Wall of stone embattail'd and also caused a deep ditch to be cast about the same and thought to have environ'd it with the River of Thames The Lion Tower was built by Edward the fourth Frederick the Emperor having sent for a present three Leopards they were first kept at Woodstock which was the first Park of England seven miles about to the destruction of some Churches and Chappels adjacent by Henry the third but afterwards all such wild Beasts as Lions which are call'd the Beasts of the Royall Prerogative together with Leopards Linxes and Propentines have been kept in that part of the Tower which is called Lions Tower And we read that Edward the 2d commanded the Sheriff of London to pay 6d per diem to the Keeper oâ— the Lions and Leopards for their sustenance and three half pence a day for the Keeper's diet out of the Fee-farm of the City In former times there were persons of high quality that kept these Beasts whereof the Earl of Oxford was one and they had a Pension from the Crown belonging to the Office Mr. Robert Gill a very worthy Gentleman hath the place now and hath had it many years Noâ— was the Tower ever better furnish'd with Lions than it is now there being six in all young and old Edward the fourth fortified the Tower of London and enclosed with Brick a certain enclosure of ground taken from Tower-hill Westward now call'd the Bullwark His Officers also set up upon the said Hill a Gallowes and a Scaffold for the execution of offendors whereupon the Lord Mayor complaining to the King all the answer he had was that it was not done to the derogation of the City In the year 1216 the Tower of London was delivered to Lewis of France by the Barons of England who banded against the King Anno 1222. the Citizens of London having made an uprore against the Abbot of Westminster Huberâ— de Burgh chief Justice of England came to the Tower of London and summoned before him the Mayor and Aldermen of whom he enquired and demanded the principal Authors of that Insurrection Among whom one Constantine Fitzaeluphe confess'd that he was the man saying undauntedly that he was the man and that he had done much lesse than he had thought to have done Whereupon the Justice passed him over to Fulke de Brent who with a band of arm'd men brought him to the Gallowes where he was executed Anno 1244. Griffeth the eldest Son to Luellin Prince of Wales being kept prisoner in the Tower devised means to escape and having made a Line of the Sheets and Hangings he put himself down from the top of the Tower but in the sliding the weight of his Body he being a corpulent man brake the rope with his neck together King Hen. the 3d. imprisoned the Sheriffs of London Anno 1253. for the escape of a prisoner out of Newgate The same Henry with his Queen to secure himself from rebelling Barons kept his Court at the Tower sent for the Lords to hold a Parliament and the next year his Queen passing through London-Bridge the Londoners did outrage her as she pass'd hurling stones and dirt at her in so much that she was forc'd to return hereupon the Mayor Aldermen and Sheriffs were sent to divers Prisons and a Custos was set over the City for the time ' viz. Othon Constable of the Tower until submission had bin made and other satisfaction given It is upon Record that Edw. 2. allowed a Knight 2d per diem and a Squire a peny for their Diet as long as they were prisoners in the Tower upon his Command Roger Mortimer being prisoner in the Tower gave his Watchmen a sleeping potion and so escaped but afterwards he was arraigned and condemned by his Peers without personal appearance and so executed at the Elmes where he hung two dayes The Londoners in the year 13â—6 seized upon the Tower wresting the keys out of the Constables hands they freed all the Prisoners and kept it in their hands for the use of Queen Isabel and her Son Edward both Tower and City The first gold that was coin'd in the Tower was in the raign of Edward the third and the peeces were call'd Florences of the value of 6s 8d Perceval de post being Master of the Mint at that time All great sums before were used to be payd by the weight as so many pounds or marks of silver or so many pounds or marks of gold but they bore no stamp the lesser payments were in Starlings which was the only coin then current and stamp'd which were pence so call'd And they had their antiquity no further then from the raign of King Henry the second Nevertheless the Saxon coines before the Conquest were pence of fine silver somewhat weightier and better then the latter starlings and the probablest Reason that is given why it was starling money was because in the ring or border of the peny there was a Starre stamped But to return to the Tower of London In the year 1360. Iohn the French King being Prisoner in the Tower King Edward the third being newly returned victoriously from France the first thing he did was to visit his Prisoner whose ransome was assessed afterwards at three millions of Florences or Nobles whereupon he was brought honourably to the Sea side Anno 1387. King Richard kept his Christmas in the Tower and the year after was clapt up Prisoner there In the year 1458. there were Justs and Tournements in the Tower wherein the chief Actor was the Duke of Somerset Anno 1465 Henry the sixth was brought Prisoner to the Tower where he remained many years of whom was given this Character that he was a good King but born in an ill time The Mayor of London Sir Richard Lee and the Aldermen freed the said King Henry once from his imprisonment but being sent thither again he was pittifully murthered Anno 1478. The Duke of Clarence was drowned in a But of Malmsey within the Tower and 5. years after young Edward the fifth with his Brother were by the practices of Richard the third stiâ—â—ed there betwixt two Fetherbeds as the current story goes Iohn Earl of Oxford Anno 1485. was made Constable of the Tower and he had also the keeping of the Lions and Leopards as the story makes mention Queen Elizabeth Wife to Henry the 7th died in the Tower Anno 1502. in Child-birth and the year before there was running at tilt and tourney there The Chappel in the high white Tower was burnt Anno 1512. Queen Anno Bullein was beheaded in the Tower 1541. and a little after the Lady Katherine Howard both Wifes to Henry the eighth Anno 1546. a strange accident happened in the Tower for one Foxley who was Pot-maker for the Mint being fallen asleep he could not be awakened by pinching cramping or burning for fourteen dayes at which time he awak'd as fresh as at the first day he began to sleep In Henry the
these new buildings is Cow-bridge street or Cow-lane which turneth toward Holdbourn in vvhich Lane the Prior of Semperingham had his Inne or London Lodging The rest of that West side of Smithfield hath divers fair Inns and other comely Buildings up to Hosier-lane which also turneth down to Houldbourn till it meet with Cowbridge-street from this Lane to Cock-lane over against Pie-Corner In the year 1362 the thirty sixth of Edward the third on the first five dayes of May in Smithfield were Justs holden the King and Queen being present with the most part of the Chivalry of England and of France and of other Nation to the which came Spaniards Cyprians and Armenians Knightly requesting aid of the King of England against the Pagans that invaded their Confines The 48. of Edward the third Dame Alice Perrers or Pierce the Kings Concubine as Lady of the Sun rode from the Tower of London through Cheape accompanied by many Lords and Ladies every Lady leading a Lord by his Horse Bridle till they came into West Smithfield and then began a great Just vvhich endured seven dayes after In the year 1393. the 17th of Richard the second certain Lords of Scotland came into England to get vvorship by force of Arms the Earl of Marre chalenged the Earl of Nottingham to Just vvith him and so they rode together certain Courses but not the full Challenge for the Earl of Marre was cast both Horse and Man and two of his Ribs broken vvith the fall so that he vvas conveighed out of Smithfield and so towards Scotland but dyed by the vvay at York Sir VVilliam Darel Knight the Kings Banner-bearer of Scotland challenged Sir Percey Courtney Knight the Kings Banner-bearer of England and vvhen they had run certain Courses gave over vvithout conclusion of Victory Then Cookborne Esquire of Scotland challenged Sir Nicholas Hawberke Knight and rode five Courses but Cookborne vvas born over Horse and Man Now to return through Gilt-spur-street by Newgate vvhere I first began there standeth the fair Parish Church called St. Sepulchers in the Bayly or by Chamberlain Gate in a fair Church-yard though not so large as of old time for the same is letten out for buildings and a Garden plot This Church vvas newly re-edified or builded about the Reign of Henry the sixth or of Edward the fourth one of the Popham's vvas a great builder there and 't is lately also vvashed over and furbish'd Next to this Church is a fair and large Inne for the receipt of Travellers and hath to signe the Sarasens Head vvhere Oxford men resort There lyeth a street from Newgate West to the end of Turn again-lane and winding North to Oldbourne Conduit but of late a new Conduit vvas there builded in place of the old namely in the year 1577. by VVilliam Lambe sometime a Gentleman of the Chappel to King Henry the eighth and afterward a Citizen and Clothworker of London From the West side of this Conduit is the high way there called Snow-hill stretching out by Oldbourne-bridge over the oft-named Water of Turn-mill-Brook and so up to Old-bourn-hill all replenished with fair Buildings Without Ould-bourn-bridge on the right hand is Gold-lane as is before shewed up higher on the Hill be certain Inns and other fair Buildings amongst the which of old time was a Messuage called Scroops Inne for so we finde the same recorded in the 37. of Henry the sixth This House was sometime letten out to Sergeants at the Law as appeareth and was found by Inquisition taken in the Guild-hall of London before William Purchase Mayor and Escheater for King Henry the 7th in the 14th of his Reign Then is the Bishop of Elies Inne so called of belonging and pertaining to the Bishops of Ely Will de Luda Bishop of Ely deceased 1297 and gave this House by the name of his Mannor with the Appurrenances in Holdbourne to his Successors with condition that his next Successor should pay a thousand Marks towards the finding of three Chaglains in the Chappel there The first in the year 1464. the fourth of Edward the fourth in Michaelmas Terme the Sergeants at Law held their Feast in this House to the which amongst other Estates Matthew Philip Mayor of London with the Aldermen Sheriffs and Commons of divers Crafts being invited did repair but when the Mayor looked to keep the state in the Hall as it had bin used in all places within the City and Liberties out of the Kings presence the Lord Gray of Ruthen then Lord Treasurer of England unwitting the Sergeants and against their wills as they said was first placed whereupon the Mayor Aldermen and Commons departed home and the Mayor made the Aldermen to dine with him howbeit he and all the Citizens were wonderfully displeased that he was so dealt with and the new Sergeants and others were right oâ—ry therefore and had rather then much good as they said it had not so happened Next beyond this Mannor of Ely-house is Lither-lane turning into the Fields Then is Furnivals Inne now an Inne of Chancery but sometime belonging to Sir William Furnival Knight and Thomasin his Wife who had in Holdbourne two Messuages and thirteen Shops as appeareth by Record of Richard the second in the sixth of his Reign Now again from Newgate on the left hand or South side lyeth the Old Baylay which runneth down by the Wall upon the Ditch of the City called Houndsditch to Ludgate we have not read how this street took that name but it is like to have risen of some Court of old time there kept and we finde that in the year 1356. the thirty four of Edward the third the Tenement and ground upon Houndsditch between Ludgate on the South and Newgate on the North was appointed to Iohn Cambridge Fishmonger Chamberlain of London whereby it seemeth that the Chamberlains of London have there kept their Courts as now they do in the Guild-hall and till this day the Mayor and Justices of this City keep their Sessions in a part thereof now called the Sessions Hall both for the City of London and Shire of Middlesex over againâ— the which House on the right hand turneth down St. Georges Lane towards Fleet Lane In this St. Georges Lane on the North side thereof remaineth yet an old wall of stone inclosing a peece of ground up Sea-cole-Lane wherein by report sometime stood an Inne of Chancery which House being greatly decayed and standing remote from other Houses of that Profession the Company removed to a Common Hostery called of the signe out Lady Inne not far from Clements Inne which they procured from Sir Iohn Fineox Lord chief Justice of the Kings Bench and since have held it of the owners by the name of the New Inne paying therefore six pounds Rent by the year as Tenants at their own will for more as is said cannot be gotten of them and much lesse will they be put from it Beneath this Saint Georges Lane is the Lane called Fleet-lane winding
by force of the Kings Writ Ex debito justitiae and none of them ought to be omitted and these represent all the Commons of the whole Realm and trusted for them and were used to be in number near upon 500. Now the King and these three Estates were the great Corporation or Body politick of the Kingdom but they were to sit in two Houses viz. the King and Lords in one House called the Lords House and the Knights Citizens and Burgesses in another House called the House of Commons The Commons are in Legal understanding taken for the Franck Tenants or Freeholders of the Counties And whosoever is not a Lord of Parliament and of the Lords House is of the House of the Commons either in person or by representation partly coaugmentative and partly representative Of this Court of Parliament the Soveraign Prince by the Law is Caput principium finis the head beginning and ending And as in the natural body when all the sinews being joyned in the head do unite their forces together for the strengthening of the body there is ultimum potentiae so in the poliâ—ique Body when the King and the Lords spiritual and temporal Knights Citizens and Burgesses are all by the Kings Command assembled and joyned together under the Head in consultation for the common good of the whole Realm there is ultimum sapientiae The third year of Henry the sixth it appears in a Parliament Roll that the Parliament being called as hath bin said Commune Consilium every member of the House being a Counsellor should have the three properties of the Elephant which are First That he hath no Gall. Secondly That he be inflexible and cannot bow Thirdly That he is of a most ripe and perfect memory which properties as there it is said ought to be in every Member of the great Councel of Parliament First to be without Gall that is without malice rancor heat and envie In the Elephant Melancholia transit in nutrimentum corporis every gallish inclination if any were should tend to the good of the whole body the Common-wealth Secondly That he be constant inflexible and not to be bowed or turned from the right either for fear reward or favour nor in judgement reâ—pect any person Thirdly of a ripe memory that they remembring perils past might prevent dangers to come as in that Roll of Parliament it appeareth The Prince de advisamento consilii for so be the words of the Writ of Parliament resolving to have a Parliament doth out of the Court of Chancery send out Writs of Summons at the least forty dayes before the Parliament begins every Lord of Parliament either spiritual as Arch bishops and Bishops or temporal as Dukes Marquisses Earls Viscounts and Barons Peers of the Realm and Lords of Parliament were used to have several Writs of Summons And all the Judges of the the Realm Barons of the Exchequer of the Coif the Kings learned Cousnel and the Civilians Masters of the Chancery are called to give their assistance and attendance in the upper House of Parliament but they have no Voices in Parliament being only ministerial and their Writs differ from the Writs to the Judges for their Writs be Quòd intersitis Nobiscum cum caeteris de Concilio Nostro sometimes Nobiscum only super praemissis tractaturi vestrumque consilium impensuri But the Writ to the Barons is Quòd intersitis cum praelatis Magnatibus proceribus super dictis negotiis tractaturi vestrumque Consilium impensuri Moreover in every Writ to Summons to the Bishops there is a clause requiring them to summon these persons to appear personally at the Parliament which is in these words premonientes Decanum Capitulum Ecclesiae Vestrae Norwicensis ac Archidiâ—conos totumque clerum vestrae Dioces quod iidem Decani Archi diaconi in proprâ—is persmiss suis ac dictum capitulum per unum idemque clerus per duos proeuratores idoneos plenam sufficientem potestatem ab ipsis capitulo clero divisim habentes predict ' die loco personaliter intersint ad consentiâ—ndum hiis quae tunc ibidem de Communi concilio dicti regni Nostri divina favente clementia contigerit ordinari and the Bishop under his Seal makes Certificate accordingly And these are called Procuratores cleri and many times have appeared in Parliament as spiritual Assistants to consider consult and consent ut supra but had never voyces there because they were no Lords of Parliament And this Assembly was called the Convocation-House which the last King continuing after the dissolution of the Parliament and the Bishops comming amongst them to consult and make Canons the next Parliament protested against their proceedings as irregular and prejudicial to the priviledges of Parliament Observable it is what difference there was in the Writ whereby the spiritual Lords were summoned and that whereby the temporal Lords were called The Ecclesiastical Barons were required by the Kings Writ to be present In fide dilectione quibus nobis tenemini In the faith and Love you are bound to us But the secular Lords were summoned to appear In fide homagio quibus nobis tenemini In the faith and homage you are bound unto us Now touching the Commons their Writ or Summons to the Sheriff runs thus The King to the Vicount or Sheriff Greeting WHereas by the advice and assent of our Councel for certain Arduous and urgent Affaires concerning Us the State and defence of our Kingdom of England and the Anglican Church we have ordained a certain Parliament of ours to be held at our City of the day of next ensuing and there to have Conference and to treat with the Prelates Great men and Peers of our said Kingdom We command and strictly enjoyn you that making Proclamation at our next County Court after the receipt of this our Writ to be holden the day and place aforesaid you cause two Knights girt with Swords the most fit and discreet of the County aforesaid and of every City of that County two Citizens of every Borough two Burgesses of the discreetest and most sufficient to be freely and indifferently chosen by them who shall be present at such Proclamation according to the tenure of the Statutes in that case made and provided And the names of the said Knights Citizens and Burgesses so chosen to be inserted in certain Indentures to be then made between you and those that shall be present at such Election whether the parties so elected be present or absent and shall make them to come at the said day and place so that the said Knights for themselves and the County aforesaid and the Citizens and the Burgesses for themselves and the Commonalty of the said Cities and Beroughs may have severally from them full and sufficient power to do and to consent to those things which then by the favour of God shall happen to be ordained by the Common Councel of our said Kingdom concerning the
all that that our Constable of our Tower of London was wont to take of the said Weares Wherefore we will and steadfastly command that no Constable of the aforesaid Tower at any time from henceforth forward any thing ask nor any grievance do to any of the same City by enchesen of the same Weares It is to us known enough and by true men do us to understand that most privacy and most profit might fall into the same City and to the whole Realm by enchesen of the same weares which we make for ever firm and stable unto the same City as the Charter of our Lord King John our Fader which our Barons of London thereof have reasonably witnessed Witnesses Eustace of London Peter of Winchester c. At Westminster the 18. of February the year of our Reign eleven Besides these he produced divers others in this Kings Raign 4. This Jurisdiction belongs to the City of London by Acts of Parliament W. 2. ca. 47. An. 13. No Salmons to be taken from the Nativity of our Lady unto St. Martins day in all points Nor none to be taken in Mill-pools from the midst of April until Midsummer 1. Offence burning of Nets and Engines 2. Offence imprisonment for a quarter of a yeer 3. A whole year 13. R. 2. confirms the restraint of taking Salmons in many waters from the midst of April until Midsommer upon the same pain nor within that time to use any Nets call'd Stalkers nor any other Engine whereby the fry may be destroyed 1â— Eliz None shall with any manner of Net Wee le Butcaining Kepper limecreele rawfagnet trolnet trimnet scalboat weblister sturlamet or with any other device or Engine made of cheare woolbine or Canvas or shall by any heeling Nets or Trimbleboat or any other device Engines Cautâ—lles wayes or meanes soever heretofore made or devised or hereafter to be made or devised take or kill any young brood spawn or fry of Eeles Salmon Pike or Pickrel or of any other Fish or Flud-gate Pipe or tail of any Mill Weare or in any streights streams brooks Rivers salt or fresh 2. None shall take or kill any Salmon and Trouts not being in season being Kepper Salmons or Kepper Trouts or Shedder Salmons or Shedder Trouts c. The Mayor of London inter alia shall have full power and Authority by this Act to enquire of all offences committed contrary thereunto by the Othes of 12 men or more and to hear and determine all and every the same and inflict punishments and impose fines accordingly 5. Then he proceeds to assert the Cities Right to the conservation of the Thames and waters of Medway by way of Inquisition whereof there were two the one taken at Raynam in Essex the other at Gravesend in Kent 9. Hen. 5. before William Grocer then Lord Mayor of London where it was presented That whereas by the ancient Ordinances of London the Mesches of Nets should be two Inches in the forepart 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 ancient custom in that behalf provided 6. He goes on after to prove that this Right belongs to the City by Decrees In 8. Hen. 4. The Mayor and Aldermen did exhibit their humble Petition to the Kings Councel reciting That time out of minde they have had the conservation and correction of the River of Thames of all trinks 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 discharg'd his duty in removing Kiddels he was ill entreated by the owners the same owners dwelling in Erith Putriferry Barking Woolwich and other places in the Counties of Kent and Essex and upon hearing of the matter in Camera stellata they were sound guilty and constrained to submit themselves to the Lord Mayor and ordered to bring alwayes 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 Offendors made their submission accordingly 7. He proceeds This right appertains to the City of London by Letters Patents which he proved by a grant made by Edward the 4th to the Earl of Pembroke for setting up a Weare in the River of Thames which grant was revok'd and annul'd at the instance of the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen upon shewing their right therefore alledg'd It was contrary to their ancient Customs At which time the Cities Title to the conservacy of the Thames and Medway was at large set forth and recited to have bin shewn to the Lord Chancellour and to the said Earl and his Councel which accordingly was allowed 8. He reinforceth the right of the City by Proclamations whereof one was made by Hen. 8. in 34. of his Raign 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 Parliament enjoyed alwayes 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 9. He produceth Report for in a controversie 'twixt the Lord Admiral and the Lord Mayor for the measuring of Coles and other things upon the Thames it then fell into debate to whom the Conservacy of the River appertain'd which cause was referred by Queen Elizabeths Councel of State 1597. to the Atturney General and Solicitor who joyntly certified among other things that the Conservacy and care of the River did and ought to belong to the City of London 10. By quo Warranto 't was proved that the Conservacy of the Thames belongs to the City for 3. Jacobâ— 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 the waters of Medway whereupon the City made her Title good thereunto by ancient prescription and otherwise so judgement was given in her favour 11. He goes on afterwards to confirm the right of the City by proof of usage in regard the Lord Mayor and Aldermen have time out of minde 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 penalties as it appears from time to time from the Raign of Hen. 3. and so downward the Lord Mayor hath removed Kiddels Weares Trinks and other unlawful Engines and hath reformed the disorders of such as have offended besides in the River of Thames and inflicted punishment upon Offendors accordingly The right of the City appeares also by the
often had hapned in the City when the Hâ—uses were builded of Timber and covered with Reed and Straw Henry Fitz Allwine being Mayor it was Decreed That from thenceforth no man should build within the City but of some unto a certain height and to cover the same building with Slate or burnt Tyle This was the very cause of such stone Buildings whereof many have remâ—ined until out time that for gaining of ground they have been taken down and in place of some of them being low as but two Stories above the ground many Houses of four or five Stories high are placed From this Stone House down to the Stocks are divers large Houses especially for height â—or Merchants and Artificers On the South side of this High-street is the Parish Church of Saint Peter upon Cornhill which seemeth to be of an ancient building but not so anâ—ient as fame reporteth for it hath been lately repaired if not all new builded except the Steeple which is ancient The Rooâ— of this Church and Glazing was finished in the Reign of King Edward the fourth as appeareth by Armes of Noble men and Aldermen of London then living There remaineth in this Church a Table wherein it is written I know not by what Authority but of no late hand that King Lucius founded the same Church to be an Archbishops See Metropolitanâ— and chief Church of his Kingdom and that it so continued the space of four hundred years unto the coming of Augustine the Monk Now because many may be curious to be further acquainted therewith I have here inserted the same Verbatim as it is there recorded in the Table BE it known unto all men that the year of our Lord God 179 Lucius the first Christian King of this Land then called Britaine sounded the first Church in London that is to say the Church of St. Peter upon Cornhill and he founded there an Archbishops See and made that Church the Metropolitan and chief Church of this Kingdom and so endured the space of four hundred years unto the coming of St. Austin the Apostle of the English the which was sent into this Land by St. Gregory the Doctor of the Church in the time of King Ethilbert And then was the Archbishops See and Pall removed from the foresaid Church of St. Peter upon Cornhill unto Doreburniam that now is called Canterbury and there remaineth to this day And Millet the Monk which came into the Land with S. Austin was made this first Bishop of London and his See was made in Pauls Church And this King Lucius was the first Founder of St. Peters Church upon Cornhill and he reigned in this Land after Brute a thousand two hundred fourty five years and the year of our Lord God a hundred twenty four Lucius was Crowned King and the years of his Reign were seventy seven years and he was aâ—ter some Chronicle buried at London and after some Chronicle he was buried at Glocester in that place where the Order of St. Francis standeth now Joceline of Furnâ—is writeth that Thean or Theon the first Arch bishop of London in the Reign of Lucius builded the said Church by the aid of Câ—ran chief Butler to King Lucius and also that Etvâ—nus the second Archbishop builded a Library to the same adjoyning and conâ—erted many of the Druydes learned men in the Pagan Law to Christianity William Harrison discoursing hereon more at large hath these very words There is a Controversy saith he moved among our Historiographers whether the Church that 〈◊〉 built at London stood at Westminster or in Cornhill For there is some cause why the Metropolitane Church should be thought to stand where St. Peters now doth by the space of four hundred and od years before it was removed to Canterbury by Austin the Monk if a man would lean to one side without any conference of the asseverations of the other But herein there may lurk some scruple for besides that St. Peters Church stood in the East end of the City and that of Apollo in the West the word Cornhil a denomination given of late so speak of to one street may easily be mistaken for Thorney For as the word Thorney proceedeth from the Saxons who called the West end of the City by that â—ame where Westminster now standeth because of the wildernesse and bushineâ—â—e of the soile so we do not read of any street in London called Cornhill before the Conquest of the Normans wherefore I hold with them which make Westminster to be the place where Lucius builded his Church upon the ruines of that Fane 264 years as Malmsbury saith before the coming of the Saxons and four hundred and eleven before the arrival of Augustine Read also his Appendix in Lib. fourth Pontif. where he noteth the time of the Saxons in the 444 of Grace and of Augustine in 596 of Christ which is a manifest account though some Copies have 499 for the one but not without-manifest corruption and error And now to return where we left True it is that a Library there was pertaining to this Parish Church of old time builded of Stone and of late repaired with Brick by the Executors of Sir Iohn Crosby Alderman as his Arms on the South end do witnesse This Library hath been of late time to wit within this seventy years well furnished of Books Iohn Leyland viewed and commended them but now those Books are gone and this place is occupied by a School-master and his Usher for a number of Scholers learning their Grammer Rules c. Notwithstanding before that time a Grammar School had been kept in this Parish as appeareth in the year a thousand four hundred twenty five We read that John Whitby was Rector and John Steward School-master there and in the five and twentieth of Henry the sixth it was Enacted by Parliament that four Grammer Schools in London should be maintained viz In the Parishes of Alhallowes in Thames street Saint Andrew in Oldburn Saint Peters upon Cornhill and Saint Thomas of Acres Then have ye the Parish Church of St. Michael the Archangel for the antiquity thereof we find that Alnothus the Priest gave it to the Abbot and Covent of Covesham Raynold the Abbot and the Covent there did grant the same to Sparling the Priest in all measures as he and his Predecessors before had held it to the which Sparling also they granted all their Lands which they there had except certain Lands which Orgar le proud held of them and paid two shillings yearly For the which grant the said Sparling should yearly pay one mark of Rent to the said Abbot of Covesham and find him his lodging Salt Water and Fire when he came to London This was granted a thousand one hundred thirty three about the thirty four of Henry the first The fair new Steeple or Bell-Tower of this Church was begun to be builded in the year 1421 which being finished and a fair â—ing of five Bells therein placed a sixth Bell
Master and Brethren the Lands with the appurtenances that sometimes were Gilbert Beckets Father to the said Thomas in the which he was born there to make a Church There was a Charnel and a Chappel over it of St. Nicholas and St. Stephen This Hospital was valued to dispend two hundred seventy seven pounds three shillings four pence surrendred the thirtieth of Henry the eighth the one and twentieth of October and was since purchased by the Mercers by means of Sir Richard Gresham and was again set open on the Eve of Saint Michael 1541 the three and thirtieth of Henry the eighth It is now called the Mercers Chappel therein is kept a free Grammer School as of old time had been accustomed commanded by Parliament In this Chappel there is every Sunday morning throughout the year a Sermon in the Italian Tongue beginning about ten a clock Here be many Monuments remaining but more have been defaced among others there is Iames Butler Earl of Ormond and Dame Ioane his Countesse 1428. Before this Hospital towards the street was builded a fair and beautiful Chappel arched over with stone and thereupon the Mercers Hall a most curious piece of work Sir Iohn Allen Mercer being founder of that Chappel was there buried but since his Tombe is removed thence into the Body of the Hospital Church and his Body-room divided into Shops are letten our for Rent These Mercers were enabled to be a Company and to purchase Lands to the value of twenty pound the year the seventeenth of Râ—chard the second they had three Messuages and Shops in the Parish of Saint Martins Oteswâ—ch in the Ward of Bishopsgate for the sustentation of the poor and a Chantry the two and twentieth of Richard the second Henry the fourth in the twelfth of his Reign confirmed to Stephen Spilman W. Marchford and Iohn Watild Mercers by the name of one new Sildam shed or building with Shops Cellars and Edifices whatsoever appertaining called Crownsildes Scituate in the Mercery in West-cheap in the Parish of St. Mary de Arcubus in London c. to be holden in Burgage as all the City of London is Next beyond the Mercers Chappel and their Hall is Ironmonger Lane so called of Ironmongers dwelling there In this Lane is the small Parish Church of St. Martin called Pomary upon what occasion I certainly know not it is supposed to be of Apples growing where now Houses are lately builded Farther West is St. Lawrence Lane so called of St. Lawrence Church which standeth directly over against the North end thereof Antiquities in this Lane I finde none other then that among many fair Houses there is one large Inne for receipt of travellers called Blossomes Inne but corruptly Bosomes Inne and hath to Sign St. Lawrence the Deacon in a Border of Blossoms or Flowers Then near to the standard in Cheap is Hony-lane being very narrow and somewhat dark In this Lane is the small Parish Church called Alhallowes in Hony-Lane There be no Monuments in this Church worth the noting I find that Iohn Norman Draper Mayor 1453 was buried there He gave to the Drapers his Tenements on the North side the said Church they to allow for the Beam light and Lamp thirteen shillings four pence yearly from this Lane to the Standard And thus much for Cheap Ward in the High-street of Cheap for it stretcheth no farther Now for the North wing of Cheap Ward have ye Catte-street corruptly called Catteaten-street which beginneth at the North end of Ironmongâ—â— Lane and runneth to the West end of Saint Lawrence-Church as is aforeshewed On the North side of this street is the Guild-hall wherein the Courts for the City are kept namely first the Court of Common-Councel second the Court of the Lord Mayor and his Brethren the Aldermen third the Court of Hustings fourth the Court of Orphanes fifth the two Sheriffsâ—ixt â—ixt the Court of the Wardmote seventh the Court of Hallmote eight the Court of Requests commonly called the Court of Conscience nine the Chamberlains Court for Prentices making them free This Guild-hall saith Robert Fabian was began to be builded new in the year 1411 the twelfth of Henry the fourth by Thomas Knowles then Mayor and his Brethren the Aldermen The same was made of a little Cottage a large and great House as now it standeth towards the charges whereof the Companies gave large benevolences Also offences of men were pardoned for sums of money towards this work extraordinary Fees were raised Fines Amercements and other things imployed during seven years with a Continuation thereof three years more all to be employed to this building The first year of Henry the sixth John Coventry John Carpenter Executors to Richard Whittington gave towards the paving of this great Hall twenty pounds and the next year fifteen pounds more to the said pavement with hard Stone of Purbâ—ck They also glaz'd some VVindows thereof and of the Mayors Court on every which Window the Arms of Richard Whittington are placed The foundation of the Mayors Court was laid in the third year of the Reign of Henry the sixth and of the Porch on the South side of the Mayors Court in the fourth of the said King Then was builded the Mayors Chamber and the Councel Chamber with other Roomes above the staires Having here so just occasion speaking of that former ancient Councel Chamber which hath continued so ever since I cannot but account it expedient as in no place better fitting to remember the fair and goodly new Councel Chamber a worthy Act and an Honour to the City The said new Councel Chamber with a fair Room over the same appointed for a Treasury wherein to preserve the Books and Records belonging to the City and another Room also underneath the same Chamber reserved for necessary use and employment began to be builded the first week after Easter in the time of the Majoralty of Sir Thomas Middleton Knight and Alderman in the year of our Lord 1614 it was fully finished shortly after Michaelmas 1615 at the laâ—ter end of the Majoralty of Sir Thomas Hayes Knight and Alderman But the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen his Brethren kept their first Court in the said new Councel Chamber on the seventh day of November in the year of our Lord 1615 Sir Iohn Iolles Knight and Alderman being then Lord Mayor by whose order and direction the said building was performed from the first beginning thereof to the finall finishing of the same amounting to the charge of 1740 l. than which no money could be better bestowed nor more to the Cities credit and renown Last of all a stately Porch enâ—ring the great Hall was erected the front thereof towards the Stouth being beautified with Images of Srone Now for the Chappel or Colledge of our Lady Mary Magdalene and of All Saints by Guild-Hall called London Colledge we read that the same was builded about the year 1299 and that Peter Fanelore Adam Francis and Henry Frowick Citizen gave one
three hundred foot of the feet of St. Paul in breadth eighty nine foot and in heighth from the ground to the roof sixty four foot and two inches c. It was consecrated 1325 and at the Generall suppression was valued at thirty two pound nineteen shillings and surrendred the twelfth of November 1538 the thirty of Henry the eighth the Ornaments and goods being taken to the Kings use the Church was shut up for a time and used as a Store-house of goods taken prizes from the French but in the year 1546 on the third of January it was again set open on the which day preached at Pauls Crosse the Bishop of Rochester where he declared the Kings gift thereof to the City for the relieving of the poor which gift was inroll'd by Patents St. Bartholmews Spittle in Smithfield lately valued at three hundred five pounds six shillings seven pence and surrendred to the King was of the said Church of the Gray Fryars and of two Parish Churches the one of St. Nicholas in the Shambles and the other of St. Ewins in Newgate-Market they were to be made one Parish Church in the said Fryers Church In Lands he gave for maintenance of the said Church with Divine Service reparations c. five hundred Marks by year for ever The thirteenth of January the thirty eighth of Henry the eighth an agreement was made betwixt the King and the Mayor and Communalty of London dated the twenty seven of December by which the said gift of the Gray Fryers Church with all the Edifices and ground the Fratrie the Library the Portar and Chapter House the great Cloistry and the lesser Tenements Gardens and vacant grounds Lead Stone Iron c. The Hospitall of St. Bartholmew in West Smithfield the Church of the same the Lead Bells and Ornaments of the same Hospitall with all the Messuages Tenements and appurtenances The Parishes of Saint Nicholas and of Saint Ewin and so much of Saint Sepulchres Parish as is within Newgate were made one Parish Church in the Grey Fryers Church and called Christs Church founded by King Henry the eighth In the year 1552 began the repairing of the Gray Fryars House for the poor fatherlesse Children and in the Month of November the children were taken into the same to the number of almost four hundred On Christmas day in the afternoon while the Lord Mayor and Aldermen rod to Pauls the Children of Christs Hospital stood from Saint Lawrence Lane end in Cheap towards Pauls all in one Livery of Russet Cotton three hundred and forty in Number and in the Easter next they were in Blue at the Spittle and so have continued ever since For these sorts of poor three several Houses were provided First for the innocent and fatherlesse which is the Beggars Child they provided the House that was the late Gray Fryers in London and called it by the name of Christs Hospitall where poor Children are trained up in the Knowledge of God and some vertuous exercises to the overthrow of beggary For the second degree was provided the Hospitals of Saint Thomas in Southwark and Saint Bartholmew in West Smithfield where are continually at least two hundred diseased persons which are not only there lodged and cured but also fed and nourished For the third degree they provided Bridewell where the Vagabond and idle Strumpet is chastised and compelled to labour to the overthrow of the vicious life of idlenesse They provided also for the honest decayed housholder that he should be relieved at home at his House and in the Parish where he dwelled by weekly relief and Pension And in like manner they provided for the Lazer to keep him out of the City from clapping of dishes and ringing of Bells to the great trouble of the Citizens also to the dangerous infection of many that they should be relieved at home at their Houses by several Pensions St. Bartholmewes Hospital is incorporated by the name of Mayor Communalty and Citizens of the City of London Governours of the Hospital for the poor called little St. Bartholmews near to West Smithfield of the Foundation of King Henry the eighth Christs Hospitall Bridewell and Saint Thomas the Apostle in Southwarke are incorporated by the names of the Mayor Communalty and Citizens of London Governours of the Possessions Revenues aâ—d Goods of the Hospitals of Edward King of England the sixth of Christ Bridewell and Saint Thomas the Apostle c. This Church was full of many great Monuments as of the Lady Margaret Daughter to Philip of France and Wife to Edward the first Of Queen Isabel Wife to Edward the second Of Joane Queen of the Scots Wife to David Bruce Of Isabel Daughter to Edward the third Of Eleanor Dutchesse of Britain Of the Lady Beatrix Dutchesse of Britain Daughter to Henry the third Of Roger Mortimer Earl of March Of John Hastings Earl of Pembrook Of John Duke of Bourton who had been taken Prisoner at Agencourt with divers other great Personages There is lately erected there in the South end of the Chancel and extraordinary hansome Monument to the Lady Venetia Stanley Wife to the noble Knight Sir Kenelme Digby Now for the South side of this Ward beginning again at the Crosse in Cheap from thence to Fryday-street and down that street on the West side till over against the North-west corner of Saint Matthewes Church And on the West side to the South corner of the said Church is wholly in the Ward of Faringdon From this Fryday-street West to the old Exchange a street so called of Kings Exchange there kept which was for the receipt of Bullion to be coyned For Henry the third in the sixth year of his Reign wrote to the Scahines and men of Ipreâ— that he and his Councel had given prohibition that no Englishmen or other should make change of Plate or other Masse of Silver but only in his Exchange at London or at Canterbury Andrew Bukerel then had to â—arm the Exchange of England was Maior of London in the Reign of Henry the third Iohn Somercote had the keeping of the Kings Exchange overall England In the eighth of Edward the first Gregory Rockâ—ley was Keeper of the said Exchange for the Kingâ— in the fiâ—th of Edward the second William Hausted was Keeper thereof And in the eighteenth Roger de Frowick c. These received the old stamps or Coyning-Irons from time to time as the same were worn and delivered new to all the Mints in England This street beginneth by VVest-Cheap in the North and runneth down South to Knight-rider-street that part thereof which is called Old Fish-street But the very Housing and Office of the Exchange and Coynage was about the midst thereof South from the East Gate that entreth Pauls Church-yard and on the West side in Baynards-Castle Ward On the East side of this Lane betwixt West-Cheap and the Church of St. Augustine Henry VValleis Mayor by Licence of Edward the first builded one row of Houses
to the Court at White-hall and there at that time the King gave unto him for the Communalty and Citizens to be a Work-house for the poor and idle persons of the City his house of Bridewell and seven hundred Marks Land late of the possessions of the house of Savoy and all the Bedding and other Furniture of the said Hospital of the Savoy towards the maintenance of the said Work-house of Bridewel and the Hospital of St. Thomas in Southwark This gift King Edward confirmed by his Charter dated the 26. of Iune next following And in the year 1555. in the moneth of February Sir William Gerrard Mayor and the Aldermen entred Bridewel and took possession thereof according to the gift of the said King Edward the same being confirmed by Queen Mary The Bishop of St. Davids had his Inne over against the North side of this Bridewell as I have said Then is the Parish Church of St. Bridget or Bride of old time a small thing which now remaineth to be the Quire but since increased with a large Body and side Iles towards the West at the charges of William Vinor Eâ—quire Warden of the Fleet about the year 1480. all which he cauâ—ed to be wrought about in the stone in the figure of a Vine with Grapes and Leaves c. The partition betwixt the old work and the new sometime prepared as a Screne to be set up in the Hall of the Duke of Summersets House at the Strand was bought for eightscore pounds and set up in the year one thousand five hundred fifty seven The next is Salisbury Court a place so called for that it belonged to the Bishops of Salisbury and was their Inne or London House at such time as they were summoned to come to the Parliamâ—nt or came for other business It hath of late time bin the dwelling first of Sir Richard Sackvile and after of Sir Thomas Sackvile his Sonne Baron of Buckhurst Lord Treasurer who very greatly inlarged it with stately Buildings Then is Water-lane running down by the West side of a House called the Hanging Sword to the Thames Then was the White Fryers Church called Fratres beatae Mariae de monte Carmeli first founded saith Iohn Bale by Sir Richard Gray Knight Ancestor to the Lord Gray of Codner in the year 1241. King Edward the first gave to the Prior and Brethren of that house a plot of ground in Fleet-street whereupon to build their House which was since reedified or new builded by Hugh Courtney Earl of Devonshire about the year one thousand three hundred and fifty the four and twentieth of Edward the third Iohn Lufken Mayor of London and the Commonalty of the City granted a Lane called Crockers-lane reaching from Fleetstreet to the Thames to build in the West end of that Church Then is the Sergeants Inne so called for that divers Iudges and Sergeants at the Law keep a Commons and are lodged there in Terme time Next is the New Temple so called because the Templers before the building of this House had their Temple in Oldbourn This house was founded by the Knights Templers in England in the Reign of Henry the second and the same was dedicated to God and our Blessed Lady by Heraclius Patriark of the Church called the Holy Resurrection in Jerusalem in the year of Christ 1185. Many Parliaments and great Councels have been there kept as may appear by our Histories In the year 1308. all the Templers in England as also in other parts of Christendom were apprehended and committed to divers Prisons Anno 1310. a Provincial Councel was holden at London against the Templets in England upon Heresie and other Articles whereof they were accused but denyed all except one or two of them notwithstanding they all did confesse that they could not purge themselves fully as faultless and so they were condemned to perpetual penance in several Monasteries where they behaved themselves modestly Philip King of France procured their over-throw throughout the whole World and caused them to be condemned by a general Councel to his advantage as he thought for he believed to have had all their Lands in France and therefore seizing the same in his hands caused the Templers to the number of 54. or after Fabian threescore to be burnt at Paris Edward the second in the year 1313. gave unto Aimer de la Valence Earl of Pembrook the whole place house called the new Temple at London with the ground called Fiquetes Croft and all the Tenements and Rents with the appurtenances that belonged to the Templers in the City of London and Suburbs thâ—reof After Aimer de Valence saith some Hugh Spencer usurping the same held it during his life by whose death it fell again to the hands of Edward the third but in the mean time to wit 1324. by a Councel holden at Vienna all the Lands of the Templers lest the same should be put to prophane uses were given to the Knights Hospitalers of the Order of St. Iohn Baptist called Saint Iohn of Ierusalem which Knights had put the Turks out of the I le of Rhodes and after wan upon the said Turk daily for a long time In the Reign of the same Edward the third was granted for a certain Rent of ten pounds by the year the said Temple with the Appurtenances thereunto adjoyning to the Students of the Common Lawes of England in whose possession the same hath ever sithence remained and is now divided into two Houses of several Students by the name of Inns of Court to wit the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple who keep two several Halls but they resort all to the said Temple-Church in the round walk whereof which is the West part without the Quire there remain Monuments of Noblemen buried to the number of eleven eight of them are Images of Armed Knights five lying Crosse-legged as men vowed to the Holy Land against the Infidels and unbelieving Jews the other three straight-legged The rest are coaped stones all of Gray Marble the first of the Crosse-legged was William Marshal the elder Earl of Pembrooke who died 1219. William Marshall his Sonne Earl of Pembrooke was the second he dyed 1231. And Gilbert Marshall his Brother Earl of Pembrooke slain in a Turnament at Hartford besides Ware in the year 1241. Of the Twenty sixth or the last Ward of the City of LONDON called the Bridge-Ward without containing the Bourough of Southwark WE have now almost finished the Perambulation for having treated of Wards in London on the North side of the Thames in number five and twenty we are now to crosse over the said River into the Burough of Southwark which is also a Ward of London without the Walls on the South side thereof as is Portsoken on the East and Faringdon Extra on the West But before we come to the particular Description of this Ward it will not be impertinent to declare when and by what meanes the Burough of Southwark now called Bridge-Ward without
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
businessse aforesaid so that the business may not by any means remain undone for want of such power or by reason of the unprovident Election of the foresaid Knights Burgesses and Citizens But we will not in any case that you or any other Sheriff of our said Kingdom shall be elected And at the day and place aforesaid the said Election being made in a full County Court you shall certifie without delay unto us in our Chancery under your Seal and the Seals of them who shall be present at the Election sending back unto us the other part of the Indenture aforesaid affil'd to these presents ogether with the Writ Witness our Self at Westminster This Commission or Writ is the foundation whereon the whole fabrick of the power and duty of both Houses of Parliament is grounded The first House is to parley or have conference and to treat and consult with the King the other House is to do and consent only unto what the other shall ordain This was the Law and usage in former times but what is the power of the Commons in these dayes now that the Government is altred and cast into another mould the House of Peers being dissolved it is not the intent of this Discourse to determine At the return of the Writs aforesaid the Parliament could not begin but by the Royal presence of the King either in Perâ—on or by Representation By Representation two wayes either by a Gardian of England by Letters Patenrs under the Great Seal when the King was in remotis out of the Realm or by Commission under the Great Seal to certain Lords of Parliament representing the Person of the King he being within the Realm but absent in respect of some infirmity On the first day of the Parliament the King himself or most commonly the Lord Chancellor or Keeper in the presence of the Lords and Commons did shew the causes of the calling of High Court of Parliament but the King might have appointed any other to be his Prolocutor in this case Then the Commons are to choose their Speaker but in regard that after their choyce the King might refuse him for avoiding of time and contestation the use was as in the Congè deslire of a Bishop that the King doth recommend a discreet and learned man whom the Commons elect but without their Election no Speaker can be appointed for them because he is their mouth and intrusted by them and so necessary that the House of Commons cannot sit without him therefore a grievous sickness is a good cause to remove him as in Henry the 4th Raign Iohn Chervy Speaker was for sickness discharged and Sir Iohn Dorewoold chosen in his place but sickness is no cause to remove any Knight Citizen or Burgesse The Speaker being voted in the House was presented to the King where being allowed he made a supplication consisting of three parts First That the Commons in Parliament might have free speech Secondly That in any thing he should deliver in the name of the Commons if he should commit any error no fault should be imputed to the Commons Thirdly That as often as necessity for his Majesties service and the good of the Common-wealth shall require he may by the directions of the House have access to his Royal Person Any of the Peeâ—s by the Kings leave may absent himself and make a proxy to another Lord but a Knight Citizen or Burgess cannot make a Proxy because he is elected and intrusted by multitudes of people And it is to be observed though one be chosen for one particular County or City yet when he is returned and sits in Parliament he serveth for the whole Common-wealth There belongs to Parliament a Prorogation or adjournment which differ in this A Prorogation presupposeth a Session and then such Bills as passed in either House or by both Houses and had no Royal assent unto them must at the next Assembly begin again for every Session in Parliament is in Law a several Parliament but if it be but adjourned then there is no Session When a Parliament is called and doth sit and is dissolved without any Act passed or judgement given it is no Session of Parliament but a Convention Touching the Power and Jurisdiction of Parliament for making of Lawes in proceeding by Bill it is so transcendent and absolute as it cannot be confined within any bounds No Alien is capable to be chosen a Parliament-man nor can any of the Judges of the Kings Bench or Common Pleas or Barons of the Exchequer that have Judicial places or any Church-man that hath care of souls be chosen a member of the House of Parliament For others the King cannot grant a Charter of Exemption to any man to be freed from Election of Knight or Burgesse of the Parliament because the Elections of them ought to be free for the publique service OF THE COVRT OF THE KINGS-BENCH THE Royallest Court in the Land Now called The Upper Bench. THe Lawes of England presuppose the King to be the Fountain and Oracle of Justice and to have special inspirations from Heaven to that purpose therefore all the Tribunals of Judicature were used to be ambulatory with his Court and He was wont to sit in Person in the Upper Bench which is the Supreme Tribunal of the Land The Justices in this Court are the soveraign Justices of Oyer and Terminer Goal-delivery Conservation of the Peace c. in the Realm In this Court the Kings of this Realm have sat as being the highest Bench and the Judges of that Court on the lower Bench at his Feet but Judicature only belongeth to the Judges of that Court and in his presence they answer all Motions c. The Justices of this Court are the soveraign Coroners of the Land and therefore where the Sheriffs and Coroners may receive appeals by Bill à fortiori the Justices of this Court may do it so High is the authority of this Court that when it comes and sits in any County the Justices of Eire of Oier and Terminer Coal-delivery they which have conusance c. do cease without any writing to them But if any Indictment of Treason or Felony in a Forain County be removed before certain Commissioners of Oier and Terminer in the County where this Court sits yet they may proceed because this Court for that this Indictment was not removed before them cannot proceed for that offence But if any Indictment be taken in Midd in the vacation and after this Court sit in the next Term in the same County if this Court be adjourned then may special Commissioners of Oier and Terminer c. in the interim proceed upon that Indictment but the more usual way is by special Commission And this was resolved by all the Judges of England at Winchester Anno 1 ' Iacobi Regis in the Case of Sir Everard Digby and others and so had it been resolved Mich. 25 and 26 Eliz. in the Case of Arden and Somervile for
making our Stuffs and Cloths by those foolish giddy headed Puritans that pretended to fly for persecution of their Consciences whereby they have done their own Countrey no little mischief in this particular as in many things besides But in point of plenty it may be well avouch'd that no Oppidan Magistrates on Earth go beyond the Lord Mayor of London and the two Sheriffs for constant Hospitality all the year long The time was that the Lord Mayor of London feasted four Kings at once Insomuch that of all other places in the Iland those Verses of Michael the Cornish Poet may be most verified of London Nobilis Anglia pocula prandia donat c. 8. Concerning wholsom clear waters as 't was said before that London hath good blood in her Veins by those many Aqueducts Conduits and conveyances of fresh waters to serve for all uses so she hath good Veins in her Body by those rivulets Springs and Sources she hath within and about Her What an Herculean work was that to bring the River of Ware to run through her streets and refresh all her Houses And what an ingenious fabrick is lately rear'd up in the Thames to furnish the Strand Drury Lane the Convent Garden and all the new Houses thereabouts with convenient proportions of fresh water 9. For Universality of Trade there is no Countrey upon the Surface of the Earth no Seas that any of the Winds blow upon from the Artick to the Antartick Pole from the rising to the setting Sun but London by her Navigations findes them out and so barters and brings all kind of Commodities what goodly Vessels doth she send forth to crosse the Line to the East Indies to Italy and the bottom of the Streights the Turks Dominions As also to the Baltick Sea how she flyes ore the vast White Ocean to Moscovy and to hunt the great Leviathan in Groenland How her Marchants and Factors are more reputed and have greater priviledges every where then any other particularly in the huge Hause City of Hamburgh and Rotterdam c. 10. In point of solid and useful Wares she hath of her own what a substantial Commodity and of what high esteem all the World over is her Cloth her Kersies and divers other kinds of Woollen manufactures together with her Lead and Tin how she turns the first to Silk and Cloth of Tissue the last to Gold and Silver what rich returns she makes of her Fish from all the Catholick Countries What large Ware-house and spacious fair Shops she hath of all mercantile Commodities And touching her Royal Exchange those of Antwerp and Amsterdam have but baubling Pedlery Wares in comparison of hers Insomuch that a wager was offered once to be laid that Crashawes Shop alone was able to buy all those in the Busse at Amsterdam 11. For strength defensive and offensive for Arms of all sorts for Artillery Ammunition for Arsenals and Docks on both sides the River for Castles and Block-houses c. London is not inferior to any She hath twelve thousand Trained-Band-Citizens perpetually in a readiness excellently armed which when Count Gondamar saw in a Muster one day in Saint Iames's Fields and the King asking him what he thought of his Citizens of London He answered That he never saw a Company of stouter men and better Arms in all his life-time but he had a sting in the Tayl of his discourse for he told the King that although his Majesty was well pleased with that sight at present he feared that those men handling their Arms so well might do him one day a mischief which proved true for in the unlucky Warres with the long Parliament the London Firelocks did him most mischief In times passed the City of London hath sent out strong Fleets to scoure and secure the four Seas from depredations and Pyracy And if in the year 1293. she was able to set forth a Fleet of ninety five Ships as it stands upon Record what would she be able to do now if she were permitted Moreover If in King Stephens Raign as another Record hath it she raised 60000. Foot and 2000. Horse for Land Service how many more were she able to do now in case of necessity that being compared to what she was then were to compare a Gyant to a dwarf But besides these several kind of strengths and Arms there 's no place so well furnish'd with Amonition de bouche as the Frenchman hath it with munition for the mouth viz. with Magazines of Corn and Arms against Famine aâ— London is for besides that at Leaden-Hall and the Bridge-house how many Halls have Store-houses of this kind There 's no place also better armed against the fury of the fire for besides the pitched Buckets that hang in Churches and Halls there are divers new Engines for that purpose But it had bin wished that the Proclamations of the two last Kings for building with Brick had bin observed by London for besides that it had made Her lesse subject to casual fyrings it had conduced much to the beauty of her Streets and uniformity of Structure 12. For healthful corporal Recreations and harmless passe-times London may go in the Van to any place that I ever saw yet Go and walk in her Fields you shall see some shooting at long marks some at Buts some bowling upon dainty pleasant Greens some upon Bares some wrestling some throwing the Barre some the stone some jumping some running some with their Dogs at Ducking ponds some riding upon Nags some in Coaches to take the fresh Air some at Nine-pins some at Stool-ball though that stradling kind of Tomboy sport be not so handsome for Mayds as Forreiners observe who hold that dansing in a Ring or otherwise is a far more comely exercise for them Within the City what variety of Bowling Allies there are some open some covered there are Tennis Courts Shuffle-Boards playing at Cudgels Cock-fightings a sport peculiar to the English and so is Bear Bull-baytings there being not such generous Dogs and Cocks any where else Go to the River what a pleasure it is to go thereon in the Summer time in Boat or Barge or to go a floundring among the Fishermen There was in former times a sport used upon the Thames which is now discontinued it was for two Wherries to row and run one against the other with staves in their hands flat at the fore-end which kind of Recreation is much practised among the Gondolas of Venice The time was that Stage-playes and Fencing were much used in London The History speaks of a Play Anno 1391. performed by the Parish Clarks of London at the Skinners Well besides Smithfield which continued three several dayes the King Queen and the Court being present And of another in the year 1409. which lasted eight dayes the subject was touching the Creation of the World whereunto the Court and Nobility were invited But those â—ind of Stage-playes were turned after to Tragedies Comedies Histories and Enterludes for
Paulinus but that after he had leavied a power of the Citizens to ayd him he would needes dislodge and remove from thence leaving the City naked to the Enemy who forthwith surprized and slew some few whom either weakness of Sex feeblenesse of age or sweetness of the place had detained there Neither had she sustained lesse losse and misery at the hands of the Gaules if she had not suddenly and beyond all expectation by Gods providence bin relieved For when C. Alectus had by a deceitful stratagem made away Caraâ—sius who taking advantage of our rough Seas and of Dioclesians dangerous Warres in the East and withall presuming of the Gauls now French and most venturous Marriners and Servitors at Sea withheld to himself the Revenues of Britain and Holland and born for the space of six years the Title of Emperour Augustus as his Coines here very oft do shew When M. Aurelius Asclepiedotus had in a Battail slain Alectus in the third year now of his Usurpation of the Imperial Purple and State those French who remained alive after the Battle hastening to London would have sack'd the City had not the Thames who never faiâ—'d to help the Londoners very opportunely brought in the Roman Legions who by reason of a Fog at Sea were severed from the Navy For they put the Barbarians to the Sword all the City over and thereby gave the Citizens not only safety by the slaughter of their Enemies but pleasure in beholding such a sight And then it was as our Chronicles record that Lucius Gallus was slain by a Brook side which ran almost through the middle of the City and of him was called by the British Nantgall in English Wallbrook which name remains yet in a Street under which there is a â—ewer within the ground to rid away the filth and ordures of the City Not far from London-stone which I take to be a Mile-mark or Milliary such as was in the Market places at Roms from which were taken dimensions of all journies every way considering it is neer the midst of the City as it lyeth in length Neither is it probable she was yet wall'd about But a little after our Stories report that Constantine the Great at the instance of his Mother Helena did first fence her about with a Wall made of rough stone and British Bricks which took up in compasse above three miles so that it inclosed the Model of the City almost four-square but not equal on every side considering that from East to VVest she is far longer then from South to North. That part of this Wall which stood on the Thames side is by the continual flowing and washings of the River fallen down and decayed yet there appear'd certain remains thereof in Henry the seconds time as Fitzstephen who then liv'd doth testifie The rest now standing is stronger towards the North which not many years since was reedified by the meanes of Ioceline Lord Mayor of London But towards East and VVest although the Barons in old time during their Warres repaired and renewed it with the ruynes of the Iewes houses then demolished yet it grew quickly all thorow out of decay For Londoners like to those old Lacedemonians laughed at strong walled Towns as Cot-houses for Women thinking their own Cities sufficiently fenc'd when they are fortified with bones and not with stones This Wall giveth entrance at seven principal double Gates for I willingly omit the smaller which as they have bin lately repaired so they have also new names given them On the West side there be two to wit Ludgate of King Lud a Britain or Flud-gate as Leland is of opinion of a little flud running beneath it like as the Gate Fluentana in Rome built again from the foundation This Gate was made a free Prison Anno 1378 Bremer being Major which was confirm'd 1382. by a Common Councel in the Guild-Hall where 't was ordained that all Freemen of London should for debts trespasses accounts and contempts be imprisoned in Ludgate where at first for lodging and water they did not pay any thing We go next to Newgate the fairest of all the Gates so call'd from the newness thereof whereas before it was call'd Chamberlane Gate which now is the publick Gaol or Prison for Criminalls and also for civil actions for the County of Middlesex And it hath bin so many Ages as appears by Records in King Iohns time as also in King Henry the third who as an old Authour testifieth sent a Command to the Sheriffs of London to repair the Gaol of Newgate On the North side are four Gates viz. Aldersgate or Oldersgate from the antiquity thereof or as others would have it from Aldrich a Saxon the second is Cripplegate of a Spitle of Cripples sometimes adjoyning thereunto The third is Mooregate call'd so of a Moory ground hard by which is now draind up and made fair and firm and turn'd into a field delightful walks Which Gate was first built by Falâ—oner Lord Mayor in the year of our Lord 1414. Then Bishopsgate of a Bishop the Benefactor which Gate the Dutch Marchants or Hans of the Styliard were bound by Covenant both to repair and defend at all times of danger and extremity On the East side there is Aldgate so named from the oldnesse or Elbegate as others terme it which hath bin oft re-edified It is thought that two Gates more stood besides the Bridge gate by the Thames side namely Belmsgate now a Wharfe or a Key for the Scots Trade and Donregate or the Watergate commonly call'd Dowgate There be some Posterns besides that may go for Gates as that of Christs Hospital which was made in the Reign of Edward the sixth Another was made out of the wall lately into Moorfields But the Postern by the Tower shews that it hath bin very ancient and an arch'd Gate of much trust for in times past there was alwaies a person of quality who was Custos of that Posterne Towards the Rivers side there are also many water gates for the better security of the City Where the wall endeth towards the River there were two strong Forts or Bastions of which the one Eastward remaineth yet usually called the Tower of London called in the old British Bringwin or Tourgwin which in English is the White Tower a most famous and goodly Cittadel encompassed about with thick and strong Walls full of lofty and stately Turrets fenc'd about with a broad and a deep ditch furnish'd also with an Armory or Magazine of Warlick munition with other buildings besides so that it resembleth a Town of it self and one may well suppose that those two Castles which Fitz-stephens recordeth to have bin on the East side of this City went both to the making of this one The other Fort was on the West side of this City where Fleet a little riveret ran whence Fleetstreet took its name and in time it was able to bear Vessels as appears in some Parliament Rolls which Riveret
there was a Pool in Records called Horse pool and another in the Parish of St. Giles without Cripplegate Besides which they had in every street and lane of the City divers fair Wells and fresh Springs after which manner the City was then served with sweet and fresh waters which being since decayed other meanes have bin found to supply the want But the prime and principal device was found out by that worthy Briton and Citizen of London Sir Hugh Middleton by whose wit care and cost the new River of Ware was brought from Chadwel and Amwel to water and refresh the heart and bowels of the City The business was long in suspence and under weighty deliberation it receiv'd heat and cold a long time being exposed to so many difficulties and vast expence able to terrifie the stoutest man At last courage and resolution with a love to the publique good met in the breast of the Adventurer and spur'd him on to so glorious an enterprise which hath proved so happily commodious and of such infinite utility to the whole City that had he lived under some other Meridians that I know he should have had his Statue erected in the eminentest place of the City to eternize his name transmit his memory and keep it fresh like his waters to all future Ages Now as Mr. Stow speaks very ingeniously if those enemies to all good actions Danger difficulty detraction contempt scorn envy could have prevail'd by their malevolent interposition either before at the beginning and in the very birth of the attempt and a good while after this work had never bin accomplished 'T is true Queen Elizabeth gave way by act of Parliament to her Citizens of London and power for cutting and conveying of a River from any part of Middlesex or Hartfordshire into the City of London with a limitation of ten years time for the performance thereof but that Enterprize expir'd with her life King James her immediate successor did grant the like but without-date of time for the same effect And when the courage of others were quite quail'd and utterly refused the business Sir Hugh Middleton did undertake it and â—o with infinite pains and no lesse expence he finish'd the work by bringing a River of wholsom fine chearful water from Chadwel and Amwel to the North side of London near Islington where he built a large Cistern to receive it The work began the 28. day of February Anno Dom. 1608. and in the compaâ—s of five years was fully compleated Touching the Aquaeduct or the conveyance thereof to London it hardly can be imagined what difficulties and rubs there were in the way by reason of the various qualities of grounds through which the water was to passe some being ozie â—oft and muddy others again as stiffe and craggy The depth of the Trench in some places descended full thirty foot and more whereas in other places it required as much artifice to mount it over a valley in troughs betwixt Hills and those troughs to be supported by woodden Arches some of them fix'd in the Earth very deep and rising in height above 23. foot Being brought to the foresaid great Cestern the water was not yet let in till on Michaelmas day Anno 1613. being the day that Sir Thomas Middleton Brother to the said Sir Hugh was elected Lord Maior of London for the year ensuing In the afternoon of the same day Sir John Swinerton then Lord Maior accompanied with the said Sir Thomas Sir Henry Mountague Recorder of London and many of the worthy Aldermen rode in a solemn manner to see the great Cestern and first issuing of the strange River thereunto which then was made free Denizon of London and the Solemnity was thus A Troop of Labourers to the number of threescore or more well apparell'd and wearing green Monmouth Caps after the British manner all alike carried Spades Shovels Pickaxes and such like Instruments of laborious Employment and marching after Drums twice or thrice about the Cistern presented themselves before the Mount where the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen were where after a handsome speech the Flud-gates flew open the stream ran chearfully into the Cistern the Drums and Trumpets sounding in triumphant manner and a gallant peal of Chambers gave a Period to the entertainment A noble achievement it was as this reracted to Sir Hugh Middleton doth partly set forth which never saw publique light until now Ad Hugonem Middleton equiteâ—s Auratum de stupenda hac aquarum operâ Compita qui fluvium per Londinensia duÌ„xti Ut jam quisque suis vicus abundet aquis Non Aganippe tuas satis est depromere laudes Haec scaturigo nova quam tibi fundit aquae Of the famous great Navigable River of Thames VVEE will go now from the New River to the Old the Famous and Ancient River of Thames and find out her source bed and streams She hath her head or spring out of the flank of a hill in Catswold Downs about a mile from Tetbury near unto the Fosse a high road so call'd in ancient times where it was heretofore call'd Isis or the Ouse from hence it runs towards the East not without some Meanders and windings and meets with the Cirne or Chiurne a Brook whereof Cirncester town by which it runs takes the name From hence it hasteneth to Creekelade otherwise call'd Crekanford Lechlade Ratcotebridg Newbridg and Evâ—sham receiving in her passage many other small Rivelets Brooks Becks and Rundels And on this side the Town divideth her self into two streams whereof one goeth streight to Hincksey and Botley the other passeth by Godstow This latter spreadeth it self for a while into divers small streams which run not far before they meet again and then embracing sundry fruitful Medowes she passeth at length by Oxenford who some imagine should rather be call'd Ouseford of this River where she joyns with the Charwell a little from whence the original branches do joyn and keep company to Abbandune or Abington call'd by some Senshum although at first no part of her did approach so near the Town as now she doth till a branch thereof was led thither by the main stream through the industry of the Monks as 〈◊〉 by the decay of Caerdoure now call'd Dorchester sometimes the high road from Wales and the West Countrey to London From hence she goeth to Dorchester and so into Tame where contracting friendship with a River of the like name she loseth the name of Isis or Ouse whereof Ousenny or Osney at Oxford is derived and from thence she assumes the name of Thamesis all along as she glides From Tame she passeth to Wallingford and so to Rending which in ages pass'd was call'd Pontium in regard of the number of Bridges There she receives the Kenet which comes from the hills that lye about Marleborough Westward and then the Thetis commonly call'd the Tyde that comes from Thetisford She hasteneth thence to Sudlington otherwise call'd Maydenhead and
so to Windlestore or Winsore Eton and then to Chertsey where Erkenwald Bishop of London did erect a Religious house or Cell From Chertsey she directs her course to Stanes and receiving another stream by the way call'd the Cole whereupon Colebrook stands she goes by Kingstone Richmond Sheene Sion Brentford or Bregentford where she meets with the Brane or the Brenâ— another 〈◊〉 descending from Edgworth From Brentford she visits Morlach 〈…〉 Cheisoy Lambeth Westminster and so to London Having accompanied our gentle and smooth-gliding Riâ—â—r now to London she now makes great haste to meet with Neptune her lovely husband the first water she greets is the Brome on Kent side West of Greenwich whose spring is Bromis in Bromley Parish and so goeth thence to Lewshant taking 〈◊〉 from the East The next water she meets withal is on Essex side almost against Woolwich and that is the Lee And being pass'd that the Darwent also dischargeth her self into the Thames on Kent side two miles and more beneath Erith having its rising at Tunbridge or Tanridge The next River that disgorgeth her self into the Thames is West of the Wam Isles a rill of no great note or long course for rising about Coringham it rune not many miles East and by South till it falls into the mouth of this River Last of all the Thames takes acquaintance and mingleth with Medway a conâ—derable River watering all the South parts of Kent This noble navigable River flows and fills all her Channels twice ev'ry natural day by the flux and reflux of the Sea which holdeth on for the space of 70 miles within the main Land the stream or tyde being highest at London when the Moon doth exactly touch the Norh-east and South or West points or the Heavens whereof one is visible the other underneath us These rydes do also differ in their times each one coming later than the other by so many mâ—nutes as passe yet the revolution and natural course of the Heavens do reduce and bring about the said Planet to these her former places whereby the common difference 'twixt one tyde and another is sound to consist of 24 minutes which wanteth but twelve of a whole hour in 24 as experience doth confirm In like manner we daily find that each tyde is not of equal heighth and fulness For at the 〈◊〉 and the Change of the Moon we have the highest â—â—ouds and such is their extraordinary course that as they diminish from their Changes and Fulls unto their first and last Quarters so afterwards they encrease again until they come to the Fall and Change sometimes they rise also â—o high eâ—pecially if the wind be at the North or North-east which brings in the water with more vehemency because the tyde which fills the Channel cometh Northward that the Thames often inounds the bankes about London which happeneth most frequently in Ianuary and February which makes the grounds afterwards more fertiâ—e Neither do the tydes after a whit unlesse some impetuous winds from the West or South-west do keep back and check the stream as the East and North-East do hasten the coming in thereof or else some other extraordinary occasion put by the course of the German Seas which do fill the River by their nâ—tural 〈◊〉 and flowings And the probabiest reason why three or four tydes do chop in in one day is because the winds blowing more strong than ordinarily North or North-east make the Sea to rush in with more speed and abundance or water The Land streams or white waters do oftentimes thicken the finenesse of the River in so much that after a Land floud 't is usual to take up Haddocks with ones hâ—nd beneath the Bridge as they float aloft on the water their eyes being so blinded with the thicknesse of the water that they cannot see whither they swimme and how to make shift for themselves before the poor creaâ—â—re be surpriz'd otherwise the Thames water useth to be as clear and 〈◊〉 as any such great River in the world Having gone along so fat with this great goodly River even from her source until she diâ—â—mboques and payes Tribute to Nepume and cast her self into his imbraces It will be now expedient to go on further and acquaint the Reader with the jurisdiction and Prerogatives of the Thâ—mes with the extent thereof Which begins at a place call'd Colnie ditch a little above Stâ—nes-bridge Weâ—â—ward as far as London-bridge and â—rom thence to a place call'd Yendil 〈…〉 and the waters or Medmay all which extent is under the jurisdiction and conservancy of the Lord Mayor the Comminalty and Citizens of London True it is that there have been some Contests betwixt the Lord Mayor and the Lord high Admiral of England concerning the said Jurisdiction and power but after a fair and judicial Tryal in open Court the controversie was decided in favour of the City and the Lord Mayor adjudged to be Conservator of the Thames There were also some other controversial points about the Rivers of Thames and Medway but all differences were absolutely concluded Anno 1613 Sir Iohn Swinerton being then Lord Mayor and Mr. Sparry being then his Deputy or respective Bayliff for the execution of such a great trust repos'd in him Ever since is well as in former times the Lord Mayor of London hath been styl'd the Conservator of the said River within the forenamed limits and bounds having plenary power to inflict punishments upon all transgressors relating to the said Rivers the Water-Bayly of London being his substitute And whereas there are a company of Fishermen call'd Tinckermen frequenting the River of Thames Eastward who in times pass'd have been reported and found out to make an infinit destruction of the young brood or fry of fish by using unlawful Nets and other Engines feeding their Hoggs with them by the singular care and cost of the Lord Mayor and vigilance of the City those prohibited Engines and Nets are now quite suppress'd and a true and orderly manner of fishing brought into use that such a havock may not be made of the young fry Moreover there are a great number of other kind of Fishermen beside Tinckermen belonging to the Thames call'd Hebbermen Petermen and Trawlermen that had lived in former times by unlawful fishing on the said River to the destruction of the young fish as aforesaid but now they are restrain'd and regulated to a more orderly way of fishing There have bin other kind of abuses reformed herein as upon complaint made to the Lord Mayor concerning certain Timbers standing in Tilbury Hope a matter not only dangerous to the Passengers but a cause also to destroy the young brood of fish by the dammage those Timbers did to the Fishermens Nets in regard of their continual standing in the main course and curâ—ent of the River that great grievance was speedily redressed by the providence and prudence of the Lord Mayor and the Water-Bayly Furthermore there hath been care taken to clear
away at last their own Legions whereupon the Iland being thus grown weak much depopulated and to a long deâ—uetude of Arms the Saxons who are now the English yet keep still their first denomination of Saxons both in the British and Irish Tongues to this day came over with a considerable strength and having in a Parly on Salsbury Plains musiered most of the British Nobility by a stratagem and taken Vortiger the King Prisoner He for his ransom was forc'd to give not only London but most part of the Iland to the Saxons And the chief Magistrate of London they call'd Portreve which is a Gardian or Governour of a Port and that name is yet used in England in some places The Saxons then changed their names into Englishmen yet they continued Pagans a long time after but at last the Britains converted them to Christianity and then the City of London flourished exceedingly for many Ages till there came over a swarm of Danes who proved more fatal to London then any other Nation for by fire and sword they had almost utterly destroyed Her had not the Londoners at last rowz'd up their spirits who making vertue of necessity did fall upon King Swein the insulting Enemy with such a resolution that by a mighty slaughter and extraordinary prowesse they utterly repel'd him The City having recovered her former lustre though 't was a good while first she continued under the English Government and the Magistracy of a Portreve till the Norman rush'd in yet the Title was not alter'd a good while after when at last he came to be call'd Bayliffe and sometimes Provost Richard the first for supporting the Croy sada and his Warres in the Holy Land got great Contributions of monies from the Londoners in lieu whereof he gave them leave to choose two Bayliffs annually King Iohn after him chang'd their Bayliffs into a Maior and two Sheriffs To these Henry the third adds some Aldermen who though yeerly Elegible at first grew afterwards Perpetual Now this Word Alderman is consonant to Senator being both derived from old Age and Gravity The first Alderman we read of in England was in the time of King Edgar about 800 years agoe whose name was Ailwine and was descended of the blood Royal as appeares by his Epitaph in that goodly Monastery in the I le of Ely whereof he was founder himself which Epitaph runs thus Hic requiescit Dom. Ailwinus inclyti Regis Edgari Cognatus totius Angliae Aldermannus hujus Sacri coenobii miraculosus Fundator Here resteth the Lord Ailwine Cousin to Noble King Edgar Alderman of all England which some interpret chief Justice miraculous Founder of this holy Abbey Hence it may be infer'd that the appellation of Alderman is not only venerable but ancient honourable And from this Lord Ailwine it seemes the first Maior of London descended who was Henry Fitz-Alwin Anno 1191. who continued many years in the Office lies buried in St. Mary Bothaw near London-stone and the next Maior to him was Roger Fitz-Alwin after whom he Office grew annual The City being thus in tract of time come to a fixed and setled Government she began to flourish exceedingly And as she increased in Men Manufactures and Merchandizing so the Kings did enlarge their royal favours unto Her Anno 1226. Henry the third confirmed unto the Citizens of London free Warren or liberty to hunt about the City and in the Warren of Stanes Moreover that the Citizens of London should passe Toll-free throughout all England and that the Keddles and Weres in the Rivers of Thames and Medway should be plucked up and destroyed for ever because Navigation to London might be more free Roger Renger was Maior when these Patents were granted A few years after the liberties and franchises of London were ratified by the same King who granted that either Sheriff should have two Clarks and two Sargeants and that the Citizens should have a Common Seal A little after the same King granted that the Maior Elect should be presented to the Barons of the Exchequer and they should admit him Moreover he gave way that the City should be fortified with Posâ—s and Iron Chains drawn athwart over the streets Anno 1326. Edward the third much increased the Immunities of the City and the Authority of the Maior for he granted that the Maior should be Iustice for the Gaol delivery at Newgate and have power to reprieve Prisoners That the Citizens of London should not be constrained to go out of the City of London to any Warre He granted also that the liberties and franchises of the City should not after that time be taken into the Kings hands as it had bin often before when a Custos was put in Moreover He granted by Letters Patents that there should be no other Eschetor in the City but the Maior Anno 1338. He granted that the Sargeants attending the Maior and the Sheriffs should bear Maces silver and gilt with the Royal Arms engraven Anno 1356. The same King ordained that whereas the Aldermen were used to be chang'd yeerly they should not be removed without special cause for the future Then for the higher honour and Authority of the Office the Sword was added with the Cap of Maintenance Thus in proceâ—s of time the Government of London grew to be more and more established Anno 1415. Sir Henry Barton being Maior ordained Lanthorns and Lights to be hang'd out on the Winter Evenings betwixt Alhollontide and Candlemas Sir Iohn Norman being Maior was the first who went upon the River to Westminster having made a stately Barge to that purpose Anno 1453. And the rest of the Companies followed that laudable Example with their Barges also Anno 1473. Sir Iohn Tate being Maior the Sheriffs of London were appointed each of them to have sixteen Serjeants and every Serjeant to have his Yeoman Moreover they were to have six Clerks a Secondary a Clark of the Papers with fower other Clarks besides the Under Sheriffs Clark Anno 1484. It happened that there was successively one after the other three Mayors and three Sheriffs of London in the compasse of one year by reason of the sweating sickness which rag'd so extreamly Anno 1501. Sir John Sha being Maior added some state to the Office for it was ordered that the Aldermen his Brethren should attend him on Horseback from Guild-hall to the Rivers side when he took Barge for Westminster Besides he was the first who kept Court in his own House for redressing of such matters that came before him Sir William Capel being Maior of London caus'd Cages to be set up in every Ward for the punishments of Vagabends and Rogues Anno 1556. Sir Thomas Ossley being Mayor the Night Bel-man was first ordained Queen Elizabeth did much favour the City of London and for the better Government thereof gave way for a Provost Marshal to be appointed Thus have we observed that the Governours in chief of the City of
prescribed its boundâ— which extended from Algate to the place where now the Barrs are Eastward on both sides of the street and Northward as far as Bishopsgate and Southward as far as the Thames and so far into the River that a horieman might ride at low water and throw his Spear These Knights continued their Châ—rter in the daies of Edgar Ethelred and Canutus which Edward the Confessor did not only ratifie but enlarge which deed remain'd a long time fairly written in the Saxon Letter Tongue in the Book of the late House of the holy Trinity after that VVilliam Rufus confirm'd the said Charter unto the Heirs of those Knights as followeth William King of England to Maurice Bishop and Godefroy de Magun and Richard de Parre and to his faithful people of London Greeting Know ye me to have granted to the men of Knighten Guild that belong'd to them and the Land that belong'd thereunto with all Customes as they were used to have the same in the time of my Predecessors c. Henry the first after him confirm'd the same But afterwards the Church of the Holy Trinity being founded by Queen Matilda within Aldgate such was the piety of those times that this Knighten Guild which was of such large extent that it reach'd unto the Thames was voluntarily given to the Canons of that Church And for better ratification of the Grant they offer'd upon the Altar Saint Edwards Charter with the rest which they had and put the Prior of the Holy Trinity in possession and saisin thereof by the Church of Saint Butolph which was built thereon being the head of the Land All which King Henry confirm'd by that famous Charter which runs thus Henry King of England to R. Bishop of London to the Sheriffs and Provost and all his Barons and faithful people French and English of London and Middlesex Greeting Know ye me to have granted and confirm'd to the Church Canons of the holy Church of the Trinity of London the Soke of the English Knighten Guild and the Land which pertaineth thereunto and to the Church of Saint Buttolph as the men of the same Guild have given and granted unto them And I will streightly command that they hold the same well and honourably and freely with Sack and Soke Toll and Thea Infangthefe and all Customs belonging to it as the men of the same Guild in the best sort had it in the time of King Edward and as King William my Father and Brother did grant it to them by their Writs Witnesse A. the Queen c. The Prior and Canons of the Holy Trinity beind thus seiz'd of the said Land and Soke of Knighten Guild being not only a part of the Suburbe without the Wall but also within the City the Prior was for him and his Successors admitted as one of the Aldermen of London And according to the Customs of the City he did sit in Court and rodeâ— with the Mayor and his brethren the Aldermen as one of them in Scarlet or other Livery as they then us'd until the year 1531 at which time the said Priory was surrendred to Henry the eighth by Act of Parliament who gave it to Sir Thomas Audley Lord Chancelour of England and he pull'd down the Church and dissolv'd the Priory since which dissolution the said Ward of Portsoken hath been govern'd by Temporal men one of the Aldermen of London Thus much for the out-bound Portsoken Ward or Knighten Guild touching the antiquity and Government thereof Now touching the Parts thereof it is to be observed that the East part of the Tower stands therein then an Hospital of Saint Katherine founded by the foresaid Queen Matilda wife to King Stephen by Licence of the Prior and Convent of the Holy Trinity in London on whose ground she built it Queen Elianor Wife to Edward the first was a second Foundresse there and appointed one Master three Brethren Chaplains and three Sisters ten poor women with six poor Clerks for the maintenance of whom she gave the Mannor of Clarton in VViltshiere and Upchurch in Kent c. Queen Philippa Wife to Edward the third founded a Chantry there and contributed to that Hospital ten pounds Land a year The Quiere there was not much inferior to that of Pauls which by one Doctor Wilson being Master there was afterwards dissolv'd On the East and by North of the Tower lieth East Smithfield and Tower hill two Plots of ground so call'd without the Walls of the City where sometimes flood a Monastery call'd New Abbey founded by Edward the 3d. upon the occasion following That having escaped a great danger in a tempest at Sea he made a vow to build a Monastery in sign of gratitude to heaven to the honor of God and our Lady of Grace which he perform'd accordingly But the said Monastery being afterwards pull'd down by Sir Arthur Darcy of late time in place thereof is built a large store-house for victual with convenient Ovens for baking of Bisket to serve the Navy Royal the rest of the ground is become into smal Tenements The Company of Marchant-Taylors have built thereabouts hard by Hog-street divers fair Alms-houses for 14 poor women and endow'd it with maintenance accordingly Westward hence from Tower hill towards Algate there was a Monastery of Nunns of the Order of Santa Clara call'd the Minories founded by Edmund Earl of Lancaster brother to Edward the first Anno 1293 which was demolished in Henry the eighths time Dame Elizabeth Savage being then Abbesse In the room of this Nunnery there are now store-houses for Armour and habillaments for war with divers Work-houses to that purpose and hard by there is is a small Church called Saint Trinity for the Inhabitants thereabouts We come now to the Church of Saint Bâ—ttolph which the Priors of the Holy Trinity did build being Patrons thereof In this Church among others there lies buried Thomas Lord Darcy of the North Knight of the Garter who was beheaded Anno 1537. And also Sir Nicholas Carew of Beddington in Surrey beheaded also Anno 1538. East from this Parish Church is Hog-lane that stretcheth towards St. Mary Spittle which within these sixty years had fair rows of Elm-trees all along which are turn'd now to Houses on both sides from Houndsditch to VVhite-Chappel Of the Third Ward or Aldermanry called Aldgate Ward WE will still look Eastward yet a good while and go to the third Ward within the Walls which is called Ealdgate Ward or Aldgate as taking name of the same gate The principal street of this Ward beginneth at Ealdgate stretching West to sometime a fair Well where now a Pump is placed From thence the way being divided into twain the first and principal street called Aldgate runneth on the South side to Lime-street corner and half that street down on the left hand is also of that Ward In the mid way on that South side betwixt Ealdgate and Lime-street is Hart-horn Alley a way that goeth
pulled it down and to have builded there towards the steeet But the Parishioners having doubts in their heads of after-claps refused the offer Then was the Priory Church and Steeple proffered to whomsoever would take it down and carry it from the ground but no man would undertake the offer whereupon Sir Thomas Audley was fain to be at more charges than could be made of the Stones Timber Lead Iron c. For the Workmen with great labour beginning at the top loosed stone from stone and threw them down whereby the most part of them were broken and few remained whole those were sold very cheap for all the buildings then made about the City were of Brick Timber At that time any man in the City might have a Cart-load of stone for paving brought to his door for 6d or 7d with the carriage The said Thomas Lord Audley builded and dwelt on this Priory during his life and dyed there in the year 1544 since which time the said Priory came by Marriage of the Lord Audley's Daughter and Heir unto Thomas Duke of Norfolk and was then called the Dukes-place At this time the Inhabitants dwelling abiding in the said Dukes-place became utterly destitute of any Parish Church for resorting to Gods Divine service and the administration of the blessed Sacraments which in the time of their former zeal the demolished Priory not only serv'd their use but infinite numbers besides resorted thither In which respect the Parish Church of St. Katherine being so near and standing in the Coemitery or Church-yard of the late dissolved Priory of the Holy Trinity whereby it was called Saint Katherine Christs-Church they resorted thither at the hours of Divine Service and for the benefit of the blessed Sacraments whereby they became a burthen to the said Parish yet well enough borne withal in regard of the benefit ensuing by them so that they carried the respect of equal parishioners exercising and accomplishing all duties there even as if it had been their own proper Parish The long continuance of them in this kind although some much misliked and gladly would have compassed means for remedy thereof yet their power not stretching so far nor the way as yet fitting for their purpose they remained contented against their Wills till time would fit them with more convenient opportunity Ground they wanted not for raising a sufficient Parish Church to themselves neither did any good will fail in them for the effecting their purpose but only were curbed by the lack of strength how and which way to bring it about At length perceiving their ground intended for so good a use to themselves aimed at for buildings to private mens benefits that so they might be frustrate of any such help when occasion should in better manner shine on them some of the best advised among them by Petition solicited the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury to make their desire and intention known to the King which he did And the King finding the case so truly honest and religious for new erecting a Church where such necessity required and where Superstition had so long time formerly been harboured not only gave the Lord Archbishop and the Suitors both thanks and commendation but also under his Hand and broad Seal authorizable Warrant for their proceeding The Lord Mayor and Senate of Aldermen having intelligence in the case and perceiving what an honour would redound thereby first to God who inspired them thereto next to the King for so Royally granting the suite and then to the City for furthering it to Effect notwithstanding that divers oppositions were made by them who would have things still continue as formerly they did without benefit of a Parish Church of their own It proceeded on with good prosperous success to the no mean Honour and commendation of the Lord Maior then being Sir Ed. Barkham by name the Court of Aldermen and state of this famous City by whose good meanes it is made a very beautiful and comely Parish Church it being called in the time of re-edifying Trinity Christs Church raised out of the long decayed ruines of Trinity Priory in the Dukes place By this time the work is grown to such fulness and perfection as now nothing wanteth but the windows glazing which was performed in this manner The main and great East light in the Chancel Sir Edward Barkham himself undertook and effected it at his own Charge as the expression testifieth in the same Window The other sideling by it but inclining more Southerly Mr. George Whitmore and Mr. Nicholas Rainton performed And the third standing Northerly in the same Chancel Mr. Walter Leigh who had bin a Serjeant at Arms to the Kings Majesty and then Sword-bearer of London did likewise at his own Charge perform The two Western lights in the bottom of the Church being indeed very fair lights the Company of Drapers effected the one and the Wood-mongers Society finished the other Beside the two Southerly Windows the one done at the charge of Mr. Cornelius Fish Chamberlain of London and the other by Mr. Waldron then Marshal so now ye have the Church of St. Iames compleat The Parish Church of St. Katherine standeth in the Caemitery of the dissolved Priory of the holy Trinity and is therefore called St. Katherine Christs Church The Church seemeth to be very old since the building whereof the High street hath bin so often raised by Pavements that now men are sain to descend into the said Church by divers steps seven in number but the Steeple or Bell Tower thereof hath bin lately builded to wit about the year 1504. For Sir Iohn Perceival Marchant-Tailor then deceasing gave money towards the building thereof Now concerning this Parish Church of St. Katherine Christs Church commonly Cree-Church as formerly hath bin said it had a descent down into it by seven steps or stayers but being now newly built and made a very fair Châ—â—ch the ascent into the Church is by four or five degrees At the North-West corner of this Ward in the said High street standeth the fair and beautiful Parish Church of St. Andrew the Apostle with an Addition to be known from other Churches of that Name of the Knape or Undershaft and so called St. Andrew Undershaft because that of old time every year on May-day in the morning it was used that an high or long shaft or May-pole was set up there in the midst of the street before the South door of the said Church which Shaft or Pole when it was set on end and fixed in the ground was higher then the Church Steeple Jeffrey Chawcer writing of a vain boaster hath these words meaning of the said Shaft Right well aloft and high ye bear your head The Weather-Cock with flying as ye would kill When ye be stuffed bet of Wine than bread Then look ye when your wombe doth fill As ye would bear the great Shaft of Corn-hill Lord so merrily crowdeth then your Croke That all the Street
the West side but not so far on the East Then the aforesaid street from this Finkes Lane now Finch Lane runneth down by the Royal Exchange to the Stocks and to a place commonly called the Scalding-house or Scalding wicke but now Scalding Alley by the West side whereof under the Parish Church of St. Mildred runneth the course of VVallbrooke and these be the bounds of this Ward Here stands the Parish Church of Alhallowes in the Wall so called of standing close to the Wall of the City near Moorfields and over against Winchester house which was so vast and spacious a Mansion that it has been many years since cut into divers habitations For the Glasse-house stood in part of it the Spanish Ambassadour had another part And now of late the Excise Office hath bin kept in another part On the other side of the street among many proper Houses possessed for the most part by Curriers is the Carpenters Hall which Company was Incorporated in the seventeenth year of Edward the fourth Then East from the Curriers row is a long and high Wall of stone in the foresaid Winchester house enclosing the North side of a large Garden adioyning to as large an house builded in the Reigns of King Henry the eighth and of Edward the sixth by Sir William Powlet Lord Treasurer of England thorow his Garden which of old time consisted of divers parts now united was sometimes a fair foot way leading by the West end of the Augustine Fryars Church straight North and opened somewhat West from Alhallowes Church against London Wall towards Mooregate which foot-way had Gates at either end locked up every night but now the same way being taken into those Gardens the Gates are closed up with Stone whereby the people are enforced to go about by Saint Peters Church and the East end of the said Fryers Church and all the said great place and Garden of Sir William Pawlet to London Wall and so to Moorgate This great House adjoyning to the Garden aforesaid stretcheth to the North corner of Broad-street and then turneth up Broad-street all that side to and beyond the East end of the said Friers Church It was builded by the said Lord Treasurer in place of Augustine Fryers House Cloyster and Gardens c. The Fryars Church he pulled not down but the West end thereof enclosed from the Steeple and Quire was in the year 1550 granted to the Dutch Nation in London to be their preaching place The other part namely the Steeple Quire and side Iles to the Quire adjoyning he reserved to houshold uses as for Stowage of Corn Coal and other thingâ— his Son and Heir Marquiss of VVinchester sold the Monuments of Noble men there buried in great number Paving stone and whatsoever which cost many thousand pounds for one hundred pounds and in place thereof made fair sâ—abling for horses He caused the Lead to be taken from the roofs and laid Tyle in place which exchange proved not so profitable as he looked for but rather to his disadvantage for there have been some remarkable judgements upon that Family since On the East side of this Broad street amongst other buildings on the back part of Gresham House which is in Bishopsgate street there are placed eight Alms-houses builded of Brick and Timber by Sir Thomas Gresham Knight for eight Almes-men which be now there placed rent-free and receive each of them by his gift six pound thirteen shillings four pence yearly for ever Next unto Pawlet House is the Parish Church of Saint Peter the poor so called for a difference from other of that name sometime peradventure a poor Parish but at this present there be many fair Houses possessed by rich Marchants and others In this little Church there be some fair Monuments one of Sir Thomas Lowe and another of Sir VVilliam Garaway with Iohn Lucas Esquire of Colchester Then next have ye the Augustine Fryers Church and Church-yard the entring thereunto by a South gate to the West Porch a large Church having a most fine spired Steeple small high and streight that there are few the like founded by Humphrey Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex in the year one thousand two hundred fifty three Râ—egnald Cobham gave this Messuage in London to the enlarging thereof in the year one thousand three hundred fourty four Humphrey Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex re-edified this Church in the year 1354 whose Body was there buried in the Quire The small spired Steeple of this Church was overthrown by tempest of wind in the year one thousand three hundred sixty two but was raised of new as still it might have stood had not private benefit the only devourer of Antiquity pull'd it down Both that goodly Steeple and all that East part of the Church hath lately been taken down and Houses for one mans commodity raised in the place whereby London hath lost so goodly an ornament and times hereafter may more talk of it This House was valued at fifty seven pounds and was surrendred the twelfth of November the 13 of Henry the 8. There were many great Monuments in this Fryers Church one of Edmond first son to Ioan mother to Richard the second Guy de Meryke Earl of Saint Paul Lucie Countesse of Kent Richard the great Earl of Arundel Surrey VVarren Sir Francis Atcourt Earl of Pembrooke Iohn Vere Earle of Oxford with Aubery de Vere his son the Lady of Bedford with Edward Duke of Buckingham and very many more persons of quality On the South side and at West end of this Church many fair houses are builded namely in Throgmorton street one very large and spacious builded in the place of old and small Tenements by Thomas Cromwel Master of the Kings Jewel-house after that Master of the Rolls then Lord Cromwell Knight Lord Privie Seal Vicar General Earl of Essex high Chamberlain of England c. This house being finished and having some reasonable plot of ground left for a Garden he caused the pales of the Gardens adjoyning to the North part thereof on a sudden to be taken down two and tweâ—ty foot to be measured forth-right into the North of every mans ground a Line there to be drawn a Trench to be cast a foundation laid and an high Brick Wall to be builded and this was suddenly and no warning given nor other answer but when any spake to the Surveyers of that work they said their Master Sir Thomas commanded them so to do so that no man durst go to argue the matter but each man lost his Land Thus the sudden rising of some men causeth them to forget themselves The Company of Drapers in London bought this House and now the same is their Common Hall This Company obtained of King Henry the sixth in the seventeenth of his Reign to be incorporate Iohn Gedney was chosen to be their first Master and the four Wardens were Iohn VVotton I. Darby Robert Breton and T. Cooke The Armes granted to the said
Edward the black Prince sonne to Edward the third who was in his life time lodged there and 't was called the Prince of VVales his Court which was afterward for a long time a common Hostry having the sign of the Black Bell. Of the Eleventh Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Candle-wick Ward WE will now see what light Antiquity can give us of Candle-wick street or Candle-wright street Ward It beginneth at the East end of great East-cheap it passeth West through East-cheap to Candle-wright street and thorough the same down to the North end of Suffolk Lane on the South side and down that Lane by the West end of St. Lawrence Church-yard which is the farthest West part of that Ward the street of Great East-cheap is so called of the Market there kept in the East part of the City as VVest-cheap is a Market so called being in the West This East-Cheap is now a Flesh-market of Butchers there dwelling on both sides of the street it had sometime also Cooks mixed amongst the Bâ—tchers and such other as sold Victuals ready dressed of all sorts For of old time when friends did meet and were disposed to be merry they never went to dine and Sup in Taverns but to the Cooks where they called for meat what them liked 〈◊〉 they alwayes sound ready dressed and at a reasonable rate for Vintners 〈◊〉 â—old onâ—y Wine In the year 1410. the eleventh of Henry the fourth upon the Even of Saint Iohn Baptist the Kings Sonnes Thomas and Iohn being in East-Cheape at Supper or rather at break-fast for it was after the Watch was broken up betwixt two and three a Clock after mid-night a great debate happened between their men and other of the Court which lasted one houre till the Maior and Sheriffs with other Citizens appeaâ—â—d the same For the which afterwards the said Maior Aldermen and Sheriffs were called to answer before the King his Sons and divers Lords being highly moved against the City At which time William Gascoignâ— chief Justice required the Maior and Aldermen for the Citizens to put them in the Kings Grace whereunto they answered that they had not offended but according to the Law had done their best in stinting debate and maintaining of the peace upon which answer the King remitted all his Ire and dismissed them And to prove this East-Cheape to be a place replenished with Cooks it may appear by a Song called London lick-penny made by Lidgate a Monk of Bury in the Reign of Henry the fifth in the person of a Country-man comming to London and travelling thorough the same In West-Cheape saith the Song he was called on to buy fine Lawn Paris Thred Cotton Umble and other linnen Clothes and such like he speaketh of no silk In Corn-hill to buy old Apparel and Houshold-stuffe where he was forced to buy his own Hood which he had lost in Westminster-hall In Candlewright-street Drapers proâ—cred him Cheap Cloth In East-Cheape the Cooks cryed hot Ribs of Beef rosted Pies well baked and other Victuals There was clattering of Pewter-Pots Harp Pipe and Sawtry yea by cock nay by cock for greater Oaths were spared some sang of Ienkin and Julian c. All which Melody liked well the Passenger but he wanted money to abide by it and therefore gat him into Gravesend-Barge and home into Kent Candlewright so called in old Records of the Guild-hall of St. Mary Overies and other or Candlewick-street took that name as may be supposed either of Chaundlers or Makers of Candles both of Wax and Tallow for Candle-wright is a Maker of Candles and of Wick which is the Cotton or yarn thereof or otherwise which is the place where they used to work them as scalding wick by the Stocks-Market was called of the Poulterers dressing and scalding their Poultry there And in divers Countries Dairy-houses or Cottages wherein they make Butter and Cheese are usually called Wickes There dwelled also of old time divers Weavers of Woollen Clothes brought in by Edward the 3d for I read that in the four and twentieth of his Reign the Weavers brought out of Flanders were appointed their meetings to be in the Church-yard of St. Lawrence Poultney and the Weavers of Brabant in the Church-yard of St. Mary Sommerset There were then in this City Weavers of divers sorts to wit of Drapery or Tapery and Nappery these Weavers of Candlewicke street being in short time worn out their place is now possessed by rich Drapers Sellers of Woollen Cloth c. On the Northside of this Ward at the West end of East-Cheape have ye St. Clements Lane a part whereof on both sides is of Candlewicke street Ward to wit somewhat North beyond the Parish Church of St. Clement in East-cheape Though this Church be small yet there are some comely Monuments in it among others of William Chartney and William Overy who founded a Chantry there Next is St. Nicholas Lane for the most part on both sides of this Ward almost to St. Nicholas Church Then is Abchurch Lane which is on both sides almost wholly of this Ward the Parish Church there called of St. Mary Abchurch Apechurch or Upchurch as I have read it standeth somewhat near unto the South end thereof on a rising ground It is a fair Church Simon de Winchcombe sounded a Chauntery there the 19th of Richard the Littletonâ—ounded â—ounded another and Thomas Hondon another Here are likewise some remarkable Monuments particularly of Sir Iames and Sir Iohn Branch both Lord Mayors of London about the year 1570. On the South side of this Ward beginning again at the East is St. Michaels lane which lane is almost wholly of this Ward on both sides down towards Thames street to a Well or Pump there on the East side of this Lane is Crooked Lane aforesaid by St. Michaels Church towards New Fishstreet One of the most ancient Houses in this Lane is called the Leaden Porch and belonged sometime to Sir John Merston Knight the first of Edward the 4th It is now called the Swan in Crooked Lane possessed of strangers and retailing of Rhenish Wine The Parish Church of this St. Michaels was sometime but a small and homely thing standing upon part of that ground wherein now standeth the Parsonage House and the ground thereabout was a filthy plot by reason of the Butchers in East-Cheape who made the same their Lay-stall VV. de Burgo gave two Messuages to that Church in Candlewick street 1317. John Loveken Stock-fish monger fout times Maior builded in the same ground this fair Church of St. Michael and was there buried in the Quire under a fair Tombe with the Images of him and his Wise in Alabaster the said Church hath bin since increased with a new Quire and side Chappels by Sir W. Walworth Stock-fishmonger Maior sometime Servant to the said John Loveken Also the Tombe of Loveken was removed and a flat stone of gray marble garnished with Plates of Copper laid on him as it
of the Bath in the yeer 1432 purchased the Patronage of this Church from John Duke of Bedford Unkle to Henry the sixth and Edward the fourth in the second of his Reign gave it to Sir Richard Lee then Mayor who ileth there hansomely entomb'd having bin twice Lord Maior with divers others Lower down from this Parish Church be â—ivers fair houses namely one wherein of late Sir Richard Baker a Knight of Kent was lodged and wherein also dwelled Mr. Thomas Gore a Merchant famous for Hospitality On the West side of this VValbrook street over against the Stocks Market is a part of the High street called the Poultry On the South side West till over against Saint Mildreds Church and the Scalding wike is of this Ward Then down again Wallbrook street some small distance in Buckles Bury a street so called of Buckle that sometime was owner thereof part of which street on both sides three or four Houses to the course of the Brook is of this Ward and so down VValbrook street to the South corner from whence West down Budge row some small distance to an Alley and thorow that Alâ—ey South by the West end of St. Johns Church upon VValbrook by the South side and East end of the same again to VValbrook corner This Parish Church is called St John upon VValbrook because the West end thereof is on the very bank of Walbrook by Horshooe Bridge in Horshooe-Bridge street This Church was also lately new builded for about the year 1412 Licence was granted by the Mayor and Communalty to the Parson and Parish for the inlarging thereof with a piece of ground on the North part of the Quire one and twenty foot in length seventeen foot in breadth and three inches and on the South side of the Quite one foot of the common soyle On the South side of Walbrook Ward from Candle-wick street in the mid-way between London-stone and Walbrook corner is a little Lane with a Turn-Pike in the middest thereof and in the same a hansome Parish Church called S. Mary Bothaw or Boat-Haw by the Erbar This Church being near unto Downgate on the River of Thames hath the addition of Bothaw or Boat-haw of near adjoyning to an Haw or Yard wherein of old time Boats were made and landed from Downgate to be mended as may be supposed for other reason I find none why it should be so called This Church hath one remarkable thing in it viz. The Monument of the first Lord May or of London Sir Henry Fitz Alwin His dwelling House remains yet in the Parish but divided to divers Tenements Mr. Stow relates that he was buried in the holy Trinity within Algate but it is far more probable that he was buried here because his Armsâ— are both upon the Gravestone and the Windows Of the Thirteenth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Dowgate Ward WE will now following the thred of our Discourse descend to Downgate Ward which beginneth at the South end of Wallbrook Ward over against the East corner of St. Iohns Church upon Walbrook and descendeth on both the sides to Downgate or Dowgate on the Thames and is so called of that down going or descending thereunto and of this Downgate the Ward taketh name This Ward turneth into Thames street Westward some ten Houâ—es on a side to the course of Walbrooke but East in Thames street on both sides to Ebgate Lane or Old Swan the Land-side whereof hath many Lanes turning up as shall be shewed when we come to them But first to begin with the High street called Dowgate at the upper end thereof is a fair Conduit of Thames Water castellated and made in the year 1568 at the charges of the Citizens and is called the Conduit upon Dowgate The descent of this streâ—t is such that in the year 1574 on the fourth of September in the afternoon there fell a storm of rain where-through the Channels suddenly aroâ—e and ran with such a swift course towards the Common-shores that a Lad of eighteen years old minding to have leapt over the Channel near unto the said Conduit was taken with the stream and carried from thence towards the Thames with such a violence that no man with staves or otherwise could stay him till he came against a Cart-wheele that stood in the said Water-gate before which time he was drowned and stark dead On the West side of this street is Tallow-Chandlers Hall a hansome house which Company was incorporated in the second year of Edward the fourth Somewhat lower standeth the Skinners Hall a fair house which was sometimes called Copped Hall by Downgate in the Parish of St. John upon Wallbrook In the nineteenth year of Edward the second Ralph Cobham possessed it with five shops c. This Company of Skinners in London was incorporate by Edward the third in the first of his Reign they had two Brotherhoods of Corpus Christi viz. one at St. Mary Spittle the other at St. Mary Bethlem without Bishopsgate Richard the second in the eighteenth of his Reign granted them to make their two Brotherhoods one by the name of the Fraternity of Corpus Christi of Skinners divers Royal persons were named to be Founders and Brethren of this Fraternity to wit Kings six Dukes nine Earls two Lords one Kâ—ngs Edward the third Richard the second Henry the fifth Henry the sixth and Edward the fourth This Fraternity had also once every year on Corpus Christi day afternoon a a proâ—ession which passed through the principal streets of the City wherein was borne more than one hundred Torches of Wax costly garnished burning light and above two hundred Clerks and Priests in Surplesses and Coaps singing After the which were the Sheriffs servants the Clarks of the Compters Chaplains for the Sheriffs the Mayors Sergeants the Councel of the City the Mayor and Aldermen in Scarlet and then the Skinners in their best Liveries Then lower was a Colledge of Priests called Jesus Commons a House well furnished with Brasse Pewter Napery Plate c. besides a fair Library well stored with Books all which of old time were given to a number of Priests that should keep Commons there and as one left his pâ—ace by death or otherwise another should be admitted into his room but this Order within these 70. years being discontinued the said House was dissolved and turned into Tenements Down lower have ye Elbowe Lane and at the corner thereof was one great Stone-house called Old-hall it is now taken down and divers fair Houses of Timber placed there This was sometimes pertaining to William de pont le Arch and by him given the Priory of St. Mary Overy in Southwark in the Reign oâ— Henry the first In this Elbow-lane is the Inholders Hall and other fair Houses this Lane runneth West and suddenly turneth South into Thames-street and therefore of that bending is called Elbow-lane on the East side of this Downgate-street is the great old House before spoken of
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
remaining on the South side of the street which of late time hath been called the Old Barge of such a signe hanged out near the Garte thereof This Mannor or great House hath of long time bin divided and letten out into mâ—ny Tenements and it hath bin a common Speech that when Wallbrook did lie open Barges were rowed out of the Thames or towed up so far and therefore the place hath ever since bin called the Old Barge Also on the North side of this street directly over against the said Bucklesbury was one ancient and strong Tower of Stone the which Tower King Edward the third in the eighteenth of his Reign called by the name of the Kings house and Cornet Stoure in London and â—id appoint his Exchange of money there to be kept In the nine and twentieth he granted it to Frâ—idus Guynysane and Landus Bardaile Marchants of Luke for twenty pound the year And in the three and twentieth he gave the same Tower to his Colledge or Free Chappel of St. Stephen at VVestmister by the name of Cornet Stoure at Bucklesbury in London This whole street called Buckles bury on both the sides throughout is possessed of Grocers and Apothecaries toward the West end thereof on the South side breaketh out one other short lane called in Records Peneritch-street it reacheth but to St. Sythes lane and St. Sythes Church is the farthest part thereof for by the West end of the said Church beginneth Needles Lane which reacheth to Sopers Lane as is aforesaid This small Parish Church of St. Syth hath also an addition of Bennet Shorne or Shrog or Shorehog for by all these names it hath bin called but the ancient is Shorne wherefore it seemeth to take that name of one Benedict Shorne sometime a Citizen and Stock-fishmonger of London a new Builder repairer or Benefactor thereof in the year of Edward the second so that Shorne is but corruptly called Shrog and more corruptly Shorehog Here are divers Monuments and among other the Tomb of Sir Raph Vâ—arren Knight Alderman twice Lord Maior of London and Marchant of the Staple at Callis with his two Wives Anno 1553. Then in Needlers Lane have ye the Parish Church of St. Pancrase a proper small Church but divers rich Parishioners therein and hath had of old time many liberal Benefactors But of late such as not regarding the Order taken by Queen Elizabeth the least Bell in their Church being broken have rather sold the same for half the value then put the Parish to charge with new casting late experience hath proved this to be true besides the spoil of Monuments there This little Church hath also some handsome Monuments Then is a part of Sopers-lane turning up to Cheap By the assent of Stephen Abunden Maior the Pepperers in Sopers lane were admitted sell all such Spices and other Wares as Grocers now use to sell retaining the old name of Pepperers in Sopers lane till at length in the Reign of Henry the sixth the same Sopers lane was inhabited by Cordwayners and Curriers after that the Pepperers or Grocers had seated themselves in a more open street to wit in Buckles bury where they now remain Thus much for the South Wing of Cheap-Ward At the West end of this Poultry and also of Bucklers bury beginneth the large street of West Cheaping a Market place so called which street siretcheth West till ye come to the little Conduit by Pauls Gate but not all of Cheap Ward In the East part of this street standeth the Great Conduit of Sweet-water conveyed by Pipes of Lead under ground from Paddington for service of this City castellated with stone and Cisterned in Lead about the year 1285 and again new builded and enlarged by Thomas Ilam one of the Sheriffs 1479. About the middest of this street is the Standard in Cheape of what Antiquity the first foundation is I have not read But Henry the sixth by his Patent dated at Windsor the one and twentieth of his Reign which Patent was confirmed by Parliament 1442 granted Licence to Thomas Knolles Iohn Chichle and other Executers to Iohn Wells Grocer sometime Maior of London with his Goods to make new the high-way which leadeth from the City of London towards the place of Westminster before and nigh the Mannor of Savoy parcel of the Dutchey of Lancaster a way then very ruinous and the Pavement broken to the hurt and mischiâ—f of the Subjects which old Pavement then remaining in that way within the length of five hundred foot and all the breadth of the same before and nigh the fire of the Manner aforesaid they were to break up and with Stone Gravel and other stuffe make one other good and sufficient way for the Commodity of the Subjects And further that the Standard in Cheape where divers Executions of the Law before time had bin performed which Standard at that preâ—ent was very ruinous with age in which there was a Cond it should be taken down and another competent Standard of Stone together with a Conduit in the same of new strongly to be builded for the Commodity and honour of the City with the goods of their Testator without interruption c. Of Executions at the Standard in Cheape we read that in the year 1293. three men had their right hands smitten off there for rescuing of a Prisoner arrested by an Officer of the City In the year 1326 the Burgesses of London caused Walter Stapleton Bishop of Exceter Treasurer to Edward the second and others to be beheaded at the Standard in Cheap but this was by Pauls Gate In the year 1351 the six and twentieth of Edward the third two Fishmongers were beheaded at the Standard in Cheap 1381 wat Tylar beheaded Richard Lyons and others there In the year 1â—99 Henry the fourth caused the Blank Charters made by Richard the â—econd to be burnt there In the year 1450 Iack Cade Captain of the Kentish Rebels beheaded the Lord Say there In the year 1461 Iohn Davy had his hand stricken off there because he had stricken a man before the Judges at Westminster c. Then next is the great Crosse in VVest Cheap which Crosse was there erected in the year 1290 by Edward the first upon occasion thus Queen Elianor his Wise dyed at Hardeby a Town near unto the City of Lincoln her Body was brought from thence to VVestminster and the King in memory of her caused in every place where her Body rested by the way a stately Crosse of Stone to be erecteâ— with the Queens Image and Arms upon it as at Grantham VVoborn Northampton Stony-stratford Dunstable St. Albones VValtham VVest-Cheape and at Charing from whence she was conveyed to VVestminster and there buried This Crosse in VVest-Cheape being like to those other which remain to this day and being by length of time decayed Iohn Hatherley Mayor of London procured in the year 1441 Licence of King Henry the sixth to re-edifie the same in more beautiful manner for the
the field one of the fairest rising street in the World From Newgate on the left hand lyeth the Old Bayley and so down by Sea-cole and Fleet-lane we passe then over the common Sewer up to Shooe-lane and so to Fewter-lane now vulgarly called Fetter-lane but betwixt these two Lanes there is another new street butted out by the Company of Goldsmiths called Newstreet where there is a knot of very handsome Buildings Above the Barres there was a House of the Templers but they removed thence to Fleetstreet There was also adjoyning thereunto the Bishop of Lincolns House which was very ancient for the Records say 't was built Anno 1147. But of late years it hath belonged to the Noble Earls of Southhampton And lately it hath bin quite taken down and turned to several private Tenements as Durham House is in the Strand Insomuch that if one should ask what God Almighty doth now in London he might as the pulse of the 〈◊〉 beats give the same answer that was given by the Pagan Philosopher who being demanded what Iupiter did in Heaven he said Magnas ollas rumpâ—t ex frustis earum parvas componit Jupiter breaks great Vessels and makes small ones of their peeces Side long of this ancient House of the Bishop of Lincoln is Newstreet for so it was called at first but now 't is called Chancery-lane where Edward the third annexed the House of converted Jews to the Office of Custos Rotulorum Here the Cursitors Office was built by Sir Nicholas Bacon Lord Keeper of the great Seal Here also is the six Clarks Office which is a fair convenient peece of stone and Brick Building newly erected the old being consumed by a casual fire of late years The Bishop of Chicester Ralph Nevil had much ground given him thereabouts by Henry the third which now is become all Tenements thick built and quite alienated Then is Lincolns Inne very much encreased in building it appertained sometimes to the said Ralph Nevil Bishop of Chicester Lord Chancellor of England having bin before the House of the Black-Fryers and after the decease of the said Bishop Nevil Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln Constable of Chester and Custos of England added much building to this place and Sir Thomas Lovel did also add much thereunto in Henry the eighth's time but now it is one of the foure Inns of Court for the Students in the Law Behind Lincolns Inne Westward is a spacious field where many fair Houses or rather Palaces are taken up by the Gentry Then is there towards Drewry Lane a new Market called Clare Market then is there a street and Palace of the same name built by the Earl of Clare who lives there in a princely manner having a House a street and a Market both for flesh and fish all bearing his name There was something omitted which should have bin spoken of the Church of St. Giles of the Field which is that being a very ancient Church and so decayed that it could not be repaired a new one was erected partly out of the ruines of the old which work was begun and finished in two years and a while after the fair Brick Wall that encompasseth it There were divers well disposed persons who contributed to so pious a work but specially the Lady Alice Duddeley according to that which is engraven upon the North door in pure and ponderous Latine which I thought therefore worthy to be here inserted Quod faelix faustumque sit posteris Hoc Templum loco Veteris ex Annosa vetustate Collapsi mole et splendore auctum multa Paraecorum Charitas Restauravit In quibus pientissimae Heroinae Dom. Aliciae Duddeley Munificentia gratum marmoris hujus meretur eloquium Huc etiam accessit aliorum pletas Quibus provisae sunt grates In Coelo Heus viator an effaetum est bonâ—s Operibus Hoc Saeculum From the North end of Chancery Lane is High Holborn which extends up to St. Giles in the Field where the famous devout Queen Matilda did found an Hospital as she did Eastward St. Katherines beyond the Tower At this Hospital the Prisoners conveyed from London to Tyborn were used to be presented with a Bowl of Ale for their last refreshment in this life and it was commonly called St. Giles's Bowl Then is there a spacious fair street called Long Acre and then Pickadilly full of fair Houses round about Thus have we as succinctly as we could avoiding superfluities and unnecessary trivial things spoken of the Skirts of London and the places thereunto annexed without the Gates and now Navigeâ— hinc alâ—â— jam mihi linter aqua I mean let us steer now to the City of VVestminster Of the Savoy the Dutchy and City of Westminster with the Antiquities the Tribunals of Iustice and Liberties thereunto belonging HAving taken so fair a Prospect and finished the perlustration of London It were a high Incivility and a soloecism in good manners or rather a Piacle not to give VVestminster also a visit being so near and contiguous a Neighborr It is true that they were once above a mile asunder but by insenâ—â—bâ—e coalition and recruit of people they came at last to be united and incorporated into one continued peece in point of posture though not of Government And the Union with Scotland did not a little conduce to make this Union â—twixt London and VVestminster For the Scots multiplying here mightily neasâ—ed themseâ—ves about the Court so that the Strand from mud Walls and thatched Houses came to that perfection of Buildings as now we see Moreover the City of VVestminster hath divers Magnalia's which may deserve as exact a view as any within London for if London of old had her Temple of Diana VVestmâ—nster had one to a greater Deity which was Apollo And since in those very places is St. Paul hath his Church in London St. Peter the Prince of the Apostles hath his in VVestminster which was used to keep the Regalia's and the Crown Add hereunto that if London hath her Guild-hall and the Hustings VVestminster hath the great Praetorian or common Hall where the chief Courts and general Tribunals of Justice do make their Sessions though to her high prayâ—e be it spoken London hath a far more expedite way of doing Justice and determination of cauâ—es then Westminster hath besides in point of safety and strength if London hath her Artillery Garden Westminster hath her Military And in point of Extent and Government if London hath her six and twenty Wards and so many Aldermen Westminster also hath her Twelve Burgesses and so many distinct Wards but for the quality of Inhabitants London muâ—t vayl to her most of the Nobility and Gentry residing in or about her Precincts Moreover in one particular Westminster may claim a great advantage of London in regard as the Royal Court once was so the residence of the Soveraign Magistrate is still there Insomuch that Westminster may well glory of three things That she hath the chiefest
Sheriffs and other Accounts keep their day of prefixion 6. The green Was is certified into this Office and by him delivered to the Clerk of the Estreats 7. There ought to be brought into this Office all the Accounts of Customers Controulers and all other to make an entry of Record in this Office to avoid delay and concealments The Oath of the Barons of the Exchequer consists of ten parts First That he shall well and truly serve in the Office of Baron 2. That truly he shall charge and discharge all manner of people as well poor as rich 3. That for Higness nor for Riches nor for hatred nor for any deed gift or promise of any person which is made unto him nor by craft engine he shall let the Kings right 4. He shall not let disturbe or respite contrary to the Lawes of the Land the Right of any other person 5. He shall not put in respite the Kings Debts where goodly they may be levied 6. That he shall speed the Kings need before others 7. That neither for gift wages nor good deed he shall layn disturb nor let the profit or reasonable advantage of the King in the advantage of any other Person nor of himself 8. That nothing he shall take of any Person to do wrong or right to delay or deliver or to delay the people that have to do before him that as hastily as he may them goodly to deliver without hurt of the King c. 9. Where he may know any wrong or prejudice to be done to the King he shall put and do all his power and diligence that to redresse 10. The Kings Counsel he shall keep and layne in all things In the Exchequer Chamber all cases of difficulty either in the Kings bench or the Common Pleas were used to be debated argued and resolved by all the Judges of England and the Exchequer Barons The Treasurer of the Kings Chamber and the Keeper of the privy purse with such domestick Offices of the Kings House are not subject to this Court of Exchequer This Court was first erected for the particular profit and service of the Soveraign Prince And this profit is mediat or immediat Immediat as of Lands Rents Franchises Hereditaments Debts Duties Accounts Goods Chatrels and other profits and benefits whatsoever due unto the Soveraign Prince Mediate as the priviledge of the Officers and Ministers of the Court for two things do principally support the jurisdiction of a Court as my Lord Coke hath it first the preservation of the dignity thereof and then the due attendance of the Officers and Ministers of the same The chief Baron is created by Letters Patents and the Office is granted Quamdiu se bene gesserit wherein he hath a more fixed estate it being an estate of life than the Justices of other Benches have who are durante beneplacito And in like manner are the rest of the Barons constituted with the Patents of the Attorney General and Solicitor There is a Court called the Court of Equity in the Exchequer Chamber The Iudges of this Court are the Lord Treasurer the Chancelor of the Exchequer and the Barons Their jurisdiction is as large for matter of Equity as the Barons of the Exchequer have for the benefit of the King by the common Law but if in either Court they hold any Plea that doth not concern the profit of the King there lieth a Prohibition To conclude there are seven Courts that belong to the Exchequer 1. The Court of Pleas or of the Barons 2. The Court of Accounts 3. The Court of Receits 4. The Court of the Exchequer Chamber being the Assembly of all the Iudges of England for matters in Law 5. The Court of Exchequer for Errors in the Court of Exchequer 6. A Court in the Exchequer Chamber for Errors in the Kings Bench. 7. The Court of Equity spoken of a little before But touching all the Officers either coordinate or inferior that belong to the Exchequer and the Revenues Customes perquisits of the Soveraign Prince they are very many far more in number than in any other Court as was touched before yet nothing so numerous as those Financiers and swarm of other Officers which belong to the Revenues of France which are so many that their fees being payed there comes not a Quardecu in every Crown clearly to the Kings Coffers which is but the fourth part But there is one publick advantage in it that thousands of younger Brothers and others have a handsome subsistance to carry themselves hereby in the garbe and equipage of men OF THE COURT OF ADMIRALTY HAving thus made some inspections into so many Courts we must not pretermit the Court of Admiralty for Great Britain being an Island which makes the Sea and Woodden Castles to be her chiefest Conservators the Court of Admiralty may be said to be more pertinent and necessary to her then to divers other States therefore the Lord High Admiral is by the Law of England one of the four Officers of the Crown with the Lord Chancelor the Lord Treasurer and Lord privy Seal Some hold the Etymology of Admirall to come from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth Salsugo maris the saltness of the Sea others derive it from Ammir an Arabian word which signifieth a King or Emperor And some would have it to come from the low Dutch Aen-meer-all which signifie on the Sea all The Reader according as his own judgement leads him may adhere to which he please for I know of none that have positively asserted which is the truest But to know the nature and jurisdiction of this Court it will conduce very much if we insert here certain grievances which the Lord Admiral presented in the 8th year of K. Iames concerning Prohibitions granted by the Judges of the Courts of Westminster against the Jurisdiction and Prerogatives of this Court with the answer which the Judges returned to every point 1. The first Objection was that whereas the cognizance of all Contracts and other things done upon the Sea belongeth to the Admirals jurisdiction the same are made tryable at the common Law as if they had bin done in Cheapside and such places The Judges of Westminster-Hall answered that by the Lawes of the Realm the Court of the Admiral hath no cognizance power or jurisdiction of any manner of Contract plea or querele within any County of the Realm either upon the Land or the water but every Contract Plea or querele and all other things arising in any County of the Realm either upon the Land or the water and also Wrecks of the Sea ought to be tryed discussed determined and remedied by the common Lawes of the Land and not before or by the Admiral or his Lieutenant in any manner so that it is not material whether the place be upon the water intra fluxum refluxum aqua or whether it be upon any other water within the precincts of a County But the said
eighths time the Tower was eâ—er and anon full of prisoners among others Sir Thomas More Lord Chancellor of England was clap'd there close Prisoner and at last they took away from him all his Books so he did shut up all his windows and liv'd afterwards in obscurity and being asked Why he answered 'T is time to shut up shop when the Ware is all gone At his first entrance to the Tower the Gentleman Porter ask'd for his fee which is the upper Garment whereupon Sir Thomas pull'd off his Cap to give him but that not suffâ—â—ing he pull'd out a handful of Angels end gave him a good many a Knight that was in his Company telling him that he was glad to see him so full of Angels yes answered he I love to carry my friends alwayes about me The young Lady Iane was beheaded there not long after and upon the Scaffold she made a most ingenious Speech and full of pity That she came thither to serve for an example to posterity that innocence cannot be any protection against greatness And that she was come thither not for aspiring to a Crown but for not refusing one when it was offered Her Queen Elizabeth was brought up many years in that School of affliction but afterwards she may be said to have gone from the Scaffold to the Throne For the truth is that the Scaffold had made an end of her had not King Philip her Brother in Law strongly interceded for her In her dayes Robert Earl of Essex lost his head in the Tower which he might have kept on many years longer had he not bin betrayed by the Lady Walsingham to whom after the sentence of condemnation he sent a Ring which the Queen had given him as a token that she would stick to him in any danger the Lady delivered not this Ring and being a little after upon her Death-bed she desired to speak with the Queen and having disburthened a great weight which lay upon her Conscience for that act the Queen flung away in a fury and never enjoyed her self perfectly after that time but she would break out often into passion and wring her hands crying O Essex-Essex And this Earl was the last who was executed within the walls of the Tower In King Iames's time for 22 years there was no blood spilt in the Tower or upon Tower-hill only Sir Gervase Elwayes was hanged there when he was Lieutenant and one remarkable passage there was in his Speech upon the Ladder that being in the low Countries and much addicted to gaming he made a vow that if ever he played more above such a value he might be hanged but he did violate the Oath and so the just Judgement of Heaven did fall upon him accordingly as he said The Earl of Castlehaven was brought from the Tower to be executed for horrid kinds of incontinencies in Charles the first time Afterwards in the raign of the long Parliament and ever since the Tower of London hath had more number of Prisoners then it had in the compasse of a hundred years before This stately Tower of London serves not only for a Gaol to detain prisoners but for many other uses It is a strong Fort or Cittadel which secures both City and River It serves not only to defend but to command either upon occasion It serves as a royal Randezvouz for Assemblies and Treaties It is the Treasury for the Jewels and Ornaments of the Crown The great Archive which conserves all the old Records of the Courts of Justice at Westminster It is the place for the Royal Mint and Coynage of Gold and Silver It is the chief Magazin and Armory or Arâ—enal of the whole Land for Martial Engines and Provision There only is the Brake or Rack usually call'd the Duke of Exceters Daughter because he was tâ—e first Inventer of it And lastly It is a great Ornament by the situation of it both to the River and City The City of London hath divers other inferior Towers as that on the North of the great Bridge At the South end over the Gate there is also another Tower over London-Bridge which hath suffered many accidents of firing and otherwise and was still made up by the care and charge of the City specially one time when it was under bastard Fawconbridge burnt by the Marriners and Saylers of Kent The Antiquaries speak of two Castles that were in the West part of London one call'd the Castle of Monfiquet which was built by a Baron of that name who came over with the Conqueror which was afterwards demolished and the Black Fryers risen up out of the ruines of it The second Castle is Baynards Castle by Pauls Wharf built also by one Baynard who came over with the Conqueror who being ennobled the honour of Baynards Castle succeeded from Father to Son a long time till it came to Sir Robert Fitzwater a valiant Cavalier who being fallen into the displeasure of King Iohn in the Barons Warres was banished and Baynards Castle destroyed But afterwards being restâ—red to the Kings favour by an exployt he did in France he was re-invested in all his Livings and so repair'd Baynards Castle again Moreover he was made chief Banner-bearer of the City of London whereof he had a Charter which ran to this sense That he said Robert Fitzwater and his Heirs ought to be and are chief Bannerers of London in fee for the Chastilary which he and his Ancestors had from Baynards Castle and the said City In time of War the said Robert and his Heires ought to serve the City as followeth The said Robert he being the twentieth man of Armes himself ought to come on Horseback covered with Cloth or Armor under the great West door of St. Paul with his Banner displayed before him and when he is come mounted to that door and apparreld as before is said The Maior with the Aldermen and Sheriffs in their Arms shall come out of the Church of St. Paul unto the said West door the Maior bearing a Banner in his hand all on foot which Banner shall be Gules the Image of St. Paul Gold the face hands feet and Sword Argent And as soon as the said Robert shall see the Maior Aldermen and Sheriffs come on foot out of the Church armed with such a Banner he shall alight off his Horse and salute the Maior and say to him Sir Maior I am come to do my service which I owe to the City whereunto the Maior and Aldermen shall answer We give to you as to our Bannerer of fee in this City the Banner of this City to beare and govern to the honour and profit of this City to your power And the said Robert and his Heires shall receive the said Banner in his hands and shall go on foot out of the Gate with the Banner in his hands and the Maior Aldermen and Sheriffs shall follow to the door and shall bring a Horse to the said Bannerer worth twenty pounds which Horse
may bear your Body Cloke This Shaft was not raised any time since evil May-day so called of an insurrection made by Prentices and other young persons against Aliens in the year 1517. but the said Shaft was laid along over the doors and under the Pentises of one rowe of Houses and Alley-gate called of the Shaft Shaft-Alley being of the possessions of Rochester-bridge in the Ward of Limestreet It was there I say hanged on Iron hooks many years till the third of King Edward the sixth That one Sir Steven Curate of St. Katherine Christs Church preaching at Pauls Crosse said there that this Shaft was made an Idoll by naming the Church of St. Andrew with the addition of Under-shaft he perswaded therefore that the names of Churches might be altered Also that the names of the dayes in the week might be changed the Fish dayes to be kept any dayes except Friday and Saturday and the Lent any time save only betwixt Shrovetide and Easter This man forsaking the Pulpit of his said Parish Church would preach out of an high Elm Tree in the midst of the Church-yard And then entring the Church forsaking the Altar to have sung his High Masse in English upon a Tomb of the Dead towards the North But his Sermon at Pauls Crosse took such effect that in the Afternoon of that present Sunday the Neighbors and Tenants to the said Bridge over whose doors the said Shaft had lain after they had dined to make themselves strong gathered more help and with great labor raising the Shaft from the Hooks whereon it had rested two and thirty years they sawed it in pieces every man taking for his share so much as had lain over his door and stall the length of his house and they of the Alley divided amongst them so much as had lain over their Alley gate Thus was his Idoll as he termed it mangled and after burned Soon after was there a commotion of the Commons in Norfolk Suffolk Essex and other Shires by means whereof streight Orders being taken for the suppression of rumors divers persons were apprehended and executed by Marshal Law amongst the which the Bayliffe of Rumford in Essex was one a man very well beloved he was early in the morning of Mary Magdalens day then kept Holy-day brought by the Sheriffs of London and the Knight-Marshall to the Well within Aldgate there to be executed upon a Gibbit set up that morning where being on the Ladder he had words to this effect â—ood People I am come hither to die but know not for what offence except for words by me spoken yester night to Sir Stephen Curate and Preacher of this Parish which were these He asked me what newes in the Country I answered Heaâ—y newes why quoth he It is said quoth I that many men be up in Essex But thanks be to God all is in good quiet about us and this was all as God be my Iudge c. Thus much by the By. Now again to the Parish Church of St. Andrew Under Shaft for it still retaineth the name which hath bin new builded by the Parishioners since the year 1520. every man putting to his helping hand some with their purses others with their Bodies Stephen Iennings Marchant-Taylor sometimes Mayor of London caused at his charges to be builded the whole North side of the great middle I le both of the Body and Quire as appeareth by his Arms over every Pillar graven and also the North I le which he roofed with Timber and seeled Also the whole South side of the Church was glazed and the Pewes in the South Chappel made of his Costs as appeareth in every Window and upon the said Pewes He deceased in the year 1524. and was buried in the Grey Fryers Church John Kirby Marchant-Taylor sometimes one of the Sheriffs John Garland Marchant-Taylor and Nicholas Levison Mercer Executor to Garland were great Benefactors to this work which was finished to the glazing in the year 1529. and fully finished 1532. Now in the second way from Aldgate more toward the South from the Well or Pump aforesaid sieth Fenne-Church street on the right hand whereof somewhat West from the South end of Belzetters lane is Ironmongers-Hall which Company was incorporated in the third of Edward the fourth Richard Flemming was their first Master Nicholas Marshall and Richard Cox were Custodes or Wardens And on the left hand or South side even by the Gate and Wall of the City runneth down a Lane to the Tower-Hill the South part whereof is called Woodroof-Lane and out of this Lane toward the West a street called Hart-street In this street at the South-East Corner thereof sometime stood one house of Crowched or Crossed Fryers founded by Ralph Hosier and William Sabernes about the year 1298. Stephen the tenth Prior of the Holy Trinity in London granted three Tenements for 13 s. 8 d. by the year unto the said Ralph Hosiar and William Saburnes who afterwards became Fryers of S. Crosse. Adam was the first Prior of that house These Fryers founded their house in the place of certain Tenements purchased of Rich. Wimblush the 12th Prior of the Holy Trinity in the year 1319. which was confirmed by Edward the third the seventeenth of his Raign valued at 52 l. 13 s. 4 d. surrendred the 12th of Novemb the 30. of Henry the 8th In place of this Church is now a Carpenters yard a Tennis-Court and such like the Fryers Hall was made a Glasse-house or house wherein was made Glasse of divers sorts to drink in which house in the year 1575. on the fourth of September burst out into a terrible fire where all meanes possible being practised to quench it notwithstanding as the same house in a small time before had consumed a great quantity of Wood by making of Glasses Now it self having within it about 40000 Billets of Wood was also consumed to the stone walls which nevertheless greatly hindred the fire from spreading any further Adjoyning unto this Fryers Church by the East end thereof in Woodroffe Lane towards the Tower-Hill are certain Almes-houses 14. in number builded of Brick and Timber founded by Sir John Milburn Draper sometime Maior 1521. wherein be placed 13. aged poor men and their Wives these have their dwellings rent-free and 2 s. 4 d. a peece the first day of every Moneth for ever Next to these Alms-houses is the Lord Lumleys house builded in the time of King Henry the 8th by Sir Thomas Wiat the Father upon one plot of ground of late pertaining to the aforesaid Crossed Fryers where part of their house stood And this is the farthest of Aldgate VVard toward the South and joyneth to the Tower-Hill the other side of that Lane over against the Lord Lumleys house on the wall side of the City is now for the most part or altogether builded even to Aldgate Then have ye on the South side of Fenne-Church-street over against the wall or Pump amongst other fair and large