England, in his time was a great benefactor to this work, and was there
buried in the year 1310. Also Ralph Baldocke, Bishop of London, in his
lifetime gave two hundred marks to the building of the said new work,
and left much by his testament towards the finishing thereof: he
deceased in the year 1313, and was buried in the Lady chapel. Also the
new work of Paules, to wit, the cross aisles, were begun to be new built
in the year 1256.
The 1st of February, in the year 1444, about two of the clock in the
afternoon, the steeple of Paules was fired by lightning, in the midst
of the shaft or spire, both on the west side and on the south; but by
labour of many well-disposed people the same to appearance was quenched
with vinegar, so that all men withdrew themselves to their houses,
praising God; but between eight and nine of the clock in the same night
the fire burst out again more fervently than before, and did much hurt
to the lead and timber, till by the great labour of the mayor and people
that came thither, it was thoroughly quenched.
This steeple was repaired in the year 1462, and the weather-cock again
erected. Robert Godwin winding it up, the rope brake, and he was
destroyed on the pinnacles, and the cock was sore bruised; but Burchwood
(the king’s plumber) set it up again: since the which time, needing
reparation, it was both taken down and set up in the year 1553; at which
time it was found to be of copper, gilt over; and the length from the
bill to the tail being four feet, and the breadth over the wings three
feet and a half, it weighed forty pounds; the cross from the bowl to the
eagle (or cock) was fifteen feet and six inches, of assize; the length
thereof overthwart was five feet and ten inches, and the compass of the
bowl was nine feet and one inch.
The inner body of this cross was oak, the next cover was lead, and the
uttermost was of copper, red varnished. The bowl and eagle, or cock,
were of copper, and gilt also.
The height of the steeple was five hundred and twenty feet, whereof the
stone-work is two hundred and sixty feet, and the spire was likewise two
hundred and sixty feet: the length of the whole church is two hundred
and forty tailors’ yards, which make seven hundred and twenty feet;
the breadth thereof is one hundred and thirty feet, and the height of
the body of that church is one hundred and fifty feet. This church
hath a bishop, a dean, a precentor, chancellor, treasurer, and five
archdeacons; to wit, of London, Middlesex, Essex, Colchester, and St.
Albans: it hath prebendaries thirty, canons twelve, vicars choral six,
etc.
The college of petty canons there was founded by King Richard II. in
honour of Queen Anne his wife, and of her progenitors, in the 17th of
his reign. Their hall and lands were then given unto them, as appeareth
by the patent; Master Robert Dokesworth then being master thereof. In
the year 1408, the petty canons then building their college, the mayor
and commonalty granted them their water-courses, and other easements.
There was also one great cloister, on the north side of this church,
environing a plot of ground, of old time called Pardon churchyard;
whereof Thomas More, dean of Paules, was either the first builder, or
a most especial benefactor, and was buried there. About this cloister
was artificially and richly painted the Dance of Machabray, or Dance of
Death, commonly called the Dance of Paul’s; the like whereof was painted
about St. Innocent’s cloister at Paris, in France. The metres, or poesy
of this dance, were translated out of French into English by John
Lidgate, monk of Bury,[240] and with the picture of death leading all
estates, painted about the cloister, at the special request and at the
dispence of Jenken Carpenter, in the reign of Henry VI. In this cloister
were buried many persons, some of worship, and others of honour; the
monuments of whom, in number and curious workmanship, passed all other
that were in that church.
Over the east quadrant of this cloister was a fair library, built at
the costs and charges of Walter Sherington, chancellor of the duchy of
Lancaster, in the reign of Henry VI., which hath been well furnished
with fair written books in vellum, but few of them now do remain there.
In the midst of this Pardon churchyard was also a fair chapel, first
founded by Gilbert Becket, portgrave and principal magistrate of this
city, in the reign of King Stephen, who was there buried.
Thomas Moore, dean of Paul’s before named, re-edified or new built this
chapel, and founded three chaplains there, in the reign of Henry V.
In the year 1549, on the 10th of April, the said chapel, by commandment
of the Duke of Somerset, was begun to be pulled down, with the whole
cloister, the Dance of Death, the tombs and monuments; so that nothing
thereof was left but the bare plot of ground, which is since converted
into a garden for the petty canons. There was also a chapel at the north
door of Paules, founded by the same Walter Sherrington, by license
of Henry VI., for two, three, or four chaplains, endowed with forty
pounds, by the year. This chapel also was pulled down in the reign of
Edward VI., and in place thereof a fair house built.
There was furthermore a fair chapel of the Holy Ghost in Paules church,
on the north side, founded in the year 1400 by Roger Holmes, chancellor
and prebendary of Paules, for Adam Berie, alderman, mayor of London
1364, John Wingham and others, for seven chaplains, and called Holme’s
college. Their common hall was in Paul’s churchyard, on the south
side, near unto a carpenter’s yard. This college was, with others,
suppressed in the reign of Edward VI. Then under the choir of Paules is
a large chapel, first dedicated to the name of Jesu, founded, or rather
confirmed, the 37th of Henry VI., as appeareth by his patent thereof,
dated at Croydone, to this effect: “Many liege men, and Christian
people, having begun a fraternitie and guild, to the honour of the most
glorious name of Jesus Christ our Saviour, in a place called the Crowdes
of the cathedrall church of Paul’s in London, which hath continued long
time peaceably till now of late; whereupon they have made request, and
we have taken upon us the name and charge of the foundation, to the
laud of Almightie God, the Father, the Sonne, and the Holy Ghost, and
especially to the honour of Jesu, in whose honour the fraternitie was
begun,” etc.
The king ordained William Say, then dean of Paules, to be the rector,
and Richard Ford (a remembrancer in the Exchequer), and Henry Bennis
(clerk of his privy seal), the guardians of those brothers and sisters;
they and their successors to have a common seal, license to purchase
lands or tenements to the value of forty pounds by the year, etc.
This foundation was confirmed by Henry VII., the 22nd of his reign, to
Doctor Collet, then dean of Paules, rector there, etc.; and by Henry
VIII., the 27th of his reign, to Richard Pace, then dean of Paules, etc.
At the west end of this Jesus chapel, under the choir of Paules, also
was a parish church of St. Faith, commonly called St. Faith under
Paul’s, which served for the stationers and others dwelling in Paule’s
churchyard, Paternoster row, and the places near adjoining. The said
chapel of Jesus being suppressed in the reign of Edward VI., the
parishioners of St. Faith’s church were removed into the same, as to a
place more sufficient for largeness and lightsomeness, in the year 1551,
and so it remaineth.
Then was there on the north side of this churchyard a large charnel
house for the bones of the dead, and over it a chapel of an old
foundation, such as followeth. In the year 1282, the 10th of Edward
I., it was agreed, that Henry Walles, mayor, and the citizens, for
the cause of shops by them built, without the wall of the churchyard,
should assign to God and to the church of St. Paul ten marks of rent by
the year for ever, towards the new building of a chapel of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, and also to assign five marks of yearly rent to a chaplain
to celebrate there.
Moreover, in the year 1430, the 8th of Henry VI., license was granted
to Jenkin Carpenter (executor to Richard Whittington) to establish upon
the said charnel a chaplain, to have eight marks by the year. Then was
also in this chapel two brotherhoods. In this chapel were buried Robert
Barton, Henry Barton, mayor, and Thomas Mirfin, mayor, all skinners, and
were entombed with their images of alabaster over them, grated or coped
about with iron before the said chapel, all which were pulled down in
the year 1549: the bones of the dead, couched up in a charnel under the
chapel, were conveyed from thence into Finsbery field (by report of him
who paid for the carriage[241]), amounting to more than one thousand
cart-loads, and there laid on a moorish ground; in short space after
raised, by soilage of the city upon them, to bear three windmills. The
chapel and charnel were converted into dwelling-houses, warehouses, and
sheds before them, for stationers, in place of the tombs.
In the east part of this churchyard standeth Paules school, lately new
built, and endowed in the year 1512 by John Collet, doctor of divinity
and dean of Paules, for one hundred and fifty-three poor men’s children,
to be taught free in the same school; for which he appointed a master,
a surmaster, or usher, and a chaplain, with large stipends for ever,
committing the oversight thereof to the masters, wardens, and assistants
of the mercers in London, because he was[242] son to Henry Collet,
mercer, sometime mayor. He left to these mercers lands to the yearly
value of one hundred and twenty pounds, or better.
Near unto this school, on the north side thereof, was of old time a
great and high clochier, or bell-house, four square, built of stone, and
in the same a most strong frame of timber, with four bells, the greatest
that I have heard; these were called Jesus’ bells, and belonged to
Jesus’ chapel, but I know not by whose gift: the same had a great spire
of timber covered with lead, with the image of St. Paul on the top, but
was pulled down by Sir Miles Partridge, knight, in the reign of Henry
VIII. The common speech then was, that he did set a hundred pounds upon
a cast at dice against it, and so won the said clochiard and bells of
the king; and then causing the bells to be broken as they hung, the rest
was pulled down. This man was afterward executed on the Tower hill for
matters concerning the Duke of Somerset, the 5th of Edward VI.
In place of this clochiard, of old times the common bell of the city was
used to be rung for the assembly of the citizens to their folke motes,
as I have before showed.
About the midst of this churchyard is a pulpit cross of timber, mounted
upon steps of stone, and covered with lead, in which are sermons
preached by learned divines every Sunday in the forenoon; the very
antiquity of which cross is to me unknown. I read, that in the year
1259, King Henry III. commanded a general assembly to be made at this
cross, where he in proper person commanded the mayor, that on the next
day following, he should cause to be sworn before the alderman every
stripling of twelve years of age or upward, to be true to the king and
his heirs, kings of England. Also, in the year 1262, the same king
caused to be read at Paul’s cross a bull, obtained from Pope Urban IV.,
as an absolution for him, and for all that were sworn to maintain the
articles made in parliament at Oxford. Also in the year 1299, the dean
of Paules accursed at Paules cross all those which had searched in the
church of St. Martin in the Field for a hoard of gold, etc. This pulpit
cross was by tempest of lightning and thunder defaced. Thomas Kempe,
Bishop of London, new built it in form as it now standeth.
In the year 1561, the 4th of June, betwixt the hours of three and four
of the clock in the afternoon, the great spire of the steeple of St.
Paule’s church was fired by lightning, which brake forth (as it seemed)
two or three yards beneath the foot of the cross; and from thence it
went downward the spire to the battlements, stone-work, and bells,
so furiously, that within the space of four hours the same steeple,
with all the roofs of the church, were consumed, to the great sorrow
and perpetual remembrance of the beholders. After this mischance, the
queen’s majesty directed her letters to the mayor, willing him to take
order for the speedy repairing of the same: and she, of her gracious
disposition, for the furtherance thereof, did presently give and deliver
in gold one thousand marks, with a warrant for a thousand loads of
timber, to be taken out of her woods or elsewhere.
The citizens also gave first a great benevolence, and after that three
fifteens, to be speedily paid. The clergy of England likewise, within
the province of Canterbury, granted the fortieth part of the value of
their benefices, charged with first fruits, the thirtieth part of such
as were not so charged; but the clergy of London diocese granted the
thirtieth part of all that paid first fruits, and the twentieth part of
such as had paid their fruits.
Six citizens of London, and two petty canons of Paules church, had
charge to further and oversee the work, wherein such expedition was
used, that within one month next following the burning thereof, the
church was covered with boards and lead, in manner of a false roof,
against the weather; and before the end of the said year, all the said
aisles of the church were framed out of new timber, covered with lead,
and fully finished. The same year also the great roofs of the west and
east ends were framed out of great timber in Yorkshire, brought thence
to London by sea, and set up and covered with lead; the north and south
ends were framed of timber, and covered with lead, before April 1566.
Concerning the steeple, divers models were devised and made, but little
else was done, through whose default, God knoweth; it was said that the
money appointed for new building of the steeple was collected.[243]
Monuments in this church be these: first, as I read, of Erkenwalde,
Bishop of London, buried in the old church about the year of Christ 700,
whose body was translated into the new work in the year 1140, being
richly shrined above the choir behind the high altar.
Sebba, or Seba, King of the East Saxons, first buried in the old church,
since removed into the new, and laid in a coffin of stone, on the north
side without the choirs; Ethelred, King of the West Saxons, was likewise
buried and removed; William Norman, Bishop of London in the reigns of
Edward the Confessor and of William the Conqueror, deceased 1070, and
is new buried in the body of the church, with an epitaph, as in my
_Summary_ I have shown; Eustauchius de Fauconbridge, Bishop of London,
1228, buried in the south isle above the choir; Martin Pateshull,
Dean of Powle’s, 1239; W. Havarhul, canon; the king’s treasurer, Hugh
Pateshull, 1240; Roger Nigar, Bishop of London, 1241, buried in the
north side of the choir; Fulco Basset, Bishop of London, 1259, and his
brother, Philip Basset, knight, 1261; Henry Wingham, Bishop of London,
buried in the south aisle above the choir, 1262; Geffrey de Arca,
chaplain in the chapel of St. James, under the rood at north door, 1264;
Alexander de Swarford, 1273; John Grantham, 1273; John Braynford, and
Richard Umframuile, 1275; Roger de Iale, Archdeacon of Essex, 1280;
Ralph Donion, canon, 1382; Godfrey S. Donstan, 1274; Fulke Lovell, 1298;
William Harworth, clerk, 1302; Reginald Brandon, in the new Lady chapel,
1305; Richard Newporte, Archdeacon of Middlesex, 1309; Henry Lacie, Earl
of Lincolne, in the new work of Paules betwixt the Lady chapel and St.
Dunston’s chapel, where a fair monument was raised for him, with his
picture in armour, cross-legged, as one professed for defence of the
Holy Land against the infidels, 1310, his monument is foully defaced;
Ralph Baldoke, Bishop of London, 1313, in the said Lady chapel, whereof
he was founder.
Some have noted,[244] that in digging the foundation of this new work,
namely of a chapel on the south side of Paule’s church, there were found
more than a hundred scalps of oxen or kine, in the year 1316; which
thing (say they) confirmed greatly the opinion of those which have
reported, that of old time there had been a temple of Jupiter, and that
there was daily sacrifice of beasts.
Othersome, both wise and learned, have thought the buck’s head, borne
before the procession of Paule’s on St. Paul’s day, to signify the like.
But true it is, I have read an ancient deed to this effect.
Sir William Baud, knight, the 3rd of Edward I., in the year 1274, on
Candlemas day, granted to Harvy de Borham, dean of Powle’s, and to the
chapter there, that in consideration of twenty-two acres of ground or
land, by them granted, within their manor of Westley in Essex, to be
inclosed into his park of Curingham, he would for ever, upon the feast
day of the Conversion of St. Paul in winter, give unto them a good doe,
seasonable and sweet, and upon the feast of the commemoration of St.
Paul in summer, a good buck, and offer the same upon the high altar; the
same to be spent amongst the canons residents. The doe to be brought by
one man at the hour of procession, and through the procession to the
high altar; and the bringer to have nothing: the buck to be brought
by all his men in like manner, and they to have paid unto them by the
chamberlain of the church twelve pence only, and no more to be required.
This grant he made, and for performance bound the lands of him and his
heirs to be distrained on; and if the lands should be evicted, that
yet he and his heirs should accomplish the gift. Witnesses: Richard
Tilberie, William de Wockendon, Richard de Harlowe, knights, Peter of
Stanforde, Thomas of Waldon, and some others.
Sir Walter Baude, son to William, confirmed this gift, in the 30th of
the said king, and the witnesses thereunto were Nicholas de Wokendon,
Richard de Rokeley, Thomas de Mandevile, John de Rochford, knights,
Richard de Broniford, William de Markes, William de Fulham, and other.
Thus much for the grant.
Now what I have heard by report, and have partly seen, it followeth.
On the feast day of the commemoration of St. Paul, the buck being
brought up to the steps of the high altar in Paul’s church, at the
hour of procession, the dean and chapter being apparelled in copes and
vestments, with garlands of roses on their heads, they sent the body
of the buck to baking, and had the head fixed on a pole, borne before
the cross in their procession, until they issued out of the west door,
where the keeper that brought it blowed the death of the buck, and then
the horners that were about the city presently answered him in like
manner; for the which pains they had each one of the dean and chapter,
four pence in money, and their dinner, and the keeper that brought it,
was allowed during his abode there, for that service, meat, drink, and
lodging, at the dean and chapter’s charges, and five shillings in money
at his going away, together with a loaf of bread, having the picture of
St. Paul upon it, etc.
There was belonging to the church of St. Paul, for both the days, two
special suits of vestments, the one embroidered with bucks, the other
with does, both given by the said Bauds (as I have heard). Thus much for
the matter.
Now to the residue of the monuments:--Sir Ralph Hingham, chief justice
of both Benches successively, buried in the side of the north walk
against the choir, 1308; Henry Guildford, clerk at the altar of the
Apostles, 1313; Richard Newport, Bishop of London, 1318; William
Chateslehunt, canon, in the new work, 1321, had a chantry there; Sir
Nicholas Wokenden, knight, at the altar of St. Thomas in the new work,
1323; John Cheshull, Bishop of London, 1279; Roger Waltham, canon,
1325; Hamo Chikewell, six times mayor of London, 1328; Robert Monden,
and John Monden his brother, canons, in the new work, 1332; Walter
Thorpe, canon, in the new work, 1333; John Fable, 1334; James Fisil,
chaplain, 1341; William Melford, Archdeacon of Colchester, 1345;
Richard de Placeto, Archdeacon of Colchester, 1345, before St. Thomas’
chapel; Geffrey Eton, canon, 1345; Nicholas Husband, canon, 1347; Sir
John Poultney, mayor 1348, in a fair chapel by him built on the north
side of Paule’s, wherein he founded three chaplains; William Eversden,
canon, in the crowds, 1349; Alan Hotham, canon, in the new crowds, 1351;
Henry Etesworth, under the rood at north door, 1353; John Beauchampe,
constable of Dover, warden of the ports, knight of the Garter, son to
Guy Beauchampe, Earl of Warwick, and brother to Thomas Earl of Warwick,
in the body of the church, on the south side, 1358, where a proper
chapel and fair monument remaineth of him; he is by ignorant people
misnamed to be Humfrey, Duke of Glocester, who lieth honourably buried
at St. Albon’s, twenty miles from London, and therefore such as merrily
or simply profess themselves to serve Duke Humfrey in Paule’s, are to
be punished here, and sent to St. Albon’s, there again to be punished
for their absence from their lord and master, as they call him; Michael
Norborow, Bishop of London, 1361; Walter Nele, blader, and Avis his
wife, 1361; Gilbert Brewer, dean of Paule’s, 1366; Richard Wendover,
1366; John Hiltoft, goldsmith, and Alice his wife, in the new works,
St. Dunston’s chapel, 1368; Adam de Bery, mayor in the year 1364,
buried in a chapel of St. Mary Magdalen, or of the Holy Ghost, called
Holmes’ college, behind the rood at the north door of Paul’s, 1390;
Roger Holmes, chancellor and prebend of Paul’s, was buried there 1400;
John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, 1399, buried on the north side the
choir, beside Blanch his first wife, who deceased 1368; Sir Richard
Burley, knight of the Garter, under a fair monument in the side of the
north walk against the choir, a chantry was there founded for him,
1409; Beatrix his wife, after his death, married to Thomas Lord Rouse,
was buried in the chapel of St. John Baptist (or Poultney’s chapel)
near the north door of Paule’s, 1409; Thomas Evers, dean of Paule’s, in
St. Thomas’ chapel, the new work, 1411; Thomas More, dean of Paule’s,
in the chapel of St. Anne and St. Thomas, by him new built in Pardon
churchyard, 1419; Thomas Ston, dean of Paule’s, by the tomb of John
Beauchampe, 1423; the Duchess of Bedford, sister to Philip Duke of
Burgoyne, 1433; Robert Fitzhugh, Bishop of London, in the choir, 1435;
Walter Sherington, in a chapel without the north door by him built,
1457; John Drayton, goldsmith, in Alhallowes chapel, 1456; William
Say, dean of Paul’s, in the Crowds, or Jesus’ chapel, 1468; Margaret,
Countess of Shrewsbury, in the Crowds, or Jesus’ chapel, as appeareth by
an inscription on a pillar there.
Here before the image of Jesu lieth the worshipful and right noble lady,
Margaret Countess of Shrewsbury, late wife of the true and victorious
knight and redoubtable warrior, John Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, which
worship died in Guien for the right of this land. The first daughter,
and one of the heirs of the right famous and renowned knight, Richard
Beauchamp, late Earl of Warwick, which died in Rouen, and Dame Elizabeth
his wife, the which Elizabeth was daughter and heir to Thomas, late Lord
Berkeley, on his side, and of her mother’s side, Lady Lisle and Tyes,
which countess passed from this world the 14th day of June, in the year
of our Lord 1468, on whose soul Jesu have mercy. Amen.