Survey of London (1633): Aldgate Ward

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THE second VVard
within the Wals on
the East part, is cal
led Ealdgate Ward,
as taking name of
the same Gate. The
principall street of
this VVard beginneth at Ealdgate,
stretching West to sometime a faire
Well, where now a Pumpe is placed.
From thence (the way being divided in
to twaine) the first and principall street,
(called Aldgate-street) runneth on the
South side to Lime-street corner, and
halfe that street downe on the left hand,
is also of that Ward.
In the mid way on that South side,
betwixt Ealdgate and Lime-street, is
Hart-horne Alley, a way that goeth tho
row into Fen-Church street, over against
Northumberland House. Then have yee
Brick-layers Hall, and another Alley,
called Sprinkle Alley, now named Sugar
loafe
Alley
, of the like signe.
Then is there a faire house, with di
vers Tenements neere adjoyning, some
time belonging to a late dissolved Prio
ry, but since possessed by Mistris Corne
wallies
, widdow, and her heires, by the
gift of King Henry the eighth, in reward
of fire puddings (as it was commonly
said) by her made, wherewith she had
presented him: such was the Princely
liberality of those times. Of later time,
Sir Nicholas Throgmorton, Knight, was
lodged there.
Then somewhat more west is Belzet
ters lane
, so called of the first builder
and owner thereof; now corruptly cal
led Billitar lane. Betwixt this Belzetters
lane
and Limestreet, was (of later time)
a frame of three faire houses, set up in
the yeere 1590. in place where before
was a large Garden-plot, inclosed from
the high street with a Brick wall, which
wall being taken downe, and the ground
digged deepe for Cellerage, there was
found right under the said Bricke wall,
another wall of stone,
Wall, gate and win
dowes of stone foũd under ground.
with a gate ar
ched of stone, and gates of timber to be
closed in the midst towards the street;
The timber of the gates was consumed,
but the hinges of iron still remained on
their scaples on both the sides.
Moreover, in that Wall were square
windowes, with barres of iron on either
side the gate: this wall was under ground
above two fathomes deepe, as I then e
steemed it, and seemeth to be the ruines
of some house burned in the reigne of
King Stephen
, when the fire began in the
house of one Aleward, neere London stone,
and consumed East to Ealdgate; where
by it appeareth, how greatly the ground
of this Citie hath beene in that place
raissd.
On the North side, this principall
street stretcheth to the West corner of
Saint Andrews Church, and then the
Ward turneth towards the North, by
S. Mary street, on the East side, to S.
Augustines Church
in the Wall, and os
by Buries marks againe, or about by the
Wall
to Ealdgate.
The second way from Ealdgate, more
towards the South, from the Pumpe a
foresaid, is called Fen-Church street, and
is of Ealdgate VVard, till yee come to
Calver Alley, on the West side of Iron
mongers Hall
, where sometime was a
lane, which went out of Fen-church street
to the middest of Limestreet: but this
lane was stopped up, for suspicion of
Theeves that lurked there by night.
Againe, to Ealdgate, (out of the prin
cipall street, even by the gate, and wall
of the Citie) runneth a lane South, to
Crossed or Crowched Friers, and then
Wood

Woodroofe lane, to the Tower-hill, and
out of this Lane West, a street called
Hart-street, which of that ward stretch
eth to Sydon-lane, by S. Olaves Church.
One other lane more West from Eald
gate
, goeth by Northumberland House
toward the Crossed Friers: then have ye
on the same side, the North end of Mart
lane
, and Blanch-axleton or Chappelton,
where that Ward endeth.
Thus much for the bounds: Now for
Monuments, or places most ancient and
notable. I am first to begin with the
late dissolved Priory of the holy Trini
ty
, called Christs-church, on the right
hand within Ealdgate. This Priorie was
founded by Matilda, Queene, wife to
Henry the first, in the same place where
Siredus sometime beganne to erect a
Church, in honour of that Crosse, and
and of S. Mary Magdalen, of which the
Deane and Chapter of Waltham were
wont to receive thirty shillings. The
Queene was to acquire her Church
thereof, and in exchange gave unto
them a Mill. King Henry her Husband
confirmed her gift. This Church was
given to Norman,
Priory of the Trinity of Canons regular.
the first Canon regu
lar in all England.
The said Queene also gave unto the
same Church, and those that served
God therin, the plot of Ealdgate, and the
Soke thereunto belonging, with all cu
stomes, so free as she had held the same,
and 25. l. Blanks, which she had of the
Citie of Excester, as appeareth by her
Deed, wherein she nameth the house of
Christs-church, and reporteth Ealdgate to
be of her Demains, which she granteth,
with two parts of the rent of the Citie of
Excest. Norman took on him to be Prior
of Christs-church, in the yeere of Christ,
1108. in the Parishes of S. Mary Mag
dalen
, S. Michael, S. Katharine, and the
blessed Trinity, which now was made
but one Parish of the holy Trinity, and
was (in old time) of the holy Crosse, or
holy Rood parish.
The Priorie was builded on a piece
of ground in the parish of Saint Katha
rine
, towards Ealdgate, which lyeth in
length betwixt the Kings street, by the
which men goe towards Ealdgate, neere
to the Chappell of Saint Michael to
wards the North, and containeth in
length eighty thee Elles; halfe quarter,
and halfe quartern of the Kings Iron
Eln, and lyeth in bredth; &c. The Soke
and Ward of Ealdgate was then boun
ded, as I have before shewn: the Queen
was a meane also, that the land and Eng
lish Knighten Guild
was given unto the
Prior Norman, and the Honorable man
Geffrey de Clinton was a great helper
therein, and obtained, that the Canons
might inclose the way betwixt their
Church and the wall of the Citie, &c.
This Priorie in processe of time became
a very faire and large Church, rich in
Lands and ornaments, and passed all
the Priories in the Citie of London, or
shire of Middlesex, the Prior whereof
was an Alderman of London, to wit, of
Portsoken Ward.
I reade, that Eustacius, the eighth
Prior, about the yeere 1264. because
hee would not deale with temporall
matters, instituted Theobald Fitz Iuonis,
Alderman of Portsoken Ward under
him, and that William Rising, Prior of
Christs-Church, was sworne Alderman
of the said Portsoken Ward, in the first
of Richard the second
. These Priors
have sitten and ridden amongst the Al
dermen of London, in Liverie like unto
them, saving that his habit was in shape
of a spirituall person, as I my selfe have
seene in my child-hood: at which time,
the Prior kept a most bountifull house
of meat and drinke, both for rich and
poore, aswell within the house, as at the
gates, to all commers, according to
their estates.
These were the Monuments in this
Church:
Iohn Tirell, Esquire.
Simon Kempe, Esquire.
Iames Manthrope, Esquire.
Iohn Ascue, Esquire.
Tho. Fauset of Salset, Esquire.
Iohn Kempe, Gentleman.
Robert Chirwide, Esquire.
Iohn Ashfield, Esquire.
Ioane, wife to Thomas Nucke, Gent.
Iohn Husse, Esquire.
Iohn Beringham, Esquire.
Thomas Geodwine, Esquire.
Ralfe Walles, Esquire.
Iohn Breton, Esquire.
Helling, Esquire.
Iohn Malwen and his wife.
Nicholas de Avesey, and Margery his
wife
.
Anthony, sonne to Iohn Milles.
Baldwine, sonne to King Stephen, and
Matilda, daughter to King Stephen, wife
to the Earle of Mellen.
Henry Fitzalwine, Maior of London,
1213.
Geffrey Mandevile, 1215. And many
other.
But to conclude of this Priory: King
Henry the eighth
, minding to reward
Sir Thomas Audley, Speaker of the Par
liament against Cardinall Woolsey, as ye
may read in Hall,1 sent for the Prior,
commending him for his hospitality,
promised him preferment, as a man wor
thy of a far greater dignity; which pro
mise surely hee performed, and com
pounded with him, though in what sort
I never heard,
Priory of the holy Trinity surren
dred and suppressed
so that the Priory, with
the appurtenances, was surrendred to
the King, in the moneth of Iuly, in the
yeere 1531. the 23. of the said Kings
reigne
. The Canons were sent to other
houses of the same order, and the Prio
rie, with the appurtenances, King Hen
ry
gave to Sir Thomas Audley, newly
Knighted, and afterwards made Lord
Chancelour.
Sir Thomas Audley offered the great
Church of this Priorie, with a ring of
nine Bels well tuned (wherof foure the
greatest were since sold to the Parish of
Stebunhith, and the five lesser to the pa
rish of S. Stephen in Coleman-street
) to
the parishioners of S. Katharine Christs-Church,
in exchange for their small Pa
rish Church, minding to have pulled it
downe, and to have builded there to
wards the street: But the parishioners,
having doubts in their heads of after
claps, refused the offer.
Then was the Priory Church and
steeple proffered to whomsoever would
take it downe, and carry it from the
ground; but no man would undertake
the offer. Whereupon, Sir Thomas Aud
ley
was faine to be at more charges, than
could be made of the stones, timber,
lead, iron, &c. For the workmen, with
great labour, beginning at the toppe,
loosed stone from stone, and threw
them downe, whereby the most part of
them were broken, and few remained
whole, and those were sold very cheap:
for all the buildings then made about
the Citie, were of Bricke and Timber.
At that time, any man in the Citie,
might have a Cart-load of stone for pa
ving, brought to his doore for 6. d. or 7.
d. with the carriage.
The said Thomas Lord Audley builded
and dwelt on this Priorie during his
life, and dyed there in the yeere 1544.
since the which time, the said Priorie
came (by marriage of the Lord Audleys
daughter and heire) unto Thomas, late
Duke of Norfolke, and was then called
the Dukes Place.
At this time the Inhabitants,
The inha
bitants of the Dukes place made them
selves Pa
rishionem of St. Ka
tharine Cree
Church
by lacke of a Church of their owne.
dwel
ling and abiding in the said Dukes place,
became utterly destitute of any Parish
Church, for resorting to Gods Divine
Service, and the administration of the
blessed Sacraments, which in the time
of their former blind zeale, the demoli
shed Priory not onely seemed for their
use, but infinite other thereto resorting.
In which respect, the Parish Church of
S. Katharine
being so neere, and standing
in the Coemitery or Church-yard of the
late dissolved Priory of the Holy Trini
ty
, whereby it was called Saint Katha
rine Christs Church
: they resorted thi
ther at the houres of Divine Service,
and benefit of the blessed Sacraments;
whereby (to speake rightly) they be
came a burthen to the said Parish, yet
well enough borne withall, in regard of
the benefit ensuing by them. So that
they carried the respect of equall Pari
shioners, exercising and accomplishing
all duties there, even as if it had beene
their owne proper Parish.
The long continuance of them in
this


this kinde,
The time of such continu
ance, did meerely make a custome of it in o
pinion.
although some much misli
ked, and giadly would have compassed
means for remedy therof: yet their pow
er not stretching so far, nor the way (as
yet fiting for their purpose; they re
mained contented against their wils, till
time would fit them with more conve
nient opportunity. Ground they wan
ted not, for raising a sufficient Parish
Church to themselves, neither did any
good will faile in them for the effecting
their purpose: but onely were curbed by
the lacke of strength, how and which
way to bring it about.
At length, perceiving their ground
(intended for so good a use to them
selves) aimed at for buildings to private
mens benefits, that so they might bee
frustrate of any such helpe, when occa
sion should in better manner shine on
them: Some of the best advised among
them, by petition sollicited the Lord
Archbishop of Canturbury, to make
their desire and intention known to the
Kings most excellent Majesty,
The Arch
bishop moved King Iames in the ju
stice of the suit.
which
most graciously he did. And the King
finding the case so truly honest and re
ligious, for new erecting a Church where
such necessity required, and where su
perstition had so long time formerly
beene harboured: not onely gave the
Lord Archbishop and the sutors both
thankes and commendation; but also
under his Hand and broad Seale, au
thorizable warrant for their proceeding.
The Lord Maior and Senate of Alder
men
having intelligence in the case, and
perceiving what an honour would re
dound thereby, first to God, who inspi
red them thereto, next to the King for
so Royally granting the suit, and then to
the City for furthering it to effect: not
withstanding contrary opposition by
them, who would have had them stil
continue, as formerly they were, with
out benefit of a parish Church of their
owne, it proceeded on with good and
prosperous successe, to the no meane ho
nour and commendation of the Lord
Maior then being, Sir Edward Barkham
by name,
The long decayed ruines of Trinity
Christ-Church
in the Dukes place.
the Court of Aldermen, and
state of this famous City, by whose
good meanes it is made a very beauti
full and comely Parish Church, it being
called in the time of re-edifying, Trini
ty Christs Church
, raised out of the long
decayed ruines, of Trinity Priory in the
Dukes-place.
On a faire Table hanging in the Chan
cell, are these Verses depicted:
AS David could
his eyes no rest afford,
Till he had found
a place out to the Lord,
To build an Altar:
So this man of worth,
The mirrour which
these later dayes brings forth
Barkham the Worthie,
whose immortall name,
Marble’s too weake to hold,
for this workes fame.
He never ceast
in industrie and care,
From ruines to
redeeme this House of Praier;
Following in this
the holy Patriaks waies,
That ready were
him Altars still to raise,
Where they receiv’d a blessing:
So this Lord,
Scarce warme in Honours seat,
did first accord
To this most pious worke,
in which is showne,
Gods blessing, and his thanks
met both in one.
The charge
the honourable Citie beares,
Whose bounty
in ful Noblenesse appeares
To acts of best condition,
in such wise,
That al things, bettering
by their ruine, rise.
Two noble faithfull
Supervisors then,
Amongst a Senate
of religious men,
Selected weare,
to whom the care they gave,
Generous Hamersley,
and Cambell the grave,
Each being a master-piece
of zeale and care
Towards Gods owne Temple,
fit for truths affaire.
Now at the blessed Foundresse
I arrive,
Henry the first did wive,
The Christendome she gave it
held the same,
Till James our Soveraigne
gave it his owne name.
And since I touch
Antiquity so neere,
Observe what notes
remarkable appeare:
Norman, the first Prior, was made an Alderman of London, and rode with them on solemn dayes, but in an Ec
clesiastical habit.
An Alderman of London
was at first
Prime Prior of this Church.
Falling to worst,
It is now rais’d
by encouragement and care
Of a Lord Maior of London,
which is rare,
And worth observing.
Then, as I began,
I end best with
the honour of the man.
This Cities first Lord Maior
lies buried here,
Fitz-Alwine,
This is mistaken by Mr. Stowe.
of the Drapers Company,
And the Lord Maior,
whose fame now shines so cleere,
is of the same Society.
By this time the worke is growne to
such fulnesse and perfection, as now no
thing wanteth but the windowes gla
zing, which was performed in this man
ner:
The maine and great East light in
the Chancell,
The win
dowes gla
zed, and by whom.
Sir Edward Barkham him
selfe undertooke, and effected it at his
owne charge, as expression testifieth in
the same window. The other sideling
by it, but inclining more Southerly, the
two Worshipfull Gentlemen, Master
George Whitmore,
These two Gentlemē were She
riffes then
and Master Nicholas
Ranton
, worthily performed. And the
third, standing Northerly in the same
Chancell; Mr. Walter Leigh, who had
beene a Serjeant at Armes to the Kings
Majestie, and now Sword-bearer of Lon
don
, did likewise at his owne charge
performe. The two Westerne lights
in the bottome of the Church, being (in
deed) very faire lights; the honourable
Company of Drapers effected the one,
and the Woodmongers worshipfull So
ciety
finished the other. Beside, the
two Southerly windowes, the one done
at the charge of Master Cornelius Fish,
Chamberlaine of London, and the other
by Mr. Waldron, then Marshall. So now
ye have the Church of Saint Iames com
pleat.
Onely there is a faire Monument in
the East end of the Chancell,
An artifi
ciall Sun, and the ingenious forming of it.
made in
resemblance of a golden Sunne, with
beames and rayes very ingeniously for
med, charactering these Verses in and
among them:
The rising here
of the cleere Gospels Sunne,
Is through the Senates
free donation.
The Globe of that bright Sunne,
the God of might,
Christ Iesus is the rising
and the light.
The heat the blessed Spirit
of Truth and Right:
And as these three,
the Globe, the light, the heat,
Are all one Sunne,
so Three One God compleat:
Thrice Allelujah
speakes about the rayes,
That Three in One
may onely have the praise.
This Temple received Consecration
the morrow after New-yeeres day, in
the yeere 1622.
The Right Honourable, Sir Peter
Proby
being then Lord Maior; and the
Right Worshipfull, Mr. Iohn Hodges,
and Sir Humfrey Hanford, Knight, She
riffes, and Aldermen.
The names of all the rest of the Ho
nourable Senators, all worthy Patrons
of this pious worke, and then present at
the consecration:
Aldermen.
This Sacred Structure,
which this Senate fames,
Our King hath stil’d,
Nor could I have said so much of
this new Church, but only by the firend
ly help and assistance of my honest well-willer,
George Cooper, Clerke there, who
under his own hand delivered the same
to mee.
The Parish Church of S. Katharine
standeth in the Coemetorie of the late
dissolved Priory of the holy Trinity, and
is therefore called S. Katharine Christs-Church.
This Church seemeth to bee
very old; since the building whereof,
the high street hath beene so often rai
sed by payements, that now men are
faine to descend into the said Church
by divers steps, seven in number. But
the Steeple or Bell-tower thereof hath
beene lately builded; to wit, about the
yeere 1504. For Sir Iohn Percivall, Mer
chant-taylor, then deceasing, gave mo
ney towards the building thereof.
Now concerning this Parish Church
of Saint Katharine Christs Church
,
The new building of S. Ka
tharin Cree-Church
.
com
monly Cree-Church, as formerly hath
been said, it had a descent downe into
it by seven steps or stayres. But being
now newly built, and made a very faire
Church indeed: the ascenting into the
Church is by foure or five degrees. Ve
ry gladly would I have delivered fur
ther satisfaction concerning the new
structure thereof: but I was answered,
they would admit no meddling ther
with, untill they had new built the Sree
ple, and other necessary occasions ther
to belonging.
The Monuments formerly mentio
ned in my last Edition of this Booke, I
finde (by their report) to remaine their
still, with the Tombe of Sir Nicholas
Throckmorton
, and the rest there named;
but I finde no newer, to be spoken of.
There be Monuments of Sir Thomas
Flemming
, Knight, of Rowles in Essex,
and Margaret his wife, 1464.
Roger Marshall, Esquire.
Wil. Multon alias Burdeaux, Herald.
Iohn Goad, Esquire, and Ioane his wife.
Beatrix, daughter to William Browne.
Thomas Malton, Esquire, sonne to Bur
deaux
, Herald.
Iohn Chitcroft, Esquire.
Iohn Wakefield, Esquire.
Anne, and Sewch, daughters to Ralfe
Shirley
, Esquire.
Sir Iohn Rainsford, Knight, of Essex.
Sir Nicholas Throkmorton, chiefe But
ler of England, one of the Chamberlains
of the Exchequer, Ambassadour, &c.
1570. who hath a faire Alabaster
Tombe, in the South side of the Chan
cell. His figure lyeth therein in Armor,
with this description ingraven by it:
Here lyeth the body of Sir Nicholas
Throkmorton
,
In the South side of the Chancell.
Knight, the fourth sonne
of Sir George Throlemorton, Knight.
The which Sir Nicholas was chiefe But
ler of England, one of the Chambelaines
of the Exchequer, and Ambassadour Lie
ger to the Queenes Majestie, Queene
Elizabeth
, in France. And after his
returne into England, he was sent Am
bassadour againe into France, and twice
into Scotland. He married Anne Ca
rew
, daughter to Sir Nicholas Carew,
Knight, and begate of her tenne sonnes
and three daughters. He dyed the 12.
day of February, Anno Dom. 1570
.
aged 57. yeeres.
Here lyeth the buried the body of Frances
Croke
,
A faire Tombe in the midst of the Chancel.
the loved and beloved wife of
Paulus Ambrosius Croke, of the in
ner Temple, Esquire. Shee was one of
the daughters and heires of Francis
Wellesborne
, Esquire, of Hanny in
the County of Berk, who deceased the 10.
day of Iuly, Anno Domini, 1605
. aged
22. yeeres.
VVell borne she was,
but better borne againe.
Her first birth
to the flesh did make her debtor,
The latter, in the Spirit
(by Christ) hath set her.
O3
Freed


Freed from Fleshes debts,
Deaths first and latter gaine.
Wives pay no debts,
whose Husbands live and raigne.
Here lyeth the body of Master Iohn Smith,
Esquire, Citizen and Mercer of Lon
don
,
who had two wives, the first named
Anne,
A faire stone pla
ted in the North Ile of the Quare.
the daughter of Fulke Mullert,
in the County of Surrey, Esquire, which
brought him one daughter, named Mary.
His other wife was Mary, daughter to
Sir Iames Hawes, Knight, and Lord
Maior of London, by whom hee had no
issue. Hee deceased the 24. day of De
cember, Anno Domini, 1594
. Aeta
tis suae, 63.
Gods blessings to the poore of this
Parish, by the gifts of Christian Bene
factors.
Mr. William Gilborne, Draper, by his
last Will and Testament, gave foure
Markes yeerely for ever, to be bestowed
in one dozen of bread, and to be distri
buted on every Sabboth day to the
poore of the said Parish: which said
summe is yeerely paid out of the rent
of his late dwelling house in the said
Parish. Also hee gave twenty pounds
more, towards the building of a Galle
rie in the said Church.
Mr. Iohn Smith, Mercer, in like man
ner, gave three pounds yeerely for ever,
out of his late dwelling house in the said
Parish, to be paid by the Church-war
dens for the time being, to and amongst
the poore of the said Parish, at every
Christmas yeerely.
Mr. George Lee, Sadler, gave twenty
shillings yeerely for ever to the poore,
out of his rent in the said Parish.
Mistris Dane, Widdow, gave eight
shillings yeerely for ever to the poore,
payed by the Ironmongers to M. Depu
tie in a greater summe.
Mistris Alice Bateman, appointed and
gave in her life time, the summe of 42.
pounds, 6. shillings, to the said Parish,
the profits thereof to bee distributed
yeerely to the poore for ever.
Mr. Iohn Bedow, Gentleman, gave
ten pounds, to be distributed in bread
yeerely to the poore.
Mr. George Hothersall, Merchant-tay
lor, gave foure and twenty shillings
yeerely for ever out of his Land, to the
poore of this Parish.
Mr. Iohn Waddis, Cooke, borne in
this Parish, gave to the poore thereof
three pounds, to bee distributed among
them in bread yeerely for ever.
Stephen Roberts, Cooke, gave also
foure and forty shillings yeerely for e
ver, to bee distributed in bread.
The bounds and limits of this Parish
are in this manner: From the Church
into the Church-yard, to the corner
westward, where turning East, they
crosse the Church-yard thorow a
great house, where sometime dwelt one
Master Wilford, but bought since by Sir
Henry Billingsley, and converted into di
vers tenements. So on into the street
to the Pumpe, and westward on to the
signe of the Rose, sometime the dwel
ling house of one Thomas Shepheard.
There crossing the street to the Smiths
house, his name Iohn Tatum, next to the
signe of the Moore-fields Tavern: thence
they goe backe East to the Pumpe, tur
ning at the corner West, to Harts-horne
Alley
to the middest, to Homes his house
and over against him, so backe to Bille
ter-lane
, to the house of Iohn Lemote,
crossing the street there, to the house of
Peter Rutt, Taylor. And so back to the
end of Billeter-lane, turning west to a
Bricke house, sometime in the custody
of Master Leese, but possessed now by
Widdow Dewen. There crossing the
street to the house next Master Leaning,
they goe East to the Church lane, and
then North, through a lane betweene
Heneadge house and the Dukes Place, to
Buries markes. Then West by Heneadge
house
, to the wall of Sir Iames Lancasters
house, sometime belonging to Sir Fran
cis Walsingham
: where they goe backe,
and crosse the way to London wall to the
compast place, where stands the Cities
Armes. Thence forward by the wall to
the outer part of Ealdgate, and so South
towards the Croched Friers, to the house
of Master Peers, where a piece of an Iron
Gun stands fixed in the ground.
Then backe, crossing the street to the
house of Mistris Smith, going forward
to the Bell Taverne, and so up to the
signe of the Rose, ending where Thomas
Shepheard
did dwell. My help here was
by


by Master Stephen Denison, Minister,
but more especially, by Iohn Beard,
Clarke.
At the North-West corner of this
Ward in the said high street, standeth
the faire and beautifull Parish Church
of S. Andrew the Apostle
, with an ad
dition, to be knowne from other Chur
ches of that name, of the Knape or Vn
dershaft
, and so called S. Andrew Vnder
shaft
, because that of old time, every
yeere (on May-day in the morning) it
was used,
A shaft or May-pole high
er than the Church Steeple.
that an high or long shaft, or
May-pole, was set up there, in the midst
of the street, before the South doore of
the said Church, which shaft when it
was set on end, and fixed in the ground,
was higher than the Church Steeple.
Geffrey Chawcer, writing of a vaine boa
ster, hath these words, meaning of the
said shaft.
Right well aloft,
and high ye beare your head,
Chawcer chance of dice.
The Weather-cocke with flying,
as ye would kill,
When ye be stuffed,
bet of wine, than bread,
Then looke ye,
when your wombe doth fill,
As yee would beare.
the great shaft of Corne-hill.
Lord so merrily
crowdeth then your croke,
That all the street
may heare your body cloke.
This shaft was not raysed at any time
since evill May day (so called of an in
surrection made by Prentises,
As hath bin at large be
fore de
clared.
and other
young persons against Aliens, in the
yeere 1517) but the said shaft was laid
along over the doores, and under the
Pentises of one rowe of houses, and Al
ley gate, called of the shaft, Shaft alley,
(being of the possessions of Rochester
bridge) in the ward of Limestreet.
It was there, I say, hanged on iron
hookes many yeeres, till the third of
King Edward the sixt
, that one Sir Ste
phen
,
Shaft or Maypole preached against at Pauls Crosse.
Curate of Saint Katherine Christs
Church
, preaching at Pauls Crosse, said
there, that this shaft was made an Idoll,
by naming the Church of Saint An
drew
, with the addition of under that
shaft: he perswaded therefore, that the
names of Churches might be altered:
Also, that the names of dayes in the
weeke might be changed, the fish daies
to be kept any daies, except Friday and
Saturday, and the Lent any time, save
onely betwixt Shrovetide and Easter. I
have oft-times seene this man, forsaking
the Pulpet of his said Parish Church,
preach out of an high Elme tree in the
middest of the Church-yard,
The said Elm tree his prea
ching place is lately ta
ken down.
and then
entring the Church, forsaking the Al
tar, to have sung his high Masse in En
glish, upon a Tombe of the dead to
wards the North. I heard his Sermon at
Pauls Crosse, and I saw the effect that
followed: for in the after-noone of that
present Sunday, the neighbours, and
Tenants to the said bridge, over whose
doores the said Shaft had laine, after
they had dined, to make themselves
strong,
Shaft or Maypole saved in pieces and burnt.
gathered more helpe, and with
great labour raising the Shaft from the
hookes (whereon it had rested two and
thirty yeeres) they sawed it in pieces, e
very man taking for his share, so much
as had layne over his doore and stall,
the length of his house, and they of the
Alley, divided amongst them so much
as had laine over their Alley gate. Thus
was this Idoll (as he tearmed it) mang
led, and after burned.
Soone after was there a commotion
of the commons in Norfolke, Suffolke, Es
sex
, and other shires, by meanes where
of, streight orders being taken for the
suppression of rumors, divers persons
were apprehended, and executed by
Marshall Law; amongst the which, the
Bayliffe of Rumford in Essex was one,
Bayliffe of Rum
ford
exe
cuted within Ealdgate for words spoken to the priest of the pa
rish.
a
man very well beloved: he was early in
the Morning of Mary Magdalens day
(then kept holy-day) brought by the
Sheriffes of London, and the Knight
Marshall, to the Well within Ealdgate,
there to be executed upon a Gibbet set
up that morning, where being on the
Ladder, he had words to this effect;
Good people, I am come hither to
dye, but know not for what offence, ex
cept for words by me spoken yester
night to Sir Stephen, Curat and Preacher
of this Parish, which were these: He as
ked me what newes in the Country? I
answered, heavy newes. Why, quoth he?
It is said, quoth I, that many men be up
in Essex, but thanks be to God all is in
good


good quiet about us: and this was all, as
God bee my Iudge, &c. Vpon these
words of the Prisoner, Sir Stephen to a
void reproach of the people, left the Ci
ty, and was never heard of since amongst
them to my knowledge. I heard the
words of the prisoner for he was execu
ted upon the pavement of my dore,
where I then kept house.
Thus much by digression: now againe
to the parish Church of Saint Andrew
Vndershaft
, for it still retaineth the name,
which hath beene new builded by the
Parishoners there, since the yeare 1520.
every man putting to his helping hand,
some with their purses, other, with their
bodies. Stephen Iennings Marchant-Tay
lor, sometime Major of London, caused
(at his charges) to be builded the whole
North side of the great middle Ile, both
of the body and Quire, as appeareth by
his Armes over everie piller graven, and
also the North Ile, which he roofed
with timber and seeled: also the whole
South side of the Church was glazed,
and the Pewes in the South Chappell
made of his costs, as appeareth in every
Window, and upon the said Pewes. He
deceased in the yeere 1524. and was bu
ried in the Gray Fryers Church. Iohn
Kirby
Marchant-Taylor, sometime one
of the Sheriffes, Iohn Garland, Merchant
Taylor, and Nicholas Levison, Mercer,
Executor to Garland, were great benefa
ctors to this worke: which was finished
(to the glazing) in the yeere 1529. and
fully finished 1532.
Buried in this Church, Philip Malpas,
one of the Sheriffes, 1439.
Sir Robert Dennie, Knight, and after
him Thomas Dennie his son, in the yeere,
1421.
Thomas Stokes, Gentleman, Grocer,
1496.
In the New Church, Iohn Nichell,
Merchant-Taylor, 1537.
William Draper, Esquire, 1537. Isa
bel
and Margaret his wives.
Nicholas Levison, Mercer, one of the
Sheriffes, 1534.
Iohn Gerrard, Woolman, Merchant
of the Staple, 1546.
Stepten Kyrton, Merchant-Taylor, Al
derman, 1553.
David VVoodroffe, Haberdasher, one
of the Sheriffes, 1554.
Stephen VVoodroffe his sonne, gave
100. l. in money, for the which, the
poore of that Parish receive two shil
lings in bread weekely for ever.
Sir Thomas Offley, Merchant-Taylor,
Maior, 1556. hee bequeathed the one
halfe of all his goods to charitable acti
ons, but the Parish received little bene
fit thereby.
Stephen Woodroffe the best Benefa
ctor to the poore in that Pa
rish.
Thomas Starkey, Skinner, one of the
Sheriffes, 1578.
Hugh Offley, Letherseller, one of the
Sheriffes, 1588.
These other Monuments I find there
beside:
Nicholai de Nate,
On a faire plated Stone in the Chan
cell.
Ragusini caro hoc in tu
mulo repulverescit, spiritus ad Celum
reversus reassumptionem carnis expectat.
Obiit die 1. Ianuar. 1566. A nativita
te vixit, An. 50. Mens. 7. dies 29. Au
gustinus amantissimo fratri moerens po
nere curavit.
Henry Man,
Before the doore within the Chan
cell.
Doctor of Divinity in the V
niversity of Oxenford, and sometime
Bishop of Man. Which Henry departed
this life the 19. day of October, An. Do.
1556
. and lyeth buried under this stone.
Memoriae Sacrum.
Resurrectionem in Christo hic expectat Io
annes Stowe
,
At the up
per end of the North Ile in the Quire.
Civis Londinensis:
Qui in antiquis Monumentis eruendis
accuratissima diligentia usus, Angliae
Annales, &, Civitatis Londini synopsim
bene de sua, bene de postera aetate meri
tus luculente scripsit, vitae{que} studie pie
& probe decurso. Obiit Aetatis Anno
80. die 5. Aprilis, 1605.
Elizabetha Coniux, ut perpetuum sui
amoris testimonium dolens.
Neere to this place,
A faire guilded plate in the wall.
lyeth buried the body of
Simon Burton, Citizen & Wax-Chan
dler of London, a good Benefactor to the
poore of this Parish. Who was three times
Master of his Company, and one of the
Governours of Saint Thomas Hospitall
and of the Common Councel of this Ward
29. yeeres. He had two Wives, Eliza
beth
and Anne, and had issue by Eli
zabeth
one sonne and foure daughters.
He deceased the 23. day of May, Anno
Dom.

Dom. 1593. being aged 85. yeers: In
whose remembrance, his loving Daugh
ter Alice Coldocke erected this Monu
ment.
Neere unto this Monument, lyeth Alice
Byng
in a Vault with her Father, Si
mon Burton
:
In the wal close by the other.
shee had three husbands,
all Batchelers and Stationers. Her first
was Richard Waterson, by him she had
a Sonne. Next him was Francis Col
dock
, by birth a Gentleman, he bare all
the Offices in his Company, and had issue
two daughters, Ioane and Anne, with
whom she lived 40. yeeres. Lastly, Isaac
Byng
, Gent. who dyed Master of his
Company. She dyed the 21. day of May
Anno Dom. 1616
. Aged 73. yeeres,
5. Moneths, and 25. dayes.
Neere unto this Monument, lyeth buried
the body of Dorothy Greswolde,
A hand
some small Monu
ment in the wall, South in the Quire.
the
onely Daughter of Roger Greswolde,
Citizen and Merchant-Taylor of Lon
don
: which Roger was the third Son of
Richard Greswolde, of Solyhull, in
the County of Warwicke, Esquire. She
was first married to Iohn Weld, Citi
zen and Haberdasher of London, who
was the second Sonne of Iohn Weld of
Eaton, in the County of Chester, Gent.
By whom shee had foure Children, viz.
Iohn, Elizabeth, Ioane
and Dorothy.
After his decease, shee married Hugh
Offley
, Citizen and Alderman of Lon
don
, and by him had only one Daughter,
named Susanna. After his death shee
lived a Widdow sixteene yeeres, and be
ing of the age of 60. yeeres, dyed in the
true faith of Christ, and hope of eternall
happinesse, the 29. of Iune, 1610.
Here before this place, lyeth buried the bo
dy of Margery,
In the Ile beneath the Quire and on the same side, a comely Monu
ment in the wall.
late the Wife of Hum
frey Turner
, Gent. who deceased the
10. day of December, 1607. being of the
age of 56. yeeres. As also the body of
her first husband, Master Isaac Sutton,
late Citizen and Goldsmith of London:
who deceased the 2. day of May, 1589.
By which Husband she had issue, 6. Sons
and 6. Daughters. All deceasing at the
time of her death, onely Ioane excepted,
daughter and heire of the said Isaac, mar
ried unto William Howpill, Gent.
Tempus & Patientia.
Death hath added to the ornaments
of this place, the blessed memoriall of
Edward Warner Esquire a worthy Citi
zen and Merchant of London, who de
parted this mortall life the 28. day of
October, 1628
. he was the second Sonne
of Francis Warner, of Parham in the
County of Suffolke Esquire, by Mary
his second wife, Daughter and Coheire of
Sir Edmund Rowse of the said County,
Knight. Which Francis Warner was
truely and lineally descended from the
ancient and generous Family of the War
ners
, who possessed a place of their owne
name at Warners Hall in great Wal
tham
in the County of Essex.
He dyed without issue, and made Francis
Warner
of Parham aforesaid Esquire,
his Nephew and next heire in blood, the
Executor of his Will, and principall heire
to his estate, who out of duty and affecti
on to the memory of his deare Vncle, hath
dedicated this Monument.
He had to his first wife Mary,
In the lower part of the Mo
nument.
daughter of
Master Aylmer of Risden in Hartford
shire
; And to his second, Margaret,
daughter of Master Iohn Cheynie.
At entrance into the Quire, and be
fore the Pulpet: Here lyeth buried Ioane Cartwright,
A faire Grave
stone, with the per
sons of him and her en
graven in brasse.
the
Wife of Abraham Cartwright, Citi
zen and Draper of London; who had
issue by him foure Sons and five daugh
ters. And dyed the 24. of November,
An. Dom. 1609
.
Gods blessings by Christian Benefa
ctors, to the poore of this Parish.
Master Stephen Woodroffe, Citizen
and Haberdasher of London, by his last
will and testament, bearing date the 20.
of April, 1576
. gave one hundred pound
in money, to the use of the poore of this
Parish: with which summe, and 20. l.
12. s. 4. d. more laid out by the said
Parish, they purchased a house, called
by the name of the White Horse in Holy-well
street, in the Parish of S. Leonard in
Shorditch
, in the County of Middlesex.
Out of which, is and hath been given to
the poore of the said Parish, every Sab
bath since his death, 2. s. in bread, and
so shall continue for ever, 5. l. 4. s. per
annum
.
Master


Master Simon Burton, Citizen and
Merchant-Taylor of London, by his
deed indented, dated the 14. of Ianuary,
1579
. hath appointed 32. s. to be given
yeerely for ever to eight poore Wid
dowes, or poore housholders of the said
parish: to bee issuing out of all that
Messuage or Tenement, set and being
in the said parish, late in the tenure or
occupation of Peter Hewes, and Edward
Hide
: to bee paid to the Church-war
dens of the said parish, for the use of the
poore aforesaid, every quarter 8. s. or
within 40. dayes after every quarter for
ever quarterly, to every of the said 8.
persons, 12. d. a piece.
Also, he gave unto S. Thomas Hospi
tall
, two Closes of Land or Meadow
ground, lying in the parish of Shorditch,
upon condition, that the Governours
of the said Hospitall, or their Assignes,
shall give unto 30. poore persons of the
said parish (wherof the Minister, Clark
and Sexton to be three of them) on the
21. 22. or 23. dayes of December, yeere
ly for ever, the summe of 26. s. where
of 20. s. to bee paid amongst the 30.
poore, by 8. d. apeece, and the other 6.
s. for a Sermon yeerely to be made for
ever in Lent.
Master Hugh Offley Citizen and Al
derman of London, by his last will and
testament, dated the 2. day of October,
1594
. and by an Indenture of the same
date, explaining his minde; gave to the
Parson and Church-wardens of the said
parish, and their successors for ever, an
Annuity or rent charge of 4. l. to be is
suing out of his Messuages or tenements
in Limestreet, London, and within the
said parish: then or lately in the seve
rall tenures of Thomas Offley his sonne,
Iohn Norman, Iames Boomer, Susanna Gar
ret
, Widdow, Thomas Blomefield, and
Widdow Allison, or their assignes: To
be paid yeerely at the Feast of the Birth
of our Lord God, and the Nativity of
S. Iohn Baptist, or within 14. daies next
ensuing either the said Feasts, by even
portions, with a distresse for non pay
ment therof: to the end & intent, that on
the first Sunday in every month, month
ly for ever, there shall be given to 12.
of the poorest persons inhabiting in the
said parish, to be named and appointed
by the Parson and Church-wardens, for
the time being, receiving the Commu
nion in the said Church, if any be there
celebrated, each of them 3. d. apeece
in money and a penny loafe of bread.
And to the Clarke monethly 4. d. in
money, and to the Sexton 3. d. in mo
ney, and one penny loafe, being the ad
vantage of the 12. d.
Also, he gave 5. s. a yeere, for ever
yeerely, to bee paid to such Parson or
Curate, as shall monethly minister the
Communion to the said poore people:
and to a learned Preacher for foure se
verall Sermons, to bee made in the said
parish Church at foure severall dayes
yeerely for ever, five shillings for every
Sermon.
Master William Hanbury, Citizen and
VVhite-Baker of London, by a surrender,
bearing date the 11. day of August,
1595
. did give unto his daughter, Mi
stris Elizabeth Spearing, wife of Master
George Spearing Merchant, certaine cop
py-hold land, lying and being in Stebun
heath
and Radcliffe, in the County of
Middlesex
. Vpon condition, that she,
her heires or assignes, shall pay to the
Parson and Church-wardens of the said
parish, for the use of the poore people
there, 52. s. yeerly for ever, at the Birth
of our Lord God and the Purification of
our Lady the Virgin: which (by con
sent of the parish) is bestowed among
the poore abroad, on Wednesday week
ly 12. d.
Mistris Alice Hanbury, widdow, by
her last will and testament, dated the
3. day of December, 1595. did give
unto the said Master George Spearing,
one tenement in the said parish, where
in William Bridges a Taylor then dwel
led: upon condition, that the said George,
his heires or assignes, shall pay to the
Church-wardens of the said parish, and
their successors, to the use of the poore
and impotent people there, 13. s. 4. d.
yeerely for ever, at the Feasts of the
Annunciation of our Lady, and Saint
Michael the Archangell, by even porti
ons: Or else to assure to the said parish,
the like value in some other place:
which summe (by consent of the parish)
is given in coales amongst the poore
yeerely for ever at Christmas.
Mr. Ralfe Carter, Citizen and Salter
of London, by his Deed indented, dated
the


the 22. day of October, 1576. hath gi
ven to divers Feoffees, between the Pa
rishes of Alhallowes in Lumbard-street,
and Saint Andrews Vndershaft, after the
decease of Alice his wife, one Messuage,
with a Garden, called the Halfe-moone
in East-Smith-field, in the parish of Saint
Buttolphs without Ealdgate
, to the end
that there should be distributed to the
poore in either Parish, in bread every
Sunday weekely for ever, twelve pence,
and thirty shillings in Coales to eyther
parish, betweene Midsummer and
Christmasse for ever.
Mistris Margaret Moore, widdow, late
wife of William Moore, Citizen and Mer
chant-taylor of London, by her deed in
dented, dated the tenth day of May,
1583
. hath given to divers Feoffees of
the said parish, one messuage, which she
had by the gift of her said husband, and
situate in the same parish, now in the
occupation of Thomas Fitall; to the end
that there should be distributed to the
poore there yeerely for ever, 20. shil
lings, at the discretion of the Parson and
Churchwardens: And to a Preacher to
make foure Sermons quarterly, every
yeere for ever 20. shillings.
Dame Mary Ramsey, late wife to Sir
Thomas Ramsey
, Knight, Alderman and
Lord Maior of London, by her Testa
ment and last Will, dated the 19. of
Jan. 1596
. gave to the L. Maior, Com
munalty and Citizens of London, one
messuage or tenement, situated in the
Parish of Saint Peter the poore, in Broad
street
Ward
, London, then or late in the
occupation of Richard Hull, Citizen
and Draper; to the end that they should
yeerely (after her decease) pay to the
Parson and Churchwardens of this Pa
rish, forty shillings, to be distributed a
mong the poore of the said Parish, at
the discretion of the Parson and the
Churchwardens then being, and by di
rection and allowance of two of the
chiefest Parishioners: And to the like
use for ever, twenty shillings more
yeerely for ever, after decease of one E
lizabeth Worley
, in the County of North
hampton
, to be paid and distributed in
the like manner.
Mr. Iohn Hide, Citizen and Merchant
Taylor of London, by his last Will and
Testament, dated the 8. day of Septem
ber
, 1604
. did give unto the Parson
and Church-wardens of the said Parish
and their successors, a yeerely rent of
Coles, to be issuing out of all his Lands,
Tenements and Hereditaments, in the
Precinct of the Minories without Eald
gate, London
, to be paid yeerely at the
Feast of the Nativity of S. Iohn Baptist
for ever, or within 30 daies next ensuing
with distresse for non-payment thereof:
To the intent that there should be be
stowed yeerely in old clift Char-coles,
30. shillings thereof, and one other 12.
d. yeerely given to some trusty body, to
see the due measuring thereof: And the
same coale to be delivered to the poore
of the same Parish, alwaies two dayes
before S. Michael the Archangel yeerly,
by advice of the Parson and Church-wardens
for the time being, and 3. or 4.
Ancients of the said parish.
Mr. Edmond Hill, Citizen and Dra
per of London, by his testament and last
will, dated the 5. day of August, 1609.
did give and bequeath to the Church-wardens
and parishioners of this parish
the summe of 52. pounds, to be imploy
ed by the parishioners, as in a stocke for
ever, and the benefit thereby arising,
to bee given weekely to the poore in
bread.
Master Laurence Overton, Citizen
and Mercer of London, by his testament
and last will, dated the 3. day of Sept.
1612
. did give and bequeath to the
poore of the said parish (whereof then
he was a parishioner) the summe of 20.
pounds, to be distributed at the discre
tion of the Churchwardens for the time
being, and his Executors.
Their bounds and limits are thus:
First they goe East, so far as the house
of one Allen Barker, Grocer, over against
Billeter lane end, and so North all the
side of the high street, to Mr. Francis
Philips
house, over against the Kings
head
Taverne
, West. There, on the
South side of the high street, beginning
at the Italian Ordinary of Ieronymo di
Soldi
, they turne East to one Thomas
George
s
, two houses beyond the Pewter
Pot
. Then they turne backe into Lime
street
, South, on both sides the way, so
far as the house of Nicholas Hobland,
Merchant stranger, on the one side, and
William

William Ruddock, Taylor, on the other.
Returning backe, they crosse the way
into S. Mary Axe, all the West side
throughout the whole street, with some
certaine houses over against London wall
towards Bishopsgate, the last whereof is
the dwelling house of Griffin Martin,
Trumpeter. So turning backe into S.
Mary Axe
, they goe upon the East side,
from the house of Master Iohn Holding,
commonly called Fletchers hall, and so
on to Master George Sares, adjoyning to
the Church, and there end. Master Hen
ry Mason
is Parson there, but my friend
ly furtherance was by Thomas Iohnson the
Clarke.
Now downe St. Mary street, by the
West end of the Church towards the
North,
S. Mary street.
stand divers faire houses for
Merchants, and other: namely, one
faire great house builded by Sir William
Pickering
the father, possessed by Sir
William
his Sonne,
Pickering house.
and since by Sir Ed
ward Wootton
of Kent. North from this
place is the Fletchers hall, and so downe
to the corner of that street over against
London wall; and againe Eastwards to a
faire house lately new builded, partly
by Mr. Robert Beale, one of the Clerkes
of the Councell.
Then come you to the Papey,
Papey a brother hood or Hospitall for poore Priests.
a proper
house, wherein sometime was kept a
Fraternity or brother-hood of S. Chari
ty
, and Saint Iohn Evangelist, called the
Papey, or poore impotent Priests, (for
in some language, Priests are called
Papes) founded in the yeere, 1430. by
William Oliver, William Barnabie and
Iohn Stafford Chaplens, or Chauntry
Priests in London, for a Master, two
Wardens, &c. Chaplens, Chauntry
Priests, Conducts, and other brethren
and sisters, that should be admitted in
to the Church of Saint Augustine Papey
in the wall. The brethren of this house
becomming lame, or otherwise into
great poverty, were here relieved, as to
have Chambers, with certaine allow
ance of bread, drinke, and cole, and one
old man and his wife to see them served
and to keepe the house cleane. This
brotherhood (amongst others) was sup
pressed in the reigne of Edward the sixt,
since the which time, in this house hath
been lodged Master Morris of Essex, Sir
Francis Walsingham
, principall Secretary
to her Majesty, Master Barret of Essex,
&c.
Then next is one great house, large
of roomes, faire courts and garden plots,
sometime pertaining to the Bassets, since
that, to the Abbots of Bury in Suffolke,
and therefore called Buries markes, cor
ruptly, Bevis markes, and since the dis
solution of the Abby of Bury, to Thomas
Heneage
the father, and to Sir Thomas
his sonne. Then next unto it, is the be
fore spoken Priory of the holy Trinity,
to wit, the West and North part there
of, which stretcheth up to Ealdgate,
where we first begun.
Now in the second way from Eald-gate,
more toward the South, from the
VVell or Pumpe aforesaid,
Fenne Church street.
lyeth Fenne-Church
street
, on the right hand where
of, somewhat west from the South end
of Belzetters lane, is the Ironmongers hall:
which company was incorporated in
the third of Edward the fourth: Richard
Fleming
was their first Master, Nicholas
Marshall
and Richard Coxe were Custos
or VVardens. And on the left hand or
South side (even by the gate and wall
of the City) runneth downe a lane to
the Tower-hill the South part whereof
is called Woodroffe lane,
Woodroffe lane by the wall of the Tower hil.
and out of this
lane toward the VVest, a street called
Hart-street. In this street, at the South-east corner thereof, sometime stood one
house of Crouched or (Crossed) Fryers
founded by Ralph Hosier; and VVilliam
Sabernes
, about the yeere, 1298. Stephen
the 10. Prior of the Holy Trinity in
London, granted three tenements for
13. s. 8. d. by the yeere, unto the said
Ralph Hosiar and VVilliam Sabernes, who
afterwards became Fryers of S. Crosse:
Adam
was the first Prior of that house.
These Fryers founded their house in the
place of certaine tenements, purchased
of Richard Wimblush, the 12. Prior of the
Holy Trinity, in the yeere, 1319. which
was confirmed by Edward the third, the
seventeenth of his reigne, valued at 52. l. 13. s. 4. d. surrendred the 12. of
November
, the 30. of Henry the eighth.
In this house was buried Master Iohn
Tirres
.
Nicholas the son of VVilliam Kyriell,
Esquire.
Sir Thomas Mellington, Baron of VVe
mese
, and Dame Elizabeth his VVife,
daughter


daughter of Wil. Botear, Baron of Wome.
Ro. Mellington, Esquire, and Elizabeth
his wife, daughter to Ferreis of Ousley.
Dame Isabel, wife to William Edwards,
Maior of London, 1471.
Wil. Norborow, and Elizabeth his wife.
Wil. Norborow, and Beatrix his wife.
William Brosked, Esquire.
Sir Tho. Asseldey, Knight, Clerke of the
Crowne, Submarshall of England, and
Justice of the Shire of Middlesex.
Iohn Rest, Grocer, Maior of Lond. 1516.
Sir Iohn Skevington, Knight, Merchant
taylor, Sheriffe, 1520.
Sir Iohn Milborne, Draper, Maior in
the yeere 1521. was buried there, but
removed since to S. Edmonds in Lum
bard street
.
Sir Rice Griffith, beheaded on the
Tower hill, 1531.
In place of this Church is now a Car
penters yard, a Tennis-court, and such
like: the Friers Hall was made a glasse-house,
or house wherein was made glasse
of divers sorts to drinke in; which house
in the yeere 1575. on the 4. of Septemb.
burst out into a terrible fire,
The glasse house bur
ned.
where be
ing practised all meanes possible to
quench it, notwithstanding, as the same
house in a small time before, had con
sumed a great quantity of wood by ma
king of glasses, now it selfe, having with
in it about 40000. billets of wood, was
also consumed to the stone wals, which
neverthelesse greatly hindred the fire
from spreading any further.
Adjoyning unto this Friers Church,
Almes houses by Crossed Fri
ers
.

by the East end therof in Woodroffe lane,
towards the Tower hill, are certaine
proper Almes-houses,
Testamēt of Sir Iohn Milborne.
14. in number,
builded of bricke & timber, founded by
Sir Ioh. Milborn, Draper, sometime Mai
or, 1521. wherein be placed 13. aged
poore men and their wives, if they have
wives: these have their dwelling rent-free,
and 2. s. 4. d. apiece, the first day
of every moneth for ever.
Whereas there is mention made by
Mr. Stow (in this his Survey) of a month
ly pension of 4. s. to belong to a foure
teenth house, being one of the said alms-houses;
also of certaine bread & coales,
to be delivered to the Parishes of S. Ed
mund
in Lumbard street
and S. Michael
in Cornehill
: and of divers messuages
and garden-plots in the Parish of S. O
lave
in Hart-street, London, mentioned to
be given to the Company of Drapers,
for the performance thereof: Vpon a
perfect view of the Will it selfe, by
which the said Almes-houses were gi
ven to the Company of Drapers, and
upon other writings touching the same;
And withall, upon diligent and paine
full search touching that matter; I find
that Mr. Stowe was much deceived or
mistaken in that matter; and that there
was no such bread and coales given to
those Parishes, neither at any time had
the Company and such houses or gar
dens, whereby to performe the same.
But the Company, by the Will, had
lands given them in other Parishes,
(which now they doe enjoy) onely to
maintaine the Almes-houses, and for
payment of the pensions there, and to
pay some small summes of money to the
Officers and others of that Company,
for the looking to the houses, and paines
taking in paying the pensions, according
as by the Will is limited, and for no o
ther use or purpose.
Next to these Almes-houses is the
Lord Lumleyes house, builded in the
time of King Henry the 8. by Sir Thomas
Wiat
the father, upon one plot of ground
of late pertaining to the foresaid Cros
sed Friers
, where part of their house
stood: And this is the farthest part of
Ealdgate Ward toward the South, and
ioyneth to the Tower hill. The other
side of that Lane, over against the Lord
Lumleys house
, on the wall side of the
Citie, is now for the most part (or alto
gether) builded, even to Ealdgate.
Then have ye on the South side of
Fenne-Church street, over against the wall
or Pumpe, amongst other faire and
large-builded houses, one that some
time belonged to the Prior of Monte
Ioves
,
Prior of Horne-Church in Essex.
or Monasterie Cornute, a Cell to
Monte Ioves beyond the Seas. In Essex
it was the Priors Inne, when he repaired
to this Citie. Then a Lane that lea
deth downe by Northumberland house,
P
towards


towards the Crossed Friers, as is afore
shewed.
This Northumberland house, in the
Parish of Saint Katharine Coleman, be
longed to Henry Percy, Earle of Nor
thumberland
, in the 33. of Hen. the 6. but
of late being left by the Earles, the gar
dens thereof were made into Bowling
alleys, and other parts into Dicing-hou
ses, common to all commers for their
money, there to bowle and hazard. But
now of late, so many Bowling-Alleys,
and other houses for unlawfull gaming,
have beene raised in other parts of the
Citie and the Suburbs, that this their
ancient and onely patron of misrule, is
left and forsaken of her Gamesters, and
therefore turned into a number of great
rents, small cottages, for strangers and
others.
At the East end of this lane, in the
way from Ealdgate toward the Crossed
Friers
, of old time, were certaine tene
ments, called the Poore Iurie, of Iewes
dwelling there.
Next unto this Northumberland house,
is the Parish Church of S. Katharine,
called Coleman
; which addition of Cole
man
, was taken of a great Haw yard, or
Garden, of old time called Coleman haw,
in the parish of the Trinity, now called
Christs-Church, and in the Parish of S.
Katharine, and All Saines, called Coleman
Church
.
Monuments in this Church, I finde
none recorded by Mr. Stowe; and upon
my view, these were the most remarka
ble that I found there:
Here lyeth the body of Henry Webbe,
In the Northeast end of the Chancell, an ancient Tombe.
E
squire, Gentleman Vsher to King Henry
the eighth
. And here lyeth also Barbara
his wife. She dyed the 5. day of Februa
rie, An. Dom. 1552
. And he the last
day of March, 1553
.
Here lyeth the body of Sir Henry Billings
ley
,
A faire stone on the groũd by the Cõ
munion Table.
Knight, Alderman and Lord Maior
of London, who dyed the 22. day of No
vember, An. Dom. 1606
. And also
the body of Elizabeth his first wife, who
departed this life the 29. of Iuly, 1577.
Here lyeth the body buried,
A small A
labaster Monumēt fixed in the wall.
of Elizabeth,
late wife to Henry Billingsley, one of
the Queenes Majesties Customers in the
Port of London, who dyed the 29. day
of Iuly, An. Dom. 1577
.
In obitum ejus.
Stat sua cuique dies,
atque ultima funeris hora,
Cum Deus hinc & Mors
insidiosa vocant.
Nec tibi, vel pietas tua,
velforma Elizabetha,
Praesidium fate
ne trahereris erat,
Occidis exactis terris
cum conjuge lustris,
At septem vitae
lustra fuêre tua.
Fecerat & proles
jam te numerosa parentem,
Filiolae trinae
caetera turba mores,
Vndecimo in partu,
quum Mors accessit & una
Matrem te & Patrem
sustulit undecimum,
Scilicet ex mundo,
ex terrena faece malisque
Sustulit, at superis
reddidit atque Deo,
Est testis sincera fides,
testis tua virtus.
Grata viro virtus,
grata fidesque Deo,
Hic charitas dormit,
At the doore in
to the Chancell, a very faire stone on the ground.
nominata beata Beatrix,
Atque Dei donum,
quoniam fuit optima Conjux.
Filia Georgii Cotton,
Arm. Vxor Roberti
Barners
.
Obiit 5. Novēb.
Anno Dom.
1616
.
I had rather bee a Doore-keeper in the
house of my God, than to dwell in the
Palaces of Princes.
An Epitaph on the death of the
Noble, vertuous, and charitable Gen
tlewoman, Mistris Barners, whose
body lyeth under the stone
you tread on.
IN ancient times,
In the north wall just a
gainst the Grave
stone.
the friends surviving gave
Some rich memoriall
to the dead friends grave,
Gold, Pearles or Gemmes,
which custome did intend,
Our riches ought
to wait upon our friend,
In


In life and death.
O blessed Ages, when
Men parted fortunes,
and not fortunes men!
But now perverted
are our present ends,
That (for wealth) sell
the fame of living friends:
The dead we live by,
now can scant afford
The rites and sacrifice
of one good word:
Of which, lest I be one,
though I can bring
(For worthy Obsequie)
no precious thing;
My gratitude
presents unto her Hearse,
My teares for Balme;
For Offering, my sad Verse.
Give leave then, griefe,
let my drown’d Muse declare
What she that’s dead was,
unto them that are.
The Rule and Index
to finde all the good
That ever Heaven dealt
upon woman-hood:
For if we but
anatomize her life,
We find both a good woman,
and good wife:
First, she lov’d God,
Not like the Pharisee,
In ostentation
and hypocrisie;
But even with all her heart,
and all her soule:
She secretly
did raging sinne controule:
For she (for goodnesse sake)
was innocent,
And not for glory,
or feare of punishment.
Next, to her neighbour
did her love extend,
Ready to helpe at need,
and to befriend
The poore, and those
that never could repay,
But with their prayers
at the latter day:
The remnant of her love
she did bestow
Vpon her Husband,
not in outward show,
Or else in feign’d
adulterate flattery;
But in sound truth,
and deepe sincerity.
Thus did she live,
divided in her love
From this unworthy world:
and Nature then,
Which had but lent her,
tooke her backe agen.
Where let us live in peace,
and let us try
To live like her,
that we like her may dye.
Come hither, Women,
leave your vanities,
Your lust, your scornes,
your pride, your fooleries?
For hither you must all.
The Dust and grave
All your adored
braveries must have:
And all those beauties
that are now afraid
Of Ayre, of Sunne,
must in the ground be laid.
Then decke your soules,
unto whose quintessence,
Nor time, nor death,
nor grave can bring offence.
For so you may
(for ever) beautifie
Your selves as Angels,
in eternity.
FINIS
Concerning Charity to the poore in
this Parish, besides the Christian dis
position of the parishioners themselves,
I finde by information, that Sir Iames
Deane
hath given two shillings weekly
in bread for ever, which is duely perfor
med every Friday. And as much they
themselves doe give in bread every
Sunday.
Sir Henry Billingsley (by his will) gave
the sum of 200. l. for reliefe of the poor
in this Parish; but by not making his
own eyes Overseers, and his hands his
trustiest Executors, his good intent is
injured, and the poore disappointed.
The limits and bounds of this Parish
need no relation, because they are con
tained within so small a compasse, and
at every place where their marke is fix
ed, there is likewise a Katharine wheele
P2
of


of iron, not easie to be broken off or re
moved. Mr. Wright, the learned Parson
here, gave me his gentle furtherance,
shewing mee a glasse window in the
South Ile of the Church, where is figu
red the shape of an Alderman in Scar
let, kneeling on his knees, and the
words set downe by him, doe expresse
his name to be William White, Maior of
this honourable Citie. Whereby his is
perswaded, and I am likewise of his o
pinion, (by divers opinions thereto in
ducing) that all that Ile was either of
his building, or (at least) repairing, it
appeareth so novell to the rest.
Then have ye Blanch Apleton, where
of I read in the thirteenth of Edward the
first
, that a lane behind the same Blanch
Apleton
, was granted by the King to be
inclosed and shut up. This Blanch Aple
ton
was a Mannor, belonging to Sir Tho
mas Roos
of Hamelake, Knight, the se
venth of Richard the second
, standing at
the North-east corner of Mart lane, so
called, of a priviledge sometime enjoy
ed to keepe a Mart there; long since
discontinued, and therefore forgotten,
so as nothing remaineth for memory,
but the name of Mart lane, and that not
uncorruptly termed Marke lane.
I read that in the third of Edward the
fourth
, all Baskert-makers,
Basket-makers at Blanch Apleton,
Wyer-draw
ers, and other Forrainers, were permit
ted to have shops in this Mannour of
Blanch Apleton, and not else-where with
in this Citie, or suburbs thereof.
And this also being the farthest West
part of this Ward on that South-side, I
leave it, with three Parish Churches;
Saint Katharine Christs-Church, S. An
drew Vndershaft
, and S. Katharine Cole
man
; and three Halls of Companies;
the Brick-layers Hall, the Fletchers
Hall
, and the Ironmongers Hall.
It hath an Alderman, his Deputy,
common Counsellours, six; Constables,
six; Scavengers, nine; VVard mote
men for Inquest, eighteene, and a Bea
dle. It is taxed to the Fifteene in Lon
don
, at five pounds.

Notes

  1. Stow is probably referring to a text written by Edward Hall. (LS)

Cite this page

MLA citation

Stow, John, Anthony Munday, Anthony Munday, and Humphrey Dyson. Survey of London (1633): Aldgate Ward. The Map of Early Modern London, Edition 7.0, edited by Janelle Jenstad, U of Victoria, 05 May 2022, mapoflondon.uvic.ca/edition/7.0/stow_1633_ALDG2.htm. Draft.

Chicago citation

Stow, John, Anthony Munday, Anthony Munday, and Humphrey Dyson. Survey of London (1633): Aldgate Ward. The Map of Early Modern London, Edition 7.0. Ed. Janelle Jenstad. Victoria: University of Victoria. Accessed May 05, 2022. mapoflondon.uvic.ca/edition/7.0/stow_1633_ALDG2.htm. Draft.

APA citation

Stow, J., Munday, A., Munday, A., & Dyson, H. 2022. Survey of London (1633): Aldgate Ward. In J. Jenstad (Ed), The Map of Early Modern London (Edition 7.0). Victoria: University of Victoria. Retrieved from https://mapoflondon.uvic.ca/editions/7.0/stow_1633_ALDG2.htm. Draft.

RIS file (for RefMan, RefWorks, EndNote etc.)

Provider: University of Victoria
Database: The Map of Early Modern London
Content: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

TY  - ELEC
A1  - Stow, John
A1  - Munday, Anthony
A1  - Munday, Anthony
A1  - Dyson, Humphrey
ED  - Jenstad, Janelle
T1  - Survey of London (1633): Aldgate Ward
T2  - The Map of Early Modern London
ET  - 7.0
PY  - 2022
DA  - 2022/05/05
CY  - Victoria
PB  - University of Victoria
LA  - English
UR  - https://mapoflondon.uvic.ca/edition/7.0/stow_1633_ALDG2.htm
UR  - https://mapoflondon.uvic.ca/edition/7.0/xml/standalone/stow_1633_ALDG2.xml
TY  - UNP
ER  - 

TEI citation

<bibl type="mla"><author><name ref="#STOW6"><surname>Stow</surname>, <forename>John</forename></name></author>, <author><name ref="#MUND1"><forename>Anthony</forename> <surname>Munday</surname></name></author>, <author><name ref="#MUND1"><forename>Anthony</forename> <surname>Munday</surname></name></author>, and <author><name ref="#DYSO1"><forename>Humphrey</forename> <surname>Dyson</surname></name></author>. <title level="a">Survey of London (1633): Aldgate Ward</title>. <title level="m">The Map of Early Modern London</title>, Edition <edition>7.0</edition>, edited by <editor><name ref="#JENS1"><forename>Janelle</forename> <surname>Jenstad</surname></name></editor>, <publisher>U of Victoria</publisher>, <date when="2022-05-05">05 May 2022</date>, <ref target="https://mapoflondon.uvic.ca/edition/7.0/stow_1633_ALDG2.htm">mapoflondon.uvic.ca/edition/7.0/stow_1633_ALDG2.htm</ref>. Draft.</bibl>

Personography