THe Next ward is called of Criplesgate, and con
sisteth of diuers streetes and lanes, lying aswell
without the gate and wall of the citie, as with
in: for first within the wall on the east parte
thereof, towardes the north it runneth to the
west side of Bassinges hal ward: and towards
the south it ioyneth to the warde of Cheape, it beginneth at the
west ende of S. Lawrence church, in the Iury, on the north side
and runneth west to a Pump, where sometime was a well, with
two Bucketes, at the south corner of Aldermanbury streete,
which streete runneth downe north to Gay spurre lane, and so to
London wall, which streete and lane are wholy on both sides of
this warde, and so bee some few houses on both the sides from
Gay spurre lane, by and against the wall of the citie, east to the
Grates made for the Watercourse of the channels, and west to
Criples gate. Now on the south side from ouer against the west
end of S. Lawrence church, to the Pumpe, and then vp Milke
streete
, south vnto Cheape, which Milkestreete, is wholy on
both the sides of Cripplegate warde, as also without the South
ende

231
end of Milkestreete, a part of west Cheape, to wit from the stan
darde
to the Crosse, is all of Cripplegate warde. Then downe
greate Woodstreete, which is wholy of this warde on both the
sides thereof, so is little Woodstreete which runneth downe to
Cripplegate.
Out of this Woodstreete be diuers lanes, namely on the east
side is Lad lane, which runneth east to Milkestreete corner, down
lower in Woodstreete is Loue lane, which lyeth by the south side
of S. Albons church in Woodstreete, and runneth downe to the
Conduite in Aldermanbury stréete. Lower downe in Woode
streete
is Addlestreete, out of the which runneth Phillippe lane,
downe to London wall. These be the lanes on the east side.
On the west side of Woodestreete is Hugen lane by the south
side of S. Michaels church, and goeth through to Guthuruns lane.
Then lower is Maiden lane, which runneth west to the North
end of Guthurouns lane, and vp to the said lane on the east side
thereof, till against Kery lane, and backe againe: then the saide
Maiden lane, on the north side goeth vp to Stayning lane, and vp
a part thereof on the east side, to the farthest north part of Haber
dashers hall
, and backe againe to Woodstreete, and there lower
downe is Siluer streete, which is of this warde, till yee come to
the east end of S. Oliues church, on the south side, and to Munkes
well streete
on the north side, then downe the saide Munkes well
streete
on the East side thereof, and so to Criples gate, doe make
the bounds of this warde, within the walles.
Without Cripplegate, Forestreete runneth thwart before the
gate, from against the North side of S. Giles church, along to
More lane end, and to a Posterne lane ende that runneth betwixt
the Towne ditch on the south, and certaine gardens on the North
almost to Moregate, at the east of which lane is a pot-makers
house, which house with all other the gardens, houses, and Allies
on that side the Morefieldes, till yee come to a Bridge and Cow
house neare vnto Fensbery Court is all of Criplegate ward: then
to turn backe again through the said Posterne lane to More lane,
which More lane with all the Allies and buildinges there, is of
this warde, after that is Grubstreete, more then halfe thereof to
the straightning of the streete, next is Whitecrosse streete, vp to
the end of Bech lane, and then Redcrosse streete wholy, with a
Q4
parte

232
parte of Goldinglane, euen to the Posts there placed, as a boun
der.
Then is Bech lane before spoken of, on the east side of the Red
crosse
, and the Barbican streete, more then halfe thereof, towarde
Aldersgate streete, and so haue you all the boundes of Criplegate
warde
without the walles.
Now for Antiquities and Ornamentes in this warde, meete
to be noted: I finde first at the meeting of the corners of the olde
Iury
, Milkestreete, Lad lane, and Aldermanbury, there was of
olde time
A pumpe at
the corner of
Aldermanbury
streete
.
a fayre well with two buckets, of late yeares conuerted
to a Pumpe, how Aldermanbury streete tooke that name, manie
fables haue beene bruted, all which I ouerpasse as not worthy the
accounting, but to be short and plaine, I say that this streete tooke
the name of Aldermans bury (which is to say a court) there kept
in their Bery, or Court hall, now called the Guildehall, which hall
of olde time stoode on the East side of the same streete not far from
the west end of Guild hall now vsed. Touching the antiquitie of
this old Aldermans bery or court, I haue not read other then that
Richarde Renery one of the Sheriffes of London, in the first
of Richarde the first
, which was in the yeare of Christ 1189.
gaue to the church of S. Mary at Osney, by Oxforde, certaine
ground and rents in Aldermanbury of London, as appeareth by
the Register of that Church, and is also entred in the Hoistinges
of the Guild hall in London: this old Bery court or hal conti
nued & the courts of the Maior & Aldermen were continually hol
den there vntil the new Bery court or Guild hal that now is was
builded and finished, which hall was first begun to be founded in The special character yͤ (LATIN SMALL LETTER Y WITH LATIN SMALL LETTER E ABOVE) does not display on all browsers and has been replaced by its simplified form.ye
yeare 1411. and was not fully finished in 20. yeares after, I my
selfe haue seene the ruines of the old Court hall in Aldermanbury
street
which of late hath been imployed as a Carpenters yard &c.
In this Aldermanbury streete bee diuers fayre houses on both
the sides, meete for marchantes or men of Worship, and in the
middest thereof is a fayre conduite made at the charges of VVil
liam Eastfielde
, sometime Maior, who tooke order aswell for
water to be conueyed, from Teyborne, and for the building of
this Conduite not far distant from his dwelling house, as also for
a Standarde of sweet water, to be erected in Fleetestreete, all
which was don by his executors, as in another place I haue shewed
Then

233
Then is the parish Church of S. Mary Aldermanberie, a fayre
Church with a churchyard, and cloister adioyning, in the which
cloyster is hanged and fastened a shanke bone of a man (as is said)
very great, and larger by thrée inches and a halfe then that which
hangeth in S. Laurence church in the Iurie, for it is in length 28
inches
Shanke bone
of a man 28.
inches and a
halfe long.
and a halfe of assise, but not so hard and stéele like as the o
ther, for the same is light and somewhat porie and spongie. This
bone is said to bee found amongst the bones of men remoued from
the charnell house of Paules, or rather from the Cloyster of Pauls
church
, of both which reports I haue some doubt, for that the late
Reyne Wolfe Stationer (who paid for the cariage of those bones
from the charnell to the Morefields) told me of some thousands
Reyne Wolfe
a graue anti
quarie, collec
ted the great
Chronicles
increased, and
published by
his executors.
of
Carrie loades and more to be conueighed, whereof hee wondred,
but neuer tolde mee of any such bone in eyther place to be founde,
neither would the same haue béene easily gotten from him if he had
heard thereof, except he had reserued the like for himselfe, being one
of the greatest serchers, and preseruers of antiquities in those
parts for his time. True it is that this bone, (from whence soe
uer it came) being of a man, as the forme sheweth) must needes
bee monstrous, and more then after the proportion of fiue shanke
bones of any man now liuing amongst vs. There lie buried in this
church Simon Winchcombe Esquire 1391. Robert Combar
ton
1422. Iohn Wheatly Mercer 1428. Sir William Estfild,
Knight of the Bathe Mayor, 1438. a great benefactor to that
church vnder a faire monument, he also builded their stéeple, chan
ged their old bels into 5. tunable bels, & gaue one hundred pounds
to other workes of that church. Moreouer he caused the Conduit
in Aldermanbery
which he had begun to be performed at his char
ges, and water to be conueighed by pypes of leade from Tyborne
to Fléetestréete, as I haue said. And also from high Berie to the
parish of S. Giles without Criplegate, where the inhabitantes of
those parts incastellated the same in sufficient cesternes. Iohn Mi
dleton
Mercer Mayor 1472. Iohn Tomes Draper 1486. Wil
liam Bucke
Taylor 1501. Sir William Browne Mayor 1507
Dame Margaret Ienings wife to Stephen Ieninges Mayor
1515. A widow named Starkey, somtime wife to Modie, Raffe
Woodcocke
Grocer, one of the Sheriffes 1586. Dame Mary
Gresham
wife to Sir Iohn Gresham 1538. Thomas Godfrey
Q5
Remem-

234
Remembrancer of the Office of the first fruites, 1577. Beneath
this church haue ye Gay spur lane, which runneth down to Lon
don
walle
, as is afore shewed. In this, at the North end thereof
was of old
Priorie or Ho
spitall called
Elsing Spittle.
time a house of Nunnes, which house being in great
decay, William Elsing Mercer in the yeare of Christ 1329. the 3.
of Edward the 3
. began in place thereof, the foundation of an Ho
spitall, for sustentation of 100. blind men, towardes the erection
whereof, he gaue his two houses in the parishes of S. Alphage and
our blessed Ladie in Aldermanberie neere Criplegate, obtaining
first the Kinges licence of Mortmaine, vnder the great seale of
England. This house was after called a priorie or Hospitall of S.
Mary
the Uirgin
founded in the yeare 1332. by V V. Elsing, for
Canons
Charterhouse
churchyard
without Al
dersgat
, & one
othet the like
without Ald
gate
.
Regular: the which W. Becam the first Prior there, Ro
bert Elsing
son to the said W. gaue to the said Hospitall 12. £. by
the yeare for the finding of 3. priests, he also gaue 100.SMALL LATIN LETTER S WITH TILDE ABOVE; ABBREVIATION FOR SHILLINGs. towards
the inclosing of the New churchyard without Aldegate and 100.
SMALL LATIN LETTER S WITH TILDE ABOVE; ABBREVIATION FOR SHILLINGs. to the inclosing of the New-churchyard without Aldersgate, to
Thomas Elsing his sonne 80.l. the rest of his goods to be sold, and
giuen to the poore. This house valued 193.l. 15. SMALL LATIN LETTER S WITH TILDE ABOVE; ABBREVIATION FOR SHILLINGs. 5.ď was sur
rendered the xi. of May, the xxij. of Henry the eight.
The monumentes that were in this church defaced. Tho
mas Cheney
sonne to William Cheney, Thomas, Iohn and
William Cheney, Iohn Northampton Draper Mayor 1381.
Edmond Hungerford, Henry Frowike, Ioan daughter to Sir
This text is the corrected text. The original is H (KL)William Cheney
, wife to William Stokes, Robert Eldarbroke
Esquire 1460. Dame Ioan Ratcliffe, William Fowler, William
Kingstone
, Thomas Swineley
& Helen his wife &c. The princi
pall Ile of this church was pulled down, and a frame of foure hou
ses set vp in the place: the other part of this church was conuerted
into a parish church of S. Alphage, and the parish church which
stoode neare vnto the wall of the Cittie by Criplesgate was
pulled downe and the plot thereof was made a Carpenters yarde,
with sawe pittes. The Hospitall it selfe, the Prior, and chanons
house with other lodginges, were made a dwelling house, the
church yard is a garden plotte, and a faire gallerie on the cloister:
the lodgings for the poore are translated into stabling for horses.
In the yeare 1541. Sir Iohn Williams maister of the kinges
Iewels, dwelling in this house on Chrismas euen at night, about
seuen

This text is the corrected text. The original is 352 235
seuen of the clocke, a great fire began in the gallerie thereof, which
burned so sore, that the flame fiering the whole house and consu
ming it, was séene all the citie ouer, and was hardely quenched,
whereby many of the kings Iewels were burned, and more imbe
seled (as was said). The Lord William of Thame was buried
in this church, and so was his successor in that house, Sir Rowland
Heyward
Mayor &c. Now to returne to Milkestréete, so called
of milke sold there (as is supposed) there be many faire houses for
wealthy merchants, & other: amongst the which I read that Gre
gorie Rokesley
chiefe say maister of the kings mints, and Mayor
of London in the yeare 1275.
Gregory
Rokesley
Mai
or of London
his house rent
xx. shillings
the yeare.
Parish church
of S Mary
Magdalen
.
the third of Edwarde the first (in
which office he continued 7. yeares together) dwelled in this milk
stréet
, in an house belonging to the priorie of Lewes in Sussex
wherof he was tenant at wil paying xx.SMALL LATIN LETTER S WITH TILDE ABOVE; ABBREVIATION FOR SHILLINGs. by the yere without be
ing bounden to rerparations or other charge: such were the rents
of those times. In this Milkestreet is a small parish church of S.
Mary Magdaline
, which hath of late yeares beene repaired, Wil
liam Browne
Mayor, 1513. gaue to this church 40. pound, and
was buried there, Thomas Exmew Mayor 1528. gaue 40. l. and
was buried there, so was Iohn Mitford1 one of the Sheriffes,
1375. Iohn Olney Mayor 1475. Richard Rawson one of the
Sherifs, 1476. Henry Kelsey, Sir Iohn Browne Mayor 1497
Thomas Muschampe one of the Sherifs, 1463. Sir William
Cantilo
Knight, Mercer 1462. Henry Cantlow Mercer mer
chant of the Staple, who builded a chappell and was buried there
in 1495. Iohn West Mercer Alderman 1517. Iohn Machel Al
derman 1558. Thomas Skinner Clothworker Mayor 1596.
Then next to this is Woodstréet, by what reason so called
I know not, true it is that of old time according to a decrée made
in the raigne of Richard the firſt, the houses in London were
builded of stone for defence of fire, which kind of building was vsed
for 200. yeares or more, but of later time for the winning of
ground those houses haue béene taken down, and houses of timber
set vp in place. It séemeth therefore that this stréet hath béene of
the later building, all of timber, (for not one house of stone hath
béene knowne there) and therefore called Woodstréet, otherwise it
might take the name of some builder or owner thereof.
Thomas Wood one of the Sheriffes in the yeare 1491. dwel-
led

236
led there: he was an especiall Benefactor towardes the building
of S. Peters church at Woodstréet end: he also builded the beauti
full front of houses in Cheape ouer against woodstréet ende, which
is called Goldsmithes row, garnished with the likenesse of Wood
men: his predecessors might be the first builders, owners, and
namers of this stréet after their owne name.
On the East side of this stréete is one of the prison houses, per
tayning to the Sheriffes of London, and is called the Compter in
Woodstréet
, which was prepared to be a prison house in the yeare
1555. and on the eue of S. Michael the Archangell, the prisoners
that lay in the Compter in Bredstréete were remoued to this
Compter in Woodstreet. Beneath this Compter is Lad lane,
or Ladlelane, for
Ladle lane,
corruptly cal
led Lad lane.
so I find it of Record in the parish of S. Michael
in Woodstreete
, and beneath that is Loue lane, so called of wan
tons. By this lane is the parrish church of S. Albon, which
hath the monuments of Sir Richard Illingworth Baron of the
Excheaquer, Thomas Chatworth Mayor 1443. Iohn Wood
cocke
Mayor, 1405. Iohn Collet and Alice his wife: Raffe
Thomas
, Raph and Richarde sonnes of Ralph Illingworth,
which was sonne to Sir Richard Illingworth Baron of the Ex
chequer, Thomas sonne of Sir Thomas Fitzwilliams, Thomas
Ostrich
Haberdasher 1483. Richard Swetenham Esquire, and
of William Dunthorne Towne Clearke of London with this
Epitaph.
Fœlix prima dies post quam mortalibus æui
Cesserit, hic morbus subit, atque repente senectus,
Tum mors qua nostrum Dunthorn cecidisse Wilelmum
Haud cuiquam latuisse reor, dignissimus (inquam,)
Artibus hic Doctor, nec non celeberrimus huius
Clericus vrbis erat primus, nullique secundus
Moribus, ingenio, studio, nil dixeris illi
Quin dederit natura boni, pius ipse, modestus,
Longanimus solis patiens super omnia gratus,
Quiq sub immensas curas variosque labores,
Anxius atteritur vitæ dum carpserit auras,
Hoc tetro in tumulo compostus pace quiescit
Simon Morsted, Thomas Pikehurst Esquire, Richard
Take,

237
Take, Robert Ashcombe, Thomas Louet Esquire, Sheriffe of
Northamptonshire 1491. Iohn Spare, Katherine daughter to
Sir Thomas Mirley knight, Iohn Collet, William Linche
lade
Mercer, 1392. Iohn Penie Mercer, 1450. Iohn Thomas
Mercer, 1485. Christopher Hawse Mercer, one of the Sherifs
1503. William Skarborough Vintner, Simon de Berching,
Sir Iohn Cheke knight, Schoolemaister to king Edwarde the
sixte
deceased 1557. doe lie heere. Then is Aldestréet, the rea
son of which name I know not: but it is at this present, repleni
shed with faire buildings on both sides: amongst the which there
was sometime the Pinners Hall, but that company being decayed
and not worth a pinne, it is now the Plaisterers Hall.
Not far from thence is the Brewers Hall, a faire house, which
company of Brewers was incorporated, by king Henry the sixt
in the 16. of his raigne
by the name of S. Mary, and S. Thomas
the Martir, the 19. of Edward the 4.
From the West ende of this Addle stréete, little Woodstréete
runneth downe to Criplesgate, and somewhat East from the Sun
Tauerne
against the wall of the Cittie is the Curriers Hall.
Nowe on the West side of Woodstréete, haue yee Huggen
lane
, so called of one Hugan that of old time dwelled there: he was
called Hugan in the lane as I haue read in the 34. of Edward the
first
. this lane runneth downe by the south side of S. Michaels
church in Woodstréet
, and so growing very narrow, by meane of
late incrochments to Guthurouns lane: The parish church of S.
Michael
in Woodstréet
is a proper thing, and lately well repaired,
Iohn Iue Parson of this Church, Iohn Forster Goldsmith, and
Peter Fikelden Taylor, gaue two Messuages and two shops,
with solars, sellars, and other edifices in the same parish and stréet
and in Ladle lane to the reparations of the church chauncell and o
ther works of charitie, the 16. of Richard the second.
The monuments heere be of William Bambrough the sonne
of Henry Bambrough of Skardborough, 1392. William Tur
nel
Waxechandler 1400. Iohn Peke Goldsmith 1441. William
Tauerner
Girdler, 1454. William Mancer Ironmonger 1465
Iohn Nash 1466. with an Epitaph. Iohn Allen Timbermon
ger 1441. Robert Draper 1500. Iohn Lamberde Draper,
Alderman, one of the Sheriffes of London, who deceased 1554. &
was

238
was father to my louing friend William Lambarde Esquire, well
knowne by sundry learned bookes that he hath published. Iohn
Medley
Chamberlain of London, Iohn Marsh Esquire Mercer
and common
Iames the fift
king of Scots
his head buri
ed in S. Micha
els church in
Woodstreet
.
Sergeant of London &c. There is also (but without
any outward monument) the head of Iames the fift king of Scots
of that name, slaine at Flodden field, and buried here by this occa
sion. After the battaile the bodie of the said King being founde,
was closed in lead, and conueyed from thence to London, and so
to the Monasterie of Sheyne in Surrey, where it remained for a
time, in what order I am not certaine: but since the dissoluti
on of that house, in the raigne of Edward the sixt , Henry Cray
Duke of Suffolke, being lodged and kéeping house there: I haue
béene shewed the same bodie so lapped in lead, close of the head and
bodie, throwne into a waste roome, amongst the old timber, leade,
and other rubble. Since the which time workemen there for
their foolish pleasure hewed off his head: and Launcelot Young
at this present mayster Glasier to her Maiestie, féeling a swéet sa
uour to come from thence, and séeing the same dryed from all moi
sture, and yet the forme remayning, with the hayre of the heade,
and beard red, brought it to London to his house in Woodstréet,
where for a time he kept it for the swéetnesse, but in the end caused
the Sexton of that church to burie it amongst other bones, taken
out of their charnell &c. I reade in diuers Recordes of a house in
Woodstréet then called Blacke Hall, but no man at this day can
tell thereof.
On the North side of this S. Michaels church is Mayden lane,
now so called, but of old time Ingenelane, or Inglane. In this
lane the Waxchandlers haue their common hall on the south side
thereof: and the Haberdashers haue their like Hall on the North
side at Staning lane end. This company of the Haberdashers, or
Hurrers of old time so called, were incorporated a brotherhoode of
S. Katherine, the 26. of Henry the sixt, and so confirmed by Hen
ry
the seuenth
the 17. of his raigne, the Cappers and Hat Mer
chants or Hurrers being one company of Haberdashers.
Downe lower in Woodstréet is Siluerstreete (I thinke of sil
uer smithes dwelling there) in which be diuers faire houses, and on
the North side thereof is Monkes well street, so called of a well at
the North end therof, where the Abbot of Garendon had an house
or

239
or Cell called S. Iames in the wall by Criplesgate, and certaine
Monkes of their house were the Chaplens there, wherefore the
well (belonging to that Cell or Hermitage) was called Monkes
well, and the stréet, of the well, Monkes well street.
The East side of this streete downe against London wall,
and the South side thereof to Criplesgate bee of Criplesgate
ward
, as is afore shewed. In this street by the corner of Monks
well street
is the Bowyers Hall. On the said East side of Monks
well street
be proper Almes houses
Almes houses
in Monks well
streetes
.
12. in number founded by Sir
Ambrose Nicholas
Salter Mayor 1575. wherein be placed 12.
poore and aged people rent free, hauing each of them vij. pence the
wéeke, and once the yeare each of them fiue sacks of ¦Charcoales,
and one quarter of an hundreth of Faggots of hisgift for euer.
Then in little Woodstreet
Almes cham
bers in little
Woodstreet
.
be 7. proper Chambers in an Alley
on the west side, founded for seuen poore people therein to dwel rent
free, by Henry Barton Skinner Mayor, 1416. Thus much for
the Monuments of this ward within the walles.
Now without the Posterne of Criplesgate, first is the parish
church of S. Giles
, a very faire and large church lately repaired af
ter The special character yͤ (LATIN SMALL LETTER Y WITH LATIN SMALL LETTER E ABOVE) does not display on all browsers and has been replaced by its simplified form.ye the same was burned, in the yeare 1545. the 37. of Henry the
8
. by which mischance the monuments of the dead in this church
are very few: notwithstanding I haue read of these following to
be buried there, to wit, Elianor wife to Iohn Writh Esquire,
daughter to Thomas Arnald Esquire, sister and heir to Richard
Arnald
Esquire, Iohn her sonne and heyre, Margaret VVrith
her daughter, Iohn Brigget, Thomas Ruston, Gentleman, Iohn
Talbot
Esquire, and Katherine his wife, Thomas Warfle, and
Isabel his wife, Thomas Lucie Gentleman 1447. Raph Roch
ford
Knight 1439. Edmond Watar Esquire, Elizabeth wife
to Richarde Barnes, sister and heire to Richarde Malgraue E
squire of Essex, Richard Gowre Esquire Iohn Gowre Esquire,
Frauncis Baromi of Millaine 1546. Sir Henry Grey Knight,
sonne and heire to Geroge Grey Earle of Kent, 1562. Reginald
Grey
Earle of Kent, Richard Choppin Tallow Chandler one
of the Sheriffes 1530. Iohn Hamber Esquire 1573. Thomas
Hanley
alias Clarenciaux, Herrald of Armes, Thomas Busby
Cooper who gaue the Quéenes head Tauerne to the reliefe of the
poore

240
poore in The special character yͤ (LATIN SMALL LETTER Y WITH LATIN SMALL LETTER E ABOVE) does not display on all browsers and has been replaced by its simplified form.ye parish 1575. Iohn Whelar Goldsmith 1575. William
Bolene
Phisition 1587. Williā Bolene 1575. Richard Bolene
1563. Robert Crowley
Uicker and Preacher there: all
these foure vnder one olde stone in the Quire, the learned Iohn
Fox
writer of the Actes and Monuments of the English Church
1587. The skilfull Robert Glouer alias Sommerset Herralde,
1588.
There was in this church of old time a fraternitie or brother
hood
Brotherhood
in S. Giles
Church
.
of our blessed Ladie, or Corpus Christi, and Saynt Gyles
founded by Iohn Belancer in the raigne of Edwarde the thirde,
the 35. yeare of his raigne.
Some smal distance from the East end of this church is a water
Conduit, brought in pipes of Leade frō Higberie by Iohn Mid
dleton
one of the executors to Sir William Eastfielde, and of
his goods, the inhabitantes adioyning castilated it of their owne
costes
Bosse in the
wall of S.
Giles church
yard
.
and charges, about the yeare 1483.
There was also a Bosse of cleare water, in the wall of the
churchyard, made at the charges of Richard Whittington some
times Mayor, and was like to that of Belingsgate: of late the
same was turned into an euill pumpe, and so is cleane decayed.
There was also a fayre Poole of cleare water neare vnto the
Parsonage,
Poole of
spring water.
on the west side thereof, which was filled vp, in the
raigne of Henry the sixt, the spring was coaped in, and arched o
uer with hard stone, and staires of stone to go downe to the spring,
on the banke of the towne ditch: and this was also done of the
goods, and by the executors of Richard Whittington.
In Whitecrosse stréete King Henry the fift builded one fayre
house, and founded there a brotherhoode of Saynt Giles, to bee
kept, which house had sometime beene an Hospitall of the French
order
, & being suppressed, the lands were giuen to the brotherhood
for reliefe of the poore, One alley of diuers tenements ouer against
the north wal of S. Giles churchyard, was appointed to be almes
houses for the poore, wherein they dwelled rent frée, and otherwise
were relieued: but the said brotherhood was suppressed by Henry
the eight
, since which time Sir Iohn Gresham Mayor purchased
the landes thereof, and gaue it to the maintenance of a frée schoole,
which he had founded at Holt, a market towne in Norfolke.
In

241
In Red Crosse stréete
Red Crosse
streete
. Libar S. Bu
tolphe.
on the West side, from Saint Gyles Church
yard
, vp to the said Crosse, be many faire houses builded outward,
with diuers Alleyes turning into a large plot of ground, of olde time
called the Iewes Garden:
The Iewes
Gardaine
, or
place to bury
their dead.
as being the onely place appointed them
in England, wherin to bury their dead: till the yeare 1177. the 24.
of Henry the second
, that it was permitted to them (after long sute
to the King, and Parliament at Oxford) to haue a speciall place as
signed them in euery quarter where they dwelled.
This plot of ground remained to the said Iewes, til the time of their
finall banishment out of England, and is now turned into faire gar
den plots and sommer houses for pleasure.
On the East side of this Red Crosse stréete, be also diuers faire
houses, vp to the Crosse. And there is Béech Lane, peraduenture so
called of Nicholas de la Beeche, Lieutenant of the Tower of Lon
don
, and put out of that Office in the 13. of Edward the third. This
Lane stretcheth from the Red Crosse stréete, to white Crosse stréete,
and is replenished, not with Béech Trées, but with beautifull hou
ses, of stone, brick, and timber. Amongst the which, was of old time,
a great house pertaining to the Abbot of Ramsey,
The Abbot of
Ramsey his
Inne.
for his lodging
when he repaired to the Cittie: It is now called Drewry house, of
Sir Drewe Drewry, a worshipfull owner thereof.
On the North side of this Béech Lane, towards White Crosse
stréet
, the Drapers of London haue lately builded 8. Almes houses
of brick and timber, for 8. poore Widowes of their owne Company,
whom they haue placed there Rent frée, according to the gift of the
Ladie Askewe, Widowe to Sir Christopher Askewe sometime
Draper and Maior. 1533.
Then in Golding Lane be also Almes houses,
Golding Lane
Almes houses
there.
13. in number,
and so many poore people placed in them Rent free, and euery one
hath two pence by the wéeke for euer. Of the foundation of Tho
mas Hayes
Chamberlaine of London, in the latter time of Henry
the eight
, he left faire lands about Iseldonne, to maintaine his foun
dation: Maister Ironmonger hath the Order of them.
On the West side of the Red Crosse, is a stréet called the Barbican,
because sometime there stood on the North side therof, a Burgh-Ke
ning
or Watch Tower of the citie, called in some language a Bar
bican
, as a bikening is called a Becon: this Brugh-Kening was by
R
the

242
the name of the Manner of Base court, was giuen by Edward the 3.
to Robert Vfford Earle of Suffolke, and is now pertaining to Pe
regrine Bartie
, Lord VVilloughby of Ersby.
Next adioyning to this, is one other great house, called Gar
terhouse
, sometime builded by Sir Thomas VVrithe, (or VVri
thesley
) knight, Alias Garter, principall King of Armes, second son
of Syr Iohn VVrithe knight, Alias Garter, and was vnckle to the
first Thomas Earle of Southampton Knight of the Gartar, and
Chancelor of England: he built this house, and in the top thereof, a
Chapel, which he dedicated by the name of S. Trinitatis in Alto.
Thus much for that part of Criplegate Warde without the wall,
wherof more shalbe, spoken in the subburbe of that part. This Ward
hath an Alderman & his Deputie within the gate. Common Coun
saile eight. Constables nine. Skauengers twelue. For Wardmote
Inqueast ffftéene, and a Beadle.
Without the gate, it hath also a Deputie. Common Coun
saile two. Constables foure. Skauengers foure. Wardmote Inquest
seuentéene, and a Beadle. It is taxed in London to the fiftéene, at
fortie poūd, and in the Exchequer, at thirtie nine pound ten shillings.

Notes

  1. Stow likely means John Hadle. (KL)

References