so to Windlestore or Winsore Eton and then to Chertsey where Erkenwald Bishop of London did erect a Religious house or Cell From Chertsey she directs her course to Stanes and receiving another stream by the way call'd the Cole whereupon Colebrook stands she goes by Kingstone Richmond Sheene Sion Brentford or Bregentford where she meets with the Brane or the Brenâ— another 〈◊〉 descending from Edgworth From Brentford she visits Morlach 〈…〉 Cheisoy Lambeth Westminster and so to London Having accompanied our gentle and smooth-gliding Riâ—â—r now to London she now makes great haste to meet with Neptune her lovely husband the first water she greets is the Brome on Kent side West of Greenwich whose spring is Bromis in Bromley Parish and so goeth thence to Lewshant taking 〈◊〉 from the East The next water she meets withal is on Essex side almost against Woolwich and that is the Lee And being pass'd that the Darwent also dischargeth her self into the Thames on Kent side two miles and more beneath Erith having its rising at Tunbridge or Tanridge The next River that disgorgeth her self into the Thames is West of the Wam Isles a rill of no great note or long course for rising about Coringham it rune not many miles East and by South till it falls into the mouth of this River Last of all the Thames takes acquaintance and mingleth with Medway a conâ—derable River watering all the South parts of Kent This noble navigable River flows and fills all her Channels twice ev'ry natural day by the flux and reflux of the Sea which holdeth on for the space of 70 miles within the main Land the stream or tyde being highest at London when the Moon doth exactly touch the Norh-east and South or West points or the Heavens whereof one is visible the other underneath us These rydes do also differ in their times each one coming later than the other by so many mâ—nutes as passe yet the revolution and natural course of the Heavens do reduce and bring about the said Planet to these her former places whereby the common difference 'twixt one tyde and another is sound to consist of 24 minutes which wanteth but twelve of a whole hour in 24 as experience doth confirm In like manner we daily find that each tyde is not of equal heighth and fulness For at the 〈◊〉 and the Change of the Moon we have the highest â—â—ouds and such is their extraordinary course that as they diminish from their Changes and Fulls unto their first and last Quarters so afterwards they encrease again until they come to the Fall and Change sometimes they rise also â—o high eâ—pecially if the wind be at the North or North-east which brings in the water with more vehemency because the tyde which fills the Channel cometh Northward that the Thames often inounds the bankes about London which happeneth most frequently in Ianuary and February which makes the grounds afterwards more fertiâ—e Neither do the tydes after a whit unlesse some impetuous winds from the West or South-west do keep back and check the stream as the East and North-East do hasten the coming in thereof or else some other extraordinary occasion put by the course of the German Seas which do fill the River by their nâ—tural 〈◊〉 and flowings And the probabiest reason why three or four tydes do chop in in one day is because the winds blowing more strong than ordinarily North or North-east make the Sea to rush in with more speed and abundance or water The Land streams or white waters do oftentimes thicken the finenesse of the River in so much that after a Land floud 't is usual to take up Haddocks with ones hâ—nd beneath the Bridge as they float aloft on the water their eyes being so blinded with the thicknesse of the water that they cannot see whither they swimme and how to make shift for themselves before the poor creaâ—â—re be surpriz'd otherwise the Thames water useth to be as clear and 〈◊〉 as any such great River in the world Having gone along so fat with this great goodly River even from her source until she diâ—â—mboques and payes Tribute to Nepume and cast her self into his imbraces It will be now expedient to go on further and acquaint the Reader with the jurisdiction and Prerogatives of the Thâ—mes with the extent thereof Which begins at a place call'd Colnie ditch a little above Stâ—nes-bridge Weâ—â—ward as far as London-bridge and â—rom thence to a place call'd Yendil 〈…〉 and the waters or Medmay all which extent is under the jurisdiction and conservancy of the Lord Mayor the Comminalty and Citizens of London True it is that there have been some Contests betwixt the Lord Mayor and the Lord high Admiral of England concerning the said Jurisdiction and power but after a fair and judicial Tryal in open Court the controversie was decided in favour of the City and the Lord Mayor adjudged to be Conservator of the Thames There were also some other controversial points about the Rivers of Thames and Medway but all differences were absolutely concluded Anno 1613 Sir Iohn Swinerton being then Lord Mayor and Mr. Sparry being then his Deputy or respective Bayliff for the execution of such a great trust repos'd in him Ever since is well as in former times the Lord Mayor of London hath been styl'd the Conservator of the said River within the forenamed limits and bounds having plenary power to inflict punishments upon all transgressors relating to the said Rivers the Water-Bayly of London being his substitute And whereas there are a company of Fishermen call'd Tinckermen frequenting the River of Thames Eastward who in times pass'd have been reported and found out to make an infinit destruction of the young brood or fry of fish by using unlawful Nets and other Engines feeding their Hoggs with them by the singular care and cost of the Lord Mayor and vigilance of the City those prohibited Engines and Nets are now quite suppress'd and a true and orderly manner of fishing brought into use that such a havock may not be made of the young fry Moreover there are a great number of other kind of Fishermen beside Tinckermen belonging to the Thames call'd Hebbermen Petermen and Trawlermen that had lived in former times by unlawful fishing on the said River to the destruction of the young fish as aforesaid but now they are restrain'd and regulated to a more orderly way of fishing There have bin other kind of abuses reformed herein as upon complaint made to the Lord Mayor concerning certain Timbers standing in Tilbury Hope a matter not only dangerous to the Passengers but a cause also to destroy the young brood of fish by the dammage those Timbers did to the Fishermens Nets in regard of their continual standing in the main course and curâ—ent of the River that great grievance was speedily redressed by the providence and prudence of the Lord Mayor and the Water-Bayly Furthermore there hath been care taken to clear
and cleanse the said noble River Westward of seventy nine stops or hatches consisting of sundry great stakes and piles purposely erected by Fishermen for their private lucre and standing illfavouredly for passengers near unto the Fair deep but none of them remain now but such as stand out of the passable high stream and can be no prejudice to passers by yet some are permitted to be planted at the waters bottome and so they serve as a great succour to the young brood of fish being placed so remote on the River Nor is this provident care for security of passengers and conservation of the young fry or fish a new thing for it appears that the like course was kept in the Reign of Henry the fourth and after in Henry the eighth as Records and Chronicles do shew Moreover there is a watchful eye that no carren or dead carkasses be thrown into the River to pollute or infect the stream To all these intents and purposes the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen his Brethren with the under Officers do use to meet eight times yearly in the four Counties of Middlesex Surrey Kent and Essex and have a judicial sitting for maintenance of the Rivers Rights and Priviledges where they have power to empanel Juries to make Inquisition after all offences committed upon the River within their extent And as the Verdict given up by the Jury make it appear so they proceed to the punishment of the transgressors according to the quality of the offence and it is worthy the observation to know the manner of their so solemn proceedings whereof this instance shall be produced extracted out of authentick Records Sir Iohn Iolles Knight and Lord Mayor of the City of London and Conservator of the River of Thames and waters of Medway assisted and accompanyed by the Aldermen and two Sheriffs then contemporary and attended by the Recorder and the Sub-conservator or Water-bayly with fifty Officers and servants took their Barges at Belmsgate the third of Iuly 1616 and within few hours arriv'd at Gravesend in Kent where a Session for the conservancy of the said River was kept before the said Lord Mayor and his forenamed Assistants At which time and place a Jury of the Freeholders of the said County being sworn to enquire of all offences committed in any part of the River whatsoever within the said County the Common Sergeant of the City the Recorder being then absent upon extraordinary occasions deliver'd them a charge to this effect That forasmuch as there had not been any Session of Conservancy in many years passed kept by any Lord Mayor of London in that place it was probable and evident they could not be well informed neither of the Lord Mayors jurisdiction and power to reform annoyances and offences there and to inflict due punishments upon the Offendors nor of the nature of the service to be by them performed in the course of their enquiry therefore he thought it convenient to make it known unto them both the one and the other Hereupon he shew'd them The Jurisdiction of the Court of London in the River of Thames from Stanes-bridge Westward unto the points of the River next the Sea Eastward appear'd to belong to the City in manner and form following First In point of right by Praescription as it appeareth by an ancient Book call'd Dunthorne that Civitatis fundationis aedificationis constructionis causa erat Thamesis Fluvius quorum vero Civitatis Fluminis gubernationem tam Duces Majores Custodes Vicecomites Aldr. magnates Civitatis memoratae hucusque obtinuerunt habuerunt Whence he inferr'd that the government of the River hath belong'd to the City time out of mind In 21. Hen. 3. Iorden Coventry one of the Sheriffs of the City was sent by the Mayor and Aldermen to remove certain Kiddles that annoy'd the Rivers of Thames and Medway who ultra Yenland versus Mare did take divers persons that were Offendors and imprison'd them Whereupon complaint being made to the King he took the matter ill at the first and sent for the Lord Mayor and Citizens to Kennington where upon hearing of the matter before the said King the Cityes Jurisdiction over the said River was set forth and allow'd and the Complainants convinc'd and every one of them amerc'd at 10 l. and the amercements adjudged to the City And afterward their Nets were burnt by judgement given by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen in the Hustings Moreover 1. Richardi secundi Writs were directed to the Sheriffs of Essex and Kent reciting the Cities Title with command not to suffer the Citizens of London to be molested contrary to the Liberties formerly granted and allowed unto them Secondly in point of right by allowance in Eire the conservation of the Thames belongs to the City for it was produc'd that 1. Rich. ◠before Hugh Bigot being Justice Itinerant the Sheriffs and Citizens of London were call'd in question for their Jurisdiction exercised on the Thames before whom it was found by a Jury in Southwark Quod nullus habeat aliquid juris in Thamisia usque ad novum gurgitem nisi Cives Londonens In the 14. of Ed. 2. the Constable of the Tower was indited by divers Wards of London before the Justices in Eire at the Tower De muneris et recep cove pro kidellis in Thamisiis et Constabularius ad Kidellas respondet quód Iustic non habent jurisdictionem extra London plitum inde cognoscere cum predict kidelli sunt in aliis comitatibus et Justic. dixerunt Aqua Thamisiae pertinet ad Civitatem London usque mart si velit respondeat who then pleaded Not guilty 3. He went further that this Jurisdiction belonged to the City by ancient Charters 8. R. 1. Dominus Ricardus Rex filius Regis Henrici secundi concessit firmiter praecepit ut omnes Kidelli qui sunt in Thamisia amoveantur ubicunque fuerint in Thamisia 1. Ioh. Rex concessit firmiter praecepit ut omnes kidelli qui sunt in Thamisia vel in Medway amoveantur ne caeteri kidelli alicubi ponantur in Thamisia vel in Medway super sort X. li. sterlingorum Then he urg'd the famous Charter of King Henry the third which ran thus Henry by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine and Earl of Anjou unto all Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Earls Barons Justices Sheriffs Stewards Ministers and to all Bayliffs and to all his true Men Greeting Woreth well that We for the health of our soul and the health of the soul of King John our Fader and the souls of all our Ancestors and also for common profit of our City of London and of all our Realms have granted and steadfastly commanded That all the Weares that be in Thames or in Medway be done away And that from henceforth no Weares be set in Thames or Medway upon the forfeiture of 10. l. Also we claim quit to our Citizens of London
shall be sadled with a saddle of the Arms of the said Bannerer and shall be covered with â—indalls of the said Arms. Moreover they shall present unto him twenty pounds Starling money and deliver it to the Chamberlain of the said Bannerer for his expences that day Then the said Bannerer shall mount on Horseback with the Banner in his hand and as soon as he is up he shall say to the Lord Maior that he cause a Marshal to be chosen for the Host one of the City which Marshal being nam'd the said Bannerer shall command the Maior and Burgesses of the City to warn the Commons to assemble and they shall all go under the Banner of St. Paul and the said Bannerer shall bear it himself unto Ealdgate and there the said Bannerer and the Maior shall deliver the said Banner from thence to whom they shall assent and think good And in case they make any issue out of the City then the said Bannerer ought to choose two out of every Ward the most sage Personages to foresee and look to the safe keeping of the City after they be gone forth And this Councel shall be taken in the priory of the holy Trinity near unto Aldgate And also before every Town or Castle they shall besiege if the siege continue a whole year the said Bannerer shall have for every siege one hundred shillings and no more of the Comminalty of London These be the Rights that the said Bannerer shall have in time of War But the Rights that belong unto the said Bannerer Sir Rob Fitzwater in time of peace are these that is to say The said Robert hath a Soke or Ward in the City that is to say a Wall of the Canonry of St. Paul unto the Thames so to the side of the Mill which is in the water that cometh from Fleet bridge so goeth by London walls betwixt the Fryars Preachers Ludgate so returneth back by the house of the said Fryrs unto the said Walls of the said Canonry of St. Pauls viz. all the Parish of St. Andrews which is in the gift of his Ancestors by the said Signority And so the said Robert hath appendant unto the said Soke all these things under-written if any of the Sokemanry be impleaded in Guild-hall of any thing that toucheth not the Body of the Lord Mayor or the Sheriffs for the time being it is not lawful for the Sokeman of the Sokmanry of the said Robert to demand a Court of the said Robert And the Mayor and the Citizens of London ought to grant him a Court and in his Court he ought to bring his Judgments as it is assented and agreed upon in the Guild-hall that shall be given him If any therefore be taken in his Sokemanry he ought to have his stocks and imprisonment in his Soke and he shall be brought thence to the Guild-hall before the Mayor and there they shall provide him his judgement that ought to be given of him but his judgement shall not be publish'd till he come unto the Court of the said Robert and in his Liberty And the Judgement shall be such that if he have deserved death for Treason he is to be tied to a Post in the Thames at a good Wharf where Boats are fastened two ebbings and two flowings of the water And if he be condemn'd for a common thief he ought to be led to the Elmes and there suffer his judgement as other thieves So the said Robert and his Heirs hath the honour that he holdeth a great Franchise within the City that the Mayor of the City and the Cittizens are bound to do him of Right viz. that when the Mayor will hold a great Councel he ought to call the said Robert and his Heir to be with him in the Councel of the said City and the said Robert ought to be sworn of the Councell of the said City against all people saving the King and his Heirs And when the said Robert comes to the Hustings in the Guild-hall of the said City the Mayor or his Livetenant ought to rise and set him down to sit neer him and so long as he is in the Guild-hall all the judgements ought to be given by his mouth according to the Records of the Recorders of the said Guildhall And so many Waifes as come while he he is there he ought to give them to the Bayliffs of the said Town or to whom he will by the Councel of the City These are the ancient Franchises that belong to the Bannerer of London as they stand upon ancient authentick Records But when this honor fell from the Fitzwaters and from Baynards Castle 't is incertain Now that Castle fell afterwards to the Earl of March who was Crown'd there by the Title of Edward the fourth to whom this City stuck very close But in the seventh year of King Edward's Reign many of the greatest men of London were attach'd for Treason with divers Aldermen whereof though they were acquitted yet they did forfeit their goods to the value of 40000 marks among whom Sir Thomas Coke Sir Iohn Plummer and Humfrey Howard were of the number And the said Coke Lord Mayor a little before was committed to the Tower with one Hawkins nor could Coke be acquitted until he had paied 8000 Marks to the King Henry the seventh rode in Majesty through the City with all the Knights of St. George from the Tower to St. Pauls Church where they heard Vespers and so the King lodg'd that night at Baynards Castle which he had newly repair'd before Queen Mary was also proclaim'd there notwithstanding that the Lady Jane had been proclaim'd a little before There was also another Tower or Castle near adioyning unto Baynards Castle which was call'd Legates Inne but now there is no trace of it leâ—t There was also another Castle call'd the Tower of Monfiquet spoken of a little before upon the River of Thames more Westward where afterwards a Monastery of Fryars was erected call'd to this day the Black fryars first built by Kelwarby Archbishop of Canterbury to whom the Mayor of London gave two Lanes or wayes adjoyning to Baynards Castle There was also another Tower stood there above 300 years which was demolished by Iohn Sha Lord Mayor of London Anno 1502 the King giving leave to do it There was another Tower or Castle that stood in the same place that Bride-well now stands which being demolished yet notwithstanding there was a Royal Palace stood still where the Kings of England kept their Courts and call'd Parliaments and among others it stands upon good Record that King Iohn summoned a Parliament thither where he exacted of the Clergy in a Parliament held at Saint Brides in London 100000 Marks and besides this the white Monks were compelled to cancel their Priviledges and pay the King 40000 Marks This House of Saint Brides of later time being left and not used or inhabited fell to ruine yet the Platform still remained
Ward Then higher in Grasse-street is the Parish Church of St. Bennet called Grass-Church of the Herbe Market there kept this Church also is of the Bridge Ward and the farthest North end thereof The Customes of Grasse-Church Market in the Reign of Edward the third as appears in a Book of Customes were these every forreign Cart laden with Corn or Malt coming thither to be sold was to pay one half penny every Forreign Cart bringing Cheeâ—e two pence every Cart of Corn and Cheeâ—e together if the Cheese be more worth than the Corn two pence and if the Corn be more worth than the Cheese it was to pay a half-penny of two Horses laden with Corn oâ— Malt the Bayliff had one farthing The Carts of the Franchiâ—e of the Temple and of Saint Mary Le Grand paid afarching the Carr of the Hospitall of St. Iohn of Ierusalem paid nothing of their proper goods and if the Corn were brought by Merchants to sell again the load paid a half penny c. On the West side of this Ward at the North end of London Bridge is a part of Thames street which is also of this Ward to wit so much as of old time was called Stock-Fishmonger Row of the Stock-Fish-mongers dwelling tâ—ere down West to a Waâ—er-gate of old time called Ebgate since Ebgate Lane and now the Old Swan which is a common stair on the Thames but the passage is very â—arrow by means of encroachments On the South side of Thames street about the Mid-way betwixt the Bridge foot and Ebgate Lane standeth the Fishmongers Hall and divers other fair Houses for Merchants These Fishmongers were sometimes of two several Companies to wit Stock-Fishmongers and Salt-Fishmongers Of whoâ—e antiquity we read that by the name of Fishmongers of London they were for fore-stalling c. contrary to the Laws and constitutions of the City fined to the King at 500 Marks the eighteenth of King Edward the first Moreover that the said Fishmongers hearing of the great victory obtained by the same King against the Scots in the six twentieth of his Reign made a Triumphant and solemn Shew through the City with divers Pageants and more than a thousand Horsemen c. These two Companies of Stock-Fishmongers and Salt-Fishmongers of old time had their severall Halls to wit in Thames street twain in New Fish-street twaiâ— in Old Fish-street twain in each place one for either Company in all six several Halls the Company was so great that it lies upon Records that these Fishmongers have been jolly Citizens and six Mayors have been of their Company in the space of four and twenty years to wit Walter Turk 1350 John Lofkin 1359 John Wreth 1361 John Pechie 1362 Simon Morden 1369 and William Wallworth 1374. It followed that in the year 1382 through the Counsel of John North hampton Draper then being Mayor VVilliam Essex John More Mercer and Richard Northbury the said Fishmongers were greatly troubled hindred of their Liberties and almost destroyed by combinations made against them so that in a Parliament at London the controversie depending between the Mayor and Aldermen of London and the Fishmongers Nic. Exton Speaker for the Fishmongers prayeth the King to receive him and his Company into his protection for fear of corporal hurt whereupon it was commanded either part to keep the peace upon pain of losing all they had Hereupon a Fishmonger starting up replyed that the complain brought against them by the movers c. was but matter of malice for that the Fishmongers in the Reign of Edward the 3d. being chief Officers of the City had for their misdemeanors then done committed the chief exhibitors of those Petitions to prison In this Parliament the Fishmongers by the Kings Charter Patents were restored to their Liberties Notwithstanding in the year next following 1383 John Cavendish Fishmongâ—r craveth the peace against the Chancellour of England which was granted and he put in Sureties the Earls of Stafford and Salisbury and challengeth the Chancellour for taking a bribe of ten pounds for favour of Cavendish Case which the Chancellour by Oath upon the Sacrament avoideth In further triall it was found that the Chancellours man without his Masters privity had taken it whereupon Cavendish was Judged to prison and to pay the Chancellour 1000 Marks for slandering him After this many of the Nobles assembled at Reading to supprese the seditious Sheirs of the said John Northampion or Combarton late Mayor that had attempted great and hainous enterprises of the which he was convict and when he stood mute nor would utter one word it was Decreed that he should be committed to perpetual prison his goods confiscate to the Kings use and that he should not come within a hundred miles of London during his life He was therefore sent to the Castle of Fintegall in the Confines of Cornwall and in the mean space the Kings Servants spoiled his goods John Moore Richard Northbury and others were likewise there Convict and condemned to perpetual prison and their goodâ— confiscate for certain Congregations by them made against the Fishmongers in the City of London as is aforesaid but theyâ— obtained and had the Kings pardon in the fourteenth of his Reign as appeareth upon Record and thus were all these troubles appealed Those Stock-Fishmongers and Salt-Fishmongers were united in the year 1536 the eight and twentieth of Henry the eighth their Hall to be but one in the House given unto them by Sir Iohn Cornwall Lord Fanhope and of Ampthull in the Parish of Saint Michael in Crooked Lane in the Reign of Henry the sixth Thus much was thought remarkable to be spoken of the Fishmongers men ignorant of their Antiquities and not able to shew a reason why or when they were in amity with the Goldsmiths do give part of their Arms c. Neither to say ought of Sir William Walworth the Glory of their Company more than that he slew Jack Straw which some do question for the said Straw was after the overthrow of the Rebels taken and by judgement of the Mayor beheaded whose confession at the Gallows is extant in Mr. Stows Annales where also is set down the most valiant and praise-worthy act of Sir William Walworth against the principal Rebel Wat Tyler On that South side of Thames street have ye Drink-water Wharf and Fish Wharf in the Parish of Saint Magnus On the North side of Thames street is Saint Martins Lane a part of which Lane is also of this Ward to wit on the one side to a Well of water and on the other side as far up as against the said Well Then is St. Michaels Lane part whereof is also of this Ward up to a Well there c. Then at the upper end of New Fish-street is a Lane turning towards St. Michaels Lane and is called Crooked-Lane of the crooked windings thereof Above this Lanes end upon Fish-street Hill is one great House for the most pâ—rt builded with stone which pertained sometime to
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
where the Abbot of Garendon had an house or Cell called Saint Iames in the wall by Cripple-gate and certain Monks of their house were Chaplains there wherefore the Well belonging to that Cell or Hermitage was called Monks-well and the street of the well Monks-well street The East side of this street down against London wall and the South side thereof to Cripple-gate be of Cripple-gate Ward as is afore-shewed In this street by the corner of Monks-well street is the Bowyers Hall On the East side of Monks-well street be convenient Alms-houses twelve in number founded by Sir Ambrose Nicholas Salter Maior 1575. wherein he placed twelve poor and aged people rent-free having each of them seven pence the week and once the yeer each of them five sacks of Charcoals and one quartem of one hundred of Faggots of his gift for ever On the North side of the way turning towards Cripple-gate and even upon or close to London wall as it were are certain new erected Almes-houses six in number of the cost and gift of Mr. Robert Rogers Leather-Seller and very good maintenance allowed for ever to such people as are appointed to dwell in them Then in little VVood-street be seven proper Chambers in an Alley on the West side founded for seven poor people therein to dwell rent-free by Henry Barton Skinner Maior 1516. Now without the Postern of Cripple-gate first is the Parish Church of Saint Giles a very fair and large Church lately repaired after that the same was burned in the yeer 1545 the thirty seventh of Henry the Eighth by which mischance the Monuments of the dead in this Church are very few In VVhite Crosse-street King Henry the Fifth builded a fair house and founded there a Brotherhood of S. Giles to be kept which house had sometime been an Hospitall of the French Order by the name of Saint Giles without Cripple-gate In the reign of Edward the First the King having the Jurisdiction and pointing a Custos thereof for the Precinct of the Parish of Saint Giles c. which Hospitall being suppressed the lands were given to the Brotherhood for relief of the poor One Alley of divers Tenements over against the North wall of Saint Giles Church-yard was appointed to be Alms-houses for the poor wherein they dwelled rent-free and otherwise were releeved but the said Brotherhood was suppressed by Henry the Eighth since which time Sir Iohn Gresham Maior purchased the lands and gave part thereof to the maintenance of a Free School which he had founded at Holt a Market-town in Norfolk In Red Crosse-street on the West side from S. Giles Church-yard up to the said Crosse be many fair houses builded outward with divers Alleys turning into a large plot of ground of old time called the Iews Garden as being the only place appointed them in England wherein to bury their dead till the year 1177 the twenty fourth of Henry the Second that it was permitted them after long suit to the King and Parliament at Oxford to have a speciall place assigned them in every quarter where they dwelled On the East side of this Red Crosse-street be also divers fair houses up to the Crosse and there is Beech-lane peradventure so called of Nicholas de la Beech Lievtenant of the Tower of London put out of that office in the thirteenth of Edward the Third This Lane stretcheth from Red Crosse-street to VVhite Crosse-street replenished not with Beech trees but with beautifull houses of Stone Brick and Timber Amongst the which was of old time a great house pertaining to the Abbot of Ramsey for his lodging when he repaired to the City it is now called Drewry House of Sir Drew Drewry who dwelt there On the North side of this Beech-lane towards VVhite Crosse street the Drapers of London have lately builded eight Alms-houses of Brick and Timber for eight poor widows of their own Company whom they placed there rent-free Then is Golding-lane Richard Gallard of Islington Esquire Citizen and Painter-Stainer of London founded thirteen Alms-houses for so many poor people placed in them rent-free He gave to the poor of the same Alms-houses two pence the peece weekly and a load of Charcoals among them yeerly for ever He left fair lands about Islington to maintain his Foundation T. Hayes sometime Chamberlain of London in the latter time of Henry the Eighth married Elizabeth his daughter and heir which Hayes and Elizabeth had a daughter named Elizabeth married to Iohn Ironmonger of London Mercer who had the ordering of the Alms-people On the West side of Red Crosse-street is a street called the Barbican because sometime there stood on the North side thereof a Burghkenning or VVatch-tower of the City called in some language a Barbican as a Bikening is called Beacon This Burgh-kenning by the name of the Mannour of Base Court was given by Edward the Third to Robert Ufford Earl of Suffolk and was afterward pertaining to Peregrine Barty Lord VVilloughby of Ersby Next adjoyning to this is one other great house called Garter Place sometime builded by Sir Thomas VVrithe or VVrithesly Knight alià s Garter principall King of Arms second son of Sir Iohn VVrithe Knight alià s Garter and was Uncle to the first Thomas Earl of Southampton Knight of the Garter and Chancellor of England He built this house and in the top thereof a Chappell which he dedicated by the name of S. Trinitatis in Alto. Of the Twentieth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of LONDON callâ—d Aldersgate Ward THe Next is Aldersgate Ward taking name of that North Gate of the City this Ward also consisteth oâ— divers Streets and Lanes lying as well within the Gate and Wall as without And first to speak of that part within the Gate thus it is the East part thereof joyneth unto the West part of Cripplegate Ward in Engain lane or Maiden lane It beginneth on the North side of that Lane at Staining lane End runneth up from the Haberdashers Hall to St. Mary Staining Church and by the Church East winding almost to Wood Street and West through Oate lane and then by the South side of Bacon house in Noble-Street back again by Lilipot lane which is also of that ward to Maiden lane and so on that North side West to Saint Iohn Zacharies Church and to Foster lane Now on the south side of Engain or Maiden lane is the West side of Gutherons lane to Kery lane and Kery lane it self which is of this ward and back again into Engain lane by the North side of the Goldsmiths Hall to Foster lane are almost wholly of this Ward which beginneth in the South toward Cheap on the East side by the North side of Saint Fosters Church and runneth down North West by the East end of Engain lane by Lilipot lane and Oate lane to Noble-Street and through that by Shelly house of old time so called as belonging to the Shellies Sir Thomas Shelley Knight was owner thereof in the first of Henry the fourth It
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
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
story to tell so that there were many thousands born which were not baptized and whereof the Bill speaks not Touching the form and shape of London it may be aptly compared to a Lawrel leaf which is far more long then broad and were London round as Paris and other Cities are she would appear more populous by a more often encounter of the passengers Concerning the length of London take all Buildings that are contiguous one to another from East to West from the utmost point of Westminster to the utmost point beyond the Tower she may be well thought to be near upon five Italian miles in longitude and about half so much in latitude and in Circuit above twelve miles 'T is true that the Suburbs of London are larger then the Body of the City which make some compare her to a Iesuites Hat whose brims are far larger then the Block which made Count Gondamar the Spanish Ambassador to say as the Queen of Spain was discoursing with him upon his return from England of the City of London Madam I believe there will be no City left shortly for all will run out at the Gates to the Suburbs and for the Men I think they are gone by this time into the Country for I left them all booted and spur'd when I came away But touching the amplitude and largeness of London whereas Charles the Emperor to put a Complement upon Paris said that she might be called a Province rather then a City this term may better befit London who is a County of her self 16. From proportions and quantity we will now go to the quality of the persons she hath produced from time to time whereof there have been great numbers of most gallant and generous most wealthy and worthy most eminent and munificent brave men who had souls as large as their substance I mean such that received either their first being or well being from Her Charles the Quint was used to glory that he was a Citizen of Ghent having bin born there Henry the Great in answer to a Letter of the King of Spains wherein he had enumerated above a score of Soveraign Titles stiled himself only Henry Roy de France Bourgeois de Paris Henry King of France and Burgesse of Paris But London hath greater cause to glory in this point for Constantine the first Christian Emperor a Britain born was her Child And a foul mistake it was in Him who writ the Book of Martyrs when in his Epistle Dedicatory he saith that Constantine was the Son of Helena an English Woman being pure British for the name of English was not then in the World nor did the Saxons whence the English are derived take footing in great Britain but a long time after Maud the Empress was also a Londoner born with divers other great Kings and Princes Thomas Becket a man very famous in all the Catholick Countries and held one of the highest Saints was born in London he was first one of the Sheriffs Clarks then he was Parson of St. Mary Hilâ— then he went to Bologna in Italy to study the Law and at his return he was made Chancellor of England and Arch Bishop of Canterbury Innumerable other great Clarks and eminent Bishops were born in London and of late times Bishop Lancelot Andrews who for his vast stock of learning might be called the Universal Bishop There are now living two great Luminaries of the Church Doctor Wren and Doctor Warner born both in London the one Bishop of Ely the other Bishop of Rochester a person of most acute Intellectuals and of rare excellent knowledge Fabian the famous Chronologer was Sheriff of London and born there what a number of most munificent Benefactors hath London had among her own Natives besides those whom she bred what a Noble useful Structure is Leaden-hall built at the sole charge of Sir Simon Eyre Draper and Lord Mayor of London what a worthy Foundation is St. Iohns Colledge in Oxford built by Sir Thomas White Lord Mayor of London who was Benefactor also to Bristoll Reading and above twenty Towns besides what a bountiful Benefactor was Mr. William Lambe free of the Company of Clothworkers what a world of charitable deeds did he do in Town and Countrey what a Noble soul had Sir Thomas Gresham Mercer and Marchant who built the Royal Exchange Gresham Colledge with another great Countrey Palace in Middlesex what a notable Benefactor was Mr. Thomas Howel bred in his youth in Spain and afterwards in London who was one of the greatest Benefactors of the Company of Drapers and besides many other large acts of charity he hath left such means to Drapers Hall that if any Mayden can derive her self from the right linage of Howel in Wales the said Hall is to give her 21 l. towards her portion and this to continue for ever what a free large Soul had Mr. William Iones Marchant and free of the Haberdashers who in Monmouth the Countrey where he was born did build a fair Free School with very large allowance to the Masters he was Benefactor also to Hamborough Stoad and divers other places at home and abroad To these two Britains we will add a third which is Sir Hugh Middleton Goldsmith what a hazardous expenceful mighty work did he perform in bringing Ware-River to run through the streets of London what an infinite universal benefit doth accrue thereby to the whole City and Suburbs how often did this great design take heat and cold what faintings and fears what oppositions did it break through before it was perfectly finished What a large noble Soul had Sir Baptist Hicks Lord Vicount Campden what a number of worthy things did he in his life and at his death both for the advancement of Religion and Iustice At Campden in the County of Glocester he repaired and adorned God Almighties House and reard another for the poor before he built any for himself He founded also there a very commodious Market-house and having done many things more for the publick good in that place he erected afterwards a stately Palace for his Posterity though the hard fate of the times and the fury of the Warre hath half destroyed it He was also a great Benefactor to the Churches and the poor of Hamsted and Kensinton to St. Bartholomewes and Christ-Church Hospitals in London to all the Prisons as also to St. Laurence Church in the old Iury He purchased divers Impropriations and bestowed them upon the Church in divers counties He was at the charge of erecting a convenient Session-house for the Justices of Middlesex to meet in the middest of St. Iohn's street which is called Hicks Hall and will so be called to all posterity All these great lights he carried before him and at his death he gave a World of Legacies and divers Pensions to pious Ministers and others and bequeathed a great sum to be distributed among all his Servants To speak of all those Noble Londoners who have done glorious
time 39 Of the Royal Exchange and the name given unto it by Queen Elizabeth with the Ceremonyes us'd 78 Of Robert Fabian the Chronicler 81 Of the Rolls and six Clerks Office 344 Of Rome 386 Rome eight times sack'd 386 Of the City of Roven 391 S. Of the publick Schools in London 31 Of the Sheriffs of London and their Election 37 The several Courts belonging to the City of London 38 Of the spiritual Government of London 39 Of Sydon lane vulgarly Sithinglane 48 Of the Shaft of St. Andrew 55 A strange accident happened in St. Michaels Church in Corn-hill 18 A strange Tomb found in St. Mary Hill Church 86 Of the Stock and Salt Fishmongers and their antiquity 89 Of the Stocks 84 Of the Steelyard or Guilda aula Teutonicorum 97 Of sweet Wines 102 Of the Standard in Cheap 115 A Shank-bone and Tooth of a marvellous bigness in St. Laurence Church 118 Of Sion Colledge 302 Of St. Martin le grand and the great priviledges it had 307 Of Smithfield 328 Of Southwark Ward 335 Of the Stew-houses allowed in times pass'd 337 Of the Suburbs of London 341 Of Suttons Hospital 343 The strange Iudgements fallen upon the Duke of Somerset for Sacriledge 343 Of the Savoy 347 Of the shape of London 406 T. Of the Tower of London 23 Of the Lyon Tower ibid. The Tower of London delivered to Lewis of France 24 The on the Britain first Bishop of London 39 Of Tower-street Ward 48 The Prerogatives of the Tower 48 Of the Tun a Prison in Cornhill in times passed now a Conduit 77 Of the Tower Royal. 103 The Tragical end of William Fitzosbert 109 Great Tryumph in Smithfield in times pass'd 329 The Templer Knight arraigned in London 333 Twenty particulars wherein the City of London may compare with any other City 385 V Of the Vintry Ward 101 The Vintners of old called Marchant-Vintners of Gascogne 103 The Lady Venetia Stanley hath a fair Monument in Christ-Church 311 Of the Upper Bench Court 363 Of Venice 386 Of Vienna 388 W. William the Conquerors Charter to the City of London 40 The Wardmore-Inquest a wholsome Constitution 39 Of the six and twenty several Wards of London 49 Westminster first called Thorney 80 Of Wat Tylar 81 Of Sir William Walworth and the manner of his knighting 91 Of Wallbrook Ward 83 Whittington four times Lord Mayor and thrice buried 103 The Weavers ancient Charter 123 Of Watling-street 318 Of Winchester-House 338 Of Wapping 341 Westminster and London compared 346 Of Westminster-Abbey with the History thereof 353 Of White-Hall 356 A witty Speech of Henry the 4th of France 391 A witty saying of Charles the Emperor in Epist. Of the Wardmote lâ—quest 394 A witty passage of Henry the Great of France 404 A witty saying of Count Gandamar of London 404 A Catalogue of Mr. Howels Works in several Volumes Printed by Mr. Humphrey Mosely 1. Mr. Howels History of Lewis the thirteenth King of France with the life of his Cardinal de Richelieu Fol. 2. Mr. Howels Epistolae Hoelianae familiar Letters Domestick and Forreign in six Sections partly Historical Political Philosaphical the first Volume with Additions Octavo 3. Mr. Howels New Volume of Familiar Letters partly Historical Political Philosophical the second Volume with many Additions Octavo 4. Mr. Howels third Volume of additional Letters of a fresher date never before published Octavo 5. Mr. Howels Dodona's Grove or the Vocall Forrest in Folio together with the second part in Folio never printed before 6. Mr. Howels Englands Teares for the present Warres 7. Mr. Howels pre-eminence and pedigree of Parliament in duodecimo in an answer to Mr. Pryn. 8. Mr. Howels Instructions and Directions for forrain Travels in Twelves with divers Additions for travelling into Turky and the Levant parts 9. Mr. Howels Votes or a Poem-Royal presented to his Majesty in Quarto 10. Mr. Howels Angliae Suspiria and Lachrymae in Twelves Tumulus Thalamus two Counter-Poems the first an Elegy upon Edward Earl of Dorset the second an Epithalamium to the Lord M. of Dorchester Parallels reflecting on the times A German Dyet or the Ballance of Europe wherein the power and weakness Glory and Reproach Vertues and Vices Plenty and Wants Advantages and Defects Antiquity and Modernness of all the Kingdoms and states of Christendom are impartially poiz'd by Iames Howel Esq Fol. Parthenopoeta or the History of the most Noble and Renowned Kingdom of Naples with the Lists of all their Kings the first part translated out of the Italian by Mr. Samson Lennard the second part continued to the present times 1654. by Iames Howel Esq More of Mr. Howels Works printed by other men THe great French Dictionary refined and augmented in a large Folio A Survey of the Signiory of Venice in Folio A Dialogue 'twixt the Soul and the Body The first part of the late Revolutions in Naples The second part of the said Revolutions The Warre of the Jews epitomiz'd Sir Robert Cottons works which he was desired to publish Saint Pauls Progresse upon Earth Some sober Inspections made into the Cariage and Consults of the late long Parliament A Venetian Looking-glasse A Winter Dream The Trance or Mercurius Acheronticus A Dialogue 'twixt Patricius and Peregrin An Inquisition after blood The Instruments of a King The late Kings Declaration in Latine French and English Bella Scoto Anglica or the Traversâ—s of Warr 'twixt England and Scotland Mercurius Hibernicus The Process and Pleadings in the Court of Spain for the Death of Mr. Ascham in Folio Londinopolis or a new Prospect of the City of London and Westminster Three of all which Books are Translations the rest his own Compositions * The prime Bridge in Venice
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
Buildings did much increase and the Suburbs strerch'd forth from the Gates a great way on every side but Westward especially which may be said to be best peopled and the civillest part For there all the twelve Inns of Court are situate for the Students of the Law whereof fower being very fait and large belong to the Iudicial Courts the rest to the Chancery Besides two Inns more for the Servientes ad legem or the Sargeants at Law â—ere such a number of young Gentlemen do so ply their Studies in all kind of Sciences and other civilities besides the Law that for a choyse way of Education and Gallantry Sir Iohn Fortescue in his Treatise of the Lawes of England doth affirm It is not inferior to any place of Christendom The said four principal Houses are the Inner Temple the middle Temple Graies Inne and Lincolns Iune The two former stand in the very same place where in times pass'd during the Raign of King Henry the second Heraclius Patriark of Ierusalem consecrated a Church for the Knight-Templers which they had newly built according to the form of the Temple neer unto the Sepulcher of our Saviour at Ierusalem for at their first Institution about the yeer of our Lord 1113. they dwelt in part of the Temple hard by the Holy Sepulcher whereof they were so named and vow'd to defend Christian Religion the Holy Land and Pilgrims going to visit the holy Sepulcher against all Mahumetans and Infidels professing to live in chastity and obedience whereupon all men voluntarily and with candid Christian hearts embrac'd and honor'd them so that through the royal munificence of Princes and other devout people having got very fair possessions and exceeding great wealth they flourish'd in a high reputation for piety and devotion yea out of an opinion of the holiness of the men and of the Place King Henry the third and many Noblemen desired much to be buried in their Church among them where some of their Statues are to be seen crosse-legd to this day for so they were used to be buried in that Age having taken upon them the Crosse to serve in the holy Warres and vow'd the same accordingly among whom was William Marshall the elder a powerful man in his time VVilliam and Gilbert his Sonnes Marshals of England and Earls of Pembroke Upon VVilliam the Elder there were in the upper part engraven these words Comes Pembrochiae and upon one side this Verse Miles eram Martis Mars multos vicerat armis But in process of time when with insatiable greediness they had hoarded up much wealth by withdrawing Tithes from many Churches and appropriating spiritual Livings unto themselves and by other meanes their riches turnâ—d to their ruine which may be one day the fortune of the Jesuites as I heard Count Gondamar once say For thereby their former innocence and piety began to be stifled they sell a clashing with other Religious Orders their professed obedience to the Patriark of Ierusalem was rejected they drâ—w daily more envy upon themselves and an ill repute insomuch-that in the yeer 1312. this Order was condemned of impiety other hainous crimes all this by the Popes Authority but specially by the instigation of the French King they were utteâ—ly abolished Nevertheless their possessions here were by Authority of Parliament assigned unto the Knights Hospitalers of St. Iohn of Ierusalem lest that such Lands given to Religious and good uses should be alienated against the pious Donors Wills Yet it appeares in ancient writings that this place after the expulsion of the Templers was the Seat and Habitation of Thomas Earl of Lancaster and Sir Hugh Spencer King Edward the seconds Minion afterwards of Sir Aimer de Valence Earl of Pembrook and in the end turned to two Colleges or Inns of Court for the study of the Lawes The other two great Inns were also the mansions of Noble men Grayes Inne of the Lord Grey of Wilton and the other of the Earls of Lincoln Neer unto this Henry the third erected between the two Temples a House for Converts as they call'd it for the maintenance of those that were conâ—erted from Iudaisme to Christianity which Edward the third afterwards made an Archive to keep Rolls and Records in and therefore 't is called to this day The Rolls In the yeer 1381. the Rebels of Essex and Kent among other places destroyed and pulled down the Lodgings and Houses of this Temple took out of the Church the Books and Records that were in hutches of the Apprentices of the Law carried them out into the street and burnt them The House they spoiled and burnt also out of an hatred they bore to Sir Robert Hales Lord Prior of St. Iohn of Jerusalem which was a place of so high a Dignity that the Prior of St. John's was accounted the first Parliamentary Peer of England But the said House at sundry times was repaired again and touching the Gate-house of the middle Temple Sir Amias Paulet did build it up while he remained Prisoner having incur'd the indignation of Cardinal Wolsey for an old grudge The great Hall in the middle Temple was built about the yeer 1572. in the Raign of Queen Elizabeth The Temple-Church had of old a Master and four stipendary Priests with a Clerk for the ministration of divine service who had allowance given them out of the Revenues of St. John of Jerusalem and that Hospital but now by the revolution of time and Ecclesiastical alterations they have but one Minister to serve them Of fresh water Rivers Aqueducts Conduits and Fountains that belong to the City of LONDON AS the principal thing that conduceth to the health of humane bodies is the blood that runneth through their Veins so the chiefest thing that tends to the welfare of a City is to have Springs and Conduits of fresh water run within her therefore we will proceed now to give an account of those ancient and present Rivers Brooks Boorns Pools Wells Conduits and Aqueducts which serve to refresh the City of London In former Ages until the Conquerors time and long after the City of London was watred besides the River of Thames on the South part with the River of Wells as it was then call'd and on the West with water call'd Wallbrook running through the midst of the City to pay Tribute unto the Thames There was another water or boorn which run within the City through Langborn Ward watring the East part In the West Suburbs was also another great Water call'd Oldborn which had its fall into the River of Wells Then were there 3. principal Fountains or Wells in the other Suburbs to wit Holy Well Clements Well and Clarks Well Near unto this last named Fountain were divers other Wells viz. Fags well Skinners well Tode well Loders well and Rad well All which Wells having the fall of their over-flowings into the said River much encreased the stream and in that place gave it the name of Well In West-Smithfield
there was a Pool in Records called Horse pool and another in the Parish of St. Giles without Cripplegate Besides which they had in every street and lane of the City divers fair Wells and fresh Springs after which manner the City was then served with sweet and fresh waters which being since decayed other meanes have bin found to supply the want But the prime and principal device was found out by that worthy Briton and Citizen of London Sir Hugh Middleton by whose wit care and cost the new River of Ware was brought from Chadwel and Amwel to water and refresh the heart and bowels of the City The business was long in suspence and under weighty deliberation it receiv'd heat and cold a long time being exposed to so many difficulties and vast expence able to terrifie the stoutest man At last courage and resolution with a love to the publique good met in the breast of the Adventurer and spur'd him on to so glorious an enterprise which hath proved so happily commodious and of such infinite utility to the whole City that had he lived under some other Meridians that I know he should have had his Statue erected in the eminentest place of the City to eternize his name transmit his memory and keep it fresh like his waters to all future Ages Now as Mr. Stow speaks very ingeniously if those enemies to all good actions Danger difficulty detraction contempt scorn envy could have prevail'd by their malevolent interposition either before at the beginning and in the very birth of the attempt and a good while after this work had never bin accomplished 'T is true Queen Elizabeth gave way by act of Parliament to her Citizens of London and power for cutting and conveying of a River from any part of Middlesex or Hartfordshire into the City of London with a limitation of ten years time for the performance thereof but that Enterprize expir'd with her life King James her immediate successor did grant the like but without-date of time for the same effect And when the courage of others were quite quail'd and utterly refused the business Sir Hugh Middleton did undertake it and â—o with infinite pains and no lesse expence he finish'd the work by bringing a River of wholsom fine chearful water from Chadwel and Amwel to the North side of London near Islington where he built a large Cistern to receive it The work began the 28. day of February Anno Dom. 1608. and in the compaâ—s of five years was fully compleated Touching the Aquaeduct or the conveyance thereof to London it hardly can be imagined what difficulties and rubs there were in the way by reason of the various qualities of grounds through which the water was to passe some being ozie â—oft and muddy others again as stiffe and craggy The depth of the Trench in some places descended full thirty foot and more whereas in other places it required as much artifice to mount it over a valley in troughs betwixt Hills and those troughs to be supported by woodden Arches some of them fix'd in the Earth very deep and rising in height above 23. foot Being brought to the foresaid great Cestern the water was not yet let in till on Michaelmas day Anno 1613. being the day that Sir Thomas Middleton Brother to the said Sir Hugh was elected Lord Maior of London for the year ensuing In the afternoon of the same day Sir John Swinerton then Lord Maior accompanied with the said Sir Thomas Sir Henry Mountague Recorder of London and many of the worthy Aldermen rode in a solemn manner to see the great Cestern and first issuing of the strange River thereunto which then was made free Denizon of London and the Solemnity was thus A Troop of Labourers to the number of threescore or more well apparell'd and wearing green Monmouth Caps after the British manner all alike carried Spades Shovels Pickaxes and such like Instruments of laborious Employment and marching after Drums twice or thrice about the Cistern presented themselves before the Mount where the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen were where after a handsome speech the Flud-gates flew open the stream ran chearfully into the Cistern the Drums and Trumpets sounding in triumphant manner and a gallant peal of Chambers gave a Period to the entertainment A noble achievement it was as this reracted to Sir Hugh Middleton doth partly set forth which never saw publique light until now Ad Hugonem Middleton equiteâ—s Auratum de stupenda hac aquarum operâ Compita qui fluvium per Londinensia duÌ„xti Ut jam quisque suis vicus abundet aquis Non Aganippe tuas satis est depromere laudes Haec scaturigo nova quam tibi fundit aquae Of the famous great Navigable River of Thames VVEE will go now from the New River to the Old the Famous and Ancient River of Thames and find out her source bed and streams She hath her head or spring out of the flank of a hill in Catswold Downs about a mile from Tetbury near unto the Fosse a high road so call'd in ancient times where it was heretofore call'd Isis or the Ouse from hence it runs towards the East not without some Meanders and windings and meets with the Cirne or Chiurne a Brook whereof Cirncester town by which it runs takes the name From hence it hasteneth to Creekelade otherwise call'd Crekanford Lechlade Ratcotebridg Newbridg and Evâ—sham receiving in her passage many other small Rivelets Brooks Becks and Rundels And on this side the Town divideth her self into two streams whereof one goeth streight to Hincksey and Botley the other passeth by Godstow This latter spreadeth it self for a while into divers small streams which run not far before they meet again and then embracing sundry fruitful Medowes she passeth at length by Oxenford who some imagine should rather be call'd Ouseford of this River where she joyns with the Charwell a little from whence the original branches do joyn and keep company to Abbandune or Abington call'd by some Senshum although at first no part of her did approach so near the Town as now she doth till a branch thereof was led thither by the main stream through the industry of the Monks as 〈◊〉 by the decay of Caerdoure now call'd Dorchester sometimes the high road from Wales and the West Countrey to London From hence she goeth to Dorchester and so into Tame where contracting friendship with a River of the like name she loseth the name of Isis or Ouse whereof Ousenny or Osney at Oxford is derived and from thence she assumes the name of Thamesis all along as she glides From Tame she passeth to Wallingford and so to Rending which in ages pass'd was call'd Pontium in regard of the number of Bridges There she receives the Kenet which comes from the hills that lye about Marleborough Westward and then the Thetis commonly call'd the Tyde that comes from Thetisford She hasteneth thence to Sudlington otherwise call'd Maydenhead and
eighths time the Tower was eâ—er and anon full of prisoners among others Sir Thomas More Lord Chancellor of England was clap'd there close Prisoner and at last they took away from him all his Books so he did shut up all his windows and liv'd afterwards in obscurity and being asked Why he answered 'T is time to shut up shop when the Ware is all gone At his first entrance to the Tower the Gentleman Porter ask'd for his fee which is the upper Garment whereupon Sir Thomas pull'd off his Cap to give him but that not suffâ—â—ing he pull'd out a handful of Angels end gave him a good many a Knight that was in his Company telling him that he was glad to see him so full of Angels yes answered he I love to carry my friends alwayes about me The young Lady Iane was beheaded there not long after and upon the Scaffold she made a most ingenious Speech and full of pity That she came thither to serve for an example to posterity that innocence cannot be any protection against greatness And that she was come thither not for aspiring to a Crown but for not refusing one when it was offered Her Queen Elizabeth was brought up many years in that School of affliction but afterwards she may be said to have gone from the Scaffold to the Throne For the truth is that the Scaffold had made an end of her had not King Philip her Brother in Law strongly interceded for her In her dayes Robert Earl of Essex lost his head in the Tower which he might have kept on many years longer had he not bin betrayed by the Lady Walsingham to whom after the sentence of condemnation he sent a Ring which the Queen had given him as a token that she would stick to him in any danger the Lady delivered not this Ring and being a little after upon her Death-bed she desired to speak with the Queen and having disburthened a great weight which lay upon her Conscience for that act the Queen flung away in a fury and never enjoyed her self perfectly after that time but she would break out often into passion and wring her hands crying O Essex-Essex And this Earl was the last who was executed within the walls of the Tower In King Iames's time for 22 years there was no blood spilt in the Tower or upon Tower-hill only Sir Gervase Elwayes was hanged there when he was Lieutenant and one remarkable passage there was in his Speech upon the Ladder that being in the low Countries and much addicted to gaming he made a vow that if ever he played more above such a value he might be hanged but he did violate the Oath and so the just Judgement of Heaven did fall upon him accordingly as he said The Earl of Castlehaven was brought from the Tower to be executed for horrid kinds of incontinencies in Charles the first time Afterwards in the raign of the long Parliament and ever since the Tower of London hath had more number of Prisoners then it had in the compasse of a hundred years before This stately Tower of London serves not only for a Gaol to detain prisoners but for many other uses It is a strong Fort or Cittadel which secures both City and River It serves not only to defend but to command either upon occasion It serves as a royal Randezvouz for Assemblies and Treaties It is the Treasury for the Jewels and Ornaments of the Crown The great Archive which conserves all the old Records of the Courts of Justice at Westminster It is the place for the Royal Mint and Coynage of Gold and Silver It is the chief Magazin and Armory or Arâ—enal of the whole Land for Martial Engines and Provision There only is the Brake or Rack usually call'd the Duke of Exceters Daughter because he was tâ—e first Inventer of it And lastly It is a great Ornament by the situation of it both to the River and City The City of London hath divers other inferior Towers as that on the North of the great Bridge At the South end over the Gate there is also another Tower over London-Bridge which hath suffered many accidents of firing and otherwise and was still made up by the care and charge of the City specially one time when it was under bastard Fawconbridge burnt by the Marriners and Saylers of Kent The Antiquaries speak of two Castles that were in the West part of London one call'd the Castle of Monfiquet which was built by a Baron of that name who came over with the Conqueror which was afterwards demolished and the Black Fryers risen up out of the ruines of it The second Castle is Baynards Castle by Pauls Wharf built also by one Baynard who came over with the Conqueror who being ennobled the honour of Baynards Castle succeeded from Father to Son a long time till it came to Sir Robert Fitzwater a valiant Cavalier who being fallen into the displeasure of King Iohn in the Barons Warres was banished and Baynards Castle destroyed But afterwards being restâ—red to the Kings favour by an exployt he did in France he was re-invested in all his Livings and so repair'd Baynards Castle again Moreover he was made chief Banner-bearer of the City of London whereof he had a Charter which ran to this sense That he said Robert Fitzwater and his Heirs ought to be and are chief Bannerers of London in fee for the Chastilary which he and his Ancestors had from Baynards Castle and the said City In time of War the said Robert and his Heires ought to serve the City as followeth The said Robert he being the twentieth man of Armes himself ought to come on Horseback covered with Cloth or Armor under the great West door of St. Paul with his Banner displayed before him and when he is come mounted to that door and apparreld as before is said The Maior with the Aldermen and Sheriffs in their Arms shall come out of the Church of St. Paul unto the said West door the Maior bearing a Banner in his hand all on foot which Banner shall be Gules the Image of St. Paul Gold the face hands feet and Sword Argent And as soon as the said Robert shall see the Maior Aldermen and Sheriffs come on foot out of the Church armed with such a Banner he shall alight off his Horse and salute the Maior and say to him Sir Maior I am come to do my service which I owe to the City whereunto the Maior and Aldermen shall answer We give to you as to our Bannerer of fee in this City the Banner of this City to beare and govern to the honour and profit of this City to your power And the said Robert and his Heires shall receive the said Banner in his hands and shall go on foot out of the Gate with the Banner in his hands and the Maior Aldermen and Sheriffs shall follow to the door and shall bring a Horse to the said Bannerer worth twenty pounds which Horse
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
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
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
Company by Sir VVilliam Bridges Knight first Garter King at Arms in Blazon are thus Three Sun Beams issuing out of three Clouds of flame crowned with three Crowns Imperials of Gold upon a Shield Azure From this Hall on the same side down to the Grates and course of VVallbrooke have ye divers fair houses for Marchants and other from the which Grates back again on the other side in Lotisbury so called in Record of Edward the third the thirty eighth year and now corruptly called Lothbury are Candlestick founders placed till ye come to Bartholmew Lane so called of Saint Bartholmew's Church at the South-east corner thereof In this Lane also are divers fair builded Houses on both sides and so likewise have ye in the other street which stretcheth from the Fryers Augustines South gate to the corner over against Saint Bennets Church In this street amongst other fair buildings the most ancient was of old time an house pertaining to the Abbot of Saint Albans Iohn Catcher Alderman after dwelled there Then is the free School pertaining to the late dissolved Hospital of Saint Anthony whereof more shall be shewed in another place and so up to Thred-needle-street On the South part of which street beginning at the East by the Well with two Buckets now turned to a Pump is the Parish Church of Saint Martin called Oteswitch of Martin de Oteswitch Nicholas de Oteswich William Oteswich and Iohn Oteswich Founders thereof and all buried there as appeareth by their Monuments There is also there a fair engraven Stone with a Latine Epitaph upon the Lord Iames Fulkes Treasurer of Holland and Ambassador for the States of the united Provinces here in England Sir Thomas Row gave 5 l. to perpetuity to this Parish to buy Bread and Coals for the poor Some small distance from thence is the Merchant-Taylors Hall pertaining to the Guild and Fraternity of Saint Iohn Baptist time out of mind called of Taylors and Linnen Armorers of London For we find that King Edward the first in the eight and twentieth of his Reign confirmed this Guild by the name of Taylors and Linnen Armorers and also gave to the Brethren thereof authority every year at Mid-summer to hold a feast and to choose unto them a Governour or Master with Wardens whereupon the same year one thousand three hundred on the Feast day of the Nativity of Saint John Baptist they chose Henry de Ryall to be their Pâ—lgrim For the Master of this Mystery as one that travelled for the whole Company was then so called untill the eleventh year of Richard the second and the four Wardens were then called Purveyers of Alms now called Quartredge of the said Fraternity This Merchant-Taylors Hall sometime perteining to a worthy Gentleman named Edmund Crepin Dominus Creepâ—ng after some Record he in the year of Christ 1331 the sixth of Edward the third for a certain sum of money to him paid made this grant thereof by the name of his principal Messuage in the Wards of Cornhill and Broad-street which Sir Oliver Ingham Knight did then hold to John of Yakeley the Kings Pavilion-maker This was called the New Hall or Taylors Inne for a difference from their old Hall which was about the back side of the Red Lion in Basing Lane and in the Ward of Cordwayner street The one and twentieth of Edward the fourth Thomas Holm alià s Clarentiaux King of Armes for the South part of England granted by his Paâ—ents to the said Fraternity and Guild of Saint John Baptist of Taylors and Linnen Armorers to beat in a field Silver a Pavilion between two Mantles Imperial Purple garnished with Gold in a chief Azure a holy Lamb set within a Sun the Crest upon the Helm a Pavilion purpâ—e garnished with Gold c. After this King Henry the seventh was himself a Brother of this Fraternity or Guild of S. Iohn Baptist of Taylors or Linnen Armorers as divers others of his Predecessors Kings had been to wit Râ—ohard the third Edward the fourth Henry the sixth Henry the fifth Henry the fourth and Richard the second And for that divers of that Fraternity had time out of miâ—e been great Merchants and had frequented all sorts of Merchandizes into most parts of the world to the honour of the Kings Realm and to the great profit of his Subjects and of his Progenitors and the men of the said Mystery during the time aforesaid had exercised the buying and selling of all Wares and Merchandizes especially of Woollen Cloth as well in grosse as by retaile throughout all this Realm of England and chiefly within the said City therefore â—e of his especial grace did change transfer and translate the Guild aforesaid and did incorporate them into the name of the Master and Wardens of the Merchant-Taylors of the Fraternity of S. John Baptist in the City of London Some distance West from this Merchant-Taylors Hall is Finkes Lane so called of Robert Finke and Robert Finke his son James Finke and Rosamond Finke Robert Finke the elder new builded the Parish Church of Saint Bennet commonly called Finke of the Founder his Tenements were both of St. Benuets parish and Saint Martins Oteswich Parish the one half of this Finke Lane is of Broad-street ward to wit on the West side up to the great and principal house wherein the said Finke dwelled But on the other side namely the East not so much towards Cornhil Then without this Lane in the aforesaid Threed-Needle street is the said Parish Church of Saint Bennet a handsome Church in which are sundry old Monuments There happened lately a great fire in Threed-Needle street over against Merchant-Taylors Hall which ragâ—d as far as Saint Bennets Church Walls and there the fury was sâ—opped otherwiâ—e it might have destroyed all this City The French Reformers have their Sermons in this Church and the exercise of Calvâ—nâ— Religion On the North side of this street from over against the East corner of St. Martins Osteswich Church have ye divers fair and large houses till you come to the Hospital of St. Anthony sometime a Cell of St. Anthonies of Vienna For we read that King Henry the third granted to the Brother-hood of St. Anthony of Vienna a place amongst the Jewes which was sometime their Synagogue and had been builded by them about the year 1231. But the Christians obtained of the King that it should be dedicated to our blessed Lady and since an Hospital being there builded was called St. Anthonies in London It was founded in the Parish of St. Bennet Finke for a Master two Priests one School-master and twelve poor men after which foundation amongst other things was given to this Hospital one Messuage and Garden whereon was builded the fair large Free-School and one other parcel of ground containing thirty seven foot in length and eighteen foot in breadth whereon were builded the Alms-Houses of hard Stone and Timber in the Reign of Henry the sixth Which said Henry the sixth in the twentieth of
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
the North and Lumbard-street on the West in Lumbard-street is one fair Parish Church called Alhallowes Grasse-Church in Lumbard-street for so 't is read in Evidences of Record for that the Grasse-Market went down that way when that street was farre broader then now it is being straightned by incroachments now This Church was new builded John Warner Armorer and then Grocer Sheriff 1494. builded the South I le his Sonne Robert Warner Esquire finished it in the year 1516. The Pewterers were benefactors towards the North I le c. The Steeple or Bel-Tower thereof was finished in the year 1554. about the 36. of Henry the 8th The fair Stone-Porch of this Church was brought from the late dissolved Priory of St. John of Jerusalem by Smithfield so was the frame of their Bells but the Bells being bought were never brought thither by reason that one old VVarner Draper of that Parish deceasing his Sonne Mark VVarner would not perform what his Father had begun and appointed so that fair Steeple hath but one Bell as Fryers were wont to use c. Next is a common Ostery for Travellers called the George of such a signe This is said to have pertained to the Earl Ferrers and was his London Lodging in Lumbardstreet And that in the year 1175. a Brother of the said Earl being there privily slain in the night was there thrown down into the dirty street Next is the Parish Church of St. Edmond the King and Martyr in Lumbard-street by the South corner of Birchover Lane This Church is also called St. Edmond Grasse-Church because the said Grasse-Market came down so low Sir John Mâ—lburn and Sir VVilliam Chester both Lord Maiors with others have Monuments in this Church From this Church down Lombard-street by Birchovers Lane the one half of which Lane is of this Ward and so down be divers fair Houses namely one with a fair fore-front towards the street builded by Sir Martin Bowes Goldsmith since Maior of London And then one other sometime belonging to William de la pole Earl of Suffolk in the 24. of Richard the second and was his Marchants House and so down towards the Stocks Market lacking but some three houses thereof The South side of this Ward beginneth in the East at the Chain to be drawn thwart Mart-Lane up into Fenchurch-street and so West by the North end of Mincheon-Lane to St. Margaret Pattens street or Rood Lane and down that street to the mid-way towards St. Margarets Church then by Philpot-Lane so called of Sir John Philpot that dwelled there and was owner thereof and down that Lane some six or eight houses on each side is all of this Ward Then by Grasse-Church corner into Lumbard-street to St. Clements Lâ—ne and down the same to St. Clements Church then down St. Nicholas Lane and down the same to St. Nicholas Church and the same Church is of this Ward Then to Abchurch Lane and down some small portion thereof then down Sherborn-Lane a part thereof and a part of Bearbinder-Lane be of this Ward and then down Lumbard-street to the sign of the Angel almost to the corner over against the Stocks Market On the South side of this Ward somewhat within Mart-lane have ye the Parish Church of Alhallowes commonly called Stane-Church as may be supposed for a difference from other Churches of that name in this City which of old time were builded of Timber and since were builded of stone Sir John Test Knight of the holy Sepulcher hath here a Monument with others Then is the Parish Church of St. Nicholas Acon or Hacon for so it is read in the Records in Lombardstreet Sir John Bridges Draper Maior 1520. newly repaired this Church and imbattelled it and was there buried Then is there in the high street a comely Parish Church of St. Mary Wolnoth of the Nativity the reason of which name the Annals make no mention This Church is lately new builded Sir Hugh Price Goldsmith Mayor in the first year of Henry the 7th Keeper of the Kings Exchange at London and one of the Governours of the Kings Mint in the Tower of London under William Lord Hastings the fifth of Edward the fourth deceased 1496. He builded in this Church a Chappel called the Charnel as also part of the Body of the Church and of the Steeple and gave money toward the finishing thereof besides the stone that he had prepared he was buried in the Body of the Church and Guy Brice or Boys was also buried there with some other of note Simon Eyre 1459. He gave the Tavern called the Cardinals Hat in Lumbard-street with a Tenement annexed on the East part of the Tavern and a Mansion behind the East Tenement together with an Ally from Lumbard-street to Corn-hill with the appurrenances all which were by him new builded toward a Brother-hood of our Lady in St. Mary Wolnoths Church Among others Sir Martin Bowes hath a Monument there who Anno 1569. gave certain Lands for discharging Langborn Ward of all fifteens granted by Parliament Of the Ninth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Billingsgate Ward WE will now go South-East and take a Survey of Billingsgate-Ward which beginneth at the West end of Tower-street Ward in Thames-street about Smarts Key and runneth down along that street on the South side to St. Magnus Church at the Bridge foot and on the North side of the said Thames-street from over against Smarts Key till over against the North-West Corner of St. Magnus Church aforesaid On this North side of Thames-street is St. Mary Hill Lane up to St. Margarets Church and then part of St. Margarets Pattens street at the end of St. Mary Hills Lane next out of Thames-street is Lucas Lane and then Buttolph Lane and at the North end thereof Philpot Lane Then is there Rother Lane of old time so called and thwart the same Lane is little East-Cheape And these be the bounds of Billingsgate Ward Touching the principal Ornaments within this Ward on the South side of Thamesstreet beginning at the East end thereof there is first the said Smarts Key so called of one Smart sometime owner thereof The next is Billinsgate whereof the whole Ward taketh name the which leaving out of the Roman's faining it to be builded by King Belâ—nus a Britain â—ong before the Incarnation of Christ is at this present a large Water-gate Port or Harbor for Ships and Boats commonly arriving there with Fish both fresh and salt Shell-fishes Salt Oranges Onions and other Fruits and Rooâ—s Wheat Rie and Grain of divers sorts for service of the City and the parts of this Realm adjoyning This Gate is now more frequented then of old time when the Queens Hith was used as being appointed by the Kings of this Realm to be the special or only Port for taking up of all such kind of Matchandizes brought to this City by strangers and Forraigners because the Draw-Bridge of Timbeâ— at London Bridge was then to be raised and drawn
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
three pence by year The Lady Stanley the Countesse of Huntingâ—on and the Lady Harbert lye buried in this Church Of the Fifteenth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Cordwayner Ward VVE will passe now from the Vintry to Cordwainer-street Ward taking that name of Cordwayners or Shoomakers Curriours and Workers of Leather dwelling there for it appeareth in the Records of Henry the sixth the ninth of his Reign that an Order was taken then for Cordwayners and Curriours in Corney-street and Sopers Lane This Ward beginneth in the East one the West side of Walbrooke and runneth West thorow Budge-row a street so called of Budge Furre and of Skinners dwelling there then up by Saint Anthenâ—es Church thorow Atheling or Noble-street as Leyland termeth it commonly called Wathling-street to the Red-Lion a place so called of a great Lion of Timber placed there at a Gate entring a large Court wherein are divers fair and large Shops well furnished with Broad-cloths and other Draperies of all sorts to be sold and this is the farthest West part of this Ward On the South side of this street from Budge-row lyeth a Lane turning down by the West-gate of the Tower Royal and to the South end of the Stone Wall beyond the said Gate which is of this Ward and is accounted a part of the Royall-street Against this West gate of the Tower-Royall is one other Lane that runneth West to Cordwainer-street and this is called Turn base Lane on the South side whereof is a piece of Wring-wren-Lane to the North-west corner of Saint Thomas Church the Apostle Then again out of the High-street called Wathling is one other street which runneth thwart the same and this is Cordwayner street whereof the whole Ward taketh name This street beginneth by West-cheap and Saint Mary Bow Church is the head thereof on the West side and it runneth down South thorow that part which of latter time was called Hosier Lane now Bow Lane and then by the West end of Aldermary Church to the new builded Houses in place of Ormond House and so to Garlick hill or Hith to St. Iames Church The upper part of this street towards Cheap was called Hosier Lane of Hosiers dwelling there in place of Shoomakers but now those Hosiers being worn out by men of other Trades as the Hosiers had worn out the Shoomakers the same is called Bow-Lane of Bow Church On the West side of Cordwainer-street is Basing-lane right over against Turn-base-lane This Basing-lane West to the back gate of the Red Lyon in Wathling-street is of this Cordwainer-street Ward Now again on the North side of this high street is Budge-row by the East end of St. Anthonies Church have ye St. Sithes Lane so called of St. Sithes Church which standeth against the North end of that Lane and this is wholly of Cordwainer-street Ward also the South side of Needlers lane which reacheth from the North end of St. Sithes lane then vvest from St. Anthonies Church is the South end of Sopers lane which lane took that name not of Sope-making as some have supposed but of Alen le Sopar in the ninth of Edward the second nor can we read of Sope-making in this City till within this hundred and fifty years that Iohn Lambe dwelling in Grasse-street set up a boyling house for this City in former time was served of white Sope in hard Cakes called Castle-Soap and other from beyond the Seas and of gray Sope speckled with white very sweet and good from Bristow sold here for a peny the pound and never above peny farthing and black Sope for an half-peny the pound Then in Bow-lane as they now call it is Goose-lane by Bow-Church Willâ—am Essex Mercer had Tenements there in the six and twentieth of Edward the third Then from the South end of Bow-lane up Wathling-street till over against the Red Lyon are the bounds of Cordwainer-street Ward Then is there a fair Parish in Budge-row called St. Anthonies at first and now St. Antlins Sir Thomas Knowles Lord Mayor of London lyeth buried there who repaired and was a great Benefactor to that Church upon whom is this Epitaph Here lyeth graven under this Stone Thomas Knowles both flesh and bone c. Next on the South side of Budge-row by the West corner thereof and on the East side of Cordwainer-street is one other fair Church called Aldermary Church because the same was very old and elder then any Church of St. Mary in the City till of late years the foundation of a very fair new Church was laid there by Henry Keeble Grocer and Mayor who deceased 1518. and was ther buried in a Vault by him prepared with a fair Monument raised over him on the North side of the Qâ—ire now destroyed and gone he gave by his Testament a thousand pound toward the building up of that Church and yet was not permitted a resting place for his bones there afterwards Richard Chawcer Vintner thought to be the Father of Ieffrey Chawcer the Poet was a great Benefactor to this Church At the upper end of Hosier-lane toward VVest-Cheape is the fair Parish Church of St. Mary Bow this Church in the Reign of VVilliam the Conqueror being the first in this City builded on Arches of Stone was therefore called New Mary Church of St. Mary de Arcubus orle Bow in VVest Cheaping As Stratford Bridge being the first builded by Matilda the Queen VVife to Henry the first with Arches of Stone was called Stratfordle Bow which names to the said Church and Bridge remain till this day the Court of the Arches is kept in this Church and taketh name of the place not the place of the Court but of what Antiquity or continuation that Court hath there continued 't is uncertain This Church is of Cordwainer-street and for divers accidents happening there hath bin made more famous than any other Parish Church of the whole City or Suburbs First we read that in the year 1090 and the third of VVilliam Rufus by tempest of vvinâ— the roof of the Church of St. Mary Bow in Cheape was overturned wherewith some persons were slain and four of the Rafters of six and twenty foot in length with such violence were pitched in the ground of the high street that scantly four foot of them remained above ground which were fain to be cut even with the ground because they could not be plucked out for the City of London was not then paved but a Moorish ground In the year 1196. VVilliam Fitz Osbert a seditious Traytor took the Steeple of Bow and fortified it with Munitions and victuals but it was assaulted and VVilllam with his Complices were taken though without blood-shed for he was forced by fire and smoak to forsake the Church and then being by the Judges condemned he was by the heels drawn to the Elmes in Smithfield and there hanged with nine of his fellowes where because his favourers came not to deliver him he forsook Maries Son as he termed
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
is now called Bacon-House because the same was new builded by Sir Nicholas Bacon Lord-Keeper of the Great Seal Down on that side by Serjeant Fleet-Woods house Recorder of London who also new builded it to Saint Olaves Church in Silver-Street which is by the North-West End of this Noble-Street Then have ye Maine Street of this Ward which is called Saint Martins lane in cluding Saint Martin on the East side thereof and so down on both the sides to Aldersgate And these be the bounds of this Ward within the Wall and Gate Without the Gate the main Street called Aldersgate-Street runneth up North on the East side to the West end of Hounds-ditch or Barbican-Street a part of which Street is also of this Ward And on the West side to Long-Lane a part whereof is likewise of this Ward Beyond the which Aldersgate is Goswell Street up to the Barrs And on the West side of Hidersgate Street by Saint Buttolphs Church is Briton-Street which runneth West to a Pumpe and then North to the Gate which entreth the Church-Yard sometimes pertaining to the Priory of Saint Bartholomews on the east side on the west side towards St. Bartholomews Spittle to a paire of posts there fixed And these be the bounds of this Aldersgate Ward without The antiquities be these first in Stainâ—ng lane of old time so called as may be supposed of Painter-stainers dwelling there On the East side thereof adjoyning to the Aaberdashers Hall be ten Almes-houses pertaining to the Haberdashers wherein be placed ten Almes people of that Company every of them having Eight pence the peece every Friday for ever by the gift of Thomas Huntlow Haberdasher one of the Sheriffs in the year 1539. Then is the small Parish Church of Saint Mary called Staining because it standeth at the North end of Staining lane Then is Engain lane or Maiden lane and at the North-West Corner thereof the Parish Church of St. John Zachary a fair Church with the Monuments well preserved of Thomas Lichfield who founded a Chancery there in the fourteenth of Edward the second On the East side of this Foster Lane at Engane Lane end is Goldsmiths Hall a proper House but not large and therefore to say that Bartholmew Read Goldsmith Mayor in the year 1502 kept such a feast in this Hall as some have fabuled is far incredible and altogether unpossible considering the smallnesse of the Hall number of the Guests which as they say were more than one hundred persons of great estate But of late years the said Goldsmiths Hall is much enlarged and in a stately and sumptuous manner in so much that it may compare with any other Hall in London Then at the North end of Noble-street is the Parish Church of St. Olave in Silver-street a small thing On the West side of Foster-Lane is the small Parish Church of St. Leonards for them of St. Martins le Grand A number of Tenements being lately builded in place of the great Collegiate Church of St. Martin that Parish is mightily encreased Then in Pope-lane so called of one Pope that was owner thereof On the North side is the Parish Church of Saint Anne in the Willowes so called I know not upon what occasion but some say of Willowes growing thereabouts but now there is no such void place for Willowes to grow more than the Church-yard wherein do grow some high Ash-trees to this day Then in St. Martins Lane was of old time a fair and large Colledge of a Dean and Secular Canons or Priests and was called Saint Martins le grand founded by Ingelricus and Edwardus his Brother in the year of Christ 1056 and confirmed by William the Conqueror as appeareth by his Charter dated 1068. This Colledge claimed great Priviledges of Sanctuary and otherwise as appeareth in a Book written by a Notary of that House about the year 1442 the nineteenth of Henry the sixth wherein amongst other things is set down and declared that on the first of September in the year aforesaid a Souldier prisoner in Newgate as he was led by an Officer towards the Guild-Hall of London there came out of Panyer Alley five of his fellowship and took him from the Officer brought him into Sanctuary at the West door of St. Martins Church and took Grithe of that place But the same day Philip Malpas Robert Marshall then Sheriffs of London with many other entred the said Church and forcibly took out with them the said five men thither fled led them fettered to the Counter and from thence chained by the Necks to Newgate of which violent taking the Dean and Chapter in large manner complained to the King and required him as their Patron to defend their Priviledges like as his Predecessors had done c. All which complaint and suite the Citizens by their Counsel Markham Serjeant at the Law Iohn Carpenter common Clerk of the City and others learnedly answered offering to prove that the said place of St. Martin had no such Immunity or Liberty as was pretended Notwithstanding after long debating of this Controversie by the Kings commandment assent of his Councel in the Starr-Chamber the Chancellour and Treasurer sent a Writ unto the Sheriffs of London charging them to bring the said five persons with the cause of their taking and withholding afore the King in his Chancery on the Vigil of Alhallowes on which day the said Sheriffs with the Recorder and Counsel of the City brought and delivered them accordingly afore the said Lords where the Chancellour after he had declared the Kings Commandement sent them to St. Martins there to abide freely as in a place having Franchises whiles them liked c. Without Aldersgate on the East side of Aldersgate-street is the Cookes Hall which Cooks or Pastlers were admitted to be a Company and to have a Master and Wardens in the two and twentieth of Edward the fourth From thence along unto Houndsditch or Barbican street be many fair Houses on the West side also be the like fair buildings till ye come to Long-Lane and so to Goswell street In Britaine street which took that name of the Duke of Britain Lodging there is one proper Parish Church of St. Buttolph In which Church was sometime a Brotherhood of St. Fabian and Sebastian founded in the year 1377 the fifty one of Edward the third and confirmed by Henry the fourth in the sixth of his Reign Then Henry the sixth in the twenty fourth of his Reign to the honour of the Trinity gave Licence to Dame Joane Astley sometime his Nurse to R. Cawood and T. Smith to found the same a Fraternity perpetually to have a Master and two Custos with Brethren and Sisters This Brotherhood was endowed with Lands more than thirty pounds by the year and was suppressed by Edward the sixth Of the One and Twentieth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Faringdon Ward Intra ON the South side of Aldersgate Ward lyeth Faringdon Ward called
the profits rising of them to be imployed on London Bridge The Parish-Church of St. Augustine and one House next adjoyning in VVathing-street is of this Ward called Faringdon Then is the North Church-yard of Pauls in the which standeth the Cathedral Church first founded by Ethelbert King of Kent about the year of Christ 610. He gave Lands thereunto as appeareth Ethelbertus Rex Deo inspirante pro animae suae remedio dedit Episcopo Melito terram quae appellatur Tillingeham ad Monasteris sui solatium scilicet S. Pauli c. Ego Rex Ethelbertus ita firmiter concedo tibi praesuli Melito potestatem ejus habendi possidendi ut in perpetuum in Monasterii utilitate permaneas c. Athelstan Edgar Edward the Confessor and others also gave Lands thereunto William the Conqueror gave to the Church of St. Paul and to Mauricius then Bishop and his Successors the Castle of Stortford with the appurtenances c. He also confirmed the gifts of his Predecessors in these words ut habeant quiet as in perpetuum 24. Hidas quas Rex Athelbert dedit S. Paulo juxta Murum London c. The Charter of King William the Conqueror exemplified in the Tower englished thus William By the Grace of God King of Englishmen to all his well-beloved French and English People greeting Know ye that I do give unto God and the Church of St. Paul of London and to the Rectors and Serviâ—ors of the same in all other Lands which the Church hath or shall have within Borough and without Sack and Sock Thole and The Infangtheef and Grithbirche and all free Shâ—ps by Sea and by Land on Tide and off-Tide and all the Rights that unto them Christendom by rad and more speak and on Buright hamed and on Buright work afore all the Bishopricks in mine Land and on each other mans Land For I will that the Church in all things be as free as I would my soul to be in the day of Iudgement In the year 1087. this Church of St. Paul was burnt with fire and therewith the most part of the City which fire began at the entry of the West Gate and consumed the East Gate Mauricius then Bishop began therefore the Foundation of a new Church of St. Paul a work that men of that time judged would neâ—er have bin finished it was to them so wonderful for length and breadth and also the same was builded upon Arches or Vaults of stone for defence of fire which was a manner of work before that time unknown to the people of this Nation and then brought in by the French and the Stone was fetch'd from Cane in Normandy The Steeple of this Church was builded and finished in the year 1222. The Crosse on the said Steeple fell down and a new was set up in the year 1314. The new work of Pauls so called at the East end aboâ—e the Quite waâ— begun in the year 1251. Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln Constable of Chester and Custos of England in his time was a great Benefactor to this work and was there buried in the year 1310. The first of February in the year 1444. about two of the Clock in the After-noon the Steeple of Pauls was fired by Lightning in the midst of the Shaft or Spire both on the West side and on the South but by labour of many well dispoâ—ed people the same was to appearance quenched with Vineger This Steeple was repaired in the year 1462. and the Weather-Cock again erected Robert Goodwin winding it up the Rope brake and he was destroyed on the Pinacles and the Cock was sore bruised but Bâ—rchwood the Kings Plummer set it up again since the which time needing reparation it was both taken down and set up in the year 1553. At which time it was found to be of Copper gilt over and the length from the Bill to the Tail being four foot and the breadth over the Wings three foot and a half it weighed forty pounds the Crosse from the Bole to the Eagle or Cock was fifteen foot and six inches of assize the length thereof overthwart was five foot and ten Inches and the Compass of the Bole was nine foot and one inch The inner Body of this Crosse was Oak the next Cover was lead and the outermost was of Copper red varnished The Bole and Eagle or Cock were of Copper and gilt also The height of the Steeple was 520 Foot whereof the Stone-work was 260 Foot and the Spire was likewise 260 Foot The length of the whole Church is 240 Taylors yards which make 720 Foot The breadth thereof is 130 Foot and the heighth of the Body of that Church is 150 Foot The Colledge of petty Cannons there was founded by King Richard the second in honour of Queen Anne his Wife and of her Progenitors in the seventeenth of his Reign Their Hall and Lands was then giâ—en unto them as appeareth by the Patent Robert Dokesworth then being Master thereof In the year 1408. the petty Canons then building their Colledge the Maior and Communalty granted them their Water-Courses and other Easements There was also one great Cloyster on the North side of this Church invironing a Plot of ground of old time called Pardon Church-yard whereof Thomas Moore Dean of Pauls was either the first builder or a most special Benefactor and was buried there About this Cloyster was artificially and richly painted the Dance of Mochabray or Dance of Death commonly called the Dance of Pauls the like whereof was painted about S. Innocents Cloyster at Paris in France the Meeters or Poesie of this Dance were translated out of French into English by Iohn Lidgate Monk of Berry the Picture of Death leading all estates In the midst of this Pardon Church-yard was also a fair Chappel first founded by Gilbert Becket Portgrave and principal Magistrate of this City in the Reign of King Stephen who was there buried There was also a Chappel at the North door of Pauls founded by Walter Sherington by Licence of Henry the sixth There was furthermore a fair Chappel of the Holy Ghost in Pauls Church on the North side â—ounded in the year 1400 by Roger Holmes Chancellor and Prebendary of Pauls Then under the Quire of Pauls is a large Chappel first dedicated to the name of Iesu founded or rather confirmed the 37. of Henry the sixth as appeareth by his Parent thereof dared at Crowdown to this effect Many Liege-Men and Christian People having begun a Fraternity and Guild to the honour of the most glorious name of Jesu Christ our Saviour in a place called the Crowds of the Cathedral Church of Pauls in London which hath continued long time peaceably till now of late whereupon they have made request and we have taken upon us the name and charge of the Foundation to the laud of Almighty God the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost and especially to the honour of Jesu in whose honour the Fraternity was begun c. At the
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
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
these new buildings is Cow-bridge street or Cow-lane which turneth toward Holdbourn in vvhich Lane the Prior of Semperingham had his Inne or London Lodging The rest of that West side of Smithfield hath divers fair Inns and other comely Buildings up to Hosier-lane which also turneth down to Houldbourn till it meet with Cowbridge-street from this Lane to Cock-lane over against Pie-Corner In the year 1362 the thirty sixth of Edward the third on the first five dayes of May in Smithfield were Justs holden the King and Queen being present with the most part of the Chivalry of England and of France and of other Nation to the which came Spaniards Cyprians and Armenians Knightly requesting aid of the King of England against the Pagans that invaded their Confines The 48. of Edward the third Dame Alice Perrers or Pierce the Kings Concubine as Lady of the Sun rode from the Tower of London through Cheape accompanied by many Lords and Ladies every Lady leading a Lord by his Horse Bridle till they came into West Smithfield and then began a great Just vvhich endured seven dayes after In the year 1393. the 17th of Richard the second certain Lords of Scotland came into England to get vvorship by force of Arms the Earl of Marre chalenged the Earl of Nottingham to Just vvith him and so they rode together certain Courses but not the full Challenge for the Earl of Marre was cast both Horse and Man and two of his Ribs broken vvith the fall so that he vvas conveighed out of Smithfield and so towards Scotland but dyed by the vvay at York Sir VVilliam Darel Knight the Kings Banner-bearer of Scotland challenged Sir Percey Courtney Knight the Kings Banner-bearer of England and vvhen they had run certain Courses gave over vvithout conclusion of Victory Then Cookborne Esquire of Scotland challenged Sir Nicholas Hawberke Knight and rode five Courses but Cookborne vvas born over Horse and Man Now to return through Gilt-spur-street by Newgate vvhere I first began there standeth the fair Parish Church called St. Sepulchers in the Bayly or by Chamberlain Gate in a fair Church-yard though not so large as of old time for the same is letten out for buildings and a Garden plot This Church vvas newly re-edified or builded about the Reign of Henry the sixth or of Edward the fourth one of the Popham's vvas a great builder there and 't is lately also vvashed over and furbish'd Next to this Church is a fair and large Inne for the receipt of Travellers and hath to signe the Sarasens Head vvhere Oxford men resort There lyeth a street from Newgate West to the end of Turn again-lane and winding North to Oldbourne Conduit but of late a new Conduit vvas there builded in place of the old namely in the year 1577. by VVilliam Lambe sometime a Gentleman of the Chappel to King Henry the eighth and afterward a Citizen and Clothworker of London From the West side of this Conduit is the high way there called Snow-hill stretching out by Oldbourne-bridge over the oft-named Water of Turn-mill-Brook and so up to Old-bourn-hill all replenished with fair Buildings Without Ould-bourn-bridge on the right hand is Gold-lane as is before shewed up higher on the Hill be certain Inns and other fair Buildings amongst the which of old time was a Messuage called Scroops Inne for so we finde the same recorded in the 37. of Henry the sixth This House was sometime letten out to Sergeants at the Law as appeareth and was found by Inquisition taken in the Guild-hall of London before William Purchase Mayor and Escheater for King Henry the 7th in the 14th of his Reign Then is the Bishop of Elies Inne so called of belonging and pertaining to the Bishops of Ely Will de Luda Bishop of Ely deceased 1297 and gave this House by the name of his Mannor with the Appurrenances in Holdbourne to his Successors with condition that his next Successor should pay a thousand Marks towards the finding of three Chaglains in the Chappel there The first in the year 1464. the fourth of Edward the fourth in Michaelmas Terme the Sergeants at Law held their Feast in this House to the which amongst other Estates Matthew Philip Mayor of London with the Aldermen Sheriffs and Commons of divers Crafts being invited did repair but when the Mayor looked to keep the state in the Hall as it had bin used in all places within the City and Liberties out of the Kings presence the Lord Gray of Ruthen then Lord Treasurer of England unwitting the Sergeants and against their wills as they said was first placed whereupon the Mayor Aldermen and Commons departed home and the Mayor made the Aldermen to dine with him howbeit he and all the Citizens were wonderfully displeased that he was so dealt with and the new Sergeants and others were right oâ—ry therefore and had rather then much good as they said it had not so happened Next beyond this Mannor of Ely-house is Lither-lane turning into the Fields Then is Furnivals Inne now an Inne of Chancery but sometime belonging to Sir William Furnival Knight and Thomasin his Wife who had in Holdbourne two Messuages and thirteen Shops as appeareth by Record of Richard the second in the sixth of his Reign Now again from Newgate on the left hand or South side lyeth the Old Baylay which runneth down by the Wall upon the Ditch of the City called Houndsditch to Ludgate we have not read how this street took that name but it is like to have risen of some Court of old time there kept and we finde that in the year 1356. the thirty four of Edward the third the Tenement and ground upon Houndsditch between Ludgate on the South and Newgate on the North was appointed to Iohn Cambridge Fishmonger Chamberlain of London whereby it seemeth that the Chamberlains of London have there kept their Courts as now they do in the Guild-hall and till this day the Mayor and Justices of this City keep their Sessions in a part thereof now called the Sessions Hall both for the City of London and Shire of Middlesex over againâ— the which House on the right hand turneth down St. Georges Lane towards Fleet Lane In this St. Georges Lane on the North side thereof remaineth yet an old wall of stone inclosing a peece of ground up Sea-cole-Lane wherein by report sometime stood an Inne of Chancery which House being greatly decayed and standing remote from other Houses of that Profession the Company removed to a Common Hostery called of the signe out Lady Inne not far from Clements Inne which they procured from Sir Iohn Fineox Lord chief Justice of the Kings Bench and since have held it of the owners by the name of the New Inne paying therefore six pounds Rent by the year as Tenants at their own will for more as is said cannot be gotten of them and much lesse will they be put from it Beneath this Saint Georges Lane is the Lane called Fleet-lane winding
South by the Prison of the Fleet into Fleet-street by Fleet-bridge Next out of the high street turneth down a Lane called the Little Bayly which runneth down to the East end of St. Georges Lane The next is Sea-cole-lane I think called Limeburners Lane of burning Lime there with Sea-cole For we read in Record of such a Lane to have bin in the Parish of St. Sepulchre and there yet remaineth in this Lane an Alley called Lime-burners Alley Near unto this Sea-cole-lane in the turning towards Oldbourne-Conduit is Turn-again-lane or rather as in a Record of the fifth of Edward the third Wind-again-lane for that it goeth down West to Fleet Dike from whence men must turn again the same way they came for there it is stopped Then the high street turneth down Snow-hill to Holdbourne Conduit and from thence to Ouldbourn-bridge beyond the which Bridge on the left hand is Shooe-lane by the which men passe from Ouldbourne to Fleet street by the Conduit there In this Shooe-lane on the left hand is one old House called Oldbourn-Hall it is now letten out into divers Tenements On the other side at the very corner standeth the Parish Church of Saint Andrew From this Church to St. Andrew up Oldbourn-hill be divers fair builded Houses amongst the which on the left hand there standeth three Inns of Chancery whereof the first adjoyning unto Crook-horn-Alley is called Thavies Inne and standeth opposite to Ely House Then is Fewter-lane which stretcheth South into Fleet-street by the East end of St. Dunstanes Church and is so called of Fewters or idle people lying there as in a way leading to Gardens but the same is now of later years on both sides builded thorow with many fair Houses and in the wast grounds and Gardens betwixt Shooe-lane and Fewter-lane there are now many fair convenient Houses built by the Company of the Goldsmiths as also a street called New-street betwixt Aldersgate and Redcrosse-street Beyond this Fewters Lane is Baynards Inne alià s Mackworths Inne which is of the Chancery Then is Staple-Inne also of the Chancery but whereof so named I am ignorant the same of late is for a great part thereof fair builded and not a little augmented And then at the Barres endeth this Ward without Newgate Without Ludgate on the right hand or North side from the said Gate lyeth the Old Bayley as I said then the high street called Ludgate-hill down to Fleet-Lane in which Lane standeth the Fleet a Prison-house so called of the Fleet or water running by it and sometime flowing about it but now vaulted over Then also against the South end of Shooe-lane standeth a fair Water-Conduit whereof William East field sometime Mayor was Founder for the Mayor and Commonalty of London being possessed of a Conduit Head with divers Springs of water gathered thereunto in the Parish of Padington and the water conveyed from thence by Pipes of Lead towards London unto Teyborn where it had lain by the space of six years and more the Executors of Sir Willâ—am Eastfield obtained Licence of the Mayor and Communalty for them in the year 1453. with the Goods of Sir William to convey the said Water first in Pipes of Lead into a Pipe begun to be laid besides the great Conduit Head at Maribone which stretcheth from thence unto a separall late before made against the Chappel of Rounseval by Charing-Crosse and no further and then from thence to convey the said water into the City and there to make Receit or Receits for the same unto the Common-weale of the Commonalty to wit the poor to drink the rich to dresse their Meats which water was by them brought thus into Fleet-street to a Standard which they had made and finished 1471. From this Conduit up to Fewters Lane and further is the Parish Church of St. Dunstane called in the West for difference from Saint Dunstane in the East Next beyond this Church is Cliffords Inne sometime belonging to Robert Clifford by gift of Edward the second Somewhat beyond this Cliffords Inne is the South end of Newstreet or Chancelor Inne on the right hand whereof is Sergeants-Inne called in Chancery lane And then next was sometime the House of the converted Iews founded by King Henry the third in place of a Jews House to him forfeited in the year 1233. and the seventeenth of his Reign who builded there for them a fair Church now used and called the Chappel for the Custody of Rolles and Records of Chancery it standeth not far from the old Temple and the new in the which House all such Jews and Infidels as were converted to the Christian Faith were ordained and appointed under an honest rule of life sufficient maintenance whereby it came to passe that in short time there were gathered a great number of Converts which were baptized instructed in the Doctrine of Christ and there lived under a learned Christian appointed to govern them since the which time to wit in the year 1290. all the Jews in England were banished out of the Realm whereby the number of Converts in this place was decayed and therefore in the year 1377. this House was annexed by Parent to William Burstall Clark Custos Rotulorum or Keeper of the Roâ—s of the Chancery by Edward the third in the fifty one year of his Reign and this first Master of the Rolls was sworn in Westminster-Hall at the I able of Marble-stone since the which time that House hath bin commonly called the Rolls in Chancery-Lane On the West side sometime was an House pertaining to the Prior of Nectoâ— Park a House of Canons in Lincolnshire this was commonly called Hereflete Inne and was a Brew-house but now fair builded for the six Clerks of the Chancery and standeth over against the said House called the Rolls and near unto the Lane which now entreth Fickets Croft or Fickets field Then is Shere-lane opening also into Fickets field hard by the Barres Next is Bride-lane and therein Bridewell of old time the Kings House for the Kings of this Realm have bin there lodged and till the ninth of Henry the third the Courts were kept in the Kings House wheresoever he was lodged as may appear by ancient Records whereof there are many and for example have set forth one in the Chapter or Towers and Castles King Henry the eighth builded there a stately and beautiful House of new for receit of the Emperor Charles the fifth who in the year of Christ 1522. was lodged himself at the Black-Fryers but his Nobles in this new builded Bridewell a Gallery being made out of the House over the Water and thorow the Wall of the City into the Emperors Lodging at the Black-Fryers King Henry himself often times lodged there also as namely in the year 1525. a Parliament being then holden in the Black-Fryers he created States of Nobility there In the year 1553. the seventh of Edward the sixth the tenth of April sir George Barne being Mayor of this City was sent for
to the Court at White-hall and there at that time the King gave unto him for the Communalty and Citizens to be a Work-house for the poor and idle persons of the City his house of Bridewell and seven hundred Marks Land late of the possessions of the house of Savoy and all the Bedding and other Furniture of the said Hospital of the Savoy towards the maintenance of the said Work-house of Bridewel and the Hospital of St. Thomas in Southwark This gift King Edward confirmed by his Charter dated the 26. of Iune next following And in the year 1555. in the moneth of February Sir William Gerrard Mayor and the Aldermen entred Bridewel and took possession thereof according to the gift of the said King Edward the same being confirmed by Queen Mary The Bishop of St. Davids had his Inne over against the North side of this Bridewell as I have said Then is the Parish Church of St. Bridget or Bride of old time a small thing which now remaineth to be the Quire but since increased with a large Body and side Iles towards the West at the charges of William Vinor Eâ—quire Warden of the Fleet about the year 1480. all which he cauâ—ed to be wrought about in the stone in the figure of a Vine with Grapes and Leaves c. The partition betwixt the old work and the new sometime prepared as a Screne to be set up in the Hall of the Duke of Summersets House at the Strand was bought for eightscore pounds and set up in the year one thousand five hundred fifty seven The next is Salisbury Court a place so called for that it belonged to the Bishops of Salisbury and was their Inne or London House at such time as they were summoned to come to the Parliamâ—nt or came for other business It hath of late time bin the dwelling first of Sir Richard Sackvile and after of Sir Thomas Sackvile his Sonne Baron of Buckhurst Lord Treasurer who very greatly inlarged it with stately Buildings Then is Water-lane running down by the West side of a House called the Hanging Sword to the Thames Then was the White Fryers Church called Fratres beatae Mariae de monte Carmeli first founded saith Iohn Bale by Sir Richard Gray Knight Ancestor to the Lord Gray of Codner in the year 1241. King Edward the first gave to the Prior and Brethren of that house a plot of ground in Fleet-street whereupon to build their House which was since reedified or new builded by Hugh Courtney Earl of Devonshire about the year one thousand three hundred and fifty the four and twentieth of Edward the third Iohn Lufken Mayor of London and the Commonalty of the City granted a Lane called Crockers-lane reaching from Fleetstreet to the Thames to build in the West end of that Church Then is the Sergeants Inne so called for that divers Iudges and Sergeants at the Law keep a Commons and are lodged there in Terme time Next is the New Temple so called because the Templers before the building of this House had their Temple in Oldbourn This house was founded by the Knights Templers in England in the Reign of Henry the second and the same was dedicated to God and our Blessed Lady by Heraclius Patriark of the Church called the Holy Resurrection in Jerusalem in the year of Christ 1185. Many Parliaments and great Councels have been there kept as may appear by our Histories In the year 1308. all the Templers in England as also in other parts of Christendom were apprehended and committed to divers Prisons Anno 1310. a Provincial Councel was holden at London against the Templets in England upon Heresie and other Articles whereof they were accused but denyed all except one or two of them notwithstanding they all did confesse that they could not purge themselves fully as faultless and so they were condemned to perpetual penance in several Monasteries where they behaved themselves modestly Philip King of France procured their over-throw throughout the whole World and caused them to be condemned by a general Councel to his advantage as he thought for he believed to have had all their Lands in France and therefore seizing the same in his hands caused the Templers to the number of 54. or after Fabian threescore to be burnt at Paris Edward the second in the year 1313. gave unto Aimer de la Valence Earl of Pembrook the whole place house called the new Temple at London with the ground called Fiquetes Croft and all the Tenements and Rents with the appurtenances that belonged to the Templers in the City of London and Suburbs thâ—reof After Aimer de Valence saith some Hugh Spencer usurping the same held it during his life by whose death it fell again to the hands of Edward the third but in the mean time to wit 1324. by a Councel holden at Vienna all the Lands of the Templers lest the same should be put to prophane uses were given to the Knights Hospitalers of the Order of St. Iohn Baptist called Saint Iohn of Ierusalem which Knights had put the Turks out of the I le of Rhodes and after wan upon the said Turk daily for a long time In the Reign of the same Edward the third was granted for a certain Rent of ten pounds by the year the said Temple with the Appurtenances thereunto adjoyning to the Students of the Common Lawes of England in whose possession the same hath ever sithence remained and is now divided into two Houses of several Students by the name of Inns of Court to wit the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple who keep two several Halls but they resort all to the said Temple-Church in the round walk whereof which is the West part without the Quire there remain Monuments of Noblemen buried to the number of eleven eight of them are Images of Armed Knights five lying Crosse-legged as men vowed to the Holy Land against the Infidels and unbelieving Jews the other three straight-legged The rest are coaped stones all of Gray Marble the first of the Crosse-legged was William Marshal the elder Earl of Pembrooke who died 1219. William Marshall his Sonne Earl of Pembrooke was the second he dyed 1231. And Gilbert Marshall his Brother Earl of Pembrooke slain in a Turnament at Hartford besides Ware in the year 1241. Of the Twenty sixth or the last Ward of the City of LONDON called the Bridge-Ward without containing the Bourough of Southwark WE have now almost finished the Perambulation for having treated of Wards in London on the North side of the Thames in number five and twenty we are now to crosse over the said River into the Burough of Southwark which is also a Ward of London without the Walls on the South side thereof as is Portsoken on the East and Faringdon Extra on the West But before we come to the particular Description of this Ward it will not be impertinent to declare when and by what meanes the Burough of Southwark now called Bridge-Ward without
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
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