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
unseasonable houres They by vertue of their Office inquire if any manner of person after rain or any other time cast or lay any dung ordure rubbish Sea-coal ashes rushes or any other thing of noisance in the River of Thames or the Channels of the City They inquire whether any manner of persons nourish Hogs Oxen Kine Ducks or any other living thing that may cause unwholsomness or any grievance They inquire if any false Chevesancers or extortioning Usurers dwell within their Ward They inquire if any Freeman against his Oath made doth conceal cover or colour the Goods of Forreiners against the Franchises of the City They inquire if any Forrainer buy and sell with any other Forrainer within they City or Suburbs thereof any Marchandizes or Goods to the prejudice of the Natives They inquire if every Freeman which receiveth or taketh benefit of the Franchises of the City but continually dwelling out of it hath not nor will not pay scot and lot after his Oath made nor be partner to the common charges of the City when he is required They inquire if any conceal the Goods of Orphans whose Ward and Mariage belong to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen They inquire if any Officer by colour of his Authority do extortion to any man or be a promoter or maintainer of quarrels against right or take carriage and arrest victual unduly They inquire if any Boat-man or Ferriman take more then is due for his Boat-hire They are to inquire if any pourprestures be made upon the common ground of the City by Land or water as in Walls Pales Stoops Grieces Doores or Cellars or if any Porch Pent-house or jetty be too low in letting of Passengers that ride or Carts They are to inquire that Pentises and jetties be at least the heighth of nine feet and that the Stalls be not but of two foot and a half in breadth and to be flexible and moveable viz. to hang by Jewmews or Garnets so that they may be taken up and let down They are to inquire if any common course of water be forclos'd or letted to the noyance of the City They are to inquire if any pavement be defective or too high in one place and too low in another to the disturbance of the Riders goers and Carts that passe along They are to inquire after Regrators or forestallers of Victuals or of any other Marchandizes which should come to the City to be publiquely and fairly sold. They are to inquire if any Butcher Fishmonger Poulter Vintner Hostler Cook or seller of Victuals do sell at unreasonable prizes They are to inquire if any Retaylor do sell unwholsome Victuals or dearer then is proclaimed by the Lord Mayor They are to inquire whether any Vintner Inholder Alehouse-keeper or any other person whatsoever do use or keep any Cans stone-pots or other measures which are unseal'd and are lesse then due measure and whether they sell any Beer or Ale above a peny a quart and small Ale above a half peny They are to inquire in Shops and Houses of Chandlers and others which fell by weight that all their Scales be right and according to the Standard as also that all Yards and Ells be of their just length and that none do sell by Venice weights They are to inquire if any Inholder do bake Bread to sell within his own House and if any Baker of sowre bread bake white bread to sell and take more for the baking then three pence in a Bushel They are to inquire if any House be covered otherwise then with Tile Stone or Lead for peril of fire They are to inquire if any leper faitor or mighty Begger reside in the Ward They are to inquire if any Baker or Brewer bake or brew with Straw or any other fewel which may indanger fyring They are to inquire if any go with painted Viâ—age They are to inquire if any neglecteth to hang a Lanthorn at his door with a â—â—ndle therein burning after the usage at the season of the year appointed They are to inquire whether any bring to be sold or sell and offer or put to sale any tall-Wood Billets Fagots or other fire-wood not being of the full assize They are also to inquire after them who go to the Countrey and ingrosse any Billet tall-wood Fagot Tosard or other fire-wood and so keep it till they may sell it at excessive prizes and above the prizes set by the Lord Mayor They are also to inquire after Ingrossers of Butter and Cheese in great quantities in going into the Countrey to buy it and after convey it by water or otherwise to the City to be sold at Excessive rates They are to inquire whether any use the priviledge of Freemen being none and to that purpose they shall demand a sight from those whom they suspect of a Copy of their Freedom under the Seal of the Office of the Chamberlain They shall inquire after all such as melt Tallow contrary to an Act of the Common Councel in that case made and provided They shall inquire after such who use any fire-presses within the City and liberties for pressing or dressing of netherstocks Wollen Clothes or other things They shall inquire of all Armorers and other Artificers using to work in Metals which have or use any Reardorses or any other places dangerous for fire They shall inquire if any who have undertaken to be appraysers of the Goods of any Freeman deceased leaving behind him any Orphan or Orphans and the said Appraysers not having bin sworn before the Lord Mayor or the Alderman of the Ward They are to inquire if any Freeman buy any Wares or Marchandizes unweighed which ought to be weighed at the Kings beam of any stranger or Forrainer free of the City of London They are to inquire if any buy or sell any Cloth or Clothes in the Shop Ware-house or other place of any Cloth-worker or if any Cloth-worker do receive or harbor any Cloth before the same be brought to Blackwell-Hall They are to inquire if any Carman take for Carriage of any Commodity above the rates ordained They are to inquire if any make or cause to be made any new Buildings or divide or cause to be divided any House or Houses or receive any Inmate or Inmates contrary to the Kings Majesties Proclamation or to Law or any Statute of the Land They are to inquire after Hawkers which go up and down the streets and from House to House to sell any Wares contrary to an Act made in that behalf They are to inquire if any have fraudulently or unduly obtained the Freedom of the City They are to inquire after Women-Brokers such as use to resort to mens Houses to suborn young Maydens with promise to help them to better service They are to inquire if any have or use any common Privy having issue into any common Sewer of the City They are to inquire if any Constable Beadle or other Officer be negligent and remisse in discharging their
that it may seem sufficient to receive any multitudes of people whatsoever Because therefore Bishop Maurice carried a mind beyond all measure in this project he transmitted the cost and charge of so laborious a piece of work unto those that came after In the end when B. Richard his Successor had made over all the Revenues belonging unto the Bâ—shoprick to the building of this Cathedrall Church sustaining himself and his family otherwise in the mean while he seemed in a manner to have done just nothing notwithstanding that he spent his whole substance thereabout and yet small effects came thereof The West part as also the Cross Isle are very spacious high built and goodly to be seen by reason of such huge Columns and are marvellously beautified with an arch'd rooâ— of stone Where these four parts crosse one another meet in one there ariseth up a mighty large lofty Tower upon which stood a spire Steeple cover'd with lead mounting up to a wonderful altitude for it was no less than five hundred and five and thirty foot high from the ground which in the year 1087 was set on fire by lightning and burnt with a great part of the City but being rebuilt was afterwards fi'rd again with lightening about an hundred and fifty years ago and was not perfectly repair'd ever since The measure and proportion of this stately structure shall be here set down out of an old authentick Writer who saith that Saint Pauls Church containeth in length 690 foot the breadth thereof is 130 foot the height of the West arch'd roof from the ground carrieth 102 foot and the new fabrique from the ground is 88 foot high c. The ground belonging to this great Temple in nature of a Coemitery or Church yard was of vast expansion for it reach'd North as far as St. Nicholas market place West almost as far as Ludgate and South near to Baynards Castle Now as they say that Rome was not built in a day no more was this great and glorious Sanctuary but a long tract of time and some Ages pass'd before it came to be entirely compleated and made a perfect Crosse which is the exact shape of it Nor did there want many advantages according to the Genius of those times to advance the work for persons of good rank besides pecuniary Contributions did labour themselves therein in their own persons thinking to do God Almighty good service to have a hand in rearing up his Temple Besides It was an ordinary thing for the ghostly Father to lay penances upon some penitentiaries as Masons Carpenters Bricklayers Playsterers and others to work so many daies gratis in the building before they could get an absolution Insomuch that it may be said that as Pauls Church was partly â—ailt by the sinnes of the people so it is now destroyed by the sins of the people That there stood in old time a Fane or Pagan Temple to Diana in this place as before was hinted some have more than only conjectur'd for there are Arguments to make this conjecture good Certain old houses adjoyning are in the ancient Records of the Church call'd Diana's Chamber and in the Church-yard while Edward the first raign'd an incredible number of Ox-heads were found as we find in our Annals which the common sort at that time wondred at as the sacrifices of the Gentiles and the learned know that Taurapolia were celebrated to the honour of Diana But ever since this Temple was erected it hath been the See of the Bishops of London and the first Bishop it had under the English some hundred years after Theon the Brâ—tâ—sh Bishop was Melitus a Roman consecrated by Austin Archbishop of Canterbury in honour of which Austin though flat against the Decree of Pope Gregory the great the Ensigns of the Archbishoprick and the Metropolitan See were translated from London to Canterbury Within this grand Cathedral there lieth Saint Erkenwald as also Sebba King of the East Saxons who gave over his Kingdom to serve Christ King Etheldred who was an oppresser rather than a Ruler of this Kingdom cruel in the beginning wretched in the middle and shameful in his end so outragious he was in connivency to parricides so infamous in his flight and effeminacy and so disastrrous in his death Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Sir Simon de Burlie a right noble Knight of the Garter executed by encroch'd authority without the Kings assent Sir Iohn de Beauchamp Lord VVarden of the Cinque-ports Iohn Lord Latimer Sir Iohn Mason Knight William Harbert Earl of Pembrook Sir Nicholas Bacon Lord Keeper of the great Seal of England a man of a deep reach and exquisite judgement Sir Philip Sidâ—ey Sir Francis Walsingham two famous Knights Sir Christopher Hatton Lord Chancellor of England and a great many Worthies more lodge there until the Resurrection Besides this Church there is not any other work of the English Saxons extant in London for why they continued not long in perfect peace considering that the VVest Saxons subdued the East Saxons and London began to be tributary to the Mercians Scarcely were these civil Wars hush'd when a new tempest brake out of the North I mean the Danes who pitiously tore in pieces this whole Countrey and shook this City very sore for the Danes brought her under subjection but Alfred recover'd her out of their hands and after he had repair'd her he gave her unto Ethelred Earl of the Mercians who had married his daughter yet those wastful depopulators did what they could afterwards to win her by siege but Canutus who specially by digging a new Channel attempted to turn away the Thames from her though the labour was lost the Citizens did still manfully repel the force of the enemy yet were they alarm'd and terrified ever and anon by them until they lovingly receiv'd and admitted as their King VVilliam Duke of Normandy whom God design'd to be born for the good of England against those so many spoilers presently whereupon the winds were layed the clouds dispell'd and golden daies shone upon her since which time she never sustain'd any signal calamity but through the special favour and indulgence of Heaven and bounty of Princes obtain'd very large and great immunities for she began to be call'd the Kings Chamber and so flourished anew with fresh Trade and concourse of Marchants that William of Malmsbury who liv'd nere those times term'd it A noble and wealthy City replenish'd with rich Citizens and frequented with the Commerce of Occupiers and Factors coming from all parts Fitz-Stephen living also in those daies hath left in writing that London at that time counted 122 Parish Churches and thirteen Convents or Monasteries of Religious Orders Moreover he relates that when a Muster was made of able men to bear Arms they brought into the field under divers Colours 40000 Foot and 20000 Horsemen London about this time began to display hâ—r wings and spread her train very wide
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
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
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
best peopled but Madrid where the Catholique Court is kept though a Village hath more then any of them but all these come short of London in point of greatness and populousness with divers advantages besides Vienna the Imperial Court is of an extraordinary bigness being fenced about with English Walls which Richard the first rear'd up for his Ransome It is also well peopled so is Prague Which though the latter be made up of three Cities yet they both come short of the City of London in amplitude and number of people with divers other properties mentioned before Germany hath divers fair Cities that may take place amongst them of the first magnitude as Mentz Colen Frankfort Strasburg Norimburg Auspurg Magdenburg and others which though they beat a Land Trade being mediterranean Cities and abound with wealth and numbers of Artisans yet they are inferior to London for many respects Touching the Hans and imperial Towns there are divers of them large wealthy and full of Trade as Lubeck Danzick and Hamburgh the biggest of them which owes much of her prosperity to the Staple of the London Marchant Adventurers who are there setled but there 's none of these Cities though they be threescore more in number that will presume to compare with London in any of those twenty properties before mentioned Touching Copenhagen in Denmark and Stockholm in Swethland they come far short nay if you go more Northward upon the white Sea as far as the gran Mosco the Emperor of Russias Court which is a huge woodden City and inviron'd about with a treble wall to stop the incursions of the Tartar you will find it inferior to London in every of those twenty particulars Touching Low Germany or the Netherlands which is one of the greatest Countries of Commerce in Christendom 't is true there are there many Noble Cities Among others the City of Gant in Flanders which for bigness bears the Bell of all the Cities of Europe being computed to be twenty miles in circuit which makes the Flemins twit the French by saying Nous auons un Gant qui tiendra Paris dedans We have a Glove meaning Gant which is a Glove in French that will hold Paris within it yet for number of humane souls this great City is but a kind of Desart being compared to London Antwerp is a Noble City both for her Cittadel and Fortifications which are so vast that two Coaches may go abrest upon the Walls She may compare with any other City she was in former times one of the greatest Marts this side the Alps Insomuch that Guicciardin reports that after the Intercursus Magnus was established betwixt England and the Netherlands the Trade 'twixt London and Antwerp came to above twelve Millions yearly But upon the Revolt of the Confederate Provinces from the King of Spain when Secretary Walsingham told Elizabeth that he would give both the Spaniard and the French King such bones to gnaw that might shake both their teeths in their heads meaning thereby the Revolt of the Hollander from the one and the kindling of the Ligue in France I say when these tumults began Amsterdam may be said to have risen up out of the ruines of Antwerp which Town is come in lesse then fourscore years and by a stupendous course of Commerce and Negotiation to be one of the greatest Marts of the World being before one of the meanest Towns of the first magnitude in Holland but she is swoln since twice if not thrice as big as she was Insomuch that she may be said to give the Law to all the rest of the united Provinces and to smell rank of a Hans Town or little Common-wealth of her self Among other causes this may be imputed to the Trade of the East and West Indies which is appropriated unto Her and to a mixture with the Jewes who have there two Synagogues yet is this fresh great Mercantile Town much inferior to London almost in all things First in point of populousness as may be conjectured out of her weekly Bills of Mortality which at the utmost come but to about threescore a week whence may be inferred that London is five times more populous for the number that dies in Her every week comes commonly to near upon three hundred Secondly in point of Wealth Amsterdam comes short of London for when Sir Ralph Freeman was Lord Mayor it was found out by more than a probable conjecture that He with the 24. Aldermen his Brethren might have bought the Estates of one hundred of the richest Bourgemasters in Amsterdam Then for sweetnesse of Site and salubrity of Air she is so far inferior to London that her Inhabitants may be said to draw in Fogs in lieu of free Air the Countrey being all marsh and moorish about Her so that Amsterdam is built as it were in a bog or quag for in their fabriques they are forced to dig so deep for a firm foundation by ramming in huge Piles of Wood that the Basis of a House doth oftentimes cost more then the superstructure Moreover Amsterdam hath neither Conduit Well or Fountain of fresh water within her but it is brought to her by Boats and they wash with Rain water which every House preserves in Cisterns to that purpose Touching the River of Texel that brings her in all Commodities she is nothing comparable to the Thames in point of security of sayling or sweetness of water touching the first they say there stood a Forrest of Wood in times past where now the Texel makes her bed which could not be cut down so clean but there are divers ill favoured Trunks and stubs of Trees still found under water which is a great annoyance to Ships There are in the United Provinces many jolly Towns besides which may be ranked among them of the first magnitude especially Utrecht which hath the face of an ancient stately Town subsists more by her self the rest grow great and flourish in Wealth Buildings and People by having some peculiar staple-Commodity appropriated unto them as Amsterdam hath the Trade of the East and West Indies assigned Her as was formerly mentioned Rotterdam hath the Staple of English Cloth Dort of the Rhenish-Wine and Corn that comes from Germany Haerlam hath a Charter for Weaving and Knitting Leyden is an University The Hague subsists by the residence of the Hoghen Moghen the Councel of State Middleburgh in Zeland by the Staple of French Wines Trevere by the Scots Commodities c. but none of these bear any proportion with the City of London who trades in all these several Commodities together and hath particular Corporations accordingly with many more We will now hoyse up Sayl for France which also hath divers Cities of the first Magnitude as Rouen in Normandy Bourdeaux in Gascogny Tholouse in Languedock with the other five Courts of Parliament as also Amiens in Picardy and the City of Lions and Marseilles the one whereof subsists by her Bank the other by being the
story to tell so that there were many thousands born which were not baptized and whereof the Bill speaks not Touching the form and shape of London it may be aptly compared to a Lawrel leaf which is far more long then broad and were London round as Paris and other Cities are she would appear more populous by a more often encounter of the passengers Concerning the length of London take all Buildings that are contiguous one to another from East to West from the utmost point of Westminster to the utmost point beyond the Tower she may be well thought to be near upon five Italian miles in longitude and about half so much in latitude and in Circuit above twelve miles 'T is true that the Suburbs of London are larger then the Body of the City which make some compare her to a Iesuites Hat whose brims are far larger then the Block which made Count Gondamar the Spanish Ambassador to say as the Queen of Spain was discoursing with him upon his return from England of the City of London Madam I believe there will be no City left shortly for all will run out at the Gates to the Suburbs and for the Men I think they are gone by this time into the Country for I left them all booted and spur'd when I came away But touching the amplitude and largeness of London whereas Charles the Emperor to put a Complement upon Paris said that she might be called a Province rather then a City this term may better befit London who is a County of her self 16. From proportions and quantity we will now go to the quality of the persons she hath produced from time to time whereof there have been great numbers of most gallant and generous most wealthy and worthy most eminent and munificent brave men who had souls as large as their substance I mean such that received either their first being or well being from Her Charles the Quint was used to glory that he was a Citizen of Ghent having bin born there Henry the Great in answer to a Letter of the King of Spains wherein he had enumerated above a score of Soveraign Titles stiled himself only Henry Roy de France Bourgeois de Paris Henry King of France and Burgesse of Paris But London hath greater cause to glory in this point for Constantine the first Christian Emperor a Britain born was her Child And a foul mistake it was in Him who writ the Book of Martyrs when in his Epistle Dedicatory he saith that Constantine was the Son of Helena an English Woman being pure British for the name of English was not then in the World nor did the Saxons whence the English are derived take footing in great Britain but a long time after Maud the Empress was also a Londoner born with divers other great Kings and Princes Thomas Becket a man very famous in all the Catholick Countries and held one of the highest Saints was born in London he was first one of the Sheriffs Clarks then he was Parson of St. Mary Hilâ— then he went to Bologna in Italy to study the Law and at his return he was made Chancellor of England and Arch Bishop of Canterbury Innumerable other great Clarks and eminent Bishops were born in London and of late times Bishop Lancelot Andrews who for his vast stock of learning might be called the Universal Bishop There are now living two great Luminaries of the Church Doctor Wren and Doctor Warner born both in London the one Bishop of Ely the other Bishop of Rochester a person of most acute Intellectuals and of rare excellent knowledge Fabian the famous Chronologer was Sheriff of London and born there what a number of most munificent Benefactors hath London had among her own Natives besides those whom she bred what a Noble useful Structure is Leaden-hall built at the sole charge of Sir Simon Eyre Draper and Lord Mayor of London what a worthy Foundation is St. Iohns Colledge in Oxford built by Sir Thomas White Lord Mayor of London who was Benefactor also to Bristoll Reading and above twenty Towns besides what a bountiful Benefactor was Mr. William Lambe free of the Company of Clothworkers what a world of charitable deeds did he do in Town and Countrey what a Noble soul had Sir Thomas Gresham Mercer and Marchant who built the Royal Exchange Gresham Colledge with another great Countrey Palace in Middlesex what a notable Benefactor was Mr. Thomas Howel bred in his youth in Spain and afterwards in London who was one of the greatest Benefactors of the Company of Drapers and besides many other large acts of charity he hath left such means to Drapers Hall that if any Mayden can derive her self from the right linage of Howel in Wales the said Hall is to give her 21 l. towards her portion and this to continue for ever what a free large Soul had Mr. William Iones Marchant and free of the Haberdashers who in Monmouth the Countrey where he was born did build a fair Free School with very large allowance to the Masters he was Benefactor also to Hamborough Stoad and divers other places at home and abroad To these two Britains we will add a third which is Sir Hugh Middleton Goldsmith what a hazardous expenceful mighty work did he perform in bringing Ware-River to run through the streets of London what an infinite universal benefit doth accrue thereby to the whole City and Suburbs how often did this great design take heat and cold what faintings and fears what oppositions did it break through before it was perfectly finished What a large noble Soul had Sir Baptist Hicks Lord Vicount Campden what a number of worthy things did he in his life and at his death both for the advancement of Religion and Iustice At Campden in the County of Glocester he repaired and adorned God Almighties House and reard another for the poor before he built any for himself He founded also there a very commodious Market-house and having done many things more for the publick good in that place he erected afterwards a stately Palace for his Posterity though the hard fate of the times and the fury of the Warre hath half destroyed it He was also a great Benefactor to the Churches and the poor of Hamsted and Kensinton to St. Bartholomewes and Christ-Church Hospitals in London to all the Prisons as also to St. Laurence Church in the old Iury He purchased divers Impropriations and bestowed them upon the Church in divers counties He was at the charge of erecting a convenient Session-house for the Justices of Middlesex to meet in the middest of St. Iohn's street which is called Hicks Hall and will so be called to all posterity All these great lights he carried before him and at his death he gave a World of Legacies and divers Pensions to pious Ministers and others and bequeathed a great sum to be distributed among all his Servants To speak of all those Noble Londoners who have done glorious
things both for Church and State in point of piety stately Structures of divers natures for the publick good and deeds of charity would make a large Volume of it self I will conclude for the present with a late worthy man one Mr. Iohn Walter who was Clark of Drapers Hall who having resolved with himself when he had attained a competent subsistence for himself and his Children to employ the rest every year for charitable uses which he did constantly for many years He built two Hospitals near London and it was a great while before the Founder of them was known He used to send a proportion of bread to be distributed among the poor to divers Churches and it was not known who sent it till he was dead and that he was missing It is thought by a computation that was made that he had employed above ten thousand pounds to charitable uses of all sorts private and publick and he was so free from vain-glory that his greatest care was to do them in such a manner that his left hand should not know what his right hand did And in his study after his death there was a bag of 800 l. in Gold with a label in paper upon it This is none of mine but the poor's Lastly for Prerogatives Enfranchisements Immunities Charters and Liberties for Hospitality and plentiful treatments as also for Antiquity the City of London comes not in the arrears to any Touching the last 't is true there are some Cities in the East that have the start of her in point of time yet London was built 354 years before Rome which is a fair Age. Touching the second some call London a lick-peny as Paris is called by some a pick-purse because of feastings with other occasions of expence and allurements which cause so many unthrifts among Countrey Gentlemen and others who flock into her in such excessive multitudes but this must be imputed not to the place but to the persons for one may live in London as frugally if he hath wit to make use of it as in any other City whatsoever T' is true that the prizes of all things use to be enhanc'd by confluences and swarms of people which a judicious Forreiner observing in London said that she bore no proportion with the Iland but might serve a Kingdom thrice as big and that England may be rather said to be in London then London in England which made some compare her to the spleen whose over-swelling make the rest of the body languish but it might be answered that London is rather like the stomack which digests the wealth of the Land and after a good concoction disperseth it again in wholsom nutriment to all parts Touching the third viz. freedom and immunities there 's no City hath more In the Raign of Richard the second it was enacted That the Citizens of London were to enjoy their priviledges and franchises licet usi non fuerint vel abusi fuerint whether they were not us'd or abus'd notwithstanding any Statute to the contrary as the Lord Coke hath it in his Institutes In the Lawes of the Land London is called sometimes Camera Regis Reipublicae Cor totius Regni Epitome the Kings Chamber the heart of the Common-wealth and compendium of the whole Kingdom sometimes she is called Caput Regum Legum The head of Kings and of Lawes nay some of the Roman Emperors in their Edicts called her Augusta which is a name alwayes of magnificence and State And now will I take leave of the Noble Augusta or City of London concluding with this hearty wish couch'd in these two Hexameters and relating to her proportion or shape which is a Laurel leaf as formerly was said Londinum Lauri folio non impare formâ Flore at Urbs sicut Laurus semperque virescat London is like a Laurel leaf may She Be verdant still and flourish like the Tree FINIS AN INDEX POINTING At the chief Passage throughout the whole Book A. fol. AUgusta a name given by the Roman Emperors to London 2. Appellations which forrain Authors give of London 2. Of Algate 5. Of Amwel River brought to London 11. The Lord Ailwine first Alderman in England Anno 851. 34. Of the Authority and State of the Lord Mayor of London 35. His Attendants and Officers with divers Prerogatives 35. Of the ancient Court of the Hustings 37. Austin the Monk the Englishmens Apostle 39. The Arms of all the Companies and Corporations of London blazon'd 41. The antiquity of all the Companies of London 41. Of Allhallowes Barking 48. Of Algate Ward 52. Of St. Andrew Undershaft 55. Of Augustine Fryers 72. St. Albanes a very ancient Church in London 301. Of Aldersgate Ward 306. Of the ancient great Monuments in Christs Church 311. The Antiquities of Southwark 137. An Alderman alotted to every Ward 340. The Abbey of Westminster ◠the greatest Sanctuary 346. Of the Court of Admiralty 373. A Contest 'twixt the Court of Admiralty and Westminster Hall 374. Of Amsterdam 339. Of Auspurg 389. B. fol. The Britains concreated with this Iland 2. The British Etymologies of London 2. The Britains were first Founders and God-fathers of London 3. Of Bainards Castle 5. Of the chief Banner-bearer of the City of London 27. The Black Fryers built of the ruines of the Tower of Monsiquet 29. Bishops have bin good Friends to London 40. Of Barking Church 48. The Bayliff of Rumford strangely executed 56. The common Burse at first in Lombard-street 63 Of Bishopsgate Ward 63 Of Bethlem now called Bedlam and the notable deed of gift that was made thereof 63 Of Broad-street Ward 71 Of Billingsgate Ward 84 Of Billingsgate some things remarkable 85 Of the Bridge-ward within 87 Of Backles-berry 113 Of Basings-Hall Ward 123 Of Backwell-Hall 123 The History of the Black-Fryers 316 Of Breadstreet Ward 318 Of Bridewell 332 Of St. Brides 333 Of the Bridge-House 339 A British Prophecy lately verified 348 Bishop of Chesters Inne 349 Of Bedford York Salisbury Worcester-House with others 349 Of Bedford Berry 350 Of Babylon 382 C. fol Cornelius Tacitus lived seven years in Britain the Epist. The Character which Tacitus gives of London 3 Constantine the Great first Builder of London Walls 4 Contests 'twixt the Lord Admiral and Lord Mayor about the Thames 14 The Conservancy of the Thames belongs de jure to the Lord Mayor 17 The Character of London Bridg in Latine and English verse 1 A City compared to a Ship 33 Of the several Courts belonging to the City of London 37 Ceremonies used in the Election of the Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs 36 The Clashes 'twixt the City of London and divers Kings 40 No City without a Cathedral Church and a Bishops See 40 Of the several Companies and Corporations belonging to the City of London 41 Corporations prejudicial to Monarchy 46 The Custom-house Key called in former times Petty Wales 49 Of the Crouched Fryers 57 Of Cornhill-Ward 77 Of Candlewick-Ward 89 The Charter of the Styliard 98