Westminster, and upon their suppression, when the conventual church was
converted into a cathedral, Henry VIII. conferred it upon the Bishop;
but the new bishopric being soon after dissolved, King Edward VI.
granted it to the Bishop of London, in whom the advowson still
continues. To this church the parish of St. Peter Cheap is united.
MAUDLIN’S _rents_, Nightingale lane, East Smithfield.†
MAUL’S _court_, Fore street, Cripplegate.†
MAXHAM’S _court_, Long alley.†
MAXIMUS _court_, Moorfields.†
MAXIN’S _court_, Moorfields.†
MAY FAIR, near Hyde Park; so called from a fair annually held there in
the month of May.
MAY FAIR _street_, near Hyde Park.
MAYFIELD’S _buildings_, near Rag Fair.
_Lord_ MAYOR. The chief magistrate of this metropolis was, before the
Norman conquest, called the Portreve, or Portgrave, which title in the
reign of Henry II. was changed for that of Mayor, a name by which the
chief magistrate of the city of Roan, the capital of Normandy, was then
distinguished. In 1215 the citizens obtained from King John a charter
which granted them the privilege of chusing this magistrate, which was
afterwards confirmed by several other royal grants; and the Mayors were
elected by the court of Aldermen, and a number of Commons summoned by
them, out of each of the wards; but the number thus summoned being
occasionally varied at the discretion of the Aldermen, gave great
uneasiness to the commonalty, for the removing of which the method of
election was altered by an act of Common Council in the year 1476, and
the present manner of electing by the Livery of the several companies
was established: by virtue of which the Lord Mayor is annually chosen on
Michaelmas day.
For this purpose the Liverymen on that day assemble in Guildhall, where,
by holding up of hands, they usually chuse two of the senior Aldermen
below the chair, who being returned to the court of Lord Mayor and
Aldermen, the senior is generally declared Lord Mayor elect.
Some time after, the Lord Mayor elect, accompanied by the Recorder and
several of the Aldermen, is presented to the Lord Chancellor, as his
Majesty’s representative, for his approbation, without which the person
elected has no legal authority to perform the office: but this being
obtained, he is on the eighth of November sworn into his office at
Guildhall, and the following day before the Barons of the Exchequer at
Westminster.
The ninth of November being the day on which the Lord Mayor elect enters
upon his office, the Aldermen and Sheriffs attend him to Guildhall in
their coaches, and about noon proceed from thence in their coaches to
the Three Cranes stairs, where the Lord Mayor, the Lord Mayor elect, the
Aldermen, Recorder, and Sheriffs, go on board the city barge, and
attended by the several city companies in their several barges, adorned
with flags and pendants, proceed by water to Westminster, where his
Lordship having taken the oaths prescribed, returns in the same pompous
manner to Black Friars stairs, whence the livery of many of the city
companies, preceded by colours and bands of music, march to their
stands, which are erected on both sides the streets through which his
Lordship is to pass.
The Lord Mayor being at length landed at Black Friars, he is preceded by
the Artillery company, which is followed by the company of which the
Lord Mayor is free. After them follow several others with their music,
flags, and streamers, and among the rest the armourers have a person
riding on horseback, completely dressed in polished armour. At length
march the Lord Mayor’s domestics and servants, followed by his Lordship
in the coach of state, and after him come the Aldermen, Recorder,
Sheriffs, Chamberlain, Common Serjeant, Town Clerk, &c. in their several
coaches and chariots, and in this manner proceed to Guildhall, where a
noble entertainment is provided, as there is also for the several
Companies at their respective halls.
The power of this great officer is at present much more considerable
than it was formerly, for he is not only the King’s representative in
the civil government of the city, but also First Commissioner of the
lieutenancy, perpetual Coroner and Escheator within the city and
liberties of London and the borough of Southwark; Chief Justice of oyer,
terminer and goal-delivery of Newgate; Judge of the court of wardmote at
the election of Aldermen; Conservator of the rivers Thames and Medway;
so that if any citizen or apprentice of London be carried away, and by
force detained on ship-board, he can, by his warrant, compel the Captain
or Master of such vessel to release such citizen: he is also perpetual
Commissioner in all affairs relating to the river Lea, and chief Butler
of the kingdom at all coronations, when his fee for that service is a
gold cup and cover, with a golden ewer.
The Lord Mayor upon public occasions wears either scarlet or purple
robes richly furred, with a velvet hood and gold chain or collar of SS.
When he goes abroad in his state coach, the Mace-bearer sits upon a
stool in the middle facing one of the windows, and the Sword-bearer upon
another stool facing the other, and when on foot his train is supported
by a page, and the mace and sword carried before him.
The principal officers for the support of his dignity, are the
Sword-bearer, the Common Hunt, Common Crier, and Water Bailiff, who have
all great salaries or perquisites, with each the title of Esquire. He
has also three Serjeant Carvers, three Serjeants of the chamber, a
Serjeant of the channel, two Yeomen of the chamber, four Yeomen of the
water side, a Yeoman of the channel, an Under Water Bailiff, six Yeomen
waiters, three Meal weighers, two Yeomen of the wood wharf, and an
officer called a Foreign taker. _Maitland._
_Lord_ MAYOR’S COURT. This is a court of record held before the Lord
Mayor, Aldermen, and Recorder, every Tuesday in Guildhall, wherein
actions of debt, trespass, attachments, covenants, &c. arising within
the city and liberties, of any value, may be tried, and actions from the
Sheriff’s court removed hither, before the jury be sworn.
This is also a court of equity, relating to affairs transacted within
the city and liberties; it giving relief when judgment is obtained in
the Sheriff’s court for more than the just debt.
This court is, in several respects, the best to commence a process in;
since an action, exclusive of stamps, may be entered for so small a sum
as four pence; and yet, though not proceeded upon, it never dies, as
those in other courts. Besides, a suit may be begun and ended here
within the space of fourteen days, for thirty shillings.
The juries for trying causes in this and the Sheriff’s courts, are
annually returned at Christmas by the several courts of wardmote, when
each ward appoints a sufficient number of persons to serve on those
juries for every month of the year.
This court has an office peculiar to itself, consisting of four
Attorneys, by whom all actions cognizable therein are entered; for the
execution thereof there are six Serjeants at mace. _Lex Lond._
_Court of Lord_ MAYOR AND ALDERMEN. This is also a court of record, in
which is lodged a great part of the executive power of the city, whereby
all leases and other instruments that pass the city seal are executed;
the assize of bread ascertained; contests relating to water courses and
party walls, adjusted; and the city officers suspended and punished,
according to the nature of their offences.
This court has a power of annually electing eleven overseers or rulers
of the fraternity of watermen; and a right of fixing their several taxes
with the approbation of the Privy Council; and likewise a right of
disposing of most of the places belonging to the city officers.
MAYPOLE _alley_, 1. Fenchurch street. 2. Holiwell street. 3. St.
Margaret’s Hill. 4. St. Olave street. 5. Wych street.
MAY’S _alley_, Wheeler street.†
MAY’S _buildings_, Bedfordbury.†
MAY’S FARM, Dog row, Mile End.†
MAY’S _yard_, Barnaby street.†
MAZE _court_, Tooley street.
MAZE _pond_, near Snow fields, Southwark.
MAZE POND _street_, Southwark.
MAZE _street_, Tooley street.
MEAD’S _court_, Bond street.
MEAL _yard_, Fleet market.
MEARD’S _court_, 1. Dean street.† 2. Wardour street.†
MEAT _wharf_, Mill bank.
MEDIFORD _court_, a handsome large court in Fenchurch street.†
MEETING HOUSE _alley_, 1. Greenbank.⸸ Johnson’s street.⸸ 3. Queen
street, Rotherhith.⸸
MEETING HOUSE _court_, 1. Black Friars.⸸ 2. Drury lane.⸸ 3. St.
Michael’s lane, Canon street.⸸ 4. Stony lane.⸸
MEETING HOUSE _yard_, 1. Broad street, London Wall.⸸ 2. Deadman’s place,
Southwark.⸸ 3. Devonshire square, Bishopsgate street without.⸸. 4. Five
foot lane.†. 5. Gravel lane, Houndsditch.⸸ 6. Little St. Helen’s,
Bishopsgate street within.⸸ 7. St. Michael’s lane, Canon street.⸸ 8.
Nightingale lane.⸸ 9. Old Horselydown lane.⸸ 10. Old Jewry.⸸ 11. Silver
street, Wood street, Cheapside.⸸ 12. Water lane.⸸ 13. Wentworth street.⸸
14. West lane.⸸
MEETING HOUSES. Of these there are above an hundred and twenty within
the bills of mortality. See a particular account of them under the names
of the several denominations of Protestant Dissenters, as BAPTISTS,
INDEPENDENTS, PRESBYTERIANS, &c.
MEGGS’ _Almshouse_, on the south side of Whitechapel, was founded about
sixty-five years ago, by William Meggs, Esq; for the reception of twelve
widows, each of whom has a room, and annually receives 5l. 4s. and a
chaldron of coals.
MELANCHOLY _walk_, St. George’s fields.
MERCERS, the first of the twelve principal companies, was incorporated
by letters patent granted by King Richard II. in the year 1393. The
members are not only exempt from quarterage, but upon their admission to
the livery, pay only a fine of 2l. 13s. 4d.
This fraternity is governed by a Prime and three other Wardens, with
forty Assistants, and 232 Liverymen.
MERCERS HALL, and Chapel, are situated in Cheapside, between the Old
Jewry and Ironmonger lane, on the spot where anciently stood an hospital
dedicated to St. Thomas of Acars or Acons. They were both destroyed by
the fire of London; after which they were rebuilt by the company. The
front, which is towards Cheapside, is adorned with a very handsome
entrance; the door case is enriched with the figures of two Cupids
mantling the company’s arms, and with festoons, &c. and over it the
balcony is adorned with two pilasters of the Ionic order, and a
pediment; with the figures of Faith, Hope and Charity, and other
enrichments.
The inner court is adorned with piazzas, formed of columns of the Doric
order; the hall room and great parlour are wainscoted with oak, and
ornamented with Ionic pilasters; and the ceiling with fret-work.
The chapel is neatly wainscoted, and paved with black and white marble.
MERCERS _court_, 1. St. Mary hill. 2. Tower hill. 3. Tower street.
MERCERS SCHOOL, in the Old Jewry, was, as well as their hall and chapel,
a part of the hospital of St. Thomas of Acons; but that hospital being
surrendered to Henry VIII. in 1531, it was purchased by the company of
Mercers, and the ancient school continued; the Master having a salary of
40l. _per annum_, with a commodious dwelling house, for which he is
obliged to teach twenty-five boys grammatical learning. _Maitland._
MERCERS _street_, Long Acre; so called from its belonging to that
company.
MERCHANT ADVENTURERS. See HAMBURGH MERCHANTS.
MERCHANT TAYLORS, the seventh of the twelve principal companies, was
incorporated by Edward IV. in the year 1466; and was anciently
denominated _Taylors and Linen Armourers_: but many of the company being
great merchants, and Henry VII. one of the members, that Prince in the
year 1503 re-incorporated it, by the name of, _The Master and Wardens of
the Merchant Taylors of the fraternity of St. John the Baptist, in the
city of London_.
This fraternity is governed by a Master, four Wardens, thirty-eight
Assistants, and 394 Liverymen, who upon their admission pay a fine of
20l. The company is possessed of a great estate, out of which they pay
to charitable uses, pursuant to the wills of the respective donors,
about 2000l. _per annum_.
This company has a spacious hall on the south side of Threadneedle
street. _Strype’s Stowe._
MERCHANT TAYLORS _Almshouse_, near the west end of Rosemary lane,
contains twenty-six apartments for so many poor widows, the relicts of
deceased members, who annually receive 6l. and a chaldron of coals each,
with a gown every third year. _Maitland._
MERCHANT TAYLORS _rents_, Moor lane.
MERCHANT TAYLORS SCHOOL, in Suffolk lane, Thames street, was founded by
the company of Merchant Taylors in the year 1568, for the education of
boys. It was anciently kept in a house which belonged to the Duke of
Buckingham, and was called the Manor of the Rose; but that edifice being
destroyed by the fire of London in 1666, the present structure was
erected upon the same spot.
The school is a long and spacious building, supported on the east by
many stone pillars that form an handsome cloister, within which are
apartments for the three Ushers. Adjoining to the school is a library
supported also by stone pillars, and well furnished with books. And on
the south of the library is the part called the chapel. Contiguous to
these is a large house appropriated to the use of the head Master.
The school consists of eight forms, in which near three hundred boys
have their education; an hundred of whom, according to the constitutions
of the company, are taught _gratis_; an hundred more at 5s. and fifty at
2s. 6d. a quarter.
The head Master receives from the company a salary of 10l. 6s. _per
annum_, and thirty shillings for water; besides the quarterage from the
scholars, which renders his salary very considerable. The first Usher
has 30l. a year, and the two last 25l. _per annum_, and all of them have
proper apartments.
Several of the scholars are annually sent to St. John’s College, Oxford,
which seems to have been founded by Sir Thomas White chiefly for their
use, as they have no less than forty-six fellowships in that college.
For the better inquiry into the proficiency of all the scholars, there
are four probations in the year performed only by the Master and Ushers;
the first on the 11th of March; the second on the 15th of June; the
third on the 11th of September; and the fourth on the 11th of December,
not being Sundays, and then upon the next day following.
For the farther satisfaction of the Master, Wardens, and court of
Assistants of the Merchant Taylors, the probations themselves undergo an
examination twice every year, by two judicious men well learned in
Hebrew, Greek and Latin, appointed by the Master and Wardens of the
company. Upon these days, which are between the 11th and 21st of March,
and September, the Master and Wardens, or at least two of them, are
present. The examination, which is performed in the chapel, begins at
six in the morning and ends at eleven. These are called the Doctors
days. After the examination is finished, the audience, which is
generally pretty numerous, returns into the school, where certain public
exercises are performed by the eight senior scholars, or monitors of the
school.
There is yet another public examination of the scholars of the upper
form, by the President and Fellows of St. John’s College, Oxford,
annually performed upon the 11th of June, previous to the election of
scholars to be made upon that day, to fill up the vacant fellowships in
that college: and after the public exercises are finished, the Dean of
the college addresses himself to the scholars, out of whose number the
vacancy is to be filled up, in a Latin speech suited to the occasion.
At this time an account is usually printed, containing the names and
order of the head scholars, their births, admission, and continuance in
the head form; and also an account of the subjects of the orations.
_Stowe’s Survey, last edit._ _Maitland._
MERCHANTS WATERWORKS for raising water. To this office belong three
engines, a windmill in Tottenham court road fields, and lately by two
water mills, turned by the common sewer, one at Tom’s coffee-house in
St. Martin’s lane, and the other in Northumberland street, late
Hartshorn lane, in the Strand. From these engines issue three main pipes
of six and seven inch bore, from which the neighbourhood of those places
are supplied with water.
This company, after defraying all charges, divide the profits every half
year. Their office is kept in Rathbone place, Oxford street.
MERMAID _alley_, in the Borough.*
MERMAID _court_, 1. Charing Cross.* 2. Great Carter lane.* 3. St.
Margaret’s hill.* 4. Pater noster row, Cheapside.* 5. Ratcliff Cross.*
MERRICK _street_, New Bond street.†
MESSENGER’S _rents_, Still alley.†
METCALF’S _court_, Jacob’s street, Rotherhith.†
METHODISTS, a body of Dissenters from the church of England, who have
several meeting houses in this metropolis: 1. At the Foundery, Windmill
hill. 2. Beech lane. 3. Bull and Mouth street. 4. Marybon fields, which
is more properly a chapel of the church of England, the service of the
church being performed by one of the principal founders of the sect of
Methodists. 5. St. Agnes le Clare. 6. West street, Seven Dials.
MEWS, the stables for the King’s horses near Charing Cross, is a place
of considerable antiquity, and is thus denominated from _Mew_, a term
used among falconers, signifying to moult or cast feathers; for this
place was used for the accommodation of the King’s falconers and hawks,
so early as the year 1377; but the King’s stables at Lomesbury, since
called Bloomsbury, being destroyed by fire in the year 1537, King Henry
VIII. caused the hawks to be removed, and the Mews enlarged and fitted
up for the reception of his Majesty’s horses, where they have been kept
ever since: the building going to decay, the north side was rebuilt in a
magnificent manner by his present Majesty, in the year 1732.
[Illustration:
_S. Wale delin._ _B. Green sculp._
_Part of the Meuse and S^t. Martins Church._
]
There is something in this part of the intended building of the Mews
very noble, particularly the center, which is enriched with columns and
a pediment, and the continuity of the architecture preserved. The
smaller pediment and rustic arch under the cupolas or lanthorns are
properly subordinate, but set so close to the balustrade that its
intent, as a gallery, is thereby destroyed. In the view given in the
print scarce half the front is seen: and over some old houses you see
the beautiful steeple and part of the portico of St. Martin’s church,
which has the general fate of our public buildings, to be so incumbered
with houses as to have no place to view them to advantage.
Upon viewing this edifice, it is impossible not to be offended at the
wretched buildings which form the other sides of the square. It is
indeed much to be wished that they were made to correspond with the main
building; this, if it were done, and a suitable regular entrance made
from Charing Cross, would make the royal stables one of the greatest
ornaments of this metropolis. Some of the finest horses in the kingdom,
both for the coach and saddle, may here be seen.
MEWS, Devonshire square, Bishopsgate street.
_St._ MICHAEL’S _alley_, by the side of St. Michael’s church, Cornhill.
_St._ MICHAEL BASSISHAW, a church on the west side of Basinghall street,
so denominated from its dedication to St. Michael the Archangel, and its
situation near _Basing’s haw_ or hall. A church dedicated to the same
patron has stood here from about the year 1140, but the last edifice
being destroyed by the fire of London, the present structure was erected
in its place. _Newc. Rep. Eccles._
The walls are strengthened with rustic work at the corners, and the body
well enlightened by a single series of large windows; at the east end,
where the top is terminated by an arch, the light is given by three
windows, one of them tall and upright, the two others circular. The
steeple is a tower crowned with a turret, from which rises a kind of
spire.
The patronage of this rectory appears to have been anciently in the
Bishop of London; after which it fell into lay hands; but at last came
to the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul’s, where it has ever since
continued, but is subject to the Archdeacon. The Rector receives 132l.
11s. _per annum_ in lieu of tithes.
_St._ MICHAEL’S, an ancient parochial chapel, which stood at the end of
Leadenhall street, where is now the row of houses fronting Aldgate; and
the remains of this chapel are still to be seen under the corner house
of Leadenhall street. They extend thirty-six feet from north to south,
and sixteen from east to west, and there is still standing the Gothic
arched roof, which is supported by handsome pillars; the whole built
with square brick, chalk, and stone. _Maitland._
_St._ MICHAEL’S CORNHILL, on the east side of St. Michael’s alley. We
find that a church was situated here, dedicated to the same holy angel,
so early as before the year 1133; but the last edifice being destroyed
with the other public buildings by the fire of London, the present
Gothic structure was raised in its stead. _Stowe._
The body is seventy feet long and sixty broad, the height to the roof is
thirty-five feet, and that of the tower an hundred and thirty feet. The
lower part of the tower occupies the center, and on each side there is a
regular extent of building. The principal door opens in the lower stage
of the tower, which rises with angulated corners from the ground,
forming a kind of base, terminated at the height of the body of the
church. The second stage, which is plain and lofty, has two tall
windows, one over the other, properly shaped for the style of the
building; this is terminated with a truly Gothic cornice. The third
stage is exactly in the form of the two others, only they are plain, and
this is covered with ornaments, the angulated corners are fluted, and
terminated by cherubims heads under a cornice: the plain face between
has four windows in two series. Above the cornice, over the uppermost of
these windows, runs a battlement on the plain faces of the tower, and
from the corners are carried up four beautiful fluted turrets, cased a
part of their height with Doric turrets; these terminate in pinacle
heads, from within which rises a spire at each corner crowned with a
fane. The author of the _Critical Review of the public buildings_
observes, that this Gothic tower is very magnificent, and justly
deserves to be esteemed the finest thing of that sort in London.
The advowson of this church was anciently in the Abbot and Canons of
Evesham; but in 1503 they conveyed it to the Drapers company, who
settled upon that convent a perpetual annuity of 5l. 6s. 8d. and that
company have been its patrons ever since. The Rector, instead of
uncertain tithes, has by act of Parliament a settled stipend of 140l. a
year.
_St._ MICHAEL’S CROOKED LANE, on the east side of St. Michael’s lane, in
Candlewick ward, receives its additional epithet from its vicinity to
Crooked lane. A church dedicated to St. Michael stood in the same place
before the year 1304; but suffering by the fire of London in 1666 was
soon after rebuilt.
It is a plain Structure built with stone, and enlightened by a series of
large arched windows. The tower, which is at the west end, is carried
square to a considerable height, and the uppermost window in the center
of each face, is ornamented with a head, and handsome festoons. From
hence, instead of a balustrade, is a range of open work of the Gothic
kind, with vases at the corners. From within this part, the tower rises
circular, diminishing in three stages, with an open buttress rising from
each corner of the square tower, to the top of the first stage; from
this buttress rises a large scroll to the top of the second, and a
smaller to the top of the third stage, above which rises a kind of short
round spire of a peculiar kind, it swelling out at the bottom, and then
rounding off, rises to a small height, where it is terminated by a gilt
ball and fane.