THe next is Cordwainer street Ward,Cordwainer street ward. taking that name of Cordwainers, or Shoomakers, Curriers, and workers of Leather dwelling there: for it appeareth in the Records of Henry the 6. the ninth of his reign, that an order was taken then for Cordwainers and Curriers in Corney street, and Sopers lane.

This Ward beginneth in the East, on the West side of VValbrooke, and runneth West thorow Budge row, Budge Row. (a street so called of Budge, Furre, and of Skinners dwelling there:) then up by Saint Anthonies Church, thorow Atheling (or Noble-street) as Leyland termeth it,VVathling street. commonly called VVathling-street, to the Red Lion, a place so called, of a great Lion of Timber placed there, at a gate entring a large Court, wherein are divers faire and large shops, well furnished with broad-cloathes, and other Draperies of all sorts to bee sold: and this is the farthest West part of this Ward.

On the South side of this street from Budge row, lyeth a lane turning downe by the West gate of the Tower Royall, and to the South end of the stone Wall beyond the said gate, which is of this Ward, and is accounted a part of the Royall street.

Against this West gate of the Tower Royall, is one other Lane, that runneth West to Cordwainer street, and this is called Turnebase lane: Turnebase Lane. on the South side whereof is a piece of Wring-wren lane, to the North-west corner of Saint Thomas Church the Apostle. Then againe out of the high street called Watheling, is one other street which runneth thwart the same,Cordwainer street. and this is Cordwainer street, wherof the whole VVard taketh name.

This street beginneth by West-Cheape, and Saint Mary Bow Church is the head thereof on the VVest side, and it runneth downe South,Hosier lane in Cordwainer street. thorow that part, which of latter time was called Hosier lane, now Bow lane, and then by the west end of Aldermary Church, to the newbuilded houses, in place of Ormond-House, and so to Garlickehill or hith, to S. Iames Church.

The upper part of this street towards Cheape, was called Hosier lane, of Hosiers dwelling there in place of Shoomakers: but now those Hosiers beeing worne out by men of other trades, (as the Hosiers had worne out the Shoomakers) the same is called Bow lane, of Bow Church.

On the west side of Cordwainer street, is Basing lane, Basing lane. right over against Turnebase lane. This Basing lane, west, to the backe gate of the Red Lion in Wathling street, is of this Cordwainer street VVard.

Now againe on the North side of this high street, is Budge row: by the East end of Saint Anthonies Church, have ye Saint Sithes lane, S. Sithes lane. so called of S. Sithes Church, (which standeth against the North end of that Lane) and this is wholly of Cordwainer street VVard: also the South side of Needlers lane, which reacheth from the North end of Saint Sithes lane, Needlers lane. west to Sopers lane: then west from S. Anthonies Church, is the South end of Sopers lane, Sopers lane. which lane tooke that name, not of Sope-making, as some have Cordwainer ſtreet Ward. have supposed, but of Alen le Sopar, in the ninth of Edward the second. I have not read of Sope-making in this Citie, till within this hundred yeeres, that Iohn Lambe, dwelling in Grasse-street, set up a boyling-house: for this Citie (in former time) was served of white Sope in hard cakes (called Castle Sope, and other) from beyond the Seas,Gray Sope made in London, dearer than bought from Bristow. and of gray Sope, speckled with white, very sweet and good, from Bristow, sold here for a penny the pound, and never above penny farthing, and blacke Sope for an halfe-penny the pound.

Then in Bow lane (as they now call it) is Goose lane, Goose lane. by Bow Church. VVilliam Essex, Mercer, had tenements there, in the 26. of Edward the third.

Then from the South end of Bow lane, up VVathling street, till over against the Red Lion: And these be the bounds of Cordwainer street Ward.

Touching Monuments therein: first, you have the faire Parish Church of S. Anthonies in Budge row, Parish Church of S. Anthonies. more vulgarly knowne by the name of Saint Antlins, on the North side thereof. This Church was lately reedified by Thomas Knowles, Grocer, Maior, and by Thomas Knowles, his sonne, both buried there, with Epitaphs of the Father, thus:

Thomas Holland, Mercer, was there buried, 1456.

Thomas VVindent, Mercer, Alderman, and Katharine his wife.

Thomas Hind, Mercer, 1528. He was a Benefactor to this Church, to Aldermarie Church, and to Bow.

Hugh Acton, Merchant-Taylor, buried 1520. He gave 36. pounds to the repairing of the Steeple of this Church.

Simon Street, Grocer, lyeth in the Church wall toward the South: his Armes be three Colts, and his Epitaph thus:

Henry Collet, Mercer, Maior, a great Benefactor to this Church. The pictures of him, his wife, ten sonnes, and ten daughters, remain in the glasse-window, on the North side of the Church: but the said Henry Collet was buried at Stebunhith. Henry Halton, Grocer, one of the Sheriffes, deceased 1415. Thomas Spight, Merchant-Taylor, 1533.

Iohn Grantham and Nicholas Bull had Chauntries there.

Ex D. Elizabeth octo prolum Parens. Obiit in Christo, die 20. Decemb. An. Dō. 1573. & regni Reg. Eliz. 16.

Domina Elizab. cum Maritis.

Credimus quod Redemptor noster vivit, & in novissimo die videbimus Deum Salvatorem nostrum, Iob 19.

Next on the South side of Budge row, by the West corner thereof, and on the East side of Cordwainer street, is one other faire Church, called Aldermarie Church, because the same was very old, and elder than any Church of Saint Mary in the Citie, till of late yeeres the foundation Cordwainer ſtreete Ward. foundation of a very faire new Church was laid there by Henry Keble, Grocer, Maior, who deceased 1518. and was there buried in a vault by him prepared, with a faire Monument raised over him on the North side of the Quire, now destroyed and gone. He gave by his Testament 1000. l. toward the building up of that Church; and yet was not permitted a resting place for his bones there. Thomas Romane, Maior, 1310. had a Chauntrie there. Richard Chawcer, Richard Chawcer, Father to Geffrey Chawcer the Poet, as may be supposed. Vintner, gave to that Church his tenement and Taverne, with the appurtenances, in the Royall street, the corner of Kirion lane, and was there buried, 1348. Iohn Briton, Ralph Holland, Draper, one of the Sheriffs, deceased, 1452. William Taylor, Grocer, Maior, deceased, 1483. He discharged that Ward of Fifteenes to be paid by the poore. Thomas Hinde, Mercer, buried in S. Anthonies, gave 10. Fodder of Lead to the covering of the middle Ile of this Aldermary Church. Charles Blount, Lord Montjoy, was buried there, about the yeere 1545. he made or glazed the East window, as appeareth by his Armes: his Epitaph made by him in his life time, thus:

Sir William Laxton, Grocer, Maior, deceased 1556. and Thomas Lodge, Grocer, Maior, 1583. were buried in the Vault of Henry Keble, whose bones were unkindly cast out, and his Monument pulled downe, in place whereof Monuments are set up of the later buried. William Blount, Lord Montjoy, buried there, 1594.

At the upper end of Hosier lane, toward West-Cheape, is the faire Parish Church of S. Mary Bow. This Church in the reigne of William the Conquerour, being the first in this Citie builded on Arches of stone, New Mary Church, or S. Mary Bow in West Cheaping. L. Colchester was therefore called new Mary Church, of Saint Mary de Arcubus, or le Bow, in West Cheaping: As Stratford Bridge, being the first builded (by Matilda, the Queene, wife to Henry the first) with Arches of stone, was called Stratford le Bow, which names to the said Church and Bridge, remaine till this day. The Court of the Arches is kept in this Church, and taketh name of the place, not the place of the Court; but of what antiquity or continuation that Court hath there continued, I cannot learne.

This Church is of Cordwainer street Ward, and for divers accidents hapning there, hath bin made more famous than any other Parish Church of the whole Citie, or Suburbs. First we read, that in the yeere 1090. and the third of William Rufus, by tempest of wind, the roofe of the Church of Saint Mary Bow in Cheape was overturned,Roofe of Bow Church overturned by tempest. wherewith some persons were slaine, and foure of the rafters of sixe and twenty foot in length, with such violence were pitched in the ground of the high street, that scantly foure foot of them remained above ground, which were faine to bee cut even with the ground, because they could not be plucked out; for the Citie of London was not then paved, but a moorish ground.

In the yeere 1196. William Fitz Osbert, Bow steeple fortified. a seditious Traitor, tooke the steeple of Bow, and fortified it with munitions and victuals; but it was assaulted, and William with his complices, were taken (though without blood-shed) for he was forced by fire and smoke to forsake the Church, and then being by the Iudges condemned, he was by the heels drawne to the Elmes in Smithfield, A false accuser of his elder brother, in the end was hanged. and there hanged with nine of his fellowes, where because his favoures came not to deliver him, he forsooke Maries Son, (as he termed Christ our Saviour) & called upon the Divell to help and deliver him. Such was the end of this deceiver, a man of an evill life, a secret murtherer, a filthy fornicator, a polluter of concubines, and (amongst other his detestable facts) a false accuser of his elder brother, who had (in his youth) brought him up in learning, and done many things for his preferment.

In the yeere 1271. a great part of the Steeple of Bow fell downe, Bow steeple fell downe. and slew many people, men and women. In the yeere 1284. the thirteenth of Edward the first, Laurence Ducket, Goldsmith, having grievously wounded one Ralph Crepin in West Cheape, fled into Bow Church, into the which (in the night time) entred Cordwainer ſtreete Ward. entred certaine evill persons, friends unto the sayd Ralph, and slew the sayd Laurence lying in the Steeple, and then hanged him up, placing him so by the window, as if hee had hanged himselfe, and so was it found by inquisition. For the which fact, Lawrence Ducket being drawne by the feete, was buried in a ditch without the City. But shortly after (by relation of a Boy, who lay with the sayd Lawrence at the time of his death, and had hid him there for feare) the truth of the matter was disclosed. For the which cause, Iordan Good-cheape, Ralph Crepin, Gilbert Clarke, and Geffrey Clarke were attainted, and a certaine woman named Alice, that was chiefe causer of the sayd mischiefe, was burned, and to the number of sixteene men were drawne and hanged; besides others, that being richer, after long imprisonment, were hanged by the purse.

The Church was interdicted,Bow Church interdicted. the doores and windowes were stopped up with Thornes: but Lawrence was taken up, and honestly buried in the Church-yard.

The Parish Church of Saint Mary Bow, by meanes of incroachment, and building of houses, wanting roome in their Church-yard for buriall of the dead, Iohn Rotham, or Rodham, Citizen and Taylor, by his Testament dated the yeare 1465. gave to the Parson and Church-wardens a certaine Garden in Hosier lane, to be a Church-yard: which so continued neere a hundred yeares, but now is builded on, and is a private mans house. The old Steeple of this Church was by little and little re-edified, and new builded up, at the least so much as was fallen downe; many men giving summes of money to the furtherance thereof: So that at length, to wit, in the yeare 1469. it was ordained by a Common Councell,Bow Bell to bee rung nightly at nine of the clock. that the Bow Bell should bee nightly rung at nine of the clocke.

Shortly after, Iohn Donne, Mercer, by his Testament dated 1472. according to the trust of Reginald Longdon, gave to the Parson & Church-wardens of Saint Mary Bow, two Tenements, with the appurtenances, since made into one, in Hosier lane, then so called, to the maintenance of Bow Bell, the same to bee rung as aforesayd, and other things to bee observed, as by the VVill appeareth.

This Bel being usually rung somewhat late, as seemed to the young men Prentises, and other in Cheape, they made and set up a time against the Clerke, as followeth:

Wherunto the Clerke replying, wrote:

Robert Harding, Goldsmith, one of the Sheriffes 1478. gave to the new worke of that Steeple forty pound. Iohn Haw, Mercer, ten pound, Doctor Allen, foure pound, Thomas Baldry foure pound, and other gave other summes, so that the sayd worke of the Steeple was finished in the yeere 1512. The Arches or Bowes thereupon,Bow or Arches on Bow steeple. with the Lanthornes five in number, to wit, one at each corner, and one on the top in the middle vpon the Arches, were also afterward finished of stone, brought from Cane in Normandy, delivered at the Customers Key for foure shillings eight pence the Tunne. William Copland Taylor, the Kings Merchant, and Andrew Fuller, Mercer, being Church-wardens 1515. and 1516. It is sayd that this Copland gave the great Bell, which made the fifth in the ring, to be rung nightly at nine of the clocke. This Bell was first rung (as a knell) at the buriall of the same Copland. It appeareth, that the Lanthornes on the top of this Steeple, were meant to have been glased, and lights in them placed nightly in the winter, whereby travellers to the City might have the better sight thereof, and not to misse of their wayes.

In this Parish also was a Grammar Schoole,Grammar schoole in Bow Churchyard. by commandement of King Henry the sixth, which Schoole was (of old time) kept in an house for that purpose prepared in the Church-yard; but that Schoole being decayed, as others about this City, the Schoole-house was let out for rent, in the reign of Henry the Aa3eight, Cordwainer ſtreete Ward. eighth, for foure shillings the yeare, a Cellar for two shillings the yeere, and two Vaults under the Church for fifteene shillings both.Vaults under Bow Church.

The Monuments in this Church bee these, viz. of sir Iohn Coventry, Mercer, Maior, 1425. Nicholas Alwine, Mercer, Maior, 1499. Robert Harding, Goldsmith, one of the Sheriffes, 1478. Iohn Locke, one of the Sheriffes, 1461. Edward Bankes, Alderman, Haberdasher, 1566. Iohn Ward, William Pierson, Scriveuer, and Attourney in the common place. In a proper Chappell on the South side the Church, standeth a Tombe, eleuate and arched: Ade de Buke, Hatter, glased the Chappell, and most part of the Church, and was there buried.

All other Monuments be defaced.

Hauley and Sowtham had chauntries there.

Without the North side of this Church of Saint Mary Bow, A shed or standing for the King called Crowne Silde. towards West Cheape, standeth one faire building of stone, called in Record Sidam, a shed which gratly darkeneth the sayd Church: for by meanes thereof, all the windowes and doores on that side are stopped up. King Edward the third, upon occasion, as shall be shewed in the VVard of Cheape, caused this sild or shed to bee made, and strongly to bee builded of stone for himselfe, the Queene, and other Estates to stand in, there to behold the Iustings, and other shewes at their pleasures. And this house (for a long time after) served to that use: namely, in the reigne of Edward the third, and Richard the second: but in the yeare 1410. Henry the fourth, in the twelfth of his reigne, confirmed the sayd shed or building to Stephen Spilman, William Marchford, and Iohn Wattle, Mercers, by the name of one new Sildam, shed or building, with shops, cellars, and edifices whatsoever apperataining, called Crounsilde or Tamersilde, Crounsilde. situate in the Mercery in West Cheape, and in the Parish of Saint Mary de Arcubus in London, &c.

Notwithstanding which grant, the Kings of England, and other great Estates, as well of forraine Countries repairing to this Realme, as inhabitants of the same, have usually repaired to this place, therein to behold the shewes of this City, passing through West Cheape; namely, the great VVatches accustomed in the night, on the Even of Saint Iohn Baptist, and Saint Peter at Midsummer, the examples whereof were over-long to recite: wherefore let it suffice briefly to touch one.K. Henry the eight came in the likenesse of a Yeoman of his Guard, to the Kings head in Cheape.

In the yeere 1510. on Saint Iohns Even at night, king Henry the eight came to this place, then called the Kings head in Cheape, in the livery of a Yeoman of the Guard, with an Halberd on his shoulder, and there beholding the VVatch, departed privily, when the VVatch Cordwainer ſtreete Ward. VVatch was done, and was not knowne to any but whom it pleased him. But on Saint Peters night next following, he and the Queene came royally riding to the sayd place, and there with their Nobles beheld the VVatch of the City, and returned in the morning.

This Church of Saint Mary, with the sayd shed of stone, all the housing in or about Bow Church-yard, and without, on that side the high streete of Cheape to the Standard, be of Corndwayner street Ward. These houses were (of old time) but sheds: for I reade of no housing otherwise on that side the streete, but of divers sheds, from Sopers lane to the Standard, &c. Amongst other, I reade of three shops or sheds by Sopers lane, pertaining to the Prior of the holy Trinity within Aldgate: the one was let out for twenty eight shillings, one other for twenty shillings, and the third for twelve shillings by the yeere. Moreover, that Richard Goodcheape, Mercer, and Margery his wife, sonne to Iordan Goodcheape, did let to Iohn Dalinges the younger, Mercer, their shed and chamber in West Cheape, in the Parish of Saint Mary de Arches, for three shillings foure pence by the yeare. Also the men of Breadstreete Ward contended with the men of Cordwainer streete Ward, for a sild or shed, opposite to the Standard on the South side, and it was found to bee of Cordwainer streete Ward, William Waldrone being then Maior, the 1. of Henry the sixth.

Thus much for Cordwayner streete Ward: VVhich hath an Alderman, his Deputy, Common Counsellers eight, Constables eight, Scauengers eight, VVardmote in quest men fourteene, and a Beadle. It standeth taxed to the Fifteene in London, at fifty two pounds sixteene shillings, in the Exchequer at fifty two pounds sixe shillings.