power may suffice all manner of freedom of joyous liberty and whosoever shall presume or doth contrary to this my grant I will he lose his name VVorship Dignity and Power and that with the great Traytor Judas that betrayed our Saviour he be in the everlasting fire of Hell And I will and ordain that this my Grant endure as long as there remaineth in England either love or dread of Christian name And this Record may be ranked among the most ancient of the Land About what time King Edward the Confessor did renew it he removed St. Margarets Church which before was within the Abbey to the place where now it stands Of Westminster-Hall and all the Tribunalls of Iustice which have their motion therein And first of the High Court of Parliament HAving visited God Almighties House we will now take a view of the chief Praetorium of Great Britain which is VVestminster-Hall and of the Courts of Judicature which are thereunto annexed And first of the Court Paramount the high national Court of Parliament vvhich great Councel vvas used to be the Bulwark of our liberties the boundary and bank vvhich kept us from slavery from the inundations of Tyrannical encroachments and unbounded VVill-Government And in this High Court there was used to be such a Co-ordination of power such a wholsome mixture 'twixt Monarchy Optimacy and Democracy I mean 'twixt Prince Peers and Commonalty during the time of consultation that of so many distinct parts by a rare co-operation and unanimity they made but one Body Politique like that sheaf of Arrowes in the Fable they made but one entire concentrical peece and the results of their deliberations but as so many harmonious Diapazons arising from the touch of different strings And what greater mark of freedom can there be to a people then to be lyable to no Lawes but what they make themselves to be subject to no Contribution Assement or pecuniary Levies whatsoever but what they vote and voluntarily yield unto themselves For in this great compacted Body politick there be all degrees of people represented The Yeoman Marchant Tradesman and mechanick have there their inclusive Votes as well as the Gentry and Freeholders in the persons of their Trustees viz. their Burgesses and Knights The Clergy also which make a considerable part of the Common-wealth were used to have their Representatives there not only in the persons of the Bishops which at the first constitution were the prime Parliament and continued so many Ages but in the Convocation which was an Assesmbly of Divines fairly chosen to that purpose Nor is this Soveraign super-intendent Councel and Epitome of this Iland only but it may be said to represent the whole Universe according to the primitive constitution The Soveraign Prince was as the Sun the Nobles the fixed Starres the Itinerant Iudges and other Officers that were wont to go with Messages 'twixt both Houses to the Planets The Clergy when there was a Convocation House as was said before to the Element of fire The Commons to the solid body of the Earth and the rest of the Elements He who hath bin conversant with the Chronicles of this Iland will finde it hath bin her fare to be four times conquered but the Scot never till now of late These so many Conquests must needs bring with them many tumblings and tossings many disturbances and changes in Government yet I have observed that notwithstanding these various tumblings England retained still the form of Monarchy and something there was alwayes that held an Analogy with the great Assembly of Parliament The first Conquest was made by Claudius Caesar at which time it may be said that the Standard of the Crosse came in together with the Roman Eagles 't is well known how the Roâ—an governed He had his Comitia which bore a resemblance with our Convention in Parliament the place of meeting was called praetorium and the Lawes which were enacted were called Plebiscita The Saxon Conquest succeeded next in which were the English and the Saxons governed by Parliament though it was under other names as Michel Gemote Michel Sinoth and VVitenage Mote There are Records near upon a thousand years of these Parliaments in the Raigns of King Ina Offa Ethelbert and others The third Conquest was by the Danes and they governed also by such generall Assemblies in the Raign of Canutus and others Then came the Norman whose Successors did revive and ratifie the way of governing by Parliament witness Magna Charta which was used to be called the Foundation of the English liberty and it may be compared to divers outlandish graffs set upon one stock for the choysest of the British Roman Saxon Danish and Norman Lawes being cull'd and pick'd out and gathered as it were in one bundle out of them the foresaid grand Charter was extracted the establishment whereof was a work of a Parliament Now by an ancient Statute of Edward the third it was enacted That all Statutes are repealed which are against Magna Charta or Charta de foresta Nor are the Lawes of this Iland only and the immunities of the people conserved by Parliament but all the best policed Countries of Europe have the like The Germans have their Diets The Dane and Swedes their Rich-daghs The Spaniard las Cortes and the French the Assembly of the three Estates though it hath bin for many years discontinued And touching England the Parliament was uâ—ed to be the principal Fountain whence the Soveraign Prince derived his happiness and safety It was the great Conduit-Pipe which conveighed unto him the Peoples bounty and love It was the truest Looking-Glasse wherein he discerned their affections and allegiance In Parliament the Soveraign Prince used to appear like the Sun in the Meridian in the altitude of his glory in his highest Royal State as the Law tells us But we will go now more particularly to work and treat of this great National Conncel according to the first constitution and establishment thereof This Court consisteth of the Kings Majesty sitting there as in his Royal politick Capacity and of the three Estates of the Realm viz. of the Lords spiritual Arch Bishops and Bishops being in number twenty four who sit there by succession in respect of their Counties or Baronies parcel of their Bishopricks which they hold also in their politick Capacity And every one of these when any Parliament is to be holden ought Ex debito justitiae to have a writ of Summons The Lords Temporal Dukes Marquesses Earls Viscounts and Barons who sit there by reason of their Dignities which they hold by Descent or Creation and likewise every one of these being of full age ought to have a writ of Summons ex debito justitiae for they are called Parliamentary Barons The third Estate is the Commons of the Realm whereof there be Knights of shires or Counties Citizens of Cities and Burghesses of Burghes All which are respectively elected by the Shires or Counties Cities and Burghes
Anno 1289 the Bridge was â—o sore decayed for want of reparations that people were afraiâ— to pass thereon and a subsidy was granted towards the amendment thereof Afterwards Sir Iohn Britain being then Custos of London Anno 1381 a great Collection was made by all the Clergy for the repair of London-Bridge In the year 1381 on St. Georges day was a great solemnity of Justs and Tournements upon London-Bridge between David Earl of Crawford of Scotland and the Lord Wells of England whereby one may infer that the houses were not there so thick at that time The Tower on London-bridge at the North end of the Draw-bridge which was then in a posture to be drawn up was built Anno 1426 in the Majoralty of Iohn Rainwell Anno 1471 a house call'd the Common siege on London-Bridge tumbled down into the Thames by death of diyers persons a little after But in the year sixteen hundred thirty three there happen'd a most raging dismal fire upon the North side of London-bridge which by computation consum'd above the third part of the Buildings thereof But by the commendable care of the City there are other goodly structures rais'd up in some of their rooms of a stronger and more stately way of building and pity it is that the work were not compleated there being no object after the Church of St. Pauls that can conduce more to the glory and Ornament of this renowned City Besides this Bridge that may be call'd the Bridge of the world there are other inferior Bridges which have still the names of Bridges that belong to the City of London the first is Fleet-bridge in the West fenc'd with iron Pikes on which towards the South there be certain Lanthorns of Stones for lights to be placed in Winter Evenings for commodity of passengers Under this Bridge runs a water sometimes call'd the River Wells but since Turn-hill brook and now Fleet Dike because it runs by the Fleet under ground to the River of Thames this Bridge hath been far greater in times pass'd but lessened as the water course hath been narrowed Over the sayd River of Wells northerly stands Oldenbridge now Holborn-bridge so call'd of a boorn that sometimes ran down Holborn hill into the River this Bridge like Fleet-bridge-serves for passage only Then comes Cow-bridge more Northerly over the same water near unto Cow-lane but this Bridge being decayed another of Timber is made more North towards Chicklane There are some other small Bridges over the Town-ditch viz. without Eald-gate without Bishopsgatâ— Mooregate the Postern of Cripplegate as also without Aldersgate the Postern of Christs Hospital Newgate and Ludgate which are now paved eaven with the streets only there remains one of Timber over the River of Wels or Fleet Dike There have 〈◊〉 informer ages divers Bridges in sundry places over the course of Wallbrook but 〈◊〉 they are made levell with the paâ—ements of the Streets so that the water-course can now be hardly discover'd being vaulted over with Brick Of the chief Fortresse or Tower of LONDON ANd now that we are come so near the famous and great Tower Palatine or Citâ—adel of London we will try whether we can get in thither without paying fees and take a view thereof as briefly as we can it being an ill-favoured and tedious thing to stay there long I know it is the current vulgar opinion that Julius Caesar the first Conquerour or rather indeed Discoverer of Britain was the Original Founder thereof but there is â—ery litle probability of truth in that for two Reasons The first is the little stay he made here during which he had other things to think on The second is that he himself who is so exact in his relations specially if they conduce to his honour nor any other Roman Author makes any mention of of such a work or Fabrique Therefore that opinion which approacheth truth the neerest is that William of Normandy the Conqueror was the first tracer and erector of the Tower of London as Edmond de Hadenham an old English Antiquary affirms The first part that was built was the great square and White Tower though black to some which was about the year 1078 whereof Gundulph Bishop of Rochester was principal Superviser and Surveyer who was log'd then in the house of Edmere a Burgesse of London as it stands upon Latine Record in the forenamed Author Now it is to be considered that at first the wall of the City was in many places furnish'd with sundry Bastions and Turrets in due distance one from the other and divers stood on the waters side where some of the said Wall extended at first but the Thames with her ebbings and flowings did as it were corrode and subverâ— those Buildings on the South side Wherefore the Conqueror for then the Art of fortification was come to a greater perfection for defence of the City and River pitch'd upon that place as most convenient to erect a Buâ—wark in the East part of the Wall The White square Tower as was formerly said was first erected and finished in the Conquerors time but stood naked and single without other Buildings a good while and the story â—aith that in William Rufus time it was by the injury of the Heavens and violence of tempest sore shaken and some part tumbled down which was repair'd by the said Rufus and Henry the first who also caused a Castle to be built under the said White Tower on the South side towards the Thames and he surrounded that also with a strong Wall Now Henry of Huntindon relates that VVill. Rufus challeng'd the inveâ—â—iture of Prelates and pill'd the people pitifully to spend the treasure about the Tower of London and the great Hall at VVestminster whereof he was Founder The first Keeper of the Tower of London was call'd Constable Ostowerus Acolinillus Otho and Geoffrey Magnaville were the first four Constables of the Tower of London by succession all which held a portion of Land that appertain'd to the Priory of the Holy Trinity near Algate viz. East Smithfield as belonging to that Office making thereof a Vineyard and would would not part with it till the second year of King Stephen when by judgment of the Court it was restored to the Church The foresaid Geoffery Magnaville was at one time Constable of the Tower Sherif of London Middlesex Essex Hartfordshire as the Chronicles relate He also fortified the Tower of London against King Stephen but the King took him at last at St. Albanes and would not free him till he had surrendred the Tower of London with the Castles of VValden and Plashey in Essex Richard de Lucie was Anno 1155 Constable of the Tower of London and also of Casâ—le the of VVinsore About the beginning of the Raign of Richard the first William Longshank Bishop of Ely and Chancellour of England for some dissentions 'twixt him and John the Kings Brother who was in Rebellion enclos'd the Tower of London with an outward
eighths time the Tower was eâ—er and anon full of prisoners among others Sir Thomas More Lord Chancellor of England was clap'd there close Prisoner and at last they took away from him all his Books so he did shut up all his windows and liv'd afterwards in obscurity and being asked Why he answered 'T is time to shut up shop when the Ware is all gone At his first entrance to the Tower the Gentleman Porter ask'd for his fee which is the upper Garment whereupon Sir Thomas pull'd off his Cap to give him but that not suffâ—â—ing he pull'd out a handful of Angels end gave him a good many a Knight that was in his Company telling him that he was glad to see him so full of Angels yes answered he I love to carry my friends alwayes about me The young Lady Iane was beheaded there not long after and upon the Scaffold she made a most ingenious Speech and full of pity That she came thither to serve for an example to posterity that innocence cannot be any protection against greatness And that she was come thither not for aspiring to a Crown but for not refusing one when it was offered Her Queen Elizabeth was brought up many years in that School of affliction but afterwards she may be said to have gone from the Scaffold to the Throne For the truth is that the Scaffold had made an end of her had not King Philip her Brother in Law strongly interceded for her In her dayes Robert Earl of Essex lost his head in the Tower which he might have kept on many years longer had he not bin betrayed by the Lady Walsingham to whom after the sentence of condemnation he sent a Ring which the Queen had given him as a token that she would stick to him in any danger the Lady delivered not this Ring and being a little after upon her Death-bed she desired to speak with the Queen and having disburthened a great weight which lay upon her Conscience for that act the Queen flung away in a fury and never enjoyed her self perfectly after that time but she would break out often into passion and wring her hands crying O Essex-Essex And this Earl was the last who was executed within the walls of the Tower In King Iames's time for 22 years there was no blood spilt in the Tower or upon Tower-hill only Sir Gervase Elwayes was hanged there when he was Lieutenant and one remarkable passage there was in his Speech upon the Ladder that being in the low Countries and much addicted to gaming he made a vow that if ever he played more above such a value he might be hanged but he did violate the Oath and so the just Judgement of Heaven did fall upon him accordingly as he said The Earl of Castlehaven was brought from the Tower to be executed for horrid kinds of incontinencies in Charles the first time Afterwards in the raign of the long Parliament and ever since the Tower of London hath had more number of Prisoners then it had in the compasse of a hundred years before This stately Tower of London serves not only for a Gaol to detain prisoners but for many other uses It is a strong Fort or Cittadel which secures both City and River It serves not only to defend but to command either upon occasion It serves as a royal Randezvouz for Assemblies and Treaties It is the Treasury for the Jewels and Ornaments of the Crown The great Archive which conserves all the old Records of the Courts of Justice at Westminster It is the place for the Royal Mint and Coynage of Gold and Silver It is the chief Magazin and Armory or Arâ—enal of the whole Land for Martial Engines and Provision There only is the Brake or Rack usually call'd the Duke of Exceters Daughter because he was tâ—e first Inventer of it And lastly It is a great Ornament by the situation of it both to the River and City The City of London hath divers other inferior Towers as that on the North of the great Bridge At the South end over the Gate there is also another Tower over London-Bridge which hath suffered many accidents of firing and otherwise and was still made up by the care and charge of the City specially one time when it was under bastard Fawconbridge burnt by the Marriners and Saylers of Kent The Antiquaries speak of two Castles that were in the West part of London one call'd the Castle of Monfiquet which was built by a Baron of that name who came over with the Conqueror which was afterwards demolished and the Black Fryers risen up out of the ruines of it The second Castle is Baynards Castle by Pauls Wharf built also by one Baynard who came over with the Conqueror who being ennobled the honour of Baynards Castle succeeded from Father to Son a long time till it came to Sir Robert Fitzwater a valiant Cavalier who being fallen into the displeasure of King Iohn in the Barons Warres was banished and Baynards Castle destroyed But afterwards being restâ—red to the Kings favour by an exployt he did in France he was re-invested in all his Livings and so repair'd Baynards Castle again Moreover he was made chief Banner-bearer of the City of London whereof he had a Charter which ran to this sense That he said Robert Fitzwater and his Heirs ought to be and are chief Bannerers of London in fee for the Chastilary which he and his Ancestors had from Baynards Castle and the said City In time of War the said Robert and his Heires ought to serve the City as followeth The said Robert he being the twentieth man of Armes himself ought to come on Horseback covered with Cloth or Armor under the great West door of St. Paul with his Banner displayed before him and when he is come mounted to that door and apparreld as before is said The Maior with the Aldermen and Sheriffs in their Arms shall come out of the Church of St. Paul unto the said West door the Maior bearing a Banner in his hand all on foot which Banner shall be Gules the Image of St. Paul Gold the face hands feet and Sword Argent And as soon as the said Robert shall see the Maior Aldermen and Sheriffs come on foot out of the Church armed with such a Banner he shall alight off his Horse and salute the Maior and say to him Sir Maior I am come to do my service which I owe to the City whereunto the Maior and Aldermen shall answer We give to you as to our Bannerer of fee in this City the Banner of this City to beare and govern to the honour and profit of this City to your power And the said Robert and his Heires shall receive the said Banner in his hands and shall go on foot out of the Gate with the Banner in his hands and the Maior Aldermen and Sheriffs shall follow to the door and shall bring a Horse to the said Bannerer worth twenty pounds which Horse
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
was made one of the six and twenty Wards belonging to the City of London which was in this manner After the dissolution of the Monasteries Abbeys Priories and other Religious Houses in this Realm of England The Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of this City of London taking into their Considerations how commodious and convenient it would be unto the City to have the Burough of Southwark annexed thereunto and that the same Burough was in the Kings hands wholly they became humble suiters unto King Henry the eighth and unto the Lords of his Highness Privy Councel for the obtaining of the same Which suit not being granted unto them after the Decease of King Henry the eighth they renewed their Suit unto his Sonne and next Successour King Edward the sixth and to the Lords of his Privie Councel for the obtaining of the same Borough At the length after long suit and much labour it pleased King Edward the fixth by his Letters Parents sealed with the great Seal of England bearing date at VVestminster the three and twentieth day of April in the fourth year of his Reign as well in consideration of the sum of six hundred forty seven pounds two shillings and a penny of lawful money of England paid to his Highnesses use by the Mayor Communalty and Citizens of London as for divers other considerations him thereunto moving To give and grant unto the said Mayor and Communalty and Citizens of London divers Messuages Lands and Tenements lying near the Borough of Southwark in the said Letters Parents particularly expressed which were sometimes the Lands of Charles late Duke of Suffolk and of whom King Henry the eighth did buy and purchase the same But there was excepted out of the said grant and reserved unto the said King Edward the sixth his Heirs and Successors and all that his Capitall Messuage or Mansion Hoâ—se called Southwark place late of the said Duke of Suffolke and all Gardens and Land to the same adjoyning and all that his Park in Southwarke and all that his Messuage and all Edifices and ground called the Antelope there And the said King Edward the 6th did by his said Letters Patents give grant to the said Mayor Communalty and Citizens and their Successors all that his Lordship and Mannor of Southwarke with all and singular the Rights Members and Appurtenances thereof in the said County of Surrey then late belonging to the late Monastery of Bermondsey in the same County And also all that his Mannor and Borough of Southwarke with all and singular the Rights Members and Appurtenances thereof in the said County of Surrey then late parcel of the Possessions of the Arch-Bishop and Bishoprick of Canterbury together with divers yearly Rents issuing out of the divers Messuages or Tenements in the said Letters Patents particularly expressed But there was excepted and reserved out of the said Grant to the said King Edward the sixth his Heirs and Successors all his Rights Jurisdictions Liberties and Franchises whatsoever within the Walk Circuit and Precinct of his Capital Messuage Gardens and Park in Southwarke and in all Gardens Curtilages and Lands to the said Mansion House Gardens and Park belonging Also there was excepted and reserved out of the said Grant the House Messuage or lodging there called the Kings-Bench and the Gardens to the same belonging so long as it should be used as a Prison for prisoners as it was then used Also there was excepted and reserved out of the said Grant the House Messuage or Lodging there called the Marshalsey and the Gardens to the same belonging so long as it should be used as a Prison for prisoners as it was then used Also it was provided that the said Letters Patents should not be prejudicial to the Offices of the great Master or Steward of the Kings Houshold within the Borough and Precincts aforesaid to be executed while the same Borough and Precincts should be within the Verge Nor to Iohn Gates Knight one of the Gentlemen of the Kings Privy Chamber concerning any Lands Tenements Offices Profits Franchises or Liberties to him granted during his life by the said King Edward the sixth or by his Father King Henry the eighth About the space of a Month after the said Borough of Southwark was so granted by King Edward the sixth to the Mayor Communalty and Citizens of London and that they by force of the said Letters Patents stood charged with the Ordering Survey and Government of the same Borough and of all the Kings Subjects inhabiting therein and repairing thither At a Court holden before Sir Rowland Hill Knight then Lord Mayor of London and the Aldermen of the same City in the Guild-Hall of London on Tuesday the eight and twentieth of May in the said fourth year of the Reign of King Edward the sixth the said Town or Borough was named and called the Ward or Bridge VVard without Not long after it was enacted that besides the then ancient accustomed number of five and twenty Aldermen there should be one Alderman more elected to have the Rule Charge and Governance of the said Borough and Town And that four discreet persons or more being Freemen of London and dwelling within the said City or the Borough of Southwarke or in other the Liberties of the said City should from thenceforth as often as the Case shall require be from time to time nominated appointed and chosen by the Inhabitants of the said Borough for the time being before the Lord Mayor of London for the time being And that the said Lord Mayor for the time being should at the next Court of Aldermen to be holden at the Guild-Hall of the said City next after such election present the Names and Sirnames of all such persons as to should be named before him and put in the said Election And that the said Lord Mayor and Aldermen for the time being should of those four persons or mo so presented Elect and Chuse one by way of Scrutinie to be an Alderman of the said City and to have the peculiar Ordering Rule and Governance of the said Borough and Town of Southwarke and of the Inhabitants thereof and of all other the Kings liege people repairing to the same This Borough being in the County of Surrey consisteth of divers streets waies and winding Lanes all full of Buildings inhabited And first to begin at the West part thereof over against the West Suburbe of the City on the Bank of the River Thames there is now a continual building of Tenements about half a mile in length to the Bridge Then South a continual street called Long Southwark builded on both sides with divers Lanes and Alleys up to St. Georges Church and beyond it through Blackman street towards New Town or Newington the Liberties of which Borough extend almost to the Parish Church of New Town aforesaid distant one mile from London Bridge and also South-west a continual building almost to Lambeth more than one mile from the said Bridge Then from
upon the Banks of the Thames were all Episcopal Palaces except the Savoy and Suffolk-house The first for greatness was Excester House now called Essex whereof the chiefest Founder was Edward Stapleton Bishop of that See who was beheaded by the Londoners in Cheap-side and his Body was then brought and buried in a heap of Sand or rubbish in his own House near Temple-barre in the Raign of Edward the second Bishop Edmond Lâ—ey built the great Hall in the Raign of Henry the sixth The same was since called Paget-House being enlarged by William Lord Paget Then was it called Leicester-House of Robert Dudley who was the great Favorite to Queen Elizabeth and then it came to be called Essex-house from Robert Earl of Essex who was also a Favorite of Queen Elizabeth and beheaded in the Tower Opposite to this House standeth the Parish-Church of Saint Clement Danes so called because Harold a Danish King with other of that Nation were buried there Then was the Bishop of Baths Inne or City-House builded by the Lord Thomas Seamer Admiral of England which House came afterwards to be possessed by the Earl of Arundel so it beares the name of Arundel-house neer there adjoyning there was once a Parish-Church called the Nativity of our Lady or the Innocents of the Strand with a fair Coemitery or Church-yard wherein there was a Brother-hood kept called Saint Vrsula of the Strand Near adjoyning to the said Church betwixt it and the Thames there was an Inne of Chancery called Chesters Inne because it belonged to the Bishop of Chester and sometimes 't was called Strand Inne Then was there a House belonging to the Bishop of Landaff which one of those Bishops purchased of the Duke of Lancaster Then was there the Bishop of Chesters Inne or Palace which was first built by Walter Langhton Treasurer of England in the Reign of Edward the first And not far from that was the Bishop of Worcesters Inne or Palace All which viz. The Parish Church called Saint Mary of the Strand Strand Inne with the Bishop of Chester and Bishop of Worcesters Houses with all the Tenements adjoyning were by commandement of Edward Duke of Somerset Uncle to Edward the sixth Lord Protector pull'd down and laid level to the ground Anno 1549. In place whereof he erected that large and goodly House call'd now Somerset House which rose out of the ruines of the Church Therefore the Roman Catholiques observed that an apparent judgement from Heaven fell upon him afterwards being beheaded a little after and he and his Counsel were so infatuated that he forgot to call for his Clergy which he might have claimed by the Law and so sav'd his life Then is there Bedford House which was sometimes the Bishop of Carliles Inne It stretched from the Savoy to Ivie Bridge where Sir Robert Cecill Earl of Salisbury raysed a large and stately House of Brick and Timber Worcester House lies sideling of it and there being a great VValnut tree there growing which much hindred the prospect of Salisbury House Eastward the Earl bargained with one of the Lord Edward of VVorcesters servants that if he could get leave of his Lord to cut down that Tree he would give him 100 li the servanc told his Lord of it who bad him fell down the Tree and take the money but the old Earl there being no good correspondence 'twixt Salisbury and him caused presently a new Brick building to be there erected where the Tree stood We come now to Durham House built by Thomas Hatfield Bishop of that See a very capacious Edifice on the North side whereof stood a row of thatch'd Stables which the Earl of Salisbury purchased and pull'd down and erected in place thereof the New Exchange or Britains Burse which was built with wonderful celerity for the first Stone thereof was â—ayed on the tenth of Iune 1608 and it was fully finished the November next following The Earl did then invite King Iames with the Queen to see his new House where after a rich banquet the King named the place Britains Burse Next beyond Durham House and this new building is another great Palace belonging of old to the Bishop of Norwich but afterwards it came to the Archbishop of Yorke by this occasion When Cardinal Woolsey Arch Bishop of Yorke was Indicted in a premunire whereby the King was entitled to all his Goods and Possessions he among other things seazed upon the said Cardinals House where he then dwelled commonly called York Place and changed the name thereof to White-Hall The Arch-bishops of York having then no House in London or Westminster Queen Mary gave unto Nicholas Heath then Arch-bishop of Yorke Suffolke House in Southwark lately built by Charles Brandon which House the said Arch-bishop sold and in lieu thereof he purchased the Bishop of Norwich's House which ever since hath been called Yorke House though it came afterwards to the possession of the Duke of Buckingham George Villers who added much to the old Edifice and would have had it called Buckingham House which name is engraven upon the watergate in great Letters There was of old an Hospitall of St. Mary Rouncival an order which came from Navarre in Spain by Charing-Crosse where a Fraternity was founded in the fifteenth of Edward the fourth which was afterwards suppressed and turned to Tenements Near unto this Hospital was an Hermitage with a Chappel of St. Katherine over against Charing-Crosse which Crosse was erected by Edward the first to the honor of his Queen as is spoken else-where Eleanor and it was a goodly Monument which was utterly destroyed by the fury of the long Parlâ—ament West of this Crosse stood sometimes another Hospital called St. Iames consisting of two Hides of Land in the Parish of St. Margaret in VVestminster and 〈…〉 by the Citizens of London for 14 Sister-Maidens that were Lepâ—ous then were there added eight Brethren to minister Divine Service there Afterwards there was a great addition of Land made to this Hospital and Edward the first granted a Fair to be kept there every year This Hospital being surrendred to Henry 8. the Sisters were allowed Pensions during their 〈◊〉 and the King erected there a Mannor House with a Park annexed-encompassed about with a Brick Wall But before we advance further Northward towards Westminster we must make a slep backward to Saint Martins Church and Lane where on the West side there are many gentile fair Houses in a row built by the same Earl of Salisbury who built Britains Burse but somewhat before Then have we Bedford Berry commonly called the Coven â—arden because there was a large Convent or Monastery there in times pass'd where there are many good structures cloystered underneath some of them with a large Piazza or Market place and a Church that bears the name of Saint Paul which though within the Precincts of Saint Martins Parish yet by Act of Parliament it is now exempted The Founder who was the Earl of Bedford pâ—ying
businessse aforesaid so that the business may not by any means remain undone for want of such power or by reason of the unprovident Election of the foresaid Knights Burgesses and Citizens But we will not in any case that you or any other Sheriff of our said Kingdom shall be elected And at the day and place aforesaid the said Election being made in a full County Court you shall certifie without delay unto us in our Chancery under your Seal and the Seals of them who shall be present at the Election sending back unto us the other part of the Indenture aforesaid affil'd to these presents ogether with the Writ Witness our Self at Westminster This Commission or Writ is the foundation whereon the whole fabrick of the power and duty of both Houses of Parliament is grounded The first House is to parley or have conference and to treat and consult with the King the other House is to do and consent only unto what the other shall ordain This was the Law and usage in former times but what is the power of the Commons in these dayes now that the Government is altred and cast into another mould the House of Peers being dissolved it is not the intent of this Discourse to determine At the return of the Writs aforesaid the Parliament could not begin but by the Royal presence of the King either in Perâ—on or by Representation By Representation two wayes either by a Gardian of England by Letters Patenrs under the Great Seal when the King was in remotis out of the Realm or by Commission under the Great Seal to certain Lords of Parliament representing the Person of the King he being within the Realm but absent in respect of some infirmity On the first day of the Parliament the King himself or most commonly the Lord Chancellor or Keeper in the presence of the Lords and Commons did shew the causes of the calling of High Court of Parliament but the King might have appointed any other to be his Prolocutor in this case Then the Commons are to choose their Speaker but in regard that after their choyce the King might refuse him for avoiding of time and contestation the use was as in the Congè deslire of a Bishop that the King doth recommend a discreet and learned man whom the Commons elect but without their Election no Speaker can be appointed for them because he is their mouth and intrusted by them and so necessary that the House of Commons cannot sit without him therefore a grievous sickness is a good cause to remove him as in Henry the 4th Raign Iohn Chervy Speaker was for sickness discharged and Sir Iohn Dorewoold chosen in his place but sickness is no cause to remove any Knight Citizen or Burgesse The Speaker being voted in the House was presented to the King where being allowed he made a supplication consisting of three parts First That the Commons in Parliament might have free speech Secondly That in any thing he should deliver in the name of the Commons if he should commit any error no fault should be imputed to the Commons Thirdly That as often as necessity for his Majesties service and the good of the Common-wealth shall require he may by the directions of the House have access to his Royal Person Any of the Peeâ—s by the Kings leave may absent himself and make a proxy to another Lord but a Knight Citizen or Burgess cannot make a Proxy because he is elected and intrusted by multitudes of people And it is to be observed though one be chosen for one particular County or City yet when he is returned and sits in Parliament he serveth for the whole Common-wealth There belongs to Parliament a Prorogation or adjournment which differ in this A Prorogation presupposeth a Session and then such Bills as passed in either House or by both Houses and had no Royal assent unto them must at the next Assembly begin again for every Session in Parliament is in Law a several Parliament but if it be but adjourned then there is no Session When a Parliament is called and doth sit and is dissolved without any Act passed or judgement given it is no Session of Parliament but a Convention Touching the Power and Jurisdiction of Parliament for making of Lawes in proceeding by Bill it is so transcendent and absolute as it cannot be confined within any bounds No Alien is capable to be chosen a Parliament-man nor can any of the Judges of the Kings Bench or Common Pleas or Barons of the Exchequer that have Judicial places or any Church-man that hath care of souls be chosen a member of the House of Parliament For others the King cannot grant a Charter of Exemption to any man to be freed from Election of Knight or Burgesse of the Parliament because the Elections of them ought to be free for the publique service OF THE COVRT OF THE KINGS-BENCH THE Royallest Court in the Land Now called The Upper Bench. THe Lawes of England presuppose the King to be the Fountain and Oracle of Justice and to have special inspirations from Heaven to that purpose therefore all the Tribunals of Judicature were used to be ambulatory with his Court and He was wont to sit in Person in the Upper Bench which is the Supreme Tribunal of the Land The Justices in this Court are the soveraign Justices of Oyer and Terminer Goal-delivery Conservation of the Peace c. in the Realm In this Court the Kings of this Realm have sat as being the highest Bench and the Judges of that Court on the lower Bench at his Feet but Judicature only belongeth to the Judges of that Court and in his presence they answer all Motions c. The Justices of this Court are the soveraign Coroners of the Land and therefore where the Sheriffs and Coroners may receive appeals by Bill à fortiori the Justices of this Court may do it so High is the authority of this Court that when it comes and sits in any County the Justices of Eire of Oier and Terminer Coal-delivery they which have conusance c. do cease without any writing to them But if any Indictment of Treason or Felony in a Forain County be removed before certain Commissioners of Oier and Terminer in the County where this Court sits yet they may proceed because this Court for that this Indictment was not removed before them cannot proceed for that offence But if any Indictment be taken in Midd in the vacation and after this Court sit in the next Term in the same County if this Court be adjourned then may special Commissioners of Oier and Terminer c. in the interim proceed upon that Indictment but the more usual way is by special Commission And this was resolved by all the Judges of England at Winchester Anno 1 ' Iacobi Regis in the Case of Sir Everard Digby and others and so had it been resolved Mich. 25 and 26 Eliz. in the Case of Arden and Somervile for
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
dischargeth it self into the Thames Fitz Stephen calls this the Palatin Tower or Castle And they write that in the Reign of William the Conqueror it was consumed by fire out of the ruines whereof a great part of Saint Pauls Church was newly built And also on the very plot of ground where it stood Robert Kilwarby ArchBishop of Canterbury founded a Religious House for the Dominican Fryars whence we call the place Black-fryars whereby a man may easily guess of what bigness it was howbeit in that place stood in the dayes of Henry the second Gervase of Tilbury in his Book call'd Otia Imperialia is my Author two Forts or Ramparts the one whereof belong'd to Bainard the other to the Baron of Monfichet by right of succession but nothing remaineth of them to this day yet some think that Pembroke House was a piece of them which we term Bainards Castle of Bainard a noble man of Dunmow whose possession sometimes it was whose Successors the Fitz Waters were in right of inheritance who were Ensign-bearers of the City of London as shall be told hereafter and among them Robert Fitz water had licence of K. Edward the first to sell the Site of Bainards Castle to the forenamed ArchBishop Kilwarby Neither was this City at that time wall'd only but also when the Flamins or Pagan Priests were taken away and Christian Religion established under that good Emperour Constantine a Bishop was install'd in their room for it appeareth at the Councel of Arles which in the year of grace 314 was held under the said Constantine the great the Bishop of London was present for he subscribed as it is to be seen in the first Tome of the Councel in this manner Restitutus Bishop in the City of London out of the Province of great Britain Which Restitutus and his Successors had their Seat and residence as some affirm as Saint Peters in Cornhil From that time London flourished in such honour that she began to be call'd Augusta and by that name was famous under the Emperour Valentinian For Ammianus Marcellinus in his 27 Book writeth thus And going forward to London an ancient Town which posterity call'd Augusta and in the 28 Book He went from Augusta which men of old time call'd London Whence it came that after Constantine's time there was a Mint appointed therein For we read in those Pieces of Money which he caused to be stamp'd in honour of his Father Constantius and in others this was the Inscription P. Lon. S. that is Pecunia Londino signata Mony stamp'd in London He who had the charge and overseeing thereof under the Comes of Sacrarum largitionum is in the Book of Notice term'd Praepositus the saurorum Augustensium in Britannia that is Provost of the Treasury of Augusta or London in Britany For this name Augusta was a name full of Dignity and Majesty And both Founders and Repairers of Cities when they hoped or wish'd that such Cities would become flourishing and powerful gave them significant names of good fortune But among the most auspicious names that be none is more magnificent none more auspicate and glorious than Augusta For this of Augustus the most gracious mighty Emperour Octavianus took unto himself not without the judgment of the best learned Sirnamed he was saith Dio Augustus as one of great Majesty above the nature of man for what things be most honourable and sacred are called Augusta Neither had London this name for so high an honour without the Licence of the Roman Emperours In regard that names could not be impos'd upon Cities without authority as Virgil notes in that verse of his Urbem appellabant permisso nomine Acestam The City by permission Acesta they did name But as continuance of time has outworne this so honorable a name of Augusta to it hath confirm'd that other most ancient name Londinum Whiles it enjoy'd the foresaid name Augusta it scaped fair from destruction by a rebellious rout of Ransakers But Theodosius the father of Theodosius the Emperour did cut them in pieces whiles they were encombred with their spoils entred as Mareianus saith with exceeding great joy in triumphant manner into the City distressed before overwhelm'd with grievous calamities And marching with his Army from thence he by his valour and prowesse so freed Britain from those intolerable calamities and dangers wherewith she was beset that the Romans as witnesseth Symmachus honored him among other ancient Worthies and men of high renown with the Statue of a man of Arms. Not long after when the Romans Empire in Britain was come to an end in that publick destiny and fatal defection of the whole State it fell unto the English Saxons but in what sort it is not well agreed on among Authors It is most probable that Vortigern to redeem himself being taken prisoner delivered it for his ransome unto Hengist the Saxon considering that it did belong unto the East Saxons whose Countrey also as Writers do record Vortigern upon that condition made over unto Hengist At which time the state of the Church went also to wrack and endured sore affliction the Pastors were either slain or forc'd to fly their flocks worried and havock made of all as well Church goods as others Theon the last Bishop of London of the British blood was fain to hide the holy Relique of Saints for a memorial as my Author saith and not for any superstition But although those daies of the English Saxons were such that a man might truly say Mars then brandished and shook his weapons yet was London neverthelesse as Bede testifieth a Town of Trade and traffique frequented by many Nations resorting thither by Sea and Land But afterwards when a more gracious gale of peace breath'd favourably upon this wearied Island and the English Saxon began to professe Christianity it also began to flourish afresh for Ethelbert King of Kent under whom Sebert raign'd in this tract as it 〈◊〉 his Vassal and by courtesie founded here a Church and did consecrate it to Saint Paul which being soon reedified and repaired became at last most stately and magnificent it was endowed by degrees with fair revenues livings wherewith were maintain'd a Bishop a Dean a Chanter a Chancellour a Treasurer fire Archdeacons thirty Prebendaries and divers other Incumbents and Officers who might have a hansome subsistence thereby The East part of this Church seems to be the newer and more curiously wrought having under it a very fair large arch'd Vault which also is Saint Faiths Church It was built out of the ruines of that Castle Palatine spoken of before by Mauritius the Bishop about the year of our Lord 1086 whereas it had been formerly consum'd by a wofull accidental fire whereof William of Mamesbury writeth thus The beauty whereof is so magnificent that it deserves to be numbred in the rank of the most excellent Edifices so large as that arck'd Vault underneath and the Church above it of such capacity
Buildings did much increase and the Suburbs strerch'd forth from the Gates a great way on every side but Westward especially which may be said to be best peopled and the civillest part For there all the twelve Inns of Court are situate for the Students of the Law whereof fower being very fait and large belong to the Iudicial Courts the rest to the Chancery Besides two Inns more for the Servientes ad legem or the Sargeants at Law â—ere such a number of young Gentlemen do so ply their Studies in all kind of Sciences and other civilities besides the Law that for a choyse way of Education and Gallantry Sir Iohn Fortescue in his Treatise of the Lawes of England doth affirm It is not inferior to any place of Christendom The said four principal Houses are the Inner Temple the middle Temple Graies Inne and Lincolns Iune The two former stand in the very same place where in times pass'd during the Raign of King Henry the second Heraclius Patriark of Ierusalem consecrated a Church for the Knight-Templers which they had newly built according to the form of the Temple neer unto the Sepulcher of our Saviour at Ierusalem for at their first Institution about the yeer of our Lord 1113. they dwelt in part of the Temple hard by the Holy Sepulcher whereof they were so named and vow'd to defend Christian Religion the Holy Land and Pilgrims going to visit the holy Sepulcher against all Mahumetans and Infidels professing to live in chastity and obedience whereupon all men voluntarily and with candid Christian hearts embrac'd and honor'd them so that through the royal munificence of Princes and other devout people having got very fair possessions and exceeding great wealth they flourish'd in a high reputation for piety and devotion yea out of an opinion of the holiness of the men and of the Place King Henry the third and many Noblemen desired much to be buried in their Church among them where some of their Statues are to be seen crosse-legd to this day for so they were used to be buried in that Age having taken upon them the Crosse to serve in the holy Warres and vow'd the same accordingly among whom was William Marshall the elder a powerful man in his time VVilliam and Gilbert his Sonnes Marshals of England and Earls of Pembroke Upon VVilliam the Elder there were in the upper part engraven these words Comes Pembrochiae and upon one side this Verse Miles eram Martis Mars multos vicerat armis But in process of time when with insatiable greediness they had hoarded up much wealth by withdrawing Tithes from many Churches and appropriating spiritual Livings unto themselves and by other meanes their riches turnâ—d to their ruine which may be one day the fortune of the Jesuites as I heard Count Gondamar once say For thereby their former innocence and piety began to be stifled they sell a clashing with other Religious Orders their professed obedience to the Patriark of Ierusalem was rejected they drâ—w daily more envy upon themselves and an ill repute insomuch-that in the yeer 1312. this Order was condemned of impiety other hainous crimes all this by the Popes Authority but specially by the instigation of the French King they were utteâ—ly abolished Nevertheless their possessions here were by Authority of Parliament assigned unto the Knights Hospitalers of St. Iohn of Ierusalem lest that such Lands given to Religious and good uses should be alienated against the pious Donors Wills Yet it appeares in ancient writings that this place after the expulsion of the Templers was the Seat and Habitation of Thomas Earl of Lancaster and Sir Hugh Spencer King Edward the seconds Minion afterwards of Sir Aimer de Valence Earl of Pembrook and in the end turned to two Colleges or Inns of Court for the study of the Lawes The other two great Inns were also the mansions of Noble men Grayes Inne of the Lord Grey of Wilton and the other of the Earls of Lincoln Neer unto this Henry the third erected between the two Temples a House for Converts as they call'd it for the maintenance of those that were conâ—erted from Iudaisme to Christianity which Edward the third afterwards made an Archive to keep Rolls and Records in and therefore 't is called to this day The Rolls In the yeer 1381. the Rebels of Essex and Kent among other places destroyed and pulled down the Lodgings and Houses of this Temple took out of the Church the Books and Records that were in hutches of the Apprentices of the Law carried them out into the street and burnt them The House they spoiled and burnt also out of an hatred they bore to Sir Robert Hales Lord Prior of St. Iohn of Jerusalem which was a place of so high a Dignity that the Prior of St. John's was accounted the first Parliamentary Peer of England But the said House at sundry times was repaired again and touching the Gate-house of the middle Temple Sir Amias Paulet did build it up while he remained Prisoner having incur'd the indignation of Cardinal Wolsey for an old grudge The great Hall in the middle Temple was built about the yeer 1572. in the Raign of Queen Elizabeth The Temple-Church had of old a Master and four stipendary Priests with a Clerk for the ministration of divine service who had allowance given them out of the Revenues of St. John of Jerusalem and that Hospital but now by the revolution of time and Ecclesiastical alterations they have but one Minister to serve them Of fresh water Rivers Aqueducts Conduits and Fountains that belong to the City of LONDON AS the principal thing that conduceth to the health of humane bodies is the blood that runneth through their Veins so the chiefest thing that tends to the welfare of a City is to have Springs and Conduits of fresh water run within her therefore we will proceed now to give an account of those ancient and present Rivers Brooks Boorns Pools Wells Conduits and Aqueducts which serve to refresh the City of London In former Ages until the Conquerors time and long after the City of London was watred besides the River of Thames on the South part with the River of Wells as it was then call'd and on the West with water call'd Wallbrook running through the midst of the City to pay Tribute unto the Thames There was another water or boorn which run within the City through Langborn Ward watring the East part In the West Suburbs was also another great Water call'd Oldborn which had its fall into the River of Wells Then were there 3. principal Fountains or Wells in the other Suburbs to wit Holy Well Clements Well and Clarks Well Near unto this last named Fountain were divers other Wells viz. Fags well Skinners well Tode well Loders well and Rad well All which Wells having the fall of their over-flowings into the said River much encreased the stream and in that place gave it the name of Well In West-Smithfield
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
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
away at last their own Legions whereupon the Iland being thus grown weak much depopulated and to a long deâ—uetude of Arms the Saxons who are now the English yet keep still their first denomination of Saxons both in the British and Irish Tongues to this day came over with a considerable strength and having in a Parly on Salsbury Plains musiered most of the British Nobility by a stratagem and taken Vortiger the King Prisoner He for his ransom was forc'd to give not only London but most part of the Iland to the Saxons And the chief Magistrate of London they call'd Portreve which is a Gardian or Governour of a Port and that name is yet used in England in some places The Saxons then changed their names into Englishmen yet they continued Pagans a long time after but at last the Britains converted them to Christianity and then the City of London flourished exceedingly for many Ages till there came over a swarm of Danes who proved more fatal to London then any other Nation for by fire and sword they had almost utterly destroyed Her had not the Londoners at last rowz'd up their spirits who making vertue of necessity did fall upon King Swein the insulting Enemy with such a resolution that by a mighty slaughter and extraordinary prowesse they utterly repel'd him The City having recovered her former lustre though 't was a good while first she continued under the English Government and the Magistracy of a Portreve till the Norman rush'd in yet the Title was not alter'd a good while after when at last he came to be call'd Bayliffe and sometimes Provost Richard the first for supporting the Croy sada and his Warres in the Holy Land got great Contributions of monies from the Londoners in lieu whereof he gave them leave to choose two Bayliffs annually King Iohn after him chang'd their Bayliffs into a Maior and two Sheriffs To these Henry the third adds some Aldermen who though yeerly Elegible at first grew afterwards Perpetual Now this Word Alderman is consonant to Senator being both derived from old Age and Gravity The first Alderman we read of in England was in the time of King Edgar about 800 years agoe whose name was Ailwine and was descended of the blood Royal as appeares by his Epitaph in that goodly Monastery in the I le of Ely whereof he was founder himself which Epitaph runs thus Hic requiescit Dom. Ailwinus inclyti Regis Edgari Cognatus totius Angliae Aldermannus hujus Sacri coenobii miraculosus Fundator Here resteth the Lord Ailwine Cousin to Noble King Edgar Alderman of all England which some interpret chief Justice miraculous Founder of this holy Abbey Hence it may be infer'd that the appellation of Alderman is not only venerable but ancient honourable And from this Lord Ailwine it seemes the first Maior of London descended who was Henry Fitz-Alwin Anno 1191. who continued many years in the Office lies buried in St. Mary Bothaw near London-stone and the next Maior to him was Roger Fitz-Alwin after whom he Office grew annual The City being thus in tract of time come to a fixed and setled Government she began to flourish exceedingly And as she increased in Men Manufactures and Merchandizing so the Kings did enlarge their royal favours unto Her Anno 1226. Henry the third confirmed unto the Citizens of London free Warren or liberty to hunt about the City and in the Warren of Stanes Moreover that the Citizens of London should passe Toll-free throughout all England and that the Keddles and Weres in the Rivers of Thames and Medway should be plucked up and destroyed for ever because Navigation to London might be more free Roger Renger was Maior when these Patents were granted A few years after the liberties and franchises of London were ratified by the same King who granted that either Sheriff should have two Clarks and two Sargeants and that the Citizens should have a Common Seal A little after the same King granted that the Maior Elect should be presented to the Barons of the Exchequer and they should admit him Moreover he gave way that the City should be fortified with Posâ—s and Iron Chains drawn athwart over the streets Anno 1326. Edward the third much increased the Immunities of the City and the Authority of the Maior for he granted that the Maior should be Iustice for the Gaol delivery at Newgate and have power to reprieve Prisoners That the Citizens of London should not be constrained to go out of the City of London to any Warre He granted also that the liberties and franchises of the City should not after that time be taken into the Kings hands as it had bin often before when a Custos was put in Moreover He granted by Letters Patents that there should be no other Eschetor in the City but the Maior Anno 1338. He granted that the Sargeants attending the Maior and the Sheriffs should bear Maces silver and gilt with the Royal Arms engraven Anno 1356. The same King ordained that whereas the Aldermen were used to be chang'd yeerly they should not be removed without special cause for the future Then for the higher honour and Authority of the Office the Sword was added with the Cap of Maintenance Thus in proceâ—s of time the Government of London grew to be more and more established Anno 1415. Sir Henry Barton being Maior ordained Lanthorns and Lights to be hang'd out on the Winter Evenings betwixt Alhollontide and Candlemas Sir Iohn Norman being Maior was the first who went upon the River to Westminster having made a stately Barge to that purpose Anno 1453. And the rest of the Companies followed that laudable Example with their Barges also Anno 1473. Sir Iohn Tate being Maior the Sheriffs of London were appointed each of them to have sixteen Serjeants and every Serjeant to have his Yeoman Moreover they were to have six Clerks a Secondary a Clark of the Papers with fower other Clarks besides the Under Sheriffs Clark Anno 1484. It happened that there was successively one after the other three Mayors and three Sheriffs of London in the compasse of one year by reason of the sweating sickness which rag'd so extreamly Anno 1501. Sir John Sha being Maior added some state to the Office for it was ordered that the Aldermen his Brethren should attend him on Horseback from Guild-hall to the Rivers side when he took Barge for Westminster Besides he was the first who kept Court in his own House for redressing of such matters that came before him Sir William Capel being Maior of London caus'd Cages to be set up in every Ward for the punishments of Vagabends and Rogues Anno 1556. Sir Thomas Ossley being Mayor the Night Bel-man was first ordained Queen Elizabeth did much favour the City of London and for the better Government thereof gave way for a Provost Marshal to be appointed Thus have we observed that the Governours in chief of the City of
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
prescribed its boundâ— which extended from Algate to the place where now the Barrs are Eastward on both sides of the street and Northward as far as Bishopsgate and Southward as far as the Thames and so far into the River that a horieman might ride at low water and throw his Spear These Knights continued their Châ—rter in the daies of Edgar Ethelred and Canutus which Edward the Confessor did not only ratifie but enlarge which deed remain'd a long time fairly written in the Saxon Letter Tongue in the Book of the late House of the holy Trinity after that VVilliam Rufus confirm'd the said Charter unto the Heirs of those Knights as followeth William King of England to Maurice Bishop and Godefroy de Magun and Richard de Parre and to his faithful people of London Greeting Know ye me to have granted to the men of Knighten Guild that belong'd to them and the Land that belong'd thereunto with all Customes as they were used to have the same in the time of my Predecessors c. Henry the first after him confirm'd the same But afterwards the Church of the Holy Trinity being founded by Queen Matilda within Aldgate such was the piety of those times that this Knighten Guild which was of such large extent that it reach'd unto the Thames was voluntarily given to the Canons of that Church And for better ratification of the Grant they offer'd upon the Altar Saint Edwards Charter with the rest which they had and put the Prior of the Holy Trinity in possession and saisin thereof by the Church of Saint Butolph which was built thereon being the head of the Land All which King Henry confirm'd by that famous Charter which runs thus Henry King of England to R. Bishop of London to the Sheriffs and Provost and all his Barons and faithful people French and English of London and Middlesex Greeting Know ye me to have granted and confirm'd to the Church Canons of the holy Church of the Trinity of London the Soke of the English Knighten Guild and the Land which pertaineth thereunto and to the Church of Saint Buttolph as the men of the same Guild have given and granted unto them And I will streightly command that they hold the same well and honourably and freely with Sack and Soke Toll and Thea Infangthefe and all Customs belonging to it as the men of the same Guild in the best sort had it in the time of King Edward and as King William my Father and Brother did grant it to them by their Writs Witnesse A. the Queen c. The Prior and Canons of the Holy Trinity beind thus seiz'd of the said Land and Soke of Knighten Guild being not only a part of the Suburbe without the Wall but also within the City the Prior was for him and his Successors admitted as one of the Aldermen of London And according to the Customs of the City he did sit in Court and rodeâ— with the Mayor and his brethren the Aldermen as one of them in Scarlet or other Livery as they then us'd until the year 1531 at which time the said Priory was surrendred to Henry the eighth by Act of Parliament who gave it to Sir Thomas Audley Lord Chancelour of England and he pull'd down the Church and dissolv'd the Priory since which dissolution the said Ward of Portsoken hath been govern'd by Temporal men one of the Aldermen of London Thus much for the out-bound Portsoken Ward or Knighten Guild touching the antiquity and Government thereof Now touching the Parts thereof it is to be observed that the East part of the Tower stands therein then an Hospital of Saint Katherine founded by the foresaid Queen Matilda wife to King Stephen by Licence of the Prior and Convent of the Holy Trinity in London on whose ground she built it Queen Elianor Wife to Edward the first was a second Foundresse there and appointed one Master three Brethren Chaplains and three Sisters ten poor women with six poor Clerks for the maintenance of whom she gave the Mannor of Clarton in VViltshiere and Upchurch in Kent c. Queen Philippa Wife to Edward the third founded a Chantry there and contributed to that Hospital ten pounds Land a year The Quiere there was not much inferior to that of Pauls which by one Doctor Wilson being Master there was afterwards dissolv'd On the East and by North of the Tower lieth East Smithfield and Tower hill two Plots of ground so call'd without the Walls of the City where sometimes flood a Monastery call'd New Abbey founded by Edward the 3d. upon the occasion following That having escaped a great danger in a tempest at Sea he made a vow to build a Monastery in sign of gratitude to heaven to the honor of God and our Lady of Grace which he perform'd accordingly But the said Monastery being afterwards pull'd down by Sir Arthur Darcy of late time in place thereof is built a large store-house for victual with convenient Ovens for baking of Bisket to serve the Navy Royal the rest of the ground is become into smal Tenements The Company of Marchant-Taylors have built thereabouts hard by Hog-street divers fair Alms-houses for 14 poor women and endow'd it with maintenance accordingly Westward hence from Tower hill towards Algate there was a Monastery of Nunns of the Order of Santa Clara call'd the Minories founded by Edmund Earl of Lancaster brother to Edward the first Anno 1293 which was demolished in Henry the eighths time Dame Elizabeth Savage being then Abbesse In the room of this Nunnery there are now store-houses for Armour and habillaments for war with divers Work-houses to that purpose and hard by there is is a small Church called Saint Trinity for the Inhabitants thereabouts We come now to the Church of Saint Bâ—ttolph which the Priors of the Holy Trinity did build being Patrons thereof In this Church among others there lies buried Thomas Lord Darcy of the North Knight of the Garter who was beheaded Anno 1537. And also Sir Nicholas Carew of Beddington in Surrey beheaded also Anno 1538. East from this Parish Church is Hog-lane that stretcheth towards St. Mary Spittle which within these sixty years had fair rows of Elm-trees all along which are turn'd now to Houses on both sides from Houndsditch to VVhite-Chappel Of the Third Ward or Aldermanry called Aldgate Ward WE will still look Eastward yet a good while and go to the third Ward within the Walls which is called Ealdgate Ward or Aldgate as taking name of the same gate The principal street of this Ward beginneth at Ealdgate stretching West to sometime a fair Well where now a Pump is placed From thence the way being divided into twain the first and principal street called Aldgate runneth on the South side to Lime-street corner and half that street down on the left hand is also of that Ward In the mid way on that South side betwixt Ealdgate and Lime-street is Hart-horn Alley a way that goeth
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
the West side but not so far on the East Then the aforesaid street from this Finkes Lane now Finch Lane runneth down by the Royal Exchange to the Stocks and to a place commonly called the Scalding-house or Scalding wicke but now Scalding Alley by the West side whereof under the Parish Church of St. Mildred runneth the course of VVallbrooke and these be the bounds of this Ward Here stands the Parish Church of Alhallowes in the Wall so called of standing close to the Wall of the City near Moorfields and over against Winchester house which was so vast and spacious a Mansion that it has been many years since cut into divers habitations For the Glasse-house stood in part of it the Spanish Ambassadour had another part And now of late the Excise Office hath bin kept in another part On the other side of the street among many proper Houses possessed for the most part by Curriers is the Carpenters Hall which Company was Incorporated in the seventeenth year of Edward the fourth Then East from the Curriers row is a long and high Wall of stone in the foresaid Winchester house enclosing the North side of a large Garden adioyning to as large an house builded in the Reigns of King Henry the eighth and of Edward the sixth by Sir William Powlet Lord Treasurer of England thorow his Garden which of old time consisted of divers parts now united was sometimes a fair foot way leading by the West end of the Augustine Fryars Church straight North and opened somewhat West from Alhallowes Church against London Wall towards Mooregate which foot-way had Gates at either end locked up every night but now the same way being taken into those Gardens the Gates are closed up with Stone whereby the people are enforced to go about by Saint Peters Church and the East end of the said Fryers Church and all the said great place and Garden of Sir William Pawlet to London Wall and so to Moorgate This great House adjoyning to the Garden aforesaid stretcheth to the North corner of Broad-street and then turneth up Broad-street all that side to and beyond the East end of the said Friers Church It was builded by the said Lord Treasurer in place of Augustine Fryers House Cloyster and Gardens c. The Fryars Church he pulled not down but the West end thereof enclosed from the Steeple and Quire was in the year 1550 granted to the Dutch Nation in London to be their preaching place The other part namely the Steeple Quire and side Iles to the Quire adjoyning he reserved to houshold uses as for Stowage of Corn Coal and other thingâ— his Son and Heir Marquiss of VVinchester sold the Monuments of Noble men there buried in great number Paving stone and whatsoever which cost many thousand pounds for one hundred pounds and in place thereof made fair sâ—abling for horses He caused the Lead to be taken from the roofs and laid Tyle in place which exchange proved not so profitable as he looked for but rather to his disadvantage for there have been some remarkable judgements upon that Family since On the East side of this Broad street amongst other buildings on the back part of Gresham House which is in Bishopsgate street there are placed eight Alms-houses builded of Brick and Timber by Sir Thomas Gresham Knight for eight Almes-men which be now there placed rent-free and receive each of them by his gift six pound thirteen shillings four pence yearly for ever Next unto Pawlet House is the Parish Church of Saint Peter the poor so called for a difference from other of that name sometime peradventure a poor Parish but at this present there be many fair Houses possessed by rich Marchants and others In this little Church there be some fair Monuments one of Sir Thomas Lowe and another of Sir VVilliam Garaway with Iohn Lucas Esquire of Colchester Then next have ye the Augustine Fryers Church and Church-yard the entring thereunto by a South gate to the West Porch a large Church having a most fine spired Steeple small high and streight that there are few the like founded by Humphrey Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex in the year one thousand two hundred fifty three Râ—egnald Cobham gave this Messuage in London to the enlarging thereof in the year one thousand three hundred fourty four Humphrey Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex re-edified this Church in the year 1354 whose Body was there buried in the Quire The small spired Steeple of this Church was overthrown by tempest of wind in the year one thousand three hundred sixty two but was raised of new as still it might have stood had not private benefit the only devourer of Antiquity pull'd it down Both that goodly Steeple and all that East part of the Church hath lately been taken down and Houses for one mans commodity raised in the place whereby London hath lost so goodly an ornament and times hereafter may more talk of it This House was valued at fifty seven pounds and was surrendred the twelfth of November the 13 of Henry the 8. There were many great Monuments in this Fryers Church one of Edmond first son to Ioan mother to Richard the second Guy de Meryke Earl of Saint Paul Lucie Countesse of Kent Richard the great Earl of Arundel Surrey VVarren Sir Francis Atcourt Earl of Pembrooke Iohn Vere Earle of Oxford with Aubery de Vere his son the Lady of Bedford with Edward Duke of Buckingham and very many more persons of quality On the South side and at West end of this Church many fair houses are builded namely in Throgmorton street one very large and spacious builded in the place of old and small Tenements by Thomas Cromwel Master of the Kings Jewel-house after that Master of the Rolls then Lord Cromwell Knight Lord Privie Seal Vicar General Earl of Essex high Chamberlain of England c. This house being finished and having some reasonable plot of ground left for a Garden he caused the pales of the Gardens adjoyning to the North part thereof on a sudden to be taken down two and tweâ—ty foot to be measured forth-right into the North of every mans ground a Line there to be drawn a Trench to be cast a foundation laid and an high Brick Wall to be builded and this was suddenly and no warning given nor other answer but when any spake to the Surveyers of that work they said their Master Sir Thomas commanded them so to do so that no man durst go to argue the matter but each man lost his Land Thus the sudden rising of some men causeth them to forget themselves The Company of Drapers in London bought this House and now the same is their Common Hall This Company obtained of King Henry the sixth in the seventeenth of his Reign to be incorporate Iohn Gedney was chosen to be their first Master and the four Wardens were Iohn VVotton I. Darby Robert Breton and T. Cooke The Armes granted to the said
his Reign gave unto Iohn Carpenter Dr. of Divinity and Master of St. Anthonies Hospital and to his Brethren and their Successors for ever his Mannor of Poinington with the appurtenances with certain Pensions and Portions of Milburn Burneworth Charleton and Up-Wimburn in the County of Southhamton towards the maintenance of five Scholars in the University of Oxford to be brought up in the faculty of Arts after the rate of ten pence the week for every Scholar so that the said Scholars be first instructed in the rudiments of Grammar at the Colledge of Eaton founded by the said King In the year 1474. Edward the 4th granted to William Say Batchelor of Divinity Master of the said Hospital to have Priests Clerks Scholars poor men and Brethren of the same Clerks or Laymen Queristers Procters Messengers Servants in Houshold and other things whatsoever like as the Prior and Covent of St. Anthonies of Vienna c. He also annexed united and appropriated the said Hospital unto the Collegiate of St. George in Windsor The Protectors of this House were to collect the benevolence of charitable Persons towards the building and supporting thereof In the year 1499. Sir John Tate sometime Alebrewer then a Mercer caused his Brewhouse called the Swan near adjoyning to the said Free Chappel College or Hospital of St. Anthony to be taken for the enlarging of the Church which was then newly builded toward the building whereof the said Tate gave great sums of money and finished it in the year 1501 Sir John Tate deceased 1514. and was there buried under a fair Monument by him prepared Dr. Taylor Master of the Rolls and other Walter Champion Draper one of the Sheriffs of London 1529. was buried there and gave to the Beadmen twenty pounds The Lands by year of this Hospital were valued in the 37. of King Henry the eighth to be 55l 6 s. and 8. pence One Iohnson a Schoolmaster of the famous Free-School there became a prebend of Windsor and then by little and little followed the spoil of this Hospital he first dissolved the Quire conveyed away the Plate and Ornaments then the Bels and lastly put out the Alms men from their houses appointing them portions of twelve pence the week to each but now I hear of no such matter performed for their houses with other be letten out for rent and the Church is a preaching place for the French Nation as was touched before This School was commended in the Reign of Henry the sixth and sithence commended above other but now decayed and come to nothing by taking that from it which thereunto belonged Next is the Parish Church of St. Bartholmew at the end of Bartholmew Lane Thomas Pike Alderman with the assistance of Nicholas Yoo one of the Shetiffs of London about the year 1438. new builded this Church West from this Church have ye Scalding Alley of old time called Scalding House or Scalding wick because that ground for the most part was then imployed by Poulterers that dwelled in the high street from the Stocks Market to the great Conduit Their Poultry which they sold at their stalls were scalded there the street doth yet bear the name of the Poultry and the Poulterers are but lately departed from thence into other streets as into Grasse-street and the ends of St. Nicholas Flesh-shambles This Scalding wick is the farthest part of Broadstreet-Ward and is by the water called Wallbrook parted from Cheap-Ward Of the Seventh Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Corn-hill Ward NOw Cornhil Ward comes to consideration corruptly called Cornwel by the vulgar It was called Corn-hill of a Corn-Market time out of mind there holden and is a part of the principal high street beginning at the West end of Leaden-Hall stretching down West on both the sides by the South end of Finkes Lane on the right hand and by the North end of Birchoven Lane on the left part of which Lanes to wit to the middle of them is of this Ward and so down to the Stocks Market and this is the bounds The upper or East part of this Ward and also a part of Limestreet Ward hath been as I said a Market-place especially for Corn and since for all kind of Victuals as is partly shewed in Limestreet Ward It appeareth by Record that in the year 1522. the Rippiers of Rie and other places sold their fresh Fish in Leaden-hall Market upon Cornhill but forraign Butchers were not admitted there to sell Flesh till the year 1533. And it was enacted that Butchers should sell their Bief not above a half peny the pound and Mutton half peny half farthing which Act being devised for the great Commodity of the Realm as it was then thought hath since proved far otherwise for before that time a fat Oxe was sold at London for six and twenty shillings eight pence at the most a far Weather for three shillings four pence a fat Calf at the same price a fat Lamb for twelve pence pieces of Bief weighing 2. pounds and a half at the least yea 3. pound or better for a peny on every Butchers Stall in this City and of those pieces of Bief 13 or fourteen for twelve pence fat Mutton for eight pence the quarter and one hundred weight of Bief for four shillings eight pence at the dearest What the price is now I need not set down many men thought the same Act to raise the price by reason that Grasier knew or supposed what weight every their Beasts contained and so raising their price thereafter the Butcher could be no gainer but by likewise raising his price the number of Butchers then in the City and Suburbs was accounted sixscore of which every one killed six Oxen a peece weekly which is in forty six weeks 33120. Oxen or seven hundred and twenty Oxen weekly The forraign Butchers for a long time stood in the high street of Limestreet-Ward on the North side twice every week viz Wednesdayes and Saturdayes and werâ— some gain to the Tenants before whose doors they stood and into whoâ—e houses they set their blocks and stalls but that advantage being eâ—pied they were taken into Leaden-Hall there to pay for their standing to the Chamber of London Thus much for the Market upon Cornhill The chief Ornaments in Cornhill-VVard are these First at the East end thereof in the middle of the high street and at the parting of four wayes have ye a Water-Standard placed in the year 1582. in manner following A certain German named Peter Morris having made an artificial Forcier for that purpose conveyed Thames-water in Pipes of Lead over the Steeple of St. Magnus Church at the North end of London-Bridge and from thence into divers mens Houses in Thames-street New Fish-street and Grasse-street now Gracious-street up to the North West corner of Leaden-hall the highest ground of all the City where the waste of the main Pipe rising into this Standard provided at the charges of the City with four spouts did
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
up for passage of Ships with tops to the said Queen Hith Touching the ancient Customs of Billingsgate in the Reign of Edward the third every great Ship landing there paid for standage two pence every little Ship with orelocks a peny the lesser Boat called a Battle a half-peny of two quarters of Corn measured the King was to have one farthing of a Combe of Corn a peny of every weight going out of the City a half peny of two quarters of Sea-Coals measured a farthing and of every Tun of Ale going out of England beyond the Seas by Marchants strangers four pence of every thousand Herrings a farthing except the Franchises c. Next to this is Sommers Key which likewise took that name of one Sommer dwelling there as did Lyon Key of one Lyon owner thereof and since of the Signe of the Lyon Then is there a fair Wharf or Key called Buttolphs-gate by that name so called in the time of William the Conqueror and before him of Edward the Confessor Next is the Parish of St. Buttolph a comely Church and hath had many fair Monuments therein now much defaced and gone Among others there is William Rainwel and his Sonne who gave a Stone-House to be a Vestry to that Church with Lands and Tenements to discharge Billingsgate Dowgate and Algate of fifteens granted to the King and other Tolls this was about the year 1426. This Parish of St. Buttolph is no great thing notwithstanding divers strangers are there harboured as may appear by a presentment not many years since made of strangers Inhabitants in the Ward of Billingsgate in these words In Billingsgate Ward were one and fifty Housholds of strangers whereof thirty of theâ—e Housholders inhabited in the Parish of St. Buttolph in the chief and principal Houses where they give twenty pounds a year for an house letten used to be let before for four marks the nearer they dwell to the Water side the more they give for Houses and within 30. years before there was not in the whole Ward above three Nether landers at which time there was within the said Parish levied for the help of the poor seven and twenty pounds by the year but since they came so plentifully thither there cannot be gathered above eleven pounds the strangers being exempted to contribute to such charges as other Citizens do in regard they much advance the Trade of the City On the North side is Bosse Alley so called of a Bosse of Spring-water continually running which standeth by Billingsgate against this Alley and was sometimes made by the Executors of Richard Whittington Then is St. Mary Hill ane which runneth up North from Billingsgate to the end of St. Margaret Patteâ—ns commonly called Rood-lane and the greatest half of that Lane is also of Billingsgate Ward In this St. Mary Hill lane is the 〈◊〉 Parish Church of St. Mary on the Hill called so because of the ascent from Billingsgate In the year 1497. in the Moneth of April as labourers digged for the foundation of a Wall within the Church of St. Mary Hill near unto Billingsgate they found a Coffin of rotten Timber and therein the Corps of a Woman whole of skin and of bones undissevered with the joynts of her Arms plyable without breaking of the skin upon whose Sepulcher this was engraven Here lie the Bodies of Richard Hackney Fishmonger and Alice his Wife The which Richard was Sheriff in the fifteenth of Edward the second Her Body was kept above ground three or four dayes without noyance but then it waxed unsavory and was again buried This Lane on both sides is furnished with fair Houses for Marchants and hath at the North end thereof one other Lane called St. Margaret Pattens because of old time Pattens were usually there made and sold but of latter time this is called Rood Lane of a Rood there placed in the Church-yard of St. Margaret whilest the old Church was taken down and again new builded during which time the oblations made to this Rood were imployed towards building of the Church But in the year 1538. about the 23. of May in the morning the said Rood was found to have been in the night preceding by people unknown broken all to pieces together with the Tabernacle wherein it had bin placed Then have ye another Lane called Rother Lane or Red Rose Lane of such a signe there now commonly called Pudding Lane because the Butchers of East-Cheape have their Scalding-house for Hoggs there their Puddings with other fiâ—th of Beasts are voided down that way to their Dung-boats on the Thames In this Church you have the Sepulchers of sundry worthy men among other of Mr. Vandepute a very worthy Marchant whose Son Mr. Giles Vandepute was lately buried also there Then on the West side of St. Mary Hill Church is a Lane called Rope-lane of old and after Lucas-lane but now Love-lane Then have you the Parish of St. Andrew Hubbart in East-Cheape Then is there Butâ—olph-lane and afterwards the Church of St. George Buttolph-lane which though small hath divers Monuments Of the Tenth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Bridg-Ward within WE will direct ourâ— pace downward now and take a Survey of Bridge Ward within so called of London-Bridge which Bridge is a principal part of that Ward and beginning at the Stulps on the South end by Southwark runneth along the Bridge and North up Bridge-street commonly called of the Fish Market New Fish-street from Fish-street Hill up Grass-street to the North corner of Grass-Church All the Bridge is replenished on both the sides with large fait and beautiful buildings Inhabitants for the most part Rich Marchants and other wealthy Citizens Mercers and Haberdasherâ— In New Fish-street be Fishmongers and fair Taverns on Fish-street â—â—ill and Grasse-street men of divers Trades Grocers and Haberdashers In Grass-street have ye one fair Conduit of sweet water castellated with crest and vent made by the appointment of Thomas Hill Mayor 1484 who gave by his Testament a hundred Marks towards the conveyance of water to this place it was begun by his Executors in the year 1491 and finished of his goods whatsoever it cost On the East side of this Bridge Ward have ye the fair Parish Church of Saint Magnus in the which Church have been buried many men of good repute whose Monuments are now for the most part defaced Among others Sir Richard Morgan chief Justice of the Common-Pleas and Morris Griffith Bishop of Rochester both born in Wales about the year 1556. Then is the Parish Church of St. Margarets Fish-shreet Hill a proper Church but Monument it hath none of any note Up higher on this Hill is the Parish Church of St. Leonard Milk-Church so termed of one VVilliam Melker an especial builder thereof but commonly called Saint Leonards East-cheap because it standeth at East-cheap coâ—ner This Church and from thence into little East-cheap to the East end of the said Church is of the Bridge
of St. Swâ—then standeth at the South vvest corner of this Lane Licence vvas procured to new build and increase the said Church and Steeple in the year 1420. Sir Iohn Hend Draper and Maior was an especial Benefactor thereunto as appeareth by his Arms in the Glasse vvindows even in the tops of them which is in a Field Argent a Chief Azure a Lyon passant Argent a Cheueron Azure three Escalops Argent Ralph Ioceline Maior of London among others hath a Monument in this Church having bin a benefactor to it On the South side of this high street near unto the Channel is pitched upright a great stone called London stone fixed in the ground very deep fastned with Barres of Iron and otherwise so strongly set that if Carts do run against it through negligence the VVheels be broken and the Stone it self unshaken The cause vvhy this Stone was there set the time when or other memory thereof is none but that the same hath long continued there is manifest namely since or rather before the Conquest for in the end of a fair written Gospel Book given to Christs Church in Canterbury by Ethelstane King of the vvest Saxons mention is made of Lands and Rents in London belonging to the said Church whereof one parcel is described to lie near unto London Stone Of latter time we read that in the year of Christ 1135. the first of King Stephen a fire which began in the house of one Ailward near unto London stone consumed all East to Ealdgate in which fire the Priory of the Holy Trinity was burnt and vvest to St. Erkenwalds shrine in Pauls Church and these be the Eldest Notes that I read thereof Some have said this stone to be set there as a Mark in the middle of the City within the Wall but in truth it standeth far nearer to the River of Thames than to the Wall of the City Some others have said the same to be set for the tendering and making of payment by Debtors to their Creditors at their appointed dayes and times till of latter time payments were more usually made at the Font in Ponts Church and now most commonly at the Royal Exchange Some again have imagined the same to be set up by Iohn or Thomas London-stone dwelling there against it but more likely it is that such men have taken name of the Stone than the Stone of them as did John at Noke and Thomas at Stile William at Wall or at Well c. But the most probable opinion is that it was placed there by the Romans for a Milliare as was observed elswhere in this Discourse Down West from this Parish Church and from London-stone have ye Wallbroke corner from whence runneth up a street North to the Stocks called Walbrook because it standeth on the East side of the same Brook by the Bank thereof and the whole Ward taketh name of that street On the East side of this street and at the North corner thereof is the Stocks Market which had this beginning About the year of Christ 1282 Henry Wallis Mayor caused divers houses in this City to be builded towards the maintenance of London-Bridge namely in one void place neare unto the Parish Church called Wooll-Church On the North side thereof where sometime the way being very large and broad had stood a pair of Stocks for punishment of offenders This building took name of those Stooks and was appointed by him to be a Market-place for Fish Flesh in the midst of the City other Houses be builded in other places by Patent of Edward the first it doth appear dated the tenth of his Reign After this in the year 1322 the seventeenth of Edward the second a Decree was made by Hamond Chickwell Mayor that none should sell fish or flesh out of the Markets appointed to wit Bridge-street East-cheap Old Fish-street St. Nicholas Shambles and the said Stocks on pain to forfeit such fish or flesh as were there sold for the first time and the second time to lose their Freedom Which Act was made by commandment of the King under his Letters Patents dated at the Tower the 17th of his Reign then was this Stocks let to Farm for forty six pounds thirteen shillings four pence by year this Stocks Market was again begun to be builded in the year 1410 in the eleaventh of Henry the fourth and was finished in the year next following In the year 1507 the same was rented fifty six pounds nineteen shillings ten pence And in the year 1543 John Cotes being Mayor there was in this Stocks Market for Fishmongers five and twenty Boards or Stalls rented yearly to 34 pounds 13 shillings 4 pence There was for Butchers 18 Boards or stalls rented at 41 pounds 16 shillings 4 pence and there were also Chambers above sixteen rented at five pounds thirteen shillings four pence in all eighty two pounds three shillings Next unto this Stocks is the Parish Church of St. Mary VVool-Church so called of a Beam placed in the Church-yard which was thereof called Wool-Church Haw of the Tronage or weighing of Wooll there used and to verifie this we find amongst the Customs of London written in French in the Reign of Edward the second a Chapter intituled Les Customes de VVooll-Church Haw wherein is set down what was there to be paid for every parcel of Wooll weighed this Tronage or weighing of Wooll till the sixth of Richard the second was there continued John Church-man then builded the Custome-house upon VVooll Key to serve for the said Tonnage as is before shewed in Tower-street Ward This Church is reasonable fair and large and was afterwards new builded by Licence granted in the twentieth of Henry the sixth with condition to be builded fifteen foot from the Stocks Market for sparing of light to the said Stocks the Parson of this Parish is to have four Marks the year for Tyth of the said Stocks paid him by the Masters of the Bridge-house by a special Decree made the second of Henry the seventh In the year about 1500 John VVingar Lord Mayor gave two Basons of silver to this Church And Richard Shore Sheriff of London made the Porch at the West end they lye both there entombed From the Stocks Market and this Parish Church East up into Lombard-street some four or five houses on a side and also on the South side of VVooll-Church have ye Bear-Binder Lane a part whereof is of this VVallbrook Ward Then down sower in the street called Wallbrook is one other fair Church of St. Stephen builded new on the East side thereof for the old Church stood on the West side in place where now standeth the Parsonage House and therefore so much nearer to the Brook even on the Bank This Church was finished in the year 1439. The breadth thereof is sixty seven foot and length one hundred twenty five foot the Church-yard ninty foot in length and thirty seven in breadth and more Robert VVhittingham made Knight
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
de Hingham and lyeth between the Tenement of the said Richard towards the South and the Lane called Horse-shoe-Bridge towards the North and between the way called Pater noster Church on the West and the course of Walbrooke on the East paying yearly one Clove of Gilliflowers at Easter and to the poor and Convent of Saint Mary Overy six shillings This House sometime belonged to Simon Dolesly Grocer and Mayor 1359 They of this Company had of old time three Arts or sorts of Workmen to wit the first were Smiths Forgers of Blades and therefore called Bladers and divers of them proved wealthy men as namely Walter Nele Blader one of the Sheriffs the twelfth of Edward the third Deceased 1352 and was buried in Saint Iames Garlicke Hithe He lest Lands to the mending of High-wayes about London betwixt Newgate and Wicombe Ealdgate and Chelmesford Bishopsgate and Ware Southwark and Rochester c. The second were Makers of Hafts and otherwise Garnishers of Blades The third sort were Sheath-makers for Swords Daggers and Knives In the tenth of Henry the fourth certain Ordinances weâ—e made betwixt the Bladers and the other Cutlers and in the fourth of Henry the sixth they were all three Companies drawn into one Fraternity or Brotherhood by the name of Cutlers Then is Knight-riders street so called as is supposed of Knights well armed ' and mounted at the Tower-Royall riding from thence through the street West to Creed-Lane and so out at Ludgate towards Smithfield when they were there to Turney Just or otherwise to shew activities before the King and States of the Realm In this street is the Parish Church of Saint Thomas Apostles by Wring-wren Lane a hansome Church and in the year 1629 well repaired and fineâ—y garnished but Monuments of antiquity there are none beyond the Reign of Henry the eighth except some Arms in the Windows as also in the Stone-work which some suppose to be of John Barnes Mercer Mayor of London in the year 1371 a great builder thereof H. Causton Merchant was a Benefactor and had a Chantry there about 1396. T. Roman Mayor 1310 had also a Chantry there 1319. Fitz Williams also a Benefactor had a Chantry there More Sir William Littlesbury alià s Horne for King Edward the fourth so named him because he was a most excellent Winder of an Horne he was a Salter and Merchant of the Staple Mayor of London in the year 1487 and was buried in this Church having appointed by his Testament the Bells to be changed for four new Bells of good tune and sound but that was not performed he gave five hundred Marks towards the repairing of High-waies between London and Cambridge his dwelling House with a Garden and appurtenances in the said Parish to be sold and bestowed in charitable actions His House called the George in Bread-street he gave to the Salters they to find a Priest in the said Parish to have six pounds thirteen shillings four pence the year to every Preacher at Pauls-Crosse and at the Spittle four pence for ever to the Prisoners of Newgate Ludgate Marshalsey and Kings-Bench in Victuals ten shillings at Christmas and ten shillings at Easter for ever which Legacies were not performed Among others ther 's one Epitaph in Greek in this Church on the Lady Katherine Killegree Then West from the said Church on the same side was one great Messuage sometime called Ipres Inne of William of Ipres a Flemming the first Builder thereof This William was called out of Flanders with a number of Flemmings to the aid of King Stephen against Maude the Empress in the the year 1138 and grew in favour with the said King for his service so far that he builded this House near unto Tower-Royall in the which Tower it seemeth the King was then lodged as in the heart of the City for his more safety Robert Earl of Glocester Brother to the Empresse being taken was committed to the Custody of this VVilliam to be kept in the Castle of Rochester till King Stephen was also taken and then the one was delivered in exchange for the other and both set free This William of Ipres gave Edredes Hith now called Queens Hith to the Prior and Canons of the Holy Trinity in London he founded the Abbey of Borley in Kent c. In the first of Henry the second the said William withall the other Flemmings fearing the indignation of the new King departed the Land but it seemeth that the said William was shortly called back again and restored both to the Kings favour and to his old possessions here so that the name and Family continued long after in this Realm On the other side I read of a Messuage called Kinged Hall King Henry the eighth the thirty two of his Reign gave the same with four Tenements adjoyning unto Morgan Phillip alià s Wolfe in the Parish of Saint Thomas Apostles in London c. Over against Ipres Inne in Knight-Riders street at the corner towards Saint James Garlick Hith was sometime a great House builded with Stone and called Ormond place for that it sometime belonged to the Earls of Ormond King Edward the Fourth in the fifth of his Reign gave to Elizabeth his Wife the Mannor of Greenwich with the Tower and Park in the County of Kent He also gave this Tenement called Ormond place with all the appurrenances to the same scituate in the Parish of Saint Trinity in Knight-Rider street in London This House is now taken down and divers fair Tenements are builded there Then lower down in Royall-street is Kerion Lane of one Kerion sometime dwelling there In this Lane be divers fair Houses for Merchants and amongst others is the Glasiers Hall At the South corner of Royall-street is the fair Parish Church of Saint Martin called in the Vintry sometimes called St. Martin de Beremand Church This Church was new builded about the year 1399 by the Executors of Matthew Columbars a stranger born a Burdeaux Marchant of Gascoine and French Wines His Armes remain yet in the East Window and is a Cheveron between three Colombins Sir Iohn Gisors Mayor with his Brother and his Son lye there buried He had a great Mansion House called Gisors Hall in St. Mildreds Parish in Bread-street There are sundry Latin Epiraphs in this Church Then is the Parish Church of St. Iames called at Garlick Hith or Garlick Hive for that of old time on the River of Thames near to this Church Garlick was usually sold This is a comely Church whereof Richard Rothing one of the Sheriffs 1326 is said to be the new builder and lyeth buried in the same so was Walter Nele Blader one of the Sheriffs 1337 Iohn of Oxenford Vintner Mayor 1341. I read in the first of Edward the third that this Iohn of Oxenford gave to the Priory of the Holy Trinity in London two Tofts of Land one Mill fifty Acres of Land two Acres of Wood with the appurtenances in Kentish Town in value twenty shillings and
Edmonds bury Lincoln Stanford and Lyn were robbed and spoyled and at York to the number of five hundred besides Women and Children entred a Tower of the Castle profered money to be in surety of their lives but the Christians would not take it whereupon they â—â—t the throats of their own Wives and Children and cast them over the Walls on the Christianâ— heads and then entring the Kings Lodging they burned both the House and themselves King John in the 11th of his Reign commanded all the Jews both Men and Women to be imprisoned and grievously punished because he would have all their Money some of them gave all they had and promised more to escape so many kinds of torments for every one of them had one of their eyes at the least plucked oâ—t Amongst whom there was one which being tormented many wayes would not ransome himself till the King had caused every day one of his great teeth to be plucked out by the space of seven dayes and then he gave the King ten thousand Marks of silver to the end they should pull out no more the said King at that time spoylâ—d the Jews of sixty six thousand Marks The 17th of this King the Barons brake into the Jews Houses rifled their Coffers and with the Stone of their Houses repaired the Gates and Walls of London King Henry the third in the 11th of his Reign granted to Semaine or Ballaster the house of Benomie Mittun the Jew in the Parish of St. Michael Bassing-hanghe in which the said Benomy dwelt with the fourth part of all his Land in that Parish which VVilliam Elie held of the Fee of Hugh Nevel and all the Land in Colemanstreet belonging to the said Benomy and the fourth part of the Land in the Parish of St. Lawrence which was the Fee of Thomas Buckerel and were excheted to the King for the murther which the said Benomy committed in the City of London to hold to the said Semaine and his Heires of the King paying at Easter a pair of gilt Spurs and to do the serviâ—e thereof due unto the Lords Court In the like manner and for like services the King granted to Guso for his Homage the other part of the Lands of the said Benomye in St. Michaels Parish which Law the Painter held and was the Kings Excheter and the Lands of the said Benomye in the said Parish which VValter Turner held and fifteen foot of Land which Hâ—gh Harman held with fifteen Iron Ells of Land and an half in the front of Iron-monger-lane in the Parish of St. Martin which were the said Benomyes of the Fee of the Hospital of St. Giles and which Adam the Smith held with two Stone-Houses which were Moses the Jew of Canterbury in the Parish of St. Olave and which are of the Fee of Arnold de Reus and are the Kings Exchetes as aforesaid The 16th of the said Henry the Jews in London builded a Synagogue but the King commanded it should be dedicated to our blessed Lady and after gave it to the Brethren of St. Anthonies of Vienna and so was it called St. Anthonies Hospital This King Henry founded a Church and House for converted Jews in a new street by the Temple whereby it came to passe that in short time there was gathered a great number of Converts The twentieth of this King Henry seven Jews were brought from Norwich vvhich had stolen a christened Child had circumcised and minded to have cruciâ—â—ed him at Easter vvherefore their Bodies and Goods vvere at the Kings pleasure The six and twentieth the Jews vvere constrained to pay to the King twenty thousand Marks at two Termes in the year or else to be kept in perpetual Prison The five and thirtieth He taketh inestimable sums of money of all rich men namely of Aaron a Jew born at York fourteen thousand Marks for himself and ten thousand Marks for the Queen and before he had taken of the same Jew as much as in all amounted to thirty thousand Marks of Silver and two hundâ—red Marks of Gold to the Queen In the fortieth year vvere brought up to VVestminster two hundred Jews from Lincoln for crucifying a Child named Hugh eighteen of them were hang'd The forty third a Jew at Tewksbury fell into a Privie on the Saturday and would not that day be taken out for reverence of his Sabbath wherefore Richard Clare Earl of Gloucester kept him there till Monday that he was dead The forty seven the Barons slew of the Jews at London seven hundred the rest were spoiled and theiâ—r Synagogue defaced because one Jew would have forced a Christian to have payd more than two shillings for the lone of twenty shillings a week The third of Edward the first in a Parliament at London usury was forbidden to the Jews and that all Usurers might be known the King commanded that every Usurer should weare a Table on his brest the breadth of a Paveline or else to avoid the Realm The sixth of the said King Edward a Reformation was made for clipping of the Kings Coyn for which offence two hundred sixty seven Jews were drawn and hanged three were English Christians and other were English Jews The same year the Jews crucified a child at Northampton for the which fact many Jews at London were drawn at Horses Tayls and hanged The 11th of Edward the first Iohn Perkham Arch Bishop of Canterbury commanded the Bishop of London to destroy all the Jewes Synagogues in his Diocese The 16th of the said Edward all the Jews in England were in one day apprehended by precept from the King but they redeemed themselves for twelve thousand pounds of silver notwithstanding in the nineteenth of his Reign he banished them all out of England giving them only to bear their Charge till they were out of this Realm the number of Jews then expulsed were fifteen thousand and sixty persons the King made a mighty masse of money of their Houses which he sold and yet the Commons of England had granted and gave him a fifteenth of all their Goods to banish them and thus much for the Jewes In this street called the Old Iewry is a proper Parish-Church of St. Olave Upwell so called in Record 1320 John Brian Parson of St. Olave Upwell in the Iewry founded there a Chauncery and gave two Messuages to that Parish the sixteenth of Edward the second and was by the said King confirmed In this Church to the commendations of the Parsons and Parishioners the Monuments of the dead remain lesse defaced than in many other From this Parish Church of St. Olave to the North end of the Old Iewry and from thence West to the North end of Ironmonger-lane almost to the Parish Church of St. Martin was of old time one large building of stone very ancient made in place of Jews Houses but of what antiquity or by whom the same was builded or for what use is not known more than that King Henry the sixth in the sixteenth of his
three hundred foot of the feet of St. Paul in breadth eighty nine foot and in heighth from the ground to the roof sixty four foot and two inches c. It was consecrated 1325 and at the Generall suppression was valued at thirty two pound nineteen shillings and surrendred the twelfth of November 1538 the thirty of Henry the eighth the Ornaments and goods being taken to the Kings use the Church was shut up for a time and used as a Store-house of goods taken prizes from the French but in the year 1546 on the third of January it was again set open on the which day preached at Pauls Crosse the Bishop of Rochester where he declared the Kings gift thereof to the City for the relieving of the poor which gift was inroll'd by Patents St. Bartholmews Spittle in Smithfield lately valued at three hundred five pounds six shillings seven pence and surrendred to the King was of the said Church of the Gray Fryars and of two Parish Churches the one of St. Nicholas in the Shambles and the other of St. Ewins in Newgate-Market they were to be made one Parish Church in the said Fryers Church In Lands he gave for maintenance of the said Church with Divine Service reparations c. five hundred Marks by year for ever The thirteenth of January the thirty eighth of Henry the eighth an agreement was made betwixt the King and the Mayor and Communalty of London dated the twenty seven of December by which the said gift of the Gray Fryers Church with all the Edifices and ground the Fratrie the Library the Portar and Chapter House the great Cloistry and the lesser Tenements Gardens and vacant grounds Lead Stone Iron c. The Hospitall of St. Bartholmew in West Smithfield the Church of the same the Lead Bells and Ornaments of the same Hospitall with all the Messuages Tenements and appurtenances The Parishes of Saint Nicholas and of Saint Ewin and so much of Saint Sepulchres Parish as is within Newgate were made one Parish Church in the Grey Fryers Church and called Christs Church founded by King Henry the eighth In the year 1552 began the repairing of the Gray Fryars House for the poor fatherlesse Children and in the Month of November the children were taken into the same to the number of almost four hundred On Christmas day in the afternoon while the Lord Mayor and Aldermen rod to Pauls the Children of Christs Hospital stood from Saint Lawrence Lane end in Cheap towards Pauls all in one Livery of Russet Cotton three hundred and forty in Number and in the Easter next they were in Blue at the Spittle and so have continued ever since For these sorts of poor three several Houses were provided First for the innocent and fatherlesse which is the Beggars Child they provided the House that was the late Gray Fryers in London and called it by the name of Christs Hospitall where poor Children are trained up in the Knowledge of God and some vertuous exercises to the overthrow of beggary For the second degree was provided the Hospitals of Saint Thomas in Southwark and Saint Bartholmew in West Smithfield where are continually at least two hundred diseased persons which are not only there lodged and cured but also fed and nourished For the third degree they provided Bridewell where the Vagabond and idle Strumpet is chastised and compelled to labour to the overthrow of the vicious life of idlenesse They provided also for the honest decayed housholder that he should be relieved at home at his House and in the Parish where he dwelled by weekly relief and Pension And in like manner they provided for the Lazer to keep him out of the City from clapping of dishes and ringing of Bells to the great trouble of the Citizens also to the dangerous infection of many that they should be relieved at home at their Houses by several Pensions St. Bartholmewes Hospital is incorporated by the name of Mayor Communalty and Citizens of the City of London Governours of the Hospital for the poor called little St. Bartholmews near to West Smithfield of the Foundation of King Henry the eighth Christs Hospitall Bridewell and Saint Thomas the Apostle in Southwarke are incorporated by the names of the Mayor Communalty and Citizens of London Governours of the Possessions Revenues aâ—d Goods of the Hospitals of Edward King of England the sixth of Christ Bridewell and Saint Thomas the Apostle c. This Church was full of many great Monuments as of the Lady Margaret Daughter to Philip of France and Wife to Edward the first Of Queen Isabel Wife to Edward the second Of Joane Queen of the Scots Wife to David Bruce Of Isabel Daughter to Edward the third Of Eleanor Dutchesse of Britain Of the Lady Beatrix Dutchesse of Britain Daughter to Henry the third Of Roger Mortimer Earl of March Of John Hastings Earl of Pembrook Of John Duke of Bourton who had been taken Prisoner at Agencourt with divers other great Personages There is lately erected there in the South end of the Chancel and extraordinary hansome Monument to the Lady Venetia Stanley Wife to the noble Knight Sir Kenelme Digby Now for the South side of this Ward beginning again at the Crosse in Cheap from thence to Fryday-street and down that street on the West side till over against the North-west corner of Saint Matthewes Church And on the West side to the South corner of the said Church is wholly in the Ward of Faringdon From this Fryday-street West to the old Exchange a street so called of Kings Exchange there kept which was for the receipt of Bullion to be coyned For Henry the third in the sixth year of his Reign wrote to the Scahines and men of Ipreâ— that he and his Councel had given prohibition that no Englishmen or other should make change of Plate or other Masse of Silver but only in his Exchange at London or at Canterbury Andrew Bukerel then had to â—arm the Exchange of England was Maior of London in the Reign of Henry the third Iohn Somercote had the keeping of the Kings Exchange overall England In the eighth of Edward the first Gregory Rockâ—ley was Keeper of the said Exchange for the Kingâ— in the fiâ—th of Edward the second William Hausted was Keeper thereof And in the eighteenth Roger de Frowick c. These received the old stamps or Coyning-Irons from time to time as the same were worn and delivered new to all the Mints in England This street beginneth by VVest-Cheap in the North and runneth down South to Knight-rider-street that part thereof which is called Old Fish-street But the very Housing and Office of the Exchange and Coynage was about the midst thereof South from the East Gate that entreth Pauls Church-yard and on the West side in Baynards-Castle Ward On the East side of this Lane betwixt West-Cheap and the Church of St. Augustine Henry VValleis Mayor by Licence of Edward the first builded one row of Houses
are divers hansom Monuments and Epitaphs On the South side of this street is the turning into the Black Fryers which Order sometime had their Houses in Old-born where they remained for the space of five and fifty years and then in the year 1276. Gregory Rocksley Mayor and the Barons of this City granted and gave to Robert Kilwarby Arch Bishop of Canterbury two Lanes or wayes next the street of Baynards Castle and also the Tower of Mount fitchet to be destroyed in place of which the said Robert builded the late new Church of the Black-Fryers and placed them therein King Edward the first and Eleanor his Wife were great Benefactors thereunto this was a large Church and richly furnished with Ornaments wherein divers Parliaments and other great Meetings have been holden namely in the year 1450 the twenty eighth of Henry the sixth a Parliament was begun at VVestminster and adjourned to the Black Fryers in London and from thence to Leicester In the year one thousand five hundred twenty two the Emperor Charls the fifth was lodged there In the year one thousand five hundred twenty foure the fifteenth of April a Parliament was begun at the Black Fryers wherein was demanded a Subsidy of 800000. pounds to be raised of Goods and Lands four shillings in every pound and in the end was granted two shillings of the pound of their Goods and Lands that were worth twenty pound or might dispend twenty pounds by the year and so upward to be paid in two years This Parliament was adjourned to VVestminster amongst the black Monks and ended in the Kings Palace there the 14th of August at nine of the Clock in the night and was therefore called the Black Parliament The same year in the moneth of October began a Parliament in the Black Fryers in the which Cardinal VVoolsey was condemned in the premunire this House valued at a hundred and four pound fifteen shillings five pence was surrendred the 12th of November the 30th of Henry the 8th Now to turn again to the Black Fryers through Bowyer Rowe Ave Mary Lane and Pater Noster Rowe to the Church of St. Michael ad Bladum or at the Corn corruptly at the Querne so called because in place thereof was sometime a Corn-Market stretching up West to the Shambles It seemeth that this Church was new builded about the Reign of Edward the third Thomas Newton first Parson there was buried in the Quire in the year 1461. At the East end of this Church stood a Crosse called the old Crosse in West Cheap which was taken down in the year 1390. since the which time the said Parish Church was also taken down but new builded and enlarged in the year 1430. the eighth of Henry the sixth VVilliam Eastfield Mayor and the Communalty granted of the common ground of the City three foot and an half in breadth on the North part and four foot in breadth toward the East for the inlarging thereof At the West end of this Parish Church is a small passage for people on foot thorow the same Church and West from the said Church some distance is another passage out of Pater Noster Rowe and is called of such a signe Panyer Alley which commeth out into the North over against Saint Martins Lane Next is Ivy Lane so called of Ivy growing on the Walls of the Prebends Houses but now the Lane is replenished on both the sides with fair Houses and diâ—ers Offices have bin there kept by Registers namely for the Prerogative Court of the Arch Bishop of Canterbury the Probate of Wills which is now removed into Warwick lane and also for the Lord Treasurers Remembrance of the Exchequer c. This Lane runneth North to the Westend of St. Nicholas Shambles of old time there was one great House sometimes belonging to the Earls of Britaâ—n since that to the Lovels and was called Lovels Inne Then is Eldenesse Lane which stretcheth North to the high street of Newgate Market the same is now called Warwick Lane of an ancient House there builded by an Earl of Warwick and was since called Warwick Inne It is in Record called a Messuage in Eldenesse lane in the Parish of St. Sepulchre the twenty eighth of Henry the sixth Cicilie Dutchesse of VVarwick possessed it Now again from the Conduit by Pauls Gate on the North side is a large street running West to Newgate the first part whereof from the Conduit to the Shambles of selling Bladders there called Bladder-street then behind the Butchers Shops be now divers Slaughter-houses inward and Tipling-houses outward This is called Mount Goddard-street of the Tipling-houses there and the Goddards mounting from the Tap to the Table from the Table to the Mouth and sometimes over the Head This street goeth up to the North end of Ivy lane before this Mount-goddard street Stall-boards were of old time set up by the Butchers to shew and to sell their Flesh meat upon over the which Stall-Boards they first builded sheds to keep off the Weather but since that incroaching by little and little they have made their Stall-boards and sheds fair Houses meet for the principal Shambles Next is Newgate Market first of Corn and Meale and then of other victuals which stretcheth almost to Eldenese-Lane a fair new and strong Frame of Timber covered with Lead was therefore set up at the Charges of the City near to the West Corner of St. Nicholas Shambles for the meal to be weighed in the first of Edward the sixth Sir Iohn Gresham being then Mayor On this side the North Corner of Eldenese Lane stood sometime a proper Parish-Church of St. Ewine as is before said given by Henry the eighth towards the erecting of Christs Church It was taken down and in place thereof a fair strong Frame of Timber erected wherein dwell men of divers Trades And from this Frame to Newgaete is all of this Ward and so an end thereof Of the two and Twentieth Ward or Aldermanry of the City of London called Bread-street Ward THen is Bread-street it self so called of Bread in old time there sold for it appeareth by Records that in the year 1302 which was the thirty of Edward the first the Bakers of London were bounden to sell no Bread in their Shops or Houses but in the Market and that they should have four Hall-motes in the year at four several Terms to determine of enormities belonging to the said Company This street giving the name to the whole Ward beginneth in West Cheap almost by the Standard and runneth down South through or thwart Wathling-street to Knight Riders-street aforesaid where it endeth This Bread-street is wholly on both sides of this Ward out of the which street on the East side is Basing Lane a piece whereof to wit to and over against the back gate of the Red Lion in Wathling-street is of this Bread-street Ward Then is Fryday-street beginning also in West Cheap and runneth down South through Wathling-street to Knight-Riders street or
be shewed In Thames street at the South-East end is an ancient Messuage of old time called Beaumonts Inne as belonging to that Family of Noble-men of this Realm in the fourth of Edward the third Edward the fourth in the fifth of his Reign gave it to W. Hastings Lord Chamberlaine Master of his Mints It is how called Huntington House as belonging to the Earls of Huntington Next is Pauls Wharfe a large landing place with a common Stayre upon the River of Thames at the end of a street called Pauls Wharf Hill which runneth down from Pauls Chain Next is a great Messuage called Scroopes Inne sometime belonging to the Scroopes in the thirty one of Henry the sixth Then is one other great Messuage sometime belonging to the Abbey of Fiscampe beyond the Sea and by reason of the Wars it coming to the hands of King Edward the third the same was given to Sir Simon Burley Knight of the Garâ—er and therefore called Burley House in Thames street between Baynards Castle and Pauls Wharfe Then have you Baynards Castle whereof this whole Ward taketh name This Castle banketh on the River Thames and was callest Baynards Castle of Baynard a Nobleman that came in with William the Conquerour of the which Castle and of Baynard himself we have spoken in another place There was also another Tower by Baynards Castle builded by King Edward the second Edward the third in the second of his Reign gave it to William Duke of Hamelake in the County of Yorke and his Heirs for one Rose yearly to be paid for all service the same place as seemeth was since called Legates Inne in the seventh of Edward the fourth where be now divers Wood-Wharfes in the place Then is there a great Brew-house and Puddle-Wharfe a Water-gate into the Thames where Houses use to be watered and therefore being filled with their trampling made puddle-like as also of one Puddle dwelling there it is call'd Puddle Wharfe Then is there a Lane between the Black Fryars and the Thames called in the twenty six of Edward the third Castle-lane This Ward ascendeth up by the East VVall of the Black-Fryers to the South VVest end of Creed Lane where it endeth on that side Then to begin again on the North side of Thames-street over against Huntington House by St. Peters Church and Lane called Peter Hill and so to St. Bennet Hude or Hithe over against Pauls VVharfe is a convenient Parish Church which hath the Monuments of Sir VVilliam Cheny Knight and Margaret his VVife 1442 buried there VVest from this Church by the South end of Addle street almost against Puddle VVharfe there is one ancient building of Stone and Timber builded by the Lords of Barkley and therefore called Barkleys Inne This House is now all in ruine and letten out in several Tenements yet the Arms of the Lord Barkley remain in the Stone-work of an arched Gate and is between a Cheveron Crosses ten three and four Richard Beauchampe Earl of VVarwick was lodged in this House then called Barkleys Inne in the Parish of St. Andrew in the Reign of Henry the sixth Then turning up towards the North is the Parish Church of St. Andrew in the VVardrobe a proper Church but few Monuments hath it Iohn Parnt hath founded a Chauntrey there Then is the Kings great VVardrobe Sir Iohn Beauchamp Knight of the Garter Constable of Dover Warden of the Cinqueports son to Guido de Beauchamp Earl of VVarwick builded this House was lodged there deceased in the year 1359 and was buried on the South side of the middle I le of Pauls Church His Executors sold the House to King Edward the third Touching Laâ—es ascending out of Thames street to Knight-Riders the first is Peter Hill wherein I find no maâ—ter of note more than certain Alms-houses lately founded on the West side thereof by David Smith Embroyderer for six poor Widdows whereof each to have twenty shillings by the year At the upper end of this Lane towards the North the corner Houses there be called Peter Key but the reason thereof we have not heard Then is Pauls VVharfe on the East side whereof is VVoodmongers Hall And next adjoyning is Darby-house sometime belonging to the Stanleys for Thomas Stanley first Earl of Darby of that name who married the Lady Margaret Countesse of Richmond Mother to Henry the seventh in his time builded it Queen Mary gave it to Gilbert Dethick then Garter principal King of Arms of English men Thomas Hauley Clarentieux King of Arms of the South parts VVilliam Harvey alià s Norroy King of Armes of the North parts and the other Heralds and Pursevants of Arms and their Successors all the Capital Messuage or House called Darby house with the appurtenances situate in the Parish of Saint Bennet and Saint Peter and then being in the tenure of Sir Richard Sackvile Knight and lately parcel of the Lands of Edward Earl of Darby c. To the end that the said Kings of Arms Heraulds and Pursevants of Arms and their Successors might at their liking dwell together and at meet times congregate speak confer and agree among themselves for the good Government of their Faculty and their Records might be more safely kept c. On the West side of this street is one other great House builded of Stone which belongeth to Pauls Church and was sometime letteâ— to the Blunts Lord Mountjoy but of later time to a Colledge in Cambridge and from them to the Doctors of the Civil Law and Arches who keep a Commons there and many of them being lodged there it is called the Doctors Commons In Lambard Hill Lane on the West side thereof is the Black-smiths Hall Over-against the North-west end of this Lambard Hill Lane in Knight-Riders street is the Parish Church of St. Mary Magdalen a small Church having but few Monuments By the East end of St. Mary Magdalene Church runneth up the Old Exchange Lane by the West end of Carter Lane to the South-East Gate or Chaine of Pauls Church-yard as is before shewed And in this part was the Exchange kept and Bullion was received for Coynage as is noted in Faringdon Ward Within In this Parish Church of St. Mary Magdalen out of Knight-Riders street up to Carter Lane be two small Lanes the one of them called Doo-little Lane as a place not inhabited by Artificers or open Shop-keepers but serving for a near passage from Knight-Riders street to Carter-Lane The other corruptly called Sermon Lane for Sheremoniers Lane For we find it by that name recorded in the fourteenth of Edward the first And in that Lane a place to be called the Black Lâ—ft of melting Silver with four Shops adjoyning It may therefore be well supposed that Lane to take its name of Shermonierâ— such as cut and rounded the Plates to be Coyned or stamped into Estarling pence for the place of Coyning was the Old Exchange In Knight-Riders street was the Colledge of Physicians wherein was founded in the year 1582
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
the Minister 100l per annum On the left hand of Charing-Crosse there are divers fair Houses built of late yeaâ—s specially the most stately Palace of Suffolk or Northampton House built by Henry of Northampton Son to the Duke of Norfolk and Lord Priâ—ie Seal to King Iames. Then is there a large plot of ground enclosed with Brick called Scotland yard where the Kings of Scotland were used to be lodg'd and Margaret Queen Dowager of Scotland eldest sister to Henry the 8th kept her Court there aâ—â—er the King her Husband had been kill'd in Flodden field And now we are come to White-Hall belonging of old to Hubert de Burgh Earl of Kent and Iusticier of England who gave it to the Black-Fryers in Holborne but being fallen to Henry the 8. ordained it to be called an Honor and built there a huge long Gallery with two Gate-houses thwart the street to St. Iames Park From these Gates we passe in a direct Line to Kings street on one side whereof passing through St. Stephen Alley is Canon Row but now though very corruptly calld Channel Row to called because it belonged to the Dean and Canons of Saint Stephens Chappel who were lodg'd there but now they are all turn'd to be temporal habitations Then we come to Woolstaple now the common Market place of Westminster In the Reign of Edward the first we read that the Staple being at Westminster the Pâ—rishioners of Saint Margarets and Merchants of the Staple buiâ—ded the said Church of new Henry the sixth had six Wool-houses within the Staple at Westminster which he granted to the Dean and Canons of Saint Stephens Becâ—use we are not yet ready to speak of the Abbey we will passe by it to the Gatehouse of Westminster and so to Totehill and Petty France The Gate-house is called so of two Gates the one out of the Colledge Court towards the North on the Eastside whereof was the Bishop of Londons Prison for Clerks convict the other Gate-house is a Goal or Prison for Felons one Walter Warfield Cellerer to the Monastery of VVestminster was founder of both these Gates in Edward the third's Reign On the South side of these Gates Henry the the seventh founded an Alms-House for 13 poor men one of them to be a Priest and above 45 years old the rest to be aged 50 years without Wives Near to this place was of old the Chappel of St. Anne where the Lady Margaret Henry the sevenths Mother erected an Alms-House for poor women and it was called Eleemosynary and now Almory or Ambry because the Alms of the Abbey were there distributed to the poor And there Islp Abbot of VVestminster set up the first Press of Book-printing that ever was in England Anno 1471. And one Caxton Citizen of London was the first who brought over that Art Then is there Totehill street where there are of late years sundry fair Houses on the back of St. Iames Park The Lady Anne Dacre built there an Hosptall for twenty poor Women and so many Children to be brought up under them Then is there Petty France where upon a place called St. Hermits Hill Cornelius Van Dun a Brabanter born and Yeoman of the Guard to Henry the 8th Edward the sixth Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth built twenty Houses for poor Women to dwell Rent-free And near hereunto there was of old a Chappel of St. Mary Magdalen which is now quite ruinated There is of late years a new large Chappel of Brick erected there at the entrance to Totehil fields Where Mr. Palmer a well diâ—posed and reverend Divine hath also erected lately another new Hospital with a competent allowance to the poor that shall be admitted thereinto And now we will return to the Abbey of VVestminster a place which was us'd to be of very high devotion It gives the denomination to the whole City and certainly that place cannot choose but be happy which hath Gods House for its Godfather as Munster a great and renowned City in Germany takes her name from the chief Church Of Westminster Abbey THis Church is famous especially by reason of the inauguration and sepulture of the Kings of England Sulcard writeth that there stood sometimes a Temple of Apollo in that place and that in the daies of Antoninus Pius Emperor of Rome it fell down with an Earthquake out of the remains whereof Sebert King of the East-Saxons erected another to St. Peter which being by the Danes overthrown Bishop Dunstane re-edified and granted it to some few Monks But afterwards King Edward surnamed the Confessour with the tenth penny of all his Revenues built it a new for to be his own Sepulture and a Monastery for Benedictine Monks endowing it with Livings and Lands lying dispersed in divers parts of England But listen what an Historian saith who then lived The devout King destined unto God that place both for that it was near unto the famous and wealthy City of London and also had a pleasant scituation amongst fruitful fields and green grounds lying round about it with the principal River running hard by bringing in from all parts of the World great variety of Wares and Merchandize of all sorts to the City adjoyning But chiefly for the love of the Chief Apostle whom he reverenced with a special and singular affection He made choice to have a place there for his own Sepulchre and thereupon commanded that of the Tenths of all his Rents the work of a noble Edifice should be taken in hand such as might beseem the Prince of the Apostles To the end as the Annales have it that he might procure the propitious favour of the Lord after he should finish the course of this transitory life both in regard of his devout Piety and also of his free Oblation of Lands and Ornaments wherewith he purposed to endow and enrich the same According therefore to the Kings commandement the work was nobly began and happily proceeded forward neither the charges already disbursed or to be disbursed were weighed and regarded so that it might be presented in the end unto God and Saint Peter and made worth their acceptation Thus the words of the old Record run Touching the Form of that ancient building we read in an old Manuscript Book that the principal plot or ground-work of the building was supported with most lofty Arches cast round with a four square work and semblable joynts But the compasse of the whole with a doâ—bâ—e Arch of Stone on both sides is enclosed with joyned-work firmly knit and united together every way Moreouer the Crosse of the Church which was to compasse the mid Quire of those that chaunted unto the Lord and with a twofold supportance that it had on either side to uphold and bear the lofty top of the Tower in the midst simply riseth at first with a low and strong Arch then mounteth it higher with many winding stairs artificially ascending with a number of steps But afterward with a single Wall it reacheth up
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
neither could try it It was that one Peacock struck Lacy in alto Mari and the Ship landing at Scarborough Lacy dyed a little after of the stroke that was given at Sea there was a great contestation whether the Court of Admiralty or the common Lawyer should try Peacock but it was found that the cognisance hereof belonged to neither so the party escaped without condemnation But now we will resume the thred of our Survay of Westminster and add to that which hath bin already spoken of the Great Hall which as it hath bin and continueth still the usual place of pleadings and ministration of Justice so it was in former times the principal Seat and Palace of the Kings of England since the Conquest for here the Feasts of Coronation and other solemn Feasts as that of Christmas were kept It is recorded that at the day of Circumcision Henry the third commanded his Treasurer William de Haverhull to cause 6000. poor people to be fed at Westminster-Hall upon the Kings account Richard Earl of Cornwall the Kings Brother Anno 1243. being married to Cincia Daughter to the Countesse of Provence kept his Bridall Feast at Westminster-Hall where the story saith there were three thousand dishes of meat served in at dinner Rich. the second having repaired the Great Hall which had bin burnt by a pittiful fire kept his Christmas there in a most sumptuous manner with Justings and running at Tilt where there was such a huge confluence of People that for divers dayes there were spent 26. fat Oxen and 300 Sheep The King himself wore a Gown of Cloth of Gold garnished with precious stones which was valued at 3000 marks a mighty sum in those dayes Henry the 7th keeping his Christmas at Westminster-Hall invited Ralph Austry Lord Mayor of London with all the Aldermen to a Feast on Twelf-day The King the Queen and some Ambassadors sate at the Marble Table 60. Knights and Esquires served in the Kings meat which consisted of 60. dishes and the Queen as many The Mayor was served with 24. where after sundry sort of disports he supped also and it was break of day before He and the Aldermen returned by Barges to London Parliaments also were used to be kept frequently at Westminster-Hall and one was kept in Richard the seconds time which proved fatal unto him for he was deposed there notwithstanding that he had bin the greatest Repairer of that Hall when it had bin destroyed by fire For it hath bin the hard destiny of this Great Hall to suffer many times the fury of fire but the last that happened was in the beginning of Henry the eighths Raign Anno 1512. at which time a great part of the Palace was consumed which was never re-edified since so that the Kings Courts have bin from that time sometimes at Baynards Castle then at Bridewell and since at White-Hall called before York place as hath bin said before In this great Palace at Westminster there was St. Stephens Chappel which was built by King Stephen himself It was repaired and enlarged by Edward the third and 38. persons were appointed there to serve God viz. a Dean 12. secular Canons 13. Vicars 4. Clarks 6. Chorists a Verger and a Keeper of the Chappel who had endowments and Houses built them near the Thames there were also Lodgings assigned them 'twixt the Clock-house and the Wooll-Staple called the Weigh-house He also built for their use a strong Clochard in the little Sanctuary covered with Lead where there were three great Bells which usually rung at Coronations and Funeralls of Princes which gave such a huge sound that 't was commonly said they sowred all the drink in the Town but now there 's scarce any marks left of that Clochard This Chappel of St. Stephens at the suppression in Henry the eights time was valued to dispend one thousand eighty five pounds and in Edward the sixths time it was made to serve as a Parliament for the House of Commons who formerly were used to sit in the Chapter-house of the Abbot of Westminster Before the Great Hall there is a large Court called now the new Palace where there is a strong Tower of Stone containing a Clock which striketh on a great Bell every houre to give notice to the Judges how the time passeth when the wind is South South-West it may be heard into any part of London and commonly it presageth wet weather The Dean of St. Stephens was used to haâ—e the keeping of this Clock having six pence every day out of the Exchequer for keeping the Kings Clock or Great Tom of Westminster We must now make a step Southward before we leave Westminster and perform some further devotions to the old Abbey the prime Sanctuary of the Land whereunto belongs another very ancient priviledged place and Sanctuary of St. Martin le Grand hard by Aldersgate in London whereas formerly was said there was of old a fair and large Colledge of a Dean and secular Canons or Priests founded by Ingelricus 1056. and confirmed a little after by William the Conqueror as appeareth by that ample Charter he gave thereunto which in regard of the ancient Saxon Termes then used I thought worthy the inserting here and it runs thus Willimus Conquester per chartam suam corroborat confirmat Deo Ecclesiae Beati Martini intramuros London sitae quod sit quieta ab â—mni exactione inquietudine Episcoporum Archidiaconorum c. Et possessiones suas ab omni regali Iurisdictione liberari ab Exercitus expeditione Pontis restauratâ—one munitione Castelli auxilio quietas habent Secuam Toll Team Infangthese Blodwite Mundbrice Burghbrice Meskenning Seawing Alcesting Frithsorn Fleamina Finnithe Welgerthofe Vthleap forfeng fyhfeng Firdwite Firthwit Weardite Hengwite Hamsokne Forsteal si quas alias libertates consuetudines aliqua Ecclesiarum regni mei Anglie meliores habeat Si quis vero hoc in aliud quam concessimus transferre presumserit cum Iuda proditore Deiluat poenas Dat. Anno Dom. 1068. Annoque Regni mei secundo die Natalis Domini Et post modum in d'â— Pentecostes confirmo quando Matilda Conjux mea in Basilica Sancti Petri Westmonasterii in Reginam divino nutu est consecrata This priviledge of Sanctuary was confirmed and strictly enjoyned by divers succeeding Kings under the same Curse that the Infringers thereof should be eternally damned and suffer the like torments as Iudas the betrayer of God c. Touching the hard Saxons word of this Charter the Reader is referred to those worthy persons who made additionals to Mr. Stow where he shall find them explain'd For many Ages this Saint Martin le Grand continued by it self a place of as great priviledges as Westminster or Beverlay which were counted the chiefest in the whole Land But Henry the 7th annexed it at last to the Monastery of St. Peter of Westminster which claims Title ever since to the free Chappel the Priviledges and Sanctuary thereof
East West North and South where officers and others that have business do enter according to the scituation of the Countrey whence they come there being above threescore several Kingdoms under the Dominion of the Emperor and every one hath a particular Hall and Councel where they deliberate touching the Government of every Kingdom 'T is such a ravishing voluptuous place that there are objects to please and charm all the five senses The eyes are fed in beholding the goodly Structures Gardens and Trees which are up and down The Eares by hearing the chirping of the Birds and sweet murmure of the waters The smell is feasted with odoriferous sent of flowers and other rich perfumes The Taste by most delicate fruits And the other sense by most beautiful and ravishing Women which are able to tempt a Stoick having by their rowling large eyes and other postures extraordinary wayes of allurement There was a computation made of above a million of Houses within her so that allowing ten to a Family there be ordinarily about ten Millions of humane souls that breath within the City They are very rich in their Habits and there is not much difference in the Clothes of male and female only the women have more diversity of colours blew and red are the commonest but black is never worn There be Birds there of such a wonderful bigness that they will take up a whole Mutton alive up into the Air and sometimes a man in Armor There are abundance of Elephants Dromedaries Camels and other huge Beasts that do their work And all Animals both volatil and terrestrial are there of a bigger size and proportion then any where else by special influences of the Heavens It is incredible what number of Nations do resort thither for Traffique and Commerce as all the Indies Cathay Tartary Arabia and Persia They are rare Artists for 't is thought that Guns and Printing were there invented thousands of years agoe their Characters and way of reading being not either from the left hand to the right as the Greeks and Latines use or from the right hand to the left as the Hebrew and all the Dialect thereof as the Arabian Persian and others but perpendicular downward There is one Law amongst them that conduceth much to make them such exquisite Artisans which is that the Sonnes are alwayes of their Fathers Trade whereby they come to have a more natural dexterity genius and aptitude to the Trade and their Parents train them therein more industriously and discover unto them all the mysteries thereof Touching the rare China Dishes and Cups they make the masse of Earth whereof they are moulded useth to be buried in lumps within the bowels of the Earth sometimes a hundred years before they fall to work upon it and such a masse of aged Earth is the common Patrimony that Parents use to leave their Children In fine they pretend to so much sagacity wit and industry that 't is a saying among them that They only have two eyes the Europaeans one and all the rest of the World is blind They have such a high opinion of their King that they think he is descended of the race of some demy-God and so adore him accordingly They believe there is some Divinity in his blood insomuch that he never marries any but either his own Sister or Daughter or next a kin for fear of staining the Royal Blood He is seldom seen openly but he hath a private place when his Councel sits whence he may hear whatsoever is agitated and he signifieth his pleasure invisibly through certain hollow Trunks and he gives audience to Ambassadors also in that manner We will now over the Red Sea to Afrique and take a short transient Survay of the Gran Cairo in Egypt a City also of a huge Gigantique stature being near upon forty miles compasse having five and thirty thousand Meskeetos that is Churches and Chappels There are in her four and twenty thousand noted streets some whereof are two miles in length every one is locked up in the night with a dore and Chains at each end There is a huge number of Horsmen under the command of so many Saniacks which watch and gard the Town all the year long to the number of eight and twenty thousand men for fear of the incursions of the wild Arabs the cause of the vastness of Gran Cairo is that there are three Cities incorporated into one that is old Memphis Babylon and Elkhaire for there was another City hard by called Babylone but by encrease of Trade and new concourse of people the Soldans and Mammalucks reduc'd all three to one entire City which would be a pittiful poor place did not the River of Nile give her a yearly visit from the Mountains of the Moon about the Sommer Solstice and retire again about eighty dayes after We will now crosse the Greek Seas to Europe and take a quick view of most of those Cities which are of the first magnitude for indeed this Parallel aymes only at the Europaean Cities And it will be found by any impartial Reader that London needs not vail to any of them if regard be had 1. To conveniency of situation and to salubrity of air 2. To method of strict Government 3. To magnificence of the chief Magistrates 4. To Regulation of Trade 5. To variety of Artisans 6. To a greater number of Corporations and Halls 7. To plenty of all Provision that Air Earth or Water can afford 8. To Springs Conduits Aqueducts and other conveyances of fresh wholsome waters 9. To the universality of Trafick and bravery of the Adventurers 10. To solidity and richness of Commodities 11. To Artillery Ammunition Docks and a number of military stout well armed Citizens 12. To once a glorious Temple 13. To an admirable great Bridge 14. To a noble Navigable River 15. To a chearful and wholsome green circumjacent Soyl. 16. To Hospitality and Festival publique meetings of Corporations and other Societies for encrease of love and good intelligence between Neighbors 17. To number of Coaches by Land and all sorts of Boats by water for the accommodation of Passengers 18. For sundry kind of reliefs for the poor and indigent 19. For various kinds of honest corporal recreations and pastimes 20. And lastly for the number of humane souls Many of these may be found severally in other Cities who may haply exceed London in some particulars but take them all together she may vie with the best of them and run no great hazard But to proceed the more methodically in taking a view to this purpose though short and cursory of the greatest Cities in Europe we will begin Eastward at Constantinople called of old Bizantium and now Stambole by the Turks being the chief Court or Port as they terme it of the Ottoman Empire the word being derived from Faith and Plenty 'T is true she is plac'd in a fit and advantageous posture to be Commandresse of the World she was raised by a
things both for Church and State in point of piety stately Structures of divers natures for the publick good and deeds of charity would make a large Volume of it self I will conclude for the present with a late worthy man one Mr. Iohn Walter who was Clark of Drapers Hall who having resolved with himself when he had attained a competent subsistence for himself and his Children to employ the rest every year for charitable uses which he did constantly for many years He built two Hospitals near London and it was a great while before the Founder of them was known He used to send a proportion of bread to be distributed among the poor to divers Churches and it was not known who sent it till he was dead and that he was missing It is thought by a computation that was made that he had employed above ten thousand pounds to charitable uses of all sorts private and publick and he was so free from vain-glory that his greatest care was to do them in such a manner that his left hand should not know what his right hand did And in his study after his death there was a bag of 800 l. in Gold with a label in paper upon it This is none of mine but the poor's Lastly for Prerogatives Enfranchisements Immunities Charters and Liberties for Hospitality and plentiful treatments as also for Antiquity the City of London comes not in the arrears to any Touching the last 't is true there are some Cities in the East that have the start of her in point of time yet London was built 354 years before Rome which is a fair Age. Touching the second some call London a lick-peny as Paris is called by some a pick-purse because of feastings with other occasions of expence and allurements which cause so many unthrifts among Countrey Gentlemen and others who flock into her in such excessive multitudes but this must be imputed not to the place but to the persons for one may live in London as frugally if he hath wit to make use of it as in any other City whatsoever T' is true that the prizes of all things use to be enhanc'd by confluences and swarms of people which a judicious Forreiner observing in London said that she bore no proportion with the Iland but might serve a Kingdom thrice as big and that England may be rather said to be in London then London in England which made some compare her to the spleen whose over-swelling make the rest of the body languish but it might be answered that London is rather like the stomack which digests the wealth of the Land and after a good concoction disperseth it again in wholsom nutriment to all parts Touching the third viz. freedom and immunities there 's no City hath more In the Raign of Richard the second it was enacted That the Citizens of London were to enjoy their priviledges and franchises licet usi non fuerint vel abusi fuerint whether they were not us'd or abus'd notwithstanding any Statute to the contrary as the Lord Coke hath it in his Institutes In the Lawes of the Land London is called sometimes Camera Regis Reipublicae Cor totius Regni Epitome the Kings Chamber the heart of the Common-wealth and compendium of the whole Kingdom sometimes she is called Caput Regum Legum The head of Kings and of Lawes nay some of the Roman Emperors in their Edicts called her Augusta which is a name alwayes of magnificence and State And now will I take leave of the Noble Augusta or City of London concluding with this hearty wish couch'd in these two Hexameters and relating to her proportion or shape which is a Laurel leaf as formerly was said Londinum Lauri folio non impare formâ Flore at Urbs sicut Laurus semperque virescat London is like a Laurel leaf may She Be verdant still and flourish like the Tree FINIS AN INDEX POINTING At the chief Passage throughout the whole Book A. fol. AUgusta a name given by the Roman Emperors to London 2. Appellations which forrain Authors give of London 2. Of Algate 5. Of Amwel River brought to London 11. The Lord Ailwine first Alderman in England Anno 851. 34. Of the Authority and State of the Lord Mayor of London 35. His Attendants and Officers with divers Prerogatives 35. Of the ancient Court of the Hustings 37. Austin the Monk the Englishmens Apostle 39. The Arms of all the Companies and Corporations of London blazon'd 41. The antiquity of all the Companies of London 41. Of Allhallowes Barking 48. Of Algate Ward 52. Of St. Andrew Undershaft 55. Of Augustine Fryers 72. St. Albanes a very ancient Church in London 301. Of Aldersgate Ward 306. Of the ancient great Monuments in Christs Church 311. The Antiquities of Southwark 137. An Alderman alotted to every Ward 340. The Abbey of Westminster ◠the greatest Sanctuary 346. Of the Court of Admiralty 373. A Contest 'twixt the Court of Admiralty and Westminster Hall 374. Of Amsterdam 339. Of Auspurg 389. B. fol. The Britains concreated with this Iland 2. The British Etymologies of London 2. The Britains were first Founders and God-fathers of London 3. Of Bainards Castle 5. Of the chief Banner-bearer of the City of London 27. The Black Fryers built of the ruines of the Tower of Monsiquet 29. Bishops have bin good Friends to London 40. Of Barking Church 48. The Bayliff of Rumford strangely executed 56. The common Burse at first in Lombard-street 63 Of Bishopsgate Ward 63 Of Bethlem now called Bedlam and the notable deed of gift that was made thereof 63 Of Broad-street Ward 71 Of Billingsgate Ward 84 Of Billingsgate some things remarkable 85 Of the Bridge-ward within 87 Of Backles-berry 113 Of Basings-Hall Ward 123 Of Backwell-Hall 123 The History of the Black-Fryers 316 Of Breadstreet Ward 318 Of Bridewell 332 Of St. Brides 333 Of the Bridge-House 339 A British Prophecy lately verified 348 Bishop of Chesters Inne 349 Of Bedford York Salisbury Worcester-House with others 349 Of Bedford Berry 350 Of Babylon 382 C. fol Cornelius Tacitus lived seven years in Britain the Epist. The Character which Tacitus gives of London 3 Constantine the Great first Builder of London Walls 4 Contests 'twixt the Lord Admiral and Lord Mayor about the Thames 14 The Conservancy of the Thames belongs de jure to the Lord Mayor 17 The Character of London Bridg in Latine and English verse 1 A City compared to a Ship 33 Of the several Courts belonging to the City of London 37 Ceremonies used in the Election of the Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs 36 The Clashes 'twixt the City of London and divers Kings 40 No City without a Cathedral Church and a Bishops See 40 Of the several Companies and Corporations belonging to the City of London 41 Corporations prejudicial to Monarchy 46 The Custom-house Key called in former times Petty Wales 49 Of the Crouched Fryers 57 Of Cornhill-Ward 77 Of Candlewick-Ward 89 The Charter of the Styliard 98