Mr. Sutton to affect that House as the only Place whereon to build the Foundation of his Religious Purpose For among other his Christian Determinations he had formerly intended to build an House at Hallingbury-Bouchers in Essex to be an Hospital for such Poor Men and Children as he himself in his life time or future Governors for the same to be Deputed should think fit to be Lodged and Relived there Also for a School-Master and Vsher to Teach Children to Read and Write and instruct them in the Latin and Greek Grammar with a Learned Divine likewise to Preach the Word of God to them all And a Master beside to Govern all those People belonging to that House But finding this Goodly Mansion of the Charter-House to be much more convenient for the purpose he became an earnest Suitor to the Earl of Suffolk to purchase that House of him acquainting his Honour with the alteration of his mind concerning Hallingbury and his earnest Desire to make the Charter-House the Hospital The Earl being Honorably inclin'd to so Godly a motion the Price being concluded on the Bargain and Sale was assured The Sum disburs'd for this purpose amounted to 13000 l. which was Paid down in hand before the unsealing of the Conveyance Then he became Suitor again to his Majesty to perform all that at the Chartor-House which he had formerly intended at Hallingbury Whereto the King readily yielded being Graciously affected to so Charitable a Work and Granted His Letters Patents to the same effect This Gentleman lived always a Batchelor and by sundry Employments and Parsimony grew to great Wealth which he well Employed to his immortal honnour He endowed 〈◊〉 Hospital with above 3000 l. a Year in Land viz. All and singular the Mannors Lordships Messuages Lands Tonements Reversions Services Meadows Pastures Woods Advowsons Patronages of Churches and Hereditaments of the said Thomas Sutton whatsoever Situate lying and being within the County of Essex Lincoln Wilts Cambridg and Middlesex or in any of them with all and every of their Rights Members and Appurtenances whatsoever Except all his Mannors and Lordships of Littlebury and Haddestock with their Appurtenaâ—ces in the County of Essex In this Hospital he placed Fourscore Poor Men with convenient Lodging Dyet and Allowance of Money for Apparel also Forty Poor Children with the like Provision and a Grammar School with a Master and an Vsher to Teach them over all whom he ordained a Learned Man to be Master of the Houshold to be chosen by the Governors whom he appointed for the present by the Authority of the Kings Letters Patents to be George Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Lord Elsemore Lord Chancellor Robert Earl of Salisbury Lord Treasurer John Bishop of London Lancelot Bishop of Ely Sir Edward Cook Chief Justice of the Common Pleas Sir Thomas Foster a Judg of the Common-Pleas Sir Henry Hubbard the Kings Attorney-General Doctor Overal Dean of Pauls Doctor Mountain Dean of Westminster Henry Thursby Esq Master of the Chancery Richard Sutton Esq Auditor of the Impress Geoffery Nightingale Esquire John Low Gentleman Thomas Brown Gentleman and Master of the Houshold for the time being to be always one and as any of those Sixteen Governors should die the Survivors to make present Additions of others Towards the building of this Hospital Chappel and School-House he gave 5000 l. but he lived not to see it performed but what Death bereft him of he left to the performance of his Faithful Executors Mr. Richard Sutton and Mr. John Low Men of Religious and upright Souls who carefully accomplished the Work so that the Monday after Michâ—â—â—mas day being the 3 d of October Anno Dom. 1614. The Captains Gentlemen and Officers entered into their Famous prepared Hospital to the Glory of God Honour of the King's Majesty Credit of the Governors and Joy of Honest minds and the Eternal Fame of the Noble Founder who is laid in a goodly Tomb in the Chappel of his own Hospital With this Inscription Sacred to the Glory of God in Grateful Memory of Thomas Sutton Esquire Here lieth buried the Body of Thomas Sutton late of Castel Camps in the County of Cambridge Esq at whose only Costs and Charges this Hospital was Founded and Endued with large Possessions for the Relief of Poor Men and Children He was a Gentleman born at Knayth in the County of Lincoln of Worthy and Honest Parentage He lived to the Age of 79 Years and Deceased the 12th Day of December Anno Domini 1611. Though we Design to avoid all Prolixity yet 't is hoped it will be Pardoned if we Transcribe an Epitaph made upon this Worthy Man by a Friend to Piety and Goodness for he being a Rare Example challenges as his due Merit a more than ordinary mention When bad Men die the Memory Remains Of their Corruptions and ungodly ways As Merit to their mis-applyed pains Out of ill actions forming as ill praise For Vertue wounded by their deep disgrace Leaves Fame to their posterity and Race When Good Men die the Memory remains Of their true Vertue and most Christian ways As a due Guerdon to their Godly gains Out of good Actions forming as good praise For Vertue cherish'd by their Deeds of Grace Leaves Fame to their Posterity and Race Among these Good if Goodness may be said To be among the seed of Mortal Men In upright Ballance of true Merit weigh'd Needs must we reckon Famous SUTTON then In whom as in a Mirror doth appear That Faith with Works in him did shine most clear And let us not as is a common use Measure him by a many other more In Death to cover their bad lifes abuse To lanch out then some bounty of their store No SUTTON was none such his Hospital And much more else beside speaks him to all For as God blest him with abundant Wealth Like to a careful Steward he emplo'd it And order'd all things in his best of health As glad to leave it as when he enjoy'd it And being prepared every hour to die Disposed all his Gifts most Christianâ—y In Abrahams bosome sleeps he with the blest His Works they follow him his worth survives Good Angels guide him to eternal rest Where is no Date of time for Years or Lives You that are Rich do you as he hath done And so assure the Crown that he hath woâ—â— To conclude in a word this Famous Hospital with the value of the Lands laid into it the Purchase of the House Stock laid in which he hath given into the Treasury or Store of the said Hospital to begin with and to defend the Rights of the House being 1000 l. and Allowance towards the Building also the Remainder of his Goods unbequeathed his large Gifts and Legacies to divers Honorable and Worthy Friends besides great store of far more inferior account which would puzle me to number and the residue of 20000 l. left to the discretion of his Executors may truly and deservedly be said to be
and Children with the Arms belonging unto them Upon the story of 1588 were these Verses Star-gazing Wizards sate upon this year Matter of wonder and did threaten fear Towards us insomuch that Rome and Spain This Land accounted their assured gain But mark how God did quite their hepes confound Both ships and men we did see flee and drown'd Queen Elizabeth's Monument Marvel not why we do erect this Shrine Since Dedicated in to Worth Divine Religion Arts with Policy and Arms Did all concur in Her most Happy Reign To keep God's Church and us from Plotted Harms Contriv'd by Romish Wits and force of Spain The Powder-Plot 1605. When Force could not prevail nor Plots abroad Could have Success Sin now invents new Fraud Guy Faux is sent Ambassador to Styx And thence returning furnisheth with Tricks His damned Crew who forthwith all conclude To blow up King the State and Multitude The Great Plague 1625. The Story 's past God's blessings to the State Do clearly shew but sure we were Ingrate For now behold instead of sweet protection Thousands are swept away by foul Infection But mark God's mercy in midst of greatest crys He sheath'd his Sword and wip't tears from our eys The Founder's Figure with their Wife Children and Arms. These Ensigns which you see and Monument Are not so much to represent The Founder's Person as his zealous care T' express God's Love and Mercies rare To this his Vineyard for to that sole end Did he these Stories thus commend To After-Ages that in their Distress They might God's Goodness still express LXXX In the main Body of Cheap-Ward stands the Parish-Church called St. Mildred Poultrey The Founder is not to be read in any credible Record but it appears by certain 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 Anno 1420. And the 8 of H. 5. Thomas Morstead Esq and Chyrurgeon to the Kings H. 4. H. 5. H. 6. and afterwards Anno 1436. was Sheriff and Alderman of London gave unto the Church a parcel of Ground lying between his dwelling House and the said Church adjoining to it towards the North to make a Burying place of containing from the course of Walbrook towards the West 45 Foot and in Breadth from the Church towards the North 35 Foot Besides other Monuments here was one for Queen Elizabeth with several Copies of Verses some of which are before recited for there were Monuments for Her in several Churches and She well deserved it as being a most Heroick Princess that check'd the Plots and Incroachments of the Pope and his Adherents and is therefore to be perpetuated to Posterity and therefore what we have not elsewhere met with shall be inserted On the top of the Monument were these Lines If Prayers or Tears of Subjects had prevail'd To save a Princess through the World esteem'd Then Atropos in Cutting here had fail'd And had not cut her thrâ—ad but been redeem'd But pale fac'd Death and cruel Churlish Fate To Prince and People brings the latest Date Yet spight of Death and Fate fame will display Her Gracious Vertues through the World for aye Under Her were these Verses Th' Admired Empress through the World applauded For Supream Vertues Rarest imitation Whose Scepters Rule Fames loud voto'd Trumpet lauded Vnto the Ears of every Foreign Nation Canopied under powerful Angels Wings To her Immortal Praise sweet Science sings LXXXI The Parish-Church of St. Nicholas-Acons in Lumbard-street in Langborn-Ward was Repaired and Imbattled by Sir John Bridges Draper and Lord Mayor Anno 1520 who was buried there It was afterwards Repaired and Beautified at the Charge of the Parish Anno 1615. There was the Monument of John Hall Master of the Worshipful Company of Drapers who dyed the Nineteenth of November 1618. Aged Ninety three Years and Fifty eight Years a House keeper in that Parish and had Twenty seven Children all born there LXXXII Towards the West-end of Knight-Riders-street in Queen-Hith-Ward is the Parish-Church called St. Nicholas Cole-Abbey formerly Cold-Abbey which was an Antient and proper Church In the Twenty sixth of Edward the III. Thomas Frere Fishmonger gave a piece of Ground to the said Parish-Church of St. Nicholas containing Eighty Six Foot in Length Forty three Foot at one end and Thirty four at another in Breadth for a Burying place or Church-Yard It was Repaired and Beautified at the cost of the Parish Anno 1630. LXXXIII On the West-end of Bread-street-Hill also in Queen-Hith-Ward is the Parish-Church called St. Nicholas Olave wherein were divers Monuments Thomas Lewen Ironmonger Alderman and one of the Sheriffs 1537 gave his Messuage with Fourteen Tenements in the said Parish to the Ironmongers and they to give Stipends to Alms-Men in Five Houses built in the Church-Yard of that Parish His Monument with Agnes his Wife was Revived and Beautified at the Charge of the Right Worshipful Company of Ironmongers Anno 1623. LXXXIV At the North-west corner of Sydon-Lane in Tower-street-Ward is the handsom Parish-Church called St. Olave Hartstreet in which were many Monuments It was Repaired and Richly Beautified at the Parish Charges in the Years 1632 and 1633 at the cost of above Four hundred thirty seven pound LXXXV In the Street called the Old Jewry in Coleman-street-Ward is the Parish-Church called St. Olave Jewry in old Records called St. Olave Vpwell in which were several Monnments LXXXVI At the North-end of Noble-street in Alders-gate-Ward is the Parish-Church called St. Olave Silver-street It was New built in the Year 1609 and inlarged in Breadth above seven Foot and Anno 1619 Repaired and Beautified and inriched with a Fair Gallery Anno 1632. LXXXVII In Needlers-lane in Cheap-Ward is the Parish-Church called St. Pancras Soper-lane Here was a fair Monument of James Huâ—sh Citizen and Grocer of London who by two Wives had twenty nine Children he dyed the twentieth of August 1590. he was a good Man and Charitable upon his Tomb was an Elegant Latin Epitaph Mr. Thomas Chapman in the Year 1617 gave a very fair and costly Table bearing the Figure of the Monument of the Renowned QVEEN ELIZABETH LXXXVIII At the South-West corner of Wood-street in Farringdon-Ward within is the handsom Parish-Church called St. Peter-Cheap In which are but few Monuments Sir John Shaw Goldsmith and Lord Mayor deceased 1503 appointed by his Testament the said Church and Steeple to be New built at his cost with a flat Roof Yet Thomas Wood Goldsmith of the Sheriffs 1491 iâ— accounted a Principal Benefactor because the Rooâ— of the middle Ile was supported by Images of Wood-Men It was Repaired and Beautified at the charge of the Parish in the Years 1616 and 1617 which came to 314 l. LXXXIX The Parish-Church of St. Peters in Cornhil is an antient building there is in that Church a Table fast chained wherein it is said thâ— Anno 179 King Lucius founded this Church anâ— made it an Archbishops See
a fair Room over it appointed for a Treasury for the Books and Records of the City and another Room underneath for necessary use and Employment was begun Anno 1614. and finished Michaelmas 1615. at the charge of 1740 l. which was well well bestowed The Kitchins c. were built about Anno 1501. for accommodation of the Lord Mayors Feast by means of Sir John Shaa Goldsmith Lord Mayor who kept the first Lord Mayors Feast there which were wont to be kept before in Merchant-Taylors or Grocers-Hall c. The adjoyning Chappel or College of Mary Magdalen and All-Saints was called London-College built Anno 1299. which had a Custos seven Chaplains three Clerks and four Quiristers Adjoying to this Chappel was a fair and large Library pertaining to the Guild-Hall and College but the Books to the quantity of three-score Cart-loads * Howel p. 118. in Edw. 6. time were sent for by Edw. Duke of Somerset with promise to restore them but they were never return'd The Library was built by the Executors of Sir Richard Whittington aforesaid and by W. Bury This great Guild-Hall was destroyed by the great Fire 1666 but very Magnificently rebuilt In the great Hall on the East-end it is very Richly hung with the lively Effigies of His Majesty and the Duke of York and round about on all sides it is adorn'd with the costly and lively Pictures of the great Ministers of State and Judges of the Land There are many large and spacious Courts and Offices where the Respective Affairs of the City are managed as before in the Section of the Civil-Government of London Of Blackwell-Hall THis place was purchased by the Lord Mayor and Commonalty for 50 l. 20. R. 2. and employed as a Weekly Market-place for all sorts of Woollen-Cloaths broad and narrow brought from all parts of the Kingdom there to be sold 21 R. 2. It was Decreed that no Foreigner or Stranger should sell any Woollen-Cloath but in Blackwell-Hall upon pain of forfeiture thereof It was Rebuilt being decayed Anno 1558. at the charge of 2500 l. to which Richard May Merchant-Taylor gave 300 l. at his Decease It was destroyed by the great Fire 1666 but rebuilt in a very capacious manner and is the greatest Market and Store-house for all sorts of Woollen-Cloath c. Of Leaden-Hall ANno 1411. This Hall was confirm'd unto the City by Sir Richard Whittington and others who purchased it Anno 1443. 21 H. 6. Sir John Hatherly Lord Mayor purchased License of the King to take up 200 fodder of Lead for the building of Water-Conduits a Common Granary and the Cross in Cheap-side more beautifully for the honour of the City This Granary was built by the honourable and famous Merchant Simon Eyre the words of the Grant be Cum Nobilis potens vir c. Whereas the Noble and powerful man c. sometime an Vpholsterer and then a Draper Anno 1419. He built it of square Stone as it now sheweth having escaped the fury of the great Fire with a fair and large Chappel on the East-side of the Quadrant over the Porch he caused to be Written Dextra Domini exaltavit me The Lords Right hand exalted me Within the Chappel was written Honorandus famosus Mercator Simon Eyre hujus operis c. In English thus The honourable and famous Merchant Simon Eyre Founder of this Work once Mayor of this City Citizen and Draper of the same Departed out of this Life 18 Sept. 1459. 38 H. 6. He was buried in the Church of St. Mary Wolnoth in Lumbard-street He gave very many large and bountiful Legacies to be read in Stow page 163. This Hall was Burnt Anno 1484. but Rebuilt again in a very stately and capacious manner There were kept the Artillery Guns and other Armour of the City The Store of Timber for the necessary reparations of the Tenements belonging to the Chamber of London It was a Free Market for Victuallers There were the Common Beams for weighing of Wools and other Wares the Scales to weigh Meal there were made the Pageants for the Midsummer-Watches In other parts Woolsacks were stowed Abovestairs the Painters workt upon the Pageants the Residue were let to Merchants c. Now there is kept the greatest Flesh-Market about the City And a great Magazine of Corn. In speaking of Halls it may not be impertinent to remember the Right honourable Baptist Lord Hicks Viscount Cambden who besides many noble and charitable acts of Piety in King James his time recorded by Stow p. 760 761. built the Sessions-House for the Justices of Middlesex in St. Johns-street at the charge of 600 l. called after his Name Hicks's-Hall which was a great convenience they sitting before in a common Inn called the Castle As for the particular Halls of Companies we have spoke of them Generally before which is all that appears at present necessary SECT 7. Of the Custom-House THe House where this great Office was kept a little below Billingsgate was destroyed by the great Fire but is Rebuilt in a much more magnificent uniform and commodious manner by the King which hath cost His Majesty 10000 l. Here is received and managed all the Impositions laid on Merchandize Imported or Exported from this City which are so considerable that of all the Customs of England which amount to about 600000 l. a year divided into three parts the Port of London pays two thirds that is about 400000 l. per annum A great Number of Officers are here Employ'd whereof divers are of considerable quality and ability There are at present Five Commissioners who have the charge and oversight of all His Majestics Customs in all Ports of England Viz. Sir Richard Temple Bar. Sir George Downing Kt. Charles Cheney Esq Francis Millington Esq John Vpton Esq The Sallaries to each of these is 1200 l. a Year they have many Deputies or Waiters in the Port of London and also in all the Out-Ports Then there are Customers Collectors Comptrollers Surveyors Searchers Waiters c. Sir John Shaw Collector Inwards and for the Act of Navigation Fee 966. l. 13. s. 4. d. Sir Nicholas Crisp Collector Outwards Sallary 276 l. Alderman Edward Backwell Comptroller Sallary 255 l. George Nicholas Esq Surveyor-General Sallary 500 l. The Searchers Office is managed by a Chief and five Under-Searchers Clerks c. Since the happy Restoration of His Majesty there has been in all Eleven Persons Under-Searchers in that Office viz. Six who have all except one disposed of their place by His Majesties grace and favours Mr. Daniel Colwall Rob. Forster Leonard Scot. Will. Dockwra Tho. Hampson John Seymour Esq The Five Undersearchers now in Possession are Mr. Tho. Burton John Evans Richard Goodlad Charles Beauvoir Richard Pierce The Chief Searcher has 120 l. per annum The Undersearchers have each 12 l. And sundry Fees settled upon them by Authority of Parliament which are paid them by Masters of Ships and Merchants c. Having always been Officers