117 Of St. Giles by Cripplegate 304 Of Golding-lane ibid. The History of the Gray Fryers by Newgate Market 310 Of the great wardrobe 325 Of St. Giles of the Field 345 Of the Gran Cayro 384 Of Genoa 387 A guesse at the number of humane souls breathing in London 403 Of the general Trade of London 396 Of the Gravity and state of the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen 395 H. Of Sir Hugh Middleton and Ware River 11 The History of London Bridge from its beginning 20 The History of the great Tower of London 24 The History of the Saxons or Englishmen 33 Of the Hustings Court 37 Of the Holy Trinity by Algate a famous Priory with the great Prerogatives thereof 50 Of St. Helens Church sometimes a Nunnery 70 Of the Haunce of Almain or the Styliard 97 Henry the eighth came in habit of a Yeoman to see the Watch. 110 The History of Cheap-side-Crosse 115 The History of the Guild Hall 117 The History of the Jews in England 120 The History of Moorfields 301 The History of Sion Colledg 302 The History of Pauls Church 312 Of Houndsditch 341 Of Hamburg and the Hans Towns 388 fol. Of the Inns of Court 9 Iusts and Tournments in former times upon London-Bridg 22 Of the Inns of Chancery 31 Julius Caesar only a Discoverer of Great Britain 〈◊〉 Claudius Caesar the Conqueror 33 The ill May-day 40 Of Jack Straw 81 The Jews banish'd out of England 119 Where the Jews had their Synagogue in London 119 700 Jews murthered by the Londoners 119 Of the Jew that fell into a Iakes at Tewksbury 121 Of James the fourth King of Scots 303 Of St. James Hospital or the Charter-house 343 Of St. James's House and Park 356 L. fol. Of London-Stone 4 Of Ludgate 4 London Bridg hath two many Eyes 20 London much beholden to her Bishops 39 London like a Hive of Bees 41 London a Lick-peny 406 Of Lumley-House 48 Of Limestreet Ward 59 Of Leaden-Hall and the foundation thereof 59 A laudable Custom at St. Mary Spittle for rehearsal of Sermons 67 Of Loseworth or Spittle-field and strange Monuments that were found there 68 Of Langborn Ward 82 Of Lombard-street 82 Of Lothberry 119 Of Lollards Tower 326 Of Lincolns Inne 344 The length of London 404 The latitude of London 404 M. fol. The Method of the work 1 Of Moorgate 5 The Lord Mayors of London had divers appellations 34 Of the Lord Mayor and manner of his Election 36 Of Mart-lane and Minchinlane 48 Of the Minories 51 Of St. Mary Spittle 67 Of Marchantaylors-Hall 73 Of St. Michael in Corn-hill 81. Of Mercers Chappel 116 Of Melitus Bishop of London 312 Of the ancient Monuments in Pauls Church 312 Of the Monuments in the Temple Church 334 Of the Marshalsey 339 The chief Monuments of Westminster 355 Of the Mewse 355 N. fol. A notable saying of Count Gundamar touching the Iesuites 9 Of Northumberland-House 57 A new Monument of a Porter in Cheape-side 115 Of Newgate and the Market thereof 317 Of the New Market in St. Clements Field 344 Of the City of Naples 387 O. fol. Otia Imperialia an ancient Book of Gervase of Tilberry 5 Of the Officers attending the Lord Mayor of London 38 Of the old Jury 120 Of the old Exchange 319 Of old Fishstreet-Hill 322 Of the Heralds Office 326 Of Old Burn or Holburn 327 Of the Old Baylie 330 Of the Clink 337 Of St. Mary Overy 338 Of St. Olaves 330 P. The Proeme 1 The Parallel 381 Of the Posterns about London 5 Of Pauls Church 7 Pauls Church built partly at first and now destroyed by the sins of the People 7 The passage of the Thames from her first Spring 12 The pittiful Speech of Queen Jane when beheaded 26 Divers priviledges given to the Lord Mayor of London 34 Provost Marshal given the City by Queen Elizabeth 35 The Prior of the holy Trinity at Aldgate once a great man in the Government of the City of London 39 Paris a Pick-purse 406 Of Portsoken-Ward 49 The famous Priory of the holy Trinity built by Queen Matilda 53 The Prior of the Holy Trinity alwayes an Alderman of London 53 Of Pawlet or Winchester House in Broad-street 72 Of St. Peter upon Corn-hill and of the ancient Table that hangs there 79 Of the Priory of St. Bartholomew 328 Of the priviledges of London 407 The Popes-head-Tavern a Kings Palace in times passed 81 Of the priviledges of the Styliard 98 Pauls Steeple and Church-fired 313 Parliament kept in Black Fryers 313 Of Puddle-Wharf 325 A Purchase made of much Lands in Southwark by the City of Edward the sixth 335 Of the Prisons in Southwark 339 Of the high Court of Parliament 356 Of the Common Pleas. 368 Of Palermo 387 Of Paris 391 Q. Of Queen Hith 322 Of the pious Queen Matilda 345 Of the most pious Queen Eleanor 356 Of the City of Quinzay call'd the Celestial City 383 R. Restitutus Bishop of London sâ—te at the Councel of Arles in Constantines
all that that our Constable of our Tower of London was wont to take of the said Weares Wherefore we will and steadfastly command that no Constable of the aforesaid Tower at any time from henceforth forward any thing ask nor any grievance do to any of the same City by enchesen of the same Weares It is to us known enough and by true men do us to understand that most privacy and most profit might fall into the same City and to the whole Realm by enchesen of the same weares which we make for ever firm and stable unto the same City as the Charter of our Lord King John our Fader which our Barons of London thereof have reasonably witnessed Witnesses Eustace of London Peter of Winchester c. At Westminster the 18. of February the year of our Reign eleven Besides these he produced divers others in this Kings Raign 4. This Jurisdiction belongs to the City of London by Acts of Parliament W. 2. ca. 47. An. 13. No Salmons to be taken from the Nativity of our Lady unto St. Martins day in all points Nor none to be taken in Mill-pools from the midst of April until Midsummer 1. Offence burning of Nets and Engines 2. Offence imprisonment for a quarter of a yeer 3. A whole year 13. R. 2. confirms the restraint of taking Salmons in many waters from the midst of April until Midsommer upon the same pain nor within that time to use any Nets call'd Stalkers nor any other Engine whereby the fry may be destroyed 1â— Eliz None shall with any manner of Net Wee le Butcaining Kepper limecreele rawfagnet trolnet trimnet scalboat weblister sturlamet or with any other device or Engine made of cheare woolbine or Canvas or shall by any heeling Nets or Trimbleboat or any other device Engines Cautâ—lles wayes or meanes soever heretofore made or devised or hereafter to be made or devised take or kill any young brood spawn or fry of Eeles Salmon Pike or Pickrel or of any other Fish or Flud-gate Pipe or tail of any Mill Weare or in any streights streams brooks Rivers salt or fresh 2. None shall take or kill any Salmon and Trouts not being in season being Kepper Salmons or Kepper Trouts or Shedder Salmons or Shedder Trouts c. The Mayor of London inter alia shall have full power and Authority by this Act to enquire of all offences committed contrary thereunto by the Othes of 12 men or more and to hear and determine all and every the same and inflict punishments and impose fines accordingly 5. Then he proceeds to assert the Cities Right to the conservation of the Thames and waters of Medway by way of Inquisition whereof there were two the one taken at Raynam in Essex the other at Gravesend in Kent 9. Hen. 5. before William Grocer then Lord Mayor of London where it was presented That whereas by the ancient Ordinances of London the Mesches of Nets should be two Inches in the forepart and one inch in the hinder part and it being found that the offences according to the said Inquisitions are contra libertates consuetudines Civitatis it was adjudged that the Nets should be burnt according to the ancient custom in that behalf provided 6. He goes on after to prove that this Right belongs to the City by Decrees In 8. Hen. 4. The Mayor and Aldermen did exhibit their humble Petition to the Kings Councel reciting That time out of minde they have had the conservation and correction of the River of Thames of all trinks nets and other Engines whatsoever in the River of Thames and Medway placed and have used to make a sub-Conservator under them and complaining that Alexander Bonner then sub-Conservator having discharg'd his duty in removing Kiddels he was ill entreated by the owners the same owners dwelling in Erith Putriferry Barking Woolwich and other places in the Counties of Kent and Essex and upon hearing of the matter in Camera stellata they were sound guilty and constrained to submit themselves to the Lord Mayor and ordered to bring alwayes their Nets unto him before they should use them And that the Kiddles then taken should be at the disposition of the Lord Mayor so the Offendors made their submission accordingly 7. He proceeds This right appertains to the City of London by Letters Patents which he proved by a grant made by Edward the 4th to the Earl of Pembroke for setting up a Weare in the River of Thames which grant was revok'd and annul'd at the instance of the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen upon shewing their right therefore alledg'd It was contrary to their ancient Customs At which time the Cities Title to the conservacy of the Thames and Medway was at large set forth and recited to have bin shewn to the Lord Chancellour and to the said Earl and his Councel which accordingly was allowed 8. He reinforceth the right of the City by Proclamations whereof one was made by Hen. 8. in 34. of his Raign wherein it is affirmed that the Lord Mayor and his Predecessors have had by divers grants of the Kings of England and by Acts of Parliament enjoyed alwayes the conservacy of the Thames without impediments or interruption By which Proclamation it was commanded that none should resist deny or impugne the Lord Mayor or his Deputy in doing or executing any thing that might conduce to the conservacy of the River and of the fish and fry within the same 9. He produceth Report for in a controversie 'twixt the Lord Admiral and the Lord Mayor for the measuring of Coles and other things upon the Thames it then fell into debate to whom the Conservacy of the River appertain'd which cause was referred by Queen Elizabeths Councel of State 1597. to the Atturney General and Solicitor who joyntly certified among other things that the Conservacy and care of the River did and ought to belong to the City of London 10. By quo Warranto 't was proved that the Conservacy of the Thames belongs to the City for 3. Jacobâ— a quo warranto was brought against the City in the Exchequer to know by what Title she claimed the Conservacy of the River of Thames the waters of Medway whereupon the City made her Title good thereunto by ancient prescription and otherwise so judgement was given in her favour 11. He goes on afterwards to confirm the right of the City by proof of usage in regard the Lord Mayor and Aldermen have time out of minde made Ordinances concerning the good Government of the River of Thames as well for the seasons and manner of fishing beneath London Bridge Eastward upon pain of penalties as it appears from time to time from the Raign of Hen. 3. and so downward the Lord Mayor hath removed Kiddels Weares Trinks and other unlawful Engines and hath reformed the disorders of such as have offended besides in the River of Thames and inflicted punishment upon Offendors accordingly The right of the City appeares also by the
time 39 Of the Royal Exchange and the name given unto it by Queen Elizabeth with the Ceremonyes us'd 78 Of Robert Fabian the Chronicler 81 Of the Rolls and six Clerks Office 344 Of Rome 386 Rome eight times sack'd 386 Of the City of Roven 391 S. Of the publick Schools in London 31 Of the Sheriffs of London and their Election 37 The several Courts belonging to the City of London 38 Of the spiritual Government of London 39 Of Sydon lane vulgarly Sithinglane 48 Of the Shaft of St. Andrew 55 A strange accident happened in St. Michaels Church in Corn-hill 18 A strange Tomb found in St. Mary Hill Church 86 Of the Stock and Salt Fishmongers and their antiquity 89 Of the Stocks 84 Of the Steelyard or Guilda aula Teutonicorum 97 Of sweet Wines 102 Of the Standard in Cheap 115 A Shank-bone and Tooth of a marvellous bigness in St. Laurence Church 118 Of Sion Colledge 302 Of St. Martin le grand and the great priviledges it had 307 Of Smithfield 328 Of Southwark Ward 335 Of the Stew-houses allowed in times pass'd 337 Of the Suburbs of London 341 Of Suttons Hospital 343 The strange Iudgements fallen upon the Duke of Somerset for Sacriledge 343 Of the Savoy 347 Of the shape of London 406 T. Of the Tower of London 23 Of the Lyon Tower ibid. The Tower of London delivered to Lewis of France 24 The on the Britain first Bishop of London 39 Of Tower-street Ward 48 The Prerogatives of the Tower 48 Of the Tun a Prison in Cornhill in times passed now a Conduit 77 Of the Tower Royal. 103 The Tragical end of William Fitzosbert 109 Great Tryumph in Smithfield in times pass'd 329 The Templer Knight arraigned in London 333 Twenty particulars wherein the City of London may compare with any other City 385 V Of the Vintry Ward 101 The Vintners of old called Marchant-Vintners of Gascogne 103 The Lady Venetia Stanley hath a fair Monument in Christ-Church 311 Of the Upper Bench Court 363 Of Venice 386 Of Vienna 388 W. William the Conquerors Charter to the City of London 40 The Wardmore-Inquest a wholsome Constitution 39 Of the six and twenty several Wards of London 49 Westminster first called Thorney 80 Of Wat Tylar 81 Of Sir William Walworth and the manner of his knighting 91 Of Wallbrook Ward 83 Whittington four times Lord Mayor and thrice buried 103 The Weavers ancient Charter 123 Of Watling-street 318 Of Winchester-House 338 Of Wapping 341 Westminster and London compared 346 Of Westminster-Abbey with the History thereof 353 Of White-Hall 356 A witty Speech of Henry the 4th of France 391 A witty saying of Charles the Emperor in Epist. Of the Wardmote lâ—quest 394 A witty passage of Henry the Great of France 404 A witty saying of Count Gandamar of London 404 A Catalogue of Mr. Howels Works in several Volumes Printed by Mr. Humphrey Mosely 1. Mr. Howels History of Lewis the thirteenth King of France with the life of his Cardinal de Richelieu Fol. 2. Mr. Howels Epistolae Hoelianae familiar Letters Domestick and Forreign in six Sections partly Historical Political Philosaphical the first Volume with Additions Octavo 3. Mr. Howels New Volume of Familiar Letters partly Historical Political Philosophical the second Volume with many Additions Octavo 4. Mr. Howels third Volume of additional Letters of a fresher date never before published Octavo 5. Mr. Howels Dodona's Grove or the Vocall Forrest in Folio together with the second part in Folio never printed before 6. Mr. Howels Englands Teares for the present Warres 7. Mr. Howels pre-eminence and pedigree of Parliament in duodecimo in an answer to Mr. Pryn. 8. Mr. Howels Instructions and Directions for forrain Travels in Twelves with divers Additions for travelling into Turky and the Levant parts 9. Mr. Howels Votes or a Poem-Royal presented to his Majesty in Quarto 10. Mr. Howels Angliae Suspiria and Lachrymae in Twelves Tumulus Thalamus two Counter-Poems the first an Elegy upon Edward Earl of Dorset the second an Epithalamium to the Lord M. of Dorchester Parallels reflecting on the times A German Dyet or the Ballance of Europe wherein the power and weakness Glory and Reproach Vertues and Vices Plenty and Wants Advantages and Defects Antiquity and Modernness of all the Kingdoms and states of Christendom are impartially poiz'd by Iames Howel Esq Fol. Parthenopoeta or the History of the most Noble and Renowned Kingdom of Naples with the Lists of all their Kings the first part translated out of the Italian by Mr. Samson Lennard the second part continued to the present times 1654. by Iames Howel Esq More of Mr. Howels Works printed by other men THe great French Dictionary refined and augmented in a large Folio A Survey of the Signiory of Venice in Folio A Dialogue 'twixt the Soul and the Body The first part of the late Revolutions in Naples The second part of the said Revolutions The Warre of the Jews epitomiz'd Sir Robert Cottons works which he was desired to publish Saint Pauls Progresse upon Earth Some sober Inspections made into the Cariage and Consults of the late long Parliament A Venetian Looking-glasse A Winter Dream The Trance or Mercurius Acheronticus A Dialogue 'twixt Patricius and Peregrin An Inquisition after blood The Instruments of a King The late Kings Declaration in Latine French and English Bella Scoto Anglica or the Traversâ—s of Warr 'twixt England and Scotland Mercurius Hibernicus The Process and Pleadings in the Court of Spain for the Death of Mr. Ascham in Folio Londinopolis or a new Prospect of the City of London and Westminster Three of all which Books are Translations the rest his own Compositions * The prime Bridge in Venice