was made one of the six and twenty Wards belonging to the City of London which was in this manner After the dissolution of the Monasteries Abbeys Priories and other Religious Houses in this Realm of England The Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of this City of London taking into their Considerations how commodious and convenient it would be unto the City to have the Burough of Southwark annexed thereunto and that the same Burough was in the Kings hands wholly they became humble suiters unto King Henry the eighth and unto the Lords of his Highness Privy Councel for the obtaining of the same Which suit not being granted unto them after the Decease of King Henry the eighth they renewed their Suit unto his Sonne and next Successour King Edward the sixth and to the Lords of his Privie Councel for the obtaining of the same Borough At the length after long suit and much labour it pleased King Edward the fixth by his Letters Parents sealed with the great Seal of England bearing date at VVestminster the three and twentieth day of April in the fourth year of his Reign as well in consideration of the sum of six hundred forty seven pounds two shillings and a penny of lawful money of England paid to his Highnesses use by the Mayor Communalty and Citizens of London as for divers other considerations him thereunto moving To give and grant unto the said Mayor and Communalty and Citizens of London divers Messuages Lands and Tenements lying near the Borough of Southwark in the said Letters Parents particularly expressed which were sometimes the Lands of Charles late Duke of Suffolk and of whom King Henry the eighth did buy and purchase the same But there was excepted out of the said grant and reserved unto the said King Edward the sixth his Heirs and Successors and all that his Capitall Messuage or Mansion Hoâ—se called Southwark place late of the said Duke of Suffolke and all Gardens and Land to the same adjoyning and all that his Park in Southwarke and all that his Messuage and all Edifices and ground called the Antelope there And the said King Edward the 6th did by his said Letters Patents give grant to the said Mayor Communalty and Citizens and their Successors all that his Lordship and Mannor of Southwarke with all and singular the Rights Members and Appurtenances thereof in the said County of Surrey then late belonging to the late Monastery of Bermondsey in the same County And also all that his Mannor and Borough of Southwarke with all and singular the Rights Members and Appurtenances thereof in the said County of Surrey then late parcel of the Possessions of the Arch-Bishop and Bishoprick of Canterbury together with divers yearly Rents issuing out of the divers Messuages or Tenements in the said Letters Patents particularly expressed But there was excepted and reserved out of the said Grant to the said King Edward the sixth his Heirs and Successors all his Rights Jurisdictions Liberties and Franchises whatsoever within the Walk Circuit and Precinct of his Capital Messuage Gardens and Park in Southwarke and in all Gardens Curtilages and Lands to the said Mansion House Gardens and Park belonging Also there was excepted and reserved out of the said Grant the House Messuage or lodging there called the Kings-Bench and the Gardens to the same belonging so long as it should be used as a Prison for prisoners as it was then used Also there was excepted and reserved out of the said Grant the House Messuage or Lodging there called the Marshalsey and the Gardens to the same belonging so long as it should be used as a Prison for prisoners as it was then used Also it was provided that the said Letters Patents should not be prejudicial to the Offices of the great Master or Steward of the Kings Houshold within the Borough and Precincts aforesaid to be executed while the same Borough and Precincts should be within the Verge Nor to Iohn Gates Knight one of the Gentlemen of the Kings Privy Chamber concerning any Lands Tenements Offices Profits Franchises or Liberties to him granted during his life by the said King Edward the sixth or by his Father King Henry the eighth About the space of a Month after the said Borough of Southwark was so granted by King Edward the sixth to the Mayor Communalty and Citizens of London and that they by force of the said Letters Patents stood charged with the Ordering Survey and Government of the same Borough and of all the Kings Subjects inhabiting therein and repairing thither At a Court holden before Sir Rowland Hill Knight then Lord Mayor of London and the Aldermen of the same City in the Guild-Hall of London on Tuesday the eight and twentieth of May in the said fourth year of the Reign of King Edward the sixth the said Town or Borough was named and called the Ward or Bridge VVard without Not long after it was enacted that besides the then ancient accustomed number of five and twenty Aldermen there should be one Alderman more elected to have the Rule Charge and Governance of the said Borough and Town And that four discreet persons or more being Freemen of London and dwelling within the said City or the Borough of Southwarke or in other the Liberties of the said City should from thenceforth as often as the Case shall require be from time to time nominated appointed and chosen by the Inhabitants of the said Borough for the time being before the Lord Mayor of London for the time being And that the said Lord Mayor for the time being should at the next Court of Aldermen to be holden at the Guild-Hall of the said City next after such election present the Names and Sirnames of all such persons as to should be named before him and put in the said Election And that the said Lord Mayor and Aldermen for the time being should of those four persons or mo so presented Elect and Chuse one by way of Scrutinie to be an Alderman of the said City and to have the peculiar Ordering Rule and Governance of the said Borough and Town of Southwarke and of the Inhabitants thereof and of all other the Kings liege people repairing to the same This Borough being in the County of Surrey consisteth of divers streets waies and winding Lanes all full of Buildings inhabited And first to begin at the West part thereof over against the West Suburbe of the City on the Bank of the River Thames there is now a continual building of Tenements about half a mile in length to the Bridge Then South a continual street called Long Southwark builded on both sides with divers Lanes and Alleys up to St. Georges Church and beyond it through Blackman street towards New Town or Newington the Liberties of which Borough extend almost to the Parish Church of New Town aforesaid distant one mile from London Bridge and also South-west a continual building almost to Lambeth more than one mile from the said Bridge Then from
of the Ferry But afterwards that House of Nuns being converted into a House of Priests the Priests did build a Bridge of Timber and from time to time kept the same in good reparation till at length considering the great charges which were bestowed in the frequent repair of the woodden Bridge there was at last by the Contributions of the Citizens and others a Bridge built of Stone The Timber Bridge had stood some Ages before for the Story saith that when Sweyn King of Denmark had besieged the City of London both by Water and Land in the year 994. the Citizens manfully defended themselves under their King Ethelred so that a great number of the Enemies was slain in Battel and part of them were drown'd in the River of Thames because they could not recover the Bridge Add hereunto that in the year 1016. Canâ—tus the Dane with a great Navy came up to London and on the South of the Thames caus'd a Trench to be cast through the which his Ships were tow'd towards the West side of the Bridge and then with a deep Trench and streight siege he encompassed the City about Moreover 1052. the Earl Godwin with the like Navy taking his course up the River and finding no resistance on the Bridge he sail'd up the South side Further 1067. William the Conqueror in his Charter to the Church of St. Peter in Westminster confirmed to the Monks serving God there a Gate in London call'd Buttolphs Gate then with a Wharf which was at the head of London Bridge We read likewise that Anno 1114. in the raign of Henry 1. the River of Thames was so dryed up and the water grew so shallow that between the Tower of London and the Bridge not only with Horse but people might have passed over a foot In the year 1122 Thomas Arden gave to the Monks at Bermondsey the Church of St. George in Southwark and five shillings yearly rent out of the Land pertaining to London Bridge There is also a remarkable Charter of Hen. 1. upon Record to this tenor Henry King of England to Ralph Chichester and all the Ministers of Sussex sendeth greeting Know ye I command by my Kingly authority that the Manor call'd Alceston which my Father gave with other Lands to the Abbey of Battle be free and quiet from Shiers and Hundreds and all other Customes of earthly servitude as my Father held the same most freely and quietly and namely from the work of London-Bridge the work of the Castle at Pevensey And this I command upon my forfaiture Witnesse William de Pontdelarche at Berry The first year of King Stephen a fire began in the house of one Aâ—lwards neer unto London-stone which consum'd East unto Ludgate and West to St. Erkenswald's shrine in St. Pauls Church The Bridge of Timber upon the River of Thames was also burnt but afterwards repair'd Besides in the Reign of the said King Stephen and of Hen. 2. men stood in great numbers upon the Bridge to see pastimes that were upon the River In the year 1163 that Bridge was not only repair'd but built all of new Timber as before by Peter Colechurch Priest and Chaplain This serves to shew that there was a Timber Bridge a long tract of time over the Thames which was maintain'd partly by the proper Lands thereof partly by the Legacies and liberality of divers persons and partly by taxations in divers Sheirs at least 215 years before the Bridge of stone was erected Now about the year 1176 the stone-Bridge had its first foundation by the foresaid Peter of Cole-Church near unto the place of the Timber Bridge but somewhat more West for the Chronicle saith that Buttolphes WharF was at the end of London-Bridge The King not only countenanced but assisted the great work a Cardinal being then here Legate and Richard Archbishop of Canterbuty gave 1000 Marks towards the Foundation The course of the River for a time was turn'd another way about by a trench cast up for that purpose beginning East about Radriff and ending in the West about Patricksey now call'd Battersay This work to wit the Arches Chappel and the Stone Bridge over the Thames at London having been 33 years in building was in the year 1209 finished by the worthy Citizens of London viz. Serle Mercer William Almane and Benedict Botewrite being principal Masters of that Fabrique for Peter Colechurch was dead four years before and was as the principal Benefactor buried in the Chappel on the Bridge Certain void places were given by King Iohn to build upon about London the profits whereof were assign'd to maintain the Bridge A Mason being Master Workman of the Bridge builded from the foundation the large Chappel on that Bridge upon his own charges which Chappel was then endow'd with two Priests and four Clerks c. besides Chanteries After the finishing of this Chappel which the first building upon those Arches sundry Mansion Houses in tract of time were erected whereunto many charitable men gave Lands Tenements and sums of money towards the maintenance thereof All which was sometimes registred and fairly written in a Table for posterity which was put up in the said Chappel till at last the said Chappel was turn'd to a dwelling House and then remov'd to the Bridge-house Now in Hen. 7. time it stands upon Record that all the payments and allowances belonging to London-Bridge amounted to above 815 l. by which account made then may be partly guessed the great Revenues and incomes of the said Bridge and to what improvement and encrease it may be come unto by this time But this noble Bridge as other earthly things hath suffer'd many disasters since for four years after the finishing thereof in the year 1212 on the 10th of Iuly at night the Burrough of Southwark on the South side of Thames as also the Church of our Lady of the Canons there being on fire and an exceeding great multitude of people passing the Bridge either to extinguish and quench it or to behold and gaze upon it suddenly the North part by blowing of the South wind was also set on fire and the people which were then passing the Bridge perceiâ—ing the same would have return'd but were stopp'd by the fury of the fire and it came to passe as they stayed all in a consternation and protracted the time the other South end of the Bridge was also set on fire so that the people thronging themselves betwixt two raging fires did nothing else but expect present death Whereupon there came to save them many ships and vessels into which the multitude so inadvisedly rush'd in that the ships being thereby â—unk they all perished And it was found that above three thousand souls perished by this disastrous accident at that time whose bodies were found half burnt besides those who were turn'd to ashes Furthermore in the year 1282 through a great frost and deep snow five Arches of London Bridge were born down and destroyed A little after
so running along as far as unto the North-East corner of Bow-lane on the South side and from thence into Bow-lane on the East side until ye come to the Channel over against the Cellardoor under the Church then on the North side of Cheap up to the Standard stretching it self into divers Lanes and peeces on the right hand and on the left hand as it commeth along First for the High street of the Poultrey which is the main body of this Ward on the South side thereof toward the East this Ward beginneth in the way going down to St. Mary Wooll-Church Now for Antiquities and things worthy of memory in Cheap-Ward First in the main Body of this Ward that is the Poultry standeth the hansome little Church that beareth the name of St. Mildred in the Poultry the Virgin which name was given surely for distinction not for superstition for so was the Custom of the Kingdom yet is in building their things for the service of God that the Founders called them by the name of some Apostle Saint Martyr or Confessor as best liked their own conceit at the present time to distinguish them from others Who this Mildred was whether she was the Eldest Daughter of Merwaldus King of the VVest-Mercians as some think or that she was Daughter of Ethelbert King of Kent one of the founders of Pauls Church it is incertain neither is it much material but it is probable that she was some holy and devout Maid which the People of that Age held to be a Saint afterward in Heaven In what years this Church was first erected or who was the first Founder of it we find not but it appeareth by some ancient Evidences of the said Church that from the beginning it had not so much spare ground about it as to make a Church-yard of until in the year of our Lord God 1420 and the 8th of King Henry the fifth Thomas Morsted Esquire and Chirurgion to the Kings Henry the fourth Henry the fifth and Henry the sixth And afterward in Anno Dom. 1436. was Sheriff and Alderman of London gave unto the Church a parcel of ground lying between his dwelling-house and the said Church and adjoyning unto the said Church toward the North to make a Church-yard of for the burial of their Dead containing in length from the Course of VVallbrook toward the West forty five foot and in breadth from the Church toward the North thirty five foot Within short time after some body of Religious and Charitable disposition erected upon the sides of the said Church-yard but upon Posts and Pillars with Cloysters underneath toward the West a Parsonage House or Mansion and free dwelling of the Ministers and Rectors of the said Church and toward the East four Chambers then called the Priests Chambers now converted into a Tenement or dwelling House demised for yearly Rent but the Church-yard is much abridged and of late fouly defaced and the lights of the said Parsonage hindered by additions of pieces to the said ancient Chambers which ought not to be In this ancient Church some Citizens of note lie buried Some few Houses West from this Parish Church of St. Mildred is a Prison-house pertaining to one of the Sheriffs of London and is called the Counter in the Poultry This hath bin there kept and continued time out of minde for I have not read of the Original thereof West from this Counter was a proper Chappel called of Corpus Christi and St. Mary at Cony-hope lane end in the Parish of the said Mildred founded by one named Iorivirunnes a Citizen of London in the Raign of Edward the third in which Chappel was a Guild or Fraternity that might dispend in Lands better then twenty pounds by year it was suppressed by Henry the eighth and purchased by one Thomas Hobson Haberdasher he turned this Chappel into a fair Ware-house and Shops towards the street with fair Lodgings over them Then is Cony-hope lane of old time so called of a signe of three Coneys which hung over a Poulterers Stall at the Lanes end within this Lane standeth the Grocers Hall which Company being of old time called Pepperers were first incorporated by the name of Grocers in the year 1345 at which time they elected for Cusâ—os or Gardian of their Fraternity Richard Oswin and Lawrence Hallwell and twenty Brethren were then taken in to be of their Society In the year 1411 the Custos or Gardian and the Brethren of this Company purchased of the Lord Robert Fitzwaters one Plot of ground with the building thereupon in the said Cony-hope lane for three hundred twenty Marks and then laid their foundation of their new Common-Hall About the year 1429 the Grocers had Licence to purchase five hundred Marks Land since the which time near adjoyning unto the Grocers Hall the said Company have builded seven proper Houses for seven aged poor Alms-people Thomas Knowles Grocer and Maior gave his Tenement in St. Anthonies Church-yard to the Grocers towards the relief of the poor Brethren in that Company Also Henry Keeble Grocer and Maior gave to the seven Alms-people six pence weekly for ever which Pension is now increased by the Masters to some of them two shillings a peece weekly and to some of them lesse c. Henry Ady Grocer 1563 gave a thousand Marks to the Grocers to purchase Lands and Sir Henry Pechy Knight Banneret free of that Company gave them five hundred pounds to certain uses he builded Alms-houses at Luding stone in Kent and was there buried West from this Cony-hope Lane is the Old Iury whereof some portion is of Cheape Ward at the South end of this Lane is the Parish-Church of St. Mary Cole-Church named of one Cole that builded it this Church is builded upon a Vault above ground so that men are forced to go to ascend up thereunto by certain steps I finde no Monuments of this Church more than that Henry the fourth granted Licence to William Marshal and others to found a Brotherhood of Saint Katherine therein because Thomas Becket and St. Edmond the Arch Bishop were baptized there The Old Iury hath had alwayes Citizens of quality and fair large Houses as there is now Gurney-house where Alderman Friderique lives a very worthy Gentleman There is also another ancient fair House of Thomas Bowyer and another of Mr. Bonnel worthy and wealthy brave Marchants We read of Bordhangli-lane to be of that Parish and thus much for the North side of the Poultry The South side of the said Poultry beginning on the Bank of the said Brook over against the Parish-Church of St. Mildred passing up to the great Conduit hath divers fair Houses which were sometimes inhabited by the Poulterers but now by Grocers Haberdashers and Upholsters Concerning other Antiquities there first is Bucklesbury so called of a Mannor and Tenements pertaining to one Buckle who there dwelled and kept his Courts this Mannor is supposed to be the great Stone-Building yet in part
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
declared in Aldgate Ward In the year 1576. partly at the charges of the Parish of St. Andrew and partly at the charges of the Chamber of London a water-pump was raysed in the high street of Lime-street Ward neer unto Lime-street corner for the placing of the which Pump having broken up the ground they were forced to dig more than two fadome deep before they came to any main ground where they found a Hearth made of Britaine or rather Romane Tyle every Tyle half yard square and about two inches thick they found coal lying there also for that lying whole will never consume then digging one fadome in the main they found water sufficient made their Prall and set up the Pump which Pump with oft repairing and great charges to the Parish continued not four and twenty years but being rotted was taken up and a new one set in the place in the year 1600. Thus much for the High-street In Saint Mary street had ye of old time a Parish Church of Saint Mary a Virgin Saint Ursula and the 11000 Virgins which Church was commonly called Saint Mary at the Axe of the Signe of an Axe over against the East end thereof or Saint Mary Pellipar of a plot of ground lying on the North side thereof pertaining to the Skinners in London This Parish about the year 1565. was united to the Parish Church of Saint Andrew Under Shaft and so was Saint Mary at the Axe suppressed and letten out to be a Ware-house for a Marchant Against the East end of this Church was sometime a fair Well now turned to a Pump Also against the North end of this Saint Mary street was sometime one other Parish Church of Saint Augustine called Saint Augustine in the Wall for that it stood adjoyning to the Wall of the City and otherwise called Saint Augustines Papey or the poor as I have read in the Reign of Edward the third About the year 1430 in the Reign of Henry the sixth the same Church was allowed to the Brethren of the Papey the House of poor Priests whereof I have spoken in Aldgate Ward the Parishioners of this Church were appointed to the Parish Church of Alhallowes in the Wall which is in Broad street Ward and this Brotherhood called Papey being suppressed the Church of Saint Augustine was pulled down and in place thereof one Grey Apothecary builded a Stable a Hay-lost c. It is now a dwelling house those two Parish Churches both lying in the Ward of Lime-street being thus suppressed there is not any one Parish Church or place for Divine Service in that Ward but the Inhabitants thereof repair to Saint Peters in Cornhill Ward Saint Andrew in Aldgate Ward Alhallows in the Wall in Broad-street Ward and some to Saint Denys in Langbourne Ward Now because there hath been some question to what Ward this Church of Saint Augustine Papey should of right belong for the same hath been challenged by them of Aldgate Ward and without reason taken into Bishops-gate Ward from Lime-street Ward I am somewhat to touch it About 70 years since the Chamber of London granted a Lease of ground lying near London Wall in the Ward of Lime-street from the West of the said Church or Chappel of Saint Augustine Papey towards Bishops-gate c. on the which plot of ground the Leasee builded three fair Tenements and placed Tenants there these were charged to bear Scot and Lot and some of them to beaâ— Office in Lime street Ward all which they did willingly without grudging And when any suspected or disordered persons were by the Landlord placed there the Officers of Lime street Ward fetched them out of their Houses committed them to Ward procured their due punishments and banished them from thence whereby in short time that place was reformed and brought into good order which thing being noted by them of Aldgate Ward they moved their Alderman Sir Thomas Offley to call in those Houses to be of his Ward But Mr. Stow producing a fair Ledgier Book sometime pertaining to the late dissolved Priory of the Holy Trinity within Aldgate wherein were set down the just bounds of Aldgate Ward before Sir Thomas Offley Sir Rowland Hayward the Common-Councel and Ward-Mote Inquest of the said Lime street Ward Sir Thomas Offley gave over his Challenge and so that matter rested in good quiet until the year 1579. that Sir Richard Pype being Mayor and Alderman of Bishops-gate Ward challenged those Houses to be of his Ward whereunto without reason shewed Sir Rowland Hayward yeilded and thus is that side of the street from the North corner of Saint Mary street almost to Bishopsgate wherein is one plot of ground letten by the Chamberlaine of London to the Parish of Saint Martins Oteswich to be a Church-yard or burying-place for the dead of that Parish c. unjustly drawn and with-holden from the Ward of Lime-street as Master Stow avoncheth Of the Fifth Ward or Aldermanry of London called Bishopsgate-Ward THe Ward next in order is Bishopsgate-Ward whereof a part is without the Gate and of the Subburbs from the Barres by St. Mary Spittle to Bishopsgate and a part of Hounds-ditch almost half thereof also without the Wall of the same Ward Then within the Gate is Bishopsgate-street so called of the Gate to a Pump were sometime was a fair Well with two Buckets by the East end of the Parish Church of St. Martin Oteswich and then winding by the West corner of Leaden-Hall down Grasse-street to the corner over against Grasse-Church and these are the bounds of that Ward Monuments most to be noted are these The Parish-Church of St. Buttolph without Bishopsgate in a fair Church-yard adjoyning to the Town-Ditch upon the very Bank thereof but of old time inclosed with a comely Wall of Brick lately repaired by Sir William Allen Mayor in the year 1571 because he was born in that Parish where also he was buried An Anchoresse by Bishopsgate received forty shillings the year of the Sheriffs of London Next unto the Parish Church of St. Buttolph was a fair Inne for receipt of Travellers then an Hospital of St. Mary of Bethlem founded by Simon Fitz Mary one of the Sheriffs of London in the year 1246. He founded it to have been a Priory of Canons with Brethren and Sisters and King Edward the 3d granted a Protection for the Brethren called Milites beatae Mariae de Bethlem within the City of London the 14th year of his Raign It was an Hospital for distracted people Stephen Gennings Marchant-Taylor gave forty pounds toward purchase of the Patronage by his Testament 1523. The Mayor and Commonalty purchased the Patronage thereof with all the Lands and Tenements thereunto belonging in the year 1546. Now it shall not be amisse to insert here that memorable ancient deed of gift given to Bethelem or Bedlam by the foresaid Simon the Son of Mary as followeth To all the Children of our Mother holy Church to whom this present writing shall come
up for passage of Ships with tops to the said Queen Hith Touching the ancient Customs of Billingsgate in the Reign of Edward the third every great Ship landing there paid for standage two pence every little Ship with orelocks a peny the lesser Boat called a Battle a half-peny of two quarters of Corn measured the King was to have one farthing of a Combe of Corn a peny of every weight going out of the City a half peny of two quarters of Sea-Coals measured a farthing and of every Tun of Ale going out of England beyond the Seas by Marchants strangers four pence of every thousand Herrings a farthing except the Franchises c. Next to this is Sommers Key which likewise took that name of one Sommer dwelling there as did Lyon Key of one Lyon owner thereof and since of the Signe of the Lyon Then is there a fair Wharf or Key called Buttolphs-gate by that name so called in the time of William the Conqueror and before him of Edward the Confessor Next is the Parish of St. Buttolph a comely Church and hath had many fair Monuments therein now much defaced and gone Among others there is William Rainwel and his Sonne who gave a Stone-House to be a Vestry to that Church with Lands and Tenements to discharge Billingsgate Dowgate and Algate of fifteens granted to the King and other Tolls this was about the year 1426. This Parish of St. Buttolph is no great thing notwithstanding divers strangers are there harboured as may appear by a presentment not many years since made of strangers Inhabitants in the Ward of Billingsgate in these words In Billingsgate Ward were one and fifty Housholds of strangers whereof thirty of theâ—e Housholders inhabited in the Parish of St. Buttolph in the chief and principal Houses where they give twenty pounds a year for an house letten used to be let before for four marks the nearer they dwell to the Water side the more they give for Houses and within 30. years before there was not in the whole Ward above three Nether landers at which time there was within the said Parish levied for the help of the poor seven and twenty pounds by the year but since they came so plentifully thither there cannot be gathered above eleven pounds the strangers being exempted to contribute to such charges as other Citizens do in regard they much advance the Trade of the City On the North side is Bosse Alley so called of a Bosse of Spring-water continually running which standeth by Billingsgate against this Alley and was sometimes made by the Executors of Richard Whittington Then is St. Mary Hill ane which runneth up North from Billingsgate to the end of St. Margaret Patteâ—ns commonly called Rood-lane and the greatest half of that Lane is also of Billingsgate Ward In this St. Mary Hill lane is the 〈◊〉 Parish Church of St. Mary on the Hill called so because of the ascent from Billingsgate In the year 1497. in the Moneth of April as labourers digged for the foundation of a Wall within the Church of St. Mary Hill near unto Billingsgate they found a Coffin of rotten Timber and therein the Corps of a Woman whole of skin and of bones undissevered with the joynts of her Arms plyable without breaking of the skin upon whose Sepulcher this was engraven Here lie the Bodies of Richard Hackney Fishmonger and Alice his Wife The which Richard was Sheriff in the fifteenth of Edward the second Her Body was kept above ground three or four dayes without noyance but then it waxed unsavory and was again buried This Lane on both sides is furnished with fair Houses for Marchants and hath at the North end thereof one other Lane called St. Margaret Pattens because of old time Pattens were usually there made and sold but of latter time this is called Rood Lane of a Rood there placed in the Church-yard of St. Margaret whilest the old Church was taken down and again new builded during which time the oblations made to this Rood were imployed towards building of the Church But in the year 1538. about the 23. of May in the morning the said Rood was found to have been in the night preceding by people unknown broken all to pieces together with the Tabernacle wherein it had bin placed Then have ye another Lane called Rother Lane or Red Rose Lane of such a signe there now commonly called Pudding Lane because the Butchers of East-Cheape have their Scalding-house for Hoggs there their Puddings with other fiâ—th of Beasts are voided down that way to their Dung-boats on the Thames In this Church you have the Sepulchers of sundry worthy men among other of Mr. Vandepute a very worthy Marchant whose Son Mr. Giles Vandepute was lately buried also there Then on the West side of St. Mary Hill Church is a Lane called Rope-lane of old and after Lucas-lane but now Love-lane Then have you the Parish of St. Andrew Hubbart in East-Cheape Then is there Butâ—olph-lane and afterwards the Church of St. George Buttolph-lane which though small hath divers Monuments Of the Tenth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Bridg-Ward within WE will direct ourâ— pace downward now and take a Survey of Bridge Ward within so called of London-Bridge which Bridge is a principal part of that Ward and beginning at the Stulps on the South end by Southwark runneth along the Bridge and North up Bridge-street commonly called of the Fish Market New Fish-street from Fish-street Hill up Grass-street to the North corner of Grass-Church All the Bridge is replenished on both the sides with large fait and beautiful buildings Inhabitants for the most part Rich Marchants and other wealthy Citizens Mercers and Haberdasherâ— In New Fish-street be Fishmongers and fair Taverns on Fish-street â—â—ill and Grasse-street men of divers Trades Grocers and Haberdashers In Grass-street have ye one fair Conduit of sweet water castellated with crest and vent made by the appointment of Thomas Hill Mayor 1484 who gave by his Testament a hundred Marks towards the conveyance of water to this place it was begun by his Executors in the year 1491 and finished of his goods whatsoever it cost On the East side of this Bridge Ward have ye the fair Parish Church of Saint Magnus in the which Church have been buried many men of good repute whose Monuments are now for the most part defaced Among others Sir Richard Morgan chief Justice of the Common-Pleas and Morris Griffith Bishop of Rochester both born in Wales about the year 1556. Then is the Parish Church of St. Margarets Fish-shreet Hill a proper Church but Monument it hath none of any note Up higher on this Hill is the Parish Church of St. Leonard Milk-Church so termed of one VVilliam Melker an especial builder thereof but commonly called Saint Leonards East-cheap because it standeth at East-cheap coâ—ner This Church and from thence into little East-cheap to the East end of the said Church is of the Bridge
passed through the City like a stream of rain water in the sight of all the people from whence there issued a most loathsome savour I read in the Reign of Henry the seventh that no Sweet VVines were brought into this Realm but Malmsyes by the Longobards paying to the King for his Licence six shillings eight pence of every Butt besides twelve pence for Bottellage In those daies Malmsey was not to be sold above three half-pence the pint For proof whereof it appeareth in the Church of St. Andrew Under-shaft that in the year 1547 I. G. and S. K. then Church-Wardens for eighty pints of Malmsey spent in the Church after one penny half penny the pint paid at the years end for the same ten shillings Moreover no Sacks were sold but Rumney that for Medicine more than fo r drink but now many kinds of Sacks are known and used And so much for Wines I read further that in the Reign of Henry the fourth the young Prince Henry T. Duke of Clarence I. Duke of Bedford and Humphrey Duke of Glocester the Kings sons came to Supper amongst the Merchants of London in the Vintryâ— in the House of Lewes Iohn a Briton The successors of those Vintners and Wine-drawers that retailed by the Gallons Pottel quart and pint were all incorporated by the name of Wine-tunners in the Raign of Edward the third and confirmed the fifteenth of Henry the sixth Next is Palmers Lane now called Anchors Lane the Plummers have their Hall there but are Tenants to the Vintners Then is Worcester House sometimes belonging to the Earls of Worcester now divided into many Tenaments The Fruiterers have there Hall there On the Land side is the Royal street and Pater noster Lane I think of old time called the Arches for I read that Robert de Suffolk gave to Walter Darford his Tenement with the apurtenance in the Lane called Les Arches in the Parish of Saint Michael de Pater noster Church between the Wall of the field called Winchester field on the East and the same Lane on the West c. More there was a stone House called Stoda de Winton juxta Stodum Bridge which in that Lane was over Walbrook water Then is the fair Parish Church of Saint Michael called Pater noster Church in the Royal street This Church was new builded and made a Colledge of S. Spirit and S. Mary founded by Richard VVhittington Mercer four times Mayor for a Master four Fellows Masters of Art Clerks Conducts Chorists c. and an Alms-house called Gods house or Hospital for thirteen poor men one of them to be Tutor and to have sixteen pence the week the other twelve each of them to have fourteen pence the week for ever with other necessary provision an Hutch with three Locks with a common Seal c. The Licence for this foundation was granted by King Henry the fourth the eleventh of his Reign and in the twelfth of the same Kings reign the Mayor and the Communalty of London granted to Richard VVhittington a vacant piece of ground thereon to build his Colledge in the Royall all which was confirmed by Henry the sixth the third of his Reign to Iohn Coventry Jenkin Carpenter and VVilliam Grove Executors to to Richard Whittington This foundation was again confirmed by Parliament the tenth of Henry the sixth and was suppressed by the Statute of Edward the sixth The Alms-Houses with the poor men do remain and are paid by the Mercers This Richard VVhittington was in this Church three times buried first by his Executors under a fair Monument then in the Reign of Edward the sixth the Parson of that Church thinking some great riches as he said to be buried with him caused his Monument to be broken his Body to be spoiled of his Leaden sheet and again the second time to be buried And in the Reign of Queen Mary the Parishioners were forced to take him up and lap him in Lead as afore to bury him the third time and to place his Monuments or the like over him again which remaineth still and so he rested Among others Sir Thomas Tanke Knight of the Garter born in Almain a great Martial man lieth buried there At the upper end of this street is the Tower Royall whereof that street taketh name This Tower great place was so called of pertaining to the Kings of this Realm but by whom the same was first builded or of what Antiquity continued it doth not appear more than that in the Reign of King Edward the first the second fourth and seventh year it was the Tenement of Simon Beawmes Also that in the thirty sixt of Edward the third the same was called the Royal in the Parish of St. Michael de Pater noster and that in the three and fortieth of his Reign he gave it by the name of his Inne called the Royall in his City of London in value twenty pounds by year unto his Colledge of Saint Stephen at Westminster Notwithstanding in the Reign of Richard the second it was called the Queens Wardrobe as appeareth by this that followeth King Richard having in Smithfield overcome and dispersed the Rebels He his Lords and all his Company entred the City of London with great joy and went to the Lady Princesse his Mother who was then lodged in the Tower called the Queens Wardrobe where she had remained three daies and two nights much affrighted But when she saw the King her Son she was greatly rejoyced Ah Son What great sorrow have I suffered for you this day The King answered and said Certainly Madam I know it well but now rejâ—â—ce and thank God for I have this day recovered mine Heritage and the Realm of England which I had near-hand lost This Tower seemeth to have been at that time of good defence for when the Rebels had beset the Tower of London and got possession thereof taking from thence whom they listed the Princesse being forced to fly came to this Tower-Royall where she was lodged and remained safe as ye have heard and it may be also supposed that the King himself was at that time lodged there I read that in the year 1386 Lyon King of Armony being chased out of his Reaâ—m by the Tartarians received innumerable gifts of the King and of his Nobles the King then lying in the Royall where he also granted to the said King of Armony a Charter of a thousand pounds by year during his Life This for proof may suffice that Kings of England have been lodged in this Tower though the same afterwards hath been neglected and turned into stabling for the Kings Horses and now letten out to divers men and â—ivided into Tenements In Horse-Bridge-street is the Cutlers Hall Richard de Wilehale 1295 confirmed to Paul Butelar this House and Edifices in the Parish of Saint Michael Pater noster Church and Saint Iohn upon Walbrook which sometime Lawrence Gisers and his son Peter Gisers did possesse and afterward Hugonis
be shewed In Thames street at the South-East end is an ancient Messuage of old time called Beaumonts Inne as belonging to that Family of Noble-men of this Realm in the fourth of Edward the third Edward the fourth in the fifth of his Reign gave it to W. Hastings Lord Chamberlaine Master of his Mints It is how called Huntington House as belonging to the Earls of Huntington Next is Pauls Wharfe a large landing place with a common Stayre upon the River of Thames at the end of a street called Pauls Wharf Hill which runneth down from Pauls Chain Next is a great Messuage called Scroopes Inne sometime belonging to the Scroopes in the thirty one of Henry the sixth Then is one other great Messuage sometime belonging to the Abbey of Fiscampe beyond the Sea and by reason of the Wars it coming to the hands of King Edward the third the same was given to Sir Simon Burley Knight of the Garâ—er and therefore called Burley House in Thames street between Baynards Castle and Pauls Wharfe Then have you Baynards Castle whereof this whole Ward taketh name This Castle banketh on the River Thames and was callest Baynards Castle of Baynard a Nobleman that came in with William the Conquerour of the which Castle and of Baynard himself we have spoken in another place There was also another Tower by Baynards Castle builded by King Edward the second Edward the third in the second of his Reign gave it to William Duke of Hamelake in the County of Yorke and his Heirs for one Rose yearly to be paid for all service the same place as seemeth was since called Legates Inne in the seventh of Edward the fourth where be now divers Wood-Wharfes in the place Then is there a great Brew-house and Puddle-Wharfe a Water-gate into the Thames where Houses use to be watered and therefore being filled with their trampling made puddle-like as also of one Puddle dwelling there it is call'd Puddle Wharfe Then is there a Lane between the Black Fryars and the Thames called in the twenty six of Edward the third Castle-lane This Ward ascendeth up by the East VVall of the Black-Fryers to the South VVest end of Creed Lane where it endeth on that side Then to begin again on the North side of Thames-street over against Huntington House by St. Peters Church and Lane called Peter Hill and so to St. Bennet Hude or Hithe over against Pauls VVharfe is a convenient Parish Church which hath the Monuments of Sir VVilliam Cheny Knight and Margaret his VVife 1442 buried there VVest from this Church by the South end of Addle street almost against Puddle VVharfe there is one ancient building of Stone and Timber builded by the Lords of Barkley and therefore called Barkleys Inne This House is now all in ruine and letten out in several Tenements yet the Arms of the Lord Barkley remain in the Stone-work of an arched Gate and is between a Cheveron Crosses ten three and four Richard Beauchampe Earl of VVarwick was lodged in this House then called Barkleys Inne in the Parish of St. Andrew in the Reign of Henry the sixth Then turning up towards the North is the Parish Church of St. Andrew in the VVardrobe a proper Church but few Monuments hath it Iohn Parnt hath founded a Chauntrey there Then is the Kings great VVardrobe Sir Iohn Beauchamp Knight of the Garter Constable of Dover Warden of the Cinqueports son to Guido de Beauchamp Earl of VVarwick builded this House was lodged there deceased in the year 1359 and was buried on the South side of the middle I le of Pauls Church His Executors sold the House to King Edward the third Touching Laâ—es ascending out of Thames street to Knight-Riders the first is Peter Hill wherein I find no maâ—ter of note more than certain Alms-houses lately founded on the West side thereof by David Smith Embroyderer for six poor Widdows whereof each to have twenty shillings by the year At the upper end of this Lane towards the North the corner Houses there be called Peter Key but the reason thereof we have not heard Then is Pauls VVharfe on the East side whereof is VVoodmongers Hall And next adjoyning is Darby-house sometime belonging to the Stanleys for Thomas Stanley first Earl of Darby of that name who married the Lady Margaret Countesse of Richmond Mother to Henry the seventh in his time builded it Queen Mary gave it to Gilbert Dethick then Garter principal King of Arms of English men Thomas Hauley Clarentieux King of Arms of the South parts VVilliam Harvey alià s Norroy King of Armes of the North parts and the other Heralds and Pursevants of Arms and their Successors all the Capital Messuage or House called Darby house with the appurtenances situate in the Parish of Saint Bennet and Saint Peter and then being in the tenure of Sir Richard Sackvile Knight and lately parcel of the Lands of Edward Earl of Darby c. To the end that the said Kings of Arms Heraulds and Pursevants of Arms and their Successors might at their liking dwell together and at meet times congregate speak confer and agree among themselves for the good Government of their Faculty and their Records might be more safely kept c. On the West side of this street is one other great House builded of Stone which belongeth to Pauls Church and was sometime letteâ— to the Blunts Lord Mountjoy but of later time to a Colledge in Cambridge and from them to the Doctors of the Civil Law and Arches who keep a Commons there and many of them being lodged there it is called the Doctors Commons In Lambard Hill Lane on the West side thereof is the Black-smiths Hall Over-against the North-west end of this Lambard Hill Lane in Knight-Riders street is the Parish Church of St. Mary Magdalen a small Church having but few Monuments By the East end of St. Mary Magdalene Church runneth up the Old Exchange Lane by the West end of Carter Lane to the South-East Gate or Chaine of Pauls Church-yard as is before shewed And in this part was the Exchange kept and Bullion was received for Coynage as is noted in Faringdon Ward Within In this Parish Church of St. Mary Magdalen out of Knight-Riders street up to Carter Lane be two small Lanes the one of them called Doo-little Lane as a place not inhabited by Artificers or open Shop-keepers but serving for a near passage from Knight-Riders street to Carter-Lane The other corruptly called Sermon Lane for Sheremoniers Lane For we find it by that name recorded in the fourteenth of Edward the first And in that Lane a place to be called the Black Lâ—ft of melting Silver with four Shops adjoyning It may therefore be well supposed that Lane to take its name of Shermonierâ— such as cut and rounded the Plates to be Coyned or stamped into Estarling pence for the place of Coyning was the Old Exchange In Knight-Riders street was the Colledge of Physicians wherein was founded in the year 1582
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
this Court are heard those that are Delators or Informers in popular or penal Actions having thereby part of the profit assign'd unto them by the Law In this Court if any question be 't is determined by the Common Law of England by twelve men and all Subsidies Taxes and Customes by account For in this Office the Sheriffs of the Countries do attend upon the execution of the Commandements of the Judges If any Fines or Amercements be extracted out of any Court or any arrearages of accounts of such things as is of Customes Taxes Subsidies and other such like occasions the same the Sheriff of the Country doth gather and is answerable therefore to the Exchequer This Court is divided into two parts viz. Iudicial accounts called Scaccarum computorum And into the Receit of the Exchequer The prime Officer of this Court as was meâ—tioned before is the Lord high Treasurer of England who receives a White Staff from the King But in former time he had this Office by delivery of a Golden Key Then there is Cancellarius Scaccarii the Chancelor of the Exchequer who keepeth the Seal Then you have the chief Baron and his Associates whereof one though he sits there yet he hath no voice therefore he was used to be call'd by way of Drollery Baron Tell-clock yet he takes the same Oath that others do he hath a Fee of 100 Marks per annum At daies of prefixions he hath to do with the Sheriffs Accounts he can take Recognizances but he hath not the Robes nor any suffrage upon the Bench in point of Judicature And that nickname Baron Tellclock came up first in Baron Southertons time who when he felt the Chimes ring in his Stomach towards dinner he was us'd to tell chief Baron Tanfield My Lord 't is twelve a clock Then have you sundry other inferiour Officers more then in any other Court except the Kings House This Court is called Exchequer from a French word vne place quarree a four-square place because the Carpet that lay before the Judges is in the form of a Chess-board and of two colours thence the name of Exchequer was derived Now it is to be observe'd that albeit the Barons are the sole Judges of the Exchequer Court yet the Lord Treasurer is joyn'd with them in keeping of the Records The Lord Treasurer hath also granted him by Parent under the great Seal Thesaurarium Scaccarii Regis Angliae which of ancient time as the Lord Coke hath it was a distinct Office by it self Then is there the Pipe Office whereof the Chancelor of the Exchequer is Contrarotulator or Controuler The Original institution of the Pipe Office was taken from a Conduit of water which was conveyed by Pipes into a Cestern which lay in a Court for as water is derived from many Fountains Springs by Aquaeducts into a Cestern House and from thence into several Offices of the same so this golden and silver stream is drawn from sundry Courts as Fountains of Justice and other Springs of Revenue reduc'd and collected into one Pipe and thereby conveyed into the Grand Cestern of the Princes receit c. Therefore all Accounts and Debts to the Crown are delivered and collected out of the Offices of the Kings Remembrancer and Treasurers Remembrancer and so drawn and pâ—t in charge in the Pipe There be five Auditors of the Revenue Royal within the survey of this Court and their Office is to take Accounts of the Kings Receivers Sheriffs Escheators Collectors and Customers and to audite and perfect the Account But an Auditor cannot allow any Licence or Grant in regard he knoweth not whether it be good this belongs to the Barons Neither can the Auditor put any thing in Charge his Office being only to take and audite Accounts There is the Auditor of the Prests whose Office it is to take the Accounts of the Mint Ireland and Barwick and of all other imprested or moneys advanc'd before hand Then is there the Auditor of the Receits which is an Office very considerable and consisting of many parts For first he is a kind of Filazer for he fileth the Tellers Bills and entreth them Secondly he is a Remembrancer for he gives the Lord Treasurer a certificate of the money received the week before Then he is an Auditor for he makes Debenturs to every Teller before they pay any money and takes and audites their Accounts Besides all this he keepeth the black Book of Receits and the Lord Treasurers Key of the Treasury and seeth every Tellers money lock'd up in the new Treasury Of those Tellers there are four and their Office consists in four duties First to receive money due to the Soveraign Prince Secondly to pay all persons moneys by Warrant of the Auditor of the Receit Thirdly to make yearly and weekly Books of their Receits and payments which they deliver to the Lord Treasurer And lastly to give the Clerk of the Pell a Bill of what moneys they receive whereby he may be charged Now touching Clericus Pellis the Clerk of the Pell his duty is to enter every Tellers Bill into a Roll call'd Pellis Receptorum his Office also is to enter ino another Roll payments call'd Pellis exitus signifying by what Warrant the payment was made Concerning the Kings Remembrancer in the Exchequer his Office consists in eight Duties First to write Process against Collectors of Customs Subsidies and Fifteens 2. He entreth in his Office all Recognizances before the Barons and taketh Bond for any of the Kings Debts for observing of Order for appearances and his duty is to make out Process upon every of them 3. He maketh Process upon Informations upon penal Statutes all which Informations are entred into his Office 4 He maketh Bills of composition upon Informations upon penal Statutes 5. He taketh the stallment of Debts and entreth them 6. The Clerk of the Star-Chamber was us'd to certifie into his Office what fines were there set whereof he maketh a Record and draweth them down in the Pipe 7. In this Office ought to be kept all Assurances Conveyances and Evidences whereby any Lands Tenements Herediraments or other things are granted to the Soveraign Prince 8. There is a Court of Equity holden in the Exchequer Chamber by English Bill whereof all the proceedings and Bills are entred into this Office The Lord Treasurers Remembrancer is also an Office of trust and consequence which consisteth of seven Duties First To preserve the Royal tenures and to make out Process for the Revenues thereof 2. He maketh Process of Fierifacias to extend for Debts due to the Prince either in the Pipe or with the Auditors 3. He awards Process against all Sheriffs Escheators Receivers and Bayliffs to bring them to account 4. He is to make an entry of Record whereby it appears whether Sheriffs and other Accountants pay their proffers due at Easter and Michaelmas 5. He makes another entry of Record to the end that it may be known whether