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 quà m 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 Boâ—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
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 oâ— 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 perverâ—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 Terminâ—r in London and so was Sir Gervase Elwayes the Liveâ—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
OR A Progress made through the six and twenty particular Wards Precincts or Aldermanries whereinto the whole City is divided GReat Cities have commonly their Divisions And I could heartily wish that the Noble City of London had not so many in one sense I mean so many Rents factions and feuds in the practice of Holy Duties proceeding from such extravagant heterodoxal and fanatical opinions or rather Chymeras of unsetled brains But these are not the Divisions that are here meant Those which I intend in this place are only topical distributions or Districts shewing the several position of parts and differences of their locality whereby the Reader may have a kind of Anatomy presented unto him of all the members of this great populous City thus dissected This general Division consists of six and twenty parts or precincts which in the English Diaâ—ect are called Wards and are these that follow The names of all the Wards of the City of LONDON Ward 1. Tower-street 2. Port-soken 3. Algate 4. Limestreet 5. Bishops-gate 6. Broad-street 7. Cornhill 8. Langhorn 9. Billingsgate 10. Bridge-ward within 11. Candlewick 12. Wallbrook 13. Dowgate 14. Vintry 15. Cordwainer 16. Cheape 17. Colemanstreet 18. Basings Hall 19. Cripplegate 20. Aldersgate 21. Faringdon intra 22. Faringdon extra 23. Breadstreet 24. Queen Hith 25. Castle Bainard 26. Bridgewater without viz. the Borough of Southwark Whereof the greatest is the last and Bassings-Hall the least Of the first Ward or Aldermanry called Tower-street Ward OUt of an honour which is due to the Tower of London it being the prime Fortresse and propugnacle of the City both by water and Land the chief Armory and Archive of the whole Island c. we will begin with Tower-street Ward it being the first Ward Eastward within the Wall extending it self along the River from the Tower almost to Billinsgate One half of the Tower the ditch on the West side and Bulwarks adjoyning do stand within that part where the wall of the City of old time went streight from the Postern gate South to the River of Thames before that the Tower was perfectly built Then was Tower hill sometimes a clear large plot of ground but now pester'd with encroachments of houses built upon the banks of the ditch much to the prejudice and choaking up of the said ditch This Hill hath alwaies a Scaffold and Gallowes erected for execution of Traytors and others which the City opposed at first Many clashings have been also 'twixt the Lord Mayor and the Lieutenant of the Tower about the extent of their Liberties and some Priviledges touching prisoners the Lievtenant claim'd which were reconciled 1585 in Queen Elizabeths time at Nonsuch On the Northside of Tower-hill there is Lumly house then is Tower-street stretching from Tower-hill to Saint Margaret Pattens At the end of this is the Parish Church called Alhallows Barking on the North side whereof was sometimes a fair Chappel built by Richard the first and some say that his Heart which is call'd Coeur de lion was buried there under the high Altar it became afterward a little Colledge of Priests and stood till Edward the sixth Henry Howard Earl of Surrey being beheaded was buried in Barking Church Iohn Fisher Bishop of Rochester having layen naked upon the Scaffold a long time was at last carried thither and buried in the Churchyard There were divers other men of note buried there and lately Doctor Land Archbishop of Canterbury who was beheaded by the long Parliament By the West side of Barking Church lyeth Sydon Lane commonly callâ—d Sithing Lane wherein among other large Buildings there is Walsingham House Then is there the Parish Church of Saint Olave hard by Hart-street where there are some Monuments of the noble Family of the Radcliffs Earls of Sussex Then is there Mart-lane part whereof lies in Algate Ward where there are many fair Houses rich Marchants Then is there Mincheon Lane so call'd because of Tenements there sometimes pertaining to the Minchuns or Nuns of St. Helens in Bishopsgate-street There dwelt in this Lane divers strangers in times pass'd and they were commonly call'd Gallimen because they brought up Wines and other commodities in Gallies which they landed in the Thames street in a place call'd Galley Key They brought also a Coin with them call'd Gally half pence which was a Ligurian Coin But in the Reign of Henry the fourth and Henry the fifth it was inordred that whosoever should import that Coin with Suskins or Dodkins should be punished as a Felon The Clothworkâ—rs Hall is in this Lane Then have you the Parish Church of St. Mary Pattens and Bear Lane hard by reaching to Thames street The next is Spurrier lane call'd so in times pass'd but now named Water lane then is there Hart lane call'd at first Harp-lane which likewise reaches to Thames street In this Lane is the Bakers Hall In Tower street 'twixt Hart-lane and Church-lane was in times pass'd a quadrant call'd Galley-row because Galley men dwelt there whence may be inferr'd that Galleys was a kind of shipping not unknown to England in times pass'd Then have you two Lanes out of Tower street both call'd Church lanes then hard by is there another call'd Fowl-lane Afterwards you come to the Parish Church of S. Dunstans in the East it is a fair large Church of an ancient building with a spacious Church-yard the chiefest Salters Ironmongers were us'd to be thick there There are many Monuments of Knights and other persons of ranke in this Church among others that of Sir Iohn Hawkins the great Seaman There are many Keys in this Parish among others VVooll Key where was used to be the Trouage of Woolls Then Custome-house Key which part of the Town was used to be call'd in times passd Petty VVales And some are of opinion that the Princes of Wales when they repair'd to the City had a Pallace there the ruines whereof remain to this day of firm stone There was in former times an Hospital in the Parish of Barking for the sustentation of poor Priests with other both men and women that were Lunatick And so much in brief for what concerns Tower-street Ward Of the second Ward of London called Portsoken Ward VVE will now make a salley out of Algate and visit Portsoken VVard This Portsoken signifieth Franchise where there was sometimes a very ancient Guild or particular Society which had its beginning in the Reign of King Edgar There were then 13 Knights who desir'd to have a portion of Land on the East part of the City which for some signal services done in the wars was granted them with the Liberty of a Guild The King condescended hereunto proâ—ided that each of them should victoriously perform three combats one above ground and another under ground and the third in the water They were to run in East Smithfield with Spears against all comers which was us'd to be gloriously performed So that the King namd that place Knighten Guild and so
thorow into Fen-Church street over against Northumberland house Then have ye Bricklayers Hâ—ll and another Alley called Sprinkle Alley now named Suger-loaf-alley of the like Siâ—n Then is there a fair House with divers Tenements near adjoyning sometimes belonging to a late dissolâ—ed Priory but since possessed by Mr. Cornwallies widdow and her Heirs by the gift of King Henry the eighth in reward of fine puddings as it was commonly said by her made wherewith she had presented him such was the Princely liberality of those times Of later time Sir Nicholas Throgmorton Knight was log'd there Then somewhat more West is Belzetters Lane so called of the first Builder and owner thereof now corruptly called Bâ—lliter lane betwixt this Belzetters lane and Lime-street was of later time a frame of three fair Houses set up in the year 1590 in place where before was a large Garden-plot enclosed from the High-street with a Brick Wall which Wall being taken down and the ground digged deep for cellerage there was found right under the said Brick Wall another Wall of stone with a Gate arch'd of stone and Gates of Timber closed in the middest towards the street the Timber of the Gates was consumed but the Hinges of Iron still remained on and their Staples on both the sides Moreover in that Wall were square Windowes with Bars of Iron on either side the Gate this Wall was under ground above two fathoms deep as it was esteemed and seemed to be the ruines of some House burned in the Reign of King Steven when the fire began in the House of one Aleward neer London-stone and consumed East to Ealdgate whereby it appeareth how greatly the ground of this City hath been in that place raised On the North side this principall street stretcheth to the West corner of Saint Andrews Church and then the Ward turneth towards the North by S. Mary street on the East side to St. Augustines Church in the Wall and so by Burryes Markes again or about by the Wall to Ealdgate The second way from Ealdgate more towards the South from the Pump aforesaid is called Fen-Church-street and is of Ealdgate Ward till ye come to Cullver Alley on the West side of Ironmongers Hall where sometimes was a Lane which went out of Fâ—n-Church-street to the middest of Lime-street but this Lane was stopped up for suspicion of Thieves that lurked there by night Again to Aldgate out of the principal street even by the Gate and Wall of the City runneth a Lane South to Crossed or Crouched-Fryers and then Woodroof Lane to the Tower Hill and out of this Lane West a street called Hart-street which of that Ward stretcheth to Sydon-lane by St. Olaves Church one other Lane more West from Algate goeth by Northumberland-House towards the Crossed-Fryars then have you on the same side the North end of Mart-lane and Blanch-axelton or Chappleton where that Ward endeth Thus much for bounds Now for Monuments or places most anciâ—nt and notable I am first to begin with the late dissolved Priory of the holy Trinity call'd Christs-Church on the right hand within Aldgate This Priory was founded by Matilda Queen and Wife to Henry the first in the same place where Siredus somtime began to erect a Church in honour of that Crosse and of Saint Mary Magdalen of which the Dean and Chapter of Waltham were wont to receive thirty shillings the Queen was to acquit her Church thereof and in exchange gave unto them a Miâ—â— King Henry her husband confirmed her gift This Church was given to Norman the first Canon regular in all England The said Queen gave also unto the same Church and those that served God therein the plot of Aldgate and the Soke or Tenements thereunto belonging with all Customs so free as she had held the same and 25 l. Blanks which she had of the City of Exeter as appeareth by her Deed wherein she nameth the House of Christs-Church and reporteth Aldgate to be of her Demains which she granteth with two parts of the rent of the City of Excester Norman took on him to be Prior of Christs-Church in the year of Christ 1108 in the Parishes of St. Mary Magdalen St. Michael St. Katherine and the blessed Trinity and was in old time of the holy Crosse or holy Râ—â—d Parish The Priory was builded on a piece of ground in the Parish of St. Katherine towards Aldgate which lyeth in length betwixt the Kings-street by the which men go towards Algate near to the Chappel of St. Michael towards the North and containeth in â—ength eighty three ells half quarter and half quartern of the Kings Iron eln and lieth in breadth c. The Soke and Ward of Aldgate was then bounded as I have before shewn The Queen was a men also that the Land and English Knighten-Guâ—ld was given unto the Prior Norman and the honorable man Geffrey de Clinton was a great helper therein and obtained that the Canons might enclose the way betwixt their Church and the Wall of the City c. This Priory in processe of time became a very fair and large Church rich in Lands and Ornaments and passed all the Priories in the City of London or Shire of Middlesex The Prior whereof was an Alderman of London to wit of Portsoken Ward It is Recorded that Eustacius the eighth Prior about the year 1264 because he would not deal with temporal Matters instituted Theobald Fitz Ivonâ—s Alderman of the said Portsoken Ward under him and that VVilliam Rising Prior of Christs Church was sworne Alderman of the said Portsoken Ward in the first of Richard the second These Priors have sitten and ridden amongst the Aldermen of London in Livery like unto them faring that his habit was in shape of a spirituall person at which time the Prior kept a most bountiful house of meat and drink both for rich and poor as well within the House as at the Gates to all comers according to their estates and qualities But to take leave of this Priory King Henry the eighth minding to reward Sir Thomas Audley Speaker of the Parliament against Cardinal Woolsey as ye may read in the Chronicle sent for the Prior commending him for his Hospitality promised him preferment as a man worthy of a far greater dignity which promise surely he performed and compounded with him though in what sort I never heard so that the Priory with the appurtenances was surrendred to the King in the month of Iuly 1531 the 23 of the said Kings Reign the Canons were sent to other houses of the same Order and the Priory with the appurtenances King Henry gave to Sir Tho. Audley newly knighted and afterwards made Lord Chancelour Sir Thomas Audley offered the great Church of this Priory with a ring of nine Bells well tuned whereof four of the greatest were since sold to the Parish of Stebunbith and the five lesser to the Parish of St. Katherine Christs-Church in exchange for their small Parish Church minding to have
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 freâ— 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 Bâ—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
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 yeaâ— of his Reign It was lately builded by Sir Thomas Pullâ—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 Messâ—age Adjoyning to that House there was lately erected an Engine to convey â— 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 Theâ—â—onicorum should be maintained and upholden through the whole Realm by aâ—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 Wâ—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 sâ—â—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 enâ—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 câ—â—firmed unto the said Marchants in manner following viz. It
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. Canâ—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 Aâ—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 perceiâ—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 â—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
declared in Aldgate Ward In the year 1576. partly at the charges of the Parish of St. Andrew and partly at the charges of the Chamber of London a water-pump was raysed in the high street of Lime-street Ward neer unto Lime-street corner for the placing of the which Pump having broken up the ground they were forced to dig more than two fadome deep before they came to any main ground where they found a Hearth made of Britaine or rather Romane Tyle every Tyle half yard square and about two inches thick they found coal lying there also for that lying whole will never consume then digging one fadome in the main they found water sufficient made their Prall and set up the Pump which Pump with oft repairing and great charges to the Parish continued not four and twenty years but being rotted was taken up and a new one set in the place in the year 1600. Thus much for the High-street In Saint Mary street had ye of old time a Parish Church of Saint Mary a Virgin Saint Ursula and the 11000 Virgins which Church was commonly called Saint Mary at the Axe of the Signe of an Axe over against the East end thereof or Saint Mary Pellipar of a plot of ground lying on the North side thereof pertaining to the Skinners in London This Parish about the year 1565. was united to the Parish Church of Saint Andrew Under Shaft and so was Saint Mary at the Axe suppressed and letten out to be a Ware-house for a Marchant Against the East end of this Church was sometime a fair Well now turned to a Pump Also against the North end of this Saint Mary street was sometime one other Parish Church of Saint Augustine called Saint Augustine in the Wall for that it stood adjoyning to the Wall of the City and otherwise called Saint Augustines Papey or the poor as I have read in the Reign of Edward the third About the year 1430 in the Reign of Henry the sixth the same Church was allowed to the Brethren of the Papey the House of poor Priests whereof I have spoken in Aldgate Ward the Parishioners of this Church were appointed to the Parish Church of Alhallowes in the Wall which is in Broad street Ward and this Brotherhood called Papey being suppressed the Church of Saint Augustine was pulled down and in place thereof one Grey Apothecary builded a Stable a Hay-lost c. It is now a dwelling house those two Parish Churches both lying in the Ward of Lime-street being thus suppressed there is not any one Parish Church or place for Divine Service in that Ward but the Inhabitants thereof repair to Saint Peters in Cornhill Ward Saint Andrew in Aldgate Ward Alhallows in the Wall in Broad-street Ward and some to Saint Denys in Langbourne Ward Now because there hath been some question to what Ward this Church of Saint Augustine Papey should of right belong for the same hath been challenged by them of Aldgate Ward and without reason taken into Bishops-gate Ward from Lime-street Ward I am somewhat to touch it About 70 years since the Chamber of London granted a Lease of ground lying near London Wall in the Ward of Lime-street from the West of the said Church or Chappel of Saint Augustine Papey towards Bishops-gate c. on the which plot of ground the Leasee builded three fair Tenements and placed Tenants there these were charged to bear Scot and Lot and some of them to beaâ— Office in Lime street Ward all which they did willingly without grudging And when any suspected or disordered persons were by the Landlord placed there the Officers of Lime street Ward fetched them out of their Houses committed them to Ward procured their due punishments and banished them from thence whereby in short time that place was reformed and brought into good order which thing being noted by them of Aldgate Ward they moved their Alderman Sir Thomas Offley to call in those Houses to be of his Ward But Mr. Stow producing a fair Ledgier Book sometime pertaining to the late dissolved Priory of the Holy Trinity within Aldgate wherein were set down the just bounds of Aldgate Ward before Sir Thomas Offley Sir Rowland Hayward the Common-Councel and Ward-Mote Inquest of the said Lime street Ward Sir Thomas Offley gave over his Challenge and so that matter rested in good quiet until the year 1579. that Sir Richard Pype being Mayor and Alderman of Bishops-gate Ward challenged those Houses to be of his Ward whereunto without reason shewed Sir Rowland Hayward yeilded and thus is that side of the street from the North corner of Saint Mary street almost to Bishopsgate wherein is one plot of ground letten by the Chamberlaine of London to the Parish of Saint Martins Oteswich to be a Church-yard or burying-place for the dead of that Parish c. unjustly drawn and with-holden from the Ward of Lime-street as Master Stow avoncheth Of the Fifth Ward or Aldermanry of London called Bishopsgate-Ward THe Ward next in order is Bishopsgate-Ward whereof a part is without the Gate and of the Subburbs from the Barres by St. Mary Spittle to Bishopsgate and a part of Hounds-ditch almost half thereof also without the Wall of the same Ward Then within the Gate is Bishopsgate-street so called of the Gate to a Pump were sometime was a fair Well with two Buckets by the East end of the Parish Church of St. Martin Oteswich and then winding by the West corner of Leaden-Hall down Grasse-street to the corner over against Grasse-Church and these are the bounds of that Ward Monuments most to be noted are these The Parish-Church of St. Buttolph without Bishopsgate in a fair Church-yard adjoyning to the Town-Ditch upon the very Bank thereof but of old time inclosed with a comely Wall of Brick lately repaired by Sir William Allen Mayor in the year 1571 because he was born in that Parish where also he was buried An Anchoresse by Bishopsgate received forty shillings the year of the Sheriffs of London Next unto the Parish Church of St. Buttolph was a fair Inne for receipt of Travellers then an Hospital of St. Mary of Bethlem founded by Simon Fitz Mary one of the Sheriffs of London in the year 1246. He founded it to have been a Priory of Canons with Brethren and Sisters and King Edward the 3d granted a Protection for the Brethren called Milites beatae Mariae de Bethlem within the City of London the 14th year of his Raign It was an Hospital for distracted people Stephen Gennings Marchant-Taylor gave forty pounds toward purchase of the Patronage by his Testament 1523. The Mayor and Commonalty purchased the Patronage thereof with all the Lands and Tenements thereunto belonging in the year 1546. Now it shall not be amisse to insert here that memorable ancient deed of gift given to Bethelem or Bedlam by the foresaid Simon the Son of Mary as followeth To all the Children of our Mother holy Church to whom this present writing shall come
often had hapned in the City when the Hâ—uses were builded of Timber and covered with Reed and Straw Henry Fitz Allwine being Mayor it was Decreed That from thenceforth no man should build within the City but of some unto a certain height and to cover the same building with Slate or burnt Tyle This was the very cause of such stone Buildings whereof many have remâ—ined until out time that for gaining of ground they have been taken down and in place of some of them being low as but two Stories above the ground many Houses of four or five Stories high are placed From this Stone House down to the Stocks are divers large Houses especially for height â—or Merchants and Artificers On the South side of this High-street is the Parish Church of Saint Peter upon Cornhill which seemeth to be of an ancient building but not so anâ—ient as fame reporteth for it hath been lately repaired if not all new builded except the Steeple which is ancient The Rooâ— of this Church and Glazing was finished in the Reign of King Edward the fourth as appeareth by Armes of Noble men and Aldermen of London then living There remaineth in this Church a Table wherein it is written I know not by what Authority but of no late hand that King Lucius founded the same Church to be an Archbishops See Metropolitanâ— and chief Church of his Kingdom and that it so continued the space of four hundred years unto the coming of Augustine the Monk Now because many may be curious to be further acquainted therewith I have here inserted the same Verbatim as it is there recorded in the Table BE it known unto all men that the year of our Lord God 179 Lucius the first Christian King of this Land then called Britaine sounded the first Church in London that is to say the Church of St. Peter upon Cornhill and he founded there an Archbishops See and made that Church the Metropolitan and chief Church of this Kingdom and so endured the space of four hundred years unto the coming of St. Austin the Apostle of the English the which was sent into this Land by St. Gregory the Doctor of the Church in the time of King Ethilbert And then was the Archbishops See and Pall removed from the foresaid Church of St. Peter upon Cornhill unto Doreburniam that now is called Canterbury and there remaineth to this day And Millet the Monk which came into the Land with S. Austin was made this first Bishop of London and his See was made in Pauls Church And this King Lucius was the first Founder of St. Peters Church upon Cornhill and he reigned in this Land after Brute a thousand two hundred fourty five years and the year of our Lord God a hundred twenty four Lucius was Crowned King and the years of his Reign were seventy seven years and he was aâ—ter some Chronicle buried at London and after some Chronicle he was buried at Glocester in that place where the Order of St. Francis standeth now Joceline of Furnâ—is writeth that Thean or Theon the first Arch bishop of London in the Reign of Lucius builded the said Church by the aid of Câ—ran chief Butler to King Lucius and also that Etvâ—nus the second Archbishop builded a Library to the same adjoyning and conâ—erted many of the Druydes learned men in the Pagan Law to Christianity William Harrison discoursing hereon more at large hath these very words There is a Controversy saith he moved among our Historiographers whether the Church that 〈◊〉 built at London stood at Westminster or in Cornhill For there is some cause why the Metropolitane Church should be thought to stand where St. Peters now doth by the space of four hundred and od years before it was removed to Canterbury by Austin the Monk if a man would lean to one side without any conference of the asseverations of the other But herein there may lurk some scruple for besides that St. Peters Church stood in the East end of the City and that of Apollo in the West the word Cornhil a denomination given of late so speak of to one street may easily be mistaken for Thorney For as the word Thorney proceedeth from the Saxons who called the West end of the City by that â—ame where Westminster now standeth because of the wildernesse and bushineâ—â—e of the soile so we do not read of any street in London called Cornhill before the Conquest of the Normans wherefore I hold with them which make Westminster to be the place where Lucius builded his Church upon the ruines of that Fane 264 years as Malmsbury saith before the coming of the Saxons and four hundred and eleven before the arrival of Augustine Read also his Appendix in Lib. fourth Pontif. where he noteth the time of the Saxons in the 444 of Grace and of Augustine in 596 of Christ which is a manifest account though some Copies have 499 for the one but not without-manifest corruption and error And now to return where we left True it is that a Library there was pertaining to this Parish Church of old time builded of Stone and of late repaired with Brick by the Executors of Sir Iohn Crosby Alderman as his Arms on the South end do witnesse This Library hath been of late time to wit within this seventy years well furnished of Books Iohn Leyland viewed and commended them but now those Books are gone and this place is occupied by a School-master and his Usher for a number of Scholers learning their Grammer Rules c. Notwithstanding before that time a Grammar School had been kept in this Parish as appeareth in the year a thousand four hundred twenty five We read that John Whitby was Rector and John Steward School-master there and in the five and twentieth of Henry the sixth it was Enacted by Parliament that four Grammer Schools in London should be maintained viz In the Parishes of Alhallowes in Thames street Saint Andrew in Oldburn Saint Peters upon Cornhill and Saint Thomas of Acres Then have ye the Parish Church of St. Michael the Archangel for the antiquity thereof we find that Alnothus the Priest gave it to the Abbot and Covent of Covesham Raynold the Abbot and the Covent there did grant the same to Sparling the Priest in all measures as he and his Predecessors before had held it to the which Sparling also they granted all their Lands which they there had except certain Lands which Orgar le proud held of them and paid two shillings yearly For the which grant the said Sparling should yearly pay one mark of Rent to the said Abbot of Covesham and find him his lodging Salt Water and Fire when he came to London This was granted a thousand one hundred thirty three about the thirty four of Henry the first The fair new Steeple or Bell-Tower of this Church was begun to be builded in the year 1421 which being finished and a fair â—ing of five Bells therein placed a sixth Bell
to the Court at White-hall and there at that time the King gave unto him for the Communalty and Citizens to be a Work-house for the poor and idle persons of the City his house of Bridewell and seven hundred Marks Land late of the possessions of the house of Savoy and all the Bedding and other Furniture of the said Hospital of the Savoy towards the maintenance of the said Work-house of Bridewel and the Hospital of St. Thomas in Southwark This gift King Edward confirmed by his Charter dated the 26. of Iune next following And in the year 1555. in the moneth of February Sir William Gerrard Mayor and the Aldermen entred Bridewel and took possession thereof according to the gift of the said King Edward the same being confirmed by Queen Mary The Bishop of St. Davids had his Inne over against the North side of this Bridewell as I have said Then is the Parish Church of St. Bridget or Bride of old time a small thing which now remaineth to be the Quire but since increased with a large Body and side Iles towards the West at the charges of William Vinor Eâ—quire Warden of the Fleet about the year 1480. all which he cauâ—ed to be wrought about in the stone in the figure of a Vine with Grapes and Leaves c. The partition betwixt the old work and the new sometime prepared as a Screne to be set up in the Hall of the Duke of Summersets House at the Strand was bought for eightscore pounds and set up in the year one thousand five hundred fifty seven The next is Salisbury Court a place so called for that it belonged to the Bishops of Salisbury and was their Inne or London House at such time as they were summoned to come to the Parliamâ—nt or came for other business It hath of late time bin the dwelling first of Sir Richard Sackvile and after of Sir Thomas Sackvile his Sonne Baron of Buckhurst Lord Treasurer who very greatly inlarged it with stately Buildings Then is Water-lane running down by the West side of a House called the Hanging Sword to the Thames Then was the White Fryers Church called Fratres beatae Mariae de monte Carmeli first founded saith Iohn Bale by Sir Richard Gray Knight Ancestor to the Lord Gray of Codner in the year 1241. King Edward the first gave to the Prior and Brethren of that house a plot of ground in Fleet-street whereupon to build their House which was since reedified or new builded by Hugh Courtney Earl of Devonshire about the year one thousand three hundred and fifty the four and twentieth of Edward the third Iohn Lufken Mayor of London and the Commonalty of the City granted a Lane called Crockers-lane reaching from Fleetstreet to the Thames to build in the West end of that Church Then is the Sergeants Inne so called for that divers Iudges and Sergeants at the Law keep a Commons and are lodged there in Terme time Next is the New Temple so called because the Templers before the building of this House had their Temple in Oldbourn This house was founded by the Knights Templers in England in the Reign of Henry the second and the same was dedicated to God and our Blessed Lady by Heraclius Patriark of the Church called the Holy Resurrection in Jerusalem in the year of Christ 1185. Many Parliaments and great Councels have been there kept as may appear by our Histories In the year 1308. all the Templers in England as also in other parts of Christendom were apprehended and committed to divers Prisons Anno 1310. a Provincial Councel was holden at London against the Templets in England upon Heresie and other Articles whereof they were accused but denyed all except one or two of them notwithstanding they all did confesse that they could not purge themselves fully as faultless and so they were condemned to perpetual penance in several Monasteries where they behaved themselves modestly Philip King of France procured their over-throw throughout the whole World and caused them to be condemned by a general Councel to his advantage as he thought for he believed to have had all their Lands in France and therefore seizing the same in his hands caused the Templers to the number of 54. or after Fabian threescore to be burnt at Paris Edward the second in the year 1313. gave unto Aimer de la Valence Earl of Pembrook the whole place house called the new Temple at London with the ground called Fiquetes Croft and all the Tenements and Rents with the appurtenances that belonged to the Templers in the City of London and Suburbs thâ—reof After Aimer de Valence saith some Hugh Spencer usurping the same held it during his life by whose death it fell again to the hands of Edward the third but in the mean time to wit 1324. by a Councel holden at Vienna all the Lands of the Templers lest the same should be put to prophane uses were given to the Knights Hospitalers of the Order of St. Iohn Baptist called Saint Iohn of Ierusalem which Knights had put the Turks out of the I le of Rhodes and after wan upon the said Turk daily for a long time In the Reign of the same Edward the third was granted for a certain Rent of ten pounds by the year the said Temple with the Appurtenances thereunto adjoyning to the Students of the Common Lawes of England in whose possession the same hath ever sithence remained and is now divided into two Houses of several Students by the name of Inns of Court to wit the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple who keep two several Halls but they resort all to the said Temple-Church in the round walk whereof which is the West part without the Quire there remain Monuments of Noblemen buried to the number of eleven eight of them are Images of Armed Knights five lying Crosse-legged as men vowed to the Holy Land against the Infidels and unbelieving Jews the other three straight-legged The rest are coaped stones all of Gray Marble the first of the Crosse-legged was William Marshal the elder Earl of Pembrooke who died 1219. William Marshall his Sonne Earl of Pembrooke was the second he dyed 1231. And Gilbert Marshall his Brother Earl of Pembrooke slain in a Turnament at Hartford besides Ware in the year 1241. Of the Twenty sixth or the last Ward of the City of LONDON called the Bridge-Ward without containing the Bourough of Southwark WE have now almost finished the Perambulation for having treated of Wards in London on the North side of the Thames in number five and twenty we are now to crosse over the said River into the Burough of Southwark which is also a Ward of London without the Walls on the South side thereof as is Portsoken on the East and Faringdon Extra on the West But before we come to the particular Description of this Ward it will not be impertinent to declare when and by what meanes the Burough of Southwark now called Bridge-Ward without
founded a Chantry He lyeth under a Tombe of Stone with his Image also of Stone over him The Hair of his Head auburne long to his Shoulders but curling up and a small forked Beard on his Head a Chaplet like a Coronet of four Roses an habit of Purple damasked down to his feet a Collar of Esses of Gold about his Neck under his Feet the likenesse of three Books which he compiled The first named Speculum Meditantis written in French The second Vox clamantis penned in Latine The third Confessio Amantis written in English and this last is printed Vox Clamantis with his Chronica Tripartita other both in Latine and French were never printed Besides on the Wall where he lyeth there was painted three Virgins Crowned one of the which was named Charity holding this Device En Toy qui es Fitz de Dieu le pere Savâ—e soit qui gist soubs cest pierre In Thee who art the Son of God Be sav'd who lyes under this clod Now passing through St. Mary Overies Close once in possession of the Lord Montacute Pepper Alley into Long Southwark on the right hand thereof the Market Hill where the Leather is sold there stood the late named Parish Church of Saint Margaret given to St. Mary Overies by Henry the first put down and joyned with the Parish Church of St. Mary Magdalen and united to the late dissolved Priory Church of St. Mary Overy A part of this Parish Church of St. Margaret is now a Court wherein the Assizes and Sessions be kept and the Court of Admiralty is also there kept one other part of the same Church is now a prison called the Compter in Southwarke c. Farther up on that side almost directly over against St. Georges Church was sometime a large and most sumptuous house builded by Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke in the Reign of Henry the eighth which was called Suffolk House but coming afterwards into the Kings hands the same was called Southwark place and a Mint of Coynage was there kept for the King Queen Mary give this House to Nicholas Heth Archbishop of York and to his Successors for ever to be their Inne or Lodging for their repair to London in recompence of York House near to Westminster which King Henry her Father had taken from Cardinal Woolsey and from the See of York Then is the White Lion a Goal so called for that the same was a common Hoftery for the receit of Travellers by that Sign This â—ouse was first used as a Goal within these hundred years last since the which time the prisoners were once removed thence to an House in New-town where they remained for a short time and were returned again to the aforesaid White Lion there to remain as the appointed Goal for the Countey of Surrey Next is the Goal or Prison of the Kings-Bench but of what antiquity the same is it appears not We read that the Courts of the Kings-Bench and Chancery have oft times been removed from London to other places and so hath likewise the other Goals that serve those Courts as in the year 1304 Edward the first commanded the Courts of Kings-Bench the Exchequer which had remained seven years at York to be removed to their old places at London And in the year 1387 the eleaventh of Richard the second Robert Trisilian chief Justice came to the City of Coventry and there sat by the space of a Month as Justice of the Kings Bench and caused to be Indicted in that Court about the number of 2000 persons of that Country c. It seemeth therefore that for that time the Prison or Goale of that Court was not far off Also in the year 1392 the sixteenth of the same Richard the Archbishop of York being Lord Chancellor for good will that he bare to his City caused the Kings Bench and Chancery to be removed from London to York but ere long they were returned to London Then is the Marshalsey another Goal or Prison so called as pertaining to the Marshalls of England of what continuance kept in Southwark it appears not but likely it is that the same hath been removeable at the pleasure of the Marshalls And then Thieves Lane by St. Thomas Hospital first found by Richard Prior of Bermondsey in the Cellerers grounded against the Wall of the Monastery in the year 1213 He named it the Almery or house of Alms for Converts and poor Children In the year 1552 the Citizens of London having the void suppressed Hospital of St. Thomas in Southwark in the Month of Iuly began the reparations thereof for poor impotent lame and diseased people so that in the Month of November next following the sick and poor people were taken in And in the year 1553 on the tenth of April King Edward the sixth in the seventh of his Reign gave to the Mayor Communalty and Citizens of London to be a Work-House for the poor and idle persons of the City his House of Bridewell and seven hundred Marks Lands of the Savoy Rents which Hospital he had suppressed with all the Beds bedding and other furniture belonging to the same towards the maintenance of the said Work-house of Bridewell and of this Hospital of Saint Thomas in Southwark This gift the King confirmed by his Charter The Church of this Hospital which of old time served for the Tenements neer adjoyning and pertaining to the said Hospital remaineth as a Parish Church But now to come to St. Olaves street on the Bank of the River of Thames is the Parish Church of St. Olave a fair and meeâ—ly large Church but a far larger Parish especially of Aliens or strangers and poor people Next is the Bridge-House so called as being a Store-house for Stone Timber or whatsoever pertaining to the building or repairing of London Bridge This House seemeth to have taken beginning with the first founding of the Bridge either of Stone or Timber it is a large plot of ground on the Bank of the River of Thames containing divers large buildings for stowage of things necessary towards reparation of the said Bridge There are also divers Garners for laying up of Wheat and other Granaries for service of the City as need requireth Moreover there be certain Ovens builded in number ten of which six be very large the other four being but half so big these were purposely made to bake out the Bread Corn of the said Grayners to the best advantage for relief of the poor Cittizens when need should require Then is Battaile Bridge so called of Battaile Abbey for that it standeth on the ground over a Water-course flowing out of Thames pertaining to that Abbey and was therefore both builded and repaired by the Abbots of that House as being hard adjoyning to the Abbots Lodging Beyond this Bridge is Bermondsey street turning South in the South end whereof was sometime a Priory or Abby of St. Saviour called Bermonds Eye in Southwarke founded by Ailwin a
Courts of Justice the chiefest Court of the Prince and the chiefest Court of the King of Heaven for every Temple is his Houâ—e and Court Now the Abbey of Westminster hath bin alwayes held the greatest Sanctuary and randevouze of devotion of the whole Iland wâ—ereunto the scituation of the very place seemes to contribute much and to strike a holy kind of Reverence and sweetness of melting piety in the hearts of the behoâ—ders But before we steer our course to Westminster we must visit the Dutchy oâ— Lancaster and the Savoy which are liberties of themselves and lie as a Parenthesis 'twixt London and Westminster Without Temple-barre Westward is a liberty pertaining to the Dutchy of Lancaster which beginneth on the North side of the Thames and stretcheth West to Ivy-bridge where it terminates And again on the North side some small distance without Temple-Barre in the High street there stretcheth one large middle row or troop of small Tenements partly opening to the South and partly towards the North up West to a Stone Crosse over against the Strand and this is the bounds of the liberty which first belonged to Brian Lisle after to Peter of Savoy and then to the House of Lancaster Henry the third did grant to his Uncle Peter of Savoy all those Houses upon the Thames which pertained to Brian Lisle or de Insula in the way or the street called the Strand to hold to him and his Heires yielding three gilded Arrowes every year in the Exchequer This Peter Earl of Savoy and Richmond Son to Thomas Earl of Savoy Brother to Boniface Arch Bishop of Canterbury and Uncle unto Eleanor Wife to Henry the third was the first Founder of the Savoy Anno 1245. which he gave afterwards to the Fraternity of Monjoy Queen Eleanor did purchase it for Edmund Duke of Lancaster her Son of the Fraternity which Duke did much augment and improve the structure Iohn the French King was lodged there being then the fairest Mannor of England Anno 1381. The Rebels of Kent and Essex did most barbarously burn this House with many Vessels of Gold and Silver which they threw into the River all which they did out of a popular malice to Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster It came afterwards to the Kings hands and Henry the seventh did re-edifie and raise it up again but converted it to the Hospital of St. Iohn Baptist yet was he content that it should be still called the Savoy and bestowed Lands for maintenance of 100. poor men But afterwards it was suppressed by his Granchild Edward the sixth the Beds and Bedding with other Furniture were given to the City of London together with Bridewell to be a Work-house for idle persons and some of Savoy Furniture was given also to furnish St. Thomas Hospital in Southwark But afterwards the Savoy Hospital was refounded and endowed with Lands by Queen Mary who made one Iackson first Master thereof And it is memorable how the Mayds of Honour and Ladies of the Court in those times did much contribute for storing it again with new Beds and Furniture and so it hath continued ever since the Chappel of this Hospital serving for a Parish Church to the Neighbors thereof near adjoyning and others Now touching the Prerogatives and enfranchisements of the Dutchy of Lancaster let the Reader know that Henry the fourth by his Royal Charter and concurrence of Parliament did sever the possessions of the said Dutchy from the Crown And that which Iohn of Gaunt held for term of life was established to perpetuity by the Statutes of Edward the fourth and Henry the seventh which separation was made by Henry the fourth in regard he well knew that he had the Dutchy o Lancaster par Regno by sure and indefesble Title whereas his Title to the Crown was not so assured because that after the death of Richard the second the Royal right was in the Heir of Lionel Duke of Clarence second Son of Edward the third And John of Gaunt who was Father to Henry the fourth was the fourth Son therefore his policy was to make it a distinct thing from the Crown for fear of after-claps It was Edward the third who erected the County of Lancaster to a County Palatine and honoured the Duke of Lancaster therewith giving him Jura Regalia having a particular Court The Officers whereof were the Chancellor the Attorney the Receiver General Clark of the Court the Auditors Surveyors the Messenger The Seal of the Dutchy of Lancaster remains with the Chancellor but the Seal of the County Palatine remains alwayes in a Chest in the County Palatine under the safe custody of a Keeper Now all Grants and Leases of Lands Tenements and Offices in the County Palatine of Lancaster should passe under that Seal and no other but all Grants and Leases out of the County Palatine and within the Survey of the Dutchy should passe under the Seal of the Dutchy and no other otherwise such Grants are voyd Ipso facto Though this County Palatine was a younger Brother yet it had more honours mannors and Lands annexed unto it thâ—n any of the rest and all this by Acts of Parliament whereby all the Franchises Priviledges Immunities Quittances and Freedoms which the Duke of Lancaster had for Himself and his Men and Tenants were confirmed The Liberty of the Dutchy was used to be governed by the Chancellor who had under him a Steward that kept Court Leâ—t with an Attorney of the Dutchy There were also four Burgesses and four Assistants a Bayliffe who had others under him four Constables four Wardens that kept the stock for the poor four Wardens for high wayes a Jury of 14. Ale-cunners which looked to the assise of measures four Scavengers and a Beadle and the common Prison is Newgate And now we must make a step back towards Temple-barre and so by degrees to Westminster all along we will begin with the right hand or the Northside and so pasâ—e up West through a back lane or street wherein do stand as was touched before three Inns of Chancery The first called Clements Inne in regard it is near St. Clements Church and Clements Well The second New Inne which was made of a common Hostery about the beginning of the Reign of Henry 7. The third is Lions Inne This street stretcheth up unto Drury lane which lane extends Northward towards St. Giles in the Field But now we must go back as was said before towards Temple-barre and so by taking the Strand all along return by degrees to Westminster it self in a direct line I have heard often of a British Prophecy which came from an old Bard viz. The Church man was the Lawyer is and the Soulâ—ier shall be True it is that Bishops lived in the Equipage of Princes in former times and among other inâ—â—arâ—es one is the goodly Palaces they had in and about London and Westminster for from Dorset House in Fleetstreet as far as White-hall all the great Houses which were built
the Clerks of the Petty-bag and the six Attorneys Having spoken somewhat of this Court 's ordinary Jurisdiction something shall be said of the extraordinary proceedings thereof according to the Rule of Equity secundum aquum et bonum or according to the dictates of Conscience for the Lord Chancelor or Keeper of the Great Seal of England may be said to be Keeper of the Kings Conscience for mitigation of the rigour of the Common Law Yet this Court of Equity proceeding by English Bill is no Court of Record therefore it can bind but the Person only and neither the State of the Defendants Lands nor property of his Goods and Chattles therefore if the Lord Chancelor impose any fine it is void in Law he having no power but on the Person only Yet the Lord Chancelor or Keeper is sole Judge both in this Court of Equity and in the Court concerning the Common Law but in cases of weight or difficulty he doth assist himself with some of the Judges and no greater exception can be taken hereunto than in case of the Lord Steward of England being sole Judge in tryal of the Nobility who also is assisted with some of the Judges Touching this Court of Equity the ancient Rule is that three things are to be considered in a Court of Conscience Covin Accident and Breach of confidence All Covins collusions frauds and deceits for which ther 's no remedy by the ordinary course of Law Accident as when the servant of an Obligor or Morgageor is sent to pay the money on the day and he is robb'd c. then remedy is to be had in this Court against the forâ—eiture The third is breach of tru't and confidence whereof there are plentiful examples The ancient Custome was when one was made Lord Chancellor for the King to hang the Great Seal about his Neck Cardinal Woolsey had the Chancelorship by Letters Patâ—ents during life but it was held void because an ancien Office must be granted as it was accustomed Henry the 〈◊〉 had two great Seals one of Gold which he delivered the Bishop of Durham and another oft Silver which he delivered the Bishop of London The Chancellors Oath consists of six parts 1. That well and trâ—ly he shall serve the King our Soveraign Lord and his People in the Office of Chancellor or Lord Keeper 2. That â—e shall do right to all manner of people poor and rich after the Laws and usages of the Realm 3. That he shall truly Counsel the King and his Counsel he shall layne or conceal and keep 4. That he shall not know nor suffer the hurt or disheriting of the King or that the Rights of the Crown be decreased by any means as far as he may let it 5. And in case he cannot let it he shall make it clearly and expresly to be known to the King with his true advice and counsel 6. He shall do and purchase the Kings profit in all that he reasonably may There be in this Court many Officers whereof mention is made before the principal whereof is the Master of the Rolls which is an ancient Office and grantable either for life or at will according to the Prince his pleasure Edward the third by Letters Patents annex'd the House of the converted Iews in Chancery Lane to this Office for keeping of the Records of the Chancery viz. Charters Letters Patents Commissions Deeds Recognizances which before the Reign of Henry the seventh were used to be transmitted to the Tower of London The Master of the Rolls used to have Iure Officii the gift of the Offices of the six Clerks in the Chancery and in the absence of the Lord Chancellor he heareth Causes and giveth Orders OF THE COVRT OF COMMON-PLEAS IN WESTMINSTER-Hall IN times pass'd the Courts and Benches or Banks of Justices as was touched before followed the Kings Person wheresoever he went as well since the Conquest as before which thing being found chargeable and cumbersome The ninth of Henry the third it was resolved that there should be a standing place appointed where matters should be heard and determined And the Court of the Common Pleas was the first that was fix'd wherein tenures of Lands and civil Actions used to be pleaded And it is one of the Statutes of Magna Charta Quod Communia placita non sequantur Curiam nostram sed teneantur loco certo That the Common Pleas follow not our Court but be kept in a certain place Now Pleas are distinguished into Pleas of the Crown as Treason and Felony with misprision of Treason and Felony which belong to the Upper Bench and to Common or Civil Pleas whereof this Court takes Cognizance This Court therefore is call'd the Lock and Key of the Common Law of England and the Judges there sitting had need to be more knowing and learned than any other for here all Reall Actions whereupon Fiâ—es and recoveries the common assurances of the Land do passe and all other reall Actions by original Writs are to be determined as also of all Common 〈◊〉 mixt or personal in divers of which the Kings Bench this Court have a concurrent authority But regularly this Court cannot hold Common 〈◊〉 in any Action real mix'd or personal but by Writ out of the Chancery and returnable to this Court yet this Court in some cases may hold Plea by Bill without any Writ in the Chancery as for or against any Officer 〈◊〉 or priviledged Person of this Court. This Court also without any Writ may upon a suggestion grant Prohibitions to keep Temporal as well as Ecclesiastical Courts within their bounds and jurisdictions without any Original or Plea depending for the Common Law which in those cases is a Prohibition of it self stands instead of an Original The Chief Justice of this Court is created by Letters Patents during the pleasure of the Prince and so are the rest of his Associats but none is capable to be constituted a Judge here unlesse he be a Sargeant at Law of the degree of the Coif The jurisdiction of this Court is general extendeth throughout England The Officers of this Court are many viz. Custos Brevium three Protonotaries Clerk of the Warrants Clerk of the Kings Silver four Exigenters fourteen Filazers Clerk of the Juries Clerk of the Essoins Clerk of the Outlaries which belongeth to the Attorney General who doth exercise it by Deputy In former times great abuses have been by Attorneys of this Court by suing out a Judicial Processe with any Original which when detected have been severely punished OF THE COVRT OF THE EXCHEQUER THe Authority of this Court is of Original Jurisdiction without any Commission In the chief place of account for the Revenues of the Crown The Hearers of the accounts have Auditors under them and they who are the chief for the accounts of the Prince are called Barons of the Exchequer whereof one is called Lord Chief Baron The greatest Officer of all is the Lord Treasurer In
this Court are heard those that are Delators or Informers in popular or penal Actions having thereby part of the profit assign'd unto them by the Law In this Court if any question be 't is determined by the Common Law of England by twelve men and all Subsidies Taxes and Customes by account For in this Office the Sheriffs of the Countries do attend upon the execution of the Commandements of the Judges If any Fines or Amercements be extracted out of any Court or any arrearages of accounts of such things as is of Customes Taxes Subsidies and other such like occasions the same the Sheriff of the Country doth gather and is answerable therefore to the Exchequer This Court is divided into two parts viz. Iudicial accounts called Scaccarum computorum And into the Receit of the Exchequer The prime Officer of this Court as was meâ—tioned before is the Lord high Treasurer of England who receives a White Staff from the King But in former time he had this Office by delivery of a Golden Key Then there is Cancellarius Scaccarii the Chancelor of the Exchequer who keepeth the Seal Then you have the chief Baron and his Associates whereof one though he sits there yet he hath no voice therefore he was used to be call'd by way of Drollery Baron Tell-clock yet he takes the same Oath that others do he hath a Fee of 100 Marks per annum At daies of prefixions he hath to do with the Sheriffs Accounts he can take Recognizances but he hath not the Robes nor any suffrage upon the Bench in point of Judicature And that nickname Baron Tellclock came up first in Baron Southertons time who when he felt the Chimes ring in his Stomach towards dinner he was us'd to tell chief Baron Tanfield My Lord 't is twelve a clock Then have you sundry other inferiour Officers more then in any other Court except the Kings House This Court is called Exchequer from a French word vne place quarree a four-square place because the Carpet that lay before the Judges is in the form of a Chess-board and of two colours thence the name of Exchequer was derived Now it is to be observe'd that albeit the Barons are the sole Judges of the Exchequer Court yet the Lord Treasurer is joyn'd with them in keeping of the Records The Lord Treasurer hath also granted him by Parent under the great Seal Thesaurarium Scaccarii Regis Angliae which of ancient time as the Lord Coke hath it was a distinct Office by it self Then is there the Pipe Office whereof the Chancelor of the Exchequer is Contrarotulator or Controuler The Original institution of the Pipe Office was taken from a Conduit of water which was conveyed by Pipes into a Cestern which lay in a Court for as water is derived from many Fountains Springs by Aquaeducts into a Cestern House and from thence into several Offices of the same so this golden and silver stream is drawn from sundry Courts as Fountains of Justice and other Springs of Revenue reduc'd and collected into one Pipe and thereby conveyed into the Grand Cestern of the Princes receit c. Therefore all Accounts and Debts to the Crown are delivered and collected out of the Offices of the Kings Remembrancer and Treasurers Remembrancer and so drawn and pâ—t in charge in the Pipe There be five Auditors of the Revenue Royal within the survey of this Court and their Office is to take Accounts of the Kings Receivers Sheriffs Escheators Collectors and Customers and to audite and perfect the Account But an Auditor cannot allow any Licence or Grant in regard he knoweth not whether it be good this belongs to the Barons Neither can the Auditor put any thing in Charge his Office being only to take and audite Accounts There is the Auditor of the Prests whose Office it is to take the Accounts of the Mint Ireland and Barwick and of all other imprested or moneys advanc'd before hand Then is there the Auditor of the Receits which is an Office very considerable and consisting of many parts For first he is a kind of Filazer for he fileth the Tellers Bills and entreth them Secondly he is a Remembrancer for he gives the Lord Treasurer a certificate of the money received the week before Then he is an Auditor for he makes Debenturs to every Teller before they pay any money and takes and audites their Accounts Besides all this he keepeth the black Book of Receits and the Lord Treasurers Key of the Treasury and seeth every Tellers money lock'd up in the new Treasury Of those Tellers there are four and their Office consists in four duties First to receive money due to the Soveraign Prince Secondly to pay all persons moneys by Warrant of the Auditor of the Receit Thirdly to make yearly and weekly Books of their Receits and payments which they deliver to the Lord Treasurer And lastly to give the Clerk of the Pell a Bill of what moneys they receive whereby he may be charged Now touching Clericus Pellis the Clerk of the Pell his duty is to enter every Tellers Bill into a Roll call'd Pellis Receptorum his Office also is to enter ino another Roll payments call'd Pellis exitus signifying by what Warrant the payment was made Concerning the Kings Remembrancer in the Exchequer his Office consists in eight Duties First to write Process against Collectors of Customs Subsidies and Fifteens 2. He entreth in his Office all Recognizances before the Barons and taketh Bond for any of the Kings Debts for observing of Order for appearances and his duty is to make out Process upon every of them 3. He maketh Process upon Informations upon penal Statutes all which Informations are entred into his Office 4 He maketh Bills of composition upon Informations upon penal Statutes 5. He taketh the stallment of Debts and entreth them 6. The Clerk of the Star-Chamber was us'd to certifie into his Office what fines were there set whereof he maketh a Record and draweth them down in the Pipe 7. In this Office ought to be kept all Assurances Conveyances and Evidences whereby any Lands Tenements Herediraments or other things are granted to the Soveraign Prince 8. There is a Court of Equity holden in the Exchequer Chamber by English Bill whereof all the proceedings and Bills are entred into this Office The Lord Treasurers Remembrancer is also an Office of trust and consequence which consisteth of seven Duties First To preserve the Royal tenures and to make out Process for the Revenues thereof 2. He maketh Process of Fierifacias to extend for Debts due to the Prince either in the Pipe or with the Auditors 3. He awards Process against all Sheriffs Escheators Receivers and Bayliffs to bring them to account 4. He is to make an entry of Record whereby it appears whether Sheriffs and other Accountants pay their proffers due at Easter and Michaelmas 5. He makes another entry of Record to the end that it may be known whether
Sheriffs and other Accounts keep their day of prefixion 6. The green Was is certified into this Office and by him delivered to the Clerk of the Estreats 7. There ought to be brought into this Office all the Accounts of Customers Controulers and all other to make an entry of Record in this Office to avoid delay and concealments The Oath of the Barons of the Exchequer consists of ten parts First That he shall well and truly serve in the Office of Baron 2. That truly he shall charge and discharge all manner of people as well poor as rich 3. That for Higness nor for Riches nor for hatred nor for any deed gift or promise of any person which is made unto him nor by craft engine he shall let the Kings right 4. He shall not let disturbe or respite contrary to the Lawes of the Land the Right of any other person 5. He shall not put in respite the Kings Debts where goodly they may be levied 6. That he shall speed the Kings need before others 7. That neither for gift wages nor good deed he shall layn disturb nor let the profit or reasonable advantage of the King in the advantage of any other Person nor of himself 8. That nothing he shall take of any Person to do wrong or right to delay or deliver or to delay the people that have to do before him that as hastily as he may them goodly to deliver without hurt of the King c. 9. Where he may know any wrong or prejudice to be done to the King he shall put and do all his power and diligence that to redresse 10. The Kings Counsel he shall keep and layne in all things In the Exchequer Chamber all cases of difficulty either in the Kings bench or the Common Pleas were used to be debated argued and resolved by all the Judges of England and the Exchequer Barons The Treasurer of the Kings Chamber and the Keeper of the privy purse with such domestick Offices of the Kings House are not subject to this Court of Exchequer This Court was first erected for the particular profit and service of the Soveraign Prince And this profit is mediat or immediat Immediat as of Lands Rents Franchises Hereditaments Debts Duties Accounts Goods Chatrels and other profits and benefits whatsoever due unto the Soveraign Prince Mediate as the priviledge of the Officers and Ministers of the Court for two things do principally support the jurisdiction of a Court as my Lord Coke hath it first the preservation of the dignity thereof and then the due attendance of the Officers and Ministers of the same The chief Baron is created by Letters Patents and the Office is granted Quamdiu se bene gesserit wherein he hath a more fixed estate it being an estate of life than the Justices of other Benches have who are durante beneplacito And in like manner are the rest of the Barons constituted with the Patents of the Attorney General and Solicitor There is a Court called the Court of Equity in the Exchequer Chamber The Iudges of this Court are the Lord Treasurer the Chancelor of the Exchequer and the Barons Their jurisdiction is as large for matter of Equity as the Barons of the Exchequer have for the benefit of the King by the common Law but if in either Court they hold any Plea that doth not concern the profit of the King there lieth a Prohibition To conclude there are seven Courts that belong to the Exchequer 1. The Court of Pleas or of the Barons 2. The Court of Accounts 3. The Court of Receits 4. The Court of the Exchequer Chamber being the Assembly of all the Iudges of England for matters in Law 5. The Court of Exchequer for Errors in the Court of Exchequer 6. A Court in the Exchequer Chamber for Errors in the Kings Bench. 7. The Court of Equity spoken of a little before But touching all the Officers either coordinate or inferior that belong to the Exchequer and the Revenues Customes perquisits of the Soveraign Prince they are very many far more in number than in any other Court as was touched before yet nothing so numerous as those Financiers and swarm of other Officers which belong to the Revenues of France which are so many that their fees being payed there comes not a Quardecu in every Crown clearly to the Kings Coffers which is but the fourth part But there is one publick advantage in it that thousands of younger Brothers and others have a handsome subsistance to carry themselves hereby in the garbe and equipage of men OF THE COURT OF ADMIRALTY HAving thus made some inspections into so many Courts we must not pretermit the Court of Admiralty for Great Britain being an Island which makes the Sea and Woodden Castles to be her chiefest Conservators the Court of Admiralty may be said to be more pertinent and necessary to her then to divers other States therefore the Lord High Admiral is by the Law of England one of the four Officers of the Crown with the Lord Chancelor the Lord Treasurer and Lord privy Seal Some hold the Etymology of Admirall to come from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth Salsugo maris the saltness of the Sea others derive it from Ammir an Arabian word which signifieth a King or Emperor And some would have it to come from the low Dutch Aen-meer-all which signifie on the Sea all The Reader according as his own judgement leads him may adhere to which he please for I know of none that have positively asserted which is the truest But to know the nature and jurisdiction of this Court it will conduce very much if we insert here certain grievances which the Lord Admiral presented in the 8th year of K. Iames concerning Prohibitions granted by the Judges of the Courts of Westminster against the Jurisdiction and Prerogatives of this Court with the answer which the Judges returned to every point 1. The first Objection was that whereas the cognizance of all Contracts and other things done upon the Sea belongeth to the Admirals jurisdiction the same are made tryable at the common Law as if they had bin done in Cheapside and such places The Judges of Westminster-Hall answered that by the Lawes of the Realm the Court of the Admiral hath no cognizance power or jurisdiction of any manner of Contract plea or querele within any County of the Realm either upon the Land or the water but every Contract Plea or querele and all other things arising in any County of the Realm either upon the Land or the water and also Wrecks of the Sea ought to be tryed discussed determined and remedied by the common Lawes of the Land and not before or by the Admiral or his Lieutenant in any manner so that it is not material whether the place be upon the water intra fluxum refluxum aqua or whether it be upon any other water within the precincts of a County But the said
Right and Prerogative due to the Crown in that they have seized and converted to their own use Goods and Chattels of infinite value taken at Sea and other Goods and Chattels which in no sort appertain unto his Lordship by his Letters Patents wherein the said Non obstante is contained and for which he and his Officers remain accountable to his Majesty And they now wanting in this time of peace causes appertaining to their natural jurisdiction do now encroach upon the jurisdiction of the common Law lest they should sit idle and reap no profit They added further That touching their proceedings in granting of Prohibitions concerning any of the said Articles two things were to be considered of first the matter then the manner touching the matter nothing hath bin done therein by the Court of Westminster but by good Warrant of Law and former judicial Precedents And for the manner they granted none in the Vacation time nor in their Terme time in any of their Chambers nor in the Court in the Terme-time ex officio but upon motion made in open Court by learned Councel and after a day prefixed and warning given to the adverse party c. Hereupon they proceeded to prove and confirm their answers by three kind of Authorities in Law First By Authority of High Court of Parliament Secondly By Judgement and judicial Precedents Thirdly By Book-Cases Concerning the Acts of Parliament they urged the Statute of Richard the second viz. That the Admiralls and their Deputies shall not meddle from henceforth with any thing done within the Realm of England but only with things done upon the Sea according to that which hath been duly used in the time of the Noble King Edward Grandfather to Richard the second Concerning the second proof by Judgements and Iudicial Precedents and the third by Book-Cases they alledged divers Cases which are to be seen in that great light and laborious Champion of the Common Law of England the Lord Coke in the third part of his Institutes But the Result of all which the Iudges of the Common Law driv ' at was that the Court of Admiralty was to take no Cognizance nor had power to determine any thing that had happened and should give occasion of Plea upon any Waters either fresh or salt that were within the Precincts of any County but it was tryable by the Common Law of England and by the Empanelment and Verdict of twelve men which is not the way of Tryal of the Civil Law by which the Admiralty is directed By this notable clash and contestation 'twixt the Iudges of Westminster-Hall and the Lord Admiral the Reader may learn what the extent of the Authority of that Court is and that the jurisdiction of the Admiral is confined to the high Sea In times past there were distinct Admirals in point of power as we read in Richard the seconds Raign the Earl of Northumberland was Admiral of the North and the Earl of Devonshire Admiral of the West who were to receive the Subsidy of Poundage and Tonnage for the garding of the Seas Among other Prerogatives which belonged to the Lord Admiral of England one was to erect Beacons upon the Maritim Coasts which word is derived from the old Saxon or Dutch Becnam which signifieth to give a signe as we use the word to becken at to this day Before the Reign of Edward the 3d there were but stakes of Wood set upon high places which were fired upon the discovery of any enemies but in his time pitched Barrels were set up and by the Law of the Land whosoever fired a Beacon commits Felony unless there were Authority and just cause for it In other Countries they are called Phares which are no other then speculatory or maritime monitory fires which serve for two ends as well to direct Seafaring men as to fore-warn the approach of an Enemy which with such wonderful celerity give the whole Land an Alarum and so puts them in a posture of defence But there are three main matters whereof the Lord Admiral is to take Cognizance which are Flotsan Ietsan and Lagan whereof the first is when a Ship is sunk and perished and the Goods floating upon the waters The second is Ietsan when in stresse of weather or other occasions the Goods are thrown over-board The third is when Goods are tyed to a Cork or Cable and may be found again But the Court of Admiralty hath not to do with Wrecks for then the Goods are deposited in the custody of the Officers of the next Town where if the Proprietor come within a twelve moneth and a day he may claim them by Law Henry the sixth did constitute by Charter Iohn Holland Duke of Exceter and Henry his Son to be Admirallos Angliae But the Iudges of the Common Law held that Charter to be invalid and the Reason they alledged was that that Charter being of a Iudicial Office it could not be granted to two When the former contestation happened 'twixt the Court of Admiralty and Westminster-Hall they were choyse powerful men at that time who swayed as Grandees of the Common Law as Sir Edward Coke the Lord Bacon Iudge Doddridge and Hubbard which made them carry the Bucklers from the Civilians at that time But there were some learned Treatises published afterward to vindicate the Right of the Civil Law which without controversie hath more in it of natural equity and reaches of pure Reason then any other It is the Product of that mighty Monarchy of the Romans who though they conquered by the Lance yet they conâ—erâ—ed by their Lawes so many vast distant Territories and Nations which they had subdued leading so many people Captive by their policy as much as by their Prowesse And indeed the Civil Law is fitted for the general Affaires of mankind and for all Nations For though every particular state hath some few municipal Lawes peculiar to it self yet no where beyond the Seas is there any profession or Science of Law but of the Civil nor are there any other studied in Vniversities Only in England there are Inns of Court which are equivalent to an Academy where lex Terrae or the common municipal Law of the Land is studied and Graduates proceed and are made therein accordingly which is no where else But the Civil Law extends to all man-kind And if regard be had to the University of humane Reason it is no where â—o narrowly discussed and eventilated and the judgement rectified by clear notions Moreover there is nothing of what nature soever it be but the Civil Law hath ordained a means to bring it to a Tryal either by giving a speciall action in the case or a general one releeving by ordinary remedies or if those fail by such as are extraordinary helping the Clyent Iure actionis or Officio Iudicis Yet there was one notable Example of one business that not only caused a clash 'twixt the Civilian and Common Lawyer but puzzel'd them both so that
best peopled but Madrid where the Catholique Court is kept though a Village hath more then any of them but all these come short of London in point of greatness and populousness with divers advantages besides Vienna the Imperial Court is of an extraordinary bigness being fenced about with English Walls which Richard the first rear'd up for his Ransome It is also well peopled so is Prague Which though the latter be made up of three Cities yet they both come short of the City of London in amplitude and number of people with divers other properties mentioned before Germany hath divers fair Cities that may take place amongst them of the first magnitude as Mentz Colen Frankfort Strasburg Norimburg Auspurg Magdenburg and others which though they beat a Land Trade being mediterranean Cities and abound with wealth and numbers of Artisans yet they are inferior to London for many respects Touching the Hans and imperial Towns there are divers of them large wealthy and full of Trade as Lubeck Danzick and Hamburgh the biggest of them which owes much of her prosperity to the Staple of the London Marchant Adventurers who are there setled but there 's none of these Cities though they be threescore more in number that will presume to compare with London in any of those twenty properties before mentioned Touching Copenhagen in Denmark and Stockholm in Swethland they come far short nay if you go more Northward upon the white Sea as far as the gran Mosco the Emperor of Russias Court which is a huge woodden City and inviron'd about with a treble wall to stop the incursions of the Tartar you will find it inferior to London in every of those twenty particulars Touching Low Germany or the Netherlands which is one of the greatest Countries of Commerce in Christendom 't is true there are there many Noble Cities Among others the City of Gant in Flanders which for bigness bears the Bell of all the Cities of Europe being computed to be twenty miles in circuit which makes the Flemins twit the French by saying Nous auons un Gant qui tiendra Paris dedans We have a Glove meaning Gant which is a Glove in French that will hold Paris within it yet for number of humane souls this great City is but a kind of Desart being compared to London Antwerp is a Noble City both for her Cittadel and Fortifications which are so vast that two Coaches may go abrest upon the Walls She may compare with any other City she was in former times one of the greatest Marts this side the Alps Insomuch that Guicciardin reports that after the Intercursus Magnus was established betwixt England and the Netherlands the Trade 'twixt London and Antwerp came to above twelve Millions yearly But upon the Revolt of the Confederate Provinces from the King of Spain when Secretary Walsingham told Elizabeth that he would give both the Spaniard and the French King such bones to gnaw that might shake both their teeths in their heads meaning thereby the Revolt of the Hollander from the one and the kindling of the Ligue in France I say when these tumults began Amsterdam may be said to have risen up out of the ruines of Antwerp which Town is come in lesse then fourscore years and by a stupendous course of Commerce and Negotiation to be one of the greatest Marts of the World being before one of the meanest Towns of the first magnitude in Holland but she is swoln since twice if not thrice as big as she was Insomuch that she may be said to give the Law to all the rest of the united Provinces and to smell rank of a Hans Town or little Common-wealth of her self Among other causes this may be imputed to the Trade of the East and West Indies which is appropriated unto Her and to a mixture with the Jewes who have there two Synagogues yet is this fresh great Mercantile Town much inferior to London almost in all things First in point of populousness as may be conjectured out of her weekly Bills of Mortality which at the utmost come but to about threescore a week whence may be inferred that London is five times more populous for the number that dies in Her every week comes commonly to near upon three hundred Secondly in point of Wealth Amsterdam comes short of London for when Sir Ralph Freeman was Lord Mayor it was found out by more than a probable conjecture that He with the 24. Aldermen his Brethren might have bought the Estates of one hundred of the richest Bourgemasters in Amsterdam Then for sweetnesse of Site and salubrity of Air she is so far inferior to London that her Inhabitants may be said to draw in Fogs in lieu of free Air the Countrey being all marsh and moorish about Her so that Amsterdam is built as it were in a bog or quag for in their fabriques they are forced to dig so deep for a firm foundation by ramming in huge Piles of Wood that the Basis of a House doth oftentimes cost more then the superstructure Moreover Amsterdam hath neither Conduit Well or Fountain of fresh water within her but it is brought to her by Boats and they wash with Rain water which every House preserves in Cisterns to that purpose Touching the River of Texel that brings her in all Commodities she is nothing comparable to the Thames in point of security of sayling or sweetness of water touching the first they say there stood a Forrest of Wood in times past where now the Texel makes her bed which could not be cut down so clean but there are divers ill favoured Trunks and stubs of Trees still found under water which is a great annoyance to Ships There are in the United Provinces many jolly Towns besides which may be ranked among them of the first magnitude especially Utrecht which hath the face of an ancient stately Town subsists more by her self the rest grow great and flourish in Wealth Buildings and People by having some peculiar staple-Commodity appropriated unto them as Amsterdam hath the Trade of the East and West Indies assigned Her as was formerly mentioned Rotterdam hath the Staple of English Cloth Dort of the Rhenish-Wine and Corn that comes from Germany Haerlam hath a Charter for Weaving and Knitting Leyden is an University The Hague subsists by the residence of the Hoghen Moghen the Councel of State Middleburgh in Zeland by the Staple of French Wines Trevere by the Scots Commodities c. but none of these bear any proportion with the City of London who trades in all these several Commodities together and hath particular Corporations accordingly with many more We will now hoyse up Sayl for France which also hath divers Cities of the first Magnitude as Rouen in Normandy Bourdeaux in Gascogny Tholouse in Languedock with the other five Courts of Parliament as also Amiens in Picardy and the City of Lions and Marseilles the one whereof subsists by her Bank the other by being the
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 Viâ—age They are to inquire if any neglecteth to hang a Lanthorn at his door with a â—â—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
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 alià s 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 Willâ—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 Roâ—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 Nectoâ— 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