well to this place was a wast and vnprofitable ground a long time so that in the raigne of Edward the second it was let to farme for foure Markes by the yeare but in the yeare 1415 the 3. yere of Henrie the fift Thomas Falnet Maior caused the wall of the Citie to bée broken toward this Moore and builded here the posterne called Moore-gate for the case of the Citizens to walk this way vpon causâ— as was theÌ„ towards Isllington Hogsdon such like Moreouer he caused the ditches of the Citie from Shoreditch to Houndsditch and so to this Moore ditch along by Bedlem to bee newe cast and clensed by meanes whereof this Fen or Moore was greatly drayned and dryed so shortly after it grew such hard ground that Raph loselin Maior for repayring the Citie wall caused this Moore to be searched for clay here in this place brick to be burnt Gent. But sir here is stones set vpright what is the meaning of them Citiz. Marry where they stand tunnes vnderneath the common shore from a spring called dame Annis de Cleare called by the name of a rich London widow called Annis Claâ—e who matching her selfe with a riotous Courtier in the time of Edward the first who vainely consumed all her wealth and leauing her in much pouertie there drowned she herself being then but a shallow ditch or running water since which as I said before turneth by sluces arched ouer all along by these stones here standing which sluces or bridges was made in the yere 1512 by Roger Atchley Maior who likewise caused the grounds to be leauelled as they were this last yeare by Sir Leonard Holliday Maior and the other worshipfull Aldermen his brethren whereby these fields were made something more commodious but not so pleasant and drye as now they are for many times they stood still full of noisome waters which afterward in the yeare 1527. was by the meanes of sir Thomas Semor Mayor made dry who repairing the sluces conuayed the sayd waters ouer this Towne Ditch into the course of Wall-brooke shoare and so into the Thames and by these degrées was this Fen or Moore at length made maine and hard ground which before being ouergrowne with flags sedges and Rushes serued for no vse since the which time all the further and higher grounds beyond Finesbury court haue beene so heightned with leastals and dung that now thrée Windmils are set thereon the ditches being filled vp and the bridges ouerwhelmed Gen. But now I pray you let vs walke backe againe to Moore gate go into this narrow lans called the posterne betwéene Moore-gate and Criple-gate because it hath at either end a doore to be shut in the night season Cit. This is a posterne belonging to Criple-gate so called long before the conquest only to kéepe night-walkers out of the subberbs but now I haue named Criple-gate I thinke it not amisse to shew the antiquity thereof and why it was so called at the first Gen That would I gladly vnderstand for I haue heard diuers reports thereof Cit. I haue read in the history of Edmond King of England written by Iohn Lydgate Munke of Berry that when the Danes spotled part of his kingdome a reuerent bishop of this land caused that body of king Edmond martyr to be brought froÌ„ S. Edmonds bury to London in at Cripplegate a place saith he so called of cripples begging ther at which gate it was saide the body entering Mirracles were wrought as some of the Lame to goe away praising God This Gate was sometimes a Prison whereunto such Cittizens and others as were arested for debt or common trespasses were committed as they be now to the Counters This Gate was new builded by the Brewers of London 1244. Gent. This hath much contented my desires and considering it is yet far to night I will request you to turne back into the walkes and there to discourse of further antiquities Citiz. Withall my heart Sir I cannot spend my time better Gent. Then I pray you tell what course Sir hath this common shoare thorough the Citty into the Thames Citiz. This Citty in old time as I finde it recorded was deuided the one halfs from the other which is East from West by a faire brooke of swéete Water which ran froÌ„ these fields thorough this wal into the riuer of thames which diuision to this day is maintained without charge which water is called Wall-brooke The course froÌ„ hence runneth directly first to Saint Margrets Church in Loathbury from thence from the lower part of the Gracers hall about the East of their Kitchin vnder Saint Mildreds Church somewhat West from the stockes Market from thence thorough Bucklers-bury by a great House built of stone and Timber called the old Barge because in times past Barges out of the Thames were rowed vp so far into this brooke on the backeside of the Houses on Wall-brooke stréete which streete taketh the name of this saide brooke then by the west end of Saint Iohns Church vpon Wall-brooke vnder Horshee bridge by the West side of Tallow Chandlers Hall and of the Skinners Hall and so behinde the other houses to Elbow lane and by a part thereof downe Gréenwitch lane into the riuer of thames this is the right course of this water which of olde time was bridged ouer in diuers places for passage of Horses men as need required but since by the means of increasement on the bankes thereof much annoyances bee done therein But at length the same by a common consent of this Citty was arched ouer with Brick and paued with stone equall with the ground whence it passed thorough and is now in most places builded vpon that no man may deserue it and therefore the trace thereof is hardly known to the common sort of people gen Now I pray you let me know how this vaute or Riuer is made cleane considering so much Channell durt runnes therein Citi. Where these stones stand as I said before there is a long hollow Cesterne or shoare arched ouer reaching into the Citty into the which once a yeare as it is the custome of our Citty to sée it made cleane there entereth diuers labouring men with Links and Torches lighted with a Taber and a pipe or other such Mellody that the Merchants whose Uautes and Houses of offices stand ouer may hear them and by such meanes they may know what is amisse and wanteth mending and still when this busines is effecting the owners of those houses spare not for cost which they giue downe at the Grates as they passe along Gent. This is a good order and an incouragement to such an intricate businesse but to let that passe and shew me the antiquity of your Aldermens going to the Sermons to the Spittle neare Soreditch in Easter wéeke which in my mind is a most memorable custome Citi. First to shew you the first antiquity thereof that place was in times past an Hospitall commonly called Saint Mary Spittle
THE Pleasant Walkes OF Moore-fields Being the guift of two Sisters now beautified to the continuing fame of this worthy Citty Printed at London for Henry Gosson and are to be sold at the Signe of the Sun in Pater noster Row 1607. To the Right Worshipfull the Knights and Aldermen of this Honorable Citty of London THose sweet and delightfull walks of More fields right Worshipfull as it seemes a Garden to this Citty and a pleasurable place of sweet ayres for Cittizens to walke in now made most beautiful by your good vvorships appointment hath emboldened me to search for the true antiquity thereof and furthermore to satisfie the desires of many I haue giuen here a true light of the late glorie doone vnto the same and withall briefly set downe a fewe notes of ancient recordes of their beeing a kinde of morish ground in times past and by whome and in what maner they were brought to this beneficial vse togither with manie other Honors done to this citty If your vvorships vouchsafe to thinke vvel of my labors I attaine my vvished hopes So ending I commit you all to the ioy of your ovvne harts By your Worships to be commanded Rich Iohnson The pleasant walkes of Moore Fields The Speakers names in this discourse a Countrey Gentleman and a London Citizen Gentleman THis Citty of London sir in my mind both for antiquity and scituation may challenge glory with any Citty in the World Cit. Most true sir for it is reported that Brute lineally descended from the Demy-god Aeneas son of Venus daughter of Iupiter about the yeare of the world 2855 and 1108. before the Natiuity of Christ builded this citty and named it Troynouant But in processe of time K. Lud not onely repayred it but also increased the same with faire buildings towers and wals and after his own name called it Luds towne and by corruption of spéech it is now called London which king lyeth buried at a gate in the West part of the Citty which hee likewise built in the honor of his name caling it Ludgate Gent. Since that time I perceiue in euery Princes raigne it hath bin much beautified but of all pleasurs that contents me these swéet walkes of Moore fieldes are the chiefest and the causers thereof deserue much commendations Citi. Those be the worthy Aldermen and Common-counsell of London who seeing the disorder vsed in these fieldes haue bestowed this cost and as occasion requires intends further to beautifie the same Gent. In so dooing they purchase same after Death and much pleasure to posterity But to what vse are these Fieldes reserued Citi. Only for Cittizens to walke in to take the ayre and for Merchants maides to dry clothes in which want necessary gardens at their dwellings gent. By whom was these fields giuen to the citty Cit. Marry sir by two mayds the only daughters to Sir William Fines a knight of the Rhodes in the time of Edward the Confessor who dying left these Fieldes of Fines-berry after his owne name to his two daughters Mary and Katharine who refusing the pleasures of this world betooke themselues to a deuout kind of life and became two Nuns in the Monastery of Bedlem wher hauing spent their daies in the seruice of God at their death gaue these aforesaid fieldes to the Citty of London for an ease to the Cittizens and a place for their seruants to dry clothes in and likewise builded the two Crosses the one at Bedlem gate the other at Shoredich Gent. These walkes Sir as it seemes beares the fashion of a crosse equally diuided foure wayes and like wise squared about with pleasant wals the trees thereof makes a gallant shew and yeelds vnto mine eye much delight Citizen They may well for the like border of trees are not at this day in al the land again for they be in number within these walles two Hundred foure-score and eleauen beside those other standing west-ward without to the number of some foure or fiue and thirtie Gent. I haue heard that many of these trees doe carry proper names Citiz. According to the planting thereof they doe and those which I remember so called now stand on the the west side within these walles the first of them at the corner of the middle walke west-ward was first of all placed by Sir Leonard Hollyday then Lord Maior the next on the corner north-ward at the steppes comming downe by a Captaine being a Gentleman of good reputation the third by a Citizen and Sonne to Sir Leonard Hollyday which standeth next to his Fathers trée There standeth néere vnto that a trée called the two brothers planted by two little boyes and sonnes to a Citizen here in London there is likewise a trée called the thrée sisters by the name of thrée maydens that set it and another the thrée brothers there is a trée likewise on the north-west corner which I saw set vp called Stubs his trée by one Christopher Stubs one of the principal Porters of Black-well hall a man well beloued and of good credit Many others were set vp by our Citizens which I thinke néedlesse to speake of nor tell of the bountie they shewed to the worke-men at the planting of these same trées Gent. The charges hereof shew their liberall mindes and no doubt but this field will be maintained time out of minds in as good order as it is nowe kept for what you Citizens meane to giue glory too neither cost nor care can be wanting But I pray you how many Akars may this plot of ground containe Citiz. Marry Sir within the walles some ten Akars which was so measured out and by a Plough made leuell as it is now a thing that neuer hath béen séene before to goe so néere London Gent. But why are these stockes of wood here prouided with such a huge chaine of yron lockt to the wall Citiz. Onely as a punishment for those that lay any filthy thing within these fields or make water in the same to the annoyance of those that walke therein which euill sauors in times past haue much corrupted mans sences and supposed to be a great nourisher of diseases Gent That beares good reason and the maner of this punishment I like well and pitie it were but it should be maintained for it is one of the best things that euer your Citie bestowed cost vpon Citiz. The cost hereof they regard not and the more they bestow hereon the more honour they tye vnto our Citie and the causers of these walkes hath deserued high commendations making their posterities famous by these their déeds Gent. It séemes they intend a further grace to these fields Citiz. Their purpose is not fully knowne but surely their intents are inclined to bountifull procéedings as I heare the building of certaine houses for shelters for maidens hauing their clothes lying there a drying if at any time it should chance to raine Gent. All England may take example at your London Citizens who not onely séeke for
builded by Water Browne Deane of Paules in the yéere 1197. first named by him Domus Dei but at the suppression of Abbies bring surrendred to King Henry the eight it was valued to bee worth yéerely 478 pound wherein was found besides the ornaments of the Church and other goods belonging to the Hospital a hundred and fourescore Beds well furnished for the receate of poore people for it was an Hospitall of great releefe but now touching the custome why thrée Sermons be made there in the thrée Holydayes of Easter wéeke I finde that in the yeare 1398. King Richard hauing procured from Rome confirmation of such statutes ordinances as were made in the Parliament begun at Westminster and ended at Shrew bury he caused the same confirmation to bee read and pronounced at Paules Crosse and at Saint Mary Spittle in the Sermons before al the people Phillip Malpas one of the Shriefes in the year 1439. gaue twenty shillings by the yéere to the thrée Preachers at the Spittle Steuen Foster Mayor in the yeare 1454. gaue forty poundes to the Preachers at the Spittle and Paules Crosse I find also that the said house wherein the Mayor and Aldermen doe fit at the Spittle was builded for that purpose of the goode and by the executors of Richard Rawson Aldermen and Isabell his wife in the yeare 1488. Likewise in the yeare 1595. the Pulpet being olde was taken downe and a new set vp the Preachers face turned toward the South which was before towards the west Also a large House on the East side of the said Pulpet was then builded for the gouernors and Children of Christes Hospitall to sit in and this was done of the goods of William Elkins Alderman lately deceased but within the first yeare the same house decaying and like to haue fallen was againe with great cost repated at the Cittyes charge And now héere is to bee noted that time out of mind it hath béene and is a lawdable custome in London that on good Fryday in the after-noone some especiall learned man by appoyntment of the Bishops hath Preached a Sermon at Paules Crosse treating of Christes passion and vppon the thrée next Easter Hollydaies Monday Teusday and Wednesday the like learned men by the like appointment haue vsed to preach on the fore-noones at the saide Spittle to the same effect and then on low sunday one other learned man at Paules Crosse to make rehearsal of those foure former Sermons either commending or reproouing them as to him by the iudgement of the learned Deuines was thought conuenient and that done he was to make a sermon of his owne study which in all were fiue Sermons in one At these Sermons so seuerally preached the Mayor with his breathren the Aldermē are acustomed to be present in their violet gownes at Paules on good Fryday in their Scarlet gownes at the Spittle vpon Monday and Teusday on the Wednesday in their violets and on Low sunday in their Scarlets againe at Paules Crosse which is vsed to this day Gent. These are lawdable customes but haue your Aldermen no place to sit in at the Spittle if it should chance to raine Cit. There is prouided for the Mayor Aldermen and Sheriffes a faire house of two stories hie to sit in and in the lost ouer them where the Bishoppe of London and other Prelates were wont to sit now stand the Ladies and Aldermens Wiues in a faire window where they may likewise sit at their pleasure And this is all the antiquity that I euer read of the Spitle Sermons And now sir considering the tediousnes of this my long discourse I will reuiue you with a few verses writ in the honor of London Londons Description That famous off-spring of downe raced Troy King Brute the Conqueror of Giants fell Built London first these mansion Towers of ioy As all the spacious world may witnesse well Euen he it was whose glory more to vaunt From burned Troy sur-named this Troynouant This name if that antiquities proue true Full many yeares in Maiesty she bore Till princely Lud did christen her anew And changd her name from that it was before So kingly Lud did shape a second frame And called this Luds Towne by his princely name Luds-towne it was and yet is tearmed so But that for briefenesse and for pleasant sound Few letters of that name it doth forgoe And London now which was once called Luds-Towne Thus Brute and Lud London parents were Since fosterd vp by many a royall peere But since that time fiue conquests haue insewd And all saue one beene glutted with red goare Yet nere were London streets with bloud imbrewd Yet still retaind the state it held before Such was her beauty and the victors pitty That spard their swords from spoyling this faire Citty From her first founders thus hath she increased Fauord of those the Diadem aduanced Scarce with their deaths their large diuosions ceased Yet by their deathes her better fortunes chanced As one gaue place and left what he intended The next successor what he found amended One famous King this Citty doth indew With wished freedomes and innimities The next confirmes augmenting it with new And graunts more large and ample liberties And thus faire Londons members strongly knitteth When Kings adorne what fame and honor fitteth From Lud vnto King Iames thus London fared Sacred Monarcke Emperour of the West To whom the world yeeldes none to be compared By Londons loue thou art heere earthly blest Mirror of mankind each lands admiration The worlds wonder heauens true contemplation Long mayst thou liue faire Londons wished blisse Long mayst thou raigne great Britaines happinesse Liue raigne and be when there no being is Triumphant ouer all that wish thee lesse In earth ador'd with glorie and renowne In heauen adorned with an Angels crowne Of Londons pride I will not boast vpon Her gold her siluer and her ornaments Her Gems and Iewels pearles and precious stone Her furniture and rich habilliments Her cloth of siluer tissue and of gold Which in her shops men dayly may behold What mynes of gold the Indian soyle doth nourish Within the secrets of her fruitfull wombe London partakes it and doth dayly flourish Ordayn'd thereto by heauen and heauenly doome All forraine Lands whome maiestie doth mooue Doe still contend to grace her with their loue What Ciuill Spaine or Portugale affordeth What Fraunce what Flaunders or what Germanie What Creet what Scicile or what Naples hoordeth The Coasts of Turkie or of Barberie The boundlesse Seas to London walles presenteth Through which all Englands state she much augmēteth If Rome by Tiber substance doth attaine Or Euphrates to Babylon brings plentie If golden Ganges Egypt fils with gaine The Thames of London surely is not emptie Her flowing channell powreth forth much profit For Londons good yet few knowes what comes of it Thus by the bounty of imperious mindes Furthered by nature with a noble floud Proud wealth and welthy pride braue London