proper small church, but divers rich parishioners therein, and hath had
of old time many liberal benefactors, but of late such as (not regarding
the order taken by her majesty), the least bell in their church being
broken, have rather sold the same[198] for half the value than put the
parish to charge with new casting; late experience hath proved this to
be true, besides the spoil of monuments there. In this church are buried
Sir Aker; John Aker; John Barens, mercer, mayor 1370; John Beston and
his wife; Robert Rayland; John Hamber; John Gage; John Rowley; John
Lambe; John Hadley, grocer, mayor 1379; Richard Gardener, mercer, mayor
1478; John Stockton, mercer, mayor 1470; John Dane, mercer; John Parker;
Robert Marshall, alderman, 1439; Robert Corcheforde; Robert Hatfielde;
and Robert Hatfield; Nicholas Wilfilde, and Thomas his son; the
monuments of all which be defaced and gone. There do remain of Robert
Burley, 1360; Richard Wilson, 1525; Robert Packenton, mercer, slain with
a gun shot at him in a morning,[199] as he was going to morrow mass
from his house in Cheape to St. Thomas of Acars, in the year 1536; the
murderer was never discovered, but by his own confession made when he
came to the gallows at Banbury to be hanged for felony; T. Wardbury,
haberdasher, 1545; James Huish, grocer, 1590; Ambrose Smith, etc. Then
is a part of Soper’s lane turning up to Cheape.
By the assent of Stephen Abunden, mayor, the Pepperers in Soper’s lane
were admitted to sell all such spices and other wares as grocers now use
to sell, retaining the old name of pepperers in Soper’s lane, till at
length, in the reign of Henry VI., the same Soper’s lane was inhabited
by cordwainers and curriers, after that the pepperers or grocers had
seated themselves in a more open street, to wit, in Buckles bury, where
they yet remain. Thus much for the south wing of Cheape ward.
Now to begin again on the bank of the said Walbrooke, at the east end
of the high street called the Poultrie, on the north side thereof, is
the proper parish church of St. Mildred, which church was new built upon
Walbrooke in the year 1457. John Saxton their parson gave thirty-two
pounds towards the building of the new choir, which now standeth upon
the course of Walbrooke. Lovell and Puery, and Richard Keston, have
their arms in the east window as benefactors. The roofing of that
church is garnished with the arms of Thomas Archehull, one of the
churchwardens in the year 1455, who was there buried; Thomas Morsted,
esquire, and chirurgeon to King Henry IV., V., and VI., one of the
sheriff’s of London in the year 1436, gave unto this church a parcel
of ground, containing in length from the course of Walbrooke toward the
west forty-five feet, and in breadth from the church toward the north
thirty-five feet, being within the gate called Scalding wike, in the
said parish, to make a churchyard wherein to bury their dead. Richard
Shore, draper, one of the sheriffs 1505, gave fifteen pounds for making
a porch to this church. Salomon Lanuare had a chantry there in the 14th
of Edward II. Hugh Game had one other. Buried here, as appeareth by
monuments, John Hildye, poulter, 1416; John Kendall, 1468; John Garland,
1476; Robert Bois, 1485, and Simon Lee, poulters, 1487; Thomas Lee of
Essex, gentleman: William Hallingridge; Christopher Feliocke, 1494;
Robert Draiton, skinner, 1484; John Christopherson, doctor of physic,
1524; William Turner, skinner, 1536; Blase White, grocer, 1558; Thomas
Hobson, haberdasher, 1559; William Hobson, haberdasher, 1581; Thomas
Tusser, 1580, with this epitaph:--
“Here Thomas Tusser, clad in earth, doth lie,
That sometime made the Poyntes of Husbandrie;
By him then learne thou maist, here learne we must,
When all is done we sleepe and turne to dust,
And yet through Christ to heaven we hope to go,
Who reades his bookes shall find his faith was so.”
On the north side of the churchyard remain two tombs of marble, but not
known of whom, or otherwise than by tradition it is said, they were of
Thomas Monshampe and William, brothers, about 1547, etc.
Some four houses west from this parish church of St. Mildred is a prison
house pertaining to one of the sheriffs of London, and is called the
Compter in the Poultrie. This hath been there kept and continued time
out of mind, for I have not read of the original thereof. West from
this compter was a proper chapel, called of Corpus Christi, and St.
Mary, at Conyhope lane end, in the parish of St. Mildred, founded by one
named Ion. Irunnes, a citizen of London, in the reign of Edward III.,
in which chapel was a guild or fraternity, that might dispend in lands
better than twenty pounds by year: it was suppressed by Henry VIII., and
purchased by one Thomas Hobson, haberdasher; he turned this chapel into
a fair warehouse and shops towards the street, with lodgings over them.
Then is Conyhope lane, of old time so called of such a sign of three
conies hanging over a poulterer’s stall at the lane’s end. Within this
lane standeth the Grocers’ hall, which company being of old time called
Pepperers, were first incorporated by the name of Grocers in the year
1345, at which time they elected for custos, or guardian, of their
fraternity, Richard Oswin and Laurence Haliwell, and twenty brethren
were then taken in to be of their society. In the year 1411, the custos,
or guardian, and the brethren of this company, purchased of the Lord Ro.
Fitzwaters one plot of ground, with the building thereupon, in the said
Conyhope lane, for three hundred and twenty marks, and then laid the
foundation of their new common hall.
About the year 1429, the Grocers had license to purchase five hundred
marks land, since the which time, near adjoining unto the Grocers’
hall, the said company had built seven proper houses for seven aged
poor alms people. Thomas Knowles, grocer, mayor, gave his tenement in
St. Anthonie’s churchyard to the Grocers, towards the relief of the
poor brethren in that company. Also H. Keeble, grocer, mayor, gave to
the seven alms people six pence the piece weekly forever; which pension
is now increased by the masters, to some of them two shillings the
piece weekly, and to some of them less, etc. Henry Adie, grocer, 1563,
gave one thousand marks to the Grocers to purchase lands. And Sir John
Pechie, knight banneret, free of that company, gave them five hundred
pounds to certain uses; he built alms houses at Ludingstone in Kent, and
was there buried.
West from this Conyhope lane is the Old Jurie, whereof some portion is
of Cheape ward, as afore is showed: at the south end of this lane is the
parish church of St. Mary Colechurch, named of one Cole that built it;
this church is built upon a wall above ground, so that men are forced
to go to ascend up thereunto by certain steps. I find no monuments of
this church, more than that Henry IV. granted license to William Marshal
and others, to found a brotherhood of St. Katherine therein, because
Thomas Becket, and St. Edmond, the archbishop, were baptized there.
More, I read of Bordhangly lane, to be in that parish. And thus much for
the north side of the Poultrie. The south side of the said Poultrie,
beginning on the bank of the said brook over against the parish church
of St. Mildred, passing up to the great conduit, hath divers fair
houses, which were sometimes inhabited by poulters, but now by grocers,
haberdashers, and upholsters.
At the west end of this Poultrie, and also of Buckles bury, beginneth
the large street of West Cheaping, a market place so called, which
street stretcheth west till ye come to the little conduit by Paul’s
gate, but not all of Chepe ward. In the east part of this street
standeth the great conduit of sweet water, conveyed by pipes of
lead under ground from Paddington[200] for the service of this city,
castellated with stone, and cisterned in lead, about the year 1285, and
again new built and enlarged by Thomas Ilam, one of the sheriffs 1479.
About the midst of this street is the Standard in Cheape, of what
antiquity the first foundation I have not read. But Henry VI. by
his patent dated at Windsor the 21st of his reign, which patent was
confirmed by parliament 1442, granted license to Thomas Knolles, John
Chichle, and other, executors to John Wels, grocer, sometime mayor
of London, with his goods to make new the highway which leadeth from
the city of London towards the palace of Westminster, before and nigh
the manor of Savoy, parcel of the Duchy of Lancaster, a way then very
ruinous, and the pavement broken, to the hurt and mischief of the
subjects, which old pavement then remaining in that way within the
length of five hundred feet, and all the breadth of the same before and
nigh the site of the manor aforesaid, they to break up, and with stone,
gravel, and other stuff, one other good and sufficient way there to make
for the commodity of the subjects.
And further, that the Standard in Cheape, where divers executions of the
law before time had been performed, which Standard at the present was
very ruinous with age, in which there was a conduit, should be taken
down, and another competent standard of stone, together with a conduit
in the same of new, strongly to be built, for the commodity and honour
of the city, with the goods of the said testator, without interruption,
etc.
Of executions at the Standard in Cheape, we read, that in the year
1293 three men had their right hands smitten off there, for rescuing
of a prisoner arrested by an officer of the city. In the year 1326,
the burgesses of London caused Walter Stapleton, Bishop of Excester,
treasurer to Edward II., and other, to be beheaded at the standard in
Cheape (but this was by Paul’s gate); in the year 1351, the 26th of
Edward III., two fishmongers were beheaded at the standard in Cheape,
but I read not of their offence; 1381, Wat Tyler beheaded Richard Lions
and other there. In the year 1399, Henry IV. caused the blanch charters
made by Richard II. to be burnt there. In the year 1450, Jack Cade,
captain of the Kentish rebels, beheaded the Lord Say there. In the
year 1461, John Davy had his hand stricken off there, because he had
stricken a man before the judges at Westminster, etc.
Then next is a great cross in West Cheape, which cross was there erected
in the year 1290 by Edward I. upon occasion thus:--Queen Elianor his
wife died at Hardeby (a town near unto the city of Lincoln), her body
was brought from thence to Westminster; and the king, in memory of her,
caused in every place where her body rested in the way, a stately cross
of stone to be erected, with the queen’s image and arms upon it, as at
Grantham, Woborne, Northampton, Stony Stratford, Dunstable, St. Albones,
Waltham, West Cheape, and at Charing, from whence she was conveyed to
Westminster, and there buried.
This cross in West Cheape being like to those other which remain to
this day, and being by length of time decayed, John Hatherly, mayor
of London, procured, in the year 1441, license of King Henry VI. to
re-edify the same in more beautiful manner for the honour of the city,
and had license also to take up two hundred fodder of lead for the
building thereof of certain conduits, and a common garnery. This cross
was then curiously wrought at the charges of divers citizens: John
Fisher, mercer, gave six hundred marks toward it; the same was begun to
be set up 1484, and finished 1486, the 2nd of Henry VII. It was new gilt
over in the year 1522, against the coming of Charles V., emperor; in
the year 1553, against the coronation of Queen Anne;[201] new burnished
against the coronation of Edward VI.; and again new gilt 1554, against
the coming in of King Philip; since the which time the said cross having
been presented by divers juries (or inquests of wardmote) to stand in
the high way to the let of carriages (as they alleged), but could not
have it removed, it followed that in the year 1581, the 21st of June,
in the night, the lowest images round about the said cross (being of
Christ’s resurrection, of the Virgin Mary, King Edward the Confessor,
and such like) were broken and defaced, proclamation was made, that
who so would bewray the doers, should have forty crowns, but nothing
came to light; the image of the Blessed Virgin, at that time robbed of
her Son, and her arms broken, by which she stayed him on her knees;
her whole body also was haled with ropes, and left likely to fall,
but in the year 1595 was again fastened and repaired; and in the year
next following a new misshapen son, as born out of time, all naked, was
laid in her arms, the other images remaining broke as afore. But on the
east side of the same cross, the steps taken thence, under the image
of Christ’s resurrection defaced, was then set up a curiously wrought
tabernacle of grey marble, and in the same an image alabaster of Diana,
and water conveyed from the Thames prilling from her naked breast for a
time, but now decayed.
In the year 1599, the timber of the cross at the top being rotted
within the lead, the arms thereof bending, were feared to have fallen
to the harming of some people, and therefore the whole body of the
cross was scaffolded about, and the top thereof taken down, meaning
in place thereof to have set up a piramis; but some of her majesty’s
honourable councillors directed their letters to Sir Nicholas Mosley,
then mayor, by her highness’ express commandment concerning the cross,
forthwith to be repaired, and placed again as it formerly stood, etc.;
notwithstanding the said cross stood headless more than a year after:
whereupon the said councillors, in greater number, meaning not any
longer to permit the continuance of such a contempt, wrote to William
Rider, then mayor, requiring him, by virtue of her highness’ said former
direction and commandment, that without any further delay to accomplish
the same her majesty’s most princely care therein, respecting especially
the antiquity and continuance of that monument, an ancient ensign of
Christianity, etc. Dated the 24th of December, 1600. After this a cross
of timber was framed, set up, covered with lead, and gilded, the body of
the cross downward cleansed of dust, the scaffold carried thence. About
twelve nights following, the image of Our Lady was again defaced, by
plucking off her crown, and almost her head, taking from her her naked
child, and stabbing her in the breast, etc. Thus much for the cross in
West Cheape.
Then at the west end of West Cheape street, was sometime a cross of
stone, called the Old Cross. Raph Higden, in his _Policronicon_, saith,
that Waltar Stapleton, Bishop of Excester, treasurer to Edward II., was
by the burgesses of London beheaded at this cross called the Standard,
without the north door of St. Paul’s church; and so is it noted in other
writers that then lived. This old cross stood and remained at the east
end of the parish church called St. Michael in the corner by Paule’s
gate, near to the north end of the old Exchange, till the year 1390, the
13th of Richard II., in place of which old cross then taken down, the
said church of St. Michael was enlarged, and also a fair water conduit
built about the 9th of Henry VI.
In the reign of Edward III. divers joustings were made in this street,
betwixt Sopar’s lane and the great cross, namely, one in the year 1331,
the 21st of September, as I find noted by divers writers of that time.
In the middle of the city of London (say they), in a street called
Cheape, the stone pavement being covered with sand, that the horses
might not slide when they strongly set their feet to the ground, the
king held a tournament three days together, with the nobility, valiant
men of the realm, and other some strange knights. And to the end the
beholders might with the better ease see the same, there was a wooden
scaffold erected across the street, like unto a tower, wherein Queen
Philippa, and many other ladies, richly attired, and assembled from
all parts of the realm, did stand to behold the jousts; but the higher
frame, in which the ladies were placed, brake in sunder, whereby they
were with some shame forced to fall down, by reason whereof the knights,
and such as were underneath, were grievously hurt; wherefore the queen
took great care to save the carpenters from punishment, and through her
prayers (which she made upon her knees) pacified the king and council,
and thereby purchased great love of the people. After which time the
king caused a shed to be strongly made of stone, for himself, the queen,
and other estates to stand on, and there to behold the joustings, and
other shows, at their pleasure, by the church of St. Mary Bow, as is
showed in Cordwainer street ward. Thus much for the high street of
Cheape.
Now let us return to the south side of Cheape ward. From the great
conduit west be many fair and large houses, for the most part possessed
of mercers up to the corner of Cordwainer street, corruptly called
Bow lane, which houses in former times were but sheds or shops, with
solers[202] over them, as of late one of them remained at Sopar’s lane
end, wherein a woman sold seeds, roots, and herbs; but those sheds or
shops, by encroachments on the high street, are now largely built on
both sides outward, and also upward, some three, four, or five stories
high.
Now of the north side of Cheape street and ward, beginning at the great
conduit, and by St. Mary Cole church, where we left. Next thereunto
westward is the Mercers’ chapel, sometime an hospital, intituled of
St. Thomas of Acon, or Acars, for a master and brethren, “_Militia
hospitalis_,” etc., saith the record of Edward III., the 14th year; it
was founded by Thomas Fitzthebald de Heili, and Agnes his wife, sister
to Thomas Becket, in the reign of Henry II.; they gave to the master
and brethren the lands, with the appurtenances that sometimes were
Gilbart Becket’s, father to the said Thomas, in the which he was born,
there to make a church. There was a charnel, and a chapel over it, of
St. Nicholas and St. Stephen. This hospital was valued to dispend £277
3_s._ 4_d._, surrendered the 30th of Henry VIII.: the 21st of October,
and was since purchased by the Mercers, by means of Sir Richard Gresham,
and was again set open on the eve of St. Michael, 1541, the 33rd of
Henry VIII.: it is now called the Mercers’ chapel; therein is kept a
free grammar school, as of old time had been accustomed, commanded by
parliament.[203] Here be many monuments remaining, but more have been
defaced:--James Butler, Earl of Ormond, and Dame Joan his countess,
1428; John Norton, esquire; Stephen Cavendish, draper, mayor 1362;
Thomas Cavendish; William Cavendish; Thomas Ganon, called Pike, one
of the sheriffs 1410; Hungate, of Yorkshire; Ambrose Cresacre; John
Chester, draper; John Trusbut, mercer, 1437; Tho. Norland, sheriff 1483;
Sir Edmond Sha, goldsmith, mayor 1482; Sir Thomas Hill, mayor 1485;
Thomas Ilam, sheriff 1479;[204] Lancelot Laken, esquire; Raph Tilney,
sheriff 1488; Garth, esquire; John Rich; Thomas Butler, Earl of Ormond,
1515; Sir W. Butler, grocer, mayor 1515; W. Browne, mercer, mayor 1513;
John Loke, 1519;[205] Sir T. Baldry, mercer, mayor 1523; Sir W. Locke,
mercer, sheriff 1548; Sir John Allen, mercer, mayor 1525, deceased 1544;
Sir Thomas Leigh, mercer, mayor 1558; Sir Richard Malory, mercer, mayor
1564; Humf. Baskervile, mercer, sheriff 1561; Sir G. Bond, mayor 1587;
etc.
Before this hospital, towards the street, was built a fair and beautiful
chapel, arched over with stone, and thereupon the Mercers’ hall, a most
curious piece of work; Sir John Allen, mercer, being founder of that
chapel, was there buried; but since his tomb is removed thence into the
body of the hospital church, and his chapel, divided into shops, is
letten out for rent.
These Mercers were enabled to be a company, and to purchase lands to
the value of twenty pounds the year, the 17th of Richard II.; they
had three messuages and shops in the parish of St. Martin Oteswitch,
in the ward of Bishopsgate, for the sustentation of the poor, and a
chantry of the 22nd of Richard II. Henry IV., in the 12th of his reign,
confirmed to Stephen Spilman, W. Marchford, and John Whatile, mercers,
by the name of one new seldam, shed, or building, with shops, cellars,
and edifices whatsoever appertaining called Crownsild, situate in the
Mercery in West Cheape, in the parish of St. Mary de Arcubus in London,
etc., to be holden in burgage, as all the city of London is, and which
were worth by year in all issues, according to the true value of them,
£7 13_s._ 4_d._, as found by inquisition before T. Knolles, mayor, and
escheator in the said city. Henry VI., in the 3rd of his reign, at the
request of John Coventrie, John Carpenter, and William Grove, granted
to the Mercers to have a chaplain and a brotherhood, for relief of such
of their company as came to decay by misfortune on the sea. In the year
1536, on St. Peter’s night, King Henry VIII. and Queen Jane his wife,
stood in this Mercers’ hall, then new built, and beheld the marching
watch of this city most bravely set out, Sir John Allen, mercer, one of
the king’s council, being mayor.
Next beyond the Mercers’ chapel, and their hall, is Ironmonger lane, so
called of ironmongers dwelling there, whereof I read, in the reign of
Edward I., etc. In this lane is the small parish church of St. Martin
called Pomary, upon what occasion I certainly know not. It is supposed
to be of apples growing where houses are now lately built; for myself
have seen large void places there. Monuments in that church none to be
accounted of.
Farther west is St. Laurence lane, so called of St. Laurence church,
which standeth directly over against the north end thereof. Antiquities
in this lane I find none other, than that among many fair houses, there
is one large inn for receipt of travellers called Blossoms inn, but
corruptly Bosoms inn, and hath to sign St. Laurence the Deacon, in a
border of blossoms or flowers.
Then near to the Standard in Cheape is Honey lane, so called, not of
sweetness thereof, being very narrow, and somewhat dark, but rather of
often washing and sweeping, to keep it clean. In this lane is the small
parish church called Alhallows in Honey lane; there be no monuments in
this church worth the noting. I find that John Norman, draper, mayor
1453, was buried there; he gave to the Drapers his tenements on the
north side the said church, they to allow for the beam light and lamp,
13_s._ 4_d._ yearly from this lane to the Standard. And thus much for
Cheape ward in the high street of Cheape, for it stretcheth no farther.
Now for the north wing of Cheape ward have ye Catte street, corruptly
called Catteten street, which beginneth at the north end of Ironmonger
lane, and runneth to the west end of St. Lawrence church, as is afore
showed.
On the north side of the street is the Guildhall, wherein the courts
for the city be kept, namely, 1. The court of common council; 2. The
court of the lord mayor and his brethren the aldermen; 3. The court
of hustings; 4. The court of orphans; 5. The court of the sheriff; 6.
The court of the wardmote; 7. The court of hallmote; 8. The court of
requests, commonly called the court of conscience; 9. The chamberlain’s
court for apprentices, and making them free. This Guildhall, saith
Robert Fabian, was begun to be built new in the year 1411, the 12th of
Henry IV., by Thomas Knoles, then mayor, and his brethren the aldermen:
the same was made, of a little cottage, a large and great house, as
now it standeth; towards the charges whereof the companies gave large
benevolences; also offences of men were pardoned for sums of money
towards this work, extraordinary fees were raised, fines, amercements,
and other things employed during seven years, with a continuation
thereof three years more, all to be employed to this building.