thorow into Fen-Church street over against Northumberland house Then have ye Bricklayers Hâ—ll and another Alley called Sprinkle Alley now named Suger-loaf-alley of the like Siâ—n Then is there a fair House with divers Tenements near adjoyning sometimes belonging to a late dissolâ—ed Priory but since possessed by Mr. Cornwallies widdow and her Heirs by the gift of King Henry the eighth in reward of fine puddings as it was commonly said by her made wherewith she had presented him such was the Princely liberality of those times Of later time Sir Nicholas Throgmorton Knight was log'd there Then somewhat more West is Belzetters Lane so called of the first Builder and owner thereof now corruptly called Bâ—lliter lane betwixt this Belzetters lane and Lime-street was of later time a frame of three fair Houses set up in the year 1590 in place where before was a large Garden-plot enclosed from the High-street with a Brick Wall which Wall being taken down and the ground digged deep for cellerage there was found right under the said Brick Wall another Wall of stone with a Gate arch'd of stone and Gates of Timber closed in the middest towards the street the Timber of the Gates was consumed but the Hinges of Iron still remained on and their Staples on both the sides Moreover in that Wall were square Windowes with Bars of Iron on either side the Gate this Wall was under ground above two fathoms deep as it was esteemed and seemed to be the ruines of some House burned in the Reign of King Steven when the fire began in the House of one Aleward neer London-stone and consumed East to Ealdgate whereby it appeareth how greatly the ground of this City hath been in that place raised On the North side this principall street stretcheth to the West corner of Saint Andrews Church and then the Ward turneth towards the North by S. Mary street on the East side to St. Augustines Church in the Wall and so by Burryes Markes again or about by the Wall to Ealdgate The second way from Ealdgate more towards the South from the Pump aforesaid is called Fen-Church-street and is of Ealdgate Ward till ye come to Cullver Alley on the West side of Ironmongers Hall where sometimes was a Lane which went out of Fâ—n-Church-street to the middest of Lime-street but this Lane was stopped up for suspicion of Thieves that lurked there by night Again to Aldgate out of the principal street even by the Gate and Wall of the City runneth a Lane South to Crossed or Crouched-Fryers and then Woodroof Lane to the Tower Hill and out of this Lane West a street called Hart-street which of that Ward stretcheth to Sydon-lane by St. Olaves Church one other Lane more West from Algate goeth by Northumberland-House towards the Crossed-Fryars then have you on the same side the North end of Mart-lane and Blanch-axelton or Chappleton where that Ward endeth Thus much for bounds Now for Monuments or places most anciâ—nt and notable I am first to begin with the late dissolved Priory of the holy Trinity call'd Christs-Church on the right hand within Aldgate This Priory was founded by Matilda Queen and Wife to Henry the first in the same place where Siredus somtime began to erect a Church in honour of that Crosse and of Saint Mary Magdalen of which the Dean and Chapter of Waltham were wont to receive thirty shillings the Queen was to acquit her Church thereof and in exchange gave unto them a Miâ—â— King Henry her husband confirmed her gift This Church was given to Norman the first Canon regular in all England The said Queen gave also unto the same Church and those that served God therein the plot of Aldgate and the Soke or Tenements thereunto belonging with all Customs so free as she had held the same and 25 l. Blanks which she had of the City of Exeter as appeareth by her Deed wherein she nameth the House of Christs-Church and reporteth Aldgate to be of her Demains which she granteth with two parts of the rent of the City of Excester Norman took on him to be Prior of Christs-Church in the year of Christ 1108 in the Parishes of St. Mary Magdalen St. Michael St. Katherine and the blessed Trinity and was in old time of the holy Crosse or holy Râ—â—d Parish The Priory was builded on a piece of ground in the Parish of St. Katherine towards Aldgate which lyeth in length betwixt the Kings-street by the which men go towards Algate near to the Chappel of St. Michael towards the North and containeth in â—ength eighty three ells half quarter and half quartern of the Kings Iron eln and lieth in breadth c. The Soke and Ward of Aldgate was then bounded as I have before shewn The Queen was a men also that the Land and English Knighten-Guâ—ld was given unto the Prior Norman and the honorable man Geffrey de Clinton was a great helper therein and obtained that the Canons might enclose the way betwixt their Church and the Wall of the City c. This Priory in processe of time became a very fair and large Church rich in Lands and Ornaments and passed all the Priories in the City of London or Shire of Middlesex The Prior whereof was an Alderman of London to wit of Portsoken Ward It is Recorded that Eustacius the eighth Prior about the year 1264 because he would not deal with temporal Matters instituted Theobald Fitz Ivonâ—s Alderman of the said Portsoken Ward under him and that VVilliam Rising Prior of Christs Church was sworne Alderman of the said Portsoken Ward in the first of Richard the second These Priors have sitten and ridden amongst the Aldermen of London in Livery like unto them faring that his habit was in shape of a spirituall person at which time the Prior kept a most bountiful house of meat and drink both for rich and poor as well within the House as at the Gates to all comers according to their estates and qualities But to take leave of this Priory King Henry the eighth minding to reward Sir Thomas Audley Speaker of the Parliament against Cardinal Woolsey as ye may read in the Chronicle sent for the Prior commending him for his Hospitality promised him preferment as a man worthy of a far greater dignity which promise surely he performed and compounded with him though in what sort I never heard so that the Priory with the appurtenances was surrendred to the King in the month of Iuly 1531 the 23 of the said Kings Reign the Canons were sent to other houses of the same Order and the Priory with the appurtenances King Henry gave to Sir Tho. Audley newly knighted and afterwards made Lord Chancelour Sir Thomas Audley offered the great Church of this Priory with a ring of nine Bells well tuned whereof four of the greatest were since sold to the Parish of Stebunbith and the five lesser to the Parish of St. Katherine Christs-Church in exchange for their small Parish Church minding to have
declared in Aldgate Ward In the year 1576. partly at the charges of the Parish of St. Andrew and partly at the charges of the Chamber of London a water-pump was raysed in the high street of Lime-street Ward neer unto Lime-street corner for the placing of the which Pump having broken up the ground they were forced to dig more than two fadome deep before they came to any main ground where they found a Hearth made of Britaine or rather Romane Tyle every Tyle half yard square and about two inches thick they found coal lying there also for that lying whole will never consume then digging one fadome in the main they found water sufficient made their Prall and set up the Pump which Pump with oft repairing and great charges to the Parish continued not four and twenty years but being rotted was taken up and a new one set in the place in the year 1600. Thus much for the high-High-street In Saint Mary street had ye of old time a Parish Church of Saint Mary a Virgin Saint Ursula and the 11000 Virgins which Church was commonly called Saint Mary at the Axe of the Signe of an Axe over against the East end thereof or Saint Mary Pellipar of a plot of ground lying on the North side thereof pertaining to the Skinners in London This Parish about the year 1565. was united to the Parish Church of Saint Andrew Under Shaft and so was Saint Mary at the Axe suppressed and letten out to be a Ware-house for a Marchant Against the East end of this Church was sometime a fair Well now turned to a Pump Also against the North end of this Saint Mary street was sometime one other Parish Church of Saint Augustine called Saint Augustine in the Wall for that it stood adjoyning to the Wall of the City and otherwise called Saint Augustines Papey or the poor as I have read in the Reign of Edward the third About the year 1430 in the Reign of Henry the sixth the same Church was allowed to the Brethren of the Papey the House of poor Priests whereof I have spoken in Aldgate Ward the Parishioners of this Church were appointed to the Parish Church of Alhallowes in the Wall which is in Broad street Ward and this Brotherhood called Papey being suppressed the Church of Saint Augustine was pulled down and in place thereof one Grey Apothecary builded a Stable a Hay-lost c. It is now a dwelling house those two Parish Churches both lying in the Ward of lime-Lime-street being thus suppressed there is not any one Parish Church or place for Divine Service in that Ward but the Inhabitants thereof repair to Saint Peters in Cornhill Ward Saint Andrew in Aldgate Ward Alhallows in the Wall in broad-Broad-street Ward and some to Saint Denys in Langbourne Ward Now because there hath been some question to what Ward this Church of Saint Augustine Papey should of right belong for the same hath been challenged by them of Aldgate Ward and without reason taken into Bishops-gate Ward from lime-Lime-street Ward I am somewhat to touch it About 70 years since the Chamber of London granted a Lease of ground lying near London Wall in the Ward of Lime-street from the West of the said Church or Chappel of Saint Augustine Papey towards Bishops-gate c. on the which plot of ground the Leasee builded three fair Tenements and placed Tenants there these were charged to bear Scot and Lot and some of them to beaâ— Office in Lime street Ward all which they did willingly without grudging And when any suspected or disordered persons were by the Landlord placed there the Officers of Lime street Ward fetched them out of their Houses committed them to Ward procured their due punishments and banished them from thence whereby in short time that place was reformed and brought into good order which thing being noted by them of Aldgate Ward they moved their Alderman Sir Thomas Offley to call in those Houses to be of his Ward But Mr. Stow producing a fair Ledgier Book sometime pertaining to the late dissolved Priory of the Holy Trinity within Aldgate wherein were set down the just bounds of Aldgate Ward before Sir Thomas Offley Sir Rowland Hayward the Common-Councel and Ward-Mote Inquest of the said Lime street Ward Sir Thomas Offley gave over his Challenge and so that matter rested in good quiet until the year 1579. that Sir Richard Pype being Mayor and Alderman of Bishops-gate Ward challenged those Houses to be of his Ward whereunto without reason shewed Sir Rowland Hayward yeilded and thus is that side of the street from the North corner of Saint Mary street almost to Bishopsgate wherein is one plot of ground letten by the Chamberlaine of London to the Parish of Saint Martins Oteswich to be a Church-yard or burying-place for the dead of that Parish c. unjustly drawn and with-holden from the Ward of lime-Lime-street as Master Stow avoncheth Of the Fifth Ward or Aldermanry of London called Bishopsgate-Ward THe Ward next in order is Bishopsgate-Ward whereof a part is without the Gate and of the Subburbs from the Barres by St. Mary Spittle to Bishopsgate and a part of Hounds-ditch almost half thereof also without the Wall of the same Ward Then within the Gate is Bishopsgate-street so called of the Gate to a Pump were sometime was a fair Well with two Buckets by the East end of the Parish Church of St. Martin Oteswich and then winding by the West corner of Leaden-Hall down Grasse-street to the corner over against Grasse-Church and these are the bounds of that Ward Monuments most to be noted are these The Parish-Church of St. Buttolph without Bishopsgate in a fair Church-yard adjoyning to the Town-Ditch upon the very Bank thereof but of old time inclosed with a comely Wall of Brick lately repaired by Sir William Allen Mayor in the year 1571 because he was born in that Parish where also he was buried An Anchoresse by Bishopsgate received forty shillings the year of the Sheriffs of London Next unto the Parish Church of St. Buttolph was a fair Inne for receipt of Travellers then an Hospital of St. Mary of Bethlem founded by Simon Fitz Mary one of the Sheriffs of London in the year 1246. He founded it to have been a Priory of Canons with Brethren and Sisters and King Edward the 3d granted a Protection for the Brethren called Milites beatae Mariae de Bethlem within the City of London the 14th year of his Raign It was an Hospital for distracted people Stephen Gennings Marchant-Taylor gave forty pounds toward purchase of the Patronage by his Testament 1523. The Mayor and Commonalty purchased the Patronage thereof with all the Lands and Tenements thereunto belonging in the year 1546. Now it shall not be amisse to insert here that memorable ancient deed of gift given to Bethelem or Bedlam by the foresaid Simon the Son of Mary as followeth To all the Children of our Mother holy Church to whom this present writing shall come
three pence by year The Lady Stanley the Countesse of Huntingâ—on and the Lady Harbert lye buried in this Church Of the Fifteenth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Cordwayner Ward VVE will passe now from the Vintry to Cordwainer-street Ward taking that name of Cordwayners or Shoomakers Curriours and Workers of Leather dwelling there for it appeareth in the Records of Henry the sixth the ninth of his Reign that an Order was taken then for Cordwayners and Curriours in Corney-street and Sopers Lane This Ward beginneth in the East one the West side of Walbrooke and runneth West thorow Budge-row a street so called of Budge Furre and of Skinners dwelling there then up by Saint Anthenâ—es Church thorow Atheling or Noble-street as Leyland termeth it commonly called Wathling-street to the Red-Lion a place so called of a great Lion of Timber placed there at a Gate entring a large Court wherein are divers fair and large Shops well furnished with Broad-cloths and other Draperies of all sorts to be sold and this is the farthest West part of this Ward On the South side of this street from Budge-row lyeth a Lane turning down by the West-gate of the Tower Royal and to the South end of the Stone Wall beyond the said Gate which is of this Ward and is accounted a part of the Royall-street Against this West gate of the Tower-Royall is one other Lane that runneth West to Cordwainer-street and this is called Turn base Lane on the South side whereof is a piece of Wring-wren-Lane to the North-west corner of Saint Thomas Church the Apostle Then again out of the high-High-street called Wathling is one other street which runneth thwart the same and this is Cordwayner street whereof the whole Ward taketh name This street beginneth by West-cheap and Saint Mary Bow Church is the head thereof on the West side and it runneth down South thorow that part which of latter time was called Hosier Lane now Bow Lane and then by the West end of Aldermary Church to the new builded Houses in place of Ormond House and so to Garlick hill or Hith to St. Iames Church The upper part of this street towards Cheap was called Hosier Lane of Hosiers dwelling there in place of Shoomakers but now those Hosiers being worn out by men of other Trades as the Hosiers had worn out the Shoomakers the same is called Bow-Lane of Bow Church On the West side of Cordwainer-street is Basing-lane right over against Turn-base-lane This Basing-lane West to the back gate of the Red Lyon in Wathling-street is of this Cordwainer-street Ward Now again on the North side of this high street is Budge-row by the East end of St. Anthonies Church have ye St. Sithes Lane so called of St. Sithes Church which standeth against the North end of that Lane and this is wholly of Cordwainer-street Ward also the South side of Needlers lane which reacheth from the North end of St. Sithes lane then vvest from St. Anthonies Church is the South end of Sopers lane which lane took that name not of Sope-making as some have supposed but of Alen le Sopar in the ninth of Edward the second nor can we read of Sope-making in this City till within this hundred and fifty years that Iohn Lambe dwelling in Grasse-street set up a boyling house for this City in former time was served of white Sope in hard Cakes called Castle-Soap and other from beyond the Seas and of gray Sope speckled with white very sweet and good from Bristow sold here for a peny the pound and never above peny farthing and black Sope for an half-peny the pound Then in Bow-lane as they now call it is Goose-lane by Bow-Church Willâ—am Essex Mercer had Tenements there in the six and twentieth of Edward the third Then from the South end of Bow-lane up Wathling-street till over against the Red Lyon are the bounds of Cordwainer-street Ward Then is there a fair Parish in Budge-row called St. Anthonies at first and now St. Antlins Sir Thomas Knowles Lord Mayor of London lyeth buried there who repaired and was a great Benefactor to that Church upon whom is this Epitaph Here lyeth graven under this Stone Thomas Knowles both flesh and bone c. Next on the South side of Budge-row by the West corner thereof and on the East side of Cordwainer-street is one other fair Church called Aldermary Church because the same was very old and elder then any Church of St. Mary in the City till of late years the foundation of a very fair new Church was laid there by Henry Keeble Grocer and Mayor who deceased 1518. and was ther buried in a Vault by him prepared with a fair Monument raised over him on the North side of the Qâ—ire now destroyed and gone he gave by his Testament a thousand pound toward the building up of that Church and yet was not permitted a resting place for his bones there afterwards Richard Chawcer Vintner thought to be the Father of Ieffrey Chawcer the Poet was a great Benefactor to this Church At the upper end of Hosier-lane toward VVest-Cheape is the fair Parish Church of St. Mary Bow this Church in the Reign of VVilliam the Conqueror being the first in this City builded on Arches of Stone was therefore called New Mary Church of St. Mary de Arcubus orle Bow in VVest Cheaping As Stratford Bridge being the first builded by Matilda the Queen VVife to Henry the first with Arches of Stone was called Stratfordle Bow which names to the said Church and Bridge remain till this day the Court of the Arches is kept in this Church and taketh name of the place not the place of the Court but of what Antiquity or continuation that Court hath there continued 't is uncertain This Church is of Cordwainer-street and for divers accidents happening there hath bin made more famous than any other Parish Church of the whole City or Suburbs First we read that in the year 1090 and the third of VVilliam Rufus by tempest of vvinâ— the roof of the Church of St. Mary Bow in Cheape was overturned wherewith some persons were slain and four of the Rafters of six and twenty foot in length with such violence were pitched in the ground of the high street that scantly four foot of them remained above ground which were fain to be cut even with the ground because they could not be plucked out for the City of London was not then paved but a Moorish ground In the year 1196. VVilliam Fitz Osbert a seditious Traytor took the Steeple of Bow and fortified it with Munitions and victuals but it was assaulted and VVilllam with his Complices were taken though without blood-shed for he was forced by fire and smoak to forsake the Church and then being by the Judges condemned he was by the heels drawn to the Elmes in Smithfield and there hanged with nine of his fellowes where because his favourers came not to deliver him he forsook Maries Son as he termed
where the Abbot of Garendon had an house or Cell called Saint Iames in the wall by Cripple-gate and certain Monks of their house were Chaplains there wherefore the Well belonging to that Cell or Hermitage was called Monks-well and the street of the well Monks-well street The East side of this street down against London wall and the South side thereof to Cripple-gate be of Cripple-gate Ward as is afore-shewed In this street by the corner of Monks-well street is the Bowyers Hall On the East side of Monks-well street be convenient Alms-houses twelve in number founded by Sir Ambrose Nicholas Salter Maior 1575. wherein he placed twelve poor and aged people rent-free having each of them seven pence the week and once the yeer each of them five sacks of Charcoals and one quartem of one hundred of Faggots of his gift for ever On the North side of the way turning towards Cripple-gate and even upon or close to London wall as it were are certain new erected Almes-houses six in number of the cost and gift of Mr. Robert Rogers Leather-Seller and very good maintenance allowed for ever to such people as are appointed to dwell in them Then in little VVood-street be seven proper Chambers in an Alley on the West side founded for seven poor people therein to dwell rent-free by Henry Barton Skinner Maior 1516. Now without the Postern of Cripple-gate first is the Parish Church of Saint Giles a very fair and large Church lately repaired after that the same was burned in the yeer 1545 the thirty seventh of Henry the Eighth by which mischance the Monuments of the dead in this Church are very few In VVhite Crosse-street King Henry the Fifth builded a fair house and founded there a Brotherhood of S. Giles to be kept which house had sometime been an Hospitall of the French Order by the name of Saint Giles without Cripple-gate In the reign of Edward the First the King having the Jurisdiction and pointing a Custos thereof for the Precinct of the Parish of Saint Giles c. which Hospitall being suppressed the lands were given to the Brotherhood for relief of the poor One Alley of divers Tenements over against the North wall of Saint Giles Church-yard was appointed to be Alms-houses for the poor wherein they dwelled rent-free and otherwise were releeved but the said Brotherhood was suppressed by Henry the Eighth since which time Sir Iohn Gresham Maior purchased the lands and gave part thereof to the maintenance of a Free School which he had founded at Holt a Market-town in Norfolk In Red Crosse-street on the West side from S. Giles Church-yard up to the said Crosse be many fair houses builded outward with divers Alleys turning into a large plot of ground of old time called the Iews Garden as being the only place appointed them in England wherein to bury their dead till the year 1177 the twenty fourth of Henry the Second that it was permitted them after long suit to the King and Parliament at Oxford to have a speciall place assigned them in every quarter where they dwelled On the East side of this Red Crosse-street be also divers fair houses up to the Crosse and there is Beech-lane peradventure so called of Nicholas de la Beech Lievtenant of the Tower of London put out of that office in the thirteenth of Edward the Third This Lane stretcheth from Red Crosse-street to VVhite Crosse-street replenished not with Beech trees but with beautifull houses of Stone Brick and Timber Amongst the which was of old time a great house pertaining to the Abbot of Ramsey for his lodging when he repaired to the City it is now called Drewry House of Sir Drew Drewry who dwelt there On the North side of this Beech-lane towards VVhite Crosse street the Drapers of London have lately builded eight Alms-houses of Brick and Timber for eight poor widows of their own Company whom they placed there rent-free Then is Golding-lane Richard Gallard of Islington Esquire Citizen and Painter-Stainer of London founded thirteen Alms-houses for so many poor people placed in them rent-free He gave to the poor of the same Alms-houses two pence the peece weekly and a load of Charcoals among them yeerly for ever He left fair lands about Islington to maintain his Foundation T. Hayes sometime Chamberlain of London in the latter time of Henry the Eighth married Elizabeth his daughter and heir which Hayes and Elizabeth had a daughter named Elizabeth married to Iohn Ironmonger of London Mercer who had the ordering of the Alms-people On the West side of Red Crosse-street is a street called the Barbican because sometime there stood on the North side thereof a Burghkenning or VVatch-tower of the City called in some language a Barbican as a Bikening is called Beacon This Burgh-kenning by the name of the Mannour of Base Court was given by Edward the Third to Robert Ufford Earl of Suffolk and was afterward pertaining to Peregrine Barty Lord VVilloughby of Ersby Next adjoyning to this is one other great house called Garter Place sometime builded by Sir Thomas VVrithe or VVrithesly Knight alià s Garter principall King of Arms second son of Sir Iohn VVrithe Knight alià s Garter and was Uncle to the first Thomas Earl of Southampton Knight of the Garter and Chancellor of England He built this house and in the top thereof a Chappell which he dedicated by the name of S. Trinitatis in Alto. Of the Twentieth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of LONDON callâ—d Aldersgate Ward THe Next is Aldersgate Ward taking name of that North Gate of the City this Ward also consisteth oâ— divers Streets and Lanes lying as well within the Gate and Wall as without And first to speak of that part within the Gate thus it is the East part thereof joyneth unto the West part of Cripplegate Ward in Engain lane or Maiden lane It beginneth on the North side of that Lane at Staining lane End runneth up from the Haberdashers Hall to St. Mary Staining Church and by the Church East winding almost to Wood Street and West through Oate lane and then by the South side of Bacon house in noble-Noble-Street back again by Lilipot lane which is also of that ward to Maiden lane and so on that North side West to Saint Iohn Zacharies Church and to Foster lane Now on the south side of Engain or Maiden lane is the West side of Gutherons lane to Kery lane and Kery lane it self which is of this ward and back again into Engain lane by the North side of the Goldsmiths Hall to Foster lane are almost wholly of this Ward which beginneth in the South toward Cheap on the East side by the North side of Saint Fosters Church and runneth down North West by the East end of Engain lane by Lilipot lane and Oate lane to Noble-Street and through that by Shelly house of old time so called as belonging to the Shellies Sir Thomas Shelley Knight was owner thereof in the first of Henry the fourth It
Fishmongers dwelling there and serving Frydays Market on the East side is a small Parish Church commonly called Saint John Evangelist The Monuments therein be of John Dogget Merchant-Taylor one of the Sheriffs in the year 1509. Then lower down is another Church of Saint Margaret Moyses so called as seemeth of one Moyses that was Founder or new Builder thereof In this Distar Lane on the North side thereof is the Cordwayners or Shoomakers Hall which Company were made a Brotherhood or Fraternity in the eleventh of Henry the fourth Of the Twentie third Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Queen-hithe Ward NExt unto Bread-street Ward on the South side thereof is Queen-Hith Ward so called of a Water-gate or Harborow for Boats Lighters and Barges and was of old time for Ships at what time the Timber Bridge at London was drawn up for the passage of them to the said Hith as to a principal Strand for landing and unlading against the middest and heart of the City this Ward beginneth in the East in Knight-Riders-street on the South side thereof at the East end of the Parish Church called the Holy Trinity and runneth West on the South side to a Lane called Lambert Hill which is the length of the Ward in Knight-Riders street out of the which street are divers Lanes running South to Thames street and are of this Ward the first is Trinity Lane which runneth down by the West end of Trinity Church Then is Spuren Lane or Spooners Lane now called Huggen Lane Then Bread-street Hill Then Saint Mary Mounthaunt out of the which Lane on the East side thereof is one other Lane turning East through St. Nicholas Olaves Church-yard to Bread-street Hill This Lane is called Finimore Lane or Five foot Lane because it is but five foot in breadth at the West end in the middest of this Lane runneth down one other Lane broader South to Thames street I think the same to be called Desborne Lane for we read of such a Lane to have been in the Parish of Saint Mary Summerset in the twenty two of Edward the third where there is said to ly between the Tenement of Edward de Mountacute Knight on the East part and the Tenement sometime pertaining to William Gladwine on the West one plot of ground containing in length towards Thames street twenty five foot c. Last of all have ye Lambart Hill so called of one Lambart owner thereof and this is the farthest West part of this Ward First in Knight-Riders street is the small Parish Church of the Holy Trinity lately very old and in danger of down falling Collections were made for the repairing thereof but they would not stretch so far until a general means was made as appeareth by a publick notice thereof declared in the said Church Towards the West end of Knight-Riders street is the Parish Church of Saint Nicholas Cold Abbey a proper Church somewhat ancient as appeareth by the waies raysed there about so that men are forced to descend into the body of the Church it hath been called of many Colden Abbey of some Cold Abbey or Cold Bay and so have the most ancient Writings as standing in a cold place as Cold Harbor and such like the Steeple or tall Tower of this Church with the South I le hath been of later building to wit the first of Richard the second when it was meant that the whole old Church should have been new builded as appeareth by the Arching begun on the East side the Steeple under the which in the Stone work the Armes of one Buckland Esquire and his Wife Daughter to Beaupere are cut in Stone and also are in the Glasse Windows whereby it appeareth he was the Builder thereof and Repairer of the residue In Trinity Lane on the West side thereof is the Painter Stainers Hall for so of old time were they called but now that workmanship of Staining is departed and out of use in England Lower down in Trinity Lane on the East side thereof was sometime a great Messuage pertaining unto Iohn Earl of Cornwall in the fourteenth of Edward the third On Bread-street Hill down to the Thames on both sides be divers fair Houses inhabited by Fishmongers Cheesemongers and Merchants of divers Trades on the West side whereof is the Parish Church of St. Nicholas Olave a convenient Church The next is Old Fish-street Hill a passage so called which also runneth down to Thames street In this Lane on the East side thereof is the one end of Finimore or Five foor Lane On the West side of this Old Fish-street Hill is the Bishop of Hereford's Inne or lodging an ancient House and large rooms builded of Stone and Timber which sometime belonged to the Mounthaunts in Norfolke Radulphus de Mayden-stone Bishop of Hereford about the year one thousand two hundred thirty four bought it of the Mounthaunts and gave it to the Bishops of Hereford his Successors Charles both Bishop of Hereford and Chancellour of the Marches about the year 1517 repaired it since the which time the same is greatly ruined and is now divided into many small Tenements The Hall and principall Rooms are in House to make Sugar-Loaves c. Next adjoyning is the Parish Church of Saint Mary de Monte also or Mounthaunt this is a very small Church and at the first builded to be a Chappel for the said House of the Mounthaunts and for Tenements thereunto belonging On the East side of this Old Fish-street Hill is one great House now letten out for Rent which House sometime was one of the Halls pertaining to the Company of Fishmongers at such time as they had six Hall-Motes or Meeting places namely twain in Bridge-street or New Fish-street twain in Old Fish-street whereof this was one and twain in Stock-Fishmonger Row or Thames street as appeareth by a Record the twenty two of Richard the second Next Westward is one other Lane called Lambart Hill the East side wherof is wholly of this Ward and but half the West side to wit from the North end of the Black-smiths Hall Then in Thames street of this Ward and on the North side over against the Queens Hith is the Parish Church of Saint Michael a convenient Church but all the Monuments therein are defaced At the West end of that Church goeth up a Lane called Pyel-lane on the same North side at the South end of Saint Mary Mounthaunt Lane is the Parish Church of Saint Summerset over against the Broken-Wharfe Then is a small Parish Church of St. Peter called parva or little near unto Pauls Wharf In this Church no Monuments do remain At the West end thereof is a Lane called Saint Peters Hill but two Houses up that Lane on the East side is of this Ward and the rest is of Castle Baynards Ward On the South side of Thames street beginning again in the East among the Cooks the first in this Ward is the Signe of David the King Then is
Company by Sir VVilliam Bridges Knight first Garter King at Arms in Blazon are thus Three Sun Beams issuing out of three Clouds of flame crowned with three Crowns Imperials of Gold upon a Shield Azure From this Hall on the same side down to the Grates and course of VVallbrooke have ye divers fair houses for Marchants and other from the which Grates back again on the other side in Lotisbury so called in Record of Edward the third the thirty eighth year and now corruptly called Lothbury are Candlestick founders placed till ye come to Bartholmew Lane so called of Saint Bartholmew's Church at the South-east corner thereof In this Lane also are divers fair builded Houses on both sides and so likewise have ye in the other street which stretcheth from the Fryers Augustines South gate to the corner over against Saint Bennets Church In this street amongst other fair buildings the most ancient was of old time an house pertaining to the Abbot of Saint Albans Iohn Catcher Alderman after dwelled there Then is the free School pertaining to the late dissolved Hospital of Saint Anthony whereof more shall be shewed in another place and so up to Thred-needle-street On the South part of which street beginning at the East by the Well with two Buckets now turned to a Pump is the Parish Church of Saint Martin called Oteswitch of Martin de Oteswitch Nicholas de Oteswich William Oteswich and Iohn Oteswich Founders thereof and all buried there as appeareth by their Monuments There is also there a fair engraven Stone with a Latine Epitaph upon the Lord Iames Fulkes Treasurer of Holland and Ambassador for the States of the united Provinces here in England Sir Thomas Row gave 5 l. to perpetuity to this Parish to buy Bread and Coals for the poor Some small distance from thence is the Merchant-Taylors Hall pertaining to the Guild and Fraternity of Saint Iohn Baptist time out of mind called of Taylors and Linnen Armorers of London For we find that King Edward the first in the eight and twentieth of his Reign confirmed this Guild by the name of Taylors and Linnen Armorers and also gave to the Brethren thereof authority every year at Mid-summer to hold a feast and to choose unto them a Governour or Master with Wardens whereupon the same year one thousand three hundred on the Feast day of the Nativity of Saint John Baptist they chose Henry de Ryall to be their Pâ—lgrim For the Master of this Mystery as one that travelled for the whole Company was then so called untill the eleventh year of Richard the second and the four Wardens were then called Purveyers of Alms now called Quartredge of the said Fraternity This Merchant-Taylors Hall sometime perteining to a worthy Gentleman named Edmund Crepin Dominus Creepâ—ng after some Record he in the year of Christ 1331 the sixth of Edward the third for a certain sum of money to him paid made this grant thereof by the name of his principal Messuage in the Wards of Cornhill and Broad-street which Sir Oliver Ingham Knight did then hold to John of Yakeley the Kings Pavilion-maker This was called the New Hall or Taylors Inne for a difference from their old Hall which was about the back side of the Red Lion in Basing Lane and in the Ward of Cordwayner street The one and twentieth of Edward the fourth Thomas Holm alià s Clarentiaux King of Armes for the South part of England granted by his Paâ—ents to the said Fraternity and Guild of Saint John Baptist of Taylors and Linnen Armorers to beat in a field Silver a Pavilion between two Mantles Imperial Purple garnished with Gold in a chief Azure a holy Lamb set within a Sun the Crest upon the Helm a Pavilion purpâ—e garnished with Gold c. After this King Henry the seventh was himself a Brother of this Fraternity or Guild of S. Iohn Baptist of Taylors or Linnen Armorers as divers others of his Predecessors Kings had been to wit Râ—ohard the third Edward the fourth Henry the sixth Henry the fifth Henry the fourth and Richard the second And for that divers of that Fraternity had time out of miâ—e been great Merchants and had frequented all sorts of Merchandizes into most parts of the world to the honour of the Kings Realm and to the great profit of his Subjects and of his Progenitors and the men of the said Mystery during the time aforesaid had exercised the buying and selling of all Wares and Merchandizes especially of Woollen Cloth as well in grosse as by retaile throughout all this Realm of England and chiefly within the said City therefore â—e of his especial grace did change transfer and translate the Guild aforesaid and did incorporate them into the name of the Master and Wardens of the Merchant-Taylors of the Fraternity of S. John Baptist in the City of London Some distance West from this Merchant-Taylors Hall is Finkes Lane so called of Robert Finke and Robert Finke his son James Finke and Rosamond Finke Robert Finke the elder new builded the Parish Church of Saint Bennet commonly called Finke of the Founder his Tenements were both of St. Benuets parish and Saint Martins Oteswich Parish the one half of this Finke Lane is of broad-Broad-street ward to wit on the West side up to the great and principal house wherein the said Finke dwelled But on the other side namely the East not so much towards Cornhil Then without this Lane in the aforesaid Threed-Needle street is the said Parish Church of Saint Bennet a handsome Church in which are sundry old Monuments There happened lately a great fire in Threed-Needle street over against Merchant-Taylors Hall which ragâ—d as far as Saint Bennets Church Walls and there the fury was sâ—opped otherwiâ—e it might have destroyed all this City The French Reformers have their Sermons in this Church and the exercise of Calvâ—nâ— Religion On the North side of this street from over against the East corner of St. Martins Osteswich Church have ye divers fair and large houses till you come to the Hospital of St. Anthony sometime a Cell of St. Anthonies of Vienna For we read that King Henry the third granted to the Brother-hood of St. Anthony of Vienna a place amongst the Jewes which was sometime their Synagogue and had been builded by them about the year 1231. But the Christians obtained of the King that it should be dedicated to our blessed Lady and since an Hospital being there builded was called St. Anthonies in London It was founded in the Parish of St. Bennet Finke for a Master two Priests one School-master and twelve poor men after which foundation amongst other things was given to this Hospital one Messuage and Garden whereon was builded the fair large Free-School and one other parcel of ground containing thirty seven foot in length and eighteen foot in breadth whereon were builded the Alms-Houses of hard Stone and Timber in the Reign of Henry the sixth Which said Henry the sixth in the twentieth of
Ward Then higher in grasse-Grasse-street is the Parish Church of St. Bennet called Grass-Church of the Herbe Market there kept this Church also is of the Bridge Ward and the farthest North end thereof The Customes of Grasse-Church Market in the Reign of Edward the third as appears in a Book of Customes were these every forreign Cart laden with Corn or Malt coming thither to be sold was to pay one half penny every Forreign Cart bringing Cheeâ—e two pence every Cart of Corn and Cheeâ—e together if the Cheese be more worth than the Corn two pence and if the Corn be more worth than the Cheese it was to pay a half-penny of two Horses laden with Corn oâ— Malt the Bayliff had one farthing The Carts of the Franchiâ—e of the Temple and of Saint Mary Le Grand paid afarching the Carr of the Hospitall of St. Iohn of Ierusalem paid nothing of their proper goods and if the Corn were brought by Merchants to sell again the load paid a half penny c. On the West side of this Ward at the North end of London Bridge is a part of Thames street which is also of this Ward to wit so much as of old time was called Stock-Fishmonger Row of the Stock-Fish-mongers dwelling tâ—ere down West to a Waâ—er-gate of old time called Ebgate since Ebgate Lane and now the Old Swan which is a common stair on the Thames but the passage is very â—arrow by means of encroachments On the South side of Thames street about the Mid-way betwixt the Bridge foot and Ebgate Lane standeth the Fishmongers Hall and divers other fair Houses for Merchants These Fishmongers were sometimes of two several Companies to wit Stock-Fishmongers and Salt-Fishmongers Of whoâ—e antiquity we read that by the name of Fishmongers of London they were for fore-stalling c. contrary to the Laws and constitutions of the City fined to the King at 500 Marks the eighteenth of King Edward the first Moreover that the said Fishmongers hearing of the great victory obtained by the same King against the Scots in the six twentieth of his Reign made a Triumphant and solemn Shew through the City with divers Pageants and more than a thousand Horsemen c. These two Companies of Stock-Fishmongers and Salt-Fishmongers of old time had their severall Halls to wit in Thames street twain in New Fish-street twaiâ— in Old Fish-street twain in each place one for either Company in all six several Halls the Company was so great that it lies upon Records that these Fishmongers have been jolly Citizens and six Mayors have been of their Company in the space of four and twenty years to wit Walter Turk 1350 John Lofkin 1359 John Wreth 1361 John Pechie 1362 Simon Morden 1369 and William Wallworth 1374. It followed that in the year 1382 through the Counsel of John North hampton Draper then being Mayor VVilliam Essex John More Mercer and Richard Northbury the said Fishmongers were greatly troubled hindred of their Liberties and almost destroyed by combinations made against them so that in a Parliament at London the controversie depending between the Mayor and Aldermen of London and the Fishmongers Nic. Exton Speaker for the Fishmongers prayeth the King to receive him and his Company into his protection for fear of corporal hurt whereupon it was commanded either part to keep the peace upon pain of losing all they had Hereupon a Fishmonger starting up replyed that the complain brought against them by the movers c. was but matter of malice for that the Fishmongers in the Reign of Edward the 3d. being chief Officers of the City had for their misdemeanors then done committed the chief exhibitors of those Petitions to prison In this Parliament the Fishmongers by the Kings Charter Patents were restored to their Liberties Notwithstanding in the year next following 1383 John Cavendish Fishmongâ—r craveth the peace against the Chancellour of England which was granted and he put in Sureties the Earls of Stafford and Salisbury and challengeth the Chancellour for taking a bribe of ten pounds for favour of Cavendish Case which the Chancellour by Oath upon the Sacrament avoideth In further triall it was found that the Chancellours man without his Masters privity had taken it whereupon Cavendish was Judged to prison and to pay the Chancellour 1000 Marks for slandering him After this many of the Nobles assembled at Reading to supprese the seditious Sheirs of the said John Northampion or Combarton late Mayor that had attempted great and hainous enterprises of the which he was convict and when he stood mute nor would utter one word it was Decreed that he should be committed to perpetual prison his goods confiscate to the Kings use and that he should not come within a hundred miles of London during his life He was therefore sent to the Castle of Fintegall in the Confines of Cornwall and in the mean space the Kings Servants spoiled his goods John Moore Richard Northbury and others were likewise there Convict and condemned to perpetual prison and their goodâ— confiscate for certain Congregations by them made against the Fishmongers in the City of London as is aforesaid but theyâ— obtained and had the Kings pardon in the fourteenth of his Reign as appeareth upon Record and thus were all these troubles appealed Those Stock-Fishmongers and Salt-Fishmongers were united in the year 1536 the eight and twentieth of Henry the eighth their Hall to be but one in the House given unto them by Sir Iohn Cornwall Lord Fanhope and of Ampthull in the Parish of Saint Michael in Crooked Lane in the Reign of Henry the sixth Thus much was thought remarkable to be spoken of the Fishmongers men ignorant of their Antiquities and not able to shew a reason why or when they were in amity with the Goldsmiths do give part of their Arms c. Neither to say ought of Sir William Walworth the Glory of their Company more than that he slew Jack Straw which some do question for the said Straw was after the overthrow of the Rebels taken and by judgement of the Mayor beheaded whose confession at the Gallows is extant in Mr. Stows Annales where also is set down the most valiant and praise-worthy act of Sir William Walworth against the principal Rebel Wat Tyler On that South side of Thames street have ye Drink-water Wharf and Fish Wharf in the Parish of Saint Magnus On the North side of Thames street is Saint Martins Lane a part of which Lane is also of this Ward to wit on the one side to a Well of water and on the other side as far up as against the said Well Then is St. Michaels Lane part whereof is also of this Ward up to a Well there c. Then at the upper end of New Fish-street is a Lane turning towards St. Michaels Lane and is called Crooked-Lane of the crooked windings thereof Above this Lanes end upon Fish-street Hill is one great House for the most pâ—rt builded with stone which pertained sometime to
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
Lawrence Church-yard and so down again and to the West corner of St. Martin Orgar lane and over against Ebgate-lane and this is all of Downgate-vvard the thirteenth in number lying East from the Water-course of VVallbrooke and hat hnot any one House on the West side of the said Brook This Dowgate vvard is more considerable then others in divers things for it hath more Halls then any other it hath also the Great Hans or the Teutonique Guild call'd now the Stil-yard Mr. John Robinson who hath his House in Milk-street is lately made the Alderman of this VVard a generous discreet and worthy Gentleman being of the Company of the Turkie or Levantine Marchants Of the Fourteenth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Vintry Ward THe Wards spoken of hitherto may besaid to lye on the East Now I am to treat of the other Wardâ— twelve in number all lying on the West side of the course of Wallbrook and first of the Vintry Ward so called of Vintners and of the Vintry a part of the Bank of the River of Thames where the Merchants of Bourdeaux craned their Wines out of Lighters and other Vessels and there landed and made sale of them within forty daies after until the twenty eighth of Edward the first at which time the said Merchants complained that they could not fell their Wines paying poundage neither hire Houses or Cellars to lay them in and it was redressed by virtue of the Kings Writ directed to the Mayor and Sheriffs of London dated at Carlaveroke or Carlile since the which time many fair and large houses with Vaults and Cellars for stowage of Wines and lodging of Burdeaux Merchants have been builded in place where before time were Cooks houses for Fâ—tz Stephen in the Reign of Henry the second writeth that upon the Rivers side between the Wine in Ships and the Wine to be sold in Taverns was a common Cooks row c. as in another place I have set down Whereby it appears that in those daies and till of late times every man lived according to his own professed Trade not any one interrupting another The Cooks dressed meat and sold no Wine and the Taverner sold Wine but dressed â—o meat for sale c. This Ward beginneth in the East at the West end of Downgate Ward at the Water-course of Walbrook which parteth them to wit at Granthams Lane on the Thames side and at Elbow-Lane on the Lands side it runneth along in Thames street West some three houses beyond the Old Swan a Brew-house and on the Land side some three Houses West beyond Saint Iames at Garlick Hithe In breadth this Ward stretcheth from the Vintry North to the Wall of the West gate of the Tower Royal the other North part is of cordwainer-Cordwainer-street Ward Out of this Royal street by the South gate of Tower Royal runneth a small street East to St. Iohns upon Walbrook which street is called Horseshooe-Bridge of such a Bridge sometime over the Brook there which is now vaulted over and pavâ—d Then from the South gate West runneth one other street called Knight-riders street by Saint Thomas Apostles Church on the North side and Wrâ—â—gwren Lare by the said Church at the West end thereof and to the East end of Trinity Church in the said Knight-riders street where this Ward endeth on that South side the street but on the North side it runneth no farther than the corner against the new builded Taverne and other Houses in a plot of ground where sometime stood Ormond place yet have ye one other Lane lower down in Royall-street stretching forth from over against Saint Michaels Church to and by the North side of Saint Iames Church by Garlick Hithe this is called Kerion Lane and thus much for the bounds of the Vintry Ward Now on the Thames side West from Granthams Lane have ye Herbert Lane or Brickles Lane so called of Iohn Brickles sometimes owner thereof Then is Simpsons Lane of one Simpson or Emperours head Lane of such a Sign then the Three Cranes Lane so called not only of a Sign of three Cranes at a Taverne door but rather of three strong Cranes of Timber placed on the Vintry Wharf by the Thames side to Crane up Wines there as is aforesaid this Lane waâ— of old time to wit the ninth of Richard the second called the Painted Tavern Lane of the Tavern being painted Then next over against St. Martins Church is a large House builded of Stone and Timber with Vaults for the stowage of Wines and is called the Vintry There dwelled John Gisers Vintner Mayor of London and Constable of the Tower and then was Henry Picard Vintner Mayor In this house Henry Picard feasted four Kings in one day as is shewed before Then next is Vanners Lane so called of Vanner that was owner thereof it is now called Church Lane of the coming up from St. Martins Church Next is Proad-Lane for that the same is broader for the passage of Carts from the Vintry Wharf than be the other Lanes At the Northwest corner of this Lane is the Parish Clarkes Hall by them purchased since they lost their old Hall in Bishopsgate-street Next is Spittle-Lane of old time so called since Stodies-Lane of the owner thereof named Stodie Sir John Stodie Vintner and Mayor in the year 1357 gave it with all the Quadrant wherein Vintners Hall now standeth with the Tenements round about unto the Vintners The Vintners builded for themselves a fair Hall and also thirteen Alms-houses there for thirteen poor people which are kept of Charity Rent-free The Vintners in London were of old time called Marchant Vintners of Gascoyne and so I read them in the Records of Edward the second the eleventh year aâ—d Edward the third the ninth year they were as well English-men as strangers born beyond the Seas but then subjects to the King of England great Burdeaux Merchants of Gascoyne French Wines divers of them were Mayors of this City namely John Adrian Vintner Reignold at Conduit John Oxenford Henry Picard that feasted the Kings of England France Scotl and and Cypres John Stodie that gave Stodies Lane to the Vintners which four last named were Mayors in the Reign of Edward the third and yet Gascoyne Wines were then to be sold at London not above fourpence nor Rhenish Wines above six pence the Gallon I read of Sweet Wines that in the fiftieth of Edward the third Iohn Peachie Fishmonger was accused of for that he procured a License for the only sale of them in London which he endeavoured to justifie by Law yet he was imprisoned and fined More I read that in the sixth of Henry the sixth the Lombards corrupted their Sweet Wines when knowledge thereof came to Iohn Raynwel Mayor of London he in divers places of the City commanded the heads of the Buts and other Vessells in the open streets to be broken to the number of a hundred and fifty so that the liquour running forth
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
that the same should be performed within three years after his Decease whereupon the old Bakewell-Hall was taken down and in the Moneth of February next following the foundation of a new strong and beautiful Store-house being laid the work thereof was so diligently applyed that within the space of ten moneths after to the charges of two thousand five hundred pounds the same was finished in the year 1588. Next beyond this House are placed divers fair Houses for Marchants and others till ye come to the back Gate of Guild-hall which Gate and part of the building within the same is of this Ward some small distance beyond this Gate the Coopers have their common Hall Then is the Parish Church of St. Michael called St. Michael at Bassings-hall a proper Church lately re-edified or new builded The Nineteenth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of LONDON called Cripplegate Ward THe Next Ward is called of Cripplegate and consisteth of divers Streets and Lanes lying as well without the Gate and Wall of the City as within First within the Wall on the East part thereof towards the North it runneth to the West-side of Hall's Ward and towards the South it joyneth to the Ward of Cheap It beginneth at the West end of the St. Laurence Church in the Jury on the North-side and runeth West to a Pumpe where sometimes was a well with Buckets at the South Corner of Alderman-Bury-Street which Street runneth down North to Gayspur Lane and to London Wall which Street and Lane are wholly on both sides of this Ward and so be some few houses on both sides from Gayspur Lane by and against the Wall of the City East to the Grates made for the water-course of the Channels and West to the Creplegate Now on the South side from over against the West End of Saint Laurence Church to the Pumpe and up milk-Milke-Street South unto Cheap which milk-Milke-Street is wholly on both the sides of Cripplegate Ward as also without the South end of milk-Milke-Street a part of West Cheap to wit from the Standard to the Crosse is all of Cripplegate Ward Then down great Wood-Street which is wholly of this Ward on both the sides thereof so is little Wood-Street which runneth down to Creplegate Out of this Wood-Street be diver Lanes namely on the East side is Lad lane which runneth East to Milke-Street Corner down lower in WoodStreet is Love lane which lieth by the South side of St. Albans Church in Wood-Street and runneth down to the Conduit in Aldermanbury-Street Lower down in Wood-Street is Addle-Street out of the which runneth Philip-lane down to London Wall These be the Lanes on the East-side On the West side of Wood-Street in Huggen-lane by the South side of St. Michaels Church goeth thorow to Gutherons lane Then lower is Maiden-lane which runneth West to the North End of Gutherons lane and up the said lane on the East side thereof till against Kery lane and back again then the said Maiden-lane on the North side goeth up to Staining lane up a part thereof on the East side to the farthest North part of Haberdashers Hall and back again to Wood-Street and there lower down is Silver Street which is of this Ward till ye come to the East End of St. Olaves Church on the South side and to Monkes-well Street on the North side then down the said Monkes-well Street on the East side thereof and so to Cripplegate do make the bonds of this Ward within the Walls Of these More-Feilds you have formerly read what a Moorish rotten ground they were unpassable but for Cawsways purposely made to that intent what they were also in our own nearer times of Memory even till Sir Leonard Halliday was Lord Major of London I am very well assured many do perfectly remember And what they are now at this instant by the honourable cost and care of this City and the industrious pains and diligence of that worthy Citizen Mr. Nicolas Leate we all to our continuall comfort do evidently behold Then to turn back again through the said Posternlane to More lane which More-lane with all the Allies and buildings there is of this Ward After that is Grub-Street more rhen half thereof to the Streightning of the Street Next is White-Crosse-Street up to the End of Beech-lane and then Red-Crosse-Street wholly with a part of Golding-lane even to the posts there placed as a bounder Then is Beech lane before spoken of the East side of the Red-Crosse and the Barbican-Street more than halfe thereof toward Aldersgate-Street Touching the Antiquitie of this Old Aldermans-Bury or Court I have not read other then that Richard Kenery one of the Sheriffs of London in the first of Richard the first which was in the year of Christ 1189. gave to the Church of Saint Mary at Osâ—ey by Oxford certain grounds and rents in Alderman-Bury of London as appeareth by the Register of that Church as as also entered into the Hustings of the Guild-Hall in London This Old Bery Court or Hall continued and the courts of the Major and Aldermen were continually holden there untill the New Bery-Court or Guild-Hall that now is was builded and finished which Hall was first begun to be founded in the year 1411 and was not fully finished in twenty years after The ruines of the Old Court Hall in Alderman-Bury-Street yet appear which of late hath bin imployed as a Carpenters yard c. Then is the parish Church of St. Mâ—ry Aldermanbury a fair Church with a Church-yard and Cloyster adjoyning In the which Cloyster is hanged and fastned a Shanke-bone of a man as is said very great and larger by three inches and a half than that which hangeth in St. Laurence Church in the Iury for it is in length twenty Eight inches and a half of assise but not so hard and Steely like as the other for the same is Leight and somewhat pory and spongy This bone is said to be found amongst the bones of men removed from the Charnell house of Pauls or rather from the Cloyster of Pauls Church Beneath this Church have ye Gayspur-lane which runneth down to London Wall as is afore shewed In this lane at the North end thereof was of old time a house of Nuns which house being in great decay William Elsing Mercer in the year of Christ 1329. the third of Edward of the third began in place thereof the foundation of an Hospitall for sustentation of one hundred blind men Towards the erection whereof he gave his two houses in the Parishes of St. Alphage and our Blessed Lady in Aldermanbury Near Cripplegate This house was after called a Priory or Hospitall of St. Mary the Virgin founded in the year 1332. by W. Elsing for Canons Regular the which W. became the first Prior there In the same place where the aforesaid Elsing Spittle and priory were formerly scituated there is now newly erected a Colledge for the Clergy of London and Liberties thereof called by the name
is now called Bacon-House because the same was new builded by Sir Nicholas Bacon Lord-Keeper of the Great Seal Down on that side by Serjeant Fleet-Woods house Recorder of London who also new builded it to Saint Olaves Church in Silver-Street which is by the North-West End of this noble-Noble-Street Then have ye Maine Street of this Ward which is called Saint Martins lane in cluding Saint Martin on the East side thereof and so down on both the sides to Aldersgate And these be the bounds of this Ward within the Wall and Gate Without the Gate the main Street called Aldersgate-Street runneth up North on the East side to the West end of Hounds-ditch or Barbican-Street a part of which Street is also of this Ward And on the West side to Long-Lane a part whereof is likewise of this Ward Beyond the which Aldersgate is Goswell Street up to the Barrs And on the West side of Hidersgate Street by Saint Buttolphs Church is Briton-Street which runneth West to a Pumpe and then North to the Gate which entreth the Church-Yard sometimes pertaining to the Priory of Saint Bartholomews on the east side on the west side towards St. Bartholomews Spittle to a paire of posts there fixed And these be the bounds of this Aldersgate Ward without The antiquities be these first in Stainâ—ng lane of old time so called as may be supposed of Painter-stainers dwelling there On the East side thereof adjoyning to the Aaberdashers Hall be ten Almes-houses pertaining to the Haberdashers wherein be placed ten Almes people of that Company every of them having Eight pence the peece every Friday for ever by the gift of Thomas Huntlow Haberdasher one of the Sheriffs in the year 1539. Then is the small Parish Church of Saint Mary called Staining because it standeth at the North end of Staining lane Then is Engain lane or Maiden lane and at the North-West Corner thereof the Parish Church of St. John Zachary a fair Church with the Monuments well preserved of Thomas Lichfield who founded a Chancery there in the fourteenth of Edward the second On the East side of this Foster Lane at Engane Lane end is Goldsmiths Hall a proper House but not large and therefore to say that Bartholmew Read Goldsmith Mayor in the year 1502 kept such a feast in this Hall as some have fabuled is far incredible and altogether unpossible considering the smallnesse of the Hall number of the Guests which as they say were more than one hundred persons of great estate But of late years the said Goldsmiths Hall is much enlarged and in a stately and sumptuous manner in so much that it may compare with any other Hall in London Then at the North end of Noble-street is the Parish Church of St. Olave in Silver-street a small thing On the West side of Foster-Lane is the small Parish Church of St. Leonards for them of St. Martins le Grand A number of Tenements being lately builded in place of the great Collegiate Church of St. Martin that Parish is mightily encreased Then in Pope-lane so called of one Pope that was owner thereof On the North side is the Parish Church of Saint Anne in the Willowes so called I know not upon what occasion but some say of Willowes growing thereabouts but now there is no such void place for Willowes to grow more than the Church-yard wherein do grow some high Ash-trees to this day Then in St. Martins Lane was of old time a fair and large Colledge of a Dean and Secular Canons or Priests and was called Saint Martins le grand founded by Ingelricus and Edwardus his Brother in the year of Christ 1056 and confirmed by William the Conqueror as appeareth by his Charter dated 1068. This Colledge claimed great Priviledges of Sanctuary and otherwise as appeareth in a Book written by a Notary of that House about the year 1442 the nineteenth of Henry the sixth wherein amongst other things is set down and declared that on the first of September in the year aforesaid a Souldier prisoner in Newgate as he was led by an Officer towards the Guild-Hall of London there came out of Panyer Alley five of his fellowship and took him from the Officer brought him into Sanctuary at the West door of St. Martins Church and took Grithe of that place But the same day Philip Malpas Robert Marshall then Sheriffs of London with many other entred the said Church and forcibly took out with them the said five men thither fled led them fettered to the Counter and from thence chained by the Necks to Newgate of which violent taking the Dean and Chapter in large manner complained to the King and required him as their Patron to defend their Priviledges like as his Predecessors had done c. All which complaint and suite the Citizens by their Counsel Markham Serjeant at the Law Iohn Carpenter common Clerk of the City and others learnedly answered offering to prove that the said place of St. Martin had no such Immunity or Liberty as was pretended Notwithstanding after long debating of this Controversie by the Kings commandment assent of his Councel in the Starr-Chamber the Chancellour and Treasurer sent a Writ unto the Sheriffs of London charging them to bring the said five persons with the cause of their taking and withholding afore the King in his Chancery on the Vigil of Alhallowes on which day the said Sheriffs with the Recorder and Counsel of the City brought and delivered them accordingly afore the said Lords where the Chancellour after he had declared the Kings Commandement sent them to St. Martins there to abide freely as in a place having Franchises whiles them liked c. Without Aldersgate on the East side of Aldersgate-street is the Cookes Hall which Cooks or Pastlers were admitted to be a Company and to have a Master and Wardens in the two and twentieth of Edward the fourth From thence along unto Houndsditch or Barbican street be many fair Houses on the West side also be the like fair buildings till ye come to Long-Lane and so to Goswell street In Britaine street which took that name of the Duke of Britain Lodging there is one proper Parish Church of St. Buttolph In which Church was sometime a Brotherhood of St. Fabian and Sebastian founded in the year 1377 the fifty one of Edward the third and confirmed by Henry the fourth in the sixth of his Reign Then Henry the sixth in the twenty fourth of his Reign to the honour of the Trinity gave Licence to Dame Joane Astley sometime his Nurse to R. Cawood and T. Smith to found the same a Fraternity perpetually to have a Master and two Custos with Brethren and Sisters This Brotherhood was endowed with Lands more than thirty pounds by the year and was suppressed by Edward the sixth Of the One and Twentieth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Faringdon Ward Intra ON the South side of Aldersgate Ward lyeth Faringdon Ward called
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-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
old Fishstreet This Fryday-street is of Bread-street Ward on the East side from over against the North-East corner of Saint Matthews Church and on the West side from the South corner of the said Church down as aforesaid In this Fryday-street on the West side thereof is a Lane commonly called Mayden Lane or Distaffe Lane corruptly for Distar Lane which runneth West into the old Exchange and in this Lane is also one other Lane on the South side thereof likewise called Distar Lane which runneth down to Knight-Rider street or Old Fish-street And so be the bounds of this whole Ward Monuments to be noted here first at Bread-street corner the North-East end 1595 of Thomas Tmolioson causing in the High street of Cheap a Vault to be digged and made there was sound at fifteen foot deep a fair payement like unto that above ground and at the further end at the Channel was found a Tree sawed into five steps which was to step over some Brook running out of the West towards Walbrooke and upon the edge of the said Brook as it seemeth there were found lying along the bodies of two great Trees the ends whereof were then sawed off and firm Timber as at the first when they fell part of the said Trees remain yet in the ground undigged It was all forced ground untill they went past the Trees aforesaid which was about seventeen foot deep or better Thus much hath the ground of this City in that place been raised from the main Next to be noted the most beautiful Frame of fair Houses and Shops that be within the Walls of London or else where in England commonly called Goldsmiths Row betwixt Bread-street end and the Crosse in Cheap but is within this Bread-street Ward Then for Watheling-street which Leyland calleth Atheling or Noble-street but since he sheweth no reason why I rather take it to be so named of the great High-way of the same calling True it is that at this present the Inhabitants thereof are wealthy Drapers Retailers of Wollen Cloths both Broad and Narrow of all sorts more than in any one street of this City Of the Old Exchange I have noted in Faringdon Ward wherefore I passe down to Knight-Riders street whereof I have also spoken in Cordwayner street Ward But in this part of the said Knight-Riders street is a Fish-market kept and therefore called Old Fish-street for a difference from New Fish-street In this Old Fishstreet is one Row of small Houses placed along in the middest of Knight-Riders-street which Row is also of Bread-street Ward These Houses now possessed by Fishmongers were at the first but moveable Boards or Stalls set out on Market-daies to shew their fish there to be sold but procuring Licence to set up Sheds they grew to shops and by little and little to tall Houses of three or four Stories in height and now is called Fish-street Walter Turke Fishmonger Mayor 1349 had two Shops in Old Fish-street over against Saint Nicholas Church the one rented at five shillings the year the other four shillings Bread-street so called of Bread sold there as I said is now wholly inhabited by rich Marchants and divers fair Inns be there for good receit of Carriers and other Travellers to the City On the East side of this street at the corner of Watheling street is the comely Church of Alhâ—llowes in Bread-street On the same side is Salters Hall with six Alms-houses in number builded for poor decayed Brethren of that Company This Hall was burned in the year 1539 and again re-edified Lower down on the same side is the Parish Church of Saint Mildred the Virgin Out of this bread-Bread-street on the same side is Basing Lane a part whereof as is afore shewed is of this Ward but how it took the name of Basing I have not read In the twentieth year of Richard the second the same was called the Bake-house whether meant of the Kings Bake-house or of Bakers dwelling there and baking Bread to serve the Market in Bread-street where the Bread was sold I know not but sure I am I have not read of Basing or of Gerrard the Gyant to have any thing there to do On the South side of this Lane is one great House of old time builded upon arched Vaults and with arched Gates of Stone brought from Cane in Normandy the same is now a common Ostrey for receit of Travellers commonly and corruptly called Gerrards Hall of a Giant said to have dwelled there In the high roofed Hall of this House sometime stood a large Firr-pole which reached to the roof thereof and was said to be one of the staâ—es that Gerrard the Gyant used in the Wars to run withal there stood also a Ladder of the same length which as they said served to ascend to the top of the staff Of later years this Hall is altered in building and divers rooms are made in it Notwithstanding the Pole is removed to once corner of the Hall and the Ladder hanged broken upon a Wall in the yard Now on the West side of Breadstreet amongst divers fair and large Houses for Marchants and fair Inns for Passengers had ye one Prison-house pertaining to the Sheriffs of London called the Compter in Bread-street but in the year 1555 the Prisoners were removed from thence to one other new Compter in Wood-street provided by the Cities purchase and builded for that purpose the cause of which remove was this Richard Husband Pasteler Keeper of this Compter in Breadstreet being a willful and head-strong man dealt for his own advantage hard with the prisoners under his charge having also servants such as himself liked best for their bad usage and would not for any complaint be reformed whereupon in the year 1550 Sir Rowland Hill being Mayor by the assent of a Court of Aldermen he was sent to the Goal of Newgate for the cruel handling of his prisoners and it was commanded to the Keeper to set those Irons on his leggs which are called the Widdows Alms These he ware from Thursday till Sunday in the afternoon and being by a Court of Aldermen released on the Tuesday was bound in an hundred Marks to observe from thence forth an Act made by the Common Councel for the ordering of prisoners in the Compters all which notwithstanding he continued as afore For being on a Jury to enquire against a Sessions of Goal delivery in the year 1552 it was found that the Prisoners were still hardly dealt with all for their achates and otherwise as also that Thieves and Strumpets were there lodged for four pence the night whereby they might be safe from searches that were made abroad for the which enormities and other not needfull to be recited he was indicted at that Session but did rub it out and could not be reformed till this remove of the prisoners for the House in Bread-street was his own by Lease or otherwise so that he could not be put from it Now in Friday-street so called of
a publick Lecture in Surgery to be read twice every week c. as is shewed else-where Towards the South is called the Lollards Tower and hath been used as the Bishops prison for such as were detected for opinions in Religion contrary to the Faith of the Church Adjoyning to this Lowlards Tower is the Parish Church of St. Gregory appointed to the Petty Chanons of Pauls Of the Twentie fifth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Farringdon Ward without or Extra THe farthest West-ward of this City being the twenty fifth Ward of London but without the Walls is called Farringdon without and was of old time part of the other Faringdon within until the seventeenth of Richard the second that it was devided and made twain by the names of Faringdon Intra and Faringdon Extra as is afore shewed Touching Ornaments and Antiquities in this Ward First betwixt the said Newgate and the Parish of St. Sepulchres is a way towards Smithfield called Gilt-Spur or Knight-Riders street of the Knights and other riding that way into Smithfield replenished with buildings on both sides up to Pye-corner a place so called of such a Sign sometimes a fair Inne for receipt of Travellers but now divided into Tenements and over against the said Pye-corner lyeth Cock-lane which runneth down to Oldburn Conduit Beyond this Pye-corner lyeth VVest Smithfield compassed about with buildings at first on the South side following the right hand standeth the large Hospital of St. Bartholmews founded by Rahere the first Prior of Saint Bartholmewes thereto near adjoyning in the year 1102. Alfune that had not long before builded the Parish Church of Saint Giles without Creplegate became first Hospitelar or Proctor for the poor of this House and went himself daily to the Shambles and other Markets where he Begged the Charity of devout people for their relief promising to the liberall givers and that by alledging Testimonies of the holy Scripture reward at the hands of God Henry the third granted to Katherine late Wife to VVilliam Hardell twenty foot of Land in length and breadth in Smithfield next to the Chappel of St. Bartholomew to build a Recluse or Ankorage commanding the Mayor and Sheriffs of London to assign the said twenty foot to the said Katherine the eleventh of Henry the third the foundation of this Hospital for the poor and diseased and their special sustentation was confirmed by Edward the third the twenty sixth of his Reign It was governed by a Master and eight Brethren being Priests for the Church and four Sisters to see the poor served This Hospitall was valued at the suppression in the year 1539 the thirty one of Henry the eighth to five and thirty pounds six shillings seven pence yearly The Church remaineth a Parish Church to the Tenents dwelling in the Precinct of the Hospital But in the year 1546 on the thirteenth of Ianuary the Bishop of Rochester preaching at Pauls Crosse declared the gift of the said King to the Citizens for relieving of the poor which contained the Church of the Grey Fryers the Church of Saint Bartholomew with the Hospital the Messuages and appurrenances in Gilt-Spur aliàs Knight-Riders street Briton street Peter Key in the Parish of Saint Mary Magdalen in old fish-Fish-street and in the Parish of Saint Bennet Huda Linie-hurst or Limehost in the Parish of Stebunheth c. Then also were Orders devised for relief of the poor the Inhabitants were all called to their Parish Churches where by Sir Richard Dobbs then Mayor their several Aldermen or other grave Citizens they were by eloquent Orations perswaded how great and how many Commodities would ensue unto them and their City if the poor of divers sorts which they named were taken from out their streets Lanes and Alleys and were bestowed and provided for in Hospitals abroad c. Therefore was every man moved liberally to grant what they would impart towards the preparing and furnishing of such Hospitals and also what they would contribute weekly towards their maintenance for a time which they said should not be past one year or twain until they were better furnished of endowment To make short every man granted liberally according to his ability Books were drawn of the Relief in every Ward of the City towards the new Hospitals and were delivered by the Major to the Kings Commissioners on the seventeenth of February and order was taken therein at the six and twenty of Iuly In the year 1552 the repairing of the Gray Fryers House for poor Fatherless Children was taken in hand and also in the latter end of the same Moneth began the repairing of this Hospitall of St. Bartholmew and was of new endowed and furnished at the charges of the Citizens On the East side of this Hospital lyeth Duck-lane which runneth out of Smithfield South to the North end of Little Britain street On the East side of this Duck-lane and also of Smithfield lyeth the late dissolved Priory of St. Bartholmew founded also by Rahere a pleasant witted Gentleman and therefore in his time called the Kings Minstrel about the year of Christ 1102. He founded it in a part of the before named Moorish ground which was therefore a common Lay-stall of all filth that was to be voided out of the City He placed Canons there himself became their first Prior and so continued till his dying day and was there buried in a fair Monument renewed afterwards by Prior Bolton To this Priory King Henry the second granted the priviledge of a Faire to be kept yearly at Bartholomew-tyde for three dayes to wit the Eve the Day and the next Morrow to the which the Clothiers of England and Drapers of London repaired and had their Boothes and standings within the Church-yard of this Prioty closed in with Walls and Gates locked every night and watched for safety of Mens Goods and Wares a Court of Pipepowders was daily during the Faire holden for debts and Contracts On the North side of this Priory is the lane truly called Long which reacheth from Smithfield to Aldersgate-street This Lane is now lately builded on both the sides with Tenements for Brokers Tiplers and such like the rest of Smithfield from Long lane end to the Barres is inclosed with Inns Brew-houses and large Tenements On the West side is Chicken-lane down to Cow-bridge then be the Pens or Folds so called of Sheep there parted and penned up to be sold on the Market dayes Then is Smithfield Pond which of old time in Records was called Horse-Poole for that men watered Horses there and was a great water In the sixth of Henry the fifth a new Building was made in the West part of Smithfield betwixt the said Pool and the River of the Wells or Turnmill-brook in a place then called the Elmes for that there grew many Elm-Trees and this had bin the place of Execution for offenders since the which time the building there hath bin so increased that now remaineth not one Tree growing Amongst
the Bridge along by the Thames East-ward is St. Olaves street having continual building on both the sides with Lanes and Alleys up to Battle-Bridge to Horse-down and towards Rother-Hith also some good half mile in length from London Bridge so that I account the whole continual buildings on the Bank of the said River from the West towards the East to be more than a large mile in length Then have ye from the entring towards the said Horse-down one other continual street called Barmonds eye street which stretcheth South likewise furnished with Buildings on both the sides almost half a mile in length up to the late dissolved Monastery of St. Saviours called Bermondsey And from thence is one Long Lane so called of the length turning West to St. Georges Church aforenamed out of the which Lane mentioned Long-lane breaketh one other street towards the South and by East and this is called Kentvsh-street for that it is the way leading into that County and so have ye the bounds of this Borough The Antiquities most notable in this Borough are these First for Ecclesiastical there was Bermondsey an Abbey of Black Monks St. Mary Overies a Priory of Canons Regular St. Thomas a Colledge or Hospâ—tal for the poor and the Loke a Lazar-house in kent-Kent-street Parish Churches there have been six whereof five do remain viz. St. Mary Magdalen in the Priory of Saint Mary Overy Now the same St. Mary Overy is the Parish Church for the said Mary Magdalen and for Saint Margaret on the Hill and is called Saint Saviour Saint Margaret on the Hill being put down is now a Court for Justice St. Thomas in the Hospital serveth for a Parish Church as afore St George a Parish Church as before it did so doth St Olave and St. Mary Magdalen by the Abby of Bermondsey There be also these five Prisons or Goals the Clink on the Bank the Compter in the late Parish Church of St. Margaret the Marshalsey the Kings-Bench and the White-Lyon all in Long Southwarke Now to return to the West Bank there were two Bear-Gardens the old and new places wherein were kept Bears Bulls and other Beasts to be bated As also Mastives in seâ—eral Kenels nourished to baite them These Bears and other Beasts are there baired in plots of ground Scaffolded about for the beholders to stand safe but this kind of sport is now prohibited Next on this Bank was sometime the Bordâ—llo or Stewes a place so called of certain Stew-houses priviledged there for the repair of incontinent men to the like women of the which Priviledge we read thus In a Parliament holden at Westminster the eight of Henry the second it was ordained by the Commons and confirmed by the King and Lords That divers constitutions for ever should he kept in that Lordship or Franchise according to the old Customs that had been there used time out of mind Amongst the which these following were some viz. That no Stew-holder or his Wife should let or stay any single Woman to go and come freely at all times when they listed No Stew-holder to keep any Woman to board but she to board abroad at her pleasure To take no more for the Womans Chamber in the week than fourteen pence Not to keep open his doors upon the Holy-daies Not to keep any single Woman in his House on the Holy-dayes but the Bayliff to see them voided out of the Lordship No single Woman to be kept against her will that would leave her sin No Stew-holder to receive any Woman of Religion or any Mans Wife No single Woman to take mony to lye with any man except she lie with him all night till the morrow No man to be drawn or enticed into any Stew-house The Constables Bayliffe and others every week to search every Stew-house No Stew-holder to keep any Woman that hath the perilous Infirmity of burning nor to sell Bread Ale Flesh Fish Wood Coale or any Victuals c. These allowed Stew-houses had Signs on their Fronts towards the Thames not hanged out but painted on the Walls as a Boars head the Crosse-Keys the Gun the Castle the Craue the Cardinals Hat the Bell the Swan c. Ancient men of good credit do report that these single Women were forbidden the Rights of the Church so long as they continued that sinful life and were excluded from Christian burial if they were not reconciled before their death And therefore there was a plot of ground called the Single Womans Church-yard appointed for them far from the Parish Church In the year of Christ one thousand five hundred forty six the seven and thirtieth of Henry the eighth this Row of Stews in Southwarke was put down by the Kings commandement which was proclaimed by sound of Trumpet no more to be priviledg'd and used as a common Brothel Then next is the Clinke a Goale or Prison for the Trespassers in those parts namely in old time for such as should brabble fray or break the peace on the said Bank or in the Brothel Houses they were by the Inhabitants thereabout apprehended and committed to this Gaole where they were streightly imprisoned Next is the Bishop of Winchesters House or Lodging when he commeth to this City Adioyning to this on the South side thereof is the Bishop of Rochesters Inne or lodging by whom first erected it is not upon Record but 't is known well the same of long time hath not been frequented by any Bishop and lieth ruinous for lack of reparations The Abbot of Naverly had a House there East from the Bishop of Winchesters House directly over against it standeth a fair Church called St. Mary over the Rie or Overy that is over the water This Church or some other in place thereof was of old time long before the Conquest an House of Sisters founded by a Maiden named Mary unto the which House and Sisters they left as was left to her by her Parents the over-sight and profits of a Crosse-Ferry or Traverse-Ferry over the Thames there kept before that any Bridge was builded This House of Sisters was after by Swithin a Noble Lady converted unto a Colledge of Priests who in place of the Ferry builded a Bridge of Timber and from time to time kept the same in good reparations But lastly the same Bridge was builded of Stone and then in the year 1106 was this Church again founded for Canons Regular by VVilliam Pont del l' Arch and VVilliam Daunly Knights Normans This Peter de Rupibus or de la Roch founded a large Chappel of St. Mary Magdalen in the Church of St Mary Overy which Chappel was afterward appointed to be the Parish Church for the Inhabitants near adjoyning This Church was again new builded in the Reign of Richard the second and King Henry the fourth Iohn Gower Esquire a famous Poet was then an especial Benefactor to that work and was there buried on the North side of the said Church in the Chappel of St. Iohn where he
OR A Progress made through the six and twenty particular Wards Precincts or Aldermanries whereinto the whole City is divided GReat Cities have commonly their Divisions And I could heartily wish that the Noble City of London had not so many in one sense I mean so many Rents factions and feuds in the practice of Holy Duties proceeding from such extravagant heterodoxal and fanatical opinions or rather Chymeras of unsetled brains But these are not the Divisions that are here meant Those which I intend in this place are only topical distributions or Districts shewing the several position of parts and differences of their locality whereby the Reader may have a kind of Anatomy presented unto him of all the members of this great populous City thus dissected This general Division consists of six and twenty parts or precincts which in the English Diaâ—ect are called Wards and are these that follow The names of all the Wards of the City of LONDON Ward 1. Tower-street 2. Port-soken 3. Algate 4. Limestreet 5. Bishops-gate 6. Broad-street 7. Cornhill 8. Langhorn 9. Billingsgate 10. Bridge-ward within 11. Candlewick 12. Wallbrook 13. Dowgate 14. Vintry 15. Cordwainer 16. Cheape 17. Colemanstreet 18. Basings Hall 19. Cripplegate 20. Aldersgate 21. Faringdon intra 22. Faringdon extra 23. Breadstreet 24. Queen Hith 25. Castle Bainard 26. Bridgewater without viz. the Borough of Southwark Whereof the greatest is the last and Bassings-Hall the least Of the first Ward or Aldermanry called Tower-street Ward OUt of an honour which is due to the Tower of London it being the prime Fortresse and propugnacle of the City both by water and Land the chief Armory and Archive of the whole Island c. we will begin with Tower-street Ward it being the first Ward Eastward within the Wall extending it self along the River from the Tower almost to Billinsgate One half of the Tower the ditch on the West side and Bulwarks adjoyning do stand within that part where the wall of the City of old time went streight from the Postern gate South to the River of Thames before that the Tower was perfectly built Then was Tower hill sometimes a clear large plot of ground but now pester'd with encroachments of houses built upon the banks of the ditch much to the prejudice and choaking up of the said ditch This Hill hath alwaies a Scaffold and Gallowes erected for execution of Traytors and others which the City opposed at first Many clashings have been also 'twixt the Lord Mayor and the Lieutenant of the Tower about the extent of their Liberties and some Priviledges touching prisoners the Lievtenant claim'd which were reconciled 1585 in Queen Elizabeths time at Nonsuch On the Northside of Tower-hill there is Lumly house then is Tower-street stretching from Tower-hill to Saint Margaret Pattens At the end of this is the Parish Church called Alhallows Barking on the North side whereof was sometimes a fair Chappel built by Richard the first and some say that his Heart which is call'd Coeur de lion was buried there under the high Altar it became afterward a little Colledge of Priests and stood till Edward the sixth Henry Howard Earl of Surrey being beheaded was buried in Barking Church Iohn Fisher Bishop of Rochester having layen naked upon the Scaffold a long time was at last carried thither and buried in the Churchyard There were divers other men of note buried there and lately Doctor Land Archbishop of Canterbury who was beheaded by the long Parliament By the West side of Barking Church lyeth Sydon Lane commonly callâ—d Sithing Lane wherein among other large Buildings there is Walsingham House Then is there the Parish Church of Saint Olave hard by Hart-street where there are some Monuments of the noble Family of the Radcliffs Earls of Sussex Then is there Mart-lane part whereof lies in Algate Ward where there are many fair Houses rich Marchants Then is there Mincheon Lane so call'd because of Tenements there sometimes pertaining to the Minchuns or Nuns of St. Helens in Bishopsgate-street There dwelt in this Lane divers strangers in times pass'd and they were commonly call'd Gallimen because they brought up Wines and other commodities in Gallies which they landed in the Thames street in a place call'd Galley Key They brought also a Coin with them call'd Gally half pence which was a Ligurian Coin But in the Reign of Henry the fourth and Henry the fifth it was inordred that whosoever should import that Coin with Suskins or Dodkins should be punished as a Felon The Clothworkâ—rs Hall is in this Lane Then have you the Parish Church of St. Mary Pattens and Bear Lane hard by reaching to Thames street The next is Spurrier lane call'd so in times pass'd but now named Water lane then is there Hart lane call'd at first Harp-lane which likewise reaches to Thames street In this Lane is the Bakers Hall In Tower street 'twixt Hart-lane and Church-lane was in times pass'd a quadrant call'd Galley-row because Galley men dwelt there whence may be inferr'd that Galleys was a kind of shipping not unknown to England in times pass'd Then have you two Lanes out of Tower street both call'd Church lanes then hard by is there another call'd Fowl-lane Afterwards you come to the Parish Church of S. Dunstans in the East it is a fair large Church of an ancient building with a spacious Church-yard the chiefest Salters Ironmongers were us'd to be thick there There are many Monuments of Knights and other persons of ranke in this Church among others that of Sir Iohn Hawkins the great Seaman There are many Keys in this Parish among others VVooll Key where was used to be the Trouage of Woolls Then Custome-house Key which part of the Town was used to be call'd in times passd Petty VVales And some are of opinion that the Princes of Wales when they repair'd to the City had a Pallace there the ruines whereof remain to this day of firm stone There was in former times an Hospital in the Parish of Barking for the sustentation of poor Priests with other both men and women that were Lunatick And so much in brief for what concerns Tower-street Ward Of the second Ward of London called Portsoken Ward VVE will now make a salley out of Algate and visit Portsoken VVard This Portsoken signifieth Franchise where there was sometimes a very ancient Guild or particular Society which had its beginning in the Reign of King Edgar There were then 13 Knights who desir'd to have a portion of Land on the East part of the City which for some signal services done in the wars was granted them with the Liberty of a Guild The King condescended hereunto proâ—ided that each of them should victoriously perform three combats one above ground and another under ground and the third in the water They were to run in East Smithfield with Spears against all comers which was us'd to be gloriously performed So that the King namd that place Knighten Guild and so
Christ our Saviour and called upon the Devil to help and deliver him such was the end of this deceiver a man of an evil life a secret murtherer a filthy fornicator a keepâ—r oâ— Concubines and amongst other his detestable facts a false accuser of his elder Brother who had in his youth brought him up in learning and done many things for his preferment In the year 1271. a great part of the Church of Bow fell down and slew many people men and women In the year 1284 the thirteenth of Edward the first Lawrence Ducket Goldsmith having grievously wounded one Ralph Crepin in West Cheap fled into Bow-Church into the which in the night time entred certain evil persons friends unto the said Ralph and slew the said Laurence lying in the Steeple and then hanged him up placing him so by the Window as if he had hanged himself and so was it found by Inquisition for the which fact Lawrence Ducket being drawn by the feet was buried in a ditch without the City but shortly after by relation of a Boy who lay with the said Lawrence at the time of his death and had hid him there for fear the truth of the matter was disclosed for the which cause Iordan Good-Cheape Ralph Crepin Gilbert Clarke and Ieffrey Clarke were attainted and a certain Woman named Alice that was chief causer of the said mischief was burned and to the number of sixteen men were drawn and hanged besides others that being richer after long imprisonment were hanged by the purse The Church was interdicted the Doors and Windows were stopped up with Thorns for a while but Lawrence was taken up and honestly buried in the Church-yard afterwards The Parish-Church of St. Mary Bow by meanes of incroachment and building of Houses wanting room in their Church-yard for burial of the Dead Iohn Rotham or Rodham Citizen and Taylor by his Testament dated the year 1465. gave to the Parson and Church-wardens a certain Garden in Hosier-lane to be a Church-yard which so continued near a hundred years but now is builded on and is a private mans house The old Steeple of this Church was by little and little re-edified and new builded up at the least so much as was fallen down many men giving sums of money to the furtherance thereof so that at length to wit in the year 1469 it was ordained by a Common Councel that the Bow Bell should be nightly rung at nine of the Clock Shortly after Iohn Donne Mercer by his Testament dated 1472 according to the trust of Reginald Longdon gave to the Parson and Church-wardens of St. Mary Bow two Tenements with the appurtenances since made into one in Hosierlane then so called to the maintenance of Bow Bell the same to be rung as aforesaid and other things to be observed as by the Will appeareth The Arches or Bowes thereupon with the Lanthorns five in number to wit one at each Corner and one on the top in the middle upon the Arches were also afterward finished of Stone brought from Cane in Normandy delivered at the Customers Key for four shillings eight pence the Tun 1515 and 1516 William Copland being Church-warden It is said that this Copland gave the great Bell which made the fifth in the Ring to be rung nightly at nine of the Clock This Bell was first rung as a Knell at the Burial of the same Copland It appeareth that the Lanthorns on the top of this Steeple were meant to have bin glazed and lights in them placed nightly in the Winter whereby Travellers to the City might have the better sight thereof and not to misse of their wayes In this Parish also was a Grammar-School by commandment of King Henry the sixth which School was of old time kept in an house for that purpose prepared in the Church-yard But that School being decayed as others about this City the School-house was let out for Rent in the Reign of Henry the 8th for four shillings the year a Cellar for two shillings the year and two Vaults under the Church for 15 s. both There are Monuments of divers Citizens of note in this Church but most of them much defac'd and mouldred away Without the North side of this Church of St. Mary Bow towards West-Cheape standeth one fair building of Stone called in Record Sildam a shed which greatly darkneth the said Church for by meanes thereof all the Windows and doors on that side are stopped up King Edward the third upon occasion as shall be shewed in the Ward of Cheap caused this side or shed to be made and strongly to be builded of Stone for himself the Queen and other States to stand there to behold the Justings and other shewes at their pleasures And this House for long time after served to that use namely in the Reign of Edward the third and Richard the second but in the year 1410. Henry the fourth in the twelfth of his Reign confirmed the said shed or building to Stephen Spilman William Marchford and John Wattle Mercers by the name of one new Sildain Shed or Building with Shops Cellars and Edifices whatsoever appertaining called Crounsild or Tamersild scituate in the Mercety of West-Cheape and in the Parish of St. Mary de Arcubus in London c. Notwithstanding which grant the Kings of England and other great Estates as well of forraign Countries repairing to this Realm as Inhabitants of the same have usually repaired to this place therein to behold the shewes of this City passing through West-Cheape namely the great Watches accustomed in the night on the Even of St. John Baptist and St. Peter at Midsommer the Examples whereof were over-long to recite wherefore let it suffice briefly to rouch one In the year 1510 on St. Johns Eve at night King Henry the eight came to this place then called the Kings-Head in Cheape in the Livery of a Yeoman of the Gard with an Halberd on his shoulder and there beholding the Watch departed privily when the Watch was done and was not known to any but whom it pleased him But on Saint Peters night next following He and the Queen came Royally riding to the said place and there with their Nobles beheld the Watch of the City and return'd in the morning Of the Sixteenth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of LONDON called Cheape-Ward WE enter now into the Center of the City which is Cheap-Ward taking name of the Market there kept called West Cheaping which Ward as a River as Mr. Stow saith that hath three heads and running along to the uttermost of his bounds issueth out on the sides into little streams so this Ward beginning on the Course of Wallbrook and is not the meanest of the Wards if for no other cause yet because it is nearest to the heart of the City hath his beginning on the East from three places The High street of the Poultrey the lower end of Buckles bury and the nether part of the Venell or entry into Scalding Alley
Reign gave the Office of being Porter or Keeper thereof unto John Stent for terme of his life by the name of his principal Pallace in the Old Jewry This was called the Old Wardrobe but of latter time the outward Strone-Wall hath bin by little and little taken down and divers fair Houses builded thereupon even round about Now or the North side of this Lothbury beginning again at the East end thereof upon the Water-Course of Wallbrook have ye a proper Parish Church called St. Margaret which was newly re-edified and builded about the year 1440. By the West end of this Parish-Church have ye a fair Warter-Conduit builded at the Charges of the City in the year 1546. Next is the Founders Hall a hansom House and so to the South-West corner of Basing-hall-street have ye fair and large Houses for Marchants namely the Corner-house at the end of Basings-Hall-street an old peece of work builded of Stone sometime belonging to a certain Jew named Mansere the Sonne of Aaron the Sonne of Coke the Jew the seventh of Edward the first since to Rahere Sopers-Lane then to Simon Francis Thomas Bradbury Mercer kept his Majoralty there deceased 1509. part of this House hath bin lately imployed as a Market-house for the sale of Woollen Bayes Watmoles Flanels and such like On this North side against the Old Iewry is Colemanstreet so called of Coleman the first builder and owner thereof is also of Cole-Church or Coleman-Church against the great Conduit in Cheape This is a fair and large street on both sides builded with divers fair Houses besides Allies with small Tenements in great number on the East side of this street almost at the North end thereof is the Armorers-Hall which Company of Armorers were made a Fraternity of Guild of St. George with a Chantry in the Chappel of St. Thomas in Pauls Church in the first of Henry the sixth also on the same side is Kings Allâ—y and Love-lane both containing many Tenements And on the West side towards the South end is the Parish Church of St. Stephen wherein the Monuments are defaced This Church was sometime a Synagogue of the Jews then a Parish Church then a Chappel to Saint Olaves in the Jewry until the seventh of Edward the fourth and was then incorporated a Parish Church Of the Eighteenth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Basings-Hall-Ward THe next adjoyning to Coleman-street-Ward on the West side thereof is Bassings-Hall-VVard a small thing and consisteth of one street called Basings-Hall-street of Basings-Hall the most principal House whereof the Ward taketh name it beginneth in the South by the late spoken Market House called the Bay Hall which is the last of Coleman-street-VVard This street runneth from thence North down to London-Wall and some distance both East and West against the said Hall And this is the bounds of Basings-Hall-VVard Amongst divers fair Houses for Marchants have ye three Halls of Companies namely the Masons Hall for the first but of what Antiquity that Company is I have not read The next is the Weavers Hall which Company hath bin of great Antiquity in this City as appeareth by a Charter of Henry the second in these words Rex omnibus ad Quos c. to be englished thus Henry King of England Duke of Normandy and of Guyan Earl of Anjou to the Bishop Justices Sheriffs Barons Ministers and all his true Lieges of London sendeth greeting Know ye that we have granted to the Weavers in London their Guild with all the Freedoms and Customs that they had in the time of King Henry my Grandfather so that they intermit none but within the City of their Craft but he be of their Guild neither in Southwark or other places pertaining to London otherwise than it was done in the time of King Henry my Grand-father wherefore I will and straightly command that over all lawfully they may treat and have all aforesaid as well in peace free worshipful and wholly as they had it ftreer better worshipfuller and whollier than in the time of King Henry my Grand-father so that they yield yearly to me two Marks of Gold at the feast of St. Michael And I forbid that any man to them do any Unright or Disease upon pain of ten pound c. Lower down is the Girdlers Hall and this is all touching the East side of this Ward On the West side almost at the South end thereof is Bakewell-Hall corruptly called Blackwell-Hall concerning the Original whereof I have heard divers Opinious which I over-passe as Fables without colour of truth for though the same seemed a Building of great Antiquity yet in mine Opinion the Foundation thereof was first laid since the Conquest of VVilliam Duke of Normandy for the same was builded upon Vaults of Stone which Stone was brought from Cane in Normandy The like of that in Pauls Church builded by Mauritius and his Successors Bishops of London but that this House hath bin a Temple or Jewish Synagogue as some have fantisied I allow not seeing that it had no such form of roundness or other likeness neither had it the form of a Church for the Assembly of Christians which are builded East and West but contrariwise the same was builded North and South and in the form of a Noblemans House and therefore the best Opinion in my judgement is that it was of old time belonging to the Family of the Bassings which was in this Realm a name of great Antiquity and Renown and that it beares also the name of that Family and was called therefore Basings-Haugh or Hall Now how Bakewell-hall took that name is another Question For which I read That Thomas Bakewel dwelled in this House in the 36. of Edward the 3d and that in the 20. of Richard the 2d the said King for the sum of 50. pounds which the Mayor and the Communalty had paid into the Hanapar granted Licence so much as was in him to Iohn Frosh William Parker and Stephen Spilman Citizens and Mercers that they the said Messuage called Bakewell-hall and one Garden with the appurtenances in the Parish of St. Michael of Bassings-Haugh and of St. Lawrence in the Jewry of London and one Messuage two Shops and one Garden in the said Parish of St. Michael which they held of the King in Burgage might give and assign to the Mayor and Communalty for ever This Bakewell-Hall thus established hath bin long since imployed as a weekly Market-place for all sorts of Woollen Clothes broad and narrow brought from all parts of this Realm there to be sold. In the 21. of Richard the second Richard Whittington Mayor and in the 22 Drew Barringtine being Mayor it was decreed that no Forraign or stranger should sell any Woollen-Cloth but in Bakewell-hall upon pain of forfeiture thereof This House of late years growing ruinous and in danger of falling Richard May Merchant-Taylor at his decease gave towards the new building of the outward part thereof 300l upon condition
Intra or within for a difference from another Ward of that name which lyeth without the Walls of the City and is therefore called Farringdon Extra These two Wards of old time were but one and had also but one Alderman The whole great Ward of Faringdon both Intra and Extra took name of W. Farrendon Goldsmith Alderman of that Ward and one of the Sheriffs of London in the year 1281 the ninth of Edward the first He purchased the Aldermanry of this Ward as by the Abstract of Deeds which are yet extant may appear At the South-West corner of Wood-street is the Parish Church of St Peter the Apostle by the said Crosse a proper Church John Sha Goldsmith Mayor deceased 1503 appointed by his Testament the said Church and Steeple to be new builded of his goods with a flat roof Notwithstanding Tho. Wood Goldsmith one of the Sheriffs 1491 is accounted a principal Benefactor because the roof of the middle Isle is supported by Images of Woodmen thought to be at his charge The long Shop or Shed encroaching on the High-street before this Church Wall was licenced to be made in the year 1401 yielding to the Chamber of London three shillings four pence yearly for the time Also the same Shop was letten by the Parish for three pounds at the most many years since Then is Guthuruns Lane so called of Guthurun sometime owner thereof the Inhabitants of this Lane of old time were Gold-beaters as doth appear by Records in the Exchequer For the Easterling money was appointed to be made of fine Silver such as men made into foyle and was commonly called Silver of Guâ—hrons Lane c. The Imbroyderers Hall is in this Lane Iohn Throwstone Imbroyderer then Goldsmith Sheriff deceasing 1519. gave forty pound towards the purchase of this Hall Hugon Lane on the East side and Key Lane called of one Kery on the West Then in the High street on the same North side is the Sadlers Hall and then Foster-Lane so called of Saint Fosters a fair Church lately new builded Henry Coote Goldsmith one of the Sheriffs deceased 1509 builded St. Dunstans Chappel there Iohn Throwstone one of the Sheriffs gave to the building thereof one hundred pounds by his Testament John Brown Sergeant-painter Alderman deceased 1532 was a great Benefactor and was there buried William Trist Selerar to the King 1425. John Standelf Goldsmiths lye buried there Richard Galder 1544 Agnes Wife to William Milbourne Chamberlain of London 1500. In this West side is the Barber Chirurgions Hall This Company was Incorporated by means of Thomas Morestead Esquire one of the Sheriffs of London a thousand four hundâ—ed thirty six Chirurgion to the Kings of England Henry the fourth fifth and sixth He deceased 1450. Then Jaques Fries Physitian to Edward the fourth and William Hobbs Physician and Chirurgion to the same Kings Body continuing the Suite the full terme of twenty years Edward the fourth in the second of his Reign and Richard Duke of Glocester became Founders of the same Corporation in the Parish of Saint Cosme and Damiane The first assembling of that Mystery was by Roger Strippe William Hobbs Thomas Goddard and Richard Kent since the which time they builded their Hall in that street c. At the North corner of this street on the same side was sometime an Hermitage or Chappel of Saint James called in the Wall near Creplegate it belonged to the Abbey and Covent of Garadon as appeareth by a Record the seven and twentieth of Edward the first and also the fiftieth of Edward the third William de Lions was Hermit there and the Abbot and Convent of Garadon found two Chaplains Cestercâ—an Monkes of their House in this Hermitage one of them for Aymor de Valence Earl of Pembrooke and Mary de Saint Paul his Countesse Of these Monks and of a Well pertaining to them the street took that name and is called Monkes-Well street This Hermitage with the appurrenances was in the Reign of Edward the sixth purchased from the said King by W. Lambe one of the Gentlemen of the Kings Chappel Citizen and Cloth-worker of London He deceased in the year 1577 and then gave it to the Cloth-workers of London with other Tenements to the value of fifty pounds the year to the intent they shall hire a Minister to say Divine Service there Again to the High street of Cheap from Foster Lane end to St. Martins and by that Lane to the Shambles or Flesh-markâ—t on the North side whereof is Pentecost Lane containing divers Slaughter-houses for the Butchers Then was there of old time a hansome Parish Church of Saint Nicholas whereof the said Flesh-market took the name and was called Saint Nicholas Shambles This Church with the Tenements and Ornaments was by Henry the eighth given to the Mayor and Communalty of the City towards the maintenance of the New Parish Church then to be erected in the late dissolved Church of the Gray Fryers so was this Church dissolved and pulled down in place whereof and of the Church-yard many fair Houses are now builded in a Court with a Well in the middest whereof the Church stood Then is Stinking Lane formerly so called or Chick Lane at the East end of the Gray Fryers Church it is now kept clean and free from annoyance and called by the name of Butchers Hall Lane for there is the Butchers Hall In the third of Richard the second motion was made that no Butcher should kill any flesh within London but at Knightsbridge or such like distant place from the Walls of the City Then is there the late dissolved Church of Gray Fryars the Originall whereof was thus In the year 1224 being the 8th year of the Reign of King Henry the 3d there came out of Italy nine Fryers of the order of the Franciscans or Frior Minors five whereof were Priests and the other four Lay-men the Priests placed themselves at Canterbury in Kent but the other four came to London and were lodged for some short while among the preaching Fryers who lived then in Oldburn now Holborne Afterwards they obtained to be placed in Cornhil London man House belonging to one Iohn Travers who was then one of the Sheriffs of London in the same year 1224 in which House they made themselves Cells and inhabited there for a certain time till their number so encreased and the Citizens devotion grew to be so great that within few years after they were thence removed by the means of one Iohn Ewin Mercet who purchased a void plot of ground near to St. Nicholas Shambles where to erect an House for the said Fryers Divers Citizens seemed herein to joyn with the said Iohn Ewin and erected there very beautiful Buildings upon the same ground so formerly purchased by John Ewin and a great part builded at his own Charge which he appropriated to the Communalty of London and then entred into the same Order of Friers as a Lay-Brother himself This whole Church contained in length
founded a Chantry He lyeth under a Tombe of Stone with his Image also of Stone over him The Hair of his Head auburne long to his Shoulders but curling up and a small forked Beard on his Head a Chaplet like a Coronet of four Roses an habit of Purple damasked down to his feet a Collar of Esses of Gold about his Neck under his Feet the likenesse of three Books which he compiled The first named Speculum Meditantis written in French The second Vox clamantis penned in Latine The third Confessio Amantis written in English and this last is printed Vox Clamantis with his Chronica Tripartita other both in Latine and French were never printed Besides on the Wall where he lyeth there was painted three Virgins Crowned one of the which was named Charity holding this Device En Toy qui es Fitz de Dieu le pere Savâ—e soit qui gist soubs cest pierre In Thee who art the Son of God Be sav'd who lyes under this clod Now passing through St. Mary Overies Close once in possession of the Lord Montacute Pepper Alley into Long Southwark on the right hand thereof the Market Hill where the Leather is sold there stood the late named Parish Church of Saint Margaret given to St. Mary Overies by Henry the first put down and joyned with the Parish Church of St. Mary Magdalen and united to the late dissolved Priory Church of St. Mary Overy A part of this Parish Church of St. Margaret is now a Court wherein the Assizes and Sessions be kept and the Court of Admiralty is also there kept one other part of the same Church is now a prison called the Compter in Southwarke c. Farther up on that side almost directly over against St. Georges Church was sometime a large and most sumptuous house builded by Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke in the Reign of Henry the eighth which was called Suffolk House but coming afterwards into the Kings hands the same was called Southwark place and a Mint of Coynage was there kept for the King Queen Mary give this House to Nicholas Heth Archbishop of York and to his Successors for ever to be their Inne or Lodging for their repair to London in recompence of York House near to Westminster which King Henry her Father had taken from Cardinal Woolsey and from the See of York Then is the White Lion a Goal so called for that the same was a common Hoftery for the receit of Travellers by that Sign This â—ouse was first used as a Goal within these hundred years last since the which time the prisoners were once removed thence to an House in New-town where they remained for a short time and were returned again to the aforesaid White Lion there to remain as the appointed Goal for the Countey of Surrey Next is the Goal or Prison of the Kings-Bench but of what antiquity the same is it appears not We read that the Courts of the Kings-Bench and Chancery have oft times been removed from London to other places and so hath likewise the other Goals that serve those Courts as in the year 1304 Edward the first commanded the Courts of Kings-Bench the Exchequer which had remained seven years at York to be removed to their old places at London And in the year 1387 the eleaventh of Richard the second Robert Trisilian chief Justice came to the City of Coventry and there sat by the space of a Month as Justice of the Kings Bench and caused to be Indicted in that Court about the number of 2000 persons of that Country c. It seemeth therefore that for that time the Prison or Goale of that Court was not far off Also in the year 1392 the sixteenth of the same Richard the Archbishop of York being Lord Chancellor for good will that he bare to his City caused the Kings Bench and Chancery to be removed from London to York but ere long they were returned to London Then is the Marshalsey another Goal or Prison so called as pertaining to the Marshalls of England of what continuance kept in Southwark it appears not but likely it is that the same hath been removeable at the pleasure of the Marshalls And then Thieves Lane by St. Thomas Hospital first found by Richard Prior of Bermondsey in the Cellerers grounded against the Wall of the Monastery in the year 1213 He named it the Almery or house of Alms for Converts and poor Children In the year 1552 the Citizens of London having the void suppressed Hospital of St. Thomas in Southwark in the Month of Iuly began the reparations thereof for poor impotent lame and diseased people so that in the Month of November next following the sick and poor people were taken in And in the year 1553 on the tenth of April King Edward the sixth in the seventh of his Reign gave to the Mayor Communalty and Citizens of London to be a Work-House for the poor and idle persons of the City his House of Bridewell and seven hundred Marks Lands of the Savoy Rents which Hospital he had suppressed with all the Beds bedding and other furniture belonging to the same towards the maintenance of the said Work-house of Bridewell and of this Hospital of Saint Thomas in Southwark This gift the King confirmed by his Charter The Church of this Hospital which of old time served for the Tenements neer adjoyning and pertaining to the said Hospital remaineth as a Parish Church But now to come to St. Olaves street on the Bank of the River of Thames is the Parish Church of St. Olave a fair and meeâ—ly large Church but a far larger Parish especially of Aliens or strangers and poor people Next is the Bridge-House so called as being a Store-house for Stone Timber or whatsoever pertaining to the building or repairing of London Bridge This House seemeth to have taken beginning with the first founding of the Bridge either of Stone or Timber it is a large plot of ground on the Bank of the River of Thames containing divers large buildings for stowage of things necessary towards reparation of the said Bridge There are also divers Garners for laying up of Wheat and other Granaries for service of the City as need requireth Moreover there be certain Ovens builded in number ten of which six be very large the other four being but half so big these were purposely made to bake out the Bread Corn of the said Grayners to the best advantage for relief of the poor Cittizens when need should require Then is Battaile Bridge so called of Battaile Abbey for that it standeth on the ground over a Water-course flowing out of Thames pertaining to that Abbey and was therefore both builded and repaired by the Abbots of that House as being hard adjoyning to the Abbots Lodging Beyond this Bridge is Bermondsey street turning South in the South end whereof was sometime a Priory or Abby of St. Saviour called Bermonds Eye in Southwarke founded by Ailwin a
up for passage of Ships with tops to the said Queen Hith Touching the ancient Customs of Billingsgate in the Reign of Edward the third every great Ship landing there paid for standage two pence every little Ship with orelocks a peny the lesser Boat called a Battle a half-peny of two quarters of Corn measured the King was to have one farthing of a Combe of Corn a peny of every weight going out of the City a half peny of two quarters of Sea-Coals measured a farthing and of every Tun of Ale going out of England beyond the Seas by Marchants strangers four pence of every thousand Herrings a farthing except the Franchises c. Next to this is Sommers Key which likewise took that name of one Sommer dwelling there as did Lyon Key of one Lyon owner thereof and since of the Signe of the Lyon Then is there a fair Wharf or Key called Buttolphs-gate by that name so called in the time of William the Conqueror and before him of Edward the Confessor Next is the Parish of St. Buttolph a comely Church and hath had many fair Monuments therein now much defaced and gone Among others there is William Rainwel and his Sonne who gave a Stone-House to be a Vestry to that Church with Lands and Tenements to discharge Billingsgate Dowgate and Algate of fifteens granted to the King and other Tolls this was about the year 1426. This Parish of St. Buttolph is no great thing notwithstanding divers strangers are there harboured as may appear by a presentment not many years since made of strangers Inhabitants in the Ward of Billingsgate in these words In Billingsgate Ward were one and fifty Housholds of strangers whereof thirty of theâ—e Housholders inhabited in the Parish of St. Buttolph in the chief and principal Houses where they give twenty pounds a year for an house letten used to be let before for four marks the nearer they dwell to the Water side the more they give for Houses and within 30. years before there was not in the whole Ward above three Nether landers at which time there was within the said Parish levied for the help of the poor seven and twenty pounds by the year but since they came so plentifully thither there cannot be gathered above eleven pounds the strangers being exempted to contribute to such charges as other Citizens do in regard they much advance the Trade of the City On the North side is Bosse Alley so called of a Bosse of Spring-water continually running which standeth by Billingsgate against this Alley and was sometimes made by the Executors of Richard Whittington Then is St. Mary Hill ane which runneth up North from Billingsgate to the end of St. Margaret Patteâ—ns commonly called Rood-lane and the greatest half of that Lane is also of Billingsgate Ward In this St. Mary Hill lane is the 〈◊〉 Parish Church of St. Mary on the Hill called so because of the ascent from Billingsgate In the year 1497. in the Moneth of April as labourers digged for the foundation of a Wall within the Church of St. Mary Hill near unto Billingsgate they found a Coffin of rotten Timber and therein the Corps of a Woman whole of skin and of bones undissevered with the joynts of her Arms plyable without breaking of the skin upon whose Sepulcher this was engraven Here lie the Bodies of Richard Hackney Fishmonger and Alice his Wife The which Richard was Sheriff in the fifteenth of Edward the second Her Body was kept above ground three or four dayes without noyance but then it waxed unsavory and was again buried This Lane on both sides is furnished with fair Houses for Marchants and hath at the North end thereof one other Lane called St. Margaret Pattens because of old time Pattens were usually there made and sold but of latter time this is called Rood Lane of a Rood there placed in the Church-yard of St. Margaret whilest the old Church was taken down and again new builded during which time the oblations made to this Rood were imployed towards building of the Church But in the year 1538. about the 23. of May in the morning the said Rood was found to have been in the night preceding by people unknown broken all to pieces together with the Tabernacle wherein it had bin placed Then have ye another Lane called Rother Lane or Red Rose Lane of such a signe there now commonly called Pudding Lane because the Butchers of East-Cheape have their Scalding-house for Hoggs there their Puddings with other fiâ—th of Beasts are voided down that way to their Dung-boats on the Thames In this Church you have the Sepulchers of sundry worthy men among other of Mr. Vandepute a very worthy Marchant whose Son Mr. Giles Vandepute was lately buried also there Then on the West side of St. Mary Hill Church is a Lane called Rope-lane of old and after Lucas-lane but now Love-lane Then have you the Parish of St. Andrew Hubbart in East-Cheape Then is there Butâ—olph-lane and afterwards the Church of St. George Buttolph-lane which though small hath divers Monuments Of the Tenth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Bridg-Ward within WE will direct ourâ— pace downward now and take a Survey of Bridge Ward within so called of London-Bridge which Bridge is a principal part of that Ward and beginning at the Stulps on the South end by Southwark runneth along the Bridge and North up Bridge-street commonly called of the Fish Market New Fish-street from Fish-street Hill up Grass-street to the North corner of Grass-Church All the Bridge is replenished on both the sides with large fait and beautiful buildings Inhabitants for the most part Rich Marchants and other wealthy Citizens Mercers and Haberdasherâ— In New Fish-street be Fishmongers and fair Taverns on Fish-street â—â—ill and Grasse-street men of divers Trades Grocers and Haberdashers In Grass-street have ye one fair Conduit of sweet water castellated with crest and vent made by the appointment of Thomas Hill Mayor 1484 who gave by his Testament a hundred Marks towards the conveyance of water to this place it was begun by his Executors in the year 1491 and finished of his goods whatsoever it cost On the East side of this Bridge Ward have ye the fair Parish Church of Saint Magnus in the which Church have been buried many men of good repute whose Monuments are now for the most part defaced Among others Sir Richard Morgan chief Justice of the Common-Pleas and Morris Griffith Bishop of Rochester both born in Wales about the year 1556. Then is the Parish Church of St. Margarets Fish-shreet Hill a proper Church but Monument it hath none of any note Up higher on this Hill is the Parish Church of St. Leonard Milk-Church so termed of one VVilliam Melker an especial builder thereof but commonly called Saint Leonards East-cheap because it standeth at East-cheap coâ—ner This Church and from thence into little East-cheap to the East end of the said Church is of the Bridge