BRidge Ward within, Bridge Ward within. so called of London Bridge; which Bridge is a principall part of that Ward, and beginneth at the ſtulps on the south end by Southwarke, runneth along the Bridge, and North up Bridge-street, commonly called (of the Fish-market) New Fish-street: from Fish street hill, up Grasse-street, to the North corner of Grasse-church. All the Bridge is replenished on both the sides, with large, faire and beautifull buildings, inhabitants for the most part rich Merchants, and other wealthy Citizens, Mercers and Haberdashers.

In New Fish-street bee Fishmongers and faire Tavernes: on Fish-street Hill and Grasse-street, men of divers Trades, Grocers and Haberdashers.

In Grasse-street have ye one faire Conduit of sweet water,VVater Conduit in Grasse-street. castellated with crest and vent, made by the appointment of Thomas Hill, Maior, 1484. who gave by his Testament a hundred marks towards the conveyance of water to this place. It was begun by his Executors, in the yeere 1491. and finished of his goods whatsoever it cost.

On the East side of this Bridge ward, have ye the faire Parish Church of S. Magnus, Parish Church of S. Magnus. in the which Church have bin buried many men of good Worship, whose Monuments are now for the most part defaced. I finde,

Iohn Blund, Maior, 1307.

Henry Yeuele, Free Mason to Edward the third, Richard the second, and Henry the fourth, who deceased 1400. his Monument yet remaineth.

William Brampton.

Iohn Michell, Maior, 1436.

Iohn French, Baker, Yeoman of the Crowne to Henry the seventh, 1510.

Robert Clarke, Fishmonger, 1521.

Richard Turke, one of the Sheriffes, 1546.

William Steed, Alderman.

Richard Morgan, Knight, chiefe Justice of the Common Pleas, 1556.

Mauricius Griffith, Bishop of Rochechester, 1559.

Robert Blanch, Girdler, 1567.

Robert Belgrave Girdler.

VVilliam Brame.

Iohn Cooper, Fishmonger, Alderman, who was put by his turne of Maioralty, 1584.

Sir VVilliam Garrard, This Mouument is lately reedified, & new fenced by Sir Iohn Garrard, his ſonne, & L. Maior 1602. Haberdasher, Maior 1555. a grave, sober, wise and discreet Citizen, equall with the best, and inferior to none of our time, deceased 1571. in the Parish of Saint Christopher, but was buried in this Church of Saint Magnus, as in the Parish where he was borne. A faire Monument is here raised on him.

Robert Harding, Salter, one of the Sheriffes, 1568.

Simon Low, Merchant-Taylor, Equire, &c.

Then is the Parish Church of Saint Margarets on Fish-street Hill, a proper Church; but Monuments it hath none; onely one of note, and well worth the observation, being unknowne, and not found till very lately; whereof Master VVood (the reverend Parson of the Church, made mee acquainted by his Clerke, to have me come see it; which I did very thankfully. Finding it to bee the figure of a man of good respect, lying upon his Tombe, according to the manner of persons of Antiquity. And this inscription he delivered me, written with his owne hand:

He lyeth buried in the said Church wall, under the Marble stone in the Window, next to S. Peters Altar on the North side of the Church.

A foot-way passeth by the South side of this Church, from Fish-street hill into Rother-lane.

Vp higher on this Hill, is the Parish Church of Saint Leonard Milke-Church, Parish Church of S. Leonards Milke-Church so termed of one VVilliam Melker, an especiall builder thereof, but commonly called Saint Leonards East-cheape, because it standeth at East-cheape corner.

Monuments there be of the Doggets, namely;

VValter Dogget, Vintner, one of the Sheriffes, 1380.

Iohn Dogget, Vintner, and Alice his wife, about 1456.

This Iohn Dogget gave Lands to that Church.

VVilliam Dogget, &c. And none else of note.

This Church, and from thence into Little East-cheape, to the East end of the said Church, is of the Bridge Ward.

Then higher in Grasse-street, Grasse- Church of S. Bennet Grasse-church. is the Parish Church of Saint Bennet, called Grasse-Church, of the Herbe Market there kept: this Church also is of the Bridge Ward, and the farthest North end thereof. Some Monuments remaine there undefaced:

As of Iohn Harding, Salter, 1576.

Iohn Sturgeon, Haberdasher, Chamberlaine of London.

Philip Cushen, or Corsine, a Florentine, and a famous Merchant, 1600.

The Customes of Grasse-church Market, in the reigne of Edward the third, as I have read in a Booke of Customes,Customes of Grasse-street Market. were these: Every forraigne Cart, laden with Corne, or Mault, comming thither to be sold, was to pay one halfepenny. Every forraigne Cart bringing Cheese, two pence. Every Cart of Corn and Cheese together (if the Cheese be more worth than the Corne) two pence; and if the Corne be more worth than the Cheese, it was to pay a halfe-penny. Of two horses laden with Corne or Mault, the Bailiffe had one farthing: the Cart of the Franchise of the Temple, and of S. Mary le Grand,In the 1598 edition of Stowʼs , this is called S. Martins le grand. paid a farthing: the Cart of the Hospitall of S. Iohn of Ierusalem, paid nothing of their proper goods: and if the corne were brought by Merchants to sell againe, the loade paid a halfe-penny, &c.

On the West side of this Ward, at the North end of London Bridge,Thames street. is a part of Thames street, which is also of this Ward; to wit, so much as of old time was called Stock-fishmonger Row, Stockfishmongers Row. of the Stock-fish-mongers dwelling there, downe West to a Water gate, of old time called Ebgate, Ebgate lane since Ebgate lane, and now the Old Swan, which is a common staire on the Thames, but the passage is very narrow, by meanes of encrochments.

On the South side of Thames street, about the mid-way betwixt the Bridge foot and Ebgate lane, Fishmongers Hall. standeth the Fishmongers Hall, and divers other faire houses for Merchants.

These Fishmongers were sometimes of two severall Companies, to wit Stockfishmongers, Antiquities of the Fishmongers, 1290 and Salt-fishmongers, of whose antiquity I reade, that by the name of Fishmongers of London, they were for forestalling, &c. contrary to the Lawes and constitutions of the Citie, fined to the King at 500. Markes, the 18. of King Edward the first. More, that the said Fishmongers,A triumphant shew made by the Fishmongers for the victory of the King. hearing of the great victory obtained by the same King against the Scots, in the 26. of his reigne, made a triumphant and solemne shew thorow the Citie, with divers Pageants, and more than 1000. horsemen, &c. as in the Chapter of Sports and Pastimes. These two Companies of Stocke-fishmongers and Salt-fishmongers, of old time had their severall Halls, to wit, in Thames street twaine, in New Fish-street twaine, and in Old Fish-street twaine:Fishmongers had 6. Hals in London. in each place one for either Company; in all six severall Hals, the Company was so great, as I have read, and can prove by Records.

These Fishmongers have beene jolly Citizens,Fishmongers, 6. of them Maiors in 24. yeeres. and sixe Maiors of their Company in 24. yeeres; to wit, Walter Turke, 1350. Iohn Lofkin, 1359. Iohn Wroth, 1361. Iohn Pechie, 1362. Simon Morden, 1369. and William Walworth, 1374. It followed, that in the yeere 1382. through the counsel of Ioh. Northhampton, Draper, then being Maior, William Issex, Iohn More, Mercer, and Richard Northbury, Fishmongers for their greetings envied of the other companies. the said Fishmongers were greatly troubled, hindred of their liberties, and almost destroyed, by congregations made against them: So that in a Parliament at London, the controversie depending betweene the Maior and Aldermen of London, and the Fishmongers there, Nicholas Exton for the Fishmongers craved the Kings protection. Nic. Exton, Speaker for the Fishmongers, prayeth the King to receive him and his Company into his protection, for feare of corporall hurt. Whereupon it was commanded, either part to keepe the peace, upon paine of losing all they had. Hereupon a Fishmonger starting up, replyed, that the complaint brought against them by the moovers, &c. was but matter of malice; for that the Fishmongers, in the reigne of Edward the third, being chiefe Officers of the City,Fishmongers by Parliamēt restored to their liberties. had for their misdemeanors then done, committed the chiefe exhibitors of those petitions to prison. In this Parliament, the Fishmongers (by the Kings Charter patents) were restored to their Liberties. Notwithstanding, in the yeere next following, to wit, 1383. Iohn Cavendish, Fishmonger, craveth the peace against the Chancellour of England, Iohn Cavendish craved the peace againg the Chancellor, challenged him of taking a bribe. which was granted, and hee put in sureties, the Earles of Stafford and Salisbury. Cavendish challengeth the Chancellour for taking a bribe of 10. l. for favour of his Case: which the Chancellour by oath upon the Sacrament avoideth. In further triall, it was found, that the Chancellours man (without his Masters privitie) had taken it. Whereupon Cavendish was adjudged to prison, and to pay the Chancellour 1000. Markes for slandering him.

After this, many of the Nobles assembled at Reding, to suppresse the seditious stirres of the said Iohn Northampton, or Combarton, late Maior, that had attempted great and heinous enterprizes, of the which he was convict; and when he stood mute, nor would utter one word, it was decreed, that he should be committed to perpetuall prison, his goods confiscate to the Kings use, and that he should not come within 100. miles of London during his life. He was therfore sent to the Castle of Tintegall, Principall adversſaries to the Fishmongers condemned to perpetuall prison. in the confines of Cornewall, and in the meane space the Kings servants spoiled his goods. Iohn More, Richard Northbury, and other, were likewise there convict, and condemned to perpetuall prison, and their goods confiscate, for certaine congregations by them made against the Fishmongers in the Citie of London, Patent as is aforesaid; but they obtained and had the Kings pardon, in the 14. of his reigne, as appeareth of Record: and thus were all these troubles quieted.

Those Stock-fishmongers and Saltfishmongers were united in the yeere 1536. the 28. of Henry the 8. their Hall to bee but one,Stock-fishmongers and Salt-fishmongers united. in the house given unto them by Sir Iohn Cornwall, Lord Fanhope, and of Ampthull, Sir Ioh. Cornwall created Baron Fanhope in the 6. of Edw. 6. in the Parish of Saint Michael in Crooked-lane, in the reigne of Henry the sixth.

Thus much have I thought good to note of the Fishmongers, men ignorant of their Antiquities, and not able to shew a reason why, or when they were joyned in amity with the Goldsmithes,Fishmongers joyned in amity with the Goldsmiths. doe give part of their Armes, &c. Neither to say ought of Sir William Walworth (the glory of their Company) more than that he slew Iack Straw, which is a meer fable:UU. VValworth slandred by a fable of Iack Straw. T. VValſm. H. Knighton Lib. Ebor. for the said Straw was after the overthrow of the Rebels, taken, and by judgement of the Maior beheaded; whose confession at the Gallowes is extant in my Annales, where also is set downe the most valiant and praise-worthy act of Sir William Walworth, against the principall Rebell, Wat Tylar: as in reproofe of VValworth Monument in S. Michaels Church, I have declared, and wished to be reformed there, as in other places.

On that South side of Thames street, Drink water VVharfe. have yee Drinke-water VVharfe, and Fish Wharfe,Fish wharfe in the Parish of S. Magnus. On the North side of Thames street is S. Martins lane, a part of which lane is also of this Ward; to wit, on the one side to a Well of water, and on the other side, as farre up as against the said Well. Then is S. Michaels Lane, part whereof is also of this Ward, up to a Well there, &c.

Then at the upper end of New-Fish-street, Crooked lane. is a Lane turning towards Saint Michaels Lane, and is called Crooked-lane, of the crooked windings thereof. Above this Lanes end, upon Fish-street Hill, is one great house, for the most part builded of stone, which pertained sometime to Edward the blacke Prince, sonne to Edward the third, Edward the blacke Prince. who was in his life time lodged there.

It is now altered to a common Hosterie, having the Blacke Bell for a signe. Above this house, at the top of Fish-street Hill, is a turning into Great East-cheape, and so to the corner of Lombard street, over against the North-west corner of Grasse-Church. And these be the whole bounds of this Bridge Ward within: The which hath an Alderman and his Deputy; for the Common-Counsell, 16. Constable, 15. Scavengers, 6. for the Ward-more Inquest, sixteene, and a Beadle. It is is taxed to the Fifteene in London, at forty seven pounds.