tres plus compleverat annis Nam tribus octensis Regia Sceptra tulit Quindecies Domini centenus fluxerat annus Currebat nonus cum venit atra Dies Septima termensis lux tunc fulgebat Aprilis Cum Clausit summam tanta Corona Diem Nulla Dedere prius tantum tibi saecula Regem Anglia vix similem posteriora Dabunt This Church is famous for the Monuments and Tombs of our Kings Queens Nobility and other eminent Men as Sebert the first Christian King of the Eastâ— Saxons Harold the Bastard Son of Canutus the Dane King of England King Edward the Confessor and his Queen Edith Maud Wife to King Henry the First the Daughter of Malcolm King of Scots Henry the 3. and his Son King Edward the 1. with Eleanor his Wife daughter to Ferdinando the first King of Castile and Leon. King Edward the 3. and Philippa of Henault his Wife King Henry the 5. with Katherine his Wife Daughter to King Charles the 6. of France Anne Wife to King Richard 3. Daughter to Richard Nevil Earl of Warwick King Henry the 7. with his Wife Elizabeth Daughter to King Edward the 4. and his Mother Margaret Countess of Richmond King Edward the sixth that most Religious and truly Vertuous Prince who lyeth under the Brass richly Gilded Altar most curiously wrought with Excellent Workmanship Anne of Cleave the 4 th Wife of King Henry the Eight Queen Mary and the Renowned Queen Elizabeth upon the Remove of whose Body from Richmond where She Dyed to White-Hall by Water these Lines were Written which may for their Elegancy and in Remembrance of that most Illustrious Protestant Queen be inserted The Queen was brought by Water to White-Hall At every stroake the Oars their tears let fall More clung about the Barge Fish under water Wept out their Eyes of Pearl swam blindly after I think the Barge-men might with easier Thighs Have row'd her thither in her Peoples Eyes For howsoe'er thus much my thoughts have scann'd Sh 'ad come by Water had she come by Land Prince Henry eldest Son of King James the First Monarch of Great Britain King James Himself and Queen Ann his Wife and the first Male born of King Charles the First dying an Infant Of Dukes and Earls and Lords Degree Edmund Earl of Lancaster second Son of King Henry the Third and his Lady Aveline de fortibus Countess of Albemarle William and Andomar of Valente of the Family of Lusignian Earls of Pembrooke Alphonsus John and other Children of King Edward the first John of Eltham Earl of Cornwall Son to King Edward the Second Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Glocester the youngest Son of Edward the Third with other of his Children Eleanor Daughter and Heir of Humphry Bâ—hun Earl of Hereford and of Essex Wife to Thomas of Woodstock The young Daughter of Edward the Fourth And King Henry the Seventh Henry a Child of two months old Son of King Henry the Eighth Sâ—phia the Daughter of King James who died as it were in the first Day-dawning of her Age. Philippa Mohun Dutchess of York Robert of Henault in right of his Wife Lord Bourchier Ann the young Daughter and Heir of John Mowbraâ— Duke of Norfolk promised in Marriage unto Richard Duke of York younger Son to King Edward the Fourth Sir Giles Dawbny Lord Chamberlain to King Henry the Seventh and his Wife of the House of the Arundels in Cornwall John Viscount Wells Frances Brandon Dutchess of Suffolk Mary her Daughter Margaret Douglas Countess of Lenex Grandmother to James King of Great Britain with Charles her Son Winefrid Bruges Marchioness of Winchester Ann Stanhope Dutchess of Somerset and Jane her Daughter Ann Cecil Countess of Oxford Daughter to the Lord Burleigh Lord High-Treasurer of England with Mildred Burghley her Mother Elizabeth Berkly Countess of Ormond Frances Sidney Countess of Sussex James Butler Viscount Thurles Son and Heir to the Earl of Ormond Besides these Humphry Lord Bourchier of Cornwall Sir Humphry Bourchier Son and Heir to the Lord Bourchier of Berners both slain at Barnetfield Sir Nicholas Carew Baron Powis Thomas Lord Wentworth Thomas Lord Wharton John Lord Russel Sir Thomas Bromley Lord Chancellor of England Douglas Howard Daughter and Heir General of Henry Viscount Howard of Bindon Wife to Sir Arthur Gorges Elizabeth Daughter and Heir of Edward Earl of Rutland Wife to William Cecil Sir John Puckering Lord-Keeper of the Great Seal of England Frances Howard Countess of Hartford Henry and George Cary the Father and Son Barons of Hunsdon both Lords Chamberlains to Queen Elizabeth The Heart of Ann Sophia the Daughter of Christopher Harley Count Beaumont Ambassador for the King of France in England bestowed within a small Gilt Urn over a Pyramid Sir Charles Blunt Earl of Devonshire Lord-Lieutenant-General of Ireland Geoffrey Chaucer the Prince of English Poets in his time Edmund Spencer an eminent Poet. William Cambden Clarencieux King of Arms. Causabon the Famous French Writer Michael Drayton c. Then there is George Villiers Duke Marquiss and Earl of Buckingham Favourite to King James and King Charles the First Also the Earl of Essex and several others Interr'd there during His present Majesties Absence from His Government There is also Interr'd George Duke of Albemarle Father to his Grace the present Duke whose Funerals were Solemnly performed the Thirtieth of April 1670. The Dutchess of Albemarle was also Interr'd in King Henry the Sevenths Chappel the twenty eighth of February 1669. in Westminster Church There is likewise Interr'd that Celebrated Poet Mr. Abraham Cowley under a Monument of Exquisite Curiosity at the Charges of his Grace the Noble Duke of Buckingham Having done with Westminster-Abby we shall give a Brief account of the other Churches Alphabetically as they were before the Fire And of such as are Re-built which are now far more Durable and Stately than before the Reader may expect an Account hereafter I. St. Albans Church in Woodstreet is of great Antiquity being Dedicated to St. Albans the first Martyr of England Another mark of Antiquity was to be seen in the manner of the turning the Arches in the Windows and heads of the Pillars There were also Roman Bricks found inlay'd here and there among the Stones of the Building it was Anno 1632. being wonderfully decay'd pull'd down in order to be Re-built In it were diverse Monuments which for brevity sake are omitted II. On the North side of the East end of Tower-street is the Parish-Church called All-hallows Barkin a very fair Church standing in a large Church-Yard on the North side whereof was built a fair Chappel by King Richard the first whose heart 't is said was buryed there under the high Altar This Chappel was Augmented by King Edward the first And a fraternity setled there by King Edward the fourth King Richard the third new Built it and founded therein a Colledge of Priests which was suppressed in the Year 1548. in the Second of Edward the sixth and the Ground made
Chamberlain of His Maiesties Houshold or by the Clerk of the Check In this Tower is kept the Office of His Majesties Ordnance the standing and grand Magazine of the principal Preparatives Habiliments Utensils and Instruments of War by Sea and Land It is under the Government in chief of the Master of the Ordnance by whom it is committed to principal Officers as a Lieutenant who in the absence of the Master of the Ordnance imparts all Orders and Warrants directed to the Office and is to see them duely executed and to give Order for the discharging great Ordnance when required at Triumphs Festivals c. As also to see the Train of Artillery and all its Equipage fitted for motion upon any occasion The Surveyor is to survey all the Stores and Ordnance to allow Bills of Debt and see that all Provision be good c. The Clerk of the Ordnance Records all Orders and Instructions for the Government of the Office and Patents Grants Names of Officers c. Draw Estimates of Provision and supplys Letters Contracts c. Make all Bills of Imprest and Debentures Keep Journals and Liegers of Receipts and Returns of Stores The Store-keeper takes into his charge the Munitions and Stores and is to look that the Store-houses be kept in due Repair The Clerk of the Deliveries is to draw all Proportions for Deliveries of any Stores or Provisions and to be present at the Delivery There are other Patent Officers as the Master-Gunner of England the Keeper of the small Guns a principal Engineer with divers inferior Attendants and Artificers which for brevity we omit In the Tower is also the Office of Warden of the Mint where is Coined all the Bullion that is minted in England The chief Officer is the Warder of the Mint who receives all the Silver and Gold brought in by Merchants Goldsmiths or others and pays them for it Then the Master-Worker who causes the Bullion to be melted delivers it to the Moneyers and when minted receives it again from them The Comptroller who is to see that all the Money be made according to the just Assize c. The Assay-Master weighs the Bullion and is to see that it be according to the Standard The Auditor passes all Accompts The Surveyor of the Melting is to see the Bullion cast out and not to be altered after it is delivered to the Melter There are several other inferior Officers c. As for the Money c. See the Present State of England p. 10. The first Gold that was Coined in the Tower was in the Reign of Edward III. and the Pieces were called Florences of the value of 6 s. 8 d. All great Sums before were used to be paid by the Weight as so many Pounds or Marks of Silver or Gold but not stampt Lesser Payments in Starlings probably because there was a Star stamped upon them and were called Pence nor can we read of them before the Reign of Henry II. In this Tower only is the Brake or Rack usually called The Duke of Exeter ' s Daughter because he was the first Inventer of it So much of the Tower of London Besides the Towers on the Bridge which have suffered by the Accidents of Fire Antiquaries speak of two Castles that were on the West-part of London one the Castle of Monfiquet built by a Baron of that Name that came over with the Conqueror but since demolished and the Black-Fryars risen out of the Ruines of it The second is Baynard's Castle by Paul's Wharf built by one Baynard who came hither likewise with the Conqueror who being Ennobled the Honour succeeded from Father to Son a long time till it came to Robert Fitz-water a brave and valiant Knight who falling into the displeasure of King John was banished and the Castle ruined but recovering his favor by a notable Combat he perform'd in France against an English Knight Fitz-water being on the French side he was re-invested in his Possessions and so repaired the Castle again He was made chief Bannerer or Banner-bearer of London what his Office was and the Solemnity about it is to be seen in Stowes Survey of London in the Chapter of Towers and Castles When thiâ— Honour fell from the Fitz-Waters or Baynard Castle is uncertain Henry VII repaired this Castle and Queen Mary was proclaimed there We reaâ— of a Tower that stood where Bridewell now stands and a Royal Palace where our Kings kept theâ— Courts and summon'd Parliaments A great parâ— of this on the West-side was given to the Bishop 〈◊〉 Salisbury and thence is derived the Name of Salisbury-Court The Eastern-part was waste till Hen. 〈◊〉 built a stately Palace there and call'd it Bridewelâ— where the Emperor Charles V. was most magnificently entertained Anno 1522. There was a Tower call'd the Royal Tower iâ— the Parish of St. Michael de Pater Noster wherâ— King Stephen kept his Court afterwards call'd Thâ— Queens Wardrobe There was another at Bucklerâ—bury called Serns Tower where King Edward II kept his Court and his Exchange of Money Barbican was likewise another Tower where thâ— City Centinels were wont to Watch but demolisheâ— by King Henry III. Anno 1227. after he was râ—â—conciled to the Barons Sect. 2. Of its Churches and Monuments THE Number of Parish-Churches besides Chapels within the Weekly Bills of Mortality is 132 twice more than any City in Christendom can shew The Cathedral of which is dedicated to the Apostle St. PAVL and the onely Cathedral of that Name in Europe It was founded by Aethelbert King of Kent Anno 610. under whom Segbert a Saxon Reigned in this Tract of Ground in a place where stood a Temple of Diana and afterwards did endow it with Lands and Privileges so did afterwards Athelstan Edgar and Eward the Confessor It was much enlarged by Erkenwald the Fourth Saxon Bishop thereof And being almost destroyed by Fire Anno 1078. Mauritius another of its Bishops began the Foundation of this magnificent Pile and went on about 20 years but the Quire and Tower were not finished till Anno 1221. As to other Casualties we refer you to the Chapter that treats of Fires As to its Dimensions the length of it according to Stow was 240 Taylors Yards or 720 Foot the Breadth 130 Foot the Heighth of the Steeple 520 Foot whereof the Stone Work was 260 and the Spire 260 Foot The Length of it according to others was 690 Foot that is 20 Foot more than St. Peters at Rome It stood upon so much Ground as contained above three Acres and an half Upon the Spire of Timber was a Bowl of Copper Gilt 9 Foot and 1 Inch in compass whereon stood the Cross 15 Foot and an half high and very near 6 Foot across made of Oak covered with Lead and another Cover of Copper over the Lead Above all stood the Eagle or Cock of Copper Gilt 4 Foot long and the Breadth of the Wings 3 Foot and an half It was built in Form of a Cross
Houses were burnt for there hapned many grievous Fires there of which and other Accidents more hereafter it lookt more like a stately and Continued Street than a Bridge The Charges of keeping this Bridge in Repair are so great that there is a large House a vast Revenue in Lands and Houses and Divers considerable Officers set apart for the constant care and Repair thereof The principal whereof are the two Bridge-Masters chosen out of the Body of the Liveries upon Midsummer-day after the Sheriffs and the Chamberlain Concerning this Bridge and the stupendious site and structure thereof take the ingenious fancy of Mr. James Howel in imitation of Sannazarius the famous Venetian Poet who writ the like about that City and the Rialto the prime Bridge there Cum Londinensem Neptunus viderat Vrbem Vectus ibi propriis atque revectus Aquis Dum Densam penetrat sylvam lucosque ferentes Pro Ramis funes pro foliisque cruces Cum superimpositum torrenti flumine Pontem Viderat Rapido ponere jur freto Cum tantos Muros ferrumina Castra tot Arcus Vidit haec tergo cuncta jacere suo Arcus qui possunt totidem formare Rialtos Metiri siquis summa vel ima Cupit Haec Deus undarum aspiciens fluxusque retrorsum Tundere horrendos inde Boare sonos Nunc mihi quanta velis terrae miracula pandas Est primus Mundi pons ait iste Stupor The same Paraphas'd in English When Neptune from his billows London spy'd Brought proudly thither by a high Spring-Tide As through a floating Wood he steer'd along And moving Castles cluster'd in a throng When he beheld a mighty Bridge give Law Vnto his Surges and their fury awe When such a shelf of Cataracts did roar As if the Thames with Nile had chang'd her shoar When he such Massy Walls such Towers did eye Such Posts such Irons on his back to lie When such vast Arches he observ'd that might Nineteen Rialto's make for depth and height When the Cerulean God these things survey'd He shook his Trident and astonish'd said Let the whole Earth now all her Wonders count This Bridge of Wonders is the Paramount There was first a Ferry where this Bridge is built and the Ferry-man and his Wife Dying his only Daughter a Maid named Mary with what her Parents left her and the profits of this Ferry built a House for Nuns where the East part of St. Mary-Overy's Church now stands and gave them the oversight and profits of the Ferry This Nunnery was afterwards converted into a Coâ—lege of Priests who built the Bridge of Timber but the time when is uncertain but mention is made of it Anno 994. when the Londoners overthrew a part of Sweyn King of Denmark's Army who besieged them many of the Danes being Drowned in the Thames because in their hasty flight they took no heed of or could not recover the Bridge This Bridge was burnt Anno 1136. It was afterwards new built but the Charges of continual Reparation being so great it was by the Aid of the Citizens and others built of Stone as beforesaid the Timber Bridge having been maintain'd partly by the proper Lands thereof partly by Legacies and Libâ—rality of Divers Persons and partly by Taxations in divers Shires at least 215 years before the Bridge of Stone was built And that we may give an Estimate of the Payments and Allowances belonging to this great Bridge it is recorded that in Henry the 7 th's time it amounted in one year to above 815 l. by which may be guessed what improvement and increase it is come to by this time the prices of things being so vastly altered Besides this Bridge there are three other curious Sone-Bridges over that mighty Chargeable and beautiful work or Channel rendring Navigable the Fleet Brook from the River Thames to Holborn-Bridge which is 100 Foot Broad on the sides of which are many huge Vaults to treasure up Coals for the use of the poor c. About the middle of this Channel stands Fleet-Bridge being considerably advanced though it lies in a level with Fleet-street and the bottom of Ludgate-Hill so that all Waggons Coaches Carmen c. pass over it the other two Bridges viz. Bridewell-Bridge and Fleet-laneBridge are raised 14 Steps or Stairs above the Streets on each side of the said Channel in order to the admittance or giving passage to all Lighters Barges Boats Hoys c. which bring in plentifully every Tide Coals for which and other Goods brought there are certain Duties paid to the City which were granted to the City by an Act of Parliament This Channel was finished Anno 1676. at the Cost of above 74000 l. And by the same Act of Parliament Hâ—lborn-Bridge at the North-end of this Channel was ordered to be enlarged which is very commodiously done to the great advantage of Passengers Theâ—e were several other inferiour Bridges mentioned by Stow and others but being of no great eminency and can hardly now be discovered we pass them by Of Rivers Aqueducts c. The Great and famous River of Thames deserves precedency not only of all other Rivers in England but perhaps of the World because it 's breadth depth gentle strait and even Course extraordinary wholsome Water and Tides render it more commodious for Navigation than any other that we read of The Sea Flows up this River near fourscore miles that is almost to Kingstone 12 miles above London by Land and 20 by Water bringing the greater Vessels to London and the smaller beyond then against the stream Boats are drawn to Oxford and higher many miles It is High Water at this City when the Moon comes to the North-East and South-West points of Heaven the one in our Hemisphere and the other in the opposite Hemisphere The highest Tides are upon a Land Flood the Wind Northwest at the Equinoctial and the Moon at Full When these Four Causes concur which is very rare the River over-flows its Banks in some places endamaging Westminster in their Cellars This Noble River opening Eastward towards Germany and France is much more advantageous for Traffique then any other River of England There is a variety of excellent Fish especially incomparable Salmon and along its Banks on either side a fat and fruitful Soyl pleasant with Meadows and innumerable Palaces and stately Buildings of the Nobility Gentry and great Citizens that it yields as beautiful a sight as can any where be met withal Which may be thus Described only from Windsor to London with a little alteration of Mr. Draytons Lines But now this Flood upon his Voyage prest That finds with strength his beauty still increast Where Windsor stood on Tip-toe to behold The Goodly Thames so far as e're he could With Royal Houses Crown'd of stately pride On either Bank as he along doth glide With sweet Delight doth his long Course pursue Doth Oatlands Hampton-Court and Richmond view Then Westminster great Thames doth entertain That vaunts her Palace and her