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A44732 Londinopolis an historicall discourse or perlustration of the city of London, the imperial chamber, and chief emporium of Great Britain : whereunto is added another of the city of Westminster, with the courts of justice, antiquities, and new buildings thereunto belonging / by Jam. Howel Esq. Howell, James, 1594?-1666. 1657 (1657) Wing H3091; ESTC R13420 281,998 260

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Mayor and the Aldermen descend again and confirm the Elections Then the Recorder making them a Speech of thanks the meeting ends Now touching the Hustings which we have mentioned so often it is the ancient'st and highest Court of the City of London Touching the Etymology of it it is a pure Saxon word and is derived of House and dhing or thing which among the Saxons signified a Cause or Plea in so much that Hustings is no other then the House of Causes or Pleading and Thingere was the ancient word for a Lawyer or Pleader This Court preserves the Laws Rights Franchises Customs and Dignities of the City There be handled also there the intricat'st accounts and Pleas of the Crowns and of the whole Kingdom which Court hath for many Ages conserv'd inviolably its own Prerogatives and Customs This Court was anciently held every Munday but it was chang'd of late years into Tuesday because of the Sheriffs intending the Market which being kept upon Munday would hinder their sitting in the Hustings Edward the Confessors Lawes refer much to this Hustings Court Moreover the Cities o● York Winchester Lincoln the Isle of Shepey and other places have had their Hustings There is also another Court peculiar to London which discovers as much of Charity as of Policy It is call'd the Court of Requests or the Court of Conscience It was first erected by an act of Common-Councel Anno 9. Henry 8. viz. That the Lord Mayor and Aldermen for the time being should monthly assign two Aldermen and four discreet Commoners to sit twice a week to hear and determine all matters brought before them betwixt Free-men where the due debt or dammage did not exceed 40S Afterwards the said number of Commissioners was encreased to the number of twelve which continued till the end of Q. Elizabeths Reign But primo Iacobi it was confirm'd by Act of Parliament That the said Commissioners should have power to exhibit an Oath and to commit to prison such as did not obey their Summons or perform the Orders they made betwixt Plaintiff and Defendant Debitor or Creditor touching any debt not amounting to forty shillings but such hath been the unconscionablenesse and malice of some men of late times that they have endeavour'd to overthrow the the said Court by cavilling at some doubtful words therein wresting them to a perver●e sense the rich might have power thereby to oppresse the poorer sort by bringing them to Westminster Hall to a further expence of time and trouble There is then the Court of the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen which is a Court of Record the Recorder and the two Sheriffs being Aldermen not else are members of this Court whose office it is to redresse and correct the errors defaults and misprisions which happen in the Government of the City This Court is kept Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the year Then are the two Courts of the Sheriffs one for every Counter whereof there are two Lawyers as Judges well read in the Customs of the City as well as the common Laws but if an erroneous judgment be given before the Sheriffs the party griev'd may sue a Writ of error and remove it to the Hustings Then is the Court of Orphans For the Mayor and Aldermen by Custome have the custody of the Orphans within the City and if they commit the Custody of the Orphans to another man he shall have a ravishment of ward if the Orphan be taken away it being enacted that the Mayor and Chamberlain of London for the time being shall have the keeping of all the Lands and Goods of such Orphans as happen within the City saving to the King and other Lords their Rights of such as hold of them out of the same Liberty Now the Chamberlain is a sole Corporation to himself and his Successors for Orphans and a Recognizance made to him and his Successors touching Orphans shall by custome go to his Successor Moreover the Government of Orphans is so invested in the Mayor that it any Orphans sue in the Ecclesiastical Court or else-where for a Legacy or duty due to them by the Custome a Prohibition doth lye Then is there the Court of Common Councel which hath some resemblance of the high Court of Parliament for it consists of two Houses viz. the one of the Mayor and Aldermen and the other of the Commoners of the City Here they make Constitutions and Laws for advancement of Trade and regulation of other things which bind the whole City There is then the Court of the Chamberlain for Apprentices Now one may be free of London three manner of wayes first by Service secondly by Birth-right being sonne of a Freeman And thirdly by Redemption by Order of the Court of Aldermen The Chamberlain of London is an Officer very considerable in point of power for without him no man can set up shop or occupy his Trade without being sworn before him No man can set-over an Apprentice to another but by his Licence He may imprison any that disobeys his Summons or any Apprenrice that mildemeans himself or punish him otherwise There are the Courts of the Coroner and the Escheator which both belong to the Lord Mayor he being Coroner and Escheator by vertue of his authority and Office Then is there a Court for the conservation of the water River of Thames which belongs to the Lord Mayor from Stanes-bridge unto the water of Yendal and Medway as is amply spoken of before Then is there the Court of the Tower of London and this Court is held within the Verge of the City before the Steward by prescription of debt trespasse and other actions now part of the Tower is within the City and part in Middlesex viz. the East part but the West in London whereof there was a notable example in the person of Sir Thomas Overbury who being poyson'd in a Chamber on the West part the principal murtherers were tryed before Commissioners of Oyer and Termin●r in London and so was Sir Gervase Elwayes the Live●enant of the Tower at that time There is also a peculiar Court call'd the Court of Policies and of Assurances in London to Marchants that venture and traffique on the Seas where ships and goods are insur'd at so much in the hundred where there is an Officer of good quality who Registers these Assurances Then is the Court of Halmote or Hall Court for every Company of London having a particular Hall They use to meet there to deliberate of matters belonging to the Company Then is the Court of the Wardmote or of the Wardmote Inquest For the whole City being divided to 26 Wards every Ward hath such an Inquest consisting of twelve or more who inquire after abuses and disorders and present them to be redressed There is also a kind of Court call'd the Colledge of the President Censors and Commonalty or Physicians who have peculiar Lawes of their own and among other one is remarkable that if one who is not
bridge-Bridge-house and the Leaden-hall how they were stored of Grain for the service of the City And because we have here before spoken of the Bread-carts coming from Stratford at the Bow ye shall understand that of old time the Bakers of Bread at Stratford were allowed to bring daily except the Sabbath and principal Feasts divers long Carts laden with bread the same being two ounces in the penny wheaten loaf heavier than the penny wheaten loaf baked in the City the same to be sold in Cheap three or four Carts standing there 'tween G●therans Lane and Fausters Lane end one Cart on Cornhil by the Conduit and one other in Grasse-street And we may read that in the fourth year of Edward the second Richard Reffeham being Mayor a Baker named Iohn of Stratford for making Bread lesser than the Assize was with a fools hood on his Head and loaves of Bread about his Neck drawn on a hurdle through the streets of the City Moreover in the four and fortieth of Edward the third Iohn Chichester being Mayor of London as we may read in the visions of Pierce Plowman a Book so called as followeth There was a careful commune when no Cart came to Town with Basket Bread from Stratford tho gan beggars weep and workmen were agast a little this will be thought long in the date of our dirte in a dry Averel a thousand and three hundred twice thirty and ten c. We read also in the twentieth of Henry the eighth Sir Iames Spencer being Mayor six Bakers of Stratford were amerced in the Guild-hall of London for baking under the size appointed But these Bakers of Stratford left serving this City I know not upon what occasion above forty years since In the year 1519 a Petition was exhibited by the Commons to the Common-Councel and was by them allowed concerning the Leaden-hall how they would have it used viz. Meekly beseeching sheweth unto your good Lordship and Masterships divers Citizens of this City which under correction think that the great place called the Leaden-hall should nor ought not to be letten out to Farme to any person or persons and in special to any fellowship or Company incorporate to have and hold the same Hall for term of years for such conveniences as thereby may ensue and come to the hurt of the Common-weale of the said City in time to come as somewhat more largely may appear in the Articles following First if any assembly or hasty gathering of the Commons of the said City for suppressing or subduing of mi●ruled people within the said City hereafter shall happen to be called or commanded by the Mayor Aldermen and other Governours and Councellors of the said City for the time being there is none so convenient meet and necessary a place to assemble them in within the said City as the said Leaden-hall both for largenesse of room and for their sure defence in time of their counselling together about the premises Also in that place hath been used the Artillery Guns and other Armors of the said City to be safely kept in a readinesse for the safegard wealth and defence of the said City to be had and occupied at times when need required As also the store of Timber for the necessary reparations of the Tenements belonging to the Chamber of the said City there commonly hath been kept Item If any Triumph or Noblenesse were to be done or shewed by the Commonalty of the City for the honour of our Soveraign Lord the King and Realm and for the worship of the said City the said Leaden-hall is the most meet and convenient place to prepare and order the said Triumph therein and from thence to issue forth to the places thereof appointed Item at any Largesse or dole of any money made unto the poore people of this City it hath been used to be done and given in the said Leaden-hall for that the said place is most meet therefore Item the honourable Father that was maker of the said Hall had a speciall will intent and mind that as it is commonly said the Market men and women that came to the City with victuals and other things should have their free standing within the said Leaden-Hall in wet weather to keep themselves their Wares dry and thereby to encourage them and all other to have the better will and desire the more plentiously to resort to the said City to victual the same And if the said Hall should be letten to Farme the will of the said honourable Father should never be fullfilled nor take effect Item if the said place which is the chief Fortresse and most necessary place within all the City for the tuition and safegard of the same should be letten out to Farme out of the hands of the chief Heads of the same City and especially to any other Body politick it might at length by likelihood be an occasion of discord and debate between the said Bodies politick which God defend For these and many other great and reasonable causes which hereafter shall be shewed to this honourable Court your said Beseechers think it much necessary that the said Hall be still in the hands of this City and to be surely kept by sad and discreet Officers in such wise that it might alwaies be ready to be used and occupied for the Common-weale of the said City when need shall require and in no wise to be letten to any Body politick Thus much for the Petition About the year one thousand five hundred thirty four great means was made about the Leaden-hall to have the same made a Burse for the Assembly of Marchants as they had been accustomed in Lumbard-street many Common-Councels were called to that end but in the year 1535 Iohn Champneys being Mayor it was fully concluded that the Burse should remain in Lumbard-street as afore and Leaden-hall no more to be spoken of concerning that matter The use of Leaden-hall was us'd to be thus In a part of the North Quadrant on the East side of the North Gate were the common Beams for weighing of Wooll and other Wares as had been accustomed On the West side of the Gate was the Scales to weigh Meal the other three sides were reserved for the most part to the making and resting of the Pageants shewed at Mid-Summer in the watch the remnant of the sides and Quadrants were employed for the stowage of Wool-sacks but not closed up the lofts above were partly used by the Painters in working for the decking of Pageants and other devices for beautifying of the Watch and Watch-men the residue of the Lofts were letten out to Marchants the Wooll-winders and Packers therein to winde and pack their Wools. And thus much for Leaden-hall may suffice Now on the North of Limestreet Ward in the Highstreet are divers fair houses for Marchants and proper Tenements for Artificers with an Alley also called Shalt Alley of the Shaft or May-pole sometime resting over the Gate thereof as I have
Edmonds bury Lincoln Stanford and Lyn were robbed and spoyled and at York to the number of five hundred besides Women and Children entred a Tower of the Castle profered money to be in surety of their lives but the Christians would not take it whereupon they ●●t the throats of their own Wives and Children and cast them over the Walls on the Christian● heads and then entring the Kings Lodging they burned both the House and themselves King John in the 11th of his Reign commanded all the Jews both Men and Women to be imprisoned and grievously punished because he would have all their Money some of them gave all they had and promised more to escape so many kinds of torments for every one of them had one of their eyes at the least plucked o●t Amongst whom there was one which being tormented many wayes would not ransome himself till the King had caused every day one of his great teeth to be plucked out by the space of seven dayes and then he gave the King ten thousand Marks of silver to the end they should pull out no more the said King at that time spoyl●d the Jews of sixty six thousand Marks The 17th of this King the Barons brake into the Jews Houses rifled their Coffers and with the Stone of their Houses repaired the Gates and Walls of London King Henry the third in the 11th of his Reign granted to Semaine or Ballaster the house of Benomie Mittun the Jew in the Parish of St. Michael Bassing-hanghe in which the said Benomy dwelt with the fourth part of all his Land in that Parish which VVilliam Elie held of the Fee of Hugh Nevel and all the Land in Colemanstreet belonging to the said Benomy and the fourth part of the Land in the Parish of St. Lawrence which was the Fee of Thomas Buckerel and were excheted to the King for the murther which the said Benomy committed in the City of London to hold to the said Semaine and his Heires of the King paying at Easter a pair of gilt Spurs and to do the servi●e thereof due unto the Lords Court In the like manner and for like services the King granted to Guso for his Homage the other part of the Lands of the said Benomye in St. Michaels Parish which Law the Painter held and was the Kings Excheter and the Lands of the said Benomye in the said Parish which VValter Turner held and fifteen foot of Land which H●gh Harman held with fifteen Iron Ells of Land and an half in the front of Iron-monger-lane in the Parish of St. Martin which were the said Benomyes of the Fee of the Hospital of St. Giles and which Adam the Smith held with two Stone-Houses which were Moses the Jew of Canterbury in the Parish of St. Olave and which are of the Fee of Arnold de Reus and are the Kings Exchetes as aforesaid The 16th of the said Henry the Jews in London builded a Synagogue but the King commanded it should be dedicated to our blessed Lady and after gave it to the Brethren of St. Anthonies of Vienna and so was it called St. Anthonies Hospital This King Henry founded a Church and House for converted Jews in a new street by the Temple whereby it came to passe that in short time there was gathered a great number of Converts The twentieth of this King Henry seven Jews were brought from Norwich vvhich had stolen a christened Child had circumcised and minded to have cruci●●ed him at Easter vvherefore their Bodies and Goods vvere at the Kings pleasure The six and twentieth the Jews vvere constrained to pay to the King twenty thousand Marks at two Termes in the year or else to be kept in perpetual Prison The five and thirtieth He taketh inestimable sums of money of all rich men namely of Aaron a Jew born at York fourteen thousand Marks for himself and ten thousand Marks for the Queen and before he had taken of the same Jew as much as in all amounted to thirty thousand Marks of Silver and two hund●red Marks of Gold to the Queen In the fortieth year vvere brought up to VVestminster two hundred Jews from Lincoln for crucifying a Child named Hugh eighteen of them were hang'd The forty third a Jew at Tewksbury fell into a Privie on the Saturday and would not that day be taken out for reverence of his Sabbath wherefore Richard Clare Earl of Gloucester kept him there till Monday that he was dead The forty seven the Barons slew of the Jews at London seven hundred the rest were spoiled and thei●r Synagogue defaced because one Jew would have forced a Christian to have payd more than two shillings for the lone of twenty shillings a week The third of Edward the first in a Parliament at London usury was forbidden to the Jews and that all Usurers might be known the King commanded that every Usurer should weare a Table on his brest the breadth of a Paveline or else to avoid the Realm The sixth of the said King Edward a Reformation was made for clipping of the Kings Coyn for which offence two hundred sixty seven Jews were drawn and hanged three were English Christians and other were English Jews The same year the Jews crucified a child at Northampton for the which fact many Jews at London were drawn at Horses Tayls and hanged The 11th of Edward the first Iohn Perkham Arch Bishop of Canterbury commanded the Bishop of London to destroy all the Jewes Synagogues in his Diocese The 16th of the said Edward all the Jews in England were in one day apprehended by precept from the King but they redeemed themselves for twelve thousand pounds of silver notwithstanding in the nineteenth of his Reign he banished them all out of England giving them only to bear their Charge till they were out of this Realm the number of Jews then expulsed were fifteen thousand and sixty persons the King made a mighty masse of money of their Houses which he sold and yet the Commons of England had granted and gave him a fifteenth of all their Goods to banish them and thus much for the Jewes In this street called the Old Iewry is a proper Parish-Church of St. Olave Upwell so called in Record 1320 John Brian Parson of St. Olave Upwell in the Iewry founded there a Chauncery and gave two Messuages to that Parish the sixteenth of Edward the second and was by the said King confirmed In this Church to the commendations of the Parsons and Parishioners the Monuments of the dead remain lesse defaced than in many other From this Parish Church of St. Olave to the North end of the Old Iewry and from thence West to the North end of Ironmonger-lane almost to the Parish Church of St. Martin was of old time one large building of stone very ancient made in place of Jews Houses but of what antiquity or by whom the same was builded or for what use is not known more than that King Henry the sixth in the sixteenth of his
Towns-end Lane turning down to the Thames Then is Queen-hithe a large receptacle for Ships Lighters Barges and such other Vessels Touching the Antiquity and use of this Gate and Hithe first I find that the same belonged to one named Edred and was then called Edreds Hith which since falling into the hands of King Stephen it was by his Charter confirmed to William de Ypre the Farm thereof in Fee and in Heritage William de Ypre gave it unto the Prior and Covent of the Holy Trinity within Ealdgate This Edreds Hith after the foresaid Grant came again to the Kings hands by what means I have not read but it pertained unto the Queen and therefore was called Ripa Reginae the Queens Bank or Queens-Hith and great profit thereof was made to her use as may appear by this which followeth King Henry the third in the ninth of his Reign commanded the Constables of the Tower of London to arrest the Ships of the Cinque-Ports on the River of Thames and to compell them to bring their Corn to no other place but to the Queens Hith only In the eleaventh of his Reign he charged the said Constable to distrain all Fish offered to be sold in any place of this City but at the Queens Hith Moreover in the eight and twentieth of his Reign an Inquisition was made before William of Yorke and the Provost of Beverley Henry of Bath and Hierome of Caxton Justices Itinerantes sitting in the Tower of London touching the Customs of Queen-hith observed in the year last before the Wars between the King and his Father and the Barons of England and of old Customs of other times and what Customs had been changed at what time the Tax and Payment of all things coming thither and between VVoore-path and Anede Hith were found and seized according to the old Order as well Corne and Fish as of other things All which Customes were as well to be observed in the part of Down-gate as in Queen-Hith for the Kings use when also it was found that the Corn arriving between the Gate of Guild-Hall of the Merchants of Colleyne and the Soke of the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury for he had a House near unto the Black-Fryers was not to be measured by any other quarter than by that of the Queens Soke Next adjoyning to this Queen-hith on the West side thereof is Salt-Wharf named of Salt taken up measured and sold there The next is Stew Lane of a Stew or Hot-house there kept After that is Timber-Hith or Timber street so called of Timber or Boards there taken up and wharsed it is in the Parish of Saint Mary Sommers Hith as we read in the fifty six of Henry the third and in the ninth of Edward the second Then is Brookes Wharfe and Broken Wharfe a Water-gate or Key so called of being broken and fallen down into the Thames By this Broken-VVharfe remaineth one large old building of Stone with Arched Gates which Messuage as we finde in the Reign of Henry the third the forty three year pertained unto Hugh de Bigot and in the eleaventh of Edward the third to Thomas Brotherton the Kings Brother Earle of Norfolke Marshall of England in the eleventh of Henry the sixth to Iohn Mowbray Duke of Norfolk c. Within the Gate of this House now belonging to the City of London is lately to wit in the year 1594. and 1595 builded one large House of great height called an Engine made by Bevis Bulmar Gentleman for the conveying and forcing of Thames water to serve in the middle and West parts of the City the ancient great Hall of this Messuage is yet standing and pertaining to a great Brew-House for Beere West from this is Trigge Lane going down to the Thames Next is called Bosse-Lane of a Bosse of water like unto that of Belingsgate there placed by the Executors of Richard Whittington Then is one great Messuage sometime belonging to the Abbots of Chartsey in Surrey and was their Inne wherein they were lodged when they repaired to the City it is now called Sandie House by what reason we have not heard some think the Lord Sands hath been lodged there Of the Twentie fourth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Castle-Baynard Ward THen next is Castle Baynard Ward so named of an old Castle there This Ward beginneth in the East on the Thames side at an House called Huntington House and runneth West by Pauls Wharfe by Baynards Castle Puddle Wharfe and by the South side of Black-Fryers Then turning by the East Wall of the said Fryers to the South-West end of Creed Lane then on the North side of Thames street over against Huntington House by St. Peters Church and Lane called Peter Hill along till over against Puddle Wharfe and then North up by the great Wardrobe to the West end of Carter Lane Then up Creed Lane Ave Mary Lane and a piece of Pater noster Row to the Sign of the Golden Lion and back again up Warwick Lane all the East side thereof to the Sign of the Crown by Newgate-Market and this is the farthest North part of this Ward Then out of Thames street be Lanes ascending North to Knight-Riders street The first is Peters Hill Lane all of that Ward two Houses excepted adjoyning to St. Peters Church The next is Pauls Wharfe Hill which thwarting Knight-Riders street and Carter Lane goeth up to the South Chain of Pauls Church-yard Then is Adle-street over against the West part of Baynards Castle going up by the West end of Knight-Riders street and to Carter Lane Thus much for Lanes out of Thames street The one half of the West side of Lambert Hill Lane being of this Ward at the North-west end thereof on the South side and at the West end of St. Mary Magdalens Church on the North side beginneth Knight-Riders street to be of this Ward and runneth West on both sides to the Parish Church of St. Andrew by the Wardrobe Then at the said East end of St. Mary Magdalens Church goeth up the Old Exchange all the West side whereof upto the South-East gate of Pauls Church-yard and by St. Austins Church is of this Ward About the midst of this Old Exchange on the West side thereof is Carter Lane which runneth West to the East entry of the Black-Fryers and the South end of Creed-Lane out of the which Carter Lane descendeth a Lane called Dolittle Lane and commeth into Knight-Riders street by the Boar-head Tavern and more West is Sermon Lane by an Inne called the Powl-head Then out of Carter Lane on the North side thereof the South Chain of Pauls Church-yard and the Church-yard it self on that South side of Pauls Church and the Church of St. Gregory the Bishops Palace and the Deans Lodging be all of this Ward and such be the bounds thereof The Ornaments in this Ward be Parish Churches four of old time a Castle ' divers Noble-mens Houses Halls of Companies twain and such others as shall
these new buildings is Cow-bridge street or Cow-lane which turneth toward Holdbourn in vvhich Lane the Prior of Semperingham had his Inne or London Lodging The rest of that West side of Smithfield hath divers fair Inns and other comely Buildings up to Hosier-lane which also turneth down to Houldbourn till it meet with Cowbridge-street from this Lane to Cock-lane over against Pie-Corner In the year 1362 the thirty sixth of Edward the third on the first five dayes of May in Smithfield were Justs holden the King and Queen being present with the most part of the Chivalry of England and of France and of other Nation to the which came Spaniards Cyprians and Armenians Knightly requesting aid of the King of England against the Pagans that invaded their Confines The 48. of Edward the third Dame Alice Perrers or Pierce the Kings Concubine as Lady of the Sun rode from the Tower of London through Cheape accompanied by many Lords and Ladies every Lady leading a Lord by his Horse Bridle till they came into West Smithfield and then began a great Just vvhich endured seven dayes after In the year 1393. the 17th of Richard the second certain Lords of Scotland came into England to get vvorship by force of Arms the Earl of Marre chalenged the Earl of Nottingham to Just vvith him and so they rode together certain Courses but not the full Challenge for the Earl of Marre was cast both Horse and Man and two of his Ribs broken vvith the fall so that he vvas conveighed out of Smithfield and so towards Scotland but dyed by the vvay at York Sir VVilliam Darel Knight the Kings Banner-bearer of Scotland challenged Sir Percey Courtney Knight the Kings Banner-bearer of England and vvhen they had run certain Courses gave over vvithout conclusion of Victory Then Cookborne Esquire of Scotland challenged Sir Nicholas Hawberke Knight and rode five Courses but Cookborne vvas born over Horse and Man Now to return through Gilt-spur-street by Newgate vvhere I first began there standeth the fair Parish Church called St. Sepulchers in the Bayly or by Chamberlain Gate in a fair Church-yard though not so large as of old time for the same is letten out for buildings and a Garden plot This Church vvas newly re-edified or builded about the Reign of Henry the sixth or of Edward the fourth one of the Popham's vvas a great builder there and 't is lately also vvashed over and furbish'd Next to this Church is a fair and large Inne for the receipt of Travellers and hath to signe the Sarasens Head vvhere Oxford men resort There lyeth a street from Newgate West to the end of Turn again-lane and winding North to Oldbourne Conduit but of late a new Conduit vvas there builded in place of the old namely in the year 1577. by VVilliam Lambe sometime a Gentleman of the Chappel to King Henry the eighth and afterward a Citizen and Clothworker of London From the West side of this Conduit is the high way there called Snow-hill stretching out by Oldbourne-bridge over the oft-named Water of Turn-mill-Brook and so up to Old-bourn-hill all replenished with fair Buildings Without Ould-bourn-bridge on the right hand is Gold-lane as is before shewed up higher on the Hill be certain Inns and other fair Buildings amongst the which of old time was a Messuage called Scroops Inne for so we finde the same recorded in the 37. of Henry the sixth This House was sometime letten out to Sergeants at the Law as appeareth and was found by Inquisition taken in the Guild-hall of London before William Purchase Mayor and Escheater for King Henry the 7th in the 14th of his Reign Then is the Bishop of Elies Inne so called of belonging and pertaining to the Bishops of Ely Will de Luda Bishop of Ely deceased 1297 and gave this House by the name of his Mannor with the Appurrenances in Holdbourne to his Successors with condition that his next Successor should pay a thousand Marks towards the finding of three Chaglains in the Chappel there The first in the year 1464. the fourth of Edward the fourth in Michaelmas Terme the Sergeants at Law held their Feast in this House to the which amongst other Estates Matthew Philip Mayor of London with the Aldermen Sheriffs and Commons of divers Crafts being invited did repair but when the Mayor looked to keep the state in the Hall as it had bin used in all places within the City and Liberties out of the Kings presence the Lord Gray of Ruthen then Lord Treasurer of England unwitting the Sergeants and against their wills as they said was first placed whereupon the Mayor Aldermen and Commons departed home and the Mayor made the Aldermen to dine with him howbeit he and all the Citizens were wonderfully displeased that he was so dealt with and the new Sergeants and others were right o●ry therefore and had rather then much good as they said it had not so happened Next beyond this Mannor of Ely-house is Lither-lane turning into the Fields Then is Furnivals Inne now an Inne of Chancery but sometime belonging to Sir William Furnival Knight and Thomasin his Wife who had in Holdbourne two Messuages and thirteen Shops as appeareth by Record of Richard the second in the sixth of his Reign Now again from Newgate on the left hand or South side lyeth the Old Baylay which runneth down by the Wall upon the Ditch of the City called Houndsditch to Ludgate we have not read how this street took that name but it is like to have risen of some Court of old time there kept and we finde that in the year 1356. the thirty four of Edward the third the Tenement and ground upon Houndsditch between Ludgate on the South and Newgate on the North was appointed to Iohn Cambridge Fishmonger Chamberlain of London whereby it seemeth that the Chamberlains of London have there kept their Courts as now they do in the Guild-hall and till this day the Mayor and Justices of this City keep their Sessions in a part thereof now called the Sessions Hall both for the City of London and Shire of Middlesex over again● the which House on the right hand turneth down St. Georges Lane towards Fleet Lane In this St. Georges Lane on the North side thereof remaineth yet an old wall of stone inclosing a peece of ground up Sea-cole-Lane wherein by report sometime stood an Inne of Chancery which House being greatly decayed and standing remote from other Houses of that Profession the Company removed to a Common Hostery called of the signe out Lady Inne not far from Clements Inne which they procured from Sir Iohn Fineox Lord chief Justice of the Kings Bench and since have held it of the owners by the name of the New Inne paying therefore six pounds Rent by the year as Tenants at their own will for more as is said cannot be gotten of them and much lesse will they be put from it Beneath this Saint Georges Lane is the Lane called Fleet-lane winding
was made one of the six and twenty Wards belonging to the City of London which was in this manner After the dissolution of the Monasteries Abbeys Priories and other Religious Houses in this Realm of England The Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of this City of London taking into their Considerations how commodious and convenient it would be unto the City to have the Burough of Southwark annexed thereunto and that the same Burough was in the Kings hands wholly they became humble suiters unto King Henry the eighth and unto the Lords of his Highness Privy Councel for the obtaining of the same Which suit not being granted unto them after the Decease of King Henry the eighth they renewed their Suit unto his Sonne and next Successour King Edward the sixth and to the Lords of his Privie Councel for the obtaining of the same Borough At the length after long suit and much labour it pleased King Edward the fixth by his Letters Parents sealed with the great Seal of England bearing date at VVestminster the three and twentieth day of April in the fourth year of his Reign as well in consideration of the sum of six hundred forty seven pounds two shillings and a penny of lawful money of England paid to his Highnesses use by the Mayor Communalty and Citizens of London as for divers other considerations him thereunto moving To give and grant unto the said Mayor and Communalty and Citizens of London divers Messuages Lands and Tenements lying near the Borough of Southwark in the said Letters Parents particularly expressed which were sometimes the Lands of Charles late Duke of Suffolk and of whom King Henry the eighth did buy and purchase the same But there was excepted out of the said grant and reserved unto the said King Edward the sixth his Heirs and Successors and all that his Capitall Messuage or Mansion Ho●se called Southwark place late of the said Duke of Suffolke and all Gardens and Land to the same adjoyning and all that his Park in Southwarke and all that his Messuage and all Edifices and ground called the Antelope there And the said King Edward the 6th did by his said Letters Patents give grant to the said Mayor Communalty and Citizens and their Successors all that his Lordship and Mannor of Southwarke with all and singular the Rights Members and Appurtenances thereof in the said County of Surrey then late belonging to the late Monastery of Bermondsey in the same County And also all that his Mannor and Borough of Southwarke with all and singular the Rights Members and Appurtenances thereof in the said County of Surrey then late parcel of the Possessions of the Arch-Bishop and Bishoprick of Canterbury together with divers yearly Rents issuing out of the divers Messuages or Tenements in the said Letters Patents particularly expressed But there was excepted and reserved out of the said Grant to the said King Edward the sixth his Heirs and Successors all his Rights Jurisdictions Liberties and Franchises whatsoever within the Walk Circuit and Precinct of his Capital Messuage Gardens and Park in Southwarke and in all Gardens Curtilages and Lands to the said Mansion House Gardens and Park belonging Also there was excepted and reserved out of the said Grant the House Messuage or lodging there called the Kings-Bench and the Gardens to the same belonging so long as it should be used as a Prison for prisoners as it was then used Also there was excepted and reserved out of the said Grant the House Messuage or Lodging there called the Marshalsey and the Gardens to the same belonging so long as it should be used as a Prison for prisoners as it was then used Also it was provided that the said Letters Patents should not be prejudicial to the Offices of the great Master or Steward of the Kings Houshold within the Borough and Precincts aforesaid to be executed while the same Borough and Precincts should be within the Verge Nor to Iohn Gates Knight one of the Gentlemen of the Kings Privy Chamber concerning any Lands Tenements Offices Profits Franchises or Liberties to him granted during his life by the said King Edward the sixth or by his Father King Henry the eighth About the space of a Month after the said Borough of Southwark was so granted by King Edward the sixth to the Mayor Communalty and Citizens of London and that they by force of the said Letters Patents stood charged with the Ordering Survey and Government of the same Borough and of all the Kings Subjects inhabiting therein and repairing thither At a Court holden before Sir Rowland Hill Knight then Lord Mayor of London and the Aldermen of the same City in the Guild-Hall of London on Tuesday the eight and twentieth of May in the said fourth year of the Reign of King Edward the sixth the said Town or Borough was named and called the Ward or Bridge VVard without Not long after it was enacted that besides the then ancient accustomed number of five and twenty Aldermen there should be one Alderman more elected to have the Rule Charge and Governance of the said Borough and Town And that four discreet persons or more being Freemen of London and dwelling within the said City or the Borough of Southwarke or in other the Liberties of the said City should from thenceforth as often as the Case shall require be from time to time nominated appointed and chosen by the Inhabitants of the said Borough for the time being before the Lord Mayor of London for the time being And that the said Lord Mayor for the time being should at the next Court of Aldermen to be holden at the Guild-Hall of the said City next after such election present the Names and Sirnames of all such persons as to should be named before him and put in the said Election And that the said Lord Mayor and Aldermen for the time being should of those four persons or mo so presented Elect and Chuse one by way of Scrutinie to be an Alderman of the said City and to have the peculiar Ordering Rule and Governance of the said Borough and Town of Southwarke and of the Inhabitants thereof and of all other the Kings liege people repairing to the same This Borough being in the County of Surrey consisteth of divers streets waies and winding Lanes all full of Buildings inhabited And first to begin at the West part thereof over against the West Suburbe of the City on the Bank of the River Thames there is now a continual building of Tenements about half a mile in length to the Bridge Then South a continual street called Long Southwark builded on both sides with divers Lanes and Alleys up to St. Georges Church and beyond it through Blackman street towards New Town or Newington the Liberties of which Borough extend almost to the Parish Church of New Town aforesaid distant one mile from London Bridge and also South-west a continual building almost to Lambeth more than one mile from the said Bridge Then from
duties touching the execution of the Statute made for punishment of Rogues Vagabonds and sturdy Beggars c. They are to inquire if those to whom the execution of the Statute for the relief of the poor doth appertain be remisse in discharging their duties that way They are to inquire if any Executor or others keep in their hands any Legacy sum of money or other thing given to charitable uses They are to inquire if any that keep Horses in their Houses do lay their Stable dung or such kind of noysome filth in any streets or lanes of the City and do not cause the Dung-cart to be led to the Stable door The Ward-mote Inquest by vertue of their Office are bound to search into all these enormities and to meet once a moneth or oftner if need require to that purpose And whosoever doth judiciously observe these several heads will find there 's nothing wanting to preserve a City or the people thereof in the wayes of neatness safety and industry or for the advancement of Vertue and suppression of Vice By these particulars with what hath bin spoken of formerly in the Body of this Book the Reader may observe how exact the City of London is in her Urban Government 3. Now touching the magnificence gravity and state of the chief Magistrate neither the Pretor of Rome or the Prefect of Milan neither the Proctors of Saint Mark in Venice or their Podestas in other Cities neither the Provost of Paris the Markgrave of Antwerp can compare with the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of London If one go to the variety of their Robes sometimes Scarlet richly fur'd sometimes Purple sometimes Violet and Puke What a goodly Spectacle it is to behold the Lord Mayor and the Companies attending him in so many dainty Barges when he goes to be sworn in Westminster-Hall and what brave shews there are attending him by Land at his return what a plentiful sumptuous Dinner consisting of so many huge Tables is provided for him what a variety of domestick Officers wait upon him perpetually whereof with the Remembrancer there are five of them Esquires by their places as was hinted before what a comely sight it is to see the Lord Mayor Sheriffs and Aldermen going in their Robes upon Festivals to the Cathedral Church of Saint Pauls though they who stand not so well affected to the present Government say that he goeth in now at the wrong end of the Church what a goodly sight it is when he goeth upon Easter Holidayes to the Spittle with the Sword and Cap of Maintenance going before him How his Robes are fitted for the season as from Michaelmas to Whitsontide he weares Violet fur'd from Whitsontide to Michaelmas Scarlet lined And for distinction among the Aldermen they who have bin Lord Mayors have their Cloaks lined with changeable Taffata but those that have not with green Taffata what great places of trust are committed to the Lord Mayor as the keeping of the great Bridge in repair which hath such large Revenues belonging unto it with a particular stately Seal which of old had the Effigies of Thomas of Becket a Londoner born upon it with this Inscription in the name of the City Me quae te peperi ne cesses Thoma tueri But the Seal was altered in Henry the eighths Raign what a great trust is it for the Lord Mayor to have the conservation of the Noble River of Thames from Stanes Bridge till She disgorgeth her self into the Sea How stately is he attended when he goes to take a view of the River or a Swan-hopping and lately what a Noble addition was it for the Lord Mayor to have a Park of Deer of his own so near the City to find him sport and furnish him with Venison what an Honour is it for the Lord Mayor to be accounted the first man of England upon the death of the Soveraign Prince As when King Iames was invited to come and take the Crown of England Robert Lee Lord Mayor of London was the first man who subscribed and then the Officers of the Crown with the chief Noblemen after him The Recorder of London also is primus Consiliarius Angliae and is priviledged to plead within the Barre The Lord Mayors of London have bin called sometime to sit at the Councel Table as Sir Iohn Allen was in Henry the eighths time with others which Allen gave that rich Collar of Gold which the Lord Mayors use to wear and the Aldermen his Brethren were used to be called Barons 4. We are come now to Regulation of Trade wherein London is not inferior to any City whatsoever witness among others what prudential Lawes Restraints and Cautions the Marchant Adventurers who trade in the Golden Fleece of England viz. in Woollen Manufactures have propos'd to themselves as likewise all other Corporations in like manner for the improvement of that particular Trade and preserving it from confusion 5. Touching variety of Artisans London yields to no other 't is true that mingling with Forreiners hath much advantag'd her in this kind but 't is observed and confessed by all Nations that though the Londoners be not so apt to invent yet when they have got the Invention they use alwayes to improve it and bring it to a greater perfection 6. Touching Corporations Halls Fraternities Guilds and Societies London hath not her Fellow witness the twelve Honourable Companies out of one of which the Lord Mayor is yearly chosen The several Societies of those who venter abroad in all parts of the habitable Earth as far as the Antipodes And threescore Companies of Citizens besides whereunto the new Company of Coachmen is lately added who have their Halls their regular Orders and Officers accordingly And touching all sorts of Artificers and variety of industrious wayes to improve all kind of Manufactures and thereby gain an honest Livelihood and so enrich the place London may be called a Hive of Bees as formerly was touched or a Hill of Ants which have bin alwayes made the Emblems of industry and providence 7. Touching plenty and abundance of all kinds of Provision as Flesh Fish Fowle Fruits Fuel variety of Drinks and Wines with any other Commodity that conduceth to pleasure and delight as well as necessity London may glory to be as well served as any City under Heaven A knowing Spaniard said that he thought Eastcheape Shambles alone vends more Flesh in the year then all the Court of Spain Gascon Wines drink better in London then in Bourdeaux and so do all other provided they be not sophisticated Nor doth London abound with all things so plentifully for the belly alone but also for the back either to keep it warm or make it gay what varieties of woollen Stuffs there are in every Shop with broad Cloth equal to the price of Silk being come to that heighth of perfection that some hath bin made of ten pounds a yard in price But the Hollanders and others have now got the art of
before Constantine whosoever is versed with the Primitive Fathers knowes well how often they speak of Peculiar places set apart to celebrate divine service as also of set times and that the posture must be Eastward Among the primitive Christians those places were called by some Basilica by others Dominica or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whence the German word Kerk was derived by others 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by some they were termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by others 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. all which were but Synonyma's to Churches or holy Oratories One of the first Fathers saith positively that Churches were in the Apostles time Another saith they continued from the Apostles time to Constantine with whom the Roman Empire came to be Christian first And in all the ten Persecutions which happened by intermissions we may read how that by the Edicts of the Emperors the Oratories or Churches of the Christians were to be in some places burnt in others demolished And in the last persecution under Dioclesian the History saith that a great number of ancient Edifices and Churches of the Christians were destroyed And observable it is that one of those Primitive Fathers compares the Churches on the shore to safe Harbors in the Sea which surely must be interpreted to relate to the Places and not to the persons only Histories also speak plainly how in the first and second Century after Christ in the persecution that was in Persia many goodly Oratories and Churches of the Christians were destroyed By these short disquisitions into the Ages of the World and History it appears that among the Patriarks there were holy places that had an Analogy with Churches which continues among the Iewes ever since And touching Christians there were Oratories and appropriate sacred places from the very infancy of the Gospel which served as a general Rendezvouz to celebrate Divine service all along from the Apostles time through the three Centuries of the Primitive Church therefore they must be possessed with a strange spirit of contradiction and prophaness who make no account of those peculiar Houses which pious devout souls have appropriated rea'rd up and dedicated to the sole service of Almighty God but hold all places promiscuous and indifferently proper for that use It may justly be doubted whether such sordid poor narrow souls who so malign the beauty the holiness and decencies of Gods House here in the Church militant will ever be admitted to behold the glory of the Church Triumphant And now having presumed to speak so much of Londons great Temple than which there is not a more conspicuous Object upon Earth except the Mount Olympus which is said to bear up Heaven and having with a true sense of sorrow set forth the sad condition thereof my prayers are that it would please God to put it into the hearts and move the spirits of those worthy Patriots who are now assembled to mend all breaches in the Common-wealth to propose some way for preserving this ancient great visible Ornament from tumbling down And there is a fair opportunity offered to this purpose for if those irregular New Buildings be questioned whereof there are by computation above a hundred thousand pop'd up within these forty years It would most humbly under favour be very proper to employ part of the Tax upon those Houses to repair Gods House 14. Touching a Noble Bridge and a Navigable River spoken of before London is not inferior to any other City whatsoever concerning the first what a large Rent hath it to preserve it self what a vast Magazine of Corn is there alwayes in the Bridge-house against a dearth what a number of Officers that look to the reparations thereof are handsomly maintained thereby and some of them persons of good quality Touching the second the River of Thames hath not her fellow if regard be had to the straightness and length of her course running from East to West without many meanders her convenient distance from the Sea to prevent surprizals the chearfulness of the Soyl on both sides the wholsomness of her water which makes the best Beer in the World is transported by forrein Nations for other uses the variety of her Fish the fatness of her mud If regard be had also to those Forrests of Masts which are perpetually upon her the variety of smaller Woodden bottoms plying up and down the stately Palaces that are built on both sides of her banks so thick which made divers forrein Ambassadors affirm that the most glorious sight in the World take water and land together was to come upon a high Tide from Gravesend and shoot the Bridge to Westminster 15. For number of humane souls breathing in City and Suburbs London may compare with any in Europe in point of populousness the last Cense that was made in Paris came under a million but in the year 1636. King Charles sending to the Lord Mayor to make a scrutiny what number of Roman Catholiques and Strangers there were in the City he took occasion thereby to make a Cense of all the people and there were of Men Women and Children above seven hundred thousand that lived within the Barres of his jurisdiction alone and this being one and twenty years passed 't is thought by all probable computation that London hath more by the third part now then she had then Now for Westminster and Petty France the Strand Bedford Berry St. Martins Lane Long Acre Drury Lane St. Giles of the Field High Holborn Grayes Inne Lane St. Iones and St. Georges street Clarken well the out-lets of Red and Whitecrosse-street the out-lets beyond the Barres of Bishopsgate Aldersgate and Southwark Barres beyond the Tower c. take all these places with divers more which are contiguous and one entire peece with London her self I say take all these Buildings together there will be found by all probable conjecture as many Inhabitants at least as were found before within that compass where the point of the Lord Mayors Sword reacheth which may amount in all to a million and a half of humane souls Now one way to know the populousness of a great City is to observe the Bills of Mortality and Nativities every week I think there is no such Custom in Paris but for Amsterdam which is a very populous Mercantile place the ordinary number there of those that go weekly out of the World is but fifty or thereabouts and about so many come into the World every week But in London the common Weekly Bills come to near upon 300. that come in and about so many that go out of the World though the last years general Bill made twice as many to go out as came in for it gives account of fourteen thousand and odd that dyed and but seven thousand christened but this may be imputed the more 's the pitty to the confusion of Sectaries which swarm since the long Parliament as Anabaptists and others who use not to christen their Children a sad
Of Cordwainers-ward 107 Of Cheap-ward 111 Of the great Crosse in Cheap 115 Of Colemanstreet-ward 119 Of Cripplegate-ward 301 Of the Chappel of Jesus hard by Pauls 314 The Counter removed from Bread-street to VVood-street 319 Of Castle-Baynard-ward 324 A Clash 'twixt the Lord Mayor and the Lawyers 330 D. Of Diana's Chamber hard by Pauls 3 A Description of Pauls 7 The duty of the Lord Mayor to conserve the Thames 18 Divers small Bridges in former times in London 23 Of Drapers-Hall 73 Of Dowgate-ward 97 Dowgate-ward hath many things considerable 100 Of the Dance of Death painted at Pauls 323 The difference 'twixt Southark and London in point of Government 340 Of the Dutchy of Lancaster and Savoy with the Liberties thereof 347 Of Dorham-House 349 E. The English converted to Christianity by the Britains 33 The Emperor Charles lodged in the Black-Fryers 316 Of the Elms the place of common Execution in times passed 326 Edward the Consessors Charter to VVestminster 355 Of the Exchequer Court 369 Of the Court of Equity or Chancery 365 An Encomium of the Civil Law 377 Of the City of Florence 387 An extravagant saying of a French Baron In the Epist. Of the eminent Citizens of London 405 F. The foundation and first Rise of the City of London 2 Fitstephen reports of London 8 Of the fresh water Rivers that were in London 10. A factious saying of the Lord Mayors to King James 19 Fearful Fires on London-Bridg 21 Of the four Inns of Court 31 Of the present factions in London 47 Of Fishers Folly hard by Bishops-gate 67 Of Fenchurch 83 Of the Fishmongers Company 88 Of Faringdon Intra Ward 309 Of Faringdon Ward Extra 327 Of Bartholomew-Fair 328 Of Fewter or Fetter-lane 331 G. Of the Gates of London 4 Of the great famous River of Thames 12 Of Grayes Inne 32 Of Gr●tham Colledge 31 The Government of London 33 Of Knighten Guild 49 Of Grasse-street vulgarly called Gracious-street 40 Of Grocers-Hall 113 Of the Guild-Hall 117 Of St. Giles by Cripplegate 304 Of Golding-lane ibid. The History of the Gray Fryers by Newgate Market 310 Of the great wardrobe 325 Of St. Giles of the Field 345 Of the Gran Cayro 384 Of Genoa 387 A guesse at the number of humane souls breathing in London 403 Of the general Trade of London 396 Of the Gravity and state of the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen 395 H. Of Sir Hugh Middleton and Ware River 11 The History of London Bridge from its beginning 20 The History of the great Tower of London 24 The History of the Saxons or Englishmen 33 Of the Hustings Court 37 Of the Holy Trinity by Algate a famous Priory with the great Prerogatives thereof 50 Of St. Helens Church sometimes a Nunnery 70 Of the Haunce of Almain or the Styliard 97 Henry the eighth came in habit of a Yeoman to see the Watch. 110 The History of Cheap-side-Crosse 115 The History of the Guild Hall 117 The History of the Jews in England 120 The History of Moorfields 301 The History of Sion Colledg 302 The History of Pauls Church 312 Of Houndsditch 341 Of Hamburg and the Hans Towns 388 fol. Of the Inns of Court 9 Iusts and Tournments in former times upon London-Bridg 22 Of the Inns of Chancery 31 Julius Caesar only a Discoverer of Great Britain 〈◊〉 Claudius Caesar the Conqueror 33 The ill May-day 40 Of Jack Straw 81 The Jews banish'd out of England 119 Where the Jews had their Synagogue in London 119 700 Jews murthered by the Londoners 119 Of the Jew that fell into a Iakes at Tewksbury 121 Of James the fourth King of Scots 303 Of St. James Hospital or the Charter-house 343 Of St. James's House and Park 356 L. fol. Of London-Stone 4 Of Ludgate 4 London Bridg hath two many Eyes 20 London much beholden to her Bishops 39 London like a Hive of Bees 41 London a Lick-peny 406 Of Lumley-House 48 Of Limestreet Ward 59 Of Leaden-Hall and the foundation thereof 59 A laudable Custom at St. Mary Spittle for rehearsal of Sermons 67 Of Loseworth or Spittle-field and strange Monuments that were found there 68 Of Langborn Ward 82 Of Lombard-street 82 Of Lothberry 119 Of Lollards Tower 326 Of Lincolns Inne 344 The length of London 404 The latitude of London 404 M. fol. The Method of the work 1 Of Moorgate 5 The Lord Mayors of London had divers appellations 34 Of the Lord Mayor and manner of his Election 36 Of Mart-lane and Minchinlane 48 Of the Minories 51 Of St. Mary Spittle 67 Of Marchantaylors-Hall 73 Of St. Michael in Corn-hill 81. Of Mercers Chappel 116 Of Melitus Bishop of London 312 Of the ancient Monuments in Pauls Church 312 Of the Monuments in the Temple Church 334 Of the Marshalsey 339 The chief Monuments of Westminster 355 Of the Mewse 355 N. fol. A notable saying of Count Gundamar touching the Iesuites 9 Of northumberland-Northumberland-House 57 A new Monument of a Porter in Cheape-side 115 Of Newgate and the Market thereof 317 Of the New Market in St. Clements Field 344 Of the City of Naples 387 O. fol. Otia Imperialia an ancient Book of Gervase of Tilberry 5 Of the Officers attending the Lord Mayor of London 38 Of the old Jury 120 Of the old Exchange 319 Of old Fishstreet-Hill 322 Of the Heralds Office 326 Of Old Burn or Holburn 327 Of the Old Baylie 330 Of the Clink 337 Of St. Mary Overy 338 Of St. Olaves 330 P. The Proeme 1 The Parallel 381 Of the Posterns about London 5 Of Pauls Church 7 Pauls Church built partly at first and now destroyed by the sins of the People 7 The passage of the Thames from her first Spring 12 The pittiful Speech of Queen Jane when beheaded 26 Divers priviledges given to the Lord Mayor of London 34 Provost Marshal given the City by Queen Elizabeth 35 The Prior of the holy Trinity at Aldgate once a great man in the Government of the City of London 39 Paris a Pick-purse 406 Of Portsoken-Ward 49 The famous Priory of the holy Trinity built by Queen Matilda 53 The Prior of the Holy Trinity alwayes an Alderman of London 53 Of Pawlet or Winchester House in Broad-street 72 Of St. Peter upon Corn-hill and of the ancient Table that hangs there 79 Of the Priory of St. Bartholomew 328 Of the priviledges of London 407 The Popes-head-Tavern a Kings Palace in times passed 81 Of the priviledges of the Styliard 98 Pauls Steeple and Church-fired 313 Parliament kept in Black Fryers 313 Of Puddle-Wharf 325 A Purchase made of much Lands in Southwark by the City of Edward the sixth 335 Of the Prisons in Southwark 339 Of the high Court of Parliament 356 Of the Common Pleas. 368 Of Palermo 387 Of Paris 391 Q. Of Queen Hith 322 Of the pious Queen Matilda 345 Of the most pious Queen Eleanor 356 Of the City of Quinzay call'd the Celestial City 383 R. Restitutus Bishop of London s●te at the Councel of Arles in Constantines
all that that our Constable of our Tower of London was wont to take of the said Weares Wherefore we will and steadfastly command that no Constable of the aforesaid Tower at any time from henceforth forward any thing ask nor any grievance do to any of the same City by enchesen of the same Weares It is to us known enough and by true men do us to understand that most privacy and most profit might fall into the same City and to the whole Realm by enchesen of the same weares which we make for ever firm and stable unto the same City as the Charter of our Lord King John our Fader which our Barons of London thereof have reasonably witnessed Witnesses Eustace of London Peter of Winchester c. At Westminster the 18. of February the year of our Reign eleven Besides these he produced divers others in this Kings Raign 4. This Jurisdiction belongs to the City of London by Acts of Parliament W. 2. ca. 47. An. 13. No Salmons to be taken from the Nativity of our Lady unto St. Martins day in all points Nor none to be taken in Mill-pools from the midst of April until Midsummer 1. Offence burning of Nets and Engines 2. Offence imprisonment for a quarter of a yeer 3. A whole year 13. R. 2. confirms the restraint of taking Salmons in many waters from the midst of April until Midsommer upon the same pain nor within that time to use any Nets call'd Stalkers nor any other Engine whereby the fry may be destroyed 1● Eliz None shall with any manner of Net Wee le Butcaining Kepper limecreele rawfagnet trolnet trimnet scalboat weblister sturlamet or with any other device or Engine made of cheare woolbine or Canvas or shall by any heeling Nets or Trimbleboat or any other device Engines Caut●lles wayes or meanes soever heretofore made or devised or hereafter to be made or devised take or kill any young brood spawn or fry of Eeles Salmon Pike or Pickrel or of any other Fish or Flud-gate Pipe or tail of any Mill Weare or in any streights streams brooks Rivers salt or fresh 2. None shall take or kill any Salmon and Trouts not being in season being Kepper Salmons or Kepper Trouts or Shedder Salmons or Shedder Trouts c. The Mayor of London inter alia shall have full power and Authority by this Act to enquire of all offences committed contrary thereunto by the Othes of 12 men or more and to hear and determine all and every the same and inflict punishments and impose fines accordingly 5. Then he proceeds to assert the Cities Right to the conservation of the Thames and waters of Medway by way of Inquisition whereof there were two the one taken at Raynam in Essex the other at Gravesend in Kent 9. Hen. 5. before William Grocer then Lord Mayor of London where it was presented That whereas by the ancient Ordinances of London the Mesches of Nets should be two Inches in the forepart and one inch in the hinder part and it being found that the offences according to the said Inquisitions are contra libertates consuetudines Civitatis it was adjudged that the Nets should be burnt according to the ancient custom in that behalf provided 6. He goes on after to prove that this Right belongs to the City by Decrees In 8. Hen. 4. The Mayor and Aldermen did exhibit their humble Petition to the Kings Councel reciting That time out of minde they have had the conservation and correction of the River of Thames of all trinks nets and other Engines whatsoever in the River of Thames and Medway placed and have used to make a sub-Conservator under them and complaining that Alexander Bonner then sub-Conservator having discharg'd his duty in removing Kiddels he was ill entreated by the owners the same owners dwelling in Erith Putriferry Barking Woolwich and other places in the Counties of Kent and Essex and upon hearing of the matter in Camera stellata they were sound guilty and constrained to submit themselves to the Lord Mayor and ordered to bring alwayes their Nets unto him before they should use them And that the Kiddles then taken should be at the disposition of the Lord Mayor so the Offendors made their submission accordingly 7. He proceeds This right appertains to the City of London by Letters Patents which he proved by a grant made by Edward the 4th to the Earl of Pembroke for setting up a Weare in the River of Thames which grant was revok'd and annul'd at the instance of the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen upon shewing their right therefore alledg'd It was contrary to their ancient Customs At which time the Cities Title to the conservacy of the Thames and Medway was at large set forth and recited to have bin shewn to the Lord Chancellour and to the said Earl and his Councel which accordingly was allowed 8. He reinforceth the right of the City by Proclamations whereof one was made by Hen. 8. in 34. of his Raign wherein it is affirmed that the Lord Mayor and his Predecessors have had by divers grants of the Kings of England and by Acts of Parliament enjoyed alwayes the conservacy of the Thames without impediments or interruption By which Proclamation it was commanded that none should resist deny or impugne the Lord Mayor or his Deputy in doing or executing any thing that might conduce to the conservacy of the River and of the fish and fry within the same 9. He produceth Report for in a controversie 'twixt the Lord Admiral and the Lord Mayor for the measuring of Coles and other things upon the Thames it then fell into debate to whom the Conservacy of the River appertain'd which cause was referred by Queen Elizabeths Councel of State 1597. to the Atturney General and Solicitor who joyntly certified among other things that the Conservacy and care of the River did and ought to belong to the City of London 10. By quo Warranto 't was proved that the Conservacy of the Thames belongs to the City for 3. Jacob● a quo warranto was brought against the City in the Exchequer to know by what Title she claimed the Conservacy of the River of Thames the waters of Medway whereupon the City made her Title good thereunto by ancient prescription and otherwise so judgement was given in her favour 11. He goes on afterwards to confirm the right of the City by proof of usage in regard the Lord Mayor and Aldermen have time out of minde made Ordinances concerning the good Government of the River of Thames as well for the seasons and manner of fishing beneath London Bridge Eastward upon pain of penalties as it appears from time to time from the Raign of Hen. 3. and so downward the Lord Mayor hath removed Kiddels Weares Trinks and other unlawful Engines and hath reformed the disorders of such as have offended besides in the River of Thames and inflicted punishment upon Offendors accordingly The right of the City appeares also by the
Writs and Precepts under the teste of the Lord Mayor to the Sheriffs of Kent and Essex for the returning of Juries before him to enquire of Offences done in the River The same right of the City appeares also by Commissions whereof divers have bin directed to the Lord Mayor to put in execution the Acts of Parliament made for the Conservancie of the Thames and Medway and to enquire of all offences made or done in the said waters and to punish the Delinquents accordingly Lastly He makes good the Right and Title of the City by the continual claim she made thereunto as appears in those various contests she had with the Lord Admiral of England wherein after divers debates and bandings she kept still above water and made her Title good which moved King James Anno the 3d of his Raign to put a final determination to the business by the Letters Patents he passed unto the City wherein he saith that ad omnem controversiam in hac parte temporibus tam presentibus quàm futuris tollendam omne dubium amovendum that to cut off all controversies as well of the present times as of future and to remove all doubts he did confirm and ratifie the said right unto the City of London Thus was the Title Prerogative and right of the City of London stoutly and strongly asserted by eleven pregnant and convincing proofs to the conservation of her dearly beloved Minion the River of Thames both by prescription by allowance in Eire by ancient Charters by Acts of Parliament by Inquisitions by Decrees coram ipso Rege By Letters Patents by Proclamations by Report of the learned Councel by a quo Warranto And lastly by ancient usage custom and continual claim Mr. Stow in his survey of the City of London hath more about this business then here is inserted which made the last King Charles the first to command Sir John Coke his Secretary to write to Sir Henry Martin Judge of the Admiralty to this effect That His Majesty understanding that a second Edition of Stowes Survey of the City of London was put new to sale wherein there are some passages prejudicial to His Majesties Right in his Admiralty and derogatory to the just power belonging thereunto his Majesty did therefore require him his Iudge in that high Court to examine the said Bo●k and to cause the said passages inserted in prejudice of the Admirals Iurisdiction and in support of any other pretence against the same to be left out or else to prohibite the publishing and sale of the said Book c. Sir Henry Martin having received this Letter after the Book was printed and publiquely sold all that he could do was to have Sir John Cokes Letter inserted in the last Folio of Stow to stand there for a Cautionary Reserve and Record for the future Now there be many things that concern the incumbency of the Conservator of so Noble a River it being an Office of no small extent His first duty is to preserve the currency of the stream and the banks on both sides Secondly He must preserve the Fish and Fry within the same He must prevent all Encroachments upon the River and the banks thereof as also he must enquire of all Flud-gates Mill-dams and such like annoyances and whether any do hurl in any soyl dust or rubbish or other filth whatsoever to choak her But for the strength and safety of the River against the invasion of an enemy by Block-houses Forts Bastions or Castles and the securing of the Merchant and Navigation to and fro that charge belongs to the Soveraign Prince and not to the City But indeed touching the former charge circumspection and care of the River of Thames it is most proper for the City of London who lies perpetually by her Beds side and therefore in a fit posture to be watchful of her for which vigilance the Thames rewards her abundantly by bringing her in the Spices of the South the Jewels of the East and Treasure of the West Insomuch that it may be well said this Office of Conservatorship or superintendency of so Noble and useful a River is as a fair flower or rich Jewel in the Cap of maintenance This famous River taking all her advantages together surpassing all other whatsoever that pay tribute to the Ocean if you regard the streightness of her course the stilness of her stream for her proportionable latitude as also her length for she comes sporting along from her first source above ninescore miles before she embosomes her self in the Arms of Neptune Add hereunto the great store and variety of Fish she abounds withall the most delectable and fertile soiles on both sides And lastly the conveniency of her scituation being towards the Center of England And then in her entrance to the Sea she opens upon France and Flanders having them both in her eye Besides she hath another advantagious property that to the knowing Native the entrance into the River is safe and easie but difficult and hazardous to strangers either to come in or go out Insomuch that the Thames may be said to be Londons best friend which puts me in minde of a passage of drollery that happened in the time of King James who being displeased with the City because she would not lend him such a sum of money and the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen attending him one day being somewhat transported he said that he would remove his own Court with all the Records of the Tower and the Courts of Westminster-Hall to another place with further expressions of his indignation The Lord Mayor calmly heard all and at last answered Your Majesty hath power to do what you please and your City of London will obey accordingly but she humbly desires that when your Majesty shall remove your Courts you would please to leave the Thames behind you Of the great and admirable BRIDGE In the City of LONDON over the Thames HAving bin thus long upon water and accompanied the Thames to Thetis lap 't is time now to land and take a view of her greatest Bridge which if the stupendious Site and structure thereof be well considered may be said to be one of the Wonders of the World though as some think it hath too many Arches so that it may be said If London Bridge had fewer eyes it would see far better Now as we ferch'd the Thames from her Spring so we will fetch her Bridge from its first foundation At first there was but a Ferry kept in the place where now the Bridge is built at length the Ferriman and his Wife deceasing left the said Ferry to their only Daughter a Mayden who with other goods left her by her Parents together with the profits arising from the said Ferry did build a holy House for Nuns in place whereof the East part of St. Mary Overies stands now above the Quire where she was buried and unto that House of Nuns she bequeathed the over-sight and benefit
of the Ferry But afterwards that House of Nuns being converted into a House of Priests the Priests did build a Bridge of Timber and from time to time kept the same in good reparation till at length considering the great charges which were bestowed in the frequent repair of the woodden Bridge there was at last by the Contributions of the Citizens and others a Bridge built of Stone The Timber Bridge had stood some Ages before for the Story saith that when Sweyn King of Denmark had besieged the City of London both by Water and Land in the year 994. the Citizens manfully defended themselves under their King Ethelred so that a great number of the Enemies was slain in Battel and part of them were drown'd in the River of Thames because they could not recover the Bridge Add hereunto that in the year 1016. Can●tus the Dane with a great Navy came up to London and on the South of the Thames caus'd a Trench to be cast through the which his Ships were tow'd towards the West side of the Bridge and then with a deep Trench and streight siege he encompassed the City about Moreover 1052. the Earl Godwin with the like Navy taking his course up the River and finding no resistance on the Bridge he sail'd up the South side Further 1067. William the Conqueror in his Charter to the Church of St. Peter in Westminster confirmed to the Monks serving God there a Gate in London call'd Buttolphs Gate then with a Wharf which was at the head of London Bridge We read likewise that Anno 1114. in the raign of Henry 1. the River of Thames was so dryed up and the water grew so shallow that between the Tower of London and the Bridge not only with Horse but people might have passed over a foot In the year 1122 Thomas Arden gave to the Monks at Bermondsey the Church of St. George in Southwark and five shillings yearly rent out of the Land pertaining to London Bridge There is also a remarkable Charter of Hen. 1. upon Record to this tenor Henry King of England to Ralph Chichester and all the Ministers of Sussex sendeth greeting Know ye I command by my Kingly authority that the Manor call'd Alceston which my Father gave with other Lands to the Abbey of Battle be free and quiet from Shiers and Hundreds and all other Customes of earthly servitude as my Father held the same most freely and quietly and namely from the work of London-Bridge the work of the Castle at Pevensey And this I command upon my forfaiture Witnesse William de Pontdelarche at Berry The first year of King Stephen a fire began in the house of one A●lwards neer unto London-stone which consum'd East unto Ludgate and West to St. Erkenswald's shrine in St. Pauls Church The Bridge of Timber upon the River of Thames was also burnt but afterwards repair'd Besides in the Reign of the said King Stephen and of Hen. 2. men stood in great numbers upon the Bridge to see pastimes that were upon the River In the year 1163 that Bridge was not only repair'd but built all of new Timber as before by Peter Colechurch Priest and Chaplain This serves to shew that there was a Timber Bridge a long tract of time over the Thames which was maintain'd partly by the proper Lands thereof partly by the Legacies and liberality of divers persons and partly by taxations in divers Sheirs at least 215 years before the Bridge of stone was erected Now about the year 1176 the stone-Bridge had its first foundation by the foresaid Peter of Cole-Church near unto the place of the Timber Bridge but somewhat more West for the Chronicle saith that Buttolphes WharF was at the end of London-Bridge The King not only countenanced but assisted the great work a Cardinal being then here Legate and Richard Archbishop of Canterbuty gave 1000 Marks towards the Foundation The course of the River for a time was turn'd another way about by a trench cast up for that purpose beginning East about Radriff and ending in the West about Patricksey now call'd Battersay This work to wit the Arches Chappel and the Stone Bridge over the Thames at London having been 33 years in building was in the year 1209 finished by the worthy Citizens of London viz. Serle Mercer William Almane and Benedict Botewrite being principal Masters of that Fabrique for Peter Colechurch was dead four years before and was as the principal Benefactor buried in the Chappel on the Bridge Certain void places were given by King Iohn to build upon about London the profits whereof were assign'd to maintain the Bridge A Mason being Master Workman of the Bridge builded from the foundation the large Chappel on that Bridge upon his own charges which Chappel was then endow'd with two Priests and four Clerks c. besides Chanteries After the finishing of this Chappel which the first building upon those Arches sundry Mansion Houses in tract of time were erected whereunto many charitable men gave Lands Tenements and sums of money towards the maintenance thereof All which was sometimes registred and fairly written in a Table for posterity which was put up in the said Chappel till at last the said Chappel was turn'd to a dwelling House and then remov'd to the Bridge-house Now in Hen. 7. time it stands upon Record that all the payments and allowances belonging to London-Bridge amounted to above 815 l. by which account made then may be partly guessed the great Revenues and incomes of the said Bridge and to what improvement and encrease it may be come unto by this time But this noble Bridge as other earthly things hath suffer'd many disasters since for four years after the finishing thereof in the year 1212 on the 10th of Iuly at night the Burrough of Southwark on the South side of Thames as also the Church of our Lady of the Canons there being on fire and an exceeding great multitude of people passing the Bridge either to extinguish and quench it or to behold and gaze upon it suddenly the North part by blowing of the South wind was also set on fire and the people which were then passing the Bridge percei●ing the same would have return'd but were stopp'd by the fury of the fire and it came to passe as they stayed all in a consternation and protracted the time the other South end of the Bridge was also set on fire so that the people thronging themselves betwixt two raging fires did nothing else but expect present death Whereupon there came to save them many ships and vessels into which the multitude so inadvisedly rush'd in that the ships being thereby ●unk they all perished And it was found that above three thousand souls perished by this disastrous accident at that time whose bodies were found half burnt besides those who were turn'd to ashes Furthermore in the year 1282 through a great frost and deep snow five Arches of London Bridge were born down and destroyed A little after
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 Dia●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 call●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 Clothwork●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 pro●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
thorow into Fen-Church street over against Northumberland house Then have ye Bricklayers H●ll and another Alley called Sprinkle Alley now named Suger-loaf-alley of the like Si●n Then is there a fair House with divers Tenements near adjoyning sometimes belonging to a late dissol●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 B●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 F●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 anci●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 Mi●● 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 R●●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 ●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-Gu●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 Ivon●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
famosus Mercator Simon Eyre hujus operis c. In English thus The honourable and famous Marchant Simon Eyre founder of this work once Maior of this City Citizen and Draper of the same departed out of this life the 18th day of Septemb. the year from the Incarnation of Christ 1459. and the 38. year of the Raign of King Henry the sixth he was buried in the Parish Church of St. Mary Wolnoth in Lumbard street he gave by his Testament to be distributed to all Prisons in London or within a mile of that City somewhat to relieve them More he gave 2000 Marks upon a condition which not performed was then to be distributed to Maids Marriages and other deeds of Charity he also gave 3000 Marks to the Drapers upon condition that they should within one year after his decease establish perpetually a Master or Warden five secular Priests six Clerks and two Queristers to sing daily Divine Service by note for ever in this Chappel of the Leaden-hall Also one Master with an Usher for Grammar one Master for Writing and the third for Song with Houses there newly builded for them for ever the Master to have for his salary ten pounds and every other Priest eight pounds every other Clarke five pounds six shillings eight pence and every other Chorister five Marks and if the Drapers refused this to do within one year after his decease then the three thousand Marks to remain to the Prior and Covent of Christs-Church in London with condition to establish things as aforesaid within two years after his decease And if they refused then the three thousand Marks to be disposed by his Executors as they best could devise in works of Charity Thus much for his Testament not performed by establishing of Divine Service in his Chappel or Free-School and Scholars neither was it known how the stock of three thousand Marks or rather five thousand Marks was employed by his Executors he left issue Thomas who had issue Thomas c. True it is that in the year 1464 the third of Edward the fourth it was agreed by the Mayor Aldermen and Commonalty of London that notwithstanding the Kings Letters Pattents lately before granted unto them touching the Trouage or weighing of Wares to be held at Leaden-hall yet Suite should be made to the King for new Letters Pattents to be granted to the Mayor of the Staple for the Trouage of Wools to be holden there and order to be taken by the discretion of Thomas Cooke then Mayor The Councel of the City Geffrey filding then Mayor of the Staple at Westminster and of the Kings Councel what should be paid to the Mayor and Aldermen of the City for the laying and housing of the Wools there that so they might be brought forth and weighed c. Touching the Chappel there we find that in the year 1466 by Licence obtained of King Edward the fourth in the sixth of his Reign a Fraternity of the Trinity of 60 Priests besides other brethren and sisters in the same Chappel was founded by Rouse Iohn Risby and Thomas Ashby Priests some of the which sixty Priests every Market-day in the fore-noon did celebrate Divine service there to such Market people as repaired to prayer and once every year they met altogether and had solemn Service with procession of all the Brethren and Sisters this foundation was in the year 1512 by a Common-Councel confirmed to the sixty Trinity Priests and to their Successors at the will of the Mayor and Commonalty In the year 1484 a great fire happened upon Leaden-hall by what casualty it was not known but much housing was there destroyed with all the Stocks for Guns and other provision belonging to the City which was a great losse and no lesse charge to be repaired by them In the year 1503. the eighteenth of Henry the seventh a request was made by the Commons of the City concerning the usage of the said Leaden-Hall in form as followeth Please it the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Councel to enact that all Frenchmen bringing Canvas Linnen cloth and other Wares to be sold and all Forreins bringing Woolsteads Sayes Stamins Kiverings Nayles Iron work or any other Wares and also all Forreins bringing Lead to the City to be sold shall bring all such their Wares aforesaid to the open Market of the Leaden-Hall and no where else to be shewed sold and uttered like as of old time it hath been used upon pain of forfeiture of all the said Wares shewed or sold in any other place than aforesaid And the shew of the said Wares to be made three daies in a week that is to lay Monday Tuesday and Wednesday It is also thought reasonable that the common Beam be kept from henceforth in the Leaden-hall the Farmer to pay therefore reasonable rent to the Chamber for better it is that the Chamber have advantage thereby than a Forreign person And also the said Leaden-hall which is more chargeable now by half than profitable shall better bear out the charges thereof Also the common Beam for Wool at Leaden-hall may pay yearly a rent to the Chamber of London toward the supportation and charges of the same place for reason it is that a common Office occupied upon a common ground bear a charge to the use of the Communalty Also that Forrains bringing Wools Felts or any other Marchandizes or Wares to Leaden-hall to be kept there for the sale and market may pay more largely for keeping of their goods than Freemen Thus much for the request of the Commons at that time Now to set down some proof that the said Hall hath been employed and used as a Granary for Corn and grain as the same was first appointed leaving all former examples this one may suffice Roger Achley Mayor of London in the year 1512 the third of Henry the eighth when the said Mayor entred the Majoralty there was not found one hundred quarters of Wheat in all the Garners of this City either within the Liberties or near adjoyning through the which scarcity when the Carts of Stratford came laden with Bread to the City as they had been accustomed there was such press about them that one man was ready to destroy another in striving to be served for their money but this scarcity lasted not long for the Mayor in short time made such provision for Wheat that the Bakers both of London and of Stratford were weary of taking it up and were forced to take much more than they would and for the rest the Mayor laid out the money and stored it up in Leaden-hall and other Garners of the City This Mayor also kept the Market so well that he would be at the Leaden-Hall by four a clock in the Summer mornings and from thence he went to other Markets to the great comfort of the Citizens We read also that in the year 1528 the twentieth of Henry the eighth Surveyers were appointed to view the Garners of the City namely the
called the Erbar neere to the Church of St. Mary Bothaw Geffery Scroop held it by the gift of Edward the third in the fourteenth of his Reign It belonged since to Iohn Nevel Lord of Raby then to Richard Nevel Earl of Warwick Nevel Earl of Salisbury was lodged there 1457. Then it came to George Duke of Clarence and his Heires Males by the gift of Edward the fourth in the fourteenth yea● of his Reign It was lately builded by Sir Thomas Pull●son Maior and was afterward Inhabited by Sir Francis Drake that famous Navigator Next to this great House is Lane turning to Bush-lane of old time called Carter-lane of Carts and Carmen having Stables there and now called Chequer-lane or Chequer-Alley of an Inne called the Chequer In Thamesstreet on the Thames side West from Downgate is Greenwitch lane of old time so called and now Fryer lane of such a signe there set up In this Lane is the Ioyners Hall and other fair Houses Then is Granthams Lane so called of Iohn Grantham sometime Maior and owner thereof whose house was very large and strong builded of stone as appeareth by Gates Arched yet remaining Ralph Dodmer first a Brewer then a Mercer Maior 1529. dwelled there and kept his Majoralty in that house it is now a Brew-house as it was before Then is Down-gate whereof is spoken in another place East from this Downegate is Cosin lane named of one VVilliam Cosin that dwelled there in the fourth of Richard the second as divers his Predecessors Father Granfather c. had done before him VVilliam Cosin was one of the Sheriffs in the year 1306. That House standeth at the South end of the Lane having an old and Artificial conveyance of Thames water into it And is now a Dye-house called Lambards Mess●age Adjoyning to that House there was lately erected an Engine to convey ● hames water unto Downgate Conduit aforesaid Next to this Lane on the East is the Steel-yard as they terme it a place for Marchants of Almain that used to bring hither as well Wheat Rie and other Grain as Cables Ropes Masts Pitch Tarre Flax Hemp Linnen Cloth Wainscots Wax Steel and other profitable Marchandizes unto these Marchan sin the year 1259. Henry the third at the Request of his Brother Richard Earl of Cornwall King of Almain granted that all and singular the Marchants having a House in the City of London commonly called Guilda Aula The●●onicorum should be maintained and upholden through the whole Realm by a●l such freedoms and free usages or Liberties as by the King and his Noble Progenitors time they had and enjoyed c. Edward the first renewed and confirmed that Charter of Liberties granted by his Father And in the tenth year of the same Edward Henry W●llis being Mayor a great Controversie did arise between the said Mayor and the Marchants of the Haunce of Almaine about the reparations of Bishops-gate then likely to fall for that the said Marchants enjoyed divers priviledges in respect of maintaining the said Gate which they now denyed to repair for the appeasing of which controversie the King sent his Writ to the Treasurer and Baron of his Exchequer commanding that they should make Inquisition thereof Before whom the Marchants being called when they were not able to discharge themselves s●●h they enjoyed the Liberties to them granted for the same a precept was sent to the Maior and Sheriffs to distrain the said Marchants to make reparations namely Gerard Marhod Alderman of the Haunce Ralph de Cussarde a Citizen of Colen Ludero de Denauar a Burgesse of Trivar Iohn of Aras a Burgesse of Trivon Bartram of Hamburgh Godestalk of Hundoudale a Burgesse of Trivon Iohn de Deal a Burgesse of Munster then remaining in the said City of London for themselves and all other Marchants of the Haunce and so they granted 210 Marks sterling to the Maior and Citizens and undertook that they and their Successors should from time to time repair the said Gate and bear the third part of the Charges in money and men to defend it when need were And for this Agreement the said Maior and Citizens granted to the said Marchants their liberties which till of late they have enjoyed as namely amongst other that they might lay up their Grain which they brought into this Realm in Inns and sell it in their Garners by the space of forty dayes after they had laid it up except by the Mayor and Citizens they were expresly forbidden because of Dearth or other reasonable occasions Also they might have their Aldermen as they had bin accustomed provided alwayes that he were of the City and presented to the Maior and Aldermen of the City so oft as any should be chosen and should take an Oath before them to maintain Justice in their Courts and to behave themselves in their Office according to Law and as it stood with the Customs of the City Thus much for their priviledges whereby it appeareth that they were great Marchants of Corne brought out of the East parts hither insomuch that the Occupiers of Husbandry in this Land were en●orced to complain of them for bringing in such abundance when the Corn of this Realm was at an easie price whereupon it was ordained by Parliament That no person should bring into any part of this Realm by way of Marchandize Wheat Rie or Barley growing out of the said Realm when the Quarter of Wheat exceeded not the price of six shilling eight pence Rie four shillings the Quarter and Barley three shillings the Quarter upon forfeiture one half to the King the other half to the seisor thereof These Marchants of the Hawnce had their Guild-Hall in Thames-street in the place aforesaid by the said Cosin-lane Their Hall is large builded of Stone with three Arched Gates towards the street the middlemost whereof is far bigger than the other and is seldom opened the other two be mured up the same is now called the Old Hall In the 6th of Richard the 2d they hired one House next adjoyning to their Old Hall which sometime belonged to Richard Lions a famous Lapidary one of the Sheriffs of London in the 49 of Edward the 3d and in the 4th of Richard the 2d by the Rebels of Kent drawn out of that House and beheaded in West-Cheape This also was a great House with a large Wharf on the Thames and the way thereunto was called Windgoose or Wildgoose-lane which is now called Windgoose-Alley for that the same Alley is for the most part builded on by the Styliard Marchants The Abbat of St. Albans had a Messuage here with a key given to him 34. of Henry the 6th Then is one other great House which sometime pertained to Iohn Rainwel Stock-Fishmonger Maior and it was by him given to the Maior and Commonalty to the end that the profits thereof should be disposed in deeds of piety which House in the 15th of Edward the 4th was c●●firmed unto the said Marchants in manner following viz. It
passed through the City like a stream of rain water in the sight of all the people from whence there issued a most loathsome savour I read in the Reign of Henry the seventh that no Sweet VVines were brought into this Realm but Malmsyes by the Longobards paying to the King for his Licence six shillings eight pence of every Butt besides twelve pence for Bottellage In those daies Malmsey was not to be sold above three half-pence the pint For proof whereof it appeareth in the Church of St. Andrew Under-shaft that in the year 1547 I. G. and S. K. then Church-Wardens for eighty pints of Malmsey spent in the Church after one penny half penny the pint paid at the years end for the same ten shillings Moreover no Sacks were sold but Rumney that for Medicine more than fo r drink but now many kinds of Sacks are known and used And so much for Wines I read further that in the Reign of Henry the fourth the young Prince Henry T. Duke of Clarence I. Duke of Bedford and Humphrey Duke of Glocester the Kings sons came to Supper amongst the Merchants of London in the Vintry● in the House of Lewes Iohn a Briton The successors of those Vintners and Wine-drawers that retailed by the Gallons Pottel quart and pint were all incorporated by the name of Wine-tunners in the Raign of Edward the third and confirmed the fifteenth of Henry the sixth Next is Palmers Lane now called Anchors Lane the Plummers have their Hall there but are Tenants to the Vintners Then is Worcester House sometimes belonging to the Earls of Worcester now divided into many Tenaments The Fruiterers have there Hall there On the Land side is the Royal street and Pater noster Lane I think of old time called the Arches for I read that Robert de Suffolk gave to Walter Darford his Tenement with the apurtenance in the Lane called Les Arches in the Parish of Saint Michael de Pater noster Church between the Wall of the field called Winchester field on the East and the same Lane on the West c. More there was a stone House called Stoda de Winton juxta Stodum Bridge which in that Lane was over Walbrook water Then is the fair Parish Church of Saint Michael called Pater noster Church in the Royal street This Church was new builded and made a Colledge of S. Spirit and S. Mary founded by Richard VVhittington Mercer four times Mayor for a Master four Fellows Masters of Art Clerks Conducts Chorists c. and an Alms-house called Gods house or Hospital for thirteen poor men one of them to be Tutor and to have sixteen pence the week the other twelve each of them to have fourteen pence the week for ever with other necessary provision an Hutch with three Locks with a common Seal c. The Licence for this foundation was granted by King Henry the fourth the eleventh of his Reign and in the twelfth of the same Kings reign the Mayor and the Communalty of London granted to Richard VVhittington a vacant piece of ground thereon to build his Colledge in the Royall all which was confirmed by Henry the sixth the third of his Reign to Iohn Coventry Jenkin Carpenter and VVilliam Grove Executors to to Richard Whittington This foundation was again confirmed by Parliament the tenth of Henry the sixth and was suppressed by the Statute of Edward the sixth The Alms-Houses with the poor men do remain and are paid by the Mercers This Richard VVhittington was in this Church three times buried first by his Executors under a fair Monument then in the Reign of Edward the sixth the Parson of that Church thinking some great riches as he said to be buried with him caused his Monument to be broken his Body to be spoiled of his Leaden sheet and again the second time to be buried And in the Reign of Queen Mary the Parishioners were forced to take him up and lap him in Lead as afore to bury him the third time and to place his Monuments or the like over him again which remaineth still and so he rested Among others Sir Thomas Tanke Knight of the Garter born in Almain a great Martial man lieth buried there At the upper end of this street is the Tower Royall whereof that street taketh name This Tower great place was so called of pertaining to the Kings of this Realm but by whom the same was first builded or of what Antiquity continued it doth not appear more than that in the Reign of King Edward the first the second fourth and seventh year it was the Tenement of Simon Beawmes Also that in the thirty sixt of Edward the third the same was called the Royal in the Parish of St. Michael de Pater noster and that in the three and fortieth of his Reign he gave it by the name of his Inne called the Royall in his City of London in value twenty pounds by year unto his Colledge of Saint Stephen at Westminster Notwithstanding in the Reign of Richard the second it was called the Queens Wardrobe as appeareth by this that followeth King Richard having in Smithfield overcome and dispersed the Rebels He his Lords and all his Company entred the City of London with great joy and went to the Lady Princesse his Mother who was then lodged in the Tower called the Queens Wardrobe where she had remained three daies and two nights much affrighted But when she saw the King her Son she was greatly rejoyced Ah Son What great sorrow have I suffered for you this day The King answered and said Certainly Madam I know it well but now rej●●ce and thank God for I have this day recovered mine Heritage and the Realm of England which I had near-hand lost This Tower seemeth to have been at that time of good defence for when the Rebels had beset the Tower of London and got possession thereof taking from thence whom they listed the Princesse being forced to fly came to this Tower-Royall where she was lodged and remained safe as ye have heard and it may be also supposed that the King himself was at that time lodged there I read that in the year 1386 Lyon King of Armony being chased out of his Rea●m by the Tartarians received innumerable gifts of the King and of his Nobles the King then lying in the Royall where he also granted to the said King of Armony a Charter of a thousand pounds by year during his Life This for proof may suffice that Kings of England have been lodged in this Tower though the same afterwards hath been neglected and turned into stabling for the Kings Horses and now letten out to divers men and ●ivided into Tenements In Horse-Bridge-street is the Cutlers Hall Richard de Wilehale 1295 confirmed to Paul Butelar this House and Edifices in the Parish of Saint Michael Pater noster Church and Saint Iohn upon Walbrook which sometime Lawrence Gisers and his son Peter Gisers did possesse and afterward Hugonis
de Hingham and lyeth between the Tenement of the said Richard towards the South and the Lane called Horse-shoe-Bridge towards the North and between the way called Pater noster Church on the West and the course of Walbrooke on the East paying yearly one Clove of Gilliflowers at Easter and to the poor and Convent of Saint Mary Overy six shillings This House sometime belonged to Simon Dolesly Grocer and Mayor 1359 They of this Company had of old time three Arts or sorts of Workmen to wit the first were Smiths Forgers of Blades and therefore called Bladers and divers of them proved wealthy men as namely Walter Nele Blader one of the Sheriffs the twelfth of Edward the third Deceased 1352 and was buried in Saint Iames Garlicke Hithe He lest Lands to the mending of High-wayes about London betwixt Newgate and Wicombe Ealdgate and Chelmesford Bishopsgate and Ware Southwark and Rochester c. The second were Makers of Hafts and otherwise Garnishers of Blades The third sort were Sheath-makers for Swords Daggers and Knives In the tenth of Henry the fourth certain Ordinances we●e made betwixt the Bladers and the other Cutlers and in the fourth of Henry the sixth they were all three Companies drawn into one Fraternity or Brotherhood by the name of Cutlers Then is Knight-riders street so called as is supposed of Knights well armed ' and mounted at the Tower-Royall riding from thence through the street West to Creed-Lane and so out at Ludgate towards Smithfield when they were there to Turney Just or otherwise to shew activities before the King and States of the Realm In this street is the Parish Church of Saint Thomas Apostles by Wring-wren Lane a hansome Church and in the year 1629 well repaired and fine●y garnished but Monuments of antiquity there are none beyond the Reign of Henry the eighth except some Arms in the Windows as also in the Stone-work which some suppose to be of John Barnes Mercer Mayor of London in the year 1371 a great builder thereof H. Causton Merchant was a Benefactor and had a Chantry there about 1396. T. Roman Mayor 1310 had also a Chantry there 1319. Fitz Williams also a Benefactor had a Chantry there More Sir William Littlesbury aliàs Horne for King Edward the fourth so named him because he was a most excellent Winder of an Horne he was a Salter and Merchant of the Staple Mayor of London in the year 1487 and was buried in this Church having appointed by his Testament the Bells to be changed for four new Bells of good tune and sound but that was not performed he gave five hundred Marks towards the repairing of High-waies between London and Cambridge his dwelling House with a Garden and appurtenances in the said Parish to be sold and bestowed in charitable actions His House called the George in Bread-street he gave to the Salters they to find a Priest in the said Parish to have six pounds thirteen shillings four pence the year to every Preacher at Pauls-Crosse and at the Spittle four pence for ever to the Prisoners of Newgate Ludgate Marshalsey and Kings-Bench in Victuals ten shillings at Christmas and ten shillings at Easter for ever which Legacies were not performed Among others ther 's one Epitaph in Greek in this Church on the Lady Katherine Killegree Then West from the said Church on the same side was one great Messuage sometime called Ipres Inne of William of Ipres a Flemming the first Builder thereof This William was called out of Flanders with a number of Flemmings to the aid of King Stephen against Maude the Empress in the the year 1138 and grew in favour with the said King for his service so far that he builded this House near unto Tower-Royall in the which Tower it seemeth the King was then lodged as in the heart of the City for his more safety Robert Earl of Glocester Brother to the Empresse being taken was committed to the Custody of this VVilliam to be kept in the Castle of Rochester till King Stephen was also taken and then the one was delivered in exchange for the other and both set free This William of Ipres gave Edredes Hith now called Queens Hith to the Prior and Canons of the Holy Trinity in London he founded the Abbey of Borley in Kent c. In the first of Henry the second the said William withall the other Flemmings fearing the indignation of the new King departed the Land but it seemeth that the said William was shortly called back again and restored both to the Kings favour and to his old possessions here so that the name and Family continued long after in this Realm On the other side I read of a Messuage called Kinged Hall King Henry the eighth the thirty two of his Reign gave the same with four Tenements adjoyning unto Morgan Phillip aliàs Wolfe in the Parish of Saint Thomas Apostles in London c. Over against Ipres Inne in Knight-Riders street at the corner towards Saint James Garlick Hith was sometime a great House builded with Stone and called Ormond place for that it sometime belonged to the Earls of Ormond King Edward the Fourth in the fifth of his Reign gave to Elizabeth his Wife the Mannor of Greenwich with the Tower and Park in the County of Kent He also gave this Tenement called Ormond place with all the appurrenances to the same scituate in the Parish of Saint Trinity in Knight-Rider street in London This House is now taken down and divers fair Tenements are builded there Then lower down in Royall-street is Kerion Lane of one Kerion sometime dwelling there In this Lane be divers fair Houses for Merchants and amongst others is the Glasiers Hall At the South corner of Royall-street is the fair Parish Church of Saint Martin called in the Vintry sometimes called St. Martin de Beremand Church This Church was new builded about the year 1399 by the Executors of Matthew Columbars a stranger born a Burdeaux Marchant of Gascoine and French Wines His Armes remain yet in the East Window and is a Cheveron between three Colombins Sir Iohn Gisors Mayor with his Brother and his Son lye there buried He had a great Mansion House called Gisors Hall in St. Mildreds Parish in Bread-street There are sundry Latin Epiraphs in this Church Then is the Parish Church of St. Iames called at Garlick Hith or Garlick Hive for that of old time on the River of Thames near to this Church Garlick was usually sold This is a comely Church whereof Richard Rothing one of the Sheriffs 1326 is said to be the new builder and lyeth buried in the same so was Walter Nele Blader one of the Sheriffs 1337 Iohn of Oxenford Vintner Mayor 1341. I read in the first of Edward the third that this Iohn of Oxenford gave to the Priory of the Holy Trinity in London two Tofts of Land one Mill fifty Acres of Land two Acres of Wood with the appurtenances in Kentish Town in value twenty shillings and
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 keep●r o● 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
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 aliàs Garter principall King of Arms second son of Sir Iohn VVrithe Knight aliàs 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 call●d Aldersgate Ward THe Next is Aldersgate Ward taking name of that North Gate of the City this Ward also consisteth o● divers Streets and Lanes lying as well within the Gate and Wall as without And first to speak of that part within the Gate thus it is the East part thereof joyneth unto the West part of Cripplegate Ward in Engain lane or Maiden lane It beginneth on the North side of that Lane at Staining lane End runneth up from the Haberdashers Hall to St. Mary Staining Church and by the Church East winding almost to Wood Street and West through Oate lane and then by the South side of Bacon house in Noble-Street back again by Lilipot lane which is also of that ward to Maiden lane and so on that North side West to Saint Iohn Zacharies Church and to Foster lane Now on the south side of Engain or Maiden lane is the West side of Gutherons lane to Kery lane and Kery lane it self which is of this ward and back again into Engain lane by the North side of the Goldsmiths Hall to Foster lane are almost wholly of this Ward which beginneth in the South toward Cheap on the East side by the North side of Saint Fosters Church and runneth down North West by the East end of Engain lane by Lilipot lane and Oate lane to Noble-Street and through that by Shelly house of old time so called as belonging to the Shellies Sir Thomas Shelley Knight was owner thereof in the first of Henry the fourth It
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-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 Stain●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
South by the Prison of the Fleet into Fleet-street by Fleet-bridge Next out of the high street turneth down a Lane called the Little Bayly which runneth down to the East end of St. Georges Lane The next is Sea-cole-lane I think called Limeburners Lane of burning Lime there with Sea-cole For we read in Record of such a Lane to have bin in the Parish of St. Sepulchre and there yet remaineth in this Lane an Alley called Lime-burners Alley Near unto this Sea-cole-lane in the turning towards Oldbourne-Conduit is Turn-again-lane or rather as in a Record of the fifth of Edward the third Wind-again-lane for that it goeth down West to Fleet Dike from whence men must turn again the same way they came for there it is stopped Then the high street turneth down Snow-hill to Holdbourne Conduit and from thence to Ouldbourn-bridge beyond the which Bridge on the left hand is Shooe-lane by the which men passe from Ouldbourne to Fleet street by the Conduit there In this Shooe-lane on the left hand is one old House called Oldbourn-Hall it is now letten out into divers Tenements On the other side at the very corner standeth the Parish Church of Saint Andrew From this Church to St. Andrew up Oldbourn-hill be divers fair builded Houses amongst the which on the left hand there standeth three Inns of Chancery whereof the first adjoyning unto Crook-horn-Alley is called Thavies Inne and standeth opposite to Ely House Then is Fewter-lane which stretcheth South into Fleet-street by the East end of St. Dunstanes Church and is so called of Fewters or idle people lying there as in a way leading to Gardens but the same is now of later years on both sides builded thorow with many fair Houses and in the wast grounds and Gardens betwixt Shooe-lane and Fewter-lane there are now many fair convenient Houses built by the Company of the Goldsmiths as also a street called New-street betwixt Aldersgate and Redcrosse-street Beyond this Fewters Lane is Baynards Inne aliàs Mackworths Inne which is of the Chancery Then is Staple-Inne also of the Chancery but whereof so named I am ignorant the same of late is for a great part thereof fair builded and not a little augmented And then at the Barres endeth this Ward without Newgate Without Ludgate on the right hand or North side from the said Gate lyeth the Old Bayley as I said then the high street called Ludgate-hill down to Fleet-Lane in which Lane standeth the Fleet a Prison-house so called of the Fleet or water running by it and sometime flowing about it but now vaulted over Then also against the South end of Shooe-lane standeth a fair Water-Conduit whereof William East field sometime Mayor was Founder for the Mayor and Commonalty of London being possessed of a Conduit Head with divers Springs of water gathered thereunto in the Parish of Padington and the water conveyed from thence by Pipes of Lead towards London unto Teyborn where it had lain by the space of six years and more the Executors of Sir Will●am Eastfield obtained Licence of the Mayor and Communalty for them in the year 1453. with the Goods of Sir William to convey the said Water first in Pipes of Lead into a Pipe begun to be laid besides the great Conduit Head at Maribone which stretcheth from thence unto a separall late before made against the Chappel of Rounseval by Charing-Crosse and no further and then from thence to convey the said water into the City and there to make Receit or Receits for the same unto the Common-weale of the Commonalty to wit the poor to drink the rich to dresse their Meats which water was by them brought thus into Fleet-street to a Standard which they had made and finished 1471. From this Conduit up to Fewters Lane and further is the Parish Church of St. Dunstane called in the West for difference from Saint Dunstane in the East Next beyond this Church is Cliffords Inne sometime belonging to Robert Clifford by gift of Edward the second Somewhat beyond this Cliffords Inne is the South end of Newstreet or Chancelor Inne on the right hand whereof is Sergeants-Inne called in Chancery lane And then next was sometime the House of the converted Iews founded by King Henry the third in place of a Jews House to him forfeited in the year 1233. and the seventeenth of his Reign who builded there for them a fair Church now used and called the Chappel for the Custody of Rolles and Records of Chancery it standeth not far from the old Temple and the new in the which House all such Jews and Infidels as were converted to the Christian Faith were ordained and appointed under an honest rule of life sufficient maintenance whereby it came to passe that in short time there were gathered a great number of Converts which were baptized instructed in the Doctrine of Christ and there lived under a learned Christian appointed to govern them since the which time to wit in the year 1290. all the Jews in England were banished out of the Realm whereby the number of Converts in this place was decayed and therefore in the year 1377. this House was annexed by Parent to William Burstall Clark Custos Rotulorum or Keeper of the Ro●s of the Chancery by Edward the third in the fifty one year of his Reign and this first Master of the Rolls was sworn in Westminster-Hall at the I able of Marble-stone since the which time that House hath bin commonly called the Rolls in Chancery-Lane On the West side sometime was an House pertaining to the Prior of Necto● Park a House of Canons in Lincolnshire this was commonly called Hereflete Inne and was a Brew-house but now fair builded for the six Clerks of the Chancery and standeth over against the said House called the Rolls and near unto the Lane which now entreth Fickets Croft or Fickets field Then is Shere-lane opening also into Fickets field hard by the Barres Next is Bride-lane and therein Bridewell of old time the Kings House for the Kings of this Realm have bin there lodged and till the ninth of Henry the third the Courts were kept in the Kings House wheresoever he was lodged as may appear by ancient Records whereof there are many and for example have set forth one in the Chapter or Towers and Castles King Henry the eighth builded there a stately and beautiful House of new for receit of the Emperor Charles the fifth who in the year of Christ 1522. was lodged himself at the Black-Fryers but his Nobles in this new builded Bridewell a Gallery being made out of the House over the Water and thorow the Wall of the City into the Emperors Lodging at the Black-Fryers King Henry himself often times lodged there also as namely in the year 1525. a Parliament being then holden in the Black-Fryers he created States of Nobility there In the year 1553. the seventh of Edward the sixth the tenth of April sir George Barne being Mayor of this City was sent for
to the Court at White-hall and there at that time the King gave unto him for the Communalty and Citizens to be a Work-house for the poor and idle persons of the City his house of Bridewell and seven hundred Marks Land late of the possessions of the house of Savoy and all the Bedding and other Furniture of the said Hospital of the Savoy towards the maintenance of the said Work-house of Bridewel and the Hospital of St. Thomas in Southwark This gift King Edward confirmed by his Charter dated the 26. of Iune next following And in the year 1555. in the moneth of February Sir William Gerrard Mayor and the Aldermen entred Bridewel and took possession thereof according to the gift of the said King Edward the same being confirmed by Queen Mary The Bishop of St. Davids had his Inne over against the North side of this Bridewell as I have said Then is the Parish Church of St. Bridget or Bride of old time a small thing which now remaineth to be the Quire but since increased with a large Body and side Iles towards the West at the charges of William Vinor E●quire Warden of the Fleet about the year 1480. all which he cau●ed to be wrought about in the stone in the figure of a Vine with Grapes and Leaves c. The partition betwixt the old work and the new sometime prepared as a Screne to be set up in the Hall of the Duke of Summersets House at the Strand was bought for eightscore pounds and set up in the year one thousand five hundred fifty seven The next is Salisbury Court a place so called for that it belonged to the Bishops of Salisbury and was their Inne or London House at such time as they were summoned to come to the Parliam●nt or came for other business It hath of late time bin the dwelling first of Sir Richard Sackvile and after of Sir Thomas Sackvile his Sonne Baron of Buckhurst Lord Treasurer who very greatly inlarged it with stately Buildings Then is Water-lane running down by the West side of a House called the Hanging Sword to the Thames Then was the White Fryers Church called Fratres beatae Mariae de monte Carmeli first founded saith Iohn Bale by Sir Richard Gray Knight Ancestor to the Lord Gray of Codner in the year 1241. King Edward the first gave to the Prior and Brethren of that house a plot of ground in Fleet-street whereupon to build their House which was since reedified or new builded by Hugh Courtney Earl of Devonshire about the year one thousand three hundred and fifty the four and twentieth of Edward the third Iohn Lufken Mayor of London and the Commonalty of the City granted a Lane called Crockers-lane reaching from Fleetstreet to the Thames to build in the West end of that Church Then is the Sergeants Inne so called for that divers Iudges and Sergeants at the Law keep a Commons and are lodged there in Terme time Next is the New Temple so called because the Templers before the building of this House had their Temple in Oldbourn This house was founded by the Knights Templers in England in the Reign of Henry the second and the same was dedicated to God and our Blessed Lady by Heraclius Patriark of the Church called the Holy Resurrection in Jerusalem in the year of Christ 1185. Many Parliaments and great Councels have been there kept as may appear by our Histories In the year 1308. all the Templers in England as also in other parts of Christendom were apprehended and committed to divers Prisons Anno 1310. a Provincial Councel was holden at London against the Templets in England upon Heresie and other Articles whereof they were accused but denyed all except one or two of them notwithstanding they all did confesse that they could not purge themselves fully as faultless and so they were condemned to perpetual penance in several Monasteries where they behaved themselves modestly Philip King of France procured their over-throw throughout the whole World and caused them to be condemned by a general Councel to his advantage as he thought for he believed to have had all their Lands in France and therefore seizing the same in his hands caused the Templers to the number of 54. or after Fabian threescore to be burnt at Paris Edward the second in the year 1313. gave unto Aimer de la Valence Earl of Pembrook the whole place house called the new Temple at London with the ground called Fiquetes Croft and all the Tenements and Rents with the appurtenances that belonged to the Templers in the City of London and Suburbs th●reof After Aimer de Valence saith some Hugh Spencer usurping the same held it during his life by whose death it fell again to the hands of Edward the third but in the mean time to wit 1324. by a Councel holden at Vienna all the Lands of the Templers lest the same should be put to prophane uses were given to the Knights Hospitalers of the Order of St. Iohn Baptist called Saint Iohn of Ierusalem which Knights had put the Turks out of the I le of Rhodes and after wan upon the said Turk daily for a long time In the Reign of the same Edward the third was granted for a certain Rent of ten pounds by the year the said Temple with the Appurtenances thereunto adjoyning to the Students of the Common Lawes of England in whose possession the same hath ever sithence remained and is now divided into two Houses of several Students by the name of Inns of Court to wit the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple who keep two several Halls but they resort all to the said Temple-Church in the round walk whereof which is the West part without the Quire there remain Monuments of Noblemen buried to the number of eleven eight of them are Images of Armed Knights five lying Crosse-legged as men vowed to the Holy Land against the Infidels and unbelieving Jews the other three straight-legged The rest are coaped stones all of Gray Marble the first of the Crosse-legged was William Marshal the elder Earl of Pembrooke who died 1219. William Marshall his Sonne Earl of Pembrooke was the second he dyed 1231. And Gilbert Marshall his Brother Earl of Pembrooke slain in a Turnament at Hartford besides Ware in the year 1241. Of the Twenty sixth or the last Ward of the City of LONDON called the Bridge-Ward without containing the Bourough of Southwark WE have now almost finished the Perambulation for having treated of Wards in London on the North side of the Thames in number five and twenty we are now to crosse over the said River into the Burough of Southwark which is also a Ward of London without the Walls on the South side thereof as is Portsoken on the East and Faringdon Extra on the West But before we come to the particular Description of this Ward it will not be impertinent to declare when and by what meanes the Burough of Southwark now called Bridge-Ward without
Citizen of London in the year 1081. In the year 1094 deceased Alwin founder of this House Then William Rufus gave to the Monks his Mannor of Bermondsey with the appurtenances and builded there for them a new great Church In the year 1539. this Abbey was valued to di●pend by the year 474 l. fourteen shillings four pence half penny and was surrendred to Henry the eighth the one and thirtieth of his Reign the Abbey Church was then pulled down by Sir Thomas Pope Knight and in place thereof a goodly House builded of Stone and Timber since pertaining to the Earls of Sussex Next unto this Abbey Church standeth a proper Church of St. Mary Magdalen builded by the Priory of Bermondsey serving for resort of the Inhabitants Tenants to the Priors or Abbots near adjoyning there to have their Divine Service this Church remaineth and serveth as afore and is called a Parish Church Then in Kent street is a Lazar House for Leprous people called the Loke in Southwark the foundation whereof is incertain This Borough at a subsidy to the King was used to yield about a thousand Marks or eight hundred pounds which is more than any one City in England payeth except London And also the Muster of men in this Borough doth likewi●e in number surpasse all other Cities except London And thus much for the Borough of Southwarke one of the six and twenty Wards of London Having thus travers'd the whole Body of this great City and her severall Wards from the Center to the Circumference it is now to be observed that every Ward hath its particular Alderman as an Overseer or Guardian assign'd thereunto who hath a greater latitude of power than an ordinary Justice of the Peace This Alderman hath one Deputy and in some Wards more There are likewise a number of Common-Councel men Constables men of the Wardmote Inquest Scavengers some more some lesse with Beadles in every Ward Th● last Ward which is the Borough of Southwark differs from the rest in this that the Alderman appointed there hath three Deputies and a Bayliff but no Common Councel men Of Places adjacent and contiguous to the City of London HAving endeavoured already to di●●ect the City of London so that all her Members and homogeneal parts may be discern'd We will now passe on to her heterogeneal or Suburbian parts which yet are contiguous and make one entire continued peece We will as formerly take our first aym Eastward and begin with those parts that are without the Postern by the Tower of London The second of Henry the third the Forrest of Middlesex and the Warren of Stanes were difafforested since which time the Suburbs also about London in tract of time and as it were by an insensible augmentation have wonderfully increased in people and edifices Near the Tower of London is the Hospital of St. Katherine spoken of before founded by Matilda Wife to King Stephen that renowned and most Religious Queen From the Liberties of St. Katherine to Wapping the usual place of Execution for Pyrates and Sea-rovers there to continue hanging till three Tydes overflow and cover them I say from St. Katherines to Wapping 't is yet in the memory of man there was never a House standing but the Gallowes which was further removed in regard of the Buildings But now there is a continued street towards a mile long from the Tower all along the River almost as far as Radcliffe which proceeded from the encrease of Navigation Mariners and Trafique The Citizens of London were the chief Benefactors towards the erecting of the new Church at Wapping a Chappel of ease to White-Chappel And upon a high Beam in the midst thereof there is a memorable neat Inscription viz. This Chappel was dedicated to Almighty God and consecrated to the Honour and glory of his great and wonderful name the seventh day of July 1617. by the right Reverend Father in God John King then Bishop of London North-East of the Tower lyeth East-Smithfield Hoggs-street and another Tower-Hill near whereunto was an Hermitage in times passed called the new Abbey of Grace founded by Edward the third in gratitude to Heaven for his victorious Successes in France which commendable custom continueth still beyond the Se●s as lately there is a fair costly Church erected in Venice dedicated to St. Lawrence in remembrance of a signal Victory she obtained against the common Enemy the Turk about that Saints day as Philip the second did build the Escurial for St. Quinten Victory Then is there Radcliffe much encreased also in Buildings and Nightingale-lane from thence towards Aldgate were the Minories a famous Abbey of N●ns of the Order of Santa Clara founded by Edmund Earl of Lancaster Leicester and Darby Brother to Edward the first as hath bin formerly spoken Without Algate there is a spacious huge Suburb about a mile long as far as White Chappel and further White Chappel was as it were a Chappel of Ease to Stebunhith now called by a strange contraction Stepney Parish the Church of White Chappel was called St. Mary Marfelon because a Frenchman having served a rich Widow hard by and murthered her for her Wealth the Women and Boyes stoned the Felon to death as he thought to fly away From Algate North-West to Bishopsgate lyeth Houndsditch a long street then is the fair Parish Church of St. Buttolph Then is the Hospital of St. Mary of Bethlem founded by a London Citizen as hath bin shewn before without which is Norton-Fallgate a liberty belonging to St. Pauls Thence up to the Priory of St. Iohn Baptist is Holy Well where there was in ancient times a Nunnery founded by Stephen Gravesend Bishop of London 1318. In the High street from Holy Well there is a continual Building to Sewers Ditch then is there Shore-Ditch Golding-lane Goswell-street then Hoxton vulgarly called Hogsdon which was once a Prebend belonging to St. Pauls Then is there in this Suburb the Hospital of St. Mary Spittle and a great Palace called Fishers Folly built by the Lord Iohn Powlet In former times there was in Shoreditch a Row of small Almshon●es built there by the Prior which being suppressed they were called the Rotten Rowe Then is there the Parish Church of St. Leonard in Shoreditch whereof the Arch-Deacon of Pauls de jure is alwayes Parson We are come now to Moor-fields which in former times was but a fenny quagge or Moore and is now by the industry and bounty of well disposed Citizens come to that perfection and pleasantness as now we behold it in whereof mention is made before We passe now to Cripplegate and St. Giles Church built by one Alfune first Hospitaler of St. Bartholomew in Smithfield near unto this Church there was in former times a fair pool of sweet water where in Anne of Lodberry was drowned as the Story shewes Then is there Forestreet Moore-lane and Grubstreet White-crosse-street which is of great extent and reacheth to Old street From the West end of Forestreet lyeth
unseasonable houres They by vertue of their Office inquire if any manner of person after rain or any other time cast or lay any dung ordure rubbish Sea-coal ashes rushes or any other thing of noisance in the River of Thames or the Channels of the City They inquire whether any manner of persons nourish Hogs Oxen Kine Ducks or any other living thing that may cause unwholsomness or any grievance They inquire if any false Chevesancers or extortioning Usurers dwell within their Ward They inquire if any Freeman against his Oath made doth conceal cover or colour the Goods of Forreiners against the Franchises of the City They inquire if any Forrainer buy and sell with any other Forrainer within they City or Suburbs thereof any Marchandizes or Goods to the prejudice of the Natives They inquire if every Freeman which receiveth or taketh benefit of the Franchises of the City but continually dwelling out of it hath not nor will not pay scot and lot after his Oath made nor be partner to the common charges of the City when he is required They inquire if any conceal the Goods of Orphans whose Ward and Mariage belong to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen They inquire if any Officer by colour of his Authority do extortion to any man or be a promoter or maintainer of quarrels against right or take carriage and arrest victual unduly They inquire if any Boat-man or Ferriman take more then is due for his Boat-hire They are to inquire if any pourprestures be made upon the common ground of the City by Land or water as in Walls Pales Stoops Grieces Doores or Cellars or if any Porch Pent-house or jetty be too low in letting of Passengers that ride or Carts They are to inquire that Pentises and jetties be at least the heighth of nine feet and that the Stalls be not but of two foot and a half in breadth and to be flexible and moveable viz. to hang by Jewmews or Garnets so that they may be taken up and let down They are to inquire if any common course of water be forclos'd or letted to the noyance of the City They are to inquire if any pavement be defective or too high in one place and too low in another to the disturbance of the Riders goers and Carts that passe along They are to inquire after Regrators or forestallers of Victuals or of any other Marchandizes which should come to the City to be publiquely and fairly sold. They are to inquire if any Butcher Fishmonger Poulter Vintner Hostler Cook or seller of Victuals do sell at unreasonable prizes They are to inquire if any Retaylor do sell unwholsome Victuals or dearer then is proclaimed by the Lord Mayor They are to inquire whether any Vintner Inholder Alehouse-keeper or any other person whatsoever do use or keep any Cans stone-pots or other measures which are unseal'd and are lesse then due measure and whether they sell any Beer or Ale above a peny a quart and small Ale above a half peny They are to inquire in Shops and Houses of Chandlers and others which fell by weight that all their Scales be right and according to the Standard as also that all Yards and Ells be of their just length and that none do sell by Venice weights They are to inquire if any Inholder do bake Bread to sell within his own House and if any Baker of sowre bread bake white bread to sell and take more for the baking then three pence in a Bushel They are to inquire if any House be covered otherwise then with Tile Stone or Lead for peril of fire They are to inquire if any leper faitor or mighty Begger reside in the Ward They are to inquire if any Baker or Brewer bake or brew with Straw or any other fewel which may indanger fyring They are to inquire if any go with painted Vi●age They are to inquire if any neglecteth to hang a Lanthorn at his door with a ●●ndle therein burning after the usage at the season of the year appointed They are to inquire whether any bring to be sold or sell and offer or put to sale any tall-Wood Billets Fagots or other fire-wood not being of the full assize They are also to inquire after them who go to the Countrey and ingrosse any Billet tall-wood Fagot Tosard or other fire-wood and so keep it till they may sell it at excessive prizes and above the prizes set by the Lord Mayor They are also to inquire after Ingrossers of Butter and Cheese in great quantities in going into the Countrey to buy it and after convey it by water or otherwise to the City to be sold at Excessive rates They are to inquire whether any use the priviledge of Freemen being none and to that purpose they shall demand a sight from those whom they suspect of a Copy of their Freedom under the Seal of the Office of the Chamberlain They shall inquire after all such as melt Tallow contrary to an Act of the Common Councel in that case made and provided They shall inquire after such who use any fire-presses within the City and liberties for pressing or dressing of netherstocks Wollen Clothes or other things They shall inquire of all Armorers and other Artificers using to work in Metals which have or use any Reardorses or any other places dangerous for fire They shall inquire if any who have undertaken to be appraysers of the Goods of any Freeman deceased leaving behind him any Orphan or Orphans and the said Appraysers not having bin sworn before the Lord Mayor or the Alderman of the Ward They are to inquire if any Freeman buy any Wares or Marchandizes unweighed which ought to be weighed at the Kings beam of any stranger or Forrainer free of the City of London They are to inquire if any buy or sell any Cloth or Clothes in the Shop Ware-house or other place of any Cloth-worker or if any Cloth-worker do receive or harbor any Cloth before the same be brought to Blackwell-Hall They are to inquire if any Carman take for Carriage of any Commodity above the rates ordained They are to inquire if any make or cause to be made any new Buildings or divide or cause to be divided any House or Houses or receive any Inmate or Inmates contrary to the Kings Majesties Proclamation or to Law or any Statute of the Land They are to inquire after Hawkers which go up and down the streets and from House to House to sell any Wares contrary to an Act made in that behalf They are to inquire if any have fraudulently or unduly obtained the Freedom of the City They are to inquire after Women-Brokers such as use to resort to mens Houses to suborn young Maydens with promise to help them to better service They are to inquire if any have or use any common Privy having issue into any common Sewer of the City They are to inquire if any Constable Beadle or other Officer be negligent and remisse in discharging their
things both for Church and State in point of piety stately Structures of divers natures for the publick good and deeds of charity would make a large Volume of it self I will conclude for the present with a late worthy man one Mr. Iohn Walter who was Clark of Drapers Hall who having resolved with himself when he had attained a competent subsistence for himself and his Children to employ the rest every year for charitable uses which he did constantly for many years He built two Hospitals near London and it was a great while before the Founder of them was known He used to send a proportion of bread to be distributed among the poor to divers Churches and it was not known who sent it till he was dead and that he was missing It is thought by a computation that was made that he had employed above ten thousand pounds to charitable uses of all sorts private and publick and he was so free from vain-glory that his greatest care was to do them in such a manner that his left hand should not know what his right hand did And in his study after his death there was a bag of 800 l. in Gold with a label in paper upon it This is none of mine but the poor's Lastly for Prerogatives Enfranchisements Immunities Charters and Liberties for Hospitality and plentiful treatments as also for Antiquity the City of London comes not in the arrears to any Touching the last 't is true there are some Cities in the East that have the start of her in point of time yet London was built 354 years before Rome which is a fair Age. Touching the second some call London a lick-peny as Paris is called by some a pick-purse because of feastings with other occasions of expence and allurements which cause so many unthrifts among Countrey Gentlemen and others who flock into her in such excessive multitudes but this must be imputed not to the place but to the persons for one may live in London as frugally if he hath wit to make use of it as in any other City whatsoever T' is true that the prizes of all things use to be enhanc'd by confluences and swarms of people which a judicious Forreiner observing in London said that she bore no proportion with the Iland but might serve a Kingdom thrice as big and that England may be rather said to be in London then London in England which made some compare her to the spleen whose over-swelling make the rest of the body languish but it might be answered that London is rather like the stomack which digests the wealth of the Land and after a good concoction disperseth it again in wholsom nutriment to all parts Touching the third viz. freedom and immunities there 's no City hath more In the Raign of Richard the second it was enacted That the Citizens of London were to enjoy their priviledges and franchises licet usi non fuerint vel abusi fuerint whether they were not us'd or abus'd notwithstanding any Statute to the contrary as the Lord Coke hath it in his Institutes In the Lawes of the Land London is called sometimes Camera Regis Reipublicae Cor totius Regni Epitome the Kings Chamber the heart of the Common-wealth and compendium of the whole Kingdom sometimes she is called Caput Regum Legum The head of Kings and of Lawes nay some of the Roman Emperors in their Edicts called her Augusta which is a name alwayes of magnificence and State And now will I take leave of the Noble Augusta or City of London concluding with this hearty wish couch'd in these two Hexameters and relating to her proportion or shape which is a Laurel leaf as formerly was said Londinum Lauri folio non impare formâ Flore at Urbs sicut Laurus semperque virescat London is like a Laurel leaf may She Be verdant still and flourish like the Tree FINIS AN INDEX POINTING At the chief Passage throughout the whole Book A. fol. AUgusta a name given by the Roman Emperors to London 2. Appellations which forrain Authors give of London 2. Of Algate 5. Of Amwel River brought to London 11. The Lord Ailwine first Alderman in England Anno 851. 34. Of the Authority and State of the Lord Mayor of London 35. His Attendants and Officers with divers Prerogatives 35. Of the ancient Court of the Hustings 37. Austin the Monk the Englishmens Apostle 39. The Arms of all the Companies and Corporations of London blazon'd 41. The antiquity of all the Companies of London 41. Of Allhallowes Barking 48. Of Algate Ward 52. Of St. Andrew Undershaft 55. Of Augustine Fryers 72. St. Albanes a very ancient Church in London 301. Of Aldersgate Ward 306. Of the ancient great Monuments in Christs Church 311. The Antiquities of Southwark 137. An Alderman alotted to every Ward 340. The Abbey of Westminster ● the greatest Sanctuary 346. Of the Court of Admiralty 373. A Contest 'twixt the Court of Admiralty and Westminster Hall 374. Of Amsterdam 339. Of Auspurg 389. B. fol. The Britains concreated with this Iland 2. The British Etymologies of London 2. The Britains were first Founders and God-fathers of London 3. Of Bainards Castle 5. Of the chief Banner-bearer of the City of London 27. The Black Fryers built of the ruines of the Tower of Monsiquet 29. Bishops have bin good Friends to London 40. Of Barking Church 48. The Bayliff of Rumford strangely executed 56. The common Burse at first in Lombard-street 63 Of Bishopsgate Ward 63 Of Bethlem now called Bedlam and the notable deed of gift that was made thereof 63 Of Broad-street Ward 71 Of Billingsgate Ward 84 Of Billingsgate some things remarkable 85 Of the Bridge-ward within 87 Of Backles-berry 113 Of Basings-Hall Ward 123 Of Backwell-Hall 123 The History of the Black-Fryers 316 Of Breadstreet Ward 318 Of Bridewell 332 Of St. Brides 333 Of the Bridge-House 339 A British Prophecy lately verified 348 Bishop of Chesters Inne 349 Of Bedford York Salisbury Worcester-House with others 349 Of Bedford Berry 350 Of Babylon 382 C. fol Cornelius Tacitus lived seven years in Britain the Epist. The Character which Tacitus gives of London 3 Constantine the Great first Builder of London Walls 4 Contests 'twixt the Lord Admiral and Lord Mayor about the Thames 14 The Conservancy of the Thames belongs de jure to the Lord Mayor 17 The Character of London Bridg in Latine and English verse 1 A City compared to a Ship 33 Of the several Courts belonging to the City of London 37 Ceremonies used in the Election of the Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs 36 The Clashes 'twixt the City of London and divers Kings 40 No City without a Cathedral Church and a Bishops See 40 Of the several Companies and Corporations belonging to the City of London 41 Corporations prejudicial to Monarchy 46 The Custom-house Key called in former times Petty Wales 49 Of the Crouched Fryers 57 Of Cornhill-Ward 77 Of Candlewick-Ward 89 The Charter of the Styliard 98
to true longaevity We may be rather called the Older Insomuch that a Child born to day as he is part of the Universe and the product of Time may be said to be more ancient then Adam which I conceive to be the meaning of that common saying among us The younger Brother is the ancienter Gentleman Moreover it is desired that the discerning Reader be advertized that Historians and Antiquaries may well be compared to Architects who in rearing up a Fabrick although the Idaea and design of the work with the site the contrivement of rooms the contignation of parts and Symmetry be wholly in themselves yet in point of Substance they fetch their Materials from else where so the Historian and Antiquary though the method the style and compilement be his yet he hath his matter from others either from Manuscripts or printed Records except these modern passages that are Synchronical with himself Furthermore an Historian may be compared to one walking in a Garden and making a posie of Flowers which he culs and plucks from divers beds and banks now though the Flowers be none of his yet the choyce of them and twisting them together to give the fuller fragnancy and not to thrust in any unsavory vegetal is solely his own work The Lord Bacon's Henry the seventh and my Lord Harbert's Henry the eighth though the composition and digesting be theirs whereby they denominate the Books yet under favour touching the main Ingredients they took them from others who had written the life of those Kings before So concerning this present Treatise although the trace and form of the Structure be mine own yet I am so much the Child of modesty as to acknowledge to have fetch'd most of my Materials from others who preceded me in the same Subject as from Mr. Stow and those industrious persons who have made Additionals unto him yet as I gave a hint before in my Epistle Dedicatory there be divers things inserted here which are not found there nor any where else besides those modern Occurrences which have happened since and are contemporary with myself THE CHIEFEST MATERIALS THAT Go to the Compilement of this new Peece 1. A Proeme 2. The Historical part of London touching her first Rise and Foundation with her degrees of growth 3. Of the Great and glorious Temple of St. Pauls with its dimensions and places annexed together with the rest of the Churches in City or Suburbs 4. Of the 26. several Wards Precincts or Aldermanries of London into which the whole City is divided 5. Of the Political and Civil Government of the City of London as also of the spiritual 6. Of the Walls Streets Gates and Towers of London with the Prisons and places of restraint 7. Of the Inns of Court and Chancery of the Doctors Commons Gresham and Sion Colledge with the publick Schools 8. Of the Twelve chief Companies whence the Lord Mayor is extracted with other Societies of Marchant Adventurers and the 61. Corporations 9. Of their several Halls or Guilds dispersed up and down in convenient places 10. Of the Great Tower of London the Royal Exchange of Guild-Leaden● and Bassings-Hall c. 11. Of the White and Black the Gray Cruchet and Austin Fryers with other Religious Houses as Nunneries and Hospitalls 12. Of the famous and great Navigable River of Thames from the first Source till she dischargeth her self into the Ocean 13. Of London-Bridge and her admired Structure which nevertheless would see better had she fewer Eyes and that her Nineteen Arches were reduc'd to Nine 14. Of the Prerogative and great trust the Lord Mayor and the City have for the over-sight and repair of the said Bridge with the Conservancy of the said River 15. Of the City of Westminster and the Abbey 16. Of the Strand the New Exchange the Savoy and all the Great Houses towards the Water-side 17. Of the Covent Garden Saint Giles Lincolns-Inne-Fields Saint Martins and Drury-Lane with all the late New Buildings 18. Of Westminster-Hall and all the Tribunals of Iustice there sedentary 19. Of the High Court of Parliament and the Admiralty c. 20. A Parallel 'twixt London and other Great Cities of the World whereof divers are spoken of in the Corollary LONDON London the glory ●f Great Britaines Ile Behold her Lands●●ip here and tru pourfile 1 St. Paul 2 White Hall 3 Suffolke house 4 Yorke house 5 Savoy 6 Somerset house 7 Arundell house 8 St Clemens 9 S. Dunstane 10 The Temple 11 S. Brides 12 S. Andrew 13 Baynards Castle 14 Queene Hythe 15 S. Pulche●s 16 Three C●●nes 17 The Waterhouse 18 The Still●●●● 19 Bow Churche 20 Guild Hall 21 S. Michaels 22 S Lorentz Poultney 23 Fishmongers Hall● 24 The Old Swan 25 The Bridge 26 Gray Church 27 S Dunstan in the East 28 Belinsgate 29 Cristome house 30 The Tower 31 Tower wharfe 32 S. Catharins 33 S. Olaffe 34 S. Marie Gveris 35 Winchester house 36 The Globe 37 B●●r Garden 38 The Swan 39 Har●vwe on the Hill 40 Hamsted 41 Hygate 42 Hackney 43 Po●●tney 44 ●ll Ships 45 Gally Fuste 46 Cool harbour THE PROEME OR FIRST ENTRANCE Into the City of LONDON MY purpose is to give as exact an account as my Enquiries can of the renowned City of London with her Suburbs annexed And to proceed herein the more regularly the foundation of my Discourse shall be layed with that of Hers beginning with her first Rise or Original Then it shall grow up with Her according to those Degrees of profection that she is now arrived unto From her Foundation we will bring you to her Walls and so lead you in at her Gates whence you shall walk along her streets and visit her Churches with other ancient Religious Houses and publique Edifices Then we shall bring you to refresh your self at her Conduits and Aquaeducts her brooks bourns and Wells Afterwards we shall gently lead you along over her Bridges and so bring you to solace your self upon the rare and renowned River of Thames which we shall derive from her very source and accompany her Stream all along till she comes to pay tribute to the Ocean Then we shall make a perambulation in her severall Precincts Divisions and Wards And because nothing displayes the prudence of a City more then her political way and method of Government we shall endeavour to satisfie you in that point and speak of her Magistracy her Priviledges her well-moulded Corporations and Companies whereby we shall take occasion to revive the memory of those famous Patriots and Worthies which she hath produc'd and bred with their Munificence their Merits and publique Monuments We shall go on then to give the neerest conjecture we can make of her dimensions in point of length and latitude and of the number of humane souls that usually dwell and lodge within Her Nor shall we conceal some Clowds that have hung over her and ill-favour'd clashings she hath had with her Soveraign Princes And lastly There will be a short
Paulinus but that after he had leavied a power of the Citizens to ayd him he would needes dislodge and remove from thence leaving the City naked to the Enemy who forthwith surprized and slew some few whom either weakness of Sex feeblenesse of age or sweetness of the place had detained there Neither had she sustained lesse losse and misery at the hands of the Gaules if she had not suddenly and beyond all expectation by Gods providence bin relieved For when C. Alectus had by a deceitful stratagem made away Cara●sius who taking advantage of our rough Seas and of Dioclesians dangerous Warres in the East and withall presuming of the Gauls now French and most venturous Marriners and Servitors at Sea withheld to himself the Revenues of Britain and Holland and born for the space of six years the Title of Emperour Augustus as his Coines here very oft do shew When M. Aurelius Asclepiedotus had in a Battail slain Alectus in the third year now of his Usurpation of the Imperial Purple and State those French who remained alive after the Battle hastening to London would have sack'd the City had not the Thames who never fai●'d to help the Londoners very opportunely brought in the Roman Legions who by reason of a Fog at Sea were severed from the Navy For they put the Barbarians to the Sword all the City over and thereby gave the Citizens not only safety by the slaughter of their Enemies but pleasure in beholding such a sight And then it was as our Chronicles record that Lucius Gallus was slain by a Brook side which ran almost through the middle of the City and of him was called by the British Nantgall in English Wallbrook which name remains yet in a Street under which there is a ●ewer within the ground to rid away the filth and ordures of the City Not far from London-stone which I take to be a Mile-mark or Milliary such as was in the Market places at Roms from which were taken dimensions of all journies every way considering it is neer the midst of the City as it lyeth in length Neither is it probable she was yet wall'd about But a little after our Stories report that Constantine the Great at the instance of his Mother Helena did first fence her about with a Wall made of rough stone and British Bricks which took up in compasse above three miles so that it inclosed the Model of the City almost four-square but not equal on every side considering that from East to VVest she is far longer then from South to North. That part of this Wall which stood on the Thames side is by the continual flowing and washings of the River fallen down and decayed yet there appear'd certain remains thereof in Henry the seconds time as Fitzstephen who then liv'd doth testifie The rest now standing is stronger towards the North which not many years since was reedified by the meanes of Ioceline Lord Mayor of London But towards East and VVest although the Barons in old time during their Warres repaired and renewed it with the ruynes of the Iewes houses then demolished yet it grew quickly all thorow out of decay For Londoners like to those old Lacedemonians laughed at strong walled Towns as cot-Cot-houses for Women thinking their own Cities sufficiently fenc'd when they are fortified with bones and not with stones This Wall giveth entrance at seven principal double Gates for I willingly omit the smaller which as they have bin lately repaired so they have also new names given them On the West side there be two to wit Ludgate of King Lud a Britain or Flud-gate as Leland is of opinion of a little flud running beneath it like as the Gate Fluentana in Rome built again from the foundation This Gate was made a free Prison Anno 1378 Bremer being Major which was confirm'd 1382. by a Common Councel in the Guild-Hall where 't was ordained that all Freemen of London should for debts trespasses accounts and contempts be imprisoned in Ludgate where at first for lodging and water they did not pay any thing We go next to Newgate the fairest of all the Gates so call'd from the newness thereof whereas before it was call'd Chamberlane Gate which now is the publick Gaol or Prison for Criminalls and also for civil actions for the County of Middlesex And it hath bin so many Ages as appears by Records in King Iohns time as also in King Henry the third who as an old Authour testifieth sent a Command to the Sheriffs of London to repair the Gaol of Newgate On the North side are four Gates viz. Aldersgate or Oldersgate from the antiquity thereof or as others would have it from Aldrich a Saxon the second is Cripplegate of a Spitle of Cripples sometimes adjoyning thereunto The third is Mooregate call'd so of a Moory ground hard by which is now draind up and made fair and firm and turn'd into a field delightful walks Which Gate was first built by Fal●oner Lord Mayor in the year of our Lord 1414. Then Bishopsgate of a Bishop the Benefactor which Gate the Dutch Marchants or Hans of the Styliard were bound by Covenant both to repair and defend at all times of danger and extremity On the East side there is Aldgate so named from the oldnesse or Elbegate as others terme it which hath bin oft re-edified It is thought that two Gates more stood besides the Bridge gate by the Thames side namely Belmsgate now a Wharfe or a Key for the Scots Trade and Donregate or the Watergate commonly call'd Dowgate There be some Posterns besides that may go for Gates as that of Christs Hospital which was made in the Reign of Edward the sixth Another was made out of the wall lately into Moorfields But the Postern by the Tower shews that it hath bin very ancient and an arch'd Gate of much trust for in times past there was alwaies a person of quality who was Custos of that Posterne Towards the Rivers side there are also many water gates for the better security of the City Where the wall endeth towards the River there were two strong Forts or Bastions of which the one Eastward remaineth yet usually called the Tower of London called in the old British Bringwin or Tourgwin which in English is the White Tower a most famous and goodly Cittadel encompassed about with thick and strong Walls full of lofty and stately Turrets fenc'd about with a broad and a deep ditch furnish'd also with an Armory or Magazine of Warlick munition with other buildings besides so that it resembleth a Town of it self and one may well suppose that those two Castles which Fitz-stephens recordeth to have bin on the East side of this City went both to the making of this one The other Fort was on the West side of this City where Fleet a little riveret ran whence Fleetstreet took its name and in time it was able to bear Vessels as appears in some Parliament Rolls which Riveret
dischargeth it self into the Thames Fitz Stephen calls this the Palatin Tower or Castle And they write that in the Reign of William the Conqueror it was consumed by fire out of the ruines whereof a great part of Saint Pauls Church was newly built And also on the very plot of ground where it stood Robert Kilwarby ArchBishop of Canterbury founded a Religious House for the Dominican Fryars whence we call the place Black-fryars whereby a man may easily guess of what bigness it was howbeit in that place stood in the dayes of Henry the second Gervase of Tilbury in his Book call'd Otia Imperialia is my Author two Forts or Ramparts the one whereof belong'd to Bainard the other to the Baron of Monfichet by right of succession but nothing remaineth of them to this day yet some think that Pembroke House was a piece of them which we term Bainards Castle of Bainard a noble man of Dunmow whose possession sometimes it was whose Successors the Fitz Waters were in right of inheritance who were Ensign-bearers of the City of London as shall be told hereafter and among them Robert Fitz water had licence of K. Edward the first to sell the Site of Bainards Castle to the forenamed ArchBishop Kilwarby Neither was this City at that time wall'd only but also when the Flamins or Pagan Priests were taken away and Christian Religion established under that good Emperour Constantine a Bishop was install'd in their room for it appeareth at the Councel of Arles which in the year of grace 314 was held under the said Constantine the great the Bishop of London was present for he subscribed as it is to be seen in the first Tome of the Councel in this manner Restitutus Bishop in the City of London out of the Province of great Britain Which Restitutus and his Successors had their Seat and residence as some affirm as Saint Peters in Cornhil From that time London flourished in such honour that she began to be call'd Augusta and by that name was famous under the Emperour Valentinian For Ammianus Marcellinus in his 27 Book writeth thus And going forward to London an ancient Town which posterity call'd Augusta and in the 28 Book He went from Augusta which men of old time call'd London Whence it came that after Constantine's time there was a Mint appointed therein For we read in those Pieces of Money which he caused to be stamp'd in honour of his Father Constantius and in others this was the Inscription P. Lon. S. that is Pecunia Londino signata Mony stamp'd in London He who had the charge and overseeing thereof under the Comes of Sacrarum largitionum is in the Book of Notice term'd Praepositus the saurorum Augustensium in Britannia that is Provost of the Treasury of Augusta or London in Britany For this name Augusta was a name full of Dignity and Majesty And both Founders and Repairers of Cities when they hoped or wish'd that such Cities would become flourishing and powerful gave them significant names of good fortune But among the most auspicious names that be none is more magnificent none more auspicate and glorious than Augusta For this of Augustus the most gracious mighty Emperour Octavianus took unto himself not without the judgment of the best learned Sirnamed he was saith Dio Augustus as one of great Majesty above the nature of man for what things be most honourable and sacred are called Augusta Neither had London this name for so high an honour without the Licence of the Roman Emperours In regard that names could not be impos'd upon Cities without authority as Virgil notes in that verse of his Urbem appellabant permisso nomine Acestam The City by permission Acesta they did name But as continuance of time has outworne this so honorable a name of Augusta to it hath confirm'd that other most ancient name Londinum Whiles it enjoy'd the foresaid name Augusta it scaped fair from destruction by a rebellious rout of Ransakers But Theodosius the father of Theodosius the Emperour did cut them in pieces whiles they were encombred with their spoils entred as Mareianus saith with exceeding great joy in triumphant manner into the City distressed before overwhelm'd with grievous calamities And marching with his Army from thence he by his valour and prowesse so freed Britain from those intolerable calamities and dangers wherewith she was beset that the Romans as witnesseth Symmachus honored him among other ancient Worthies and men of high renown with the Statue of a man of Arms. Not long after when the Romans Empire in Britain was come to an end in that publick destiny and fatal defection of the whole State it fell unto the English Saxons but in what sort it is not well agreed on among Authors It is most probable that Vortigern to redeem himself being taken prisoner delivered it for his ransome unto Hengist the Saxon considering that it did belong unto the East Saxons whose Countrey also as Writers do record Vortigern upon that condition made over unto Hengist At which time the state of the Church went also to wrack and endured sore affliction the Pastors were either slain or forc'd to fly their flocks worried and havock made of all as well Church goods as others Theon the last Bishop of London of the British blood was fain to hide the holy Relique of Saints for a memorial as my Author saith and not for any superstition But although those daies of the English Saxons were such that a man might truly say Mars then brandished and shook his weapons yet was London neverthelesse as Bede testifieth a Town of Trade and traffique frequented by many Nations resorting thither by Sea and Land But afterwards when a more gracious gale of peace breath'd favourably upon this wearied Island and the English Saxon began to professe Christianity it also began to flourish afresh for Ethelbert King of Kent under whom Sebert raign'd in this tract as it 〈◊〉 his Vassal and by courtesie founded here a Church and did consecrate it to Saint Paul which being soon reedified and repaired became at last most stately and magnificent it was endowed by degrees with fair revenues livings wherewith were maintain'd a Bishop a Dean a Chanter a Chancellour a Treasurer fire Archdeacons thirty Prebendaries and divers other Incumbents and Officers who might have a hansome subsistence thereby The East part of this Church seems to be the newer and more curiously wrought having under it a very fair large arch'd Vault which also is Saint Faiths Church It was built out of the ruines of that Castle Palatine spoken of before by Mauritius the Bishop about the year of our Lord 1086 whereas it had been formerly consum'd by a wofull accidental fire whereof William of Mamesbury writeth thus The beauty whereof is so magnificent that it deserves to be numbred in the rank of the most excellent Edifices so large as that arck'd Vault underneath and the Church above it of such capacity
so to Windlestore or Winsore Eton and then to Chertsey where Erkenwald Bishop of London did erect a Religious house or Cell From Chertsey she directs her course to Stanes and receiving another stream by the way call'd the Cole whereupon Colebrook stands she goes by Kingstone Richmond Sheene Sion Brentford or Bregentford where she meets with the Brane or the Bren● another 〈◊〉 descending from Edgworth From Brentford she visits Morlach 〈…〉 Cheisoy Lambeth Westminster and so to London Having accompanied our gentle and smooth-gliding Ri●●r now to London she now makes great haste to meet with Neptune her lovely husband the first water she greets is the Brome on Kent side West of Greenwich whose spring is Bromis in Bromley Parish and so goeth thence to Lewshant taking 〈◊〉 from the East The next water she meets withal is on Essex side almost against Woolwich and that is the Lee And being pass'd that the Darwent also dischargeth her self into the Thames on Kent side two miles and more beneath Erith having its rising at Tunbridge or Tanridge The next River that disgorgeth her self into the Thames is West of the Wam Isles a rill of no great note or long course for rising about Coringham it rune not many miles East and by South till it falls into the mouth of this River Last of all the Thames takes acquaintance and mingleth with Medway a con●derable River watering all the South parts of Kent This noble navigable River flows and fills all her Channels twice ev'ry natural day by the flux and reflux of the Sea which holdeth on for the space of 70 miles within the main Land the stream or tyde being highest at London when the Moon doth exactly touch the Norh-east and South or West points or the Heavens whereof one is visible the other underneath us These rydes do also differ in their times each one coming later than the other by so many m●nutes as passe yet the revolution and natural course of the Heavens do reduce and bring about the said Planet to these her former places whereby the common difference 'twixt one tyde and another is sound to consist of 24 minutes which wanteth but twelve of a whole hour in 24 as experience doth confirm In like manner we daily find that each tyde is not of equal heighth and fulness For at the 〈◊〉 and the Change of the Moon we have the highest ●●ouds and such is their extraordinary course that as they diminish from their Changes and Fulls unto their first and last Quarters so afterwards they encrease again until they come to the Fall and Change sometimes they rise also ●o high e●pecially if the wind be at the North or North-east which brings in the water with more vehemency because the tyde which fills the Channel cometh Northward that the Thames often inounds the bankes about London which happeneth most frequently in Ianuary and February which makes the grounds afterwards more ferti●e Neither do the tydes after a whit unlesse some impetuous winds from the West or South-west do keep back and check the stream as the East and North-East do hasten the coming in thereof or else some other extraordinary occasion put by the course of the German Seas which do fill the River by their n●tural 〈◊〉 and flowings And the probabiest reason why three or four tydes do chop in in one day is because the winds blowing more strong than ordinarily North or North-east make the Sea to rush in with more speed and abundance or water The Land streams or white waters do oftentimes thicken the finenesse of the River in so much that after a Land floud 't is usual to take up Haddocks with ones h●nd beneath the Bridge as they float aloft on the water their eyes being so blinded with the thicknesse of the water that they cannot see whither they swimme and how to make shift for themselves before the poor crea●●re be surpriz'd otherwise the Thames water useth to be as clear and 〈◊〉 as any such great River in the world Having gone along so fat with this great goodly River even from her source until she di●●mboques and payes Tribute to Nepume and cast her self into his imbraces It will be now expedient to go on further and acquaint the Reader with the jurisdiction and Prerogatives of the Th●mes with the extent thereof Which begins at a place call'd Colnie ditch a little above St●nes-bridge We●●ward as far as London-bridge and ●rom thence to a place call'd Yendil 〈…〉 and the waters or Medmay all which extent is under the jurisdiction and conservancy of the Lord Mayor the Comminalty and Citizens of London True it is that there have been some Contests betwixt the Lord Mayor and the Lord high Admiral of England concerning the said Jurisdiction and power but after a fair and judicial Tryal in open Court the controversie was decided in favour of the City and the Lord Mayor adjudged to be Conservator of the Thames There were also some other controversial points about the Rivers of Thames and Medway but all differences were absolutely concluded Anno 1613 Sir Iohn Swinerton being then Lord Mayor and Mr. Sparry being then his Deputy or respective Bayliff for the execution of such a great trust repos'd in him Ever since is well as in former times the Lord Mayor of London hath been styl'd the Conservator of the said River within the forenamed limits and bounds having plenary power to inflict punishments upon all transgressors relating to the said Rivers the Water-Bayly of London being his substitute And whereas there are a company of Fishermen call'd Tinckermen frequenting the River of Thames Eastward who in times pass'd have been reported and found out to make an infinit destruction of the young brood or fry of fish by using unlawful Nets and other Engines feeding their Hoggs with them by the singular care and cost of the Lord Mayor and vigilance of the City those prohibited Engines and Nets are now quite suppress'd and a true and orderly manner of fishing brought into use that such a havock may not be made of the young fry Moreover there are a great number of other kind of Fishermen beside Tinckermen belonging to the Thames call'd Hebbermen Petermen and Trawlermen that had lived in former times by unlawful fishing on the said River to the destruction of the young fish as aforesaid but now they are restrain'd and regulated to a more orderly way of fishing There have bin other kind of abuses reformed herein as upon complaint made to the Lord Mayor concerning certain Timbers standing in Tilbury Hope a matter not only dangerous to the Passengers but a cause also to destroy the young brood of fish by the dammage those Timbers did to the Fishermens Nets in regard of their continual standing in the main course and cur●ent of the River that great grievance was speedily redressed by the providence and prudence of the Lord Mayor and the Water-Bayly Furthermore there hath been care taken to clear
and cleanse the said noble River Westward of seventy nine stops or hatches consisting of sundry great stakes and piles purposely erected by Fishermen for their private lucre and standing illfavouredly for passengers near unto the Fair deep but none of them remain now but such as stand out of the passable high stream and can be no prejudice to passers by yet some are permitted to be planted at the waters bottome and so they serve as a great succour to the young brood of fish being placed so remote on the River Nor is this provident care for security of passengers and conservation of the young fry or fish a new thing for it appears that the like course was kept in the Reign of Henry the fourth and after in Henry the eighth as Records and Chronicles do shew Moreover there is a watchful eye that no carren or dead carkasses be thrown into the River to pollute or infect the stream To all these intents and purposes the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen his Brethren with the under Officers do use to meet eight times yearly in the four Counties of Middlesex Surrey Kent and Essex and have a judicial sitting for maintenance of the Rivers Rights and Priviledges where they have power to empanel Juries to make Inquisition after all offences committed upon the River within their extent And as the Verdict given up by the Jury make it appear so they proceed to the punishment of the transgressors according to the quality of the offence and it is worthy the observation to know the manner of their so solemn proceedings whereof this instance shall be produced extracted out of authentick Records Sir Iohn Iolles Knight and Lord Mayor of the City of London and Conservator of the River of Thames and waters of Medway assisted and accompanyed by the Aldermen and two Sheriffs then contemporary and attended by the Recorder and the Sub-conservator or Water-bayly with fifty Officers and servants took their Barges at Belmsgate the third of Iuly 1616 and within few hours arriv'd at Gravesend in Kent where a Session for the conservancy of the said River was kept before the said Lord Mayor and his forenamed Assistants At which time and place a Jury of the Freeholders of the said County being sworn to enquire of all offences committed in any part of the River whatsoever within the said County the Common Sergeant of the City the Recorder being then absent upon extraordinary occasions deliver'd them a charge to this effect That forasmuch as there had not been any Session of Conservancy in many years passed kept by any Lord Mayor of London in that place it was probable and evident they could not be well informed neither of the Lord Mayors jurisdiction and power to reform annoyances and offences there and to inflict due punishments upon the Offendors nor of the nature of the service to be by them performed in the course of their enquiry therefore he thought it convenient to make it known unto them both the one and the other Hereupon he shew'd them The Jurisdiction of the Court of London in the River of Thames from Stanes-bridge Westward unto the points of the River next the Sea Eastward appear'd to belong to the City in manner and form following First In point of right by Praescription as it appeareth by an ancient Book call'd Dunthorne that Civitatis fundationis aedificationis constructionis causa erat Thamesis Fluvius quorum vero Civitatis Fluminis gubernationem tam Duces Majores Custodes Vicecomites Aldr. magnates Civitatis memoratae hucusque obtinuerunt habuerunt Whence he inferr'd that the government of the River hath belong'd to the City time out of mind In 21. Hen. 3. Iorden Coventry one of the Sheriffs of the City was sent by the Mayor and Aldermen to remove certain Kiddles that annoy'd the Rivers of Thames and Medway who ultra Yenland versus Mare did take divers persons that were Offendors and imprison'd them Whereupon complaint being made to the King he took the matter ill at the first and sent for the Lord Mayor and Citizens to Kennington where upon hearing of the matter before the said King the Cityes Jurisdiction over the said River was set forth and allow'd and the Complainants convinc'd and every one of them amerc'd at 10 l. and the amercements adjudged to the City And afterward their Nets were burnt by judgement given by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen in the Hustings Moreover 1. Richardi secundi Writs were directed to the Sheriffs of Essex and Kent reciting the Cities Title with command not to suffer the Citizens of London to be molested contrary to the Liberties formerly granted and allowed unto them Secondly in point of right by allowance in Eire the conservation of the Thames belongs to the City for it was produc'd that 1. Rich. ● before Hugh Bigot being Justice Itinerant the Sheriffs and Citizens of London were call'd in question for their Jurisdiction exercised on the Thames before whom it was found by a Jury in Southwark Quod nullus habeat aliquid juris in Thamisia usque ad novum gurgitem nisi Cives Londonens In the 14. of Ed. 2. the Constable of the Tower was indited by divers Wards of London before the Justices in Eire at the Tower De muneris et recep cove pro kidellis in Thamisiis et Constabularius ad Kidellas respondet quód Iustic non habent jurisdictionem extra London plitum inde cognoscere cum predict kidelli sunt in aliis comitatibus et Justic. dixerunt Aqua Thamisiae pertinet ad Civitatem London usque mart si velit respondeat who then pleaded Not guilty 3. He went further that this Jurisdiction belonged to the City by ancient Charters 8. R. 1. Dominus Ricardus Rex filius Regis Henrici secundi concessit firmiter praecepit ut omnes Kidelli qui sunt in Thamisia amoveantur ubicunque fuerint in Thamisia 1. Ioh. Rex concessit firmiter praecepit ut omnes kidelli qui sunt in Thamisia vel in Medway amoveantur ne caeteri kidelli alicubi ponantur in Thamisia vel in Medway super sort X. li. sterlingorum Then he urg'd the famous Charter of King Henry the third which ran thus Henry by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine and Earl of Anjou unto all Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Earls Barons Justices Sheriffs Stewards Ministers and to all Bayliffs and to all his true Men Greeting Woreth well that We for the health of our soul and the health of the soul of King John our Fader and the souls of all our Ancestors and also for common profit of our City of London and of all our Realms have granted and steadfastly commanded That all the Weares that be in Thames or in Medway be done away And that from henceforth no Weares be set in Thames or Medway upon the forfeiture of 10. l. Also we claim quit to our Citizens of London
Anno 1289 the Bridge was ●o sore decayed for want of reparations that people were afrai● to pass thereon and a subsidy was granted towards the amendment thereof Afterwards Sir Iohn Britain being then Custos of London Anno 1381 a great Collection was made by all the Clergy for the repair of London-Bridge In the year 1381 on St. Georges day was a great solemnity of Justs and Tournements upon London-Bridge between David Earl of Crawford of Scotland and the Lord Wells of England whereby one may infer that the houses were not there so thick at that time The Tower on London-bridge at the North end of the Draw-bridge which was then in a posture to be drawn up was built Anno 1426 in the Majoralty of Iohn Rainwell Anno 1471 a house call'd the Common siege on London-Bridge tumbled down into the Thames by death of diyers persons a little after But in the year sixteen hundred thirty three there happen'd a most raging dismal fire upon the North side of London-bridge which by computation consum'd above the third part of the Buildings thereof But by the commendable care of the City there are other goodly structures rais'd up in some of their rooms of a stronger and more stately way of building and pity it is that the work were not compleated there being no object after the Church of St. Pauls that can conduce more to the glory and Ornament of this renowned City Besides this Bridge that may be call'd the Bridge of the world there are other inferior Bridges which have still the names of Bridges that belong to the City of London the first is Fleet-bridge in the West fenc'd with iron Pikes on which towards the South there be certain Lanthorns of Stones for lights to be placed in Winter Evenings for commodity of passengers Under this Bridge runs a water sometimes call'd the River Wells but since Turn-hill brook and now Fleet Dike because it runs by the Fleet under ground to the River of Thames this Bridge hath been far greater in times pass'd but lessened as the water course hath been narrowed Over the sayd River of Wells northerly stands Oldenbridge now Holborn-bridge so call'd of a boorn that sometimes ran down Holborn hill into the River this Bridge like Fleet-bridge-serves for passage only Then comes Cow-bridge more Northerly over the same water near unto Cow-lane but this Bridge being decayed another of Timber is made more North towards Chicklane There are some other small Bridges over the Town-ditch viz. without Eald-gate without Bishopsgat● Mooregate the Postern of Cripplegate as also without Aldersgate the Postern of Christs Hospital Newgate and Ludgate which are now paved eaven with the streets only there remains one of Timber over the River of Wels or Fleet Dike There have 〈◊〉 informer ages divers Bridges in sundry places over the course of Wallbrook but 〈◊〉 they are made levell with the pa●ements of the Streets so that the water-course can now be hardly discover'd being vaulted over with Brick Of the chief Fortresse or Tower of LONDON ANd now that we are come so near the famous and great Tower Palatine or Cit●adel of London we will try whether we can get in thither without paying fees and take a view thereof as briefly as we can it being an ill-favoured and tedious thing to stay there long I know it is the current vulgar opinion that Julius Caesar the first Conquerour or rather indeed Discoverer of Britain was the Original Founder thereof but there is ●ery litle probability of truth in that for two Reasons The first is the little stay he made here during which he had other things to think on The second is that he himself who is so exact in his relations specially if they conduce to his honour nor any other Roman Author makes any mention of of such a work or Fabrique Therefore that opinion which approacheth truth the neerest is that William of Normandy the Conqueror was the first tracer and erector of the Tower of London as Edmond de Hadenham an old English Antiquary affirms The first part that was built was the great square and White Tower though black to some which was about the year 1078 whereof Gundulph Bishop of Rochester was principal Superviser and Surveyer who was log'd then in the house of Edmere a Burgesse of London as it stands upon Latine Record in the forenamed Author Now it is to be considered that at first the wall of the City was in many places furnish'd with sundry Bastions and Turrets in due distance one from the other and divers stood on the waters side where some of the said Wall extended at first but the Thames with her ebbings and flowings did as it were corrode and subver● those Buildings on the South side Wherefore the Conqueror for then the Art of fortification was come to a greater perfection for defence of the City and River pitch'd upon that place as most convenient to erect a Bu●wark in the East part of the Wall The White square Tower as was formerly said was first erected and finished in the Conquerors time but stood naked and single without other Buildings a good while and the story ●aith that in William Rufus time it was by the injury of the Heavens and violence of tempest sore shaken and some part tumbled down which was repair'd by the said Rufus and Henry the first who also caused a Castle to be built under the said White Tower on the South side towards the Thames and he surrounded that also with a strong Wall Now Henry of Huntindon relates that VVill. Rufus challeng'd the inve●●iture of Prelates and pill'd the people pitifully to spend the treasure about the Tower of London and the great Hall at VVestminster whereof he was Founder The first Keeper of the Tower of London was call'd Constable Ostowerus Acolinillus Otho and Geoffrey Magnaville were the first four Constables of the Tower of London by succession all which held a portion of Land that appertain'd to the Priory of the Holy Trinity near Algate viz. East Smithfield as belonging to that Office making thereof a Vineyard and would would not part with it till the second year of King Stephen when by judgment of the Court it was restored to the Church The foresaid Geoffery Magnaville was at one time Constable of the Tower Sherif of London Middlesex Essex Hartfordshire as the Chronicles relate He also fortified the Tower of London against King Stephen but the King took him at last at St. Albanes and would not free him till he had surrendred the Tower of London with the Castles of VValden and Plashey in Essex Richard de Lucie was Anno 1155 Constable of the Tower of London and also of Cas●le the of VVinsore About the beginning of the Raign of Richard the first William Longshank Bishop of Ely and Chancellour of England for some dissentions 'twixt him and John the Kings Brother who was in Rebellion enclos'd the Tower of London with an outward
only in English Moreover there is in and about the City of London a whole University as it were of Students Practisers or Pleaders and Judges of the Lawes of England not living of common Salaries as is used in other Academies but of their private maintenance as being supported by their own means or practise or exhibition from their friends In so much that most of them are Sons younger Brothers to wealthy Parents where besides the knowledge of the Laws they learn all other civilities and exercises besides Of these Nurseries or Societies there are fourteen whereof nine do stand within the Liberties of the City and five without Those that stand within the Liberties are Sargeants Inne in Fleet-street Sargeants Inne in Chancery Lane the two Temples which are called Inns of Court The other are Cliffords Inne Thavies Inne in Holborn Furnevals Inne Barnards Inne and Staples Inne which are termd Inns of Chancery Without the Liberties there is Grayes Inne in Holburn Lincolns Inne which are Inns of Court Clements Inne New Inne and Lions Inne which are houses of Chancery In former time there was in Scroops Court in Holborn an Inne of Sargeants also There was likewise where Somerset House now stands Chesters Inne or Strand Inne in the liberty of the Dutchy of Lancaster which was pull'd down with many other Buildings to make room for Somerset House who had also his materials from St. John of Ierusalem which some held to be no better than Sacr●●edge and therefore that fatal death to be beheaded befell the Duke of Somerset who with his Councel were it seems so infatuated that they forgot to call for his Clergy whereby by the Lawes of England he might have bin saved Justice Fortescue makes mention also of a tenth house of Chancery but he names not the place The choisest gentliest most ingenious wi●s of the Land are founds among these Students of the Inns of Court having cōmonly bin graduates before in one of the Universities But the Inns of Chancery being as it were Provinces subjected severally to the Inns of Court be chiefly made up of Attorneys Sollicitors and Clerks that follow the Courts of Westminster Hall yet many of them remove to one of the great Inns of Court where continuing seven years and frequenting Readings Mootings Boltings and other learned Exercises they improve themselves in the knowledge of the Lawes they are then by the consent of the Benchers who are most commonly of the grave and learned sort selected call'd to the degree of Utter Barristers and so enabled to be Practitioners in the Law both in their Chamber and at the Barre in open Court Of these after they be call'd to a further step of preferment 2. were used to be chosen every year to be Readers who make two Readings every year out of some choise hard points in the Law one in Lent the other in August Out of these Benchers and Readers Sergeants at Law are made and of them the Judges unlesse it be that some by special favour of the Prince are chosen otherwise But being made Sergeants they leave the Inns of Court and remove to one of the Sergeants Inns where they only and the reverend Judges are admitted Touching the two Temples they are discoursed of here in another place But concerning Grayes Inne and Lincolns Inne they took their denominations from two noble Lords who had formerly Palaces in those places where those two Innes now stand The one is singular for a curious Chappel it hath the other for choise delicate Walks high and low with a large delightful prospect that carrieth the optiques very far where the choisest beauties both of City and Suburbs use to resort in the Summer to solace themselves and breath fresh aire Thus have we rambled through the City of London and waded hitherto through universals wherein there is not alwaies plain-dealing we will now hunt dry foot after particulars and find out the Primitive mode method of Government which London had with the Titles of her chief Magistrates We will then Muster her twelve prime Companies with all the rest of her Corporations Then a Perambulation shall be made through all her Precincts Aldermanries and Wards as far as the point of the Lord Mayors Sword doth reach Then shall there be a Parallel 'twixt London and other the greatest Cities in the world wherein it will appear to the impartial discerning Reader that if consideration be had to the Prerogatives and power of her chiefest Magistrates to their plenty magnificence and hospitality to the security of Passengers up and down her streets at midnight as well as at noon daies The City of London admits no Parallel Of the Political Government and Civil Sway of the City of London IT is no incongruous allusion that some Polititians make when they compare a City to a great Ship whereof Government is the Healm and Rudder which regulate and guide her course Good Lawes and Constitutions are the Cables and Ligaments The Main-Mast is Religion and the Standard of the Crosse the Foremast is Honour and Renown the Mise● Mast is Trade and Wealth Iudgement and Prudence is the Ballast Authority and strength the Artillery This Comparison may quadrat with London as much as with any other City on the surface of the Earth The Lord Maior is as the Pilot and Master the Aldermen his Mates the Recorder and Sheriffs the chief Gunners the Scavengers the Swabbers other inferior Officers are the Mariners to weigh Anchors to hoise and furle the Sails c. Touching the primitive Government of London in the time of the Britains Antiquity scarce affords us any light whereby to discern what it was Caesar gives us most when he writes that Mandrubacius was King of the Londoners or the Trinobants which last word extends also to some of the Counties adjacent But it may be wondred that Iulius Caesar should know so much in regard that He never took firm footing in Great Britain but by way of exploration did only d'scover Her Augustus and Tiberius may be said to conceal Her Caligula intending an Invasion was diverted by his Warres with the Germans Claudi●s Caesar from whom Glocester takes her name being no other then Castrum Claud●● the Castle of Claudius was the first that fixt here and he sent over Publius Agriola for his Lieutenant who took great pains to civilize the Nation and as he was about the work he sent notice to Rome that he preferred the British wits before the Gallic Then was London made a Praefectura and the Magistrate in chief was called Praefect as he of Rome is called to this day this Title continued all the time that the Romans had dominion here which was above 300 years Afterwards the Romans having so many great Irons in the fire by Warres they had against divers Nations who had revolted from them they drain'd this Iland not only of great numbers of the British Youth to serve them in their Warres abroad but drew
London have had from time to time differing appellations Under the Britains they were call'd Kings The Romans stiled them Praefects The Saxons Portreves The Norman Kings at their first comming Bayliffs and sometimes Provosts Then came the Office to be established in the Title of Maior which hath continued any time these 467. years though it was interrupted sometimes by a Custos which some of the Kings as Henry the third and Edward the first upon a displeasure against the City were used to appoint This great Urban Magistrate the Maior of London useth to be chosen upon the feast of St. Michael the Archangel every year out of the six and twenty Aldermen who are his Brethren but he takes not his place until the 28. of October next following Touching the State and Authority of the Lord Maior of London there is no Oppidan Magistrate in Christendom all things well considered lives in a greater Let us examine the particulars and first go to his domestical attendance and the Officers thereunto belonging which are 1. A Sword-bearer 2. Common Hunt 3. Common Cryer And 4. Water Bayliffs all Esquires by their places Then is there the Coroner of London three Sergeant Carvers 3. Sargeants of the Chamber Sargeant of the Channel 4 Yeomen of the Water side The Under Water-Bayliffe two Yeomen of the Chamber three Meal-weighets two Yeomen of the Wood-Wharfs and most of these have their Servants allowed them but the common Huntsman and Water-Bayliffe have two a peece some of them have Liveries from the Lord Maior and the rest from the Chamber of London There be divers other great publick Officers belong to the Government of the City of London as the two Sherif●s which like the Lord Maior are but annual The Recorder the Chamberlain the Common Sergeant the Town-Clark or common Clark the Remembrancer all Esquires The Sheriffs are chosen upon Midsummer day they formerly were used to be elected out of the Commonalty and sometimes they came to be Aldermen as many Aldermen were made Maiors though not having bin Sheriffs But of latter years the Sheriffs have bin Aldermen before or presently after their Election And 't is remarkable that Nicolas Faringdon was 4 times Maior of London and yet never Sheriff Now touching the Election of these Officers we shall give a brief account the prime Magistrate the Lord Maior and the Aldermen met at Guild-hall at 8. in the morning in their Scarlet Gowns and their Cloaks fur'd riding on Horseback and having bin a while in the Councel Chamber they come forth into the Orphans Court whence they go in their Cloaks to the Chappel to hear Service and Sermon where the Lord Maior with some of the Aldermen take the Communion which being ended and Offrings delivered they return to the Councel Chamber and thence to the Hustings the highest Court where the Recorder makes a Speech touching the business in hand then they go back to the Lord Maiors Court where they remain the doors shut until the Election be brought unto them Then the common Sargeant having the Sheriffs on either side and the Sheriffs other Officers about them makes another Speech touching the Custom of the City in this kind whereupon they choose two whose names are brought up to the Lord Maior and the Aldermen who by scrutiny elect one of those two whom the Commons had nominated before Then the Lord Maior returns to the Hustings and he who is chosen goeth upon his left hand and sitteth next him Then the Recorder speaks again to the Commons nominating the person whom the Lord Maior and the Aldermen had admitted and demands whether it be their free choyce the commons affirming it the Sword-bearer goes to the Lord Maior Elect and taketh off his Tipper which he takes for his fee and puts on his Chain whereupon he making a short Speech of gratitude the Lord Maior and the new Elect go to the Eldest Sheriffs House to dinner After dinner the Lord Elect taking the Common Hunt and other Officers to attend him besides a Company of Aldermen goeth to the Lord Keeper of the great Seal of England where five or six Aldermen present him wearing their Violet Gowns The morrow after Michaelmas day the Lord Maior and the Aldermen go with the two new Sheriffs to the Exchequer-chamber in Westminster where they are presented and sworn and the old Sheriffs are sworn also to their account On Simon and Iudes day the Aldermen and Sheriffs attend the old Lord Maior at his House whence they come in their formalities to the Hustings where being sate the common Cryer commands silence then the Town-Clark exhibites an Oath to the Lord Maior Elect which being done the former Lord Maior giveth place to the New which being done the Chamberlain delivers him the Scepter next the Keyes of the Common Seal and lastly the Seal of the Majoralty Then the Sword-bearer delivers him the Sword On the morrow after all the Aldermen and Sheriffs solemnly meet at the new Lord Maiors House by 8. in the morning whence they go to the Guild-Hall and thence to the Vine-Tree where they take Barge and are rowed in state to Westminster-Hall the rest of the chief Companies attending in their several Barges with their Arms Colours and Streamers in a very gay manner Being come to the Hall they go round about and salute all the Tribunals of justice then they ascend to the Exchequer Chamber to the Barons where after the Recorder hath made a Speech the Oath is administer'd Then they come down to the Hall and go first to the Kings Bench then to the Common Pleas and so to Westminster Abbey where having walk'd about the Kings Tombs they return to their Barge and so to London again where being landed they go to the Guild-hall where a most plentifull dinner is prepared which lasts many hours being called the Lord Mayors feast The Lords of the privy Councel the Judges with other Lords and Ladies of the best quality are thither invited After dinner the Lord Mayor with all the Companies attending ride solemnly to Saint Pauls to do their devotions and so the Ceremony of that great day is concluded Touching the Election of the Sheriffs the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen meet at 8 in the morning at Guild-hall in their violet-colour'd Gowns and their Cloaks of Scarlet lin'd but without horses where from the Counsel-Chamber they go to the Orphans Court so to the Hustings where the Recorder having made a speech touching the present meeting the Mayor Aldermen go to the Mayors Court the dores shut upon them then the Commons fall to the Election of Sheriffs as also a Chamberlain two Bridg-masters the Auditors of the City and Bridg-house Accounts and the Surveyors for Beer and Ale which being done the Sheriffs with the other Officers the Common Cryer going before them with his Mace go up to the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen to cary up the report of what is done at the Hustings whither the Lord
of the mystery of a Physician or Chirurgion take upon him the Cure of a sick Body and he dieth of the Potion or Medicament this is as Britton the great Lawyer saith Covert Felony Then is the●e the Court of Sessions or monthly Goal-delivery at the Old-Bayly both for the City and Middlesex for tryal of Felons whereof the Lord Mayor is the chief Judge and hath power of reprieving Touching the Ecclesiastical Government OF THE City of LONDON HAving thus in a cursory way run over and taken in grosse as it were a view of the Civil Government of the City of London we will now make some inspections into her spiritual way of Government which was alwaies Episcopal from the beginning for there be Records that may we I induce us to believe that in the time of the Britains there were Bishops of London whereof they ●ay Thean was the first and in the Reign of Constantine we read that Restitutus Bishop of London had his Session in a Councel he summoned at Arles After that 〈◊〉 Saxons making twice an irruption into this Island and at last possessing the better part of it and being not reduced a good while after to Christianity there was a long interruption and no Bishop of London 〈◊〉 Austin the Monk came over who was call'd the Apost●e of the Saxons or English for he absolutely converted them He consecra●ed Melitus Bishop of London from whom to Doctor Iuxon yet living there are upon good Record the names of 97 Bishops of London who succeeded one another In so much that the City of London was not without a Bishop any time these thousand years till now The Prior of the holy T●inity at Aldgate was a great man also in the ●●vernment of the City for he used to ride with the Mayor the Aldermen in 〈◊〉 but the chief administration of all Ecclesiastical affairs was in the Bishop 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of London hath oftentimes far'd the better for her Bishops who have done her many signal good services upon some discomposures stood as a skreen 'twixt the fury of the Prince and Her When the Norman came over and was much incens'd against the City William her Bishop then took off the edg of his fury and introducing her to the Conquerors favour got ●er that famous Charter which is worthy to be here inserted William King greit William Bishop and Godfregis Posteron and ●all the Bourough waren bynden London Franchiste and Engliste and ickhyd eth that Ick yill that grete be ealbra yearalaga die yegret c. Which in intelligible English runs thus William King greets William Bishop and Gode froy Portreve and all the Burgesses within London French or English And I grant you that I will t●at ye be all your Law worth that ye were in Edward is his dayes the King And I will that ich Child be his Faders eyer And I 〈◊〉 suffer that ony man you ony wrongys beed and God you keep The said Bishop William procured this Charter from the insulting Conquerour as appears by his Epitaph And this Saxon Charter was not only confirmed but inlarged by Henry the first in Latine Now as far Soils are subject to produce rank Weeds so rich populous Cities are alwayes subject to bring forth turbulent spirits whereof there is a world of examples in all stories nor doth London want good store of them who used to bandy against their Soveraign Prince and we well know how often she forfeited her Charter that way It stands upon Record how Henry the third Edward the second Richard the 2d with other Kings had Her their fore enemies It is well known how often she smarted for it how often her Posts Chains were taken away how her Maior Sheriffs wereclap'd in Prison and a Custos appointed over her in the interim How Rich. the first trounced her for murthering the Iews how she suffered for the barbarous fray 'twixt the Goldsmiths and Taylors Servants For the blood shed 'twixt her and the men of Westminster on St. Iames's day For the brawl about the Bakers loaf in Salsbury Court For the outrages done to St. Martins Sanctuary men for the Ill May day and a little of late years for the murther of Doctor Lamb. But now that we are giving a touch of her Church Government It is observable in History how her Bishops proved her best friends at a pinch to pull her out of such plunges and rectifie her again in the opinion of her Soveraign Nay it stands upon good Record that she was no City till she had a Bishop for we well know that a City must have of necessity a Cathedral Church with the Seat and See of a Bishop Of the several COMPANIES AND CORPORATIONS Of the City of LONDON With their Originals and Arms. HAving made a short transcursion through the Government of the City of LONDON in general we will now visit their severall Companies Corporations and Societies whereof the main part of the City may be said to be composed who for their Industry and Arts their Inventions and sundry wayes of Manufactures may be compared to so many Hives of Bees the Emblems of sedulity and diligence And first Of the Twelve chief Companies out of which the Lord Mayor is to be annually chosen 1. THe Mercers have bin alwayes allowed the first place who were incorporated into a Society enabled to purchase Lands 17th Richardi Secundi Anno 1393. For their Arms they bear gules a Mayden-head proper crown'd or Wascot Purple issuing out of Clowds proper within a bordure nebulee or 2. The Grocers who at first were called Pepperèrs were incorporated Anno 1345. in the twentieth year of Edward the third The Arms a cheuron between nine Cloves sable with this Motto God grant Grace Supporters Helm and Crest granted by Clarenceux King of Arms in the Raign of Hen. 8. 3. The Drapers were incorporated in the 17 year of Henry the 6th Anno 1430. The Arms first granted by Garter Crest and Helm by Clarenceux the Coat Gules three triple Crowns or Capt Gules issuing out of Clowds resting upon Sun-beams their Motto Unto God only be Honour and Glory 4. The Fishmongers were at first two Companies to wit Stock-Fishmongers and Salt-Fishmongers but 28. of Hen. 8. they were imbodied into one Company Their Arms azure three Dolphins in pale proper crown'd or betwixt 4 lives Salterwayes argent all crown'd or on a chief Gules 3 Crosse-Keyes Salterwayes argent the Motto All Worship be to God only 5. The Goldsmiths were incorporated in the 16. year of Richard the second their Arms quarterly Gules and Azure two Leopards Heads or fower Golden Cups covered 'twixt two Buckles or the Motto To God only be all Glory 6. The Skinners are more ancient having bin incorporated in the first year of Edward the third but made a perfect fraternity in the 18. of Rich. the 2d their Arms Ermyn on a chief Gules 3. ducal Crowns or lind of the first their Motto the
pulled it down and to have builded there towards the steeet But the Parishioners having doubts in their heads of after-claps refused the offer Then was the Priory Church and Steeple proffered to whomsoever would take it down and carry it from the ground but no man would undertake the offer whereupon Sir Thomas Audley was fain to be at more charges than could be made of the Stones Timber Lead Iron c. For the Workmen with great labour beginning at the top loosed stone from stone and threw them down whereby the most part of them were broken and few remained whole those were sold very cheap for all the buildings then made about the City were of Brick Timber At that time any man in the City might have a Cart-load of stone for paving brought to his door for 6d or 7d with the carriage The said Thomas Lord Audley builded and dwelt on this Priory during his life and dyed there in the year 1544 since which time the said Priory came by Marriage of the Lord Audley's Daughter and Heir unto Thomas Duke of Norfolk and was then called the Dukes-place At this time the Inhabitants dwelling abiding in the said Dukes-place became utterly destitute of any Parish Church for resorting to Gods Divine service and the administration of the blessed Sacraments which in the time of their former zeal the demolished Priory not only serv'd their use but infinite numbers besides resorted thither In which respect the Parish Church of St. Katherine being so near and standing in the Coemitery or Church-yard of the late dissolved Priory of the Holy Trinity whereby it was called Saint Katherine Christs-Church they resorted thither at the hours of Divine Service and for the benefit of the blessed Sacraments whereby they became a burthen to the said Parish yet well enough borne withal in regard of the benefit ensuing by them so that they carried the respect of equal parishioners exercising and accomplishing all duties there even as if it had been their own proper Parish The long continuance of them in this kind although some much misliked and gladly would have compassed means for remedy thereof yet their power not stretching so far nor the way as yet fitting for their purpose they remained contented against their Wills till time would fit them with more convenient opportunity Ground they wanted not for raising a sufficient Parish Church to themselves neither did any good will fail in them for the effecting their purpose but only were curbed by the lack of strength how and which way to bring it about At length perceiving their ground intended for so good a use to themselves aimed at for buildings to private mens benefits that so they might be frustrate of any such help when occasion should in better manner shine on them some of the best advised among them by Petition solicited the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury to make their desire and intention known to the King which he did And the King finding the case so truly honest and religious for new erecting a Church where such necessity required and where Superstition had so long time formerly been harboured not only gave the Lord Archbishop and the Suitors both thanks and commendation but also under his Hand and broad Seal authorizable Warrant for their proceeding The Lord Mayor and Senate of Aldermen having intelligence in the case and perceiving what an honour would redound thereby first to God who inspired them thereto next to the King for so Royally granting the suite and then to the City for furthering it to Effect notwithstanding that divers oppositions were made by them who would have things still continue as formerly they did without benefit of a Parish Church of their own It proceeded on with good prosperous success to the no mean Honour and commendation of the Lord Maior then being Sir Ed. Barkham by name the Court of Aldermen and state of this famous City by whose good meanes it is made a very beautiful and comely Parish Church it being called in the time of re-edifying Trinity Christs Church raised out of the long decayed ruines of Trinity Priory in the Dukes place By this time the work is grown to such fulness and perfection as now nothing wanteth but the windows glazing which was performed in this manner The main and great East light in the Chancel Sir Edward Barkham himself undertook and effected it at his own Charge as the expression testifieth in the same Window The other sideling by it but inclining more Southerly Mr. George Whitmore and Mr. Nicholas Rainton performed And the third standing Northerly in the same Chancel Mr. Walter Leigh who had bin a Serjeant at Arms to the Kings Majesty and then Sword-bearer of London did likewise at his own Charge perform The two Western lights in the bottom of the Church being indeed very fair lights the Company of Drapers effected the one and the Wood-mongers Society finished the other Beside the two Southerly Windows the one done at the charge of Mr. Cornelius Fish Chamberlain of London and the other by Mr. Waldron then Marshal so now ye have the Church of St. Iames compleat The Parish Church of St. Katherine standeth in the Caemitery of the dissolved Priory of the holy Trinity and is therefore called St. Katherine Christs Church The Church seemeth to be very old since the building whereof the High street hath bin so often raised by Pavements that now men are sain to descend into the said Church by divers steps seven in number but the Steeple or Bell Tower thereof hath bin lately builded to wit about the year 1504. For Sir Iohn Perceival Marchant-Tailor then deceasing gave money towards the building thereof Now concerning this Parish Church of St. Katherine Christs Church commonly Cree-Church as formerly hath bin said it had a descent down into it by seven steps or stayers but being now newly built and made a very fair Ch●●ch the ascent into the Church is by four or five degrees At the North-West corner of this Ward in the said High street standeth the fair and beautiful Parish Church of St. Andrew the Apostle with an Addition to be known from other Churches of that Name of the Knape or Undershaft and so called St. Andrew Undershaft because that of old time every year on May-day in the morning it was used that an high or long shaft or May-pole was set up there in the midst of the street before the South door of the said Church which Shaft or Pole when it was set on end and fixed in the ground was higher then the Church Steeple Jeffrey Chawcer writing of a vain boaster hath these words meaning of the said Shaft Right well aloft and high ye bear your head The Weather-Cock with flying as ye would kill When ye be stuffed bet of Wine than bread Then look ye when your wombe doth fill As ye would bear the great Shaft of Corn-hill Lord so merrily crowdeth then your Croke That all the Street
may bear your Body Cloke This Shaft was not raised any time since evil May-day so called of an insurrection made by Prentices and other young persons against Aliens in the year 1517. but the said Shaft was laid along over the doors and under the Pentises of one rowe of Houses and Alley-gate called of the Shaft Shaft-Alley being of the possessions of Rochester-bridge in the Ward of Limestreet It was there I say hanged on Iron hooks many years till the third of King Edward the sixth That one Sir Steven Curate of St. Katherine Christs Church preaching at Pauls Crosse said there that this Shaft was made an Idoll by naming the Church of St. Andrew with the addition of Under-shaft he perswaded therefore that the names of Churches might be altered Also that the names of the dayes in the week might be changed the Fish dayes to be kept any dayes except Friday and Saturday and the Lent any time save only betwixt Shrovetide and Easter This man forsaking the Pulpit of his said Parish Church would preach out of an high Elm Tree in the midst of the Church-yard And then entring the Church forsaking the Altar to have sung his High Masse in English upon a Tomb of the Dead towards the North But his Sermon at Pauls Crosse took such effect that in the Afternoon of that present Sunday the Neighbors and Tenants to the said Bridge over whose doors the said Shaft had lain after they had dined to make themselves strong gathered more help and with great labor raising the Shaft from the Hooks whereon it had rested two and thirty years they sawed it in pieces every man taking for his share so much as had lain over his door and stall the length of his house and they of the Alley divided amongst them so much as had lain over their Alley gate Thus was his Idoll as he termed it mangled and after burned Soon after was there a commotion of the Commons in Norfolk Suffolk Essex and other Shires by means whereof streight Orders being taken for the suppression of rumors divers persons were apprehended and executed by Marshal Law amongst the which the Bayliffe of Rumford in Essex was one a man very well beloved he was early in the morning of Mary Magdalens day then kept Holy-day brought by the Sheriffs of London and the Knight-Marshall to the Well within Aldgate there to be executed upon a Gibbit set up that morning where being on the Ladder he had words to this effect ●ood People I am come hither to die but know not for what offence except for words by me spoken yester night to Sir Stephen Curate and Preacher of this Parish which were these He asked me what newes in the Country I answered Hea●y newes why quoth he It is said quoth I that many men be up in Essex But thanks be to God all is in good quiet about us and this was all as God be my Iudge c. Thus much by the By. Now again to the Parish Church of St. Andrew Under Shaft for it still retaineth the name which hath bin new builded by the Parishioners since the year 1520. every man putting to his helping hand some with their purses others with their Bodies Stephen Iennings Marchant-Taylor sometimes Mayor of London caused at his charges to be builded the whole North side of the great middle I le both of the Body and Quire as appeareth by his Arms over every Pillar graven and also the North I le which he roofed with Timber and seeled Also the whole South side of the Church was glazed and the Pewes in the South Chappel made of his Costs as appeareth in every Window and upon the said Pewes He deceased in the year 1524. and was buried in the Grey Fryers Church John Kirby Marchant-Taylor sometimes one of the Sheriffs John Garland Marchant-Taylor and Nicholas Levison Mercer Executor to Garland were great Benefactors to this work which was finished to the glazing in the year 1529. and fully finished 1532. Now in the second way from Aldgate more toward the South from the Well or Pump aforesaid sieth Fenne-Church street on the right hand whereof somewhat West from the South end of Belzetters lane is Ironmongers-Hall which Company was incorporated in the third of Edward the fourth Richard Flemming was their first Master Nicholas Marshall and Richard Cox were Custodes or Wardens And on the left hand or South side even by the Gate and Wall of the City runneth down a Lane to the Tower-Hill the South part whereof is called Woodroof-Lane and out of this Lane toward the West a street called Hart-street In this street at the South-East Corner thereof sometime stood one house of Crowched or Crossed Fryers founded by Ralph Hosier and William Sabernes about the year 1298. Stephen the tenth Prior of the Holy Trinity in London granted three Tenements for 13 s. 8 d. by the year unto the said Ralph Hosiar and William Saburnes who afterwards became Fryers of S. Crosse. Adam was the first Prior of that house These Fryers founded their house in the place of certain Tenements purchased of Rich. Wimblush the 12th Prior of the Holy Trinity in the year 1319. which was confirmed by Edward the third the seventeenth of his Raign valued at 52 l. 13 s. 4 d. surrendred the 12th of Novemb the 30. of Henry the 8th In place of this Church is now a Carpenters yard a Tennis-Court and such like the Fryers Hall was made a Glasse-house or house wherein was made Glasse of divers sorts to drink in which house in the year 1575. on the fourth of September burst out into a terrible fire where all meanes possible being practised to quench it notwithstanding as the same house in a small time before had consumed a great quantity of Wood by making of Glasses Now it self having within it about 40000 Billets of Wood was also consumed to the stone walls which nevertheless greatly hindred the fire from spreading any further Adjoyning unto this Fryers Church by the East end thereof in Woodroffe Lane towards the Tower-Hill are certain Almes-houses 14. in number builded of Brick and Timber founded by Sir John Milburn Draper sometime Maior 1521. wherein be placed 13. aged poor men and their Wives these have their dwellings rent-free and 2 s. 4 d. a peece the first day of every Moneth for ever Next to these Alms-houses is the Lord Lumleys house builded in the time of King Henry the 8th by Sir Thomas Wiat the Father upon one plot of ground of late pertaining to the aforesaid Crossed Fryers where part of their house stood And this is the farthest of Aldgate VVard toward the South and joyneth to the Tower-Hill the other side of that Lane over against the Lord Lumleys house on the wall side of the City is now for the most part or altogether builded even to Aldgate Then have ye on the South side of Fenne-Church-street over against the wall or Pump amongst other fair and large
builded houses one that sometime belonged to the Prior of Monte Joves or Monastarie Cornute a Cell to Monte Joves beyond the Seas in Essex it was the Priors Inne when he repaired to this City Then a Lane that leadeth down by Northumberland House towards the Crossed Fryers as is afore shewed This Northumberland House in the Parish of St. Katherine Coleman belonging to Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland in the 33. of Henrie the sixth but of late being left by the Earls the Gardens thereof were made into Bowling Alleys and other parts into dicing-Dicing-houses common to all commers for their money there to bowl recreate themselves But now of late so many Bowling Alleys and other houses for unlawful gaming have been raised in other parts of the City and Subburbs that this which was used to be the ancientest and only Rendezvouz of sport is left and forsaken of the Gamesters and therefore turned into a number of great Rents small Cottages for strangers and others At the East end of this Lane in the way from Aldgate toward the Crossed Friers of old time were certain Tenements called the Poor Jurie of Jewes dwelling there Next unto this Northumberland house is the Parish Church of St. Katherine called Coleman which addition of Coleman was taken of a great Haw-yard or Garden of old time called Coleman Haw in the Parish of the Trinity now called Christs Church And in the Parish of St. Katherine and All-saints called Coleman Church There are some handsome Tombs in this Church and particularly of Sir Henry Billingley Knight and Lord Mayor of London who was a Benefactor thereunto Then have ye Blanch Appleton whereof we read in the 13th of Edw. the first that a Lane behind the same Blanch Appleton was granted by the King to be inclosed and shut up This Blanch Appleton was a Mannor belonging to Sir Thomas R●●os of Hamelake Knight the 7th of Rich the 2d standing at the North-East corner of Mart Lane so called of a priviledge sometime enjoyed to keep a Mart there long since discontinued and therefore forgotten so as nothing remaineth for memory but the name of Mart Lane and now corruptly termed Mark Lane Of the fourth Ward or Aldermanry of London called Limestreet Ward WE will now give a visit to Limestreet Ward which takes its denomination from the street and the street from making Lime there in times passed In Limestreet are divers fair Houses for Marchants and others there was sometime a Mansion house of the Kings called the Kings Artirce as it stands upon Record in the 14th of Edward the first but now grown out of knowledge We read also of another great House in the West side of Limestreet having a Chappel on the South and a Garden on the West belonging to the Lord Nevill which Garden is now called Green Yard of the Leaden Hall This House in the 9th of Rich. 2. pertained to Sir Simon Burley and Sir John Burley his Brother and of late the said House was taken down and the forefront thereof new builded of Timber by Hugh Offley Alderman At the North-west Corner of Limestreet was of old time one great Mesuage called Benbridges Inne Raph Holland Draper about the year 1452. gave it to John Gill Master and to the VVardens and Fraternity of Taylors and Linnen Armourers of St. John Baptist in London and to their successors for ever They did set up in places thereof a fair large frame of Timber containing in the high street one great house and before it to the corner of Limestreet three other Tenements the corner house being the largest and then down Limestreet divers handsome Tenements All which the Marchant-Taylors in the Raign of Edw. 6. sold to Stephen Kirton Marchant-Taylor and Alderman who gave with his Daughter Grisild to Nicholas Woodroffe the said great House with two Tenements before it in lieu of an hundred pounds and made it up in money three hundred sixty six pounds thirteen shillings four pence This worthy man and the Gentlewoman his Widow after him kept those houses down Limestreet in good reparations never put out but one Tenant took no fines nor raised rents for them which was ten shillings the piece yearly But whether that favour did over-live her Funeral the Tenants now can best declare the contrary The next is Leaden-Hall of which we read that in the year 1309. it belonged to Sir Hugh Nevil Knight and that the Lady Alice his Wife made a Feoffment thereof by the name of Leaden Hall with the Advousions of S. Peter on Cornhill and other Churches to Richard Earl of Arrundel and Surrey 1362. Moreover in the year 1380. Alice Nevil Widow to Sir Iohn Nevil Knight of Essex confirmed to Thomas Cogshall and others the said Mannor of Leaden-Hall and the advousions c. In the year 1384. Humphrey de Bohun Earl of Hereford had the said Mannor And in the year 1408. Robert Rikeden of Essex and Margaret his Wife confirmed to Richard Whittington and other Citizens of London the said Mannor of Leaden Hall with the Appurtenances the Advousion of St. Peters Church S. Margaret Pattens c. And in the year 141● the said Whitington and other confirmed the same to the Maior and Comminalty of London whereby it came to the possession of the City Then in the year 1443. the one and twenty of Henry the sixth Iohn Hatheyrley Maior purchased Licence of the said King to take up 200. fodder of Lead for the building of Water Conduits a common Granary and the Crosse in West Cheape more richly for the honour of the City In the year next following the Parson and Parish of St. Dunstane in the East of London seeing the Noble and mighty Man for the words be in the Grant Cùm Nobilis Potens vir Simon Eyre Citizen of London among other his works of piety effectually determined to erect build a certain Granary upon the soil of the same City at Leaden Hall of his own charges for the common utility of the said City to the amplifying and inlarging of the said Granary granted to Henry Frowick then Maior the Aldermen and Commonalty and their Successors for ever all their Tenements with the appurtenances sometime called the Horse Mill in Grasse-street for the annual Rent of four pounds c. Also certain evidences of an Alley and Tenements pertaining to the Horse Mill adjoyning to the said Leaden Hall in Grasse-street given by VVilliam Kingstone Fishmonger unto the Parish Church of St. Peter upon Cornhill do specifie the said Granary to be builded by the said Honourable and famous Marchant Simon Eyre sometime an Upholster and ●hen a Draper in the year 1419. He builded it of squared stone in form as now it sheweth with a fair and large Chappel in the East side of the Quadrant over the Porch of which he caused to be written Dextra Domini exaltavit me The Lords right hand exalted me Within the said Church on the North wall was written Honorandus
Simon the Sonne of Mary sendeth greeting in our Lord where among other things and before other Lands the high Altitude of the Heavenly Councels marvellously wrought by some readier devotion it ought to be more worshipped of which things the mortal sickness after the fall of our first Father Adam hath taken the beginning of this new repairing therefore forsooth it beseemeth worthy that the place in which the Son of God is become Man and hath proceeded from the Virgins Womb which is increaser and beginning of Mans Redemption namely ought to be with Reverence worshipped and with beneficial Portions to be increased therefore it is that the said Simon Son of Mary having special and singular Devotion to the Church of the glorious Virgin at Bethelem where the same Virgin of Her brought forth our Saviour incarnate and lying in the Cratch and with her own milk nourished and where the same Child to us there born the Chivalry of the heavenly Company sang the new Hymne Gloria in Excelsis Deo The same time the increaser of our health as a King and his Mother a Queen willed to be worshipped of Kings a new Starre going before them as the Honour and Reverence of the same Child and his most meek Mother And to the exaltation of my most Noble Lord Henry King of England whose Wife and Child the foresaid Mother of God and her only Son have in their keeping and protection And to the manifold increase of this City of London in which I was born And also for the health of my soul and the souls of my Predecessors and Successors my Father Mother and my Friends And specially for the souls of Guy of Marlow Iohn Durant Ralph Ashwye Maud Margaret and Dennis Women Have given granted and by this my present Charter here have confirmed to God and to the Church of St. Mary of Bethelem all my Lands which I have in the Parish of St. Buttolph without Bishopsgate of London that is to say whatsoever I there now have or had or in time to come may have in Houses Gardens Pools Ponds Ditches and Pits and all their appurtenances as they be closed in by their bounds which now extend in length from the Kings high street East to the great Ditch in the West the which is called deep Ditch and in breadth to the Lands of Ralph Downing in the North and to the Land of the Church of St. Buttolph in the South To have and to hold the aforesaid Church of Bethelem in fre● and perpetual Alms And also to make there a Priory and to ordain a Prior and Canons Brothers and also Sisters when Jesus Christ shall enlarge his grace upon it And in the same place the Rule and order of the said Church of Bethelem solemnly professing which shall bear the Token of a Starre openly in their Coapes and Mantles of profession and for to say Divine Service there for the souls aforesaid and all Christian souls and specially to receive there the Bishop of Bethelem Canons Brothers and Messengers of the Church of Bethelem for evermore as often as they shall come thither And that a Church or Oratory there shall be builded as soon as our Lord shall enlarge his grace under such form that the Order Institution of Priors Canons Brothers Sisters of the visitation correction and reformation of the said place to the Bishop of Bethelem and his Successors and to the Charter of his Church and of his Messengers as often as they shall come thither as shall seem them expedient no mans contradiction notwithstanding shall pertain for evermore saving alway the Services of the chief Lords as much as pertaineth to the said Land And to the more surety of this thing I have put my self out of this Land and all mine And Lord Godfrey then chosen of the Nobles of the City of Rome Bishop of Bethelem and of the Pope confirmed then by his name in England in his name and of his Successors and of his Chapter of his Church of Bethelem into bodily possession I have indented and given to his possession all the foresaid Lands which possession he hath received and entred in form abovesaid And in token of subjection and reverence the said place in London without Bishopsgate shall pay yearly in the said City a mark sterling at Easter to the Bishop of Bethelem his Successors or his Messengers in the name of a Pension and if the faculties or goods of the said place our Lord granting happen to grow more the said place shall pay more in the name of Pension at the said terme to the Mother Church of Bethelem This forsooth gift and confirmation of my Deed and the putting to of my Seal for me and mine Heires I have steadfastly made strong the year of our Lord God A thousand two hundred forty seven the VVednesday after the Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist c. King Henry the 8th gave this Hospital unto the City The Church and Chappel were taken down in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and houses builded there by the Governours of Christs Hospital in London In this place people that be distraught in their wits are now by the suit of their friends received and kept as before but not without charges to their bringers in Then is there a fair House of late builded by Iohn Powlet Next to that a far more large and beautiful House with Gardens of pleasure Bowling Allies and such like builded by Iasper Fisher free of the Goldsmiths late one of the six-Clarks of the Chancery and a Justice of Peace It hath since for a time been the Earl of Oxfords place The late Queen Elizabeth hath lodged there it now belongeth to the Earl of Devonshire This House being so large and sumptuously builded by a man of no great Calling Possessions or VVealth for he was indebted to many was mockingly called Fishers folly and a Rithme was made of it and other the like in this manner Kirbyes Castle and Fishers Folly Spinilas pleasure and Megses glory And so of other like Buildings about the City by Citizens men have not forborn to speak their pleasure From Fishers Folly up to the West end of Berwards Lane of old time so called but now Hogge-Lane because it meeteth with Hogge-Lane which commeth from the Barres without Ealdgate as is afore shewed is a continual bnilding of Tenements with Allies of Cottages pestered c. Then is there a large close called Fazel Close sometime for that there were Zazels planted for the use of Cloth-workers since letten to the Crosse-bow Makers wherein they used to shoot for Games at the Popingey Now the same being inclosed with a Brick-wall serveth to be an Artillery-yard or Garden whereunto the Gunners of the Tower weekly do repair namely every Thursday and their levelling certain B●asse-Pieces of great Artillery against a But of Earth made for that purpose they discharged them for their exercise present use is made thereof by divers worthy Citizens Gentlemen and
Captains using Marshal Discipline and where they meet well-neere weekly to their great commendation in so worthy an Exercise whereof hereafter I will speak more at large Then have ye the late dissolved Priory and Hospital commonly called Saint Mary Spittle founded by Walter Brune and Rosia his Wife for Canons regular VValter Arch Deacon of London laid the first stone in the year 1197. VVilliam of St. Mary Church then Bishop of London dedicated it to the honour of Jesus Christ and his Mother the perpetual Virgin Mary by the name of Domus De● and Beatae Mariae Extra Bishopsgate in the Parish of St. Buttolph the bounds whereof as appeareth by composition between the Parson and Prior of the said Hospital concerning Tithes beginning at Berwards Line towards the South and extendeth in breadth to the Parish of St. Leonard of Sores-ditch towards the North and in length from the Kings street on the West to the Bishops of Londons field called Lollesworth on the East The Prior of this St. Mary Spittle for the immortising and propriation of the Priory of Bikenacar in Essex to his said house of St. Mary Spittle gave to Henry the 7th four hundred pounds in the two and twentieth of his Raign This Hospital surrendred to Henry the 8th was valued to dispend four hundred seventy eight pounds per annu●s wherein was found besides Ornaments of the Church and other goods pertaining to the Hospital one hundred eighty beds well furnished for receipt of the poor for it was an Hospital of great relief Sir Henry Plesington Knight was buried there one thousand four hundred fifty and two And here is to be noted that time out of minde it hath been a laudable Custome that on good Friday in the After-noon some especial learned man by appointment of the Prelates should preach a Sermon at Pauls Crosse treating of Christs passion and upon the three next Easter Holydayes Munday Tuesday and Wednesday the like learned men by the like appointment have used to preach on the forenoons at the said Spittle to perswade the Article of Christs Resurrection and then on Low Sunday one other learned man at Pauls Crosse to make rehearsal of those four former Sermons either commending or reproving them as to him by judgement of the learned Divines was thought convenient And that done he was to make a studied Sermon of his own which in all were five Sermons in one At these Sermons so severally preached the Maior with his Brethren the Aldermen were accustomed to be present in their Violets at Pauls on good Friday and in their Scarlets at the Spittle in the Holydayes except VVednesday in Violet and the Maior with his Brethren on Low Sunday in Scarlet at Pauls Crosse. Touching the Antiquity of this Custom I finde that in the year one thousand three hundred ninety eight King Richard having procured from Rome confirmation of such Statutes and Ordinances as were made in the Parliament begun at VVestminster and ended at Shrewsbury he caused the same confirmation to be read and pronounced at Pauls Crosse and at St. Mary Spittle in a Sermon before all the People Philip Malpas one of the Sheriffs in the year one thousand four hundred thirty nine gave twenty shillings by the year to the three Preachers at the Spittle Stephen Foster Maior in the year 1594. gave 40 l. to the Preachers of Pauls Crosse and Spittle We find also that the aforesaid House wherein the Maior and Aldermen do sit at the Spittle was builded for that purpose of the goods and by the Executors of Richard Rawson Alderman and Isabel his Wife in the year 1488. In the year 1594. this Pulpit being old was taken down and a new one set up the Preachers face turned towards the South which was before towards the West Also a large House on the East side of the said Pulpit was then builded for the Governours and Children of Christs Hospital to sit in and this was done of the goods of William Elkin Alderman before deceased But within the first year the same House decaying and like to have fallen was again with great cost repaired at the Cities Charge On the East side of this Church-yard lyeth a large field of old time called Lolesworth now Spittle-field which about the year 1576. was broken up for Clay to make Brick in the digging thereof many Earthen Pots called Urnae were found full of Ashes with burnt bones of men to wit of the Romans that inhabited here for it was the Custom of the Romans to burn their dead to put their Ashes in an Urn and then bury the same with certain Ceremonies in some field appointed for that purpose near unto their City and commonly there was another Urn of fresh water laid by the other denoting the teares of their friends Every of these Pots had in them with the Ashes of the Dead one piece of Copper money with the Inscription of the Emperor then reigning some of them were of Claudius some of Vespasian some of Nero of Antoninus Pius of Trajanus and others Besides those Urns many other Pots were found in the same place made of a white Earth with long necks and handles like to our stone Jugs these were empty but seemed to be buried full of some liquid matter long since consumed and soked through For there were found divers Vials and other fashioned Glasses some most cunningly wrought and some of Crystal all which had water in them which it seems were the teare-Bottles nothing differing in clearness tast or savour from common Spring water whatsoever it was at the first Some of these Glasses had Oyl in them very thick and earthy in savour some were supposed to have balm in them but had lost the vertue many of these Pots and Glasses were broken in cutting of the Clay so that few were taken up whole There were also found divers Dishes and Cups of a fine red coloured Earth which shewed outwardly such a shining smoothness as if they had been of Curtal Those had in the bottoms Roman letters printed There were also Lamps of white Earth and red artificially wrought with divers Antiques about them some three or four Images made of white Earth about a span long each of them one was of Pallas Amongst divers of those Antiquities there was sound one Urn with Ashes and Bones and one pot of white Earth very small not exceeding the quantity of a quartern of a Wine pint made in shape of a Hare squatted upon her leggs and between her Eares is the mouth of the Pot. There hath also bin found in the same field divers Coffins of stone containing the bones of men these I suppose to be the Burials of some special persons in time of the Britons or Saxons after that the Romans had left to govern here Morever there were also found the sculls and bones of men without Coffins or rather whose Coffins being of Timber were consumed divers great Nails of Iron were there sound such as are used
in the Wheels of shod Carts being each of them as big as a mans finger and a quarter of a yard long the heads two inches over Those nayles were more wondred at then the rest of the things there found and many Opinions of men were there passed upon them namely that the men there buried were murthered by driving those nayles into their heads But to set down what was observed concerning this matter there were there the bones of a man lying the head North the feet South and round about him athwart his head along both his sides and thwart his feet such nails were found wherefore it may be conjectured they were the nayls of his Coffin which had bin a trough cut out of some great Tree and the same covered with a Plank of that thickness fastened with such nayls and found under the broad heads of some of those nayls the old Wood was found scant turned into Earth but still retaining both the grain and proper colour And thus much for that part of Bishopsgate-Ward now we will proceed to that part which lyeth within the Gate And first to begin on the left hand of Bishopsgate from the Gate ye have certain Tenements of old time pertaining to a Brother-hood of St. Nicholas granted to the Parish Clarks of London for two Chaplains to be kept in the Chappel of St. Mary Magdalen near unto the Guild-Hall of London in the 27. of Henry the sixth The first of these Houses towards the North and against the Wall of the City was sometime a large Inne or Court called the Wrastlers of such a signe And the last in the high street towards the South was sometime also a fair Inne called the Angel of such a signe Amongst these said Tenements was on the same street side a fair Entry or Court to the common Hall of the said Parish-Clarks with proper Alms-houses seven in number adjoyning for Parish-Clarks and their Wives and their Widows such as were in great years not able to labour one of these by the said Brother-hood of Parish-Clarks was allowed sixteen pence the week the other six had each of them nine pence the week according to the Patent granted to that effect This Brother-hood amongst other being suppressed in the Raign of Edward the sixth the said Hall with the other Buildings there was given to Sir Robert Chester a Knight of Cambridge-shire against whom the Parish-Clarks commencing suit in the Raign of Queen Mary and being like to have prevailed the said Sir Robert Chester pulled down the Hall sold the Timber stone and Lead and thereupon the sui● was ended The Alms-houses remained in the Queens hands and people were there placed such as could make best friends some of them taking the pension appointed and letting forth their houses at great Rent have given occasion to the P●rson of the Parish to challenge Tithes of them c. Next unto this is the small Parish Church of Saint Ethelburgh Virgin and from thence some small distance is a large Court called Little St. Helens because it pertained to the Nuns of St. Helens and was their House there were there seven Alms-Rooms or Houses for the poor belonging to the Company of Leathersellers Then somewhat more West is another Court with a winding Lane which commeth out against the West end of St. Andrew Undershafts Church In this Court standeth the fair Church of St. Helen sometime a Priory of black Nuns and in the same the Parish Church of St. Helen This Priory was founded before the Raign of Henry the third William Ba●ing Dean of Pauls was the first founder and was there buried and William Basing one of the Sheriffs of London in the second year of Edward the second was holden also to be a Founder or rather an helper thereof This Priory being valued at 1314 l. 2 s. 6 d. was surrendred the five and twentieth of November the thirtieth of Henry the eighth the whole Church the partition betwixt the Nuns Church and the Parish Church being taken down remaineth now to the Parish and is a fair Church but wanteth such a Steeple as Sir Thomas Gresham promised to have builded in recompence of ground in that Church filled up with his Monument The Nuns Hall and other Housing thereto pertaining was since purchased by the Company of Leather-sellers and is their common Hall which Company was incorporate the one and twentieth year of Richard the second A young new-born Child was taken up between the great Ware-house and Sir Iohn Spencers back-gate being by a most unnatural Mother there buried in a great Dung-hill of Sea-coal Ashes with the face upward yet found alive by Richard Atkinson who used to make clean the passage there of the soyle carrying it thence with his Wheel-Barrow The Child had not any ragg or Cloth about it but was all bloodied by reason that the Navil string was untyed and the Body meerly crusted over with the Seacoal-dust yet being made clean by the poor mans Wife it was found to be a most goodly Man-Child strong and well-featured without any blemish or harm upon it but strangled inwardly by sucking in the noysome filth and Ashes He was Christned and named Iob cinere extractus Iob taken out of the Ashes He lived three dayes and lies buried in the Church-yard the fifth of September 1612. Of the Sixth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of LONDON called Broad-street Ward WE will now proceed to make a Perambulation in Broad street Ward whereof part lies contig●ous to Bishopsgate Ward for it beginneth from the water Conduit Westward on both sides of the street by Alhallows Church to an Iron Grate on the Channel which runneth into the water-course of Wallbrook before ye come to the Postern called Moregate and this is the farthest West part of that Ward Then have ye Broad street where of the Ward taketh name which stretcheth out of the former street from the East Corner of Alhallowes Church-yard somewhat South to the Parish Church of Saint Peter the poor on both sides and then by the South Gate of the Augustine Fryars West down Throgmorton street by the Drapers Hall into Loathbury to another Grate of Iron on the Channel there whence the water runneth into the course of Wallbrook under the East end of St. Margarets Church certain posts of Timber are there set up and this is also the furthest West part of this Ward in the said street out of the which street it runneth up Bartholomew Lane South to the North side of the Exchange then more East out of the former street From over against the Fryars Augustines Church South gate runneth up another part of Broad streete South to a Pump over against St. Bennets Church Then have ye one other street called Threed-needle street beginning at the Well with two Buckets by St. Martins Oteswich Church Wall This street runneth down on both sides to Finkes-Lane now called Finch Lane and half way up that Lane to a Gate of a Marchants house on
his Reign gave unto Iohn Carpenter Dr. of Divinity and Master of St. Anthonies Hospital and to his Brethren and their Successors for ever his Mannor of Poinington with the appurtenances with certain Pensions and Portions of Milburn Burneworth Charleton and Up-Wimburn in the County of Southhamton towards the maintenance of five Scholars in the University of Oxford to be brought up in the faculty of Arts after the rate of ten pence the week for every Scholar so that the said Scholars be first instructed in the rudiments of Grammar at the Colledge of Eaton founded by the said King In the year 1474. Edward the 4th granted to William Say Batchelor of Divinity Master of the said Hospital to have Priests Clerks Scholars poor men and Brethren of the same Clerks or Laymen Queristers Procters Messengers Servants in Houshold and other things whatsoever like as the Prior and Covent of St. Anthonies of Vienna c. He also annexed united and appropriated the said Hospital unto the Collegiate of St. George in Windsor The Protectors of this House were to collect the benevolence of charitable Persons towards the building and supporting thereof In the year 1499. Sir John Tate sometime Alebrewer then a Mercer caused his Brewhouse called the Swan near adjoyning to the said Free Chappel College or Hospital of St. Anthony to be taken for the enlarging of the Church which was then newly builded toward the building whereof the said Tate gave great sums of money and finished it in the year 1501 Sir John Tate deceased 1514. and was there buried under a fair Monument by him prepared Dr. Taylor Master of the Rolls and other Walter Champion Draper one of the Sheriffs of London 1529. was buried there and gave to the Beadmen twenty pounds The Lands by year of this Hospital were valued in the 37. of King Henry the eighth to be 55l 6 s. and 8. pence One Iohnson a Schoolmaster of the famous Free-School there became a prebend of Windsor and then by little and little followed the spoil of this Hospital he first dissolved the Quire conveyed away the Plate and Ornaments then the Bels and lastly put out the Alms men from their houses appointing them portions of twelve pence the week to each but now I hear of no such matter performed for their houses with other be letten out for rent and the Church is a preaching place for the French Nation as was touched before This School was commended in the Reign of Henry the sixth and sithence commended above other but now decayed and come to nothing by taking that from it which thereunto belonged Next is the Parish Church of St. Bartholmew at the end of Bartholmew Lane Thomas Pike Alderman with the assistance of Nicholas Yoo one of the Shetiffs of London about the year 1438. new builded this Church West from this Church have ye Scalding Alley of old time called Scalding House or Scalding wick because that ground for the most part was then imployed by Poulterers that dwelled in the high street from the Stocks Market to the great Conduit Their Poultry which they sold at their stalls were scalded there the street doth yet bear the name of the Poultry and the Poulterers are but lately departed from thence into other streets as into Grasse-street and the ends of St. Nicholas Flesh-shambles This Scalding wick is the farthest part of Broadstreet-Ward and is by the water called Wallbrook parted from Cheap-Ward Of the Seventh Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Corn-hill Ward NOw Cornhil Ward comes to consideration corruptly called Cornwel by the vulgar It was called Corn-hill of a Corn-Market time out of mind there holden and is a part of the principal high street beginning at the West end of Leaden-Hall stretching down West on both the sides by the South end of Finkes Lane on the right hand and by the North end of Birchoven Lane on the left part of which Lanes to wit to the middle of them is of this Ward and so down to the Stocks Market and this is the bounds The upper or East part of this Ward and also a part of Limestreet Ward hath been as I said a Market-place especially for Corn and since for all kind of Victuals as is partly shewed in Limestreet Ward It appeareth by Record that in the year 1522. the Rippiers of Rie and other places sold their fresh Fish in Leaden-hall Market upon Cornhill but forraign Butchers were not admitted there to sell Flesh till the year 1533. And it was enacted that Butchers should sell their Bief not above a half peny the pound and Mutton half peny half farthing which Act being devised for the great Commodity of the Realm as it was then thought hath since proved far otherwise for before that time a fat Oxe was sold at London for six and twenty shillings eight pence at the most a far Weather for three shillings four pence a fat Calf at the same price a fat Lamb for twelve pence pieces of Bief weighing 2. pounds and a half at the least yea 3. pound or better for a peny on every Butchers Stall in this City and of those pieces of Bief 13 or fourteen for twelve pence fat Mutton for eight pence the quarter and one hundred weight of Bief for four shillings eight pence at the dearest What the price is now I need not set down many men thought the same Act to raise the price by reason that Grasier knew or supposed what weight every their Beasts contained and so raising their price thereafter the Butcher could be no gainer but by likewise raising his price the number of Butchers then in the City and Suburbs was accounted sixscore of which every one killed six Oxen a peece weekly which is in forty six weeks 33120. Oxen or seven hundred and twenty Oxen weekly The forraign Butchers for a long time stood in the high street of Limestreet-Ward on the North side twice every week viz Wednesdayes and Saturdayes and wer● some gain to the Tenants before whose doors they stood and into who●e houses they set their blocks and stalls but that advantage being e●pied they were taken into Leaden-Hall there to pay for their standing to the Chamber of London Thus much for the Market upon Cornhill The chief Ornaments in Cornhill-VVard are these First at the East end thereof in the middle of the high street and at the parting of four wayes have ye a Water-Standard placed in the year 1582. in manner following A certain German named Peter Morris having made an artificial Forcier for that purpose conveyed Thames-water in Pipes of Lead over the Steeple of St. Magnus Church at the North end of London-Bridge and from thence into divers mens Houses in Thames-street New Fish-street and Grasse-street now Gracious-street up to the North West corner of Leaden-hall the highest ground of all the City where the waste of the main Pipe rising into this Standard provided at the charges of the City with four spouts did
at every Tyde run according to Covenant four wayes plentifully serving to the Commodity of the Inhabitants near adjoyning in their houses and also cleansed the Channels of the street toward Bishops-gate Aldgate the Bridge and the Stocks Market but now no such matter by what default I know not Then have ye a fair Conduit of sweet water castellated in the midst of that Ward This Conduit was first builded of stone in the year 1282. by Henry VVallis Maior of London to be a Prison for Night-walkers and other suspicious persons and was called the Tunne upon Cornhill because the same was builded somewhat in fashion of a Tunne standing on the one end To this Prison the Night-watchers to this City committed not only Night-walkers but also other persons as well spiritual as temporal whom they suspected of incontinency and punished them according to the customs of this City but complaint therefore being made about the year of Christ 1297. King Edward the first writeth to the Citizens thus Edward by the Grace of God c. VVhereas Richard Gravesend Bishop of London hath shewed unto us that by the great Charter of England the Church hath a privilede that no Clark should be imprisoned by a Lay-man without our Commandment and breach of peace Which notwithstanding some Citizens of London upon meer spight do enter in their vvatches into Clarks Chambers and then ●ike Felons carry them to the Tunne which Henry le Wallis sometime Maior built for Night-walkers wherefore we will that this our Commandment be proclaimed in a full Hustings and that no vvatch hereafter enter into any Clarks Chamber under the forfeit of thirty pounds Dated at Carlile the 18th of March the 25. of our Reign More we read that about the year of Christ 1299. the seven and twentieth of Edward the first certain principal Citizens of London to wit T. Romane Rich Gloucester Nicholas Faringdon Adam Helingbury T. Saly Iohn Dunstable Richard Ashwy John Wade and William Stortforde brake up this Prison called the Tunne and took out certain Prisoners for the which they were sharply punished by long Imprisonment and great fines It cost the Citizens as some have written more than 20000 Marks which they were amerced in before William de March Treasurer of the Kings Exchequer to purchase the Kings favour and the confirmation of their Liberties By the West side of the aforesaid Prison then called the Tunne was a fair Well of Spring water curbed round with hard stone but in the year 1401. the said Prison house called the Tunne was made a Cestern for sweet water conveyed by Pipes of Lead from Tyburne and was from thenceforth called the Conduit upon Cornhil Then was the Well planked over and a strong Prison made of Timber called a Cage with a pair of Stocks therein set upon it and this was for Night-walkers on the top of which Cage was placed a Pillory for the punishment of Bakers offending in the assize of Bread for Millers stealing of Corn at the Mill for Bawds Scholds and other offenders As in the year 1468. the seventh of Edward the fourth divers persons being common Jurors such as at Assizes were forsworn for rewards or favour of parties were judged to ride from Newgate to the Pillory in Corn-hill with Miters of Paper on their heads there to stand and from thence again to Newgate and this judgement was given by the Maior of London On the North side of this street from the East unto the West have ye divers fair houses for Marchants and others amongst the which one large House is called the Wey-house where Marchandizes brought from beyond the Seas are to be weighed at the Kings Beame this House hath a Master and under him four Master-Porters with Porters under them they have a strong Cart and four great Horses to draw and carry the Wates from the Marchants Houses to the Beam and back again Sir Thomas Lovel Knight builded this House with a fair front of Tenements toward t●e street all which he gave to the Grocers of London himself being free of the City and a Brother of that Company Then have ye the said Finks Lane the South end of which Lane on both sides is in Corn-hill Ward Then next is the Royal Exchange erected in the year 1566. after this Order viz. certain Houses upon Corn-hill and the like upon the part thereof in the Ward of Broadstreet with three Allies the first called Swan Alley opening into Corn-hill the second New Alley passing through out of Corn-hill into Broadstreet Ward over against St. Bartholomew-Lane the third St. Christophers Alley opening into Broadstreet-Ward and into St. Christophers Parish containing many thick Housholds were first purchased by the Citizens of London for more than 3532. pounds and were sold for 478. pounds to such persons as should take them down and carry them thence Also the ground or plot was made plain at the Charges of the City and then possession thereof was by certain Aldermen in name of the whole Citizens given to Sir Thomas Gresham Knight sometimes Agent to the Queens Higheness thereupon to build a Burse or place for Marchants to assemble in at his own proper charges And he on the seventh of June laying the first stone of the Foundation being Brick accompanied with some Aldermen every of them laid a piece of Gold which the Workmen took up and forthwith followed upon the same such diligence that by the Moneth of November in the year 1567. the same was covered with slate and shortly after fully finished In the year 1570. on the 23. of January the Queens Majesty attended with her Nobility came from her House at the Strand called sommerset-Sommerset-House and entred the City by Temple-Barre through Fleet-street Cheape and so by the North side of the Burse through Thredneedle-street to Sir Thomas Greshams House in Bishopgate-street where she dined After dinner her Majesty returning through Corn-hill entred the Burse on the South side and after she had viewed every part thereof above the ground especially the Pawne which was richly furnished with all sorts of the finest Wares in the City she caused the same Burse by an Haura●d and a Trumpet to be proclaimed at the Royal Exchange and so to to be called from thenceforth and not otherwise Next adjoyning to this Royal Exchange remaineth one part of a large stone House and is now called the Castle of such a sign at a Tavern door there is a passage thorough out of Cornhill into Threed-needle street the other part of the said stone House was taken down for enlarging the Royal Exchange This stone House was said of some to have been a Church whereof it had no proportion of others a Jewes House as though none but Jewes had dwelt in stone houses but that opinion is without warrant For beside the strong building of stone houses against 〈◊〉 of thieves in the night when no watches were kept In the first year of Richard the first to prevent casualties of fire which
often had hapned in the City when the H●uses were builded of Timber and covered with Reed and Straw Henry Fitz Allwine being Mayor it was Decreed That from thenceforth no man should build within the City but of some unto a certain height and to cover the same building with Slate or burnt Tyle This was the very cause of such stone Buildings whereof many have rem●ined until out time that for gaining of ground they have been taken down and in place of some of them being low as but two Stories above the ground many Houses of four or five Stories high are placed From this Stone House down to the Stocks are divers large Houses especially for height ●or Merchants and Artificers On the South side of this High-street is the Parish Church of Saint Peter upon Cornhill which seemeth to be of an ancient building but not so an●ient as fame reporteth for it hath been lately repaired if not all new builded except the Steeple which is ancient The Roo● of this Church and Glazing was finished in the Reign of King Edward the fourth as appeareth by Armes of Noble men and Aldermen of London then living There remaineth in this Church a Table wherein it is written I know not by what Authority but of no late hand that King Lucius founded the same Church to be an Archbishops See Metropolitan● and chief Church of his Kingdom and that it so continued the space of four hundred years unto the coming of Augustine the Monk Now because many may be curious to be further acquainted therewith I have here inserted the same Verbatim as it is there recorded in the Table BE it known unto all men that the year of our Lord God 179 Lucius the first Christian King of this Land then called Britaine sounded the first Church in London that is to say the Church of St. Peter upon Cornhill and he founded there an Archbishops See and made that Church the Metropolitan and chief Church of this Kingdom and so endured the space of four hundred years unto the coming of St. Austin the Apostle of the English the which was sent into this Land by St. Gregory the Doctor of the Church in the time of King Ethilbert And then was the Archbishops See and Pall removed from the foresaid Church of St. Peter upon Cornhill unto Doreburniam that now is called Canterbury and there remaineth to this day And Millet the Monk which came into the Land with S. Austin was made this first Bishop of London and his See was made in Pauls Church And this King Lucius was the first Founder of St. Peters Church upon Cornhill and he reigned in this Land after Brute a thousand two hundred fourty five years and the year of our Lord God a hundred twenty four Lucius was Crowned King and the years of his Reign were seventy seven years and he was a●ter some Chronicle buried at London and after some Chronicle he was buried at Glocester in that place where the Order of St. Francis standeth now Joceline of Furn●is writeth that Thean or Theon the first Arch bishop of London in the Reign of Lucius builded the said Church by the aid of C●ran chief Butler to King Lucius and also that Etv●nus the second Archbishop builded a Library to the same adjoyning and con●erted many of the Druydes learned men in the Pagan Law to Christianity William Harrison discoursing hereon more at large hath these very words There is a Controversy saith he moved among our Historiographers whether the Church that 〈◊〉 built at London stood at Westminster or in Cornhill For there is some cause why the Metropolitane Church should be thought to stand where St. Peters now doth by the space of four hundred and od years before it was removed to Canterbury by Austin the Monk if a man would lean to one side without any conference of the asseverations of the other But herein there may lurk some scruple for besides that St. Peters Church stood in the East end of the City and that of Apollo in the West the word Cornhil a denomination given of late so speak of to one street may easily be mistaken for Thorney For as the word Thorney proceedeth from the Saxons who called the West end of the City by that ●ame where Westminster now standeth because of the wildernesse and bushine●●e of the soile so we do not read of any street in London called Cornhill before the Conquest of the Normans wherefore I hold with them which make Westminster to be the place where Lucius builded his Church upon the ruines of that Fane 264 years as Malmsbury saith before the coming of the Saxons and four hundred and eleven before the arrival of Augustine Read also his Appendix in Lib. fourth Pontif. where he noteth the time of the Saxons in the 444 of Grace and of Augustine in 596 of Christ which is a manifest account though some Copies have 499 for the one but not without-manifest corruption and error And now to return where we left True it is that a Library there was pertaining to this Parish Church of old time builded of Stone and of late repaired with Brick by the Executors of Sir Iohn Crosby Alderman as his Arms on the South end do witnesse This Library hath been of late time to wit within this seventy years well furnished of Books Iohn Leyland viewed and commended them but now those Books are gone and this place is occupied by a School-master and his Usher for a number of Scholers learning their Grammer Rules c. Notwithstanding before that time a Grammar School had been kept in this Parish as appeareth in the year a thousand four hundred twenty five We read that John Whitby was Rector and John Steward School-master there and in the five and twentieth of Henry the sixth it was Enacted by Parliament that four Grammer Schools in London should be maintained viz In the Parishes of Alhallowes in Thames street Saint Andrew in Oldburn Saint Peters upon Cornhill and Saint Thomas of Acres Then have ye the Parish Church of St. Michael the Archangel for the antiquity thereof we find that Alnothus the Priest gave it to the Abbot and Covent of Covesham Raynold the Abbot and the Covent there did grant the same to Sparling the Priest in all measures as he and his Predecessors before had held it to the which Sparling also they granted all their Lands which they there had except certain Lands which Orgar le proud held of them and paid two shillings yearly For the which grant the said Sparling should yearly pay one mark of Rent to the said Abbot of Covesham and find him his lodging Salt Water and Fire when he came to London This was granted a thousand one hundred thirty three about the thirty four of Henry the first The fair new Steeple or Bell-Tower of this Church was begun to be builded in the year 1421 which being finished and a fair ●ing of five Bells therein placed a sixth Bell
Ward Then higher in 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 Chee●e two pence every Cart of Corn and Chee●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 o● Malt the Bayliff had one farthing The Carts of the Franchi●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 t●ere down West to a Wa●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 ●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 who●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 twai● 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 Fishmong●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 good● confiscate for certain Congregations by them made against the Fishmongers in the City of London as is aforesaid but they● 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 p●rt builded with stone which pertained sometime to
of St. Sw●then standeth at the South vvest corner of this Lane Licence vvas procured to new build and increase the said Church and Steeple in the year 1420. Sir Iohn Hend Draper and Maior was an especial Benefactor thereunto as appeareth by his Arms in the Glasse vvindows even in the tops of them which is in a Field Argent a Chief Azure a Lyon passant Argent a Cheueron Azure three Escalops Argent Ralph Ioceline Maior of London among others hath a Monument in this Church having bin a benefactor to it On the South side of this high street near unto the Channel is pitched upright a great stone called London stone fixed in the ground very deep fastned with Barres of Iron and otherwise so strongly set that if Carts do run against it through negligence the VVheels be broken and the Stone it self unshaken The cause vvhy this Stone was there set the time when or other memory thereof is none but that the same hath long continued there is manifest namely since or rather before the Conquest for in the end of a fair written Gospel Book given to Christs Church in Canterbury by Ethelstane King of the vvest Saxons mention is made of Lands and Rents in London belonging to the said Church whereof one parcel is described to lie near unto London Stone Of latter time we read that in the year of Christ 1135. the first of King Stephen a fire which began in the house of one Ailward near unto London stone consumed all East to Ealdgate in which fire the Priory of the Holy Trinity was burnt and vvest to St. Erkenwalds shrine in Pauls Church and these be the Eldest Notes that I read thereof Some have said this stone to be set there as a Mark in the middle of the City within the Wall but in truth it standeth far nearer to the River of Thames than to the Wall of the City Some others have said the same to be set for the tendering and making of payment by Debtors to their Creditors at their appointed dayes and times till of latter time payments were more usually made at the Font in Ponts Church and now most commonly at the Royal Exchange Some again have imagined the same to be set up by Iohn or Thomas London-stone dwelling there against it but more likely it is that such men have taken name of the Stone than the Stone of them as did John at Noke and Thomas at Stile William at Wall or at Well c. But the most probable opinion is that it was placed there by the Romans for a Milliare as was observed elswhere in this Discourse Down West from this Parish Church and from London-stone have ye Wallbroke corner from whence runneth up a street North to the Stocks called Walbrook because it standeth on the East side of the same Brook by the Bank thereof and the whole Ward taketh name of that street On the East side of this street and at the North corner thereof is the Stocks Market which had this beginning About the year of Christ 1282 Henry Wallis Mayor caused divers houses in this City to be builded towards the maintenance of London-Bridge namely in one void place neare unto the Parish Church called Wooll-Church On the North side thereof where sometime the way being very large and broad had stood a pair of Stocks for punishment of offenders This building took name of those Stooks and was appointed by him to be a Market-place for Fish Flesh in the midst of the City other Houses be builded in other places by Patent of Edward the first it doth appear dated the tenth of his Reign After this in the year 1322 the seventeenth of Edward the second a Decree was made by Hamond Chickwell Mayor that none should sell fish or flesh out of the Markets appointed to wit Bridge-street East-cheap Old Fish-street St. Nicholas Shambles and the said Stocks on pain to forfeit such fish or flesh as were there sold for the first time and the second time to lose their Freedom Which Act was made by commandment of the King under his Letters Patents dated at the Tower the 17th of his Reign then was this Stocks let to Farm for forty six pounds thirteen shillings four pence by year this Stocks Market was again begun to be builded in the year 1410 in the eleaventh of Henry the fourth and was finished in the year next following In the year 1507 the same was rented fifty six pounds nineteen shillings ten pence And in the year 1543 John Cotes being Mayor there was in this Stocks Market for Fishmongers five and twenty Boards or Stalls rented yearly to 34 pounds 13 shillings 4 pence There was for Butchers 18 Boards or stalls rented at 41 pounds 16 shillings 4 pence and there were also Chambers above sixteen rented at five pounds thirteen shillings four pence in all eighty two pounds three shillings Next unto this Stocks is the Parish Church of St. Mary VVool-Church so called of a Beam placed in the Church-yard which was thereof called Wool-Church Haw of the Tronage or weighing of Wooll there used and to verifie this we find amongst the Customs of London written in French in the Reign of Edward the second a Chapter intituled Les Customes de VVooll-Church Haw wherein is set down what was there to be paid for every parcel of Wooll weighed this Tronage or weighing of Wooll till the sixth of Richard the second was there continued John Church-man then builded the Custome-house upon VVooll Key to serve for the said Tonnage as is before shewed in Tower-street Ward This Church is reasonable fair and large and was afterwards new builded by Licence granted in the twentieth of Henry the sixth with condition to be builded fifteen foot from the Stocks Market for sparing of light to the said Stocks the Parson of this Parish is to have four Marks the year for Tyth of the said Stocks paid him by the Masters of the Bridge-house by a special Decree made the second of Henry the seventh In the year about 1500 John VVingar Lord Mayor gave two Basons of silver to this Church And Richard Shore Sheriff of London made the Porch at the West end they lye both there entombed From the Stocks Market and this Parish Church East up into Lombard-street some four or five houses on a side and also on the South side of VVooll-Church have ye Bear-Binder Lane a part whereof is of this VVallbrook Ward Then down sower in the street called Wallbrook is one other fair Church of St. Stephen builded new on the East side thereof for the old Church stood on the West side in place where now standeth the Parsonage House and therefore so much nearer to the Brook even on the Bank This Church was finished in the year 1439. The breadth thereof is sixty seven foot and length one hundred twenty five foot the Church-yard ninty foot in length and thirty seven in breadth and more Robert VVhittingham made Knight
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 Ward● 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 F●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 ●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-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 pav●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 Wr●●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 wa● 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 a●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
three pence by year The Lady Stanley the Countesse of Hunting●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 Anthen●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-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 Will●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 Q●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 vvin● 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
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 R●chard the second they had three Messuages and Shops in the Parish of Saint Martins Otesw●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 Ironmong●● 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 Sheriffs●ixt ●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 Purb●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 la●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 en●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
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 All●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
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 Milke-Street South unto Cheap which Milke-Street is wholly on both the sides of Cripplegate Ward as also without the South end of 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 Os●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. M●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
of Sion-Colledge And Almes-houses for twenty poor people ten men and ten women This was done by the especiall care and paines of Mr. Iohn Simson Rector of St. Olaves Hart-Street London one of the Executors of the last Will and Testament of Mr. Thomas White Doctor in Divinity Vicar of S. Dunstans in the West and one of the Canons Residentiary of S. Pauls Church London which ore-named Thomas White besides sundry sums of money and great yearly Revenues given by him to pious and Charitable uses in divers places gave three thousand pound to purchase and build the foresaid Colledge for the use of the Clergy and Almes-houses for the twenty poor people aforesaid He gave also unto the said Colledge and Almes-houses a hundred sixty pound per annum for ever whereof there is a hundred twenty pound yearly allowed for the maintenance of the poor Almes-men and women And forty pound yearly for four dinners for the Clergy who are to have four Latine Sermons in the year one every quarter and upon these dayes are to dine together in the Colledge In the same Colledge the forenamed Iohn Simson did in his life time at his own proper Costs and Charges build a very faire and spacious Library containing a hundred twenty one foot in length within the Walls and above twenty five foot in breadth And hath furnished it with Wainscot Stalls Desks Seats and other Necessary and usefull Ornaments befitting the place To this Library there have been already divers bountifull and well disposed Benefactors who have given large sums of money towards the furnishing of it with Books Then is there the Parish Church of Saint Alphage The principall I le of this Church towards the North was pulled down and a frame of four houses set up in the place the other part from the Steeple upward was converted into a Parish Church of S. Alphage and the Parish Church which stood near unto the Wall of the City by Cripplegate was pulled down the plot thereof made a Carpenters Yard with Saw-pits The Hospitall it self the Prior and Canons house with other Lodgings were made a dwelling house the Church-Yard is a Garden plot and a faire Gallery on the Cloyster the Lodgins for the poor are translated into stabling for horses Now we will return to Milk-Street so call'd of Milke sold there at the beginning In this Milk-Street is a small Parish Church of Saint Mary Magdelen which hath of late years been repaired William Brown Mayor 1513. gave to this Church fourty pounds and was buried there Then Next is Wood-Street by what reason so called I know not True it is that of old time according to a Decree made in the reign of Richard the first the houses of London were builded of Stone for defence of fire which kind of building was used for two hundred years or more but of latter time for the winning of ground taken down and houses of Timber were set up in their place It seemeth therefore that this Street hath been of the latter building all of timber for scarce one house of stone hath been known there and therefore called Wood-Street otherwise it might take the name of some builder or owner thereof On the East side of this Street is one of the Prison-houses pertaining to the Sheriffs of London and is called the Compter in Wood-Street which was prepared to be a prison-house in the year 1555. And on the Eve of S. Michael the Archangell the prisoners that lay in the Compter in Bread-Street were removed to this Compter in Wood-Street Beneath this Compter in Lad-lane or Ladle Hall for so I find it of Record in the parish of Saint Michaell Wood-Street and Beneath that is Love lane so called of wantons By this lane is the Ancient parish Church of S. Albans One note of the great Antiquity of it is the name by which it was at first dedicated to St. Albanus the first Martyr of England Another Character of the Antiquity of it is to be seen in the manner of the turning of the Arches in the windows and heads of the Pillars A third Note appears in the Roman Bricks here and there here and there inlayed amongst the stones of the building Very probable it is that this Church is at least of as ancient a standing as King Aldelstane the Saxon who as the Tradition sayes had his house at the East end of this Church This Kings house having a door also into Adel-Street in this Parish gave name as 't is thought unto the said Adel-Street which in all Evidences to this day is written King Adel-Street One great square Tower of this Kings house seems yet remaining to be seen at the North corner of Love lane as you come from Alderman-bury which Tower is of the very same stone and manner of building with S. Albans Church There is also but without any outward Monument the head of Iames the Fourth King of Scots of that name slain at Flodden field and buried here by this occasion After the Battell the body of the said King being found was closed in ●ead and conveyed from thence to London and so to the Monastery of Sheine in Surrey where it remained for a time in what order I am not certain But since the dissolution of that house in the reign of Edward the Sixth Henry Gray Duke of Suffolk being lodged and keeping house there the same body was to be shew'd so lapped in lead close to the head and body thrown into a waste room amongst the old timber lead other rubble since which time the workmen there for their foolish pleasure hewed off his head and Launcelot Young Master Glasier to Queen Elizabeth feeling a sweet savour to come from thence and seeing the same dried from all moisture and yet the form remaining with the hair of the head and beard red brought it into London to his house in Woodstreet where for a time he kept it for the sweetnesse but in the end caused the Sexton of that Church to bury it amongst other bones taken out of their Charnell c. There are divers Records of a house in Wood-street then called Black Hall but no man at this day can tell thereof On the North side of this Saint Michaels Church is Maiden-lane now so called but of old time Ingene-lane or Inglane In this Lane the Wax-Chaundlers have their Common Hall on the the South side thereof and the Haberdashers have their Hall on the North side at Stayning-lane end This Company of the Haberdashers or Hurrers of old time so called were incorporated a Brotherhood of St. Katherines the twenty sixth of Henry the Sixth and so confirmed by Henry the Seventh the seventeenth of his Reign the Cappers and Hat-Merchants or Hurrers being one Company of Haberdashers Down lower in VVood-street is Silver-street I think of Silver-Smiths dwelling there in which be divers fair houses And on the North side thereof is Monks-well street so called of a well at the North end thereof
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 Gu●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 hund●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 Cesterc●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-mark●t on the North side whereof is Pentecost Lane containing divers slaughter-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
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 a●d Goods of the Hospitals of Edward King of England the sixth of Christ Bridewell and Saint Thomas the Apostle c. This Church was full of many great Monuments as of the Lady Margaret Daughter to Philip of France and Wife to Edward the first Of Queen Isabel Wife to Edward the second Of Joane Queen of the Scots Wife to David Bruce Of Isabel Daughter to Edward the third Of Eleanor Dutchesse of Britain Of the Lady Beatrix Dutchesse of Britain Daughter to Henry the third Of Roger Mortimer Earl of March Of John Hastings Earl of Pembrook Of John Duke of Bourton who had been taken Prisoner at Agencourt with divers other great Personages There is lately erected there in the South end of the Chancel and extraordinary hansome Monument to the Lady Venetia Stanley Wife to the noble Knight Sir Kenelme Digby Now for the South side of this Ward beginning again at the Crosse in Cheap from thence to Fryday-street and down that street on the West side till over against the North-west corner of Saint Matthewes Church And on the West side to the South corner of the said Church is wholly in the Ward of Faringdon From this Fryday-street West to the old Exchange a street so called of Kings Exchange there kept which was for the receipt of Bullion to be coyned For Henry the third in the sixth year of his Reign wrote to the Scahines and men of Ipre● 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 ●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 Rock●ley was Keeper of the said Exchange for the King● in the fi●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
are divers hansom Monuments and Epitaphs On the South side of this street is the turning into the Black Fryers which Order sometime had their Houses in Old-born where they remained for the space of five and fifty years and then in the year 1276. Gregory Rocksley Mayor and the Barons of this City granted and gave to Robert Kilwarby Arch Bishop of Canterbury two Lanes or wayes next the street of Baynards Castle and also the Tower of Mount fitchet to be destroyed in place of which the said Robert builded the late new Church of the Black-Fryers and placed them therein King Edward the first and Eleanor his Wife were great Benefactors thereunto this was a large Church and richly furnished with Ornaments wherein divers Parliaments and other great Meetings have been holden namely in the year 1450 the twenty eighth of Henry the sixth a Parliament was begun at VVestminster and adjourned to the Black Fryers in London and from thence to Leicester In the year one thousand five hundred twenty two the Emperor Charls the fifth was lodged there In the year one thousand five hundred twenty foure the fifteenth of April a Parliament was begun at the Black Fryers wherein was demanded a Subsidy of 800000. pounds to be raised of Goods and Lands four shillings in every pound and in the end was granted two shillings of the pound of their Goods and Lands that were worth twenty pound or might dispend twenty pounds by the year and so upward to be paid in two years This Parliament was adjourned to VVestminster amongst the black Monks and ended in the Kings Palace there the 14th of August at nine of the Clock in the night and was therefore called the Black Parliament The same year in the moneth of October began a Parliament in the Black Fryers in the which Cardinal VVoolsey was condemned in the premunire this House valued at a hundred and four pound fifteen shillings five pence was surrendred the 12th of November the 30th of Henry the 8th Now to turn again to the Black Fryers through Bowyer Rowe Ave Mary Lane and Pater Noster Rowe to the Church of St. Michael ad Bladum or at the Corn corruptly at the Querne so called because in place thereof was sometime a Corn-Market stretching up West to the Shambles It seemeth that this Church was new builded about the Reign of Edward the third Thomas Newton first Parson there was buried in the Quire in the year 1461. At the East end of this Church stood a Crosse called the old Crosse in West Cheap which was taken down in the year 1390. since the which time the said Parish Church was also taken down but new builded and enlarged in the year 1430. the eighth of Henry the sixth VVilliam Eastfield Mayor and the Communalty granted of the common ground of the City three foot and an half in breadth on the North part and four foot in breadth toward the East for the inlarging thereof At the West end of this Parish Church is a small passage for people on foot thorow the same Church and West from the said Church some distance is another passage out of Pater Noster Rowe and is called of such a signe Panyer Alley which commeth out into the North over against Saint Martins Lane Next is Ivy Lane so called of Ivy growing on the Walls of the Prebends Houses but now the Lane is replenished on both the sides with fair Houses and di●ers Offices have bin there kept by Registers namely for the Prerogative Court of the Arch Bishop of Canterbury the Probate of Wills which is now removed into Warwick lane and also for the Lord Treasurers Remembrance of the Exchequer c. This Lane runneth North to the Westend of St. Nicholas Shambles of old time there was one great House sometimes belonging to the Earls of Brita●n since that to the Lovels and was called Lovels Inne Then is Eldenesse Lane which stretcheth North to the high street of Newgate Market the same is now called Warwick Lane of an ancient House there builded by an Earl of Warwick and was since called Warwick Inne It is in Record called a Messuage in Eldenesse lane in the Parish of St. Sepulchre the twenty eighth of Henry the sixth Cicilie Dutchesse of VVarwick possessed it Now again from the Conduit by Pauls Gate on the North side is a large street running West to Newgate the first part whereof from the Conduit to the Shambles of selling Bladders there called Bladder-street then behind the Butchers Shops be now divers Slaughter-houses inward and Tipling-houses outward This is called Mount Goddard-street of the Tipling-houses there and the Goddards mounting from the Tap to the Table from the Table to the Mouth and sometimes over the Head This street goeth up to the North end of Ivy lane before this Mount-goddard street Stall-boards were of old time set up by the Butchers to shew and to sell their Flesh meat upon over the which Stall-Boards they first builded sheds to keep off the Weather but since that incroaching by little and little they have made their Stall-boards and sheds fair Houses meet for the principal Shambles Next is Newgate Market first of Corn and Meale and then of other victuals which stretcheth almost to Eldenese-Lane a fair new and strong Frame of Timber covered with Lead was therefore set up at the Charges of the City near to the West Corner of St. Nicholas Shambles for the meal to be weighed in the first of Edward the sixth Sir Iohn Gresham being then Mayor On this side the North Corner of Eldenese Lane stood sometime a proper Parish-Church of St. Ewine as is before said given by Henry the eighth towards the erecting of Christs Church It was taken down and in place thereof a fair strong Frame of Timber erected wherein dwell men of divers Trades And from this Frame to Newgaete is all of this Ward and so an end thereof Of the two and Twentieth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Bread-street Ward THen is Bread-street it self so called of Bread in old time there sold for it appeareth by Records that in the year 1302 which was the thirty of Edward the first the Bakers of London were bounden to sell no Bread in their Shops or Houses but in the Market and that they should have four Hall-motes in the year at four several Terms to determine of enormities belonging to the said Company This street giving the name to the whole Ward beginneth in West Cheap almost by the Standard and runneth down South through or thwart Wathling-street to Knight Riders-street aforesaid where it endeth This Bread-street is wholly on both sides of this Ward out of the which street on the East side is Basing Lane a piece whereof to wit to and over against the back gate of the Red Lion in Wathling-street is of this Bread-street Ward Then is Fryday-street beginning also in West Cheap and runneth down South through Wathling-street to Knight-Riders street or
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 Alh●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-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 sta●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
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 Hosp●tal for the poor and the Loke a Lazar-house in 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 se●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 Bord●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
the field one of the fairest rising street in the World From Newgate on the left hand lyeth the Old Bayley and so down by Sea-cole and Fleet-lane we passe then over the common Sewer up to Shooe-lane and so to Fewter-lane now vulgarly called Fetter-lane but betwixt these two Lanes there is another new street butted out by the Company of Goldsmiths called Newstreet where there is a knot of very handsome Buildings Above the Barres there was a House of the Templers but they removed thence to Fleetstreet There was also adjoyning thereunto the Bishop of Lincolns House which was very ancient for the Records say 't was built Anno 1147. But of late years it hath belonged to the Noble Earls of Southhampton And lately it hath bin quite taken down and turned to several private Tenements as Durham House is in the Strand Insomuch that if one should ask what God Almighty doth now in London he might as the pulse of the 〈◊〉 beats give the same answer that was given by the Pagan Philosopher who being demanded what Iupiter did in Heaven he said Magnas ollas rump●t ex frustis earum parvas componit Jupiter breaks great Vessels and makes small ones of their peeces Side long of this ancient House of the Bishop of Lincoln is Newstreet for so it was called at first but now 't is called Chancery-lane where Edward the third annexed the House of converted Jews to the Office of Custos Rotulorum Here the Cursitors Office was built by Sir Nicholas Bacon Lord Keeper of the great Seal Here also is the six Clarks Office which is a fair convenient peece of stone and Brick Building newly erected the old being consumed by a casual fire of late years The Bishop of Chicester Ralph Nevil had much ground given him thereabouts by Henry the third which now is become all Tenements thick built and quite alienated Then is Lincolns Inne very much encreased in building it appertained sometimes to the said Ralph Nevil Bishop of Chicester Lord Chancellor of England having bin before the House of the Black-Fryers and after the decease of the said Bishop Nevil Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln Constable of Chester and Custos of England added much building to this place and Sir Thomas Lovel did also add much thereunto in Henry the eighth's time but now it is one of the foure Inns of Court for the Students in the Law Behind Lincolns Inne Westward is a spacious field where many fair Houses or rather Palaces are taken up by the Gentry Then is there towards Drewry Lane a new Market called Clare Market then is there a street and Palace of the same name built by the Earl of Clare who lives there in a princely manner having a House a street and a Market both for flesh and fish all bearing his name There was something omitted which should have bin spoken of the Church of St. Giles of the Field which is that being a very ancient Church and so decayed that it could not be repaired a new one was erected partly out of the ruines of the old which work was begun and finished in two years and a while after the fair Brick Wall that encompasseth it There were divers well disposed persons who contributed to so pious a work but specially the Lady Alice Duddeley according to that which is engraven upon the North door in pure and ponderous Latine which I thought therefore worthy to be here inserted Quod faelix faustumque sit posteris Hoc Templum loco Veteris ex Annosa vetustate Collapsi mole et splendore auctum multa Paraecorum Charitas Restauravit In quibus pientissimae Heroinae Dom. Aliciae Duddeley Munificentia gratum marmoris hujus meretur eloquium Huc etiam accessit aliorum pletas Quibus provisae sunt grates In Coelo Heus viator an effaetum est bon●s Operibus Hoc Saeculum From the North end of Chancery Lane is High Holborn which extends up to St. Giles in the Field where the famous devout Queen Matilda did found an Hospital as she did Eastward St. Katherines beyond the Tower At this Hospital the Prisoners conveyed from London to Tyborn were used to be presented with a Bowl of Ale for their last refreshment in this life and it was commonly called St. Giles's Bowl Then is there a spacious fair street called Long Acre and then Pickadilly full of fair Houses round about Thus have we as succinctly as we could avoiding superfluities and unnecessary trivial things spoken of the Skirts of London and the places thereunto annexed without the Gates and now Navige● hinc al●● jam mihi linter aqua I mean let us steer now to the City of VVestminster Of the Savoy the Dutchy and City of Westminster with the Antiquities the Tribunals of Iustice and Liberties thereunto belonging HAving taken so fair a Prospect and finished the perlustration of London It were a high Incivility and a soloecism in good manners or rather a Piacle not to give VVestminster also a visit being so near and contiguous a Neighborr It is true that they were once above a mile asunder but by insen●●b●e coalition and recruit of people they came at last to be united and incorporated into one continued peece in point of posture though not of Government And the Union with Scotland did not a little conduce to make this Union ●twixt London and VVestminster For the Scots multiplying here mightily neas●ed themse●ves about the Court so that the Strand from mud Walls and thatched Houses came to that perfection of Buildings as now we see Moreover the City of VVestminster hath divers Magnalia's which may deserve as exact a view as any within London for if London of old had her Temple of Diana VVestm●nster had one to a greater Deity which was Apollo And since in those very places is St. Paul hath his Church in London St. Peter the Prince of the Apostles hath his in VVestminster which was used to keep the Regalia's and the Crown Add hereunto that if London hath her Guild-hall and the Hustings VVestminster hath the great Praetorian or common Hall where the chief Courts and general Tribunals of Justice do make their Sessions though to her high pray●e be it spoken London hath a far more expedite way of doing Justice and determination of cau●es then Westminster hath besides in point of safety and strength if London hath her Artillery Garden Westminster hath her Military And in point of Extent and Government if London hath her six and twenty Wards and so many Aldermen Westminster also hath her Twelve Burgesses and so many distinct Wards but for the quality of Inhabitants London mu●t vayl to her most of the Nobility and Gentry residing in or about her Precincts Moreover in one particular Westminster may claim a great advantage of London in regard as the Royal Court once was so the residence of the Soveraign Magistrate is still there Insomuch that Westminster may well glory of three things That she hath the chiefest
the Minister 100l per annum On the left hand of Charing-Crosse there are divers fair Houses built of late yea●s specially the most stately Palace of Suffolk or Northampton House built by Henry of Northampton Son to the Duke of Norfolk and Lord Pri●ie Seal to King Iames. Then is there a large plot of ground enclosed with Brick called Scotland yard where the Kings of Scotland were used to be lodg'd and Margaret Queen Dowager of Scotland eldest sister to Henry the 8th kept her Court there a●●er the King her Husband had been kill'd in Flodden field And now we are come to White-Hall belonging of old to Hubert de Burgh Earl of Kent and Iusticier of England who gave it to the Black-Fryers in Holborne but being fallen to Henry the 8. ordained it to be called an Honor and built there a huge long Gallery with two Gate-houses thwart the street to St. Iames Park From these Gates we passe in a direct Line to Kings street on one side whereof passing through St. Stephen Alley is Canon Row but now though very corruptly calld Channel Row to called because it belonged to the Dean and Canons of Saint Stephens Chappel who were lodg'd there but now they are all turn'd to be temporal habitations Then we come to Woolstaple now the common Market place of Westminster In the Reign of Edward the first we read that the Staple being at Westminster the P●rishioners of Saint Margarets and Merchants of the Staple bui●ded the said Church of new Henry the sixth had six Wool-houses within the Staple at Westminster which he granted to the Dean and Canons of Saint Stephens Bec●use we are not yet ready to speak of the Abbey we will passe by it to the Gatehouse of Westminster and so to Totehill and Petty France The Gate-house is called so of two Gates the one out of the Colledge Court towards the North on the Eastside whereof was the Bishop of Londons Prison for Clerks convict the other Gate-house is a Goal or Prison for Felons one Walter Warfield Cellerer to the Monastery of VVestminster was founder of both these Gates in Edward the third's Reign On the South side of these Gates Henry the the seventh founded an Alms-House for 13 poor men one of them to be a Priest and above 45 years old the rest to be aged 50 years without Wives Near to this place was of old the Chappel of St. Anne where the Lady Margaret Henry the sevenths Mother erected an Alms-House for poor women and it was called Eleemosynary and now Almory or Ambry because the Alms of the Abbey were there distributed to the poor And there Islp Abbot of VVestminster set up the first Press of Book-printing that ever was in England Anno 1471. And one Caxton Citizen of London was the first who brought over that Art Then is there Totehill street where there are of late years sundry fair Houses on the back of St. Iames Park The Lady Anne Dacre built there an Hosptall for twenty poor Women and so many Children to be brought up under them Then is there Petty France where upon a place called St. Hermits Hill Cornelius Van Dun a Brabanter born and Yeoman of the Guard to Henry the 8th Edward the sixth Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth built twenty Houses for poor Women to dwell Rent-free And near hereunto there was of old a Chappel of St. Mary Magdalen which is now quite ruinated There is of late years a new large Chappel of Brick erected there at the entrance to Totehil fields Where Mr. Palmer a well di●posed and reverend Divine hath also erected lately another new Hospital with a competent allowance to the poor that shall be admitted thereinto And now we will return to the Abbey of VVestminster a place which was us'd to be of very high devotion It gives the denomination to the whole City and certainly that place cannot choose but be happy which hath Gods House for its Godfather as Munster a great and renowned City in Germany takes her name from the chief Church Of Westminster Abbey THis Church is famous especially by reason of the inauguration and sepulture of the Kings of England Sulcard writeth that there stood sometimes a Temple of Apollo in that place and that in the daies of Antoninus Pius Emperor of Rome it fell down with an Earthquake out of the remains whereof Sebert King of the East-Saxons erected another to St. Peter which being by the Danes overthrown Bishop Dunstane re-edified and granted it to some few Monks But afterwards King Edward surnamed the Confessour with the tenth penny of all his Revenues built it a new for to be his own Sepulture and a Monastery for Benedictine Monks endowing it with Livings and Lands lying dispersed in divers parts of England But listen what an Historian saith who then lived The devout King destined unto God that place both for that it was near unto the famous and wealthy City of London and also had a pleasant scituation amongst fruitful fields and green grounds lying round about it with the principal River running hard by bringing in from all parts of the World great variety of Wares and Merchandize of all sorts to the City adjoyning But chiefly for the love of the Chief Apostle whom he reverenced with a special and singular affection He made choice to have a place there for his own Sepulchre and thereupon commanded that of the Tenths of all his Rents the work of a noble Edifice should be taken in hand such as might beseem the Prince of the Apostles To the end as the Annales have it that he might procure the propitious favour of the Lord after he should finish the course of this transitory life both in regard of his devout Piety and also of his free Oblation of Lands and Ornaments wherewith he purposed to endow and enrich the same According therefore to the Kings commandement the work was nobly began and happily proceeded forward neither the charges already disbursed or to be disbursed were weighed and regarded so that it might be presented in the end unto God and Saint Peter and made worth their acceptation Thus the words of the old Record run Touching the Form of that ancient building we read in an old Manuscript Book that the principal plot or ground-work of the building was supported with most lofty Arches cast round with a four square work and semblable joynts But the compasse of the whole with a do●b●e Arch of Stone on both sides is enclosed with joyned-work firmly knit and united together every way Moreouer the Crosse of the Church which was to compasse the mid Quire of those that chaunted unto the Lord and with a twofold supportance that it had on either side to uphold and bear the lofty top of the Tower in the midst simply riseth at first with a low and strong Arch then mounteth it higher with many winding stairs artificially ascending with a number of steps But afterward with a single Wall it reacheth up
and hath enjoyed it without controlement or question And now before we bid a farewel to Westminster we will acquaint the Reader in brief with the modern Civil Government thereof Now as London is divided into 26. Wards so Westminster is partition'd to 12. for the which the Dean of the Collegiat Church was wont with the high Steward to elect 12. Burgesses and as many Assistants viz. one Burgesse and one Assistant for every Ward out of which twelve two are nominated yearly upon Thursday in Easter week for chief Burgesses to continue for one entire year who have Authority to hear examine determine and punish according to the Lawes of the Realm and Customs of the City matters of incontinency common Scolds Inmates with publique annoyances and likewise to commit such persons as shall offend against the peace giving notice thereof within 24. houres to some Justice of the Peace in the County of Middlesex And this mode of Government Westminster hath by vertue of an Act of Parliament in the twenty seventh of Queen Elizabeth A PARALLEL By way of COROLLARY Betwixt LONDON AND Other great Cities of the World HAving hitherto rambled up and down the streets of London and pryed into every corner thereof having endeavoured to fetch Her from her very Cradle which may not be improperly said for we found Her at first a Grove of Wood and so attended Her all along to that marvellous degree of perfection she is now arrived unto by insensible Coalitions of people improvement of Trade and encrease of Structures We will now for the better illustration of things and further enlightning of the Reader make a Comparison or Parallel 'twixt Her and other great Cities of the World which are accounted Cities of the first Magnitude for as the Starres in Heaven are distinguish'd by degrees of Magnitude so are Cities on the Earth Or to descend lower as there are Ships of the first second and third rate so there are Cities Now among those various wayes which tend to convey knowledge to the understanding rectifie ones judgement Examples Comparisons and Parallels conduce much thereunto and Plutarch was the first that prescrib'd this way who as t' was said of him by giving life to so many noble Greeks and Romans after their deaths gave himself the longest life so it may be said that by his Parallels he made himself parallel'd The Terrestial Globe which the Great God of Nature was pleased to entail upon man-kind for his mansion and to hold it for himself and his Heirs in Capite from Him I say this Masse of Earth is compared by some to a Camels back in regard of the bunchy unevenness of it by others to a Libbards skin in regard of the sundry 〈◊〉 parts and variety of Habitations By others to a great piece of Embrodery enchas'd up and down whereof the most bossie and richest compacted parts are Towns and Cities where People are linked in a nearer bond of love and lead a more civil course of life For Urbanity and Civility derived their names first from thence These Comparisons are lesse wide and more significant then that which Lucian makes when by way of drollery he makes the greatest Cities upon Earth to appear like so many Birds Neasts It is a Catholique truth wherein all Chronologers Antiquaries do unanimously concur that in the non-age of the World man-kind had no other Habitation then Woods Groves and bushy Queaches which they fenc'd about with Hardles made of twigs and loose Stone-walls to defend them from the invasions of wild and ravenous Beasts some lived in Caves and concavities of Rocks to shelter themselves from the inclemency and rigor of the Air Insomuch that all men were Troglodites at first as there are many Nations who are housed so to this day making themselves holes and hollowes in Rocks and sandy dry grounds as we find in this Iland some of those Troglodites both in Nottingham and Bridge-north Then by degrees they made themselves small Huts from Huts they came to build Houses and so to cohabit in Hamlets and thence sprung up Towns and Cities The first of any same was that stupend or City of Babylon founded by Nimrod the great Hunter and enlarged by that notable Virago Semiramis which was girded about with Walls 200. foot high and fifty broad whereof the Circuit was 300 Furlongs she had also 300. Turrets upon the Walls which were of such a latitude that Chariots might go upon them and if old Historians may oblige us to a belief there were three hundred thousand men that were employed in the building thereof she continueth still a vast and flourishing City called by the Turks Bagdat Asia being the most Orientall Countrey on this side the Hemisphere as it was first peopled for Adam was that Countreyman so Towns Cities Castles Altars and other Buildings first began to be erected there and indeed all other knowledge besides Architecture came first from those parts being next Neighbors to the rising Sun The Indian Brachmans or Gymnosophists were the first scientifical men and Students of Philosophy The Persian Magi were her next Students Then she cross'd the red Sea and came to Memphis among the Aegyptians whence she steered down the Nile and got over the Aegean Seas to Corinth and Athens among the Greeks whence she took wing to Rome and from thence she clammer'd ore the Alps to France Germany Great Britany and other North-west Climats Now as Asia had the first Cities so she glories to have to this day the greatest we will instance only in the City of Quinzay who arrogates to her self the name of the Celestial City whereof divers modern Authours do write portentous things and truly he must have a strong Faith who will believe them She is the chief City of the Empire of China lying under the same Climate as Venice doth with whom she hath a great resemblance being built upon the South side of a huge Laque she hath in length about forty miles in latitude thirty and one hundred and twenty miles in circumference she hath above a thousand Bridges some whereof are so high that Ships under saile may passe under them Her Houses are of Stone and Earth the lowest whereof is five stories high of marvellous beauty and strength She hath many magnificent Temples but one next the Royal Palace of a stupendious structure being of that altitude that the ascent is threescore and fower marble stairs There are an incredible number of fair Palaces in her among which after that of the Emperour those of the ten Governours are the stateliest and among them that of the Captain of the Tartars About the Center of the City stands the Imperial Court which is fenc'd about with seven Walls whereof every one is garded by ten thousand Souldiers the Palace is ten miles in Circuit and hath fourscore great Halls but that where the great Councel sits is four square and hath Windows and Gates looking towards the four parts of the Heaven
East West North and South where officers and others that have business do enter according to the scituation of the Countrey whence they come there being above threescore several Kingdoms under the Dominion of the Emperor and every one hath a particular Hall and Councel where they deliberate touching the Government of every Kingdom 'T is such a ravishing voluptuous place that there are objects to please and charm all the five senses The eyes are fed in beholding the goodly Structures Gardens and Trees which are up and down The Eares by hearing the chirping of the Birds and sweet murmure of the waters The smell is feasted with odoriferous sent of flowers and other rich perfumes The Taste by most delicate fruits And the other sense by most beautiful and ravishing Women which are able to tempt a Stoick having by their rowling large eyes and other postures extraordinary wayes of allurement There was a computation made of above a million of Houses within her so that allowing ten to a Family there be ordinarily about ten Millions of humane souls that breath within the City They are very rich in their Habits and there is not much difference in the Clothes of male and female only the women have more diversity of colours blew and red are the commonest but black is never worn There be Birds there of such a wonderful bigness that they will take up a whole Mutton alive up into the Air and sometimes a man in Armor There are abundance of Elephants Dromedaries Camels and other huge Beasts that do their work And all Animals both volatil and terrestrial are there of a bigger size and proportion then any where else by special influences of the Heavens It is incredible what number of Nations do resort thither for Traffique and Commerce as all the Indies Cathay Tartary Arabia and Persia They are rare Artists for 't is thought that Guns and Printing were there invented thousands of years agoe their Characters and way of reading being not either from the left hand to the right as the Greeks and Latines use or from the right hand to the left as the Hebrew and all the Dialect thereof as the Arabian Persian and others but perpendicular downward There is one Law amongst them that conduceth much to make them such exquisite Artisans which is that the Sonnes are alwayes of their Fathers Trade whereby they come to have a more natural dexterity genius and aptitude to the Trade and their Parents train them therein more industriously and discover unto them all the mysteries thereof Touching the rare China Dishes and Cups they make the masse of Earth whereof they are moulded useth to be buried in lumps within the bowels of the Earth sometimes a hundred years before they fall to work upon it and such a masse of aged Earth is the common Patrimony that Parents use to leave their Children In fine they pretend to so much sagacity wit and industry that 't is a saying among them that They only have two eyes the Europaeans one and all the rest of the World is blind They have such a high opinion of their King that they think he is descended of the race of some demy-God and so adore him accordingly They believe there is some Divinity in his blood insomuch that he never marries any but either his own Sister or Daughter or next a kin for fear of staining the Royal Blood He is seldom seen openly but he hath a private place when his Councel sits whence he may hear whatsoever is agitated and he signifieth his pleasure invisibly through certain hollow Trunks and he gives audience to Ambassadors also in that manner We will now over the Red Sea to Afrique and take a short transient Survay of the Gran Cairo in Egypt a City also of a huge Gigantique stature being near upon forty miles compasse having five and thirty thousand Meskeetos that is Churches and Chappels There are in her four and twenty thousand noted streets some whereof are two miles in length every one is locked up in the night with a dore and Chains at each end There is a huge number of Horsmen under the command of so many Saniacks which watch and gard the Town all the year long to the number of eight and twenty thousand men for fear of the incursions of the wild Arabs the cause of the vastness of Gran Cairo is that there are three Cities incorporated into one that is old Memphis Babylon and Elkhaire for there was another City hard by called Babylone but by encrease of Trade and new concourse of people the Soldans and Mammalucks reduc'd all three to one entire City which would be a pittiful poor place did not the River of Nile give her a yearly visit from the Mountains of the Moon about the Sommer Solstice and retire again about eighty dayes after We will now crosse the Greek Seas to Europe and take a quick view of most of those Cities which are of the first magnitude for indeed this Parallel aymes only at the Europaean Cities And it will be found by any impartial Reader that London needs not vail to any of them if regard be had 1. To conveniency of situation and to salubrity of air 2. To method of strict Government 3. To magnificence of the chief Magistrates 4. To Regulation of Trade 5. To variety of Artisans 6. To a greater number of Corporations and Halls 7. To plenty of all Provision that Air Earth or Water can afford 8. To Springs Conduits Aqueducts and other conveyances of fresh wholsome waters 9. To the universality of Trafick and bravery of the Adventurers 10. To solidity and richness of Commodities 11. To Artillery Ammunition Docks and a number of military stout well armed Citizens 12. To once a glorious Temple 13. To an admirable great Bridge 14. To a noble Navigable River 15. To a chearful and wholsome green circumjacent Soyl. 16. To Hospitality and Festival publique meetings of Corporations and other Societies for encrease of love and good intelligence between Neighbors 17. To number of Coaches by Land and all sorts of Boats by water for the accommodation of Passengers 18. For sundry kind of reliefs for the poor and indigent 19. For various kinds of honest corporal recreations and pastimes 20. And lastly for the number of humane souls Many of these may be found severally in other Cities who may haply exceed London in some particulars but take them all together she may vie with the best of them and run no great hazard But to proceed the more methodically in taking a view to this purpose though short and cursory of the greatest Cities in Europe we will begin Eastward at Constantinople called of old Bizantium and now Stambole by the Turks being the chief Court or Port as they terme it of the Ottoman Empire the word being derived from Faith and Plenty 'T is true she is plac'd in a fit and advantageous posture to be Commandresse of the World she was raised by a
story to tell so that there were many thousands born which were not baptized and whereof the Bill speaks not Touching the form and shape of London it may be aptly compared to a Lawrel leaf which is far more long then broad and were London round as Paris and other Cities are she would appear more populous by a more often encounter of the passengers Concerning the length of London take all Buildings that are contiguous one to another from East to West from the utmost point of Westminster to the utmost point beyond the Tower she may be well thought to be near upon five Italian miles in longitude and about half so much in latitude and in Circuit above twelve miles 'T is true that the Suburbs of London are larger then the Body of the City which make some compare her to a Iesuites Hat whose brims are far larger then the Block which made Count Gondamar the Spanish Ambassador to say as the Queen of Spain was discoursing with him upon his return from England of the City of London Madam I believe there will be no City left shortly for all will run out at the Gates to the Suburbs and for the Men I think they are gone by this time into the Country for I left them all booted and spur'd when I came away But touching the amplitude and largeness of London whereas Charles the Emperor to put a Complement upon Paris said that she might be called a Province rather then a City this term may better befit London who is a County of her self 16. From proportions and quantity we will now go to the quality of the persons she hath produced from time to time whereof there have been great numbers of most gallant and generous most wealthy and worthy most eminent and munificent brave men who had souls as large as their substance I mean such that received either their first being or well being from Her Charles the Quint was used to glory that he was a Citizen of Ghent having bin born there Henry the Great in answer to a Letter of the King of Spains wherein he had enumerated above a score of Soveraign Titles stiled himself only Henry Roy de France Bourgeois de Paris Henry King of France and Burgesse of Paris But London hath greater cause to glory in this point for Constantine the first Christian Emperor a Britain born was her Child And a foul mistake it was in Him who writ the Book of Martyrs when in his Epistle Dedicatory he saith that Constantine was the Son of Helena an English Woman being pure British for the name of English was not then in the World nor did the Saxons whence the English are derived take footing in great Britain but a long time after Maud the Empress was also a Londoner born with divers other great Kings and Princes Thomas Becket a man very famous in all the Catholick Countries and held one of the highest Saints was born in London he was first one of the Sheriffs Clarks then he was Parson of St. Mary Hil● then he went to Bologna in Italy to study the Law and at his return he was made Chancellor of England and Arch Bishop of Canterbury Innumerable other great Clarks and eminent Bishops were born in London and of late times Bishop Lancelot Andrews who for his vast stock of learning might be called the Universal Bishop There are now living two great Luminaries of the Church Doctor Wren and Doctor Warner born both in London the one Bishop of Ely the other Bishop of Rochester a person of most acute Intellectuals and of rare excellent knowledge Fabian the famous Chronologer was Sheriff of London and born there what a number of most munificent Benefactors hath London had among her own Natives besides those whom she bred what a Noble useful Structure is Leaden-hall built at the sole charge of Sir Simon Eyre Draper and Lord Mayor of London what a worthy Foundation is St. Iohns Colledge in Oxford built by Sir Thomas White Lord Mayor of London who was Benefactor also to Bristoll Reading and above twenty Towns besides what a bountiful Benefactor was Mr. William Lambe free of the Company of Clothworkers what a world of charitable deeds did he do in Town and Countrey what a Noble soul had Sir Thomas Gresham Mercer and Marchant who built the Royal Exchange Gresham Colledge with another great Countrey Palace in Middlesex what a notable Benefactor was Mr. Thomas Howel bred in his youth in Spain and afterwards in London who was one of the greatest Benefactors of the Company of Drapers and besides many other large acts of charity he hath left such means to Drapers Hall that if any Mayden can derive her self from the right linage of Howel in Wales the said Hall is to give her 21 l. towards her portion and this to continue for ever what a free large Soul had Mr. William Iones Marchant and free of the Haberdashers who in Monmouth the Countrey where he was born did build a fair Free School with very large allowance to the Masters he was Benefactor also to Hamborough Stoad and divers other places at home and abroad To these two Britains we will add a third which is Sir Hugh Middleton Goldsmith what a hazardous expenceful mighty work did he perform in bringing Ware-River to run through the streets of London what an infinite universal benefit doth accrue thereby to the whole City and Suburbs how often did this great design take heat and cold what faintings and fears what oppositions did it break through before it was perfectly finished What a large noble Soul had Sir Baptist Hicks Lord Vicount Campden what a number of worthy things did he in his life and at his death both for the advancement of Religion and Iustice At Campden in the County of Glocester he repaired and adorned God Almighties House and reard another for the poor before he built any for himself He founded also there a very commodious Market-house and having done many things more for the publick good in that place he erected afterwards a stately Palace for his Posterity though the hard fate of the times and the fury of the Warre hath half destroyed it He was also a great Benefactor to the Churches and the poor of Hamsted and Kensinton to St. Bartholomewes and Christ-Church Hospitals in London to all the Prisons as also to St. Laurence Church in the old Iury He purchased divers Impropriations and bestowed them upon the Church in divers counties He was at the charge of erecting a convenient Session-house for the Justices of Middlesex to meet in the middest of St. Iohn's street which is called Hicks Hall and will so be called to all posterity All these great lights he carried before him and at his death he gave a World of Legacies and divers Pensions to pious Ministers and others and bequeathed a great sum to be distributed among all his Servants To speak of all those Noble Londoners who have done glorious
time 39 Of the Royal Exchange and the name given unto it by Queen Elizabeth with the Ceremonyes us'd 78 Of Robert Fabian the Chronicler 81 Of the Rolls and six Clerks Office 344 Of Rome 386 Rome eight times sack'd 386 Of the City of Roven 391 S. Of the publick Schools in London 31 Of the Sheriffs of London and their Election 37 The several Courts belonging to the City of London 38 Of the spiritual Government of London 39 Of Sydon lane vulgarly Sithinglane 48 Of the Shaft of St. Andrew 55 A strange accident happened in St. Michaels Church in Corn-hill 18 A strange Tomb found in St. Mary Hill Church 86 Of the Stock and Salt Fishmongers and their antiquity 89 Of the Stocks 84 Of the Steelyard or Guilda aula Teutonicorum 97 Of sweet Wines 102 Of the Standard in Cheap 115 A Shank-bone and Tooth of a marvellous bigness in St. Laurence Church 118 Of Sion Colledge 302 Of St. Martin le grand and the great priviledges it had 307 Of Smithfield 328 Of Southwark Ward 335 Of the Stew-houses allowed in times pass'd 337 Of the Suburbs of London 341 Of Suttons Hospital 343 The strange Iudgements fallen upon the Duke of Somerset for Sacriledge 343 Of the Savoy 347 Of the shape of London 406 T. Of the Tower of London 23 Of the Lyon Tower ibid. The Tower of London delivered to Lewis of France 24 The on the Britain first Bishop of London 39 Of Tower-street Ward 48 The Prerogatives of the Tower 48 Of the Tun a Prison in Cornhill in times passed now a Conduit 77 Of the Tower Royal. 103 The Tragical end of William Fitzosbert 109 Great Tryumph in Smithfield in times pass'd 329 The Templer Knight arraigned in London 333 Twenty particulars wherein the City of London may compare with any other City 385 V Of the Vintry Ward 101 The Vintners of old called Marchant-Vintners of Gascogne 103 The Lady Venetia Stanley hath a fair Monument in Christ-Church 311 Of the Upper Bench Court 363 Of Venice 386 Of Vienna 388 W. William the Conquerors Charter to the City of London 40 The Wardmore-Inquest a wholsome Constitution 39 Of the six and twenty several Wards of London 49 Westminster first called Thorney 80 Of Wat Tylar 81 Of Sir William Walworth and the manner of his knighting 91 Of Wallbrook Ward 83 Whittington four times Lord Mayor and thrice buried 103 The Weavers ancient Charter 123 Of Watling-street 318 Of Winchester-House 338 Of Wapping 341 Westminster and London compared 346 Of Westminster-Abbey with the History thereof 353 Of White-Hall 356 A witty Speech of Henry the 4th of France 391 A witty saying of Charles the Emperor in Epist. Of the Wardmote l●quest 394 A witty passage of Henry the Great of France 404 A witty saying of Count Gandamar of London 404 A Catalogue of Mr. Howels Works in several Volumes Printed by Mr. Humphrey Mosely 1. Mr. Howels History of Lewis the thirteenth King of France with the life of his Cardinal de Richelieu Fol. 2. Mr. Howels Epistolae Hoelianae familiar Letters Domestick and Forreign in six Sections partly Historical Political Philosaphical the first Volume with Additions Octavo 3. Mr. Howels New Volume of Familiar Letters partly Historical Political Philosophical the second Volume with many Additions Octavo 4. Mr. Howels third Volume of additional Letters of a fresher date never before published Octavo 5. Mr. Howels Dodona's Grove or the Vocall Forrest in Folio together with the second part in Folio never printed before 6. Mr. Howels Englands Teares for the present Warres 7. Mr. Howels pre-eminence and pedigree of Parliament in duodecimo in an answer to Mr. Pryn. 8. Mr. Howels Instructions and Directions for forrain Travels in Twelves with divers Additions for travelling into Turky and the Levant parts 9. Mr. Howels Votes or a Poem-Royal presented to his Majesty in Quarto 10. Mr. Howels Angliae Suspiria and Lachrymae in Twelves Tumulus Thalamus two Counter-Poems the first an Elegy upon Edward Earl of Dorset the second an Epithalamium to the Lord M. of Dorchester Parallels reflecting on the times A German Dyet or the Ballance of Europe wherein the power and weakness Glory and Reproach Vertues and Vices Plenty and Wants Advantages and Defects Antiquity and Modernness of all the Kingdoms and states of Christendom are impartially poiz'd by Iames Howel Esq Fol. Parthenopoeta or the History of the most Noble and Renowned Kingdom of Naples with the Lists of all their Kings the first part translated out of the Italian by Mr. Samson Lennard the second part continued to the present times 1654. by Iames Howel Esq More of Mr. Howels Works printed by other men THe great French Dictionary refined and augmented in a large Folio A Survey of the Signiory of Venice in Folio A Dialogue 'twixt the Soul and the Body The first part of the late Revolutions in Naples The second part of the said Revolutions The Warre of the Jews epitomiz'd Sir Robert Cottons works which he was desired to publish Saint Pauls Progresse upon Earth Some sober Inspections made into the Cariage and Consults of the late long Parliament A Venetian Looking-glasse A Winter Dream The Trance or Mercurius Acheronticus A Dialogue 'twixt Patricius and Peregrin An Inquisition after blood The Instruments of a King The late Kings Declaration in Latine French and English Bella Scoto Anglica or the Travers●s of Warr 'twixt England and Scotland Mercurius Hibernicus The Process and Pleadings in the Court of Spain for the Death of Mr. Ascham in Folio Londinopolis or a new Prospect of the City of London and Westminster Three of all which Books are Translations the rest his own Compositions * The prime Bridge in Venice