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
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
Writs and Precepts under the teste of the Lord Mayor to the Sheriffs of Kent and Essex for the returning of Juries before him to enquire of Offences done in the River The same right of the City appeares also by Commissions whereof divers have bin directed to the Lord Mayor to put in execution the Acts of Parliament made for the Conservancie of the Thames and Medway and to enquire of all offences made or done in the said waters and to punish the Delinquents accordingly Lastly He makes good the Right and Title of the City by the continual claim she made thereunto as appears in those various contests she had with the Lord Admiral of England wherein after divers debates and bandings she kept still above water and made her Title good which moved King James Anno the 3d of his Raign to put a final determination to the business by the Letters Patents he passed unto the City wherein he saith that ad omnem controversiam in hac parte temporibus tam presentibus quà m futuris tollendam omne dubium amovendum that to cut off all controversies as well of the present times as of future and to remove all doubts he did confirm and ratifie the said right unto the City of London Thus was the Title Prerogative and right of the City of London stoutly and strongly asserted by eleven pregnant and convincing proofs to the conservation of her dearly beloved Minion the River of Thames both by prescription by allowance in Eire by ancient Charters by Acts of Parliament by Inquisitions by Decrees coram ipso Rege By Letters Patents by Proclamations by Report of the learned Councel by a quo Warranto And lastly by ancient usage custom and continual claim Mr. Stow in his survey of the City of London hath more about this business then here is inserted which made the last King Charles the first to command Sir John Coke his Secretary to write to Sir Henry Martin Judge of the Admiralty to this effect That His Majesty understanding that a second Edition of Stowes Survey of the City of London was put new to sale wherein there are some passages prejudicial to His Majesties Right in his Admiralty and derogatory to the just power belonging thereunto his Majesty did therefore require him his Iudge in that high Court to examine the said Boâ—k and to cause the said passages inserted in prejudice of the Admirals Iurisdiction and in support of any other pretence against the same to be left out or else to prohibite the publishing and sale of the said Book c. Sir Henry Martin having received this Letter after the Book was printed and publiquely sold all that he could do was to have Sir John Cokes Letter inserted in the last Folio of Stow to stand there for a Cautionary Reserve and Record for the future Now there be many things that concern the incumbency of the Conservator of so Noble a River it being an Office of no small extent His first duty is to preserve the currency of the stream and the banks on both sides Secondly He must preserve the Fish and Fry within the same He must prevent all Encroachments upon the River and the banks thereof as also he must enquire of all Flud-gates Mill-dams and such like annoyances and whether any do hurl in any soyl dust or rubbish or other filth whatsoever to choak her But for the strength and safety of the River against the invasion of an enemy by Block-houses Forts Bastions or Castles and the securing of the Merchant and Navigation to and fro that charge belongs to the Soveraign Prince and not to the City But indeed touching the former charge circumspection and care of the River of Thames it is most proper for the City of London who lies perpetually by her Beds side and therefore in a fit posture to be watchful of her for which vigilance the Thames rewards her abundantly by bringing her in the Spices of the South the Jewels of the East and Treasure of the West Insomuch that it may be well said this Office of Conservatorship or superintendency of so Noble and useful a River is as a fair flower or rich Jewel in the Cap of maintenance This famous River taking all her advantages together surpassing all other whatsoever that pay tribute to the Ocean if you regard the streightness of her course the stilness of her stream for her proportionable latitude as also her length for she comes sporting along from her first source above ninescore miles before she embosomes her self in the Arms of Neptune Add hereunto the great store and variety of Fish she abounds withall the most delectable and fertile soiles on both sides And lastly the conveniency of her scituation being towards the Center of England And then in her entrance to the Sea she opens upon France and Flanders having them both in her eye Besides she hath another advantagious property that to the knowing Native the entrance into the River is safe and easie but difficult and hazardous to strangers either to come in or go out Insomuch that the Thames may be said to be Londons best friend which puts me in minde of a passage of drollery that happened in the time of King James who being displeased with the City because she would not lend him such a sum of money and the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen attending him one day being somewhat transported he said that he would remove his own Court with all the Records of the Tower and the Courts of Westminster-Hall to another place with further expressions of his indignation The Lord Mayor calmly heard all and at last answered Your Majesty hath power to do what you please and your City of London will obey accordingly but she humbly desires that when your Majesty shall remove your Courts you would please to leave the Thames behind you Of the great and admirable BRIDGE In the City of LONDON over the Thames HAving bin thus long upon water and accompanied the Thames to Thetis lap 't is time now to land and take a view of her greatest Bridge which if the stupendious Site and structure thereof be well considered may be said to be one of the Wonders of the World though as some think it hath too many Arches so that it may be said If London Bridge had fewer eyes it would see far better Now as we ferch'd the Thames from her Spring so we will fetch her Bridge from its first foundation At first there was but a Ferry kept in the place where now the Bridge is built at length the Ferriman and his Wife deceasing left the said Ferry to their only Daughter a Mayden who with other goods left her by her Parents together with the profits arising from the said Ferry did build a holy House for Nuns in place whereof the East part of St. Mary Overies stands now above the Quire where she was buried and unto that House of Nuns she bequeathed the over-sight and benefit
Mayor and the Aldermen descend again and confirm the Elections Then the Recorder making them a Speech of thanks the meeting ends Now touching the Hustings which we have mentioned so often it is the ancient'st and highest Court of the City of London Touching the Etymology of it it is a pure Saxon word and is derived of House and dhing or thing which among the Saxons signified a Cause or Plea in so much that Hustings is no other then the House of Causes or Pleading and Thingere was the ancient word for a Lawyer or Pleader This Court preserves the Laws Rights Franchises Customs and Dignities of the City There be handled also there the intricat'st accounts and Pleas of the Crowns and of the whole Kingdom which Court hath for many Ages conserv'd inviolably its own Prerogatives and Customs This Court was anciently held every Munday but it was chang'd of late years into Tuesday because of the Sheriffs intending the Market which being kept upon Munday would hinder their sitting in the Hustings Edward the Confessors Lawes refer much to this Hustings Court Moreover the Cities oâ— York Winchester Lincoln the Isle of Shepey and other places have had their Hustings There is also another Court peculiar to London which discovers as much of Charity as of Policy It is call'd the Court of Requests or the Court of Conscience It was first erected by an act of Common-Councel Anno 9. Henry 8. viz. That the Lord Mayor and Aldermen for the time being should monthly assign two Aldermen and four discreet Commoners to sit twice a week to hear and determine all matters brought before them betwixt Free-men where the due debt or dammage did not exceed 40S Afterwards the said number of Commissioners was encreased to the number of twelve which continued till the end of Q. Elizabeths Reign But primo Iacobi it was confirm'd by Act of Parliament That the said Commissioners should have power to exhibit an Oath and to commit to prison such as did not obey their Summons or perform the Orders they made betwixt Plaintiff and Defendant Debitor or Creditor touching any debt not amounting to forty shillings but such hath been the unconscionablenesse and malice of some men of late times that they have endeavour'd to overthrow the the said Court by cavilling at some doubtful words therein wresting them to a perverâ—e sense the rich might have power thereby to oppresse the poorer sort by bringing them to Westminster Hall to a further expence of time and trouble There is then the Court of the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen which is a Court of Record the Recorder and the two Sheriffs being Aldermen not else are members of this Court whose office it is to redresse and correct the errors defaults and misprisions which happen in the Government of the City This Court is kept Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the year Then are the two Courts of the Sheriffs one for every Counter whereof there are two Lawyers as Judges well read in the Customs of the City as well as the common Laws but if an erroneous judgment be given before the Sheriffs the party griev'd may sue a Writ of error and remove it to the Hustings Then is the Court of Orphans For the Mayor and Aldermen by Custome have the custody of the Orphans within the City and if they commit the Custody of the Orphans to another man he shall have a ravishment of ward if the Orphan be taken away it being enacted that the Mayor and Chamberlain of London for the time being shall have the keeping of all the Lands and Goods of such Orphans as happen within the City saving to the King and other Lords their Rights of such as hold of them out of the same Liberty Now the Chamberlain is a sole Corporation to himself and his Successors for Orphans and a Recognizance made to him and his Successors touching Orphans shall by custome go to his Successor Moreover the Government of Orphans is so invested in the Mayor that it any Orphans sue in the Ecclesiastical Court or else-where for a Legacy or duty due to them by the Custome a Prohibition doth lye Then is there the Court of Common Councel which hath some resemblance of the high Court of Parliament for it consists of two Houses viz. the one of the Mayor and Aldermen and the other of the Commoners of the City Here they make Constitutions and Laws for advancement of Trade and regulation of other things which bind the whole City There is then the Court of the Chamberlain for Apprentices Now one may be free of London three manner of wayes first by Service secondly by Birth-right being sonne of a Freeman And thirdly by Redemption by Order of the Court of Aldermen The Chamberlain of London is an Officer very considerable in point of power for without him no man can set up shop or occupy his Trade without being sworn before him No man can set-over an Apprentice to another but by his Licence He may imprison any that disobeys his Summons or any Apprenrice that mildemeans himself or punish him otherwise There are the Courts of the Coroner and the Escheator which both belong to the Lord Mayor he being Coroner and Escheator by vertue of his authority and Office Then is there a Court for the conservation of the water River of Thames which belongs to the Lord Mayor from Stanes-bridge unto the water of Yendal and Medway as is amply spoken of before Then is there the Court of the Tower of London and this Court is held within the Verge of the City before the Steward by prescription of debt trespasse and other actions now part of the Tower is within the City and part in Middlesex viz. the East part but the West in London whereof there was a notable example in the person of Sir Thomas Overbury who being poyson'd in a Chamber on the West part the principal murtherers were tryed before Commissioners of Oyer and Terminâ—r in London and so was Sir Gervase Elwayes the Liveâ—enant of the Tower at that time There is also a peculiar Court call'd the Court of Policies and of Assurances in London to Marchants that venture and traffique on the Seas where ships and goods are insur'd at so much in the hundred where there is an Officer of good quality who Registers these Assurances Then is the Court of Halmote or Hall Court for every Company of London having a particular Hall They use to meet there to deliberate of matters belonging to the Company Then is the Court of the Wardmote or of the Wardmote Inquest For the whole City being divided to 26 Wards every Ward hath such an Inquest consisting of twelve or more who inquire after abuses and disorders and present them to be redressed There is also a kind of Court call'd the Colledge of the President Censors and Commonalty or Physicians who have peculiar Lawes of their own and among other one is remarkable that if one who is not
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
remaining on the South side of the street which of late time hath been called the Old Barge of such a signe hanged out near the Garte thereof This Mannor or great House hath of long time bin divided and letten out into mâ—ny Tenements and it hath bin a common Speech that when Wallbrook did lie open Barges were rowed out of the Thames or towed up so far and therefore the place hath ever since bin called the Old Barge Also on the North side of this street directly over against the said Bucklesbury was one ancient and strong Tower of Stone the which Tower King Edward the third in the eighteenth of his Reign called by the name of the Kings house and Cornet Stoure in London and â—id appoint his Exchange of money there to be kept In the nine and twentieth he granted it to Frâ—idus Guynysane and Landus Bardaile Marchants of Luke for twenty pound the year And in the three and twentieth he gave the same Tower to his Colledge or Free Chappel of St. Stephen at VVestmister by the name of Cornet Stoure at Bucklesbury in London This whole street called Buckles bury on both the sides throughout is possessed of Grocers and Apothecaries toward the West end thereof on the South side breaketh out one other short lane called in Records Peneritch-street it reacheth but to St. Sythes lane and St. Sythes Church is the farthest part thereof for by the West end of the said Church beginneth Needles Lane which reacheth to Sopers Lane as is aforesaid This small Parish Church of St. Syth hath also an addition of Bennet Shorne or Shrog or Shorehog for by all these names it hath bin called but the ancient is Shorne wherefore it seemeth to take that name of one Benedict Shorne sometime a Citizen and Stock-fishmonger of London a new Builder repairer or Benefactor thereof in the year of Edward the second so that Shorne is but corruptly called Shrog and more corruptly Shorehog Here are divers Monuments and among other the Tomb of Sir Raph Vâ—arren Knight Alderman twice Lord Maior of London and Marchant of the Staple at Callis with his two Wives Anno 1553. Then in Needlers Lane have ye the Parish Church of St. Pancrase a proper small Church but divers rich Parishioners therein and hath had of old time many liberal Benefactors But of late such as not regarding the Order taken by Queen Elizabeth the least Bell in their Church being broken have rather sold the same for half the value then put the Parish to charge with new casting late experience hath proved this to be true besides the spoil of Monuments there This little Church hath also some handsome Monuments Then is a part of Sopers-lane turning up to Cheap By the assent of Stephen Abunden Maior the Pepperers in Sopers lane were admitted sell all such Spices and other Wares as Grocers now use to sell retaining the old name of Pepperers in Sopers lane till at length in the Reign of Henry the sixth the same Sopers lane was inhabited by Cordwayners and Curriers after that the Pepperers or Grocers had seated themselves in a more open street to wit in Buckles bury where they now remain Thus much for the South Wing of Cheap-Ward At the West end of this Poultry and also of Bucklers bury beginneth the large street of West Cheaping a Market place so called which street siretcheth West till ye come to the little Conduit by Pauls Gate but not all of Cheap Ward In the East part of this street standeth the Great Conduit of Sweet-water conveyed by Pipes of Lead under ground from Paddington for service of this City castellated with stone and Cisterned in Lead about the year 1285 and again new builded and enlarged by Thomas Ilam one of the Sheriffs 1479. About the middest of this street is the Standard in Cheape of what Antiquity the first foundation is I have not read But Henry the sixth by his Patent dated at Windsor the one and twentieth of his Reign which Patent was confirmed by Parliament 1442 granted Licence to Thomas Knolles Iohn Chichle and other Executers to Iohn Wells Grocer sometime Maior of London with his Goods to make new the high-way which leadeth from the City of London towards the place of Westminster before and nigh the Mannor of Savoy parcel of the Dutchey of Lancaster a way then very ruinous and the Pavement broken to the hurt and mischiâ—f of the Subjects which old Pavement then remaining in that way within the length of five hundred foot and all the breadth of the same before and nigh the fire of the Manner aforesaid they were to break up and with Stone Gravel and other stuffe make one other good and sufficient way for the Commodity of the Subjects And further that the Standard in Cheape where divers Executions of the Law before time had bin performed which Standard at that preâ—ent was very ruinous with age in which there was a Cond it should be taken down and another competent Standard of Stone together with a Conduit in the same of new strongly to be builded for the Commodity and honour of the City with the goods of their Testator without interruption c. Of Executions at the Standard in Cheape we read that in the year 1293. three men had their right hands smitten off there for rescuing of a Prisoner arrested by an Officer of the City In the year 1326 the Burgesses of London caused Walter Stapleton Bishop of Exceter Treasurer to Edward the second and others to be beheaded at the Standard in Cheap but this was by Pauls Gate In the year 1351 the six and twentieth of Edward the third two Fishmongers were beheaded at the Standard in Cheap 1381 wat Tylar beheaded Richard Lyons and others there In the year 1â—99 Henry the fourth caused the Blank Charters made by Richard the â—econd to be burnt there In the year 1450 Iack Cade Captain of the Kentish Rebels beheaded the Lord Say there In the year 1461 Iohn Davy had his hand stricken off there because he had stricken a man before the Judges at Westminster c. Then next is the great Crosse in VVest Cheap which Crosse was there erected in the year 1290 by Edward the first upon occasion thus Queen Elianor his Wise dyed at Hardeby a Town near unto the City of Lincoln her Body was brought from thence to VVestminster and the King in memory of her caused in every place where her Body rested by the way a stately Crosse of Stone to be erecteâ— with the Queens Image and Arms upon it as at Grantham VVoborn Northampton Stony-stratford Dunstable St. Albones VValtham VVest-Cheape and at Charing from whence she was conveyed to VVestminster and there buried This Crosse in VVest-Cheape being like to those other which remain to this day and being by length of time decayed Iohn Hatherley Mayor of London procured in the year 1441 Licence of King Henry the sixth to re-edifie the same in more beautiful manner for the
Master and Brethren the Lands with the appurtenances that sometimes were Gilbert Beckets Father to the said Thomas in the which he was born there to make a Church There was a Charnel and a Chappel over it of St. Nicholas and St. Stephen This Hospital was valued to dispend two hundred seventy seven pounds three shillings four pence surrendred the thirtieth of Henry the eighth the one and twentieth of October and was since purchased by the Mercers by means of Sir Richard Gresham and was again set open on the Eve of Saint Michael 1541 the three and thirtieth of Henry the eighth It is now called the Mercers Chappel therein is kept a free Grammer School as of old time had been accustomed commanded by Parliament In this Chappel there is every Sunday morning throughout the year a Sermon in the Italian Tongue beginning about ten a clock Here be many Monuments remaining but more have been defaced among others there is Iames Butler Earl of Ormond and Dame Ioane his Countesse 1428. Before this Hospital towards the street was builded a fair and beautiful Chappel arched over with stone and thereupon the Mercers Hall a most curious piece of work Sir Iohn Allen Mercer being founder of that Chappel was there buried but since his Tombe is removed thence into the Body of the Hospital Church and his Body-room divided into Shops are letten our for Rent These Mercers were enabled to be a Company and to purchase Lands to the value of twenty pound the year the seventeenth of Râ—chard the second they had three Messuages and Shops in the Parish of Saint Martins Oteswâ—ch in the Ward of Bishopsgate for the sustentation of the poor and a Chantry the two and twentieth of Richard the second Henry the fourth in the twelfth of his Reign confirmed to Stephen Spilman W. Marchford and Iohn Watild Mercers by the name of one new Sildam shed or building with Shops Cellars and Edifices whatsoever appertaining called Crownsildes Scituate in the Mercery in West-cheap in the Parish of St. Mary de Arcubus in London c. to be holden in Burgage as all the City of London is Next beyond the Mercers Chappel and their Hall is Ironmonger Lane so called of Ironmongers dwelling there In this Lane is the small Parish Church of St. Martin called Pomary upon what occasion I certainly know not it is supposed to be of Apples growing where now Houses are lately builded Farther West is St. Lawrence Lane so called of St. Lawrence Church which standeth directly over against the North end thereof Antiquities in this Lane I finde none other then that among many fair Houses there is one large Inne for receipt of travellers called Blossomes Inne but corruptly Bosomes Inne and hath to Sign St. Lawrence the Deacon in a Border of Blossoms or Flowers Then near to the standard in Cheap is Hony-lane being very narrow and somewhat dark In this Lane is the small Parish Church called Alhallowes in Hony-Lane There be no Monuments in this Church worth the noting I find that Iohn Norman Draper Mayor 1453 was buried there He gave to the Drapers his Tenements on the North side the said Church they to allow for the Beam light and Lamp thirteen shillings four pence yearly from this Lane to the Standard And thus much for Cheap Ward in the High-street of Cheap for it stretcheth no farther Now for the North wing of Cheap Ward have ye Catte-street corruptly called Catteaten-street which beginneth at the North end of Ironmongâ—â— Lane and runneth to the West end of Saint Lawrence-Church as is aforeshewed On the North side of this street is the Guild-hall wherein the Courts for the City are kept namely first the Court of Common-Councel second the Court of the Lord Mayor and his Brethren the Aldermen third the Court of Hustings fourth the Court of Orphanes fifth the two Sheriffsâ—ixt â—ixt the Court of the Wardmote seventh the Court of Hallmote eight the Court of Requests commonly called the Court of Conscience nine the Chamberlains Court for Prentices making them free This Guild-hall saith Robert Fabian was began to be builded new in the year 1411 the twelfth of Henry the fourth by Thomas Knowles then Mayor and his Brethren the Aldermen The same was made of a little Cottage a large and great House as now it standeth towards the charges whereof the Companies gave large benevolences Also offences of men were pardoned for sums of money towards this work extraordinary Fees were raised Fines Amercements and other things imployed during seven years with a Continuation thereof three years more all to be employed to this building The first year of Henry the sixth John Coventry John Carpenter Executors to Richard Whittington gave towards the paving of this great Hall twenty pounds and the next year fifteen pounds more to the said pavement with hard Stone of Purbâ—ck They also glaz'd some VVindows thereof and of the Mayors Court on every which Window the Arms of Richard Whittington are placed The foundation of the Mayors Court was laid in the third year of the Reign of Henry the sixth and of the Porch on the South side of the Mayors Court in the fourth of the said King Then was builded the Mayors Chamber and the Councel Chamber with other Roomes above the staires Having here so just occasion speaking of that former ancient Councel Chamber which hath continued so ever since I cannot but account it expedient as in no place better fitting to remember the fair and goodly new Councel Chamber a worthy Act and an Honour to the City The said new Councel Chamber with a fair Room over the same appointed for a Treasury wherein to preserve the Books and Records belonging to the City and another Room also underneath the same Chamber reserved for necessary use and employment began to be builded the first week after Easter in the time of the Majoralty of Sir Thomas Middleton Knight and Alderman in the year of our Lord 1614 it was fully finished shortly after Michaelmas 1615 at the laâ—ter end of the Majoralty of Sir Thomas Hayes Knight and Alderman But the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen his Brethren kept their first Court in the said new Councel Chamber on the seventh day of November in the year of our Lord 1615 Sir Iohn Iolles Knight and Alderman being then Lord Mayor by whose order and direction the said building was performed from the first beginning thereof to the finall finishing of the same amounting to the charge of 1740 l. than which no money could be better bestowed nor more to the Cities credit and renown Last of all a stately Porch enâ—ring the great Hall was erected the front thereof towards the Stouth being beautified with Images of Srone Now for the Chappel or Colledge of our Lady Mary Magdalene and of All Saints by Guild-Hall called London Colledge we read that the same was builded about the year 1299 and that Peter Fanelore Adam Francis and Henry Frowick Citizen gave one
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
LONDINOPOLIS AN Historicall Discourse OR PERLUSTRATION Of the City of LONDON THE Imperial Chamber and chief Emporium OF Great Britain WHEREUNTO Is added another of the City of WESTMINSTER WITH The Courts of Justice Antiquities and new Buildings thereunto belonging By Iam Howel Esq Senesco non Segnesco LONDON Printed by I. Streater for Henry Twiford George Sawbridge Thomas Dring and Iohn Place and are to be sold at their Shops 1657. DE PONTE LONDINENSI Ejusque Stupendo Situ Structurâ Ad instar Celebris illius Hexastichi poetae Sannazarii de urbe Veneta Viderat Hadriacis Cum Londinensem Neptunus viderat Urbem Vectus ibi propriis atque revectus aquis Dum densam penetrat Syluam Lucosque ferentes Pro ramis funes pro foliisque Cruces Cum superimpositum Torrenti flumine Pontem Viderat et rapido ponere jura freto Cum tantos muros ferrumina castra tot Arcus Vidit haec tergo cuncta jacere suo Arcus qui possent totidem formare Rialtos Metiri si quis summa vel ima cupit Haec Deus undarum aspiciens fluxusque retrorsum Tundere horrendos inde boare Sonos Nunc mihi quanta velis Terrae miracula pandas Est primus Mundi Pons ait Iste Stupor The same paraphrased in English Of London-Bridg and the Stupendous Site and Structure thereof When Neptune from his billows London spyde Brought proudly thither by a high Spring-Tyde As through a floating Wood He steer'd along And dancing Castles cluster'd in a throng When he beheld a mighty Bridg give law Unto his Surges and their fury awe When such a shelf of Cataracts did roar As if the Thames with Nile had changed her shoar When he such massy Walls such Towrs did eye Such Posts such Irons upon his back to lye When such vast Arches he observ'd that might Nineteen Rialtos make for depth and height When the Cerulean God these things survayd He shook his Trident and astonish'd said Let the whol Earth now all Her wonders count This Bridg of Wonders is the Paramount To the Renowned City of London To the Right Honourable Honourable and all others Who owe their first Birth or wellbeing to so Noble a Metropolis IT was a notable Character which Cornelius Tacitus that famous Register of Time who had lived here many years did give of London about fifteen hundred years agoe Londinum copiâ Negotiatorum Comeatu maximè celebre London a most renowned Mart for multitude of Marchants and Commerce If She deserved such a Character in those dayes what would She merit now who being compared to what she was then may be said in point of magnitude to be as a large Volume in Folio to a Book in Decimo Sexto And in point of Trade as in an East Indy Carack to a Quinbourough Oyster ketch I have read of some who have bin enamor'd of Cities as others use to be of Mistresses so Charles the Emperor was struck with the love of Florence when among other expressions he said That she was a fair Lady fit to be seen only on Holidayes So a French Baron was so taken with the City of Paris which is known to be none of the neatest that he said Could he live ever in Paris he would quit his right to Paradise And it is storied of Tamberlain that having got Constantinople the first Complement he put upon Her was that he had heard so much of Her rare beauty that He came from so far off to Court Her but answer was made that it was the Custom of Thrace to Court fair Ladies not with Trumpets and Drums but with Dulcimers and other melodious Instruments I may well affirm that London is not inferior to any of these as will appear in a Parallel hereunto annexed And having breath'd Air and slept in her bosom now near upon forty years except the times that I was abroad upon forren Employments it is no wonder if I be habitually in love with Her nor have I bin wanting to express it many times by dedicating unto Her the great French Dictionary refin'd and enrich'd with divers Additionals Then in giving Her some warnings by the sad destiny of Jerusalem in an Epitome that goes of Josephus I shewed my self also very sensible of Her case at that time when I addressd unto Her Englands Teares and Mercurius Acheronticus nor is it long since that I made publick love to Venice and Courted Naples also and I came off with no ill success I hope to do the like here I know others â—ave treated already of the same Subject and given a laudible account of the City of London but Gold may be often told over without fouling the fingers I have read near upon a dozen several Survayes of Rome and Venice with other Cities and I alwayes found new Observations But it is now above thirty foure years agoe which are near upon five Ages in the Law since any thing was written of London and Westminster her collateral Sister which tract of time affords variety of accidents which the Reader shall find in this new Account wherein as I have bin careful not to preâ—ermit any thing that 's Material so my special Caution hath bin not to thrust in any frivolous pedantick things or Superfluities whereunto my nature hath bin alwayes averse Moreover I promise the Reader that he shall meet with many other Observations here which were never yet drawn off the Presse or exposed to publick light until now I will conclude my Epistle with this Question If it was esteemed an honour among the Greeks to be born in Athens If among the Italians to be a Roman If among the Spaniards to be a Toledano why should it be lesse honour for an Englishman to be born in London My hearty prayers to Heaven are for the incolumity and welfare of this Great City for the aversion of all Iudgements and that she may still flourish with affluence of all Earthly felicity by which prayer I subscribe my self Much Honoured Sirs Your humble and ready Servant Iam Howel SOME ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE READER THey who make researches into Antiquity may be said to passe often through many dark Lobbies and dusky places before they come to Aula lucis the Great Hall of light They must repair to old Archives and peruse many mouldred and moth-eaten Records and so bring light as it were out of darkness to inform the present World what the former did and make us see truth through our Ancestors eyes Now though we commonly term Them that went before us our Ancestors yet if we have respect to the extent of Time and the Age of the World we who live now may be called the more Ancient For They lived some of them in the Non-age some in the Youth some in the Adolescence some in the virility of the World And We who now crawl up and down the earth may be said to live in the declining and doting old decrepit Age Therefore if relation be had
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
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
of the mystery of a Physician or Chirurgion take upon him the Cure of a sick Body and he dieth of the Potion or Medicament this is as Britton the great Lawyer saith Covert Felony Then is theâ—e the Court of Sessions or monthly Goal-delivery at the Old-Bayly both for the City and Middlesex for tryal of Felons whereof the Lord Mayor is the chief Judge and hath power of reprieving Touching the Ecclesiastical Government OF THE City of LONDON HAving thus in a cursory way run over and taken in grosse as it were a view of the Civil Government of the City of London we will now make some inspections into her spiritual way of Government which was alwaies Episcopal from the beginning for there be Records that may we I induce us to believe that in the time of the Britains there were Bishops of London whereof they â—ay Thean was the first and in the Reign of Constantine we read that Restitutus Bishop of London had his Session in a Councel he summoned at Arles After that 〈◊〉 Saxons making twice an irruption into this Island and at last possessing the better part of it and being not reduced a good while after to Christianity there was a long interruption and no Bishop of London 〈◊〉 Austin the Monk came over who was call'd the Apostâ—e of the Saxons or English for he absolutely converted them He consecraâ—ed Melitus Bishop of London from whom to Doctor Iuxon yet living there are upon good Record the names of 97 Bishops of London who succeeded one another In so much that the City of London was not without a Bishop any time these thousand years till now The Prior of the holy Tâ—inity at Aldgate was a great man also in the â—â—vernment of the City for he used to ride with the Mayor the Aldermen in 〈◊〉 but the chief administration of all Ecclesiastical affairs was in the Bishop 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of London hath oftentimes far'd the better for her Bishops who have done her many signal good services upon some discomposures stood as a skreen 'twixt the fury of the Prince and Her When the Norman came over and was much incens'd against the City William her Bishop then took off the edg of his fury and introducing her to the Conquerors favour got â—er that famous Charter which is worthy to be here inserted William King greit William Bishop and Godfregis Posteron and â—all the Bourough waren bynden London Franchiste and Engliste and ickhyd eth that Ick yill that grete be ealbra yearalaga die yegret c. Which in intelligible English runs thus William King greets William Bishop and Gode froy Portreve and all the Burgesses within London French or English And I grant you that I will tâ—at ye be all your Law worth that ye were in Edward is his dayes the King And I will that ich Child be his Faders eyer And I 〈◊〉 suffer that ony man you ony wrongys beed and God you keep The said Bishop William procured this Charter from the insulting Conquerour as appears by his Epitaph And this Saxon Charter was not only confirmed but inlarged by Henry the first in Latine Now as far Soils are subject to produce rank Weeds so rich populous Cities are alwayes subject to bring forth turbulent spirits whereof there is a world of examples in all stories nor doth London want good store of them who used to bandy against their Soveraign Prince and we well know how often she forfeited her Charter that way It stands upon Record how Henry the third Edward the second Richard the 2d with other Kings had Her their fore enemies It is well known how often she smarted for it how often her Posts Chains were taken away how her Maior Sheriffs wereclap'd in Prison and a Custos appointed over her in the interim How Rich. the first trounced her for murthering the Iews how she suffered for the barbarous fray 'twixt the Goldsmiths and Taylors Servants For the blood shed 'twixt her and the men of Westminster on St. Iames's day For the brawl about the Bakers loaf in Salsbury Court For the outrages done to St. Martins Sanctuary men for the Ill May day and a little of late years for the murther of Doctor Lamb. But now that we are giving a touch of her Church Government It is observable in History how her Bishops proved her best friends at a pinch to pull her out of such plunges and rectifie her again in the opinion of her Soveraign Nay it stands upon good Record that she was no City till she had a Bishop for we well know that a City must have of necessity a Cathedral Church with the Seat and See of a Bishop Of the several COMPANIES AND CORPORATIONS Of the City of LONDON With their Originals and Arms. HAving made a short transcursion through the Government of the City of LONDON in general we will now visit their severall Companies Corporations and Societies whereof the main part of the City may be said to be composed who for their Industry and Arts their Inventions and sundry wayes of Manufactures may be compared to so many Hives of Bees the Emblems of sedulity and diligence And first Of the Twelve chief Companies out of which the Lord Mayor is to be annually chosen 1. THe Mercers have bin alwayes allowed the first place who were incorporated into a Society enabled to purchase Lands 17th Richardi Secundi Anno 1393. For their Arms they bear gules a Mayden-head proper crown'd or Wascot Purple issuing out of Clowds proper within a bordure nebulee or 2. The Grocers who at first were called Pepperèrs were incorporated Anno 1345. in the twentieth year of Edward the third The Arms a cheuron between nine Cloves sable with this Motto God grant Grace Supporters Helm and Crest granted by Clarenceux King of Arms in the Raign of Hen. 8. 3. The Drapers were incorporated in the 17 year of Henry the 6th Anno 1430. The Arms first granted by Garter Crest and Helm by Clarenceux the Coat Gules three triple Crowns or Capt Gules issuing out of Clowds resting upon Sun-beams their Motto Unto God only be Honour and Glory 4. The Fishmongers were at first two Companies to wit Stock-Fishmongers and Salt-Fishmongers but 28. of Hen. 8. they were imbodied into one Company Their Arms azure three Dolphins in pale proper crown'd or betwixt 4 lives Salterwayes argent all crown'd or on a chief Gules 3 Crosse-Keyes Salterwayes argent the Motto All Worship be to God only 5. The Goldsmiths were incorporated in the 16. year of Richard the second their Arms quarterly Gules and Azure two Leopards Heads or fower Golden Cups covered 'twixt two Buckles or the Motto To God only be all Glory 6. The Skinners are more ancient having bin incorporated in the first year of Edward the third but made a perfect fraternity in the 18. of Rich. the 2d their Arms Ermyn on a chief Gules 3. ducal Crowns or lind of the first their Motto the
pulled it down and to have builded there towards the steeet But the Parishioners having doubts in their heads of after-claps refused the offer Then was the Priory Church and Steeple proffered to whomsoever would take it down and carry it from the ground but no man would undertake the offer whereupon Sir Thomas Audley was fain to be at more charges than could be made of the Stones Timber Lead Iron c. For the Workmen with great labour beginning at the top loosed stone from stone and threw them down whereby the most part of them were broken and few remained whole those were sold very cheap for all the buildings then made about the City were of Brick Timber At that time any man in the City might have a Cart-load of stone for paving brought to his door for 6d or 7d with the carriage The said Thomas Lord Audley builded and dwelt on this Priory during his life and dyed there in the year 1544 since which time the said Priory came by Marriage of the Lord Audley's Daughter and Heir unto Thomas Duke of Norfolk and was then called the Dukes-place At this time the Inhabitants dwelling abiding in the said Dukes-place became utterly destitute of any Parish Church for resorting to Gods Divine service and the administration of the blessed Sacraments which in the time of their former zeal the demolished Priory not only serv'd their use but infinite numbers besides resorted thither In which respect the Parish Church of St. Katherine being so near and standing in the Coemitery or Church-yard of the late dissolved Priory of the Holy Trinity whereby it was called Saint Katherine Christs-Church they resorted thither at the hours of Divine Service and for the benefit of the blessed Sacraments whereby they became a burthen to the said Parish yet well enough borne withal in regard of the benefit ensuing by them so that they carried the respect of equal parishioners exercising and accomplishing all duties there even as if it had been their own proper Parish The long continuance of them in this kind although some much misliked and gladly would have compassed means for remedy thereof yet their power not stretching so far nor the way as yet fitting for their purpose they remained contented against their Wills till time would fit them with more convenient opportunity Ground they wanted not for raising a sufficient Parish Church to themselves neither did any good will fail in them for the effecting their purpose but only were curbed by the lack of strength how and which way to bring it about At length perceiving their ground intended for so good a use to themselves aimed at for buildings to private mens benefits that so they might be frustrate of any such help when occasion should in better manner shine on them some of the best advised among them by Petition solicited the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury to make their desire and intention known to the King which he did And the King finding the case so truly honest and religious for new erecting a Church where such necessity required and where Superstition had so long time formerly been harboured not only gave the Lord Archbishop and the Suitors both thanks and commendation but also under his Hand and broad Seal authorizable Warrant for their proceeding The Lord Mayor and Senate of Aldermen having intelligence in the case and perceiving what an honour would redound thereby first to God who inspired them thereto next to the King for so Royally granting the suite and then to the City for furthering it to Effect notwithstanding that divers oppositions were made by them who would have things still continue as formerly they did without benefit of a Parish Church of their own It proceeded on with good prosperous success to the no mean Honour and commendation of the Lord Maior then being Sir Ed. Barkham by name the Court of Aldermen and state of this famous City by whose good meanes it is made a very beautiful and comely Parish Church it being called in the time of re-edifying Trinity Christs Church raised out of the long decayed ruines of Trinity Priory in the Dukes place By this time the work is grown to such fulness and perfection as now nothing wanteth but the windows glazing which was performed in this manner The main and great East light in the Chancel Sir Edward Barkham himself undertook and effected it at his own Charge as the expression testifieth in the same Window The other sideling by it but inclining more Southerly Mr. George Whitmore and Mr. Nicholas Rainton performed And the third standing Northerly in the same Chancel Mr. Walter Leigh who had bin a Serjeant at Arms to the Kings Majesty and then Sword-bearer of London did likewise at his own Charge perform The two Western lights in the bottom of the Church being indeed very fair lights the Company of Drapers effected the one and the Wood-mongers Society finished the other Beside the two Southerly Windows the one done at the charge of Mr. Cornelius Fish Chamberlain of London and the other by Mr. Waldron then Marshal so now ye have the Church of St. Iames compleat The Parish Church of St. Katherine standeth in the Caemitery of the dissolved Priory of the holy Trinity and is therefore called St. Katherine Christs Church The Church seemeth to be very old since the building whereof the High street hath bin so often raised by Pavements that now men are sain to descend into the said Church by divers steps seven in number but the Steeple or Bell Tower thereof hath bin lately builded to wit about the year 1504. For Sir Iohn Perceival Marchant-Tailor then deceasing gave money towards the building thereof Now concerning this Parish Church of St. Katherine Christs Church commonly Cree-Church as formerly hath bin said it had a descent down into it by seven steps or stayers but being now newly built and made a very fair Châ—â—ch the ascent into the Church is by four or five degrees At the North-West corner of this Ward in the said High street standeth the fair and beautiful Parish Church of St. Andrew the Apostle with an Addition to be known from other Churches of that Name of the Knape or Undershaft and so called St. Andrew Undershaft because that of old time every year on May-day in the morning it was used that an high or long shaft or May-pole was set up there in the midst of the street before the South door of the said Church which Shaft or Pole when it was set on end and fixed in the ground was higher then the Church Steeple Jeffrey Chawcer writing of a vain boaster hath these words meaning of the said Shaft Right well aloft and high ye bear your head The Weather-Cock with flying as ye would kill When ye be stuffed bet of Wine than bread Then look ye when your wombe doth fill As ye would bear the great Shaft of Corn-hill Lord so merrily crowdeth then your Croke That all the Street
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
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
in the Wheels of shod Carts being each of them as big as a mans finger and a quarter of a yard long the heads two inches over Those nayles were more wondred at then the rest of the things there found and many Opinions of men were there passed upon them namely that the men there buried were murthered by driving those nayles into their heads But to set down what was observed concerning this matter there were there the bones of a man lying the head North the feet South and round about him athwart his head along both his sides and thwart his feet such nails were found wherefore it may be conjectured they were the nayls of his Coffin which had bin a trough cut out of some great Tree and the same covered with a Plank of that thickness fastened with such nayls and found under the broad heads of some of those nayls the old Wood was found scant turned into Earth but still retaining both the grain and proper colour And thus much for that part of Bishopsgate-Ward now we will proceed to that part which lyeth within the Gate And first to begin on the left hand of Bishopsgate from the Gate ye have certain Tenements of old time pertaining to a Brother-hood of St. Nicholas granted to the Parish Clarks of London for two Chaplains to be kept in the Chappel of St. Mary Magdalen near unto the Guild-Hall of London in the 27. of Henry the sixth The first of these Houses towards the North and against the Wall of the City was sometime a large Inne or Court called the Wrastlers of such a signe And the last in the high street towards the South was sometime also a fair Inne called the Angel of such a signe Amongst these said Tenements was on the same street side a fair Entry or Court to the common Hall of the said Parish-Clarks with proper Alms-houses seven in number adjoyning for Parish-Clarks and their Wives and their Widows such as were in great years not able to labour one of these by the said Brother-hood of Parish-Clarks was allowed sixteen pence the week the other six had each of them nine pence the week according to the Patent granted to that effect This Brother-hood amongst other being suppressed in the Raign of Edward the sixth the said Hall with the other Buildings there was given to Sir Robert Chester a Knight of Cambridge-shire against whom the Parish-Clarks commencing suit in the Raign of Queen Mary and being like to have prevailed the said Sir Robert Chester pulled down the Hall sold the Timber stone and Lead and thereupon the suiâ— was ended The Alms-houses remained in the Queens hands and people were there placed such as could make best friends some of them taking the pension appointed and letting forth their houses at great Rent have given occasion to the Pâ—rson of the Parish to challenge Tithes of them c. Next unto this is the small Parish Church of Saint Ethelburgh Virgin and from thence some small distance is a large Court called Little St. Helens because it pertained to the Nuns of St. Helens and was their House there were there seven Alms-Rooms or Houses for the poor belonging to the Company of Leathersellers Then somewhat more West is another Court with a winding Lane which commeth out against the West end of St. Andrew Undershafts Church In this Court standeth the fair Church of St. Helen sometime a Priory of black Nuns and in the same the Parish Church of St. Helen This Priory was founded before the Raign of Henry the third William Baâ—ing Dean of Pauls was the first founder and was there buried and William Basing one of the Sheriffs of London in the second year of Edward the second was holden also to be a Founder or rather an helper thereof This Priory being valued at 1314 l. 2 s. 6 d. was surrendred the five and twentieth of November the thirtieth of Henry the eighth the whole Church the partition betwixt the Nuns Church and the Parish Church being taken down remaineth now to the Parish and is a fair Church but wanteth such a Steeple as Sir Thomas Gresham promised to have builded in recompence of ground in that Church filled up with his Monument The Nuns Hall and other Housing thereto pertaining was since purchased by the Company of Leather-sellers and is their common Hall which Company was incorporate the one and twentieth year of Richard the second A young new-born Child was taken up between the great Ware-house and Sir Iohn Spencers back-gate being by a most unnatural Mother there buried in a great Dung-hill of Sea-coal Ashes with the face upward yet found alive by Richard Atkinson who used to make clean the passage there of the soyle carrying it thence with his Wheel-Barrow The Child had not any ragg or Cloth about it but was all bloodied by reason that the Navil string was untyed and the Body meerly crusted over with the Seacoal-dust yet being made clean by the poor mans Wife it was found to be a most goodly Man-Child strong and well-featured without any blemish or harm upon it but strangled inwardly by sucking in the noysome filth and Ashes He was Christned and named Iob cinere extractus Iob taken out of the Ashes He lived three dayes and lies buried in the Church-yard the fifth of September 1612. Of the Sixth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of LONDON called Broad-street Ward WE will now proceed to make a Perambulation in Broad street Ward whereof part lies contigâ—ous to Bishopsgate Ward for it beginneth from the water Conduit Westward on both sides of the street by Alhallows Church to an Iron Grate on the Channel which runneth into the water-course of Wallbrook before ye come to the Postern called Moregate and this is the farthest West part of that Ward Then have ye Broad street where of the Ward taketh name which stretcheth out of the former street from the East Corner of Alhallowes Church-yard somewhat South to the Parish Church of Saint Peter the poor on both sides and then by the South Gate of the Augustine Fryars West down Throgmorton street by the Drapers Hall into Loathbury to another Grate of Iron on the Channel there whence the water runneth into the course of Wallbrook under the East end of St. Margarets Church certain posts of Timber are there set up and this is also the furthest West part of this Ward in the said street out of the which street it runneth up Bartholomew Lane South to the North side of the Exchange then more East out of the former street From over against the Fryars Augustines Church South gate runneth up another part of Broad streete South to a Pump over against St. Bennets Church Then have ye one other street called Threed-needle street beginning at the Well with two Buckets by St. Martins Oteswich Church Wall This street runneth down on both sides to Finkes-Lane now called Finch Lane and half way up that Lane to a Gate of a Marchants house on
often had hapned in the City when the Hâ—uses were builded of Timber and covered with Reed and Straw Henry Fitz Allwine being Mayor it was Decreed That from thenceforth no man should build within the City but of some unto a certain height and to cover the same building with Slate or burnt Tyle This was the very cause of such stone Buildings whereof many have remâ—ined until out time that for gaining of ground they have been taken down and in place of some of them being low as but two Stories above the ground many Houses of four or five Stories high are placed From this Stone House down to the Stocks are divers large Houses especially for height â—or Merchants and Artificers On the South side of this High-street is the Parish Church of Saint Peter upon Cornhill which seemeth to be of an ancient building but not so anâ—ient as fame reporteth for it hath been lately repaired if not all new builded except the Steeple which is ancient The Rooâ— of this Church and Glazing was finished in the Reign of King Edward the fourth as appeareth by Armes of Noble men and Aldermen of London then living There remaineth in this Church a Table wherein it is written I know not by what Authority but of no late hand that King Lucius founded the same Church to be an Archbishops See Metropolitanâ— and chief Church of his Kingdom and that it so continued the space of four hundred years unto the coming of Augustine the Monk Now because many may be curious to be further acquainted therewith I have here inserted the same Verbatim as it is there recorded in the Table BE it known unto all men that the year of our Lord God 179 Lucius the first Christian King of this Land then called Britaine sounded the first Church in London that is to say the Church of St. Peter upon Cornhill and he founded there an Archbishops See and made that Church the Metropolitan and chief Church of this Kingdom and so endured the space of four hundred years unto the coming of St. Austin the Apostle of the English the which was sent into this Land by St. Gregory the Doctor of the Church in the time of King Ethilbert And then was the Archbishops See and Pall removed from the foresaid Church of St. Peter upon Cornhill unto Doreburniam that now is called Canterbury and there remaineth to this day And Millet the Monk which came into the Land with S. Austin was made this first Bishop of London and his See was made in Pauls Church And this King Lucius was the first Founder of St. Peters Church upon Cornhill and he reigned in this Land after Brute a thousand two hundred fourty five years and the year of our Lord God a hundred twenty four Lucius was Crowned King and the years of his Reign were seventy seven years and he was aâ—ter some Chronicle buried at London and after some Chronicle he was buried at Glocester in that place where the Order of St. Francis standeth now Joceline of Furnâ—is writeth that Thean or Theon the first Arch bishop of London in the Reign of Lucius builded the said Church by the aid of Câ—ran chief Butler to King Lucius and also that Etvâ—nus the second Archbishop builded a Library to the same adjoyning and conâ—erted many of the Druydes learned men in the Pagan Law to Christianity William Harrison discoursing hereon more at large hath these very words There is a Controversy saith he moved among our Historiographers whether the Church that 〈◊〉 built at London stood at Westminster or in Cornhill For there is some cause why the Metropolitane Church should be thought to stand where St. Peters now doth by the space of four hundred and od years before it was removed to Canterbury by Austin the Monk if a man would lean to one side without any conference of the asseverations of the other But herein there may lurk some scruple for besides that St. Peters Church stood in the East end of the City and that of Apollo in the West the word Cornhil a denomination given of late so speak of to one street may easily be mistaken for Thorney For as the word Thorney proceedeth from the Saxons who called the West end of the City by that â—ame where Westminster now standeth because of the wildernesse and bushineâ—â—e of the soile so we do not read of any street in London called Cornhill before the Conquest of the Normans wherefore I hold with them which make Westminster to be the place where Lucius builded his Church upon the ruines of that Fane 264 years as Malmsbury saith before the coming of the Saxons and four hundred and eleven before the arrival of Augustine Read also his Appendix in Lib. fourth Pontif. where he noteth the time of the Saxons in the 444 of Grace and of Augustine in 596 of Christ which is a manifest account though some Copies have 499 for the one but not without-manifest corruption and error And now to return where we left True it is that a Library there was pertaining to this Parish Church of old time builded of Stone and of late repaired with Brick by the Executors of Sir Iohn Crosby Alderman as his Arms on the South end do witnesse This Library hath been of late time to wit within this seventy years well furnished of Books Iohn Leyland viewed and commended them but now those Books are gone and this place is occupied by a School-master and his Usher for a number of Scholers learning their Grammer Rules c. Notwithstanding before that time a Grammar School had been kept in this Parish as appeareth in the year a thousand four hundred twenty five We read that John Whitby was Rector and John Steward School-master there and in the five and twentieth of Henry the sixth it was Enacted by Parliament that four Grammer Schools in London should be maintained viz In the Parishes of Alhallowes in Thames street Saint Andrew in Oldburn Saint Peters upon Cornhill and Saint Thomas of Acres Then have ye the Parish Church of St. Michael the Archangel for the antiquity thereof we find that Alnothus the Priest gave it to the Abbot and Covent of Covesham Raynold the Abbot and the Covent there did grant the same to Sparling the Priest in all measures as he and his Predecessors before had held it to the which Sparling also they granted all their Lands which they there had except certain Lands which Orgar le proud held of them and paid two shillings yearly For the which grant the said Sparling should yearly pay one mark of Rent to the said Abbot of Covesham and find him his lodging Salt Water and Fire when he came to London This was granted a thousand one hundred thirty three about the thirty four of Henry the first The fair new Steeple or Bell-Tower of this Church was begun to be builded in the year 1421 which being finished and a fair â—ing of five Bells therein placed a sixth Bell
yet remaineth in the Body of the Church This William Walworth is reported by some to have slain Jack Straw but Jack Straw being afterward taken was first adjudged by the said Mayor and then executed by the losse of his head in Smithfield True it is that this William Walworth being a man wise learned and of an incomparable Manhood arrested Wat Tyler a presumptuous Rebel upon whom no man durst lay hand whereby he delivered the King and Kingdom from most wicked Tyranny of Traytors the Mayor arrested him on the head with a sound blow whereupon Wat Tylar furiously stroke the Mayor with his Dagger but hurt him not by reason he was well armed The Maior having received his stroke drew his Basâ—â—liard and grievously wounded Wat in the Neck and withall gave him a great blow on the Head in the which Conflict an Esquire of the Kings House called John Cavendish drew his Sword and wounded Wat twice or thrice even to the death and Wat spurring his Horse cryed to the Commons to revenge him the Horse beats him about eighty foot from the place and there he fell down half dead and by and by they which attended on the King environed him about so as he was not seen of his Company many of them thrust him in in divers places of his Body and drew him into the Hospital of St. Bartholomew from whence again the Maior caused him to be drawn into Smithfield and there to be beheaded In reward of his Service the people being dispersed the King commanded the Maior to put a Basenet on his Head and the Mayor requesting why he should so do the King answered he being much bound unto him would make him Knight The Mayor answered that he was neither worthy nor able to take such an Estate upon him for he was but a Marchant and had to live by his Marchandize only Notwithstanding the King made him to put on his Basenet and then with a Sword in both his hands he strongly struck him on the Neck as the manner was then and the same day he made three other Citizens Knights for his sake to wit John Philpot Nicholas Brember and Robert Launde Aldermen The King gave to the Maior a hundred pound Land by year and to each of the other forty pound Land yearly to them and their-Heires for ever After this in the same year the said Sir William Walworth founded in the said Parish Church of St. Michael a Colledge of a Master and nine Priests or Chaplains and deceasing 1385. was there buried in the North Chappel by the Quire but his Monument being amongst other by bad people defaced in the Reign of Edward the sixth and again since renewed by the Fishmongers for lack of knowledge whatsoever before had been written in this Epitaph they followed a fabulous Book and wrote Iack Straw instead of Wat Tylar It hath also been and is now grown to a common opinion that in reward of this service done by the said William Wallworth against the Rebel that King Richard added to the Arms of this City which was Argent a plane Crosse Gules a Sword or Dagger for so they terme it whereof Mr. Iohn Stow makes a doubt but to the contrary he alledgeth that in the fourth year of Richard the second in a full Assembly made in the upper Chamber of the Guild-hall summoned by this William Walworth then Mayor as well of Aldermen as of the Common Councel in every Ward for certain affaires concerning the King it was there by common consent agreed and ordained that the old Seal of the Office of the Majoralty of the City being very small old unapt and unâ—omely for the Honour of the City should be broken and one other new should be had which the said Mayor commanded to be made artificially and honourably for the exercise of the said Office thereafter in place of the other In which new Seal besides the Images of Peter and Paul which of old were rudely engraven there should be under the feet of the said Images a Shield of the Arms of the said City perfectly graven with two Lyons supporting the same and two Serjeants of Arms in the other part one and two Tabernacles in which above should stand two Angels between whom above the said Images of Peter and Paul should be set the Glorious Virgin This being done the old Seal of the Office was delivered to Richard Odiham Chamberlain who brake it and in placethereof was delivered the new Seal to the said Mayor to use in his Office of Majoralty as occasion should require This new Seal seemeth to be made before William Walworth was Knighted for he is not there intituled Sir as afterwards he was and certain it is that the same new Seal then made is now in use and none other in that Office of the Majoralty which may suffice to answer the former supposition without shewing of any evidence sealed with the old Seal which was the Crosse and Sword of St. Paul and not the Dagger of William Walworth In this Church are sundry ancient Monuments of Mayors and Sheriffs of London West from this St. Michaels Lane is St. Martins Orgar Lane by Candlewick-street which lane is on both sides down to a Well replenished with fair and large Houses for Marchants and it is of this Ward One of which Houses was sometime called Beauchamps Inne as pertaining unto them of that Family Thomas Arundel Arch Bishop of Canterbury commonly for his time was lodged there The Parish Church of St. Martin Orgar is a small thing William Crowmer Maior builded a proper Chappel on the South side thereof and was buried there in an ancient Tombe 1533. where are some others of Maiors and Aldermen Then is there one other Lane called St. Lawrence of the Parish Church there This Lane down to the South side of the Church-yard is of Candlewick street VVard The Parish Church of St. Laurence was increased with a Chappel of Jesus by Thomas Cole for a Master and Chaplain the which Chappel and Parish Church was made a Colledge of Iesus and of Corpus Christi for a Master and seven Chaplains by Iohn Poultney Maior and was confirmed by Edward the third the twentieth of his Raign of him was this Church called St. Laurence Poultney in Candlewick street which Colledge was valued at seventy nine pounds seventeen shillings eleven pence and was surrendred in the Reign of Edward the sixth In this Church Robert and Henry Radcliffe Earls of Sussex lie buried Of the Twelfth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of LONDON called Wallbrook Ward WE will now proceed and make a Perambulation of Walbrook VVard which beginneth at the vvest end of Candlewick Street VVard It runneth down Candlewick street vvest toward Budge Rowe It hath on the North side thereof St. Swithens Lane so called of St. Swithens a Parish Church by London-stone This Lane is replenished on both the sides with fair builded Houses and is vvholly of VVallbrook VVard The said Parish Church
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
of the Bath in the yeer 1432 purchased the Patronage of this Church from John Duke of Bedford Unkle to Henry the sixth and Edward the fourth in the second of his Reign gave it to Sir Richard Lee then Mayor who ileth there hansomely entomb'd having bin twice Lord Maior with divers others Lower down from this Parish Church be â—ivers fair houses namely one wherein of late Sir Richard Baker a Knight of Kent was lodged and wherein also dwelled Mr. Thomas Gore a Merchant famous for Hospitality On the West side of this VValbrook street over against the Stocks Market is a part of the High street called the Poultry On the South side West till over against Saint Mildreds Church and the Scalding wike is of this Ward Then down again Wallbrook street some small distance in Buckles Bury a street so called of Buckle that sometime was owner thereof part of which street on both sides three or four Houses to the course of the Brook is of this Ward and so down VValbrook street to the South corner from whence West down Budge row some small distance to an Alley and thorow that Alâ—ey South by the West end of St. Johns Church upon VValbrook by the South side and East end of the same again to VValbrook corner This Parish Church is called St John upon VValbrook because the West end thereof is on the very bank of Walbrook by Horshooe Bridge in Horshooe-Bridge street This Church was also lately new builded for about the year 1412 Licence was granted by the Mayor and Communalty to the Parson and Parish for the inlarging thereof with a piece of ground on the North part of the Quire one and twenty foot in length seventeen foot in breadth and three inches and on the South side of the Quite one foot of the common soyle On the South side of Walbrook Ward from Candle-wick street in the mid-way between London-stone and Walbrook corner is a little Lane with a Turn-Pike in the middest thereof and in the same a hansome Parish Church called S. Mary Bothaw or Boat-Haw by the Erbar This Church being near unto Downgate on the River of Thames hath the addition of Bothaw or Boat-haw of near adjoyning to an Haw or Yard wherein of old time Boats were made and landed from Downgate to be mended as may be supposed for other reason I find none why it should be so called This Church hath one remarkable thing in it viz. The Monument of the first Lord May or of London Sir Henry Fitz Alwin His dwelling House remains yet in the Parish but divided to divers Tenements Mr. Stow relates that he was buried in the holy Trinity within Algate but it is far more probable that he was buried here because his Armsâ— are both upon the Gravestone and the Windows Of the Thirteenth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Dowgate Ward WE will now following the thred of our Discourse descend to Downgate Ward which beginneth at the South end of Wallbrook Ward over against the East corner of St. Iohns Church upon Walbrook and descendeth on both the sides to Downgate or Dowgate on the Thames and is so called of that down going or descending thereunto and of this Downgate the Ward taketh name This Ward turneth into Thames street Westward some ten Houâ—es on a side to the course of Walbrooke but East in Thames street on both sides to Ebgate Lane or Old Swan the Land-side whereof hath many Lanes turning up as shall be shewed when we come to them But first to begin with the High street called Dowgate at the upper end thereof is a fair Conduit of Thames Water castellated and made in the year 1568 at the charges of the Citizens and is called the Conduit upon Dowgate The descent of this streâ—t is such that in the year 1574 on the fourth of September in the afternoon there fell a storm of rain where-through the Channels suddenly aroâ—e and ran with such a swift course towards the Common-shores that a Lad of eighteen years old minding to have leapt over the Channel near unto the said Conduit was taken with the stream and carried from thence towards the Thames with such a violence that no man with staves or otherwise could stay him till he came against a Cart-wheele that stood in the said Water-gate before which time he was drowned and stark dead On the West side of this street is Tallow-Chandlers Hall a hansome house which Company was incorporated in the second year of Edward the fourth Somewhat lower standeth the Skinners Hall a fair house which was sometimes called Copped Hall by Downgate in the Parish of St. John upon Wallbrook In the nineteenth year of Edward the second Ralph Cobham possessed it with five shops c. This Company of Skinners in London was incorporate by Edward the third in the first of his Reign they had two Brotherhoods of Corpus Christi viz. one at St. Mary Spittle the other at St. Mary Bethlem without Bishopsgate Richard the second in the eighteenth of his Reign granted them to make their two Brotherhoods one by the name of the Fraternity of Corpus Christi of Skinners divers Royal persons were named to be Founders and Brethren of this Fraternity to wit Kings six Dukes nine Earls two Lords one Kâ—ngs Edward the third Richard the second Henry the fifth Henry the sixth and Edward the fourth This Fraternity had also once every year on Corpus Christi day afternoon a a proâ—ession which passed through the principal streets of the City wherein was borne more than one hundred Torches of Wax costly garnished burning light and above two hundred Clerks and Priests in Surplesses and Coaps singing After the which were the Sheriffs servants the Clarks of the Compters Chaplains for the Sheriffs the Mayors Sergeants the Councel of the City the Mayor and Aldermen in Scarlet and then the Skinners in their best Liveries Then lower was a Colledge of Priests called Jesus Commons a House well furnished with Brasse Pewter Napery Plate c. besides a fair Library well stored with Books all which of old time were given to a number of Priests that should keep Commons there and as one left his pâ—ace by death or otherwise another should be admitted into his room but this Order within these 70. years being discontinued the said House was dissolved and turned into Tenements Down lower have ye Elbowe Lane and at the corner thereof was one great Stone-house called Old-hall it is now taken down and divers fair Houses of Timber placed there This was sometimes pertaining to William de pont le Arch and by him given the Priory of St. Mary Overy in Southwark in the Reign oâ— Henry the first In this Elbow-lane is the Inholders Hall and other fair Houses this Lane runneth West and suddenly turneth South into Thames-street and therefore of that bending is called Elbow-lane on the East side of this Downgate-street is the great old House before spoken of
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
Lawrence Church-yard and so down again and to the West corner of St. Martin Orgar lane and over against Ebgate-lane and this is all of Downgate-vvard the thirteenth in number lying East from the Water-course of VVallbrooke and hat hnot any one House on the West side of the said Brook This Dowgate vvard is more considerable then others in divers things for it hath more Halls then any other it hath also the Great Hans or the Teutonique Guild call'd now the Stil-yard Mr. John Robinson who hath his House in Milk-street is lately made the Alderman of this VVard a generous discreet and worthy Gentleman being of the Company of the Turkie or Levantine Marchants Of the Fourteenth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Vintry Ward THe Wards spoken of hitherto may besaid to lye on the East Now I am to treat of the other Wardâ— twelve in number all lying on the West side of the course of Wallbrook and first of the Vintry Ward so called of Vintners and of the Vintry a part of the Bank of the River of Thames where the Merchants of Bourdeaux craned their Wines out of Lighters and other Vessels and there landed and made sale of them within forty daies after until the twenty eighth of Edward the first at which time the said Merchants complained that they could not fell their Wines paying poundage neither hire Houses or Cellars to lay them in and it was redressed by virtue of the Kings Writ directed to the Mayor and Sheriffs of London dated at Carlaveroke or Carlile since the which time many fair and large houses with Vaults and Cellars for stowage of Wines and lodging of Burdeaux Merchants have been builded in place where before time were Cooks houses for Fâ—tz Stephen in the Reign of Henry the second writeth that upon the Rivers side between the Wine in Ships and the Wine to be sold in Taverns was a common Cooks row c. as in another place I have set down Whereby it appears that in those daies and till of late times every man lived according to his own professed Trade not any one interrupting another The Cooks dressed meat and sold no Wine and the Taverner sold Wine but dressed â—o meat for sale c. This Ward beginneth in the East at the West end of Downgate Ward at the Water-course of Walbrook which parteth them to wit at Granthams Lane on the Thames side and at Elbow-Lane on the Lands side it runneth along in Thames street West some three houses beyond the Old Swan a Brew-house and on the Land side some three Houses West beyond Saint Iames at Garlick Hithe In breadth this Ward stretcheth from the Vintry North to the Wall of the West gate of the Tower Royal the other North part is of Cordwainer-street Ward Out of this Royal street by the South gate of Tower Royal runneth a small street East to St. Iohns upon Walbrook which street is called Horseshooe-Bridge of such a Bridge sometime over the Brook there which is now vaulted over and pavâ—d Then from the South gate West runneth one other street called Knight-riders street by Saint Thomas Apostles Church on the North side and Wrâ—â—gwren Lare by the said Church at the West end thereof and to the East end of Trinity Church in the said Knight-riders street where this Ward endeth on that South side the street but on the North side it runneth no farther than the corner against the new builded Taverne and other Houses in a plot of ground where sometime stood Ormond place yet have ye one other Lane lower down in Royall-street stretching forth from over against Saint Michaels Church to and by the North side of Saint Iames Church by Garlick Hithe this is called Kerion Lane and thus much for the bounds of the Vintry Ward Now on the Thames side West from Granthams Lane have ye Herbert Lane or Brickles Lane so called of Iohn Brickles sometimes owner thereof Then is Simpsons Lane of one Simpson or Emperours head Lane of such a Sign then the Three Cranes Lane so called not only of a Sign of three Cranes at a Taverne door but rather of three strong Cranes of Timber placed on the Vintry Wharf by the Thames side to Crane up Wines there as is aforesaid this Lane waâ— of old time to wit the ninth of Richard the second called the Painted Tavern Lane of the Tavern being painted Then next over against St. Martins Church is a large House builded of Stone and Timber with Vaults for the stowage of Wines and is called the Vintry There dwelled John Gisers Vintner Mayor of London and Constable of the Tower and then was Henry Picard Vintner Mayor In this house Henry Picard feasted four Kings in one day as is shewed before Then next is Vanners Lane so called of Vanner that was owner thereof it is now called Church Lane of the coming up from St. Martins Church Next is Proad-Lane for that the same is broader for the passage of Carts from the Vintry Wharf than be the other Lanes At the Northwest corner of this Lane is the Parish Clarkes Hall by them purchased since they lost their old Hall in Bishopsgate-street Next is Spittle-Lane of old time so called since Stodies-Lane of the owner thereof named Stodie Sir John Stodie Vintner and Mayor in the year 1357 gave it with all the Quadrant wherein Vintners Hall now standeth with the Tenements round about unto the Vintners The Vintners builded for themselves a fair Hall and also thirteen Alms-houses there for thirteen poor people which are kept of Charity Rent-free The Vintners in London were of old time called Marchant Vintners of Gascoyne and so I read them in the Records of Edward the second the eleventh year aâ—d Edward the third the ninth year they were as well English-men as strangers born beyond the Seas but then subjects to the King of England great Burdeaux Merchants of Gascoyne French Wines divers of them were Mayors of this City namely John Adrian Vintner Reignold at Conduit John Oxenford Henry Picard that feasted the Kings of England France Scotl and and Cypres John Stodie that gave Stodies Lane to the Vintners which four last named were Mayors in the Reign of Edward the third and yet Gascoyne Wines were then to be sold at London not above fourpence nor Rhenish Wines above six pence the Gallon I read of Sweet Wines that in the fiftieth of Edward the third Iohn Peachie Fishmonger was accused of for that he procured a License for the only sale of them in London which he endeavoured to justifie by Law yet he was imprisoned and fined More I read that in the sixth of Henry the sixth the Lombards corrupted their Sweet Wines when knowledge thereof came to Iohn Raynwel Mayor of London he in divers places of the City commanded the heads of the Buts and other Vessells in the open streets to be broken to the number of a hundred and fifty so that the liquour running forth
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
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
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
are divers hansom Monuments and Epitaphs On the South side of this street is the turning into the Black Fryers which Order sometime had their Houses in Old-born where they remained for the space of five and fifty years and then in the year 1276. Gregory Rocksley Mayor and the Barons of this City granted and gave to Robert Kilwarby Arch Bishop of Canterbury two Lanes or wayes next the street of Baynards Castle and also the Tower of Mount fitchet to be destroyed in place of which the said Robert builded the late new Church of the Black-Fryers and placed them therein King Edward the first and Eleanor his Wife were great Benefactors thereunto this was a large Church and richly furnished with Ornaments wherein divers Parliaments and other great Meetings have been holden namely in the year 1450 the twenty eighth of Henry the sixth a Parliament was begun at VVestminster and adjourned to the Black Fryers in London and from thence to Leicester In the year one thousand five hundred twenty two the Emperor Charls the fifth was lodged there In the year one thousand five hundred twenty foure the fifteenth of April a Parliament was begun at the Black Fryers wherein was demanded a Subsidy of 800000. pounds to be raised of Goods and Lands four shillings in every pound and in the end was granted two shillings of the pound of their Goods and Lands that were worth twenty pound or might dispend twenty pounds by the year and so upward to be paid in two years This Parliament was adjourned to VVestminster amongst the black Monks and ended in the Kings Palace there the 14th of August at nine of the Clock in the night and was therefore called the Black Parliament The same year in the moneth of October began a Parliament in the Black Fryers in the which Cardinal VVoolsey was condemned in the premunire this House valued at a hundred and four pound fifteen shillings five pence was surrendred the 12th of November the 30th of Henry the 8th Now to turn again to the Black Fryers through Bowyer Rowe Ave Mary Lane and Pater Noster Rowe to the Church of St. Michael ad Bladum or at the Corn corruptly at the Querne so called because in place thereof was sometime a Corn-Market stretching up West to the Shambles It seemeth that this Church was new builded about the Reign of Edward the third Thomas Newton first Parson there was buried in the Quire in the year 1461. At the East end of this Church stood a Crosse called the old Crosse in West Cheap which was taken down in the year 1390. since the which time the said Parish Church was also taken down but new builded and enlarged in the year 1430. the eighth of Henry the sixth VVilliam Eastfield Mayor and the Communalty granted of the common ground of the City three foot and an half in breadth on the North part and four foot in breadth toward the East for the inlarging thereof At the West end of this Parish Church is a small passage for people on foot thorow the same Church and West from the said Church some distance is another passage out of Pater Noster Rowe and is called of such a signe Panyer Alley which commeth out into the North over against Saint Martins Lane Next is Ivy Lane so called of Ivy growing on the Walls of the Prebends Houses but now the Lane is replenished on both the sides with fair Houses and diâ—ers Offices have bin there kept by Registers namely for the Prerogative Court of the Arch Bishop of Canterbury the Probate of Wills which is now removed into Warwick lane and also for the Lord Treasurers Remembrance of the Exchequer c. This Lane runneth North to the Westend of St. Nicholas Shambles of old time there was one great House sometimes belonging to the Earls of Britaâ—n since that to the Lovels and was called Lovels Inne Then is Eldenesse Lane which stretcheth North to the high street of Newgate Market the same is now called Warwick Lane of an ancient House there builded by an Earl of Warwick and was since called Warwick Inne It is in Record called a Messuage in Eldenesse lane in the Parish of St. Sepulchre the twenty eighth of Henry the sixth Cicilie Dutchesse of VVarwick possessed it Now again from the Conduit by Pauls Gate on the North side is a large street running West to Newgate the first part whereof from the Conduit to the Shambles of selling Bladders there called Bladder-street then behind the Butchers Shops be now divers Slaughter-houses inward and Tipling-houses outward This is called Mount Goddard-street of the Tipling-houses there and the Goddards mounting from the Tap to the Table from the Table to the Mouth and sometimes over the Head This street goeth up to the North end of Ivy lane before this Mount-goddard street Stall-boards were of old time set up by the Butchers to shew and to sell their Flesh meat upon over the which Stall-Boards they first builded sheds to keep off the Weather but since that incroaching by little and little they have made their Stall-boards and sheds fair Houses meet for the principal Shambles Next is Newgate Market first of Corn and Meale and then of other victuals which stretcheth almost to Eldenese-Lane a fair new and strong Frame of Timber covered with Lead was therefore set up at the Charges of the City near to the West Corner of St. Nicholas Shambles for the meal to be weighed in the first of Edward the sixth Sir Iohn Gresham being then Mayor On this side the North Corner of Eldenese Lane stood sometime a proper Parish-Church of St. Ewine as is before said given by Henry the eighth towards the erecting of Christs Church It was taken down and in place thereof a fair strong Frame of Timber erected wherein dwell men of divers Trades And from this Frame to Newgaete is all of this Ward and so an end thereof Of the two and Twentieth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Bread-street Ward THen is Bread-street it self so called of Bread in old time there sold for it appeareth by Records that in the year 1302 which was the thirty of Edward the first the Bakers of London were bounden to sell no Bread in their Shops or Houses but in the Market and that they should have four Hall-motes in the year at four several Terms to determine of enormities belonging to the said Company This street giving the name to the whole Ward beginneth in West Cheap almost by the Standard and runneth down South through or thwart Wathling-street to Knight Riders-street aforesaid where it endeth This Bread-street is wholly on both sides of this Ward out of the which street on the East side is Basing Lane a piece whereof to wit to and over against the back gate of the Red Lion in Wathling-street is of this Bread-street Ward Then is Fryday-street beginning also in West Cheap and runneth down South through Wathling-street to Knight-Riders street or
Fishmongers dwelling there and serving Frydays Market on the East side is a small Parish Church commonly called Saint John Evangelist The Monuments therein be of John Dogget Merchant-Taylor one of the Sheriffs in the year 1509. Then lower down is another Church of Saint Margaret Moyses so called as seemeth of one Moyses that was Founder or new Builder thereof In this Distar Lane on the North side thereof is the Cordwayners or Shoomakers Hall which Company were made a Brotherhood or Fraternity in the eleventh of Henry the fourth Of the Twentie third Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Queen-hithe Ward NExt unto Bread-street Ward on the South side thereof is Queen-Hith Ward so called of a Water-gate or Harborow for Boats Lighters and Barges and was of old time for Ships at what time the Timber Bridge at London was drawn up for the passage of them to the said Hith as to a principal Strand for landing and unlading against the middest and heart of the City this Ward beginneth in the East in Knight-Riders-street on the South side thereof at the East end of the Parish Church called the Holy Trinity and runneth West on the South side to a Lane called Lambert Hill which is the length of the Ward in Knight-Riders street out of the which street are divers Lanes running South to Thames street and are of this Ward the first is Trinity Lane which runneth down by the West end of Trinity Church Then is Spuren Lane or Spooners Lane now called Huggen Lane Then Bread-street Hill Then Saint Mary Mounthaunt out of the which Lane on the East side thereof is one other Lane turning East through St. Nicholas Olaves Church-yard to Bread-street Hill This Lane is called Finimore Lane or Five foot Lane because it is but five foot in breadth at the West end in the middest of this Lane runneth down one other Lane broader South to Thames street I think the same to be called Desborne Lane for we read of such a Lane to have been in the Parish of Saint Mary Summerset in the twenty two of Edward the third where there is said to ly between the Tenement of Edward de Mountacute Knight on the East part and the Tenement sometime pertaining to William Gladwine on the West one plot of ground containing in length towards Thames street twenty five foot c. Last of all have ye Lambart Hill so called of one Lambart owner thereof and this is the farthest West part of this Ward First in Knight-Riders street is the small Parish Church of the Holy Trinity lately very old and in danger of down falling Collections were made for the repairing thereof but they would not stretch so far until a general means was made as appeareth by a publick notice thereof declared in the said Church Towards the West end of Knight-Riders street is the Parish Church of Saint Nicholas Cold Abbey a proper Church somewhat ancient as appeareth by the waies raysed there about so that men are forced to descend into the body of the Church it hath been called of many Colden Abbey of some Cold Abbey or Cold Bay and so have the most ancient Writings as standing in a cold place as Cold Harbor and such like the Steeple or tall Tower of this Church with the South I le hath been of later building to wit the first of Richard the second when it was meant that the whole old Church should have been new builded as appeareth by the Arching begun on the East side the Steeple under the which in the Stone work the Armes of one Buckland Esquire and his Wife Daughter to Beaupere are cut in Stone and also are in the Glasse Windows whereby it appeareth he was the Builder thereof and Repairer of the residue In Trinity Lane on the West side thereof is the Painter Stainers Hall for so of old time were they called but now that workmanship of Staining is departed and out of use in England Lower down in Trinity Lane on the East side thereof was sometime a great Messuage pertaining unto Iohn Earl of Cornwall in the fourteenth of Edward the third On Bread-street Hill down to the Thames on both sides be divers fair Houses inhabited by Fishmongers Cheesemongers and Merchants of divers Trades on the West side whereof is the Parish Church of St. Nicholas Olave a convenient Church The next is Old Fish-street Hill a passage so called which also runneth down to Thames street In this Lane on the East side thereof is the one end of Finimore or Five foor Lane On the West side of this Old Fish-street Hill is the Bishop of Hereford's Inne or lodging an ancient House and large rooms builded of Stone and Timber which sometime belonged to the Mounthaunts in Norfolke Radulphus de Mayden-stone Bishop of Hereford about the year one thousand two hundred thirty four bought it of the Mounthaunts and gave it to the Bishops of Hereford his Successors Charles both Bishop of Hereford and Chancellour of the Marches about the year 1517 repaired it since the which time the same is greatly ruined and is now divided into many small Tenements The Hall and principall Rooms are in House to make Sugar-Loaves c. Next adjoyning is the Parish Church of Saint Mary de Monte also or Mounthaunt this is a very small Church and at the first builded to be a Chappel for the said House of the Mounthaunts and for Tenements thereunto belonging On the East side of this Old Fish-street Hill is one great House now letten out for Rent which House sometime was one of the Halls pertaining to the Company of Fishmongers at such time as they had six Hall-Motes or Meeting places namely twain in Bridge-street or New Fish-street twain in Old Fish-street whereof this was one and twain in Stock-Fishmonger Row or Thames street as appeareth by a Record the twenty two of Richard the second Next Westward is one other Lane called Lambart Hill the East side wherof is wholly of this Ward and but half the West side to wit from the North end of the Black-smiths Hall Then in Thames street of this Ward and on the North side over against the Queens Hith is the Parish Church of Saint Michael a convenient Church but all the Monuments therein are defaced At the West end of that Church goeth up a Lane called Pyel-lane on the same North side at the South end of Saint Mary Mounthaunt Lane is the Parish Church of Saint Summerset over against the Broken-Wharfe Then is a small Parish Church of St. Peter called parva or little near unto Pauls Wharf In this Church no Monuments do remain At the West end thereof is a Lane called Saint Peters Hill but two Houses up that Lane on the East side is of this Ward and the rest is of Castle Baynards Ward On the South side of Thames street beginning again in the East among the Cooks the first in this Ward is the Signe of David the King Then is
Towns-end Lane turning down to the Thames Then is Queen-hithe a large receptacle for Ships Lighters Barges and such other Vessels Touching the Antiquity and use of this Gate and Hithe first I find that the same belonged to one named Edred and was then called Edreds Hith which since falling into the hands of King Stephen it was by his Charter confirmed to William de Ypre the Farm thereof in Fee and in Heritage William de Ypre gave it unto the Prior and Covent of the Holy Trinity within Ealdgate This Edreds Hith after the foresaid Grant came again to the Kings hands by what means I have not read but it pertained unto the Queen and therefore was called Ripa Reginae the Queens Bank or Queens-Hith and great profit thereof was made to her use as may appear by this which followeth King Henry the third in the ninth of his Reign commanded the Constables of the Tower of London to arrest the Ships of the Cinque-Ports on the River of Thames and to compell them to bring their Corn to no other place but to the Queens Hith only In the eleaventh of his Reign he charged the said Constable to distrain all Fish offered to be sold in any place of this City but at the Queens Hith Moreover in the eight and twentieth of his Reign an Inquisition was made before William of Yorke and the Provost of Beverley Henry of Bath and Hierome of Caxton Justices Itinerantes sitting in the Tower of London touching the Customs of Queen-hith observed in the year last before the Wars between the King and his Father and the Barons of England and of old Customs of other times and what Customs had been changed at what time the Tax and Payment of all things coming thither and between VVoore-path and Anede Hith were found and seized according to the old Order as well Corne and Fish as of other things All which Customes were as well to be observed in the part of Down-gate as in Queen-Hith for the Kings use when also it was found that the Corn arriving between the Gate of Guild-Hall of the Merchants of Colleyne and the Soke of the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury for he had a House near unto the Black-Fryers was not to be measured by any other quarter than by that of the Queens Soke Next adjoyning to this Queen-hith on the West side thereof is Salt-Wharf named of Salt taken up measured and sold there The next is Stew Lane of a Stew or Hot-house there kept After that is Timber-Hith or Timber street so called of Timber or Boards there taken up and wharsed it is in the Parish of Saint Mary Sommers Hith as we read in the fifty six of Henry the third and in the ninth of Edward the second Then is Brookes Wharfe and Broken Wharfe a Water-gate or Key so called of being broken and fallen down into the Thames By this Broken-VVharfe remaineth one large old building of Stone with Arched Gates which Messuage as we finde in the Reign of Henry the third the forty three year pertained unto Hugh de Bigot and in the eleaventh of Edward the third to Thomas Brotherton the Kings Brother Earle of Norfolke Marshall of England in the eleventh of Henry the sixth to Iohn Mowbray Duke of Norfolk c. Within the Gate of this House now belonging to the City of London is lately to wit in the year 1594. and 1595 builded one large House of great height called an Engine made by Bevis Bulmar Gentleman for the conveying and forcing of Thames water to serve in the middle and West parts of the City the ancient great Hall of this Messuage is yet standing and pertaining to a great Brew-House for Beere West from this is Trigge Lane going down to the Thames Next is called Bosse-Lane of a Bosse of water like unto that of Belingsgate there placed by the Executors of Richard Whittington Then is one great Messuage sometime belonging to the Abbots of Chartsey in Surrey and was their Inne wherein they were lodged when they repaired to the City it is now called Sandie House by what reason we have not heard some think the Lord Sands hath been lodged there Of the Twentie fourth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Castle-Baynard Ward THen next is Castle Baynard Ward so named of an old Castle there This Ward beginneth in the East on the Thames side at an House called Huntington House and runneth West by Pauls Wharfe by Baynards Castle Puddle Wharfe and by the South side of Black-Fryers Then turning by the East Wall of the said Fryers to the South-West end of Creed Lane then on the North side of Thames street over against Huntington House by St. Peters Church and Lane called Peter Hill along till over against Puddle Wharfe and then North up by the great Wardrobe to the West end of Carter Lane Then up Creed Lane Ave Mary Lane and a piece of Pater noster Row to the Sign of the Golden Lion and back again up Warwick Lane all the East side thereof to the Sign of the Crown by Newgate-Market and this is the farthest North part of this Ward Then out of Thames street be Lanes ascending North to Knight-Riders street The first is Peters Hill Lane all of that Ward two Houses excepted adjoyning to St. Peters Church The next is Pauls Wharfe Hill which thwarting Knight-Riders street and Carter Lane goeth up to the South Chain of Pauls Church-yard Then is Adle-street over against the West part of Baynards Castle going up by the West end of Knight-Riders street and to Carter Lane Thus much for Lanes out of Thames street The one half of the West side of Lambert Hill Lane being of this Ward at the North-west end thereof on the South side and at the West end of St. Mary Magdalens Church on the North side beginneth Knight-Riders street to be of this Ward and runneth West on both sides to the Parish Church of St. Andrew by the Wardrobe Then at the said East end of St. Mary Magdalens Church goeth up the Old Exchange all the West side whereof upto the South-East gate of Pauls Church-yard and by St. Austins Church is of this Ward About the midst of this Old Exchange on the West side thereof is Carter Lane which runneth West to the East entry of the Black-Fryers and the South end of Creed-Lane out of the which Carter Lane descendeth a Lane called Dolittle Lane and commeth into Knight-Riders street by the Boar-head Tavern and more West is Sermon Lane by an Inne called the Powl-head Then out of Carter Lane on the North side thereof the South Chain of Pauls Church-yard and the Church-yard it self on that South side of Pauls Church and the Church of St. Gregory the Bishops Palace and the Deans Lodging be all of this Ward and such be the bounds thereof The Ornaments in this Ward be Parish Churches four of old time a Castle ' divers Noble-mens Houses Halls of Companies twain and such others as shall
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
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
Courts of Justice the chiefest Court of the Prince and the chiefest Court of the King of Heaven for every Temple is his Houâ—e and Court Now the Abbey of Westminster hath bin alwayes held the greatest Sanctuary and randevouze of devotion of the whole Iland wâ—ereunto the scituation of the very place seemes to contribute much and to strike a holy kind of Reverence and sweetness of melting piety in the hearts of the behoâ—ders But before we steer our course to Westminster we must visit the Dutchy oâ— Lancaster and the Savoy which are liberties of themselves and lie as a Parenthesis 'twixt London and Westminster Without Temple-barre Westward is a liberty pertaining to the Dutchy of Lancaster which beginneth on the North side of the Thames and stretcheth West to Ivy-bridge where it terminates And again on the North side some small distance without Temple-Barre in the High street there stretcheth one large middle row or troop of small Tenements partly opening to the South and partly towards the North up West to a Stone Crosse over against the Strand and this is the bounds of the liberty which first belonged to Brian Lisle after to Peter of Savoy and then to the House of Lancaster Henry the third did grant to his Uncle Peter of Savoy all those Houses upon the Thames which pertained to Brian Lisle or de Insula in the way or the street called the Strand to hold to him and his Heires yielding three gilded Arrowes every year in the Exchequer This Peter Earl of Savoy and Richmond Son to Thomas Earl of Savoy Brother to Boniface Arch Bishop of Canterbury and Uncle unto Eleanor Wife to Henry the third was the first Founder of the Savoy Anno 1245. which he gave afterwards to the Fraternity of Monjoy Queen Eleanor did purchase it for Edmund Duke of Lancaster her Son of the Fraternity which Duke did much augment and improve the structure Iohn the French King was lodged there being then the fairest Mannor of England Anno 1381. The Rebels of Kent and Essex did most barbarously burn this House with many Vessels of Gold and Silver which they threw into the River all which they did out of a popular malice to Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster It came afterwards to the Kings hands and Henry the seventh did re-edifie and raise it up again but converted it to the Hospital of St. Iohn Baptist yet was he content that it should be still called the Savoy and bestowed Lands for maintenance of 100. poor men But afterwards it was suppressed by his Granchild Edward the sixth the Beds and Bedding with other Furniture were given to the City of London together with Bridewell to be a Work-house for idle persons and some of Savoy Furniture was given also to furnish St. Thomas Hospital in Southwark But afterwards the Savoy Hospital was refounded and endowed with Lands by Queen Mary who made one Iackson first Master thereof And it is memorable how the Mayds of Honour and Ladies of the Court in those times did much contribute for storing it again with new Beds and Furniture and so it hath continued ever since the Chappel of this Hospital serving for a Parish Church to the Neighbors thereof near adjoyning and others Now touching the Prerogatives and enfranchisements of the Dutchy of Lancaster let the Reader know that Henry the fourth by his Royal Charter and concurrence of Parliament did sever the possessions of the said Dutchy from the Crown And that which Iohn of Gaunt held for term of life was established to perpetuity by the Statutes of Edward the fourth and Henry the seventh which separation was made by Henry the fourth in regard he well knew that he had the Dutchy o Lancaster par Regno by sure and indefesble Title whereas his Title to the Crown was not so assured because that after the death of Richard the second the Royal right was in the Heir of Lionel Duke of Clarence second Son of Edward the third And John of Gaunt who was Father to Henry the fourth was the fourth Son therefore his policy was to make it a distinct thing from the Crown for fear of after-claps It was Edward the third who erected the County of Lancaster to a County Palatine and honoured the Duke of Lancaster therewith giving him Jura Regalia having a particular Court The Officers whereof were the Chancellor the Attorney the Receiver General Clark of the Court the Auditors Surveyors the Messenger The Seal of the Dutchy of Lancaster remains with the Chancellor but the Seal of the County Palatine remains alwayes in a Chest in the County Palatine under the safe custody of a Keeper Now all Grants and Leases of Lands Tenements and Offices in the County Palatine of Lancaster should passe under that Seal and no other but all Grants and Leases out of the County Palatine and within the Survey of the Dutchy should passe under the Seal of the Dutchy and no other otherwise such Grants are voyd Ipso facto Though this County Palatine was a younger Brother yet it had more honours mannors and Lands annexed unto it thâ—n any of the rest and all this by Acts of Parliament whereby all the Franchises Priviledges Immunities Quittances and Freedoms which the Duke of Lancaster had for Himself and his Men and Tenants were confirmed The Liberty of the Dutchy was used to be governed by the Chancellor who had under him a Steward that kept Court Leâ—t with an Attorney of the Dutchy There were also four Burgesses and four Assistants a Bayliffe who had others under him four Constables four Wardens that kept the stock for the poor four Wardens for high wayes a Jury of 14. Ale-cunners which looked to the assise of measures four Scavengers and a Beadle and the common Prison is Newgate And now we must make a step back towards Temple-barre and so by degrees to Westminster all along we will begin with the right hand or the Northside and so pasâ—e up West through a back lane or street wherein do stand as was touched before three Inns of Chancery The first called Clements Inne in regard it is near St. Clements Church and Clements Well The second New Inne which was made of a common Hostery about the beginning of the Reign of Henry 7. The third is Lions Inne This street stretcheth up unto Drury lane which lane extends Northward towards St. Giles in the Field But now we must go back as was said before towards Temple-barre and so by taking the Strand all along return by degrees to Westminster it self in a direct line I have heard often of a British Prophecy which came from an old Bard viz. The Church man was the Lawyer is and the Soulâ—ier shall be True it is that Bishops lived in the Equipage of Princes in former times and among other inâ—â—arâ—es one is the goodly Palaces they had in and about London and Westminster for from Dorset House in Fleetstreet as far as White-hall all the great Houses which were built
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
duties touching the execution of the Statute made for punishment of Rogues Vagabonds and sturdy Beggars c. They are to inquire if those to whom the execution of the Statute for the relief of the poor doth appertain be remisse in discharging their duties that way They are to inquire if any Executor or others keep in their hands any Legacy sum of money or other thing given to charitable uses They are to inquire if any that keep Horses in their Houses do lay their Stable dung or such kind of noysome filth in any streets or lanes of the City and do not cause the Dung-cart to be led to the Stable door The Ward-mote Inquest by vertue of their Office are bound to search into all these enormities and to meet once a moneth or oftner if need require to that purpose And whosoever doth judiciously observe these several heads will find there 's nothing wanting to preserve a City or the people thereof in the wayes of neatness safety and industry or for the advancement of Vertue and suppression of Vice By these particulars with what hath bin spoken of formerly in the Body of this Book the Reader may observe how exact the City of London is in her Urban Government 3. Now touching the magnificence gravity and state of the chief Magistrate neither the Pretor of Rome or the Prefect of Milan neither the Proctors of Saint Mark in Venice or their Podestas in other Cities neither the Provost of Paris the Markgrave of Antwerp can compare with the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of London If one go to the variety of their Robes sometimes Scarlet richly fur'd sometimes Purple sometimes Violet and Puke What a goodly Spectacle it is to behold the Lord Mayor and the Companies attending him in so many dainty Barges when he goes to be sworn in Westminster-Hall and what brave shews there are attending him by Land at his return what a plentiful sumptuous Dinner consisting of so many huge Tables is provided for him what a variety of domestick Officers wait upon him perpetually whereof with the Remembrancer there are five of them Esquires by their places as was hinted before what a comely sight it is to see the Lord Mayor Sheriffs and Aldermen going in their Robes upon Festivals to the Cathedral Church of Saint Pauls though they who stand not so well affected to the present Government say that he goeth in now at the wrong end of the Church what a goodly sight it is when he goeth upon Easter Holidayes to the Spittle with the Sword and Cap of Maintenance going before him How his Robes are fitted for the season as from Michaelmas to Whitsontide he weares Violet fur'd from Whitsontide to Michaelmas Scarlet lined And for distinction among the Aldermen they who have bin Lord Mayors have their Cloaks lined with changeable Taffata but those that have not with green Taffata what great places of trust are committed to the Lord Mayor as the keeping of the great Bridge in repair which hath such large Revenues belonging unto it with a particular stately Seal which of old had the Effigies of Thomas of Becket a Londoner born upon it with this Inscription in the name of the City Me quae te peperi ne cesses Thoma tueri But the Seal was altered in Henry the eighths Raign what a great trust is it for the Lord Mayor to have the conservation of the Noble River of Thames from Stanes Bridge till She disgorgeth her self into the Sea How stately is he attended when he goes to take a view of the River or a Swan-hopping and lately what a Noble addition was it for the Lord Mayor to have a Park of Deer of his own so near the City to find him sport and furnish him with Venison what an Honour is it for the Lord Mayor to be accounted the first man of England upon the death of the Soveraign Prince As when King Iames was invited to come and take the Crown of England Robert Lee Lord Mayor of London was the first man who subscribed and then the Officers of the Crown with the chief Noblemen after him The Recorder of London also is primus Consiliarius Angliae and is priviledged to plead within the Barre The Lord Mayors of London have bin called sometime to sit at the Councel Table as Sir Iohn Allen was in Henry the eighths time with others which Allen gave that rich Collar of Gold which the Lord Mayors use to wear and the Aldermen his Brethren were used to be called Barons 4. We are come now to Regulation of Trade wherein London is not inferior to any City whatsoever witness among others what prudential Lawes Restraints and Cautions the Marchant Adventurers who trade in the Golden Fleece of England viz. in Woollen Manufactures have propos'd to themselves as likewise all other Corporations in like manner for the improvement of that particular Trade and preserving it from confusion 5. Touching variety of Artisans London yields to no other 't is true that mingling with Forreiners hath much advantag'd her in this kind but 't is observed and confessed by all Nations that though the Londoners be not so apt to invent yet when they have got the Invention they use alwayes to improve it and bring it to a greater perfection 6. Touching Corporations Halls Fraternities Guilds and Societies London hath not her Fellow witness the twelve Honourable Companies out of one of which the Lord Mayor is yearly chosen The several Societies of those who venter abroad in all parts of the habitable Earth as far as the Antipodes And threescore Companies of Citizens besides whereunto the new Company of Coachmen is lately added who have their Halls their regular Orders and Officers accordingly And touching all sorts of Artificers and variety of industrious wayes to improve all kind of Manufactures and thereby gain an honest Livelihood and so enrich the place London may be called a Hive of Bees as formerly was touched or a Hill of Ants which have bin alwayes made the Emblems of industry and providence 7. Touching plenty and abundance of all kinds of Provision as Flesh Fish Fowle Fruits Fuel variety of Drinks and Wines with any other Commodity that conduceth to pleasure and delight as well as necessity London may glory to be as well served as any City under Heaven A knowing Spaniard said that he thought Eastcheape Shambles alone vends more Flesh in the year then all the Court of Spain Gascon Wines drink better in London then in Bourdeaux and so do all other provided they be not sophisticated Nor doth London abound with all things so plentifully for the belly alone but also for the back either to keep it warm or make it gay what varieties of woollen Stuffs there are in every Shop with broad Cloth equal to the price of Silk being come to that heighth of perfection that some hath bin made of ten pounds a yard in price But the Hollanders and others have now got the art of
honour of the City and had Licence also to take up two hundred Fodder of Lead for the building thereof of certain Conduits and a common Granary This Crosse was then curiously wrought at the Charges of divers Citizens Iohn Fisher Mercer gave six hundred Marks towards it the same was begun to be set up 1484 and finished 1486 the second of Henry the seventh It was after gilt over in the year 1522 against the comming in of Charles the fifth Emperor In the year 1553 against the Coronation of Queen Anne New burnished against the Coronation of Edward the sixth And again new guilt 1554 against the comming in of King Philip. Since which time the said Crosse having bin presented by divers Juries or Quests of Wardmote to stand in the high-way to the let of carriages as they alledged but could not have it removed it followed that in the year 1581 the twenty one of Iune in the night the lowest Images round about the said Crosse being of Christ his Resurrection of the Virgin Mary King Edward the Confessor and such like were broken and defaced Proclamation was made that who so would discover the doers should have forty Crowns but nothing came to light the Image of the blessed Virgin at that time was robbed of her Son and her Arms broken by which she stayed him on her knees her whole body was also haled with Ropes and left likely to fall but in the year 1595. was again fastened and repaired and in the year next following a new mis-shapen Son as born out of time all naked was laid in her Arms the other Images remaining broke as afore But on the East side of the same Crosse the steps being taken thence under the Image of Christs Resurrection defaced was set up a curious wrought Tabernacle of gray Marble and in the same an Alabaster Image of Diana and water conveyed from the Thames prilling from her naked Brest for a time but now decayed In the year 1599 the Timber of the Crosse at the top being rotted within the Lead the Arms thereof bending were feared to have fallen to the harming of some people and therefore the whole Body of the Crosse was seasfolded about and the top thereof taken down meaning in place thereof to have set up a Pyramis but some of her Majesties honourable Councellors directed their Letters to Sir Nicholas Mosley then Maior by her Highnesse express Commandment concerning the Crosse forthwith to be repaired and placed again as it formerly stood c. Notwithstanding the said Crosse stood he adless more then a year after whereupon the said Councellors in great number meaning not any longer to permit the continuance of such a contempt wrote to William Rider then Maior requiring him by vertue of her Highness said former direction and Commandement without any further delay to accomplish her Majesties most princely care therein respecting especially the Antiquity and continuance of that Monument and ancient Ensign of Christianity c. dared the four and twentieth of December 1600. After this a Crosse of Timber was framed set up covered with Lead and gilded the Body of the Crosse downward cleansed of dust the Scaffold cartyed thence About twelve nights following the Image of our Lady was again defaced by plucking off her Crown and almost her head taking from her her naked Child and stabbing her in the Brest But in the year 1644 during the Reign of the long Parliament the said Crosse by an Ordinance thereof was utterly demolished and while the thing was a doing there was a noyse of Trumpets blew all the while Upon the utter demolition of this so ancient and visible a Monument or Ornament of the City of London as all Forrainers esteemed it it fortuned that there was another new one popp'd up in Cheap-side hard by the Standard viz. a high square Table of Stone left in Legacy by one Russel a Porter and well-minded man with this Distichengraven God blesse the Porter who great pains doth take Rest here and welcome when thy back doth ake Thus much for the Crosse in West-cheape Then at the West end of West-Cheap-street was sometimes a Crosse of Stone called the Old Crosse. Ralph Higden in his Polychronicon saith that Walter Stapleton Bishop of Exceter Treasurer to Edward the second was by the Burgesses of London beheaded at this Crosse then called the Standard without the North door of St. Pauls Church and so it is noted in other Writers that then lived This old Crosse stood and remained at the East end of the Parish Church called St. Michael in the corner by Pauls Gate near to the North end of the old Exchange till the year 1390 the thirteenth of Richard the second in place of which old Crosse then taken down the said Church of St. Michael was enlarged and also a fair Water-Conduit builded about the ninth of Henry the sixth In the Reign of Edward the third divers Justings were made in this street betwixt Sopers Lane and the greâ—â— Crosse namely one in the year 1331 about the one and twentieth of September as 't is obserted by divers Writers of that time In the middle of the City of London say they in a Street called Cheap the Stone paâ—ement being covered with sand that the Horses might not slide when they strongly set their feet to the ground the King held a Tournement three daies together with the Nobility valiant men of the Realm and others some strange Knights And to the end the beholders might with the better ease see the same there was a wooden Scaffold erected crosse the street like unto a Tower wherein Queen Philip and many other Ladies richly attired and assembled from all parts of the Realm did stand to behold the Justs but the higher frame in which the Ladies were placed brake in sunder whereby they were with some shame forced to fall down by reason whereof the Knights and such as were underneath were grievously hurt wherefore the Queen took great care to save the Carpenters from punishment and through her prayers which she made upon her Kneeâ— pacified the King and Councel and thereby purchased great love of the people After which time the King caused a shed to be strongly made of Stone for himself the Queen and other States to stand on and there to behold the Justings and other shewes at their pleasure by the Church of St. Mary Bow as is shewed in Cordwayner-street Ward Thus much for the High street of Cheap Now of the North side of Cheap street and Ward beginning at the great Conduit and by St. Mary Cole Church where we left Next thereunto Westward is the Mercers Chappel sometime an Hospital entituled of St. Thomas of Acon or Acars for a Master and Brethren Militia Hospitalis c saith the Record of Edward the third the fourteenth year it was founded by Thomas Fitz Theobald de Heili and Agnes his Wife sister to Thomas Becket in the Reign of Henry the second they gave to the