tres plus compleverat annis Nam tribus octensis Regia Sceptra tulit Quindecies Domini centenus fluxerat annus Currebat nonus cum venit atra Dies Septima termensis lux tunc fulgebat Aprilis Cum Clausit summam tanta Corona Diem Nulla Dedere prius tantum tibi saecula Regem Anglia vix similem posteriora Dabunt This Church is famous for the Monuments and Tombs of our Kings Queens Nobility and other eminent Men as Sebert the first Christian King of the Eastâ— Saxons Harold the Bastard Son of Canutus the Dane King of England King Edward the Confessor and his Queen Edith Maud Wife to King Henry the First the Daughter of Malcolm King of Scots Henry the 3. and his Son King Edward the 1. with Eleanor his Wife daughter to Ferdinando the first King of Castile and Leon. King Edward the 3. and Philippa of Henault his Wife King Henry the 5. with Katherine his Wife Daughter to King Charles the 6. of France Anne Wife to King Richard 3. Daughter to Richard Nevil Earl of Warwick King Henry the 7. with his Wife Elizabeth Daughter to King Edward the 4. and his Mother Margaret Countess of Richmond King Edward the sixth that most Religious and truly Vertuous Prince who lyeth under the Brass richly Gilded Altar most curiously wrought with Excellent Workmanship Anne of Cleave the 4 th Wife of King Henry the Eight Queen Mary and the Renowned Queen Elizabeth upon the Remove of whose Body from Richmond where She Dyed to White-Hall by Water these Lines were Written which may for their Elegancy and in Remembrance of that most Illustrious Protestant Queen be inserted The Queen was brought by Water to White-Hall At every stroake the Oars their tears let fall More clung about the Barge Fish under water Wept out their Eyes of Pearl swam blindly after I think the Barge-men might with easier Thighs Have row'd her thither in her Peoples Eyes For howsoe'er thus much my thoughts have scann'd Sh 'ad come by Water had she come by Land Prince Henry eldest Son of King James the First Monarch of Great Britain King James Himself and Queen Ann his Wife and the first Male born of King Charles the First dying an Infant Of Dukes and Earls and Lords Degree Edmund Earl of Lancaster second Son of King Henry the Third and his Lady Aveline de fortibus Countess of Albemarle William and Andomar of Valente of the Family of Lusignian Earls of Pembrooke Alphonsus John and other Children of King Edward the first John of Eltham Earl of Cornwall Son to King Edward the Second Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Glocester the youngest Son of Edward the Third with other of his Children Eleanor Daughter and Heir of Humphry Bâ—hun Earl of Hereford and of Essex Wife to Thomas of Woodstock The young Daughter of Edward the Fourth And King Henry the Seventh Henry a Child of two months old Son of King Henry the Eighth Sâ—phia the Daughter of King James who died as it were in the first Day-dawning of her Age. Philippa Mohun Dutchess of York Robert of Henault in right of his Wife Lord Bourchier Ann the young Daughter and Heir of John Mowbraâ— Duke of Norfolk promised in Marriage unto Richard Duke of York younger Son to King Edward the Fourth Sir Giles Dawbny Lord Chamberlain to King Henry the Seventh and his Wife of the House of the Arundels in Cornwall John Viscount Wells Frances Brandon Dutchess of Suffolk Mary her Daughter Margaret Douglas Countess of Lenex Grandmother to James King of Great Britain with Charles her Son Winefrid Bruges Marchioness of Winchester Ann Stanhope Dutchess of Somerset and Jane her Daughter Ann Cecil Countess of Oxford Daughter to the Lord Burleigh Lord High-Treasurer of England with Mildred Burghley her Mother Elizabeth Berkly Countess of Ormond Frances Sidney Countess of Sussex James Butler Viscount Thurles Son and Heir to the Earl of Ormond Besides these Humphry Lord Bourchier of Cornwall Sir Humphry Bourchier Son and Heir to the Lord Bourchier of Berners both slain at Barnetfield Sir Nicholas Carew Baron Powis Thomas Lord Wentworth Thomas Lord Wharton John Lord Russel Sir Thomas Bromley Lord Chancellor of England Douglas Howard Daughter and Heir General of Henry Viscount Howard of Bindon Wife to Sir Arthur Gorges Elizabeth Daughter and Heir of Edward Earl of Rutland Wife to William Cecil Sir John Puckering Lord-Keeper of the Great Seal of England Frances Howard Countess of Hartford Henry and George Cary the Father and Son Barons of Hunsdon both Lords Chamberlains to Queen Elizabeth The Heart of Ann Sophia the Daughter of Christopher Harley Count Beaumont Ambassador for the King of France in England bestowed within a small Gilt Urn over a Pyramid Sir Charles Blunt Earl of Devonshire Lord-Lieutenant-General of Ireland Geoffrey Chaucer the Prince of English Poets in his time Edmund Spencer an eminent Poet. William Cambden Clarencieux King of Arms. Causabon the Famous French Writer Michael Drayton c. Then there is George Villiers Duke Marquiss and Earl of Buckingham Favourite to King James and King Charles the First Also the Earl of Essex and several others Interr'd there during His present Majesties Absence from His Government There is also Interr'd George Duke of Albemarle Father to his Grace the present Duke whose Funerals were Solemnly performed the Thirtieth of April 1670. The Dutchess of Albemarle was also Interr'd in King Henry the Sevenths Chappel the twenty eighth of February 1669. in Westminster Church There is likewise Interr'd that Celebrated Poet Mr. Abraham Cowley under a Monument of Exquisite Curiosity at the Charges of his Grace the Noble Duke of Buckingham Having done with Westminster-Abby we shall give a Brief account of the other Churches Alphabetically as they were before the Fire And of such as are Re-built which are now far more Durable and Stately than before the Reader may expect an Account hereafter I. St. Albans Church in Woodstreet is of great Antiquity being Dedicated to St. Albans the first Martyr of England Another mark of Antiquity was to be seen in the manner of the turning the Arches in the Windows and heads of the Pillars There were also Roman Bricks found inlay'd here and there among the Stones of the Building it was Anno 1632. being wonderfully decay'd pull'd down in order to be Re-built In it were diverse Monuments which for brevity sake are omitted II. On the North side of the East end of Tower-street is the Parish-Church called All-hallows Barkin a very fair Church standing in a large Church-Yard on the North side whereof was built a fair Chappel by King Richard the first whose heart 't is said was buryed there under the high Altar This Chappel was Augmented by King Edward the first And a fraternity setled there by King Edward the fourth King Richard the third new Built it and founded therein a Colledge of Priests which was suppressed in the Year 1548. in the Second of Edward the sixth and the Ground made
When the King Prorogues or Dissolves the Parliament He commonly comes in Person to the House of Lords in his Robes with the Crown on his Head and sends by the Vsher of the Black-Rod for all the House of Commons to the Bar of that House and after the King's Answer to each Bill signified as aforesaid his Majesty usually makes a Solemn Speech the Lord Chancellor another and the Speaker of the House of Commons a Third Then the Lord Chancellor by the special Command of the King doth pronounce the Parliament Prorogued or Dissolved The King being Head of the Parliament if his Death doth happen during the Sitting of the Parliament it is ipso facto Dissolved IV. Sommerset-House in the Strand is the Queens Palace In the Year 1549. Edward Duke of Sommerset Uncle to Edward the 6 th and Lord Protector pulled down several adjoyning Buildings to make him a Mansion-House there the Stones of which Houses and some other more remote Buildings which he demollished were converted to this Spatious and Beautiful Palace of which we cannot add much more but that it was the Fatal place where the wicked Romish Assassinates prompted by Hell and their accursed Principles most barbarously Murdered that Noble Patriot and never to be forgotten Knight Sir EDMOND-BERRY GODFREY on Saturday the 12 th of October 1678. The Bloody Villains being enraged at the Discovery of their Execrable Plot in which this brave Gentleman was very active made him a Sacrifice to their Revenge so that he may be truly stiled the Martyr of the English Protestant Interest and deserves a Memorial in all Loyal Christian Hearts The Narrative is published at large to which we refer our Reader only we cannot omit his Majesties Royal act who so resented this Abominable Villany that he issued his Proclamation the 20 th of October promising 500 l. to the Discoverer and a Pardon if one of the Malefactors and another soon after promising on the word of a King not only the said Reward of 500 l but such care for the Security of the Discoverer as he could in Reason propose upon which Captain William Bedlow since Dead and Mr. Miles Praunce a Silver-smith in Princes-street which last confessed to have been in the Fact made the Discovery and upon their clear and undoubted Evidence three of the Wretches were Executed viz. Green Berry and Hill the rest fled from Justice but cannot escape Divine Vengeance Having spoken of these principal Palaces it may be expected that we should speak something of the Great and Famous Houses of the Nobility which are very many and Magnificent not yielding to any in Europe as Clarendon-House which for Situation stately Architecture spacious solid uniform Structure is admirable Berkley-House Wallingford-House Northumberland-House Salisbury and Worcester Houses Bedford Leicester Newport Mountague and Southampton Houses and indeed most Houses of the great Peers But the brevity of our Volume will not admit a large Description only in General we shall say something of them in the Section that Treats of the Fire Anno 1666. and the Rebuilding of the City SECT 5. Of Exchanges and Publick-Halls THe Royal Exchange in Cornhil-Ward was Erected in the Year 1566 just one hundred Years before it was Burnt in this manner Certain Houses upon Cornhil containing Eighty Housholds were purchased by the City of London for above 3532 l. which they sold for 478 l. to such as would take them down and carry them away Then the Ground or Plot was made plain at the Charges of the City and Possession thereof was given to Sir Thomas Gresham Knight a Noble Merchant and Agent to Queen Elizabeth by certain Aldermen in the name of the whole for to Build an Exchange thereon for Merchants to Assemble On the 7 th of June he laid the first Stone in the Foundation being accompanied with some Aldermen where every one of them laid a piece of Gold which the Work-men took up The Work was advanced with such Expedition that in November 1567 it was finished and afterwards in the presence and by the special Command of the Queen it was Proclaimed by a Herald and with sound of Trumpet named The ROYAL EXCHANGE It was Built most of Brick and yet was the most splendid Burse all things considered that was then in Europe The Burse for Merchants was kept before in Lumbard-street In the great and dismal Conflagration Anno 1666. the Royal Exchange was consumed But it is since Rebuilt in a far more stately and Magnificent manner of excellent Portland Stone almost as durable as Marble with such curious and admirable Architecture especially for a Front a Turret and for Arch-work that it surpasseth all other Burses in Europe The Form is Quadrangular with a large Paved Court where the Merchants Meet it is Quadratum Oblongum an Oblong square and on each side are stately Galleries or Portico's Checquered with a smooth and delicate Stone-Pavement the Arches supported with strong Stone Pillars where in case of Rain or extream Heat the greatest part may be sheltered The whole Fabrick cost above 50000 l. whereof one half was disbursed by the Chamber of London and the other by the Company of Mercers And to reimburse them there are to be let 190 Shops above-stairs at 20 l. per annum and 30 l. Fine besides the several Shops below on the several sides and the huge Vaulted Cellars under ground so that it must needs be the richest piece of Ground in the World For The Exact Dimensions of the Ground whereon this Goodly Fabrick is Erected is but 171 Foot from North to South and 203 Foot from East to West and little more than three quarters of an Acre of Ground yet producing above 4000 l. Yearly Rent The New Exchange on the Strand was called Durham-House Built by Thomas Hatfield Bishop of Durham who being made Bishop of that See Anno 1549. continued so 36 Years It was a very Capacious Edifice on the North side stood a row of Thatcht low Stables which the Right Honourable Robert Earl of Salisbury then Lord High Treasurer of England purchased and pulled down Erecting in the room thereof at his own Charge a very goodly and beautiful Building with Cellars underneath and a Walk fairly Paved above it with Rows of Shops and the like above stairs The first Stone was laid the 10 th of June 1608 and it was finished in November following The Shops above and under were curiously adorn'd and in April following the Earl Invited King James the Queen the Prince the Duke of York to come thither who came attended with many of the Nobility where after a Rich Banquet the King named it Britains Burse There are also two Exchanges more viz. The Middle Exchange and Exeter Exchange which last was lately built in both which Goods are sold as at the Royal Exchange Having done with Exchanges we shall proceed to the Publick Halls of Companies As for the Great Guild-Hall for Orders sake the Reader is referred to the Section
of the said Doctors in a most Capacious and Beautiful manner where they keep their Courts and pleadings every Term which begins and ends almost at the same time with the Term at Westminster The Chief Court is that of the Arches so called from the Arched Church of St. Mary-le-Bow in Cheapside where this Court was wont to be held but now in the Common-Hall at Doctors Commons the Judge whereof is called the Dean of the Arches having Jurisdiction over a Deanry consisting of thirteen Parishes within London exempt from the Jurisdiction of the Bishop of London Hither are directed all Appeals in Ecclesiastical matters within the Province of Canterbury to this belong divers Advocates all Doctors of the Civil Law two Registers and ten Proctors The Dean or Judge of the Arches sitteth alone without any Assessors and Heareth and Determineth all Causes without any Jury of Twelve Men. The manner is briefly thus Fist goes out a Citation then a Bill and Answer then by Proofs Witnesses and Presumptions the matter is Argued pro and con and the Canon and Civil Laws quoted and then the Definitive Sentence of the Judge passeth and upon that Execution But by Statute 25 Henry the VIII it was provided that it shall be Lawful for any Subject of England in Case of Defect of Justice in the Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury to Appeal to the King's Majesty in His Court of Chancery and that upon such an Appeal a Commission under the Great Seal shall be directed to certain Persons particularly Designed for that business so that from the Highest Court of the Archbishop there lyes an Appeal to this Court and beyond it to none other It is called the Court of Delegates and in Civil Affairs is the Highest Court in England Ecclesiastical Criminal Causes are Tried by way of Accusation Denunciation or Inquisition The first When some one takes upon him to prove the Crime The second When the Church-Wardens Present and are not bound to prove because it is presumed they do it without Malice and that the Crime is Notorious Thirdly By Inquisition when by reason of Common Fame inquiry is made by the Bishop ex Officio suo by calling some of the Neighborhood or the Party Accused to their Oaths But this Oath ex Officio was taken away by Parliament in the time of King Charles the First If the Party Accused after Admonition submits not he is Excommunicated from the Church and is disenabled to be a Plaintiff in a Law Suit c. Which is called Excommunicatio Minor Excommunicatio Major excludes from the Church and from Society in Temporal Affairs and that for Heresie Schism Perjury Incest or such grievous Crimes then a Man cannot be Plantiff or Witness in any Civil or Ecclesiastical Court. And if he continues Excommunicated 40 Days the King 's Writ de Excommunicato capiendo is granted out of the Chancery against him whereupon he is cast into Prison without Bail there to lye till he hath submitted to the Bishop and satisfied for what he is charged with by which many tender Consciences have suffered deeply There is an Anathematismus inflicted upon an obstinate Person that is Judged an Heretick wherein he is Curs'd and Rejected to Damnation There is also an Interdict Prohibiting all Divine Offices to a Place or People if against a People it follows them any where if against a Place the People may go elsewhere to hear Somtimes a Person Adjudged a Delinquent is punished another way which is called Publick Pennance and is to stand in the Church-Porch upon Sunday bare Headed and bare Footed in a White sheet and a White Rod in his Hand then he is to go into the Church and his Crime being publickly repeated and he professing Repentance is Absolved but in some Cases the Party may come off for Money to the Poor or some Pious Use which is not always converted that way Christian Burial is denyed to Persons Excommunicate or Perjured to such as are Hang'd for Felony or Kill themselves to Apostates Hereticks and Extortioners Somtimes the Clergy Men are suspened ab Officio viz. from the Exercise of their Functions somtimes there is a Deprivatio a Beneficio when deprived of their Livings somtimes they are Degraded that is Deprived of their Orders which is commonly for some Heinous Crime So much Briefly of these Censures and Punishments The Office of Actuary attending the Court of Arches is to set down the Judges Decrees Register the Acts of the Court and send them in Books of the Registry The Office of the Register is to Attend the Court by himself or Deputy and receive all Libels or Bills Allegations and Exhibits of Witnesses Files all Sentences and keeps the Records of the Court. The Beadle attends the Court carryeth a Mace before the Judge and calls the Persons Cited to appear The Judge and all the Advocates who are all Doctors of the Civil Law wear Scarlet Robes with Hoods lined with Taffata if they be of Oxford or White Miniver Furr if of Cambridge and the Proctors ought to wear Hoods lined with Lamb skin if not Graduates but if Graduates Hoods according to their Degree The Proctors are Persons that Exhibit their Proxies for their Clients and make themselves Parties for them and draw and give in Pleas or Libels and Allegations in the behalf of their Clients produce the Witnesses prepare the Causes for Sentence and and attend the Advocates with the proceedings All Arguments made by Advocates and all Petitions made by Proctors are to be in Latin All process of this Court runs in the Name of the Judge and returnable before him heretofore in Bow-Church but now in the Common-Hall at Doctors Commons The Places and Offices of this Court are in the Gift of the Archbishop of Canterbury These Ecclesiastical Laws consist of Canons made by General Councels the Opinion of Fathers the Decrees of several Bishops of Rome formerly admitted and our own Constitutions made antiently in several Provincial Synods which by 25 Henry VIII are in Force so far as they are not Repugnant to the Laws and Customs of England or the King's Prerogative Then the Canons made in the Convocations of latter times as Primo Jacobi and confirmed by him some Statutes Enacted by Parliament and divers old Customs not written but yet in use and where these fail the Civil Law takes place Amongst the Great Officers of the Crown which are Nine viz. the Lord High Steward of England the Lord High Chancellor the Lord High Treasurer the Lord President of the KING's Council the Lord Privy Seal the Lord Great Chamberlain the Lord High Constable the Earl Marshal and the Lord High Admiral of England The last only appertains to this place his Trust and Honour is so great that it has been usually given to the KING 's Younger Sons near Kinsmen or some of the Highest and Chiefest of all the Nobility He has the management of all Maritime Affairs as well in respect of Jurisdiction as
Right to the Conservation of the Thames and the Waters of Medway by way of Inquisition whereof there were two the one taken at Raynam in Essex the other at Gravesend in Kent before Sir William Cambridge Grocer then Lord Mayor of London 9 Henry V. where it was presented that whereas by the antient Ordinances of London the Meshes of Nets should be two Inches in the fore part and one Inch in the hinder part and it being found that the Offences according to the said Inquisitions are Contra libertates consuetudines Civitatis it was adjudged that the Nets should be burnt according to the antient Custom in that behalf provided VI. He goes on after to prove that this Right belongs to the City by Decrees In 8 Henry IV. the Mayor and Aldermen did exhibit their humble Petition to the King's Councel reciting that time out of mind they had the Conservation and Correction of the River of Thames of all Trincks Nets and other Engines whatsoever in the River of Thames and Medway placed and have used to make a Sub-Conservator under them and complaining that Alexander Bonner then Sub-Conservator having discharged his Duty in removing Kiddles he was ill intreated by the owners dwelling in Erith Bratriferry Barking Woolwich and other places in the Counties of Kent and Essex and upon hearing of the matter in Camera Stellata they were found Guilty and Constrained to submit themselves to the Lord Mayor and ordered to bring always their Nets unto him before they should use them and that the Kiddles then taken should be at the disposition of the Lord Mayor so the Offenders made their submission accordingly VII He proceeds This Right appertains to the City of London by Letters Patents which he proved by a Grant made by Edward IV. to the Earl of Pembroke for setting up a Wear in the River of Thames which Grant was Revoked and Cancelled at the Request of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen upon shewing their Right therefore alleaged it was contrary to their antient Liberties At which time the Cities Title to the Conservancy of the Thames and Medway was at large set forth and recited to have been shewn to the Lord Chancellor and to the said Earl and his Counsel which accordingly was also read VIII He reinforceth the Right of the City by Proclamations whereof one was made by H. VIII in the 34 of His Reign wherein it is affirmed that the Lord Mayor and his Predecessors have had by divers Grants of the Kings of England and by Acts of Parliaments enjoyed always the Conservacy of the Thames without Impediments or Interruption By which Proclamation it was Commanded that none should resist deny or impugne the Lord Mayor or his Deputy in doing or executing any thing that might conduce to the Conservacy of the River and of the Fish and Fry within the same IX He produceth Report for in a Controversie betwixt the Lord Admiral and the Lord Mayor for the Measuring of Coals and other things upon the Thames it then fell into Debate to whom the Conservacy of the Thames did belong which cause was referred by Queen ELIZABETH's Councel of State 1597 to the Attorney-General and Solicitor who joyntly Certified amongst other things that the Conservancy and care of the said River did and ought to belong to the City of London X. By quo Warranto it was proved that the Conservacy of the Thames belongs to the City for 3 Jac. a quo Warranto was brought against the City in the Exchequer to know by what Title She claimed the Conservacy of the River of Thames and the Waters of Medway whereupon the City made Her Title Good thereunto by antient prescription and otherwise so Judgment was given in Her Favour XI He goes on afterwards to confirm the Right of the City by Proof of Vsage in regard the Lord Mayor and Aldermen have time out of mind made Ordinances concerning the Good Government of the River of Thames as well for the Seasons and Manner of Fishing beneath London-bridge Eastward upon pain of certain Penalties as appears from time to time from the Reign of Henry III. and so downward The Lord Mayor hath removed Kiddles Wears Trinks and other unlawful Engines and reformed the disorders of such as have offended besides in the River of Thames and inflicted punishment upon Offenders accordingly The Right of the City appears also by the Writs and Preceps under the Teste of the Lord Mayor to the Sheriffs of Kent and Essex for the Returning of Juries before him to inquire of Offences done in the River The same Right of the City appears also by Commissions whereof divers have been directed to the Lord Mayor to put in Execution the Acts of Parliament made for Conservance of the Thames and Medway and to inquire of all Offences made or done in the said Waters and to punish the Deliaquents accordingly Lastly He makes good the Right and Title of the City by the Continual Claim She has made thereunto as appears in those various Contests She had with the Lord Admiral of England wherein after divers Debates and Disputes She still came off well and made Her Title good Which moved King Jamts in the third Year of His Reign 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 quam futuris tollendam omne Dubium amo vendam 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 c. I. This Office of Conservator of so Noble a River is of great Extent for he is to preserve the Currency of the stream on the Banks on both sides II. To preserve the Fish and Fry within the same that no Fishermen use unlawful Nets or Engines or fish at Prohibited Seasons III. To hinder the erection of any Weares Kiddles or Engines and the knocking in of any Posts Piles or Stake which may in any sort hinder the Stream or Navigation and to pull them up if already done and punish the Offenders also to prevent all incroachments upon the Rivers and the Banks thereof likewise to inquire of all Bridges Flood-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 The former Charge Care and Circumspection belongs properly to the City of London which is Seated in a fit place to be watchful over her for which Vigilance the Thames Rewards the City abundantly by bringing her in the Spices of the South the Jewels of the East and the Treasures of the
French or Latin He knew the state of Foreign Princes perfectly and his own more He could call all Gentlemen of Account through his Kingdom by their Names And all this when he had scarce yet attained to the Age of Fifteen Years and dyed before Sixteen That from hence we may gather It is a sign of no long Life when the Faculties of the Mind are ripe so early His Pious and Religious Life was Remarkable as may be seen in the whole series of it and his Death was no less for the hour before he dyed he was over-heard to pray thus by himself O Lord God deliver me out of this miserable and wretched life O Lord thou knowest how happy it were for me to be with thee yet for thy Chosen's sake if it be thy Will send me life and health that I may truly serve thee O Lord God save thy chosen People in England and defend this Realm from PAPISTRY and maintain thy true Religion that I and my People may praise thy Holy Name for thy Son Jesus Christ's sake So turning his Face and seeing some by him he said I thought you had not been so nigh Yes said Dr. Owen we heard you speak to your self Then said the King I was praying to God I am faint Lord have mercy upon me and receive my Spirit And in so saying his blessed Spirit departed to take possession of an heavenly Crown when he had enjoyed an earthly Crown six years five months and nine days He was buried the 9th of August in Henry the Seventh's Chappel at Westminster near the Body of the said King Henry the Seventh his Grandfather This small Digression I hope will not be unacceptable to all true Christians being in memorial of that Peerless and Never-enough Bewailed Prince but he was too good for the World and rests now in endless Happiness In the year 1552 began the Repairing of the Gray-Fryers House for the poor Fatherless Children and in the month of November the Children were taken in to the same to the Number of almost 400. On Christmas-day in the Afternoon while the Lord Mayor and Aldermen Rode to Pauls the Children of Christs-Hospital from St. Lawrence-lane end in Cheapside towards Pauls all in one Livery of Russet-Cotton Three hundred and forty in Number and at Easter next they were in Blue at the Spittle and so they have continued ever since but they were this Year at St. Sepulchres This indeed was a work of extraordinary Piety and in my judgment it is a very Comely Sight to see the Poor Boys when they Sup all together with what Decency Order and Neatness they are serv'd and Governed by the respective Persons in that Office how plentifully they are provided with good Dyet Washing Lodging and Learning to fit them for business which the City takes care to settle them in according to their respective Capacities and it is known that many of them came to be Men of Note Wealth and great Usefulness in their Countrey Christs-Hospital Bridewel and St. Thomas are Incorporated by the Names of the Mayor Commonalty and Commons of the City of London Governors of the Possessions Revenues and Goods of the Hospitals of Edward King of England the Sixth oâ— Christ Bridewel and St. Thomas the Apostleâ— c. St. Bartholomew-Hospital is Incorporated by thâ— Name of the Mayor Commonalty and Citizens 〈◊〉 the City of London Governors of the Hospital 〈◊〉 the Poor called Little Saint Bartholomews near to West-Smithfield of the Foundation of King Henry the Eighth In the Year 1533 the 10th of April Sir George Barnâ— being Mayor of this City was sent for to the Court at Wâ—itehall where the King gave him 〈◊〉 was said his House of Bridewel and 700 Marks of Land late belonging to Savoy Hospital and all the Bedding and other Furniture c. for Bridewel and St. Thomas in Southwark The Gift was confirmed by Charter dated June 26. following And in the Year 1555 Sir William Gerrard Lord 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 This Bridewel is now buâ—lt in a very curious and stately manner To reckon up the several Eminent and Bountiful Benefactors to these Hospitals would be endless they except some that would be concealed are to be found in the Records of those places to which the Reader is referred Only it being a very singular Example of Honesty Industry and Piety not to detract in the least from any Worthy and Bountiful Benefactor I will Remark one Richard Castel oâ— Castellâ—r Shoemaker dwelling in Westminster a Man of great labour and care in his Faculty with his own hands so that he was called the Cock of Westminster because both Winter and Summer he was at his Work before Four a Clock in the morning This Man thus honestly and painfully labouring for his Living God blessed and increased his Labours so â—bundantly that he purchased Lands and Tenements â—n Westminster to the yearly value of 44 l. And having no Child with the consent of his Wife who survived him and was a virtuous good Woman gave the same Lâ—â—ds wholly to Christs-Hospital aforesaid to the Relief of the Innocent and Fatherless Children and for the Succor of the Miserable Sore and Sick harboured in other Hospitals about London Sir William Chester Kt. and Alderman of London and John Calthrop Citizen and Draper of the same City at their own proper Costs and Charges â—â—ade the Brick-Walls and Way on the Back-side which leadeth from the said New Hospital unto the Hospital of St. Bartholomew and also covered and vaulted the Town-Ditch from Aldersgate to Newgate which before was very Noisom and Contagiouâ— to the said Hospital Sir Rowland Hill Lord Mayor in the 3d Year of this King besides many large and bountiful Charities on other things gave this Hospital 500 l. in his Life and 100 l. at his Death In the Year 1552 the Citizens of London having purchased the void suppressed Hospital of St. Thomas in Southwark in the Month of July began the Reparations thereof for Poor Impotent Lame and Diseased People so that in November following the Sick and Lame were taken in II. Of all the Hospitals that ever were Founded in Christendom there is none can parallel that of Thomas Sutton Esq called Sutton's Hospital which will commend to all succeeding Posterity the duely deserved Praises of that truely Worthy and Never-to-be-forgotten Gentleman the Phoenix of Charity in our Times The Dissolved Charter-house by West-Smithfield belonging to the Right Honourable Thomas Earl of Suffolk after Lord Treasurer of England is sufficiently known to be a very large and goodly Mansion beautified with spacious Gardens Walks Orchards and other Pleasures Enriched with divers Dependencies of Lands and Tenements thereunto belonging and very aptly seated for wholesom Air and several other Commodities All which Commodiousness of Situation and largeness of Circuit gave occasion to this well minded Gentleman