Survey of London (1633): Cornhill Ward

Cornehill Ward. CORNE HILL VVARD.

THe next Ward towards the South, Cornehill Ward. is Cornehill VVard: so called of a Cornmarket, time out of mind there holden, and is a part of the principall high street, beginning at the West end of Leaden Hall, stretching downe West on both the sides, by the South end of Finkes lane on the right hand, and by the North end of Birchovers lane, on the left part; of which lanes, to wit, to the middle of them, is of this Ward, and so downe to the Stockes Market; and this is the bounds. The upper or East part of this Ward, and also a part of Limestreet Ward, hath beene (as I said) a Market-place, especially for corne, and since for all kinde of victuals, as is partly shewed in Lime-street Ward.

It appeareth of record, that in the yeere 1522. the Rippiers of Rie and other places, sold their fresh Fish in Leaden Hall Market, upon Cornehill; but forraigne Butchers were not admitted there to sell flesh, till the yeere 1533.

And it was enacted,Flesh Market at Leaden hall, and alteration of prises in short time. that Butchers should sell their Biefe not above a halfe penny the pound; and Mutton, halfe penny, halfe farthing: which act being devised for the great commodity of the Realme, (as it was then thought) hath since proved farre otherwise: For before that time, a fat Oxe was sold at London, for 26. s. 8. d. at the most: a fat Weather for 3. s. 4. d. a fat Calfe the same price; a fat Lambe for 12. d. pieces of Biefe weighed two pounds and a halfe at the least; yea, three pound or better, for a penny, on every Butchers stall in this Citie; and of those pieces of Biefe, thirteene or foureteen for twelve pence: fat Mutton for eight pence the quarter, and one hundred weight of Biefe for 4. s. 8. d. at the dearest.

What the price is now, I neede not to set downe: many men thought the same act to rise in price, by reason that Grasiers knew or supposed what weight every their beasts contained, and so raising their price thereafter, the Butcher could be no gainer, but by likewise raising his price. The number of Butchers then in the Citie and Suburbs, was accounted sixe score, of which every one killed 6. Oxen a peece weekely: which is in 46. weekes, 33120. Oxen, or 720. Oxen weekely.

The forraigne Butchers (for a long time) stood in the high street of Lime-street Ward, on the North side, twice every weeke; viz. Wednesday and Saturday, and were some gaine to the Tenants, before whose doores they stood, and into whose houses they set their blockes and stalles: but that advantage being espied, they were taken into Leaden Hall, there to pay for their standing to the Chamber of London.

Thus much for the Market upon Cornehill.

The chiefe Ornaments in Cornehill Ward,Standard of Thames water by Leaden hall are these: First, at the East end thereof, in the middle of the high street, and at the parting of foure wayes, have ye a water-standard, placed in the yeere 1582. in manner following: A certain German, named Peter Morris, having made an artificiall Forcier for that purpose, conveyed Thames water in pipes of lead, over the steeple of Saint Magnus Church, at the North end of London Bridge, and from thence into divers mens houses in Thames street, new Fish-street, and Grasse-street, up to the north-west corner of Leaden Hall, the highest ground Cornehill Ward. ground of all the Citie,The highest ground of the Citie of London. where the waste of the maine pipe rising into this Standard, (provided at the charges of the Citie) with foure spouts, did at every tyde run (according to covenant) foure wayes, plentifully serving to the commodity of the inhabitants neere adjoyning in their houses, and also cleansed the Chanels of the street toward Bishops-gate, Aldgate, the Bridge,I.e., London Bridge and the Stocks Market; but now no such matter, whose default I know not.

Then have ye a faire Conduit, of sweet water, castellated in the midst of that Ward and street. This Conduit was first builded of stone, in the yeere 1282. by Henry Wallis, The Tun upon Cornehill a prisonhouse for night-walkers. Maior of London, to be a prison for night-walkers, and other suspicious persons, and was called the Tunne upon Cornehill, because the same was builded somewhat in fashion of a Tunne, standing on the one end.

To this prison,Temporal men punish spirituall persons for incontinency. the night Watches of this Citie committed not onely night-walkers, The Bishop complaineth. but also other persons, as well spirituall as temporall, whom they suspected of incontinencie, and punished them according to the customes of this Citie: but complaint thereof being made,The King forbids the Laity for punishing the Clergy men. about the yeere of Christ, 1297. King Edward the first writeth to his Citizens thus:

Edward by the grace of God, &c. whereas Richard Gravesend, Bishop of London, hath shewed unto us, that by the great Charter of England, the Church hath a priviledge, that no Clerke should be imprisoned by a Lay-man, without our commandement, and breach of peace; which notwithstanding, some Citizens of London, upon meere spight, doe enter in their Watches into Clerks chambers, and then (like Felons) carry them to the Tunne, which Henry le Wallis, sometime Maior, built for night-walkers. Wherefore wee will that this our commandement be proclaimed in a full Hoystings, and that no Watch hereafter enter into any Clerks chamber, under the forfeit of 30. pound. Dated at Carlile, the 18. of March, the 25. of our Reigne.

More,Citizens of London breake up the Tun upō Cornhil I read that about the yeere of Christ, 1299. the 27. of Edward the first, certaine principall Citizens of London; to wit, T. Romane, Richard Gloucester, Nicholas Faringdon, Adam Helingbury, T. Saly, Iohn Dunstable, Richard Ashwy, Iohn Wade, and William Stortford, brake up this prison called the Tunne, and tooke out certaine prisoners, for the which they were sharply punished, by long imprisonment, and great fines. It cost the Citizens (as some have written) more than 20000.Tho Walsingham. Markes, which they were amerced in, before William de March, Treasurer of the Kings Exchequer, to purchase the Kings favour, and the confirmation of their liberties.

Also,Citizens of London punished fornicatiō and adultery in Priests and other, without partiality. that in the yeere 1383. the seventh of Richard the second, the Citizens of London taking upon them the rights that belonged to their Bishops, first imprisoned such women aswere taken in fornication or adultery, in the said Tunne; and after, bringing them forth to the sight of the World, they caused their heads to be shaven, after the manner of Theeves, whom they named Appellators, and so to be led about the Citie, in sight of all the inhabitants, with Trumpets and Pipes sounding before them, that their persons might be the more largely knowne: Neither did they spare such kind of men a whit the more, but used them as hardly, saying; They abhorred not only the negligence of their Prelates, but also detested their avarice, that studied for money, omitted the punishment limited by Law, and permitted those that were found guilty, to live favourably by their fines. Wherefore they would themselves, they said, purge their Citie from such filthinesse, lest through Gods vengeance, either the Pestilence or Sword should happen to them, or that the Earth should swallow them. Last of all to be noted, I reade in the charge of the Wardmote inquest in every Ward in this Citie,Priests punished in the Tnn upō Cornhil forced to forsweare this City. these words: If there bee any Priest in service within the Ward, which before-time hath beene set in the Tunne in Cornehill for his dishonesty, and hath forsworne the Citie, all such shall bee presented.

Thus much for the Tunne in Cornhill have I read.

Now, for the punishment of Priests, in my youth, one note and no more. Iohn Atwod, Draper, dwelling in the T2Pariſh Cornehill Ward. Parish of Saint Michael upon Cornehill, directly against the Church, having a proper woman to his wife, such an one as seemed the holiest amongst a thousand, had also a lusty Chauntry Priest of the said Parish Church, repairing to his house, with the which Priest, the said Atwod would sometime after supper play a game at Tables for a pint of Ale. It chanced on a time, having haste of worke, and his game proving long, he left his wife to play it out, and went downe to his shop: but returning to fetch a pressing-iron, he found such play (to his misliking) that hee forced the Priest to leap out at a window, over the Penthouse into the street, and so to run to his lodging in the Church-yard. Atwod and his wife were soone reconciled, so that he would not suffer her to be called in question;A Priest punished for lecherie. but the Priest being apprehended and committed, I saw his punishment to be thus: He was on three Market dayes conveyed thorow the high street and Markets of the Citie, with a paper on his head, wherein was written his trespasse. The first day hee rode in a Carry; the second, on a horse, his face to the horse taile; the third, led betwixt twaine, and every day rung with Basons, and proclamations made of his fact at every turning of the streets, and also before Iohn Atwods Stall, and the Church doore of his Service, where hee lost his Chauntry of twenty Nobles the yeere, and was banished the Citie for ever.

By the West side of the foresaid prison, A faire Well in Cornhill. then called the Tun, was a faire Well of Spring water, curbed round with hard stone:The Tun upon Cornhill made a Conduit of sweet water. but in the yeere 1401. the said Prison-house called the Tunne, was made a Cesterne for sweet water, conveyed by pipes of Lead from Tyborne, and was from thenceforth called the Conduit upon Cornehill. Cage, stocks and pillory in Cornhill. Then was the Well plancked over, and a strong prison made of Timber, called a Cage, with a paire of Stocks therein, set upon it;Bakers, Millers, Bauds, Scolds, & common Iurors for rewards, punished on the pillory. and this was for night-walkers. On the top of which Cage was placed a Pillorie, for the punishment of Bakers, offending in the assise of bread; for Millers stealing of Corne at the Mill; for Bawds, Scolds, and other offenders.

As in the yeere 1468. the 7. of Ed. 4. divers persons, being common Iurors, such as at Assises were forsworne for rewards, or favour of parties, were judged to ride from Newgate to the Pillorie in Cornhill, with Miters of paper on their heads, there to stand, and from thence againe to Newgate, and this Iudgement was given by the Maior of London.

In the yeere 1509. the first of Henry the 8. Darby, Smith, and Simson, Ringleaders of false inquests in London, rode about the Citie with their faces to the horses tailes, and papers on their heads, and were set on the Pillorie in Cornehill, and after brought againe to Newgate, where they dyed for very shame,Ring-leaders of inquests will proffer their service, and bend every way for gaine. saith Robert Fabian. A Ring-leader of Inquests, as I take it, is he, that making a gainefull occupation thereof, will appeare upon Nisi prius’s ere hee be warned, or procure himselfe to be warned to come on by a Tallis. Carefull choice of Iurors is to be had: a man derected, & that had sworne foolishly against his brother, is not to bee admitted a cõmon Iuror, neither Butcher not Surgeon is to be admitted. Hee will also procure himselfe to be Fore-man, when hee can, and take upon him to over-rule the rest to his opinion: such an one shall be laboured by plaintifes and defendants, not without promise of rewards; and therefore to be suspected of a bad conscience. I would wish a more carefull choice of Iurors to bee had: for I have knowne a man carted, rung with Basons, and banished out of Bishopsgate Ward, and afterward, in Aldgate Ward admitted to be Constable, a grand Iurie-man, and Foreman of their Wardmote inquest. What I know of the like, or worse men, preferred to the like offices, I forbeare to write, but wish to be reformed.

The foresaid Conduit upon Cornehill was in the yeer 1475. inlarged by Robert Drope, Conduit on Cornehill inlarged. Draper, Maior, that thē dwelt in that Ward, he increased the Cestern of this Conduit with an east end of stone, and castellated it in comely manner.

In the yeere 1546. Sir Martin Bowes, Maior, dwelling in Lumbard street, and having his back gate opening into Cornhill, against the said Conduit, minded to have inlarged the Cesterne thereof with a West end, like as Robert Drope before had done towards the East. View and measure of the plot was taken for this worke: but the Pillory and Cage beeing removed, they found the Cornehill Ward. the ground planked, and the Well aforesaid worne out of memory, which Well they renued and restored to use; it is since made a Pumpe: they set the Pillorie somewhat west from the Well, and so this worke ceased.

On the North side of this street, from the East unto the West, have ye divers faire houses for Merchants and others; amongst the which, one large house is called the Wey house, The wey-house or Kings beame upon Cornhill. where Merchandises brought from beyond the Seas, are to be weighed at the Kings beame. This House hath a Master, and under him foure Master Porters, with Porters under them; they have a strong Cart, and foure great Horses, to draw and carry the wares from the Merchants houses to the Beame, and backe againe. Sir Tho. Lovell, Knight, builded this house, with a faire front of Tenements toward the Street, all which hee gave to the Grocers of London, himselfe being free of the Citie, and a Brother of that Company.

Then have ye the said Finkes lane, the South end of which lane on both the sides, is in Cornehill Ward.

Then next is the Royall Exchange, The Burse upon Cornhill, or the Royall Exchange. erected in the yeere 1566. after this order, viz. Certaine houses upon Cornehill, and the like upon the backe thereof, in the Ward of Broadstreet, with three Alleys; the first called Swan Alley, Swan Alley. opening into Cornehill; New Alley. the second, New Alley, passing thorow out of Cornehill into Broadstreet Ward over against S. Bartholomew lane; S. Christophers Alley. the third, S. Christophers Alley, opening into Broadstreet Ward, and into Saint Christophers Parish, containing in all 80. housholds;Housholders displaced for building of the Burse. were first purchased by the Citizens of London, for more than 3532. pounds, and were sold for 478. pounds, to such persons as should take them downe, and carry them thence; also the ground or plot was made plaine at the charges of the Citie,The Citie charged with buildings of the Burse. and then possession thereof was by certaine Aldermen (in name of the whole Citizens) given to Sir Thomas Gresham, Knight, agent to the Queens Highnesse, there-upon to build a Burse, or place for Merchants to assemble in, at his owne proper charges: and hee, on the , laying the first stone of the foundation, beeing Bricke, accompanied with some Aldermen, every of them laid a piece of gold, which the workemen tooke up, and forthwith followed upon the same such diligence, that by the moneth of November, in the yeere 1567. the same was covered with slate, and shortly after fully finished.

In the yeere 1570. on the 23. of Ianuary, Queene Elizabeth came to the Burse. the Queenes Majestie, attended with her Nobility, came from her house at the Strand, called Sommerset House, and entred the Citie by Temple-Barre, through Fleet-street, Cheape, and so by the North side of the Burse, through Three-needle street, to Sir Thomas Greshams house in Bishopsgate street, where she dined. After dinner, her Majestie returning through Cornehill, entred the Burse on the South side, and after shee had viewed every part thereof above the ground; especially the Pawne, which was richly furnished with all sorts of the finest wares in the Citie: she caused the same Burse, The Burse called the Royall Exchange. by an Herauld and a Trumpet, to be proclaimed the Royall Exchange, and so to bee called from thence-forth, and not otherwise.

Next adjoyning to this Royall Exchange, remaineth one part of a large stone house, and is now called the Castle, of such a signe at a Taverne doore; there is a passage thorow out of Cornehill into Three-needle street: the other part of the said stone house was taken downe, for enlarging the Royall Exchange. This stone house was said of some to have bin a Church, whereof it had no proportion. Of others, a Iewes house, as though none but Iewes had dwelt in stone houses: but that opinion is without warrant.

For beside the strong building of stone houses, against invasion of theeves in the night, when no watches were kept: In the first yeere of Richard the first, (to prevent the casualties of fire, which often had hapned in the Citie, when the houses were builded of timber, and covered with Reed or straw,The cause of stone houses builded in London. Henry Fitz Alwine being Maior) it was decreed, that from thenceforth, no man should build within the Citie, but of stone, untill a certaine heighth, and to cover the same building with slate, or burnt tile. This was the very cause of such T3ſtone Cornehill Ward. stone buildings, whereof many have remained till our time, that for gaining of ground they have been taken down, and in place of some one of them, being low (as but 2. stories above the ground) many houses of 4. or 5. stories high are placed.

From this stone house downe to the Stockes, are divers large houses, especially for height, for Merchants and Artificers.

On the South side of this high street, is the Parish Church of Saint Peter upon Cornehill, Parish Church of S. Peter upon Cornhill. which seemeth to be of an ancient building, but not so ancient as fame reporteth; for it hath beene lately repaired, if not all new builded, except the steeple, which is ancient.

The roofe of this Church, and glasing, was finished in the reigne of Edward the fourth, as appeareth by Armes of Noblemen, and Aldermen of London then living. There remaineth in this Church a Table, wherein it is written, I know not by what authority, but of no late hand; that King Lucius founded the same Church, to bee an Archbishops Sea, Metropolitane and chiefe Church of his Kingdome, and that it so endured the space of foure hundred yeeres, unto the comming of Augustine the Monke.

Now, because many have urged it very earnestly to me, to let them be further acquainted therewith: I have here inserted the same verbatim, as it is there recorded in the Table.

A Copie taken out of the Table, fast chained in S. Peters Church on Cornehill.

BE it knowne unto all men, that the yeeres of our Lord God, C. lxxix. Lucius, the first Christian King of this Land, then called Brytaine, founded the first Church in London, that is to say, the Church of Saint Peter upon Cornhill. And he founded there an Arch-bishops See, and made that Church the Metropolitane and chiefe Church of this Kingdome: and so endured the space of CCCC. yeeres, unto the comming of S. Austin, the Apostle of England, the which was sent into this Land by S. Gregory, the Doctor of the Church, in the time of King Ethelbert. And then was the Archbishops See and Pall removed from the foresaid Church of Saint Peter upon Cornehill, unto Dereberniam, that now is called Canturbury, and there remaineth to this day. And Millet, Monke, the which came into the Land with S. Austen, was made the first Bishop of London, & his See was made in Pauls Church. And this Lucius King, was the first founder of Saint Peters Church upon Cornehill. And he reigned in this Land after Brute, a M. C C. Xlv. yeeres. and the yeeres of our Lord God, a C. xxiiij. Lucius was crowned King, and the yeeres of his reigne were Lxxvij. yeeres. And hee was (after some Chronicle) buried at London: And (after some Chronicle) he was buried at Glowcester, in that place where the Order of S. Francis standeth now.

Ioceline of Furneis writeth, that Thean or Theon, the first Archbishop of London in the reigne of Lucius, builded the said Church, by the aide of Ciran, chiefe Butler to King Lucius; Library of S. Peters upon Cornhill, now a Grammar ſchoole. and also that Elvanus, the second Archbishop, builded a Library to the same adjoyning, and coverted many of the Druides, learned men in the Pagan law, to Christianity.

William Harrison, discoursing hereon more at large,Out of the descriptiõ of Britaine, written by VVilliam Harrison. discoursing hereon more at large, hath these very words:

There is a Controversie (faith hee) moved among our Historiographers, whether the Church that Lucius builded at London, stood at Westminster, or in Cornehill. For, there is some cause, why the Metropolitane Church should be thought to stand where Saint Peters now doth, by the space of foure hundred and odde yeeres, before it was removed to Canturbury by Austin the Monke, if a man would leane to one side, without any conference of the asseverations of the other. But herein (as I take it) there lurketh some scruple: for, beside that S. Peters Church stood in the East end of the Citie, and that of Apollo in the west, the word Cornehill, a denomination given of late (to speake of) to one street, may easily be mistaken for Thorney.

For, as the word Thorney proceedeth from the Saxons, who called the West end of the Citied by that name, where Westminster now standeth, because of the wildernesse and bushinesse of the soile: so doe I not read of any street in London called Cornehill Ward. called Cornehill, No street in London called Cornhill, before the Normans Conquest. before the Conquest of the Normans. Wherefore, I hold with them, which make Westminster to be the place, where Lucius builded his Church, upon the ruines of that * * There were three Archflamines, 1. at London, the 2. at Yorke, the 3. at Caerlbeon upon the River Vske, builded by Belinus, and called Glamorgantia, now Chester, all destroyed by Lucius, because they were erected to Apollo, Mars and Minerva: hee builded 3. other Churches in their stead. Flamine, 264. yeeres (as Malmesbury saith) before the comming of the Saxons, and 411. before the arrivall of Augustine. Read also his Appendix in lib. 4. Pontif. where he noteth the time of the Saxons in the 444. of Grace, and of Augustine in 596. of Christ, which is a manifest \ accompt, though some Copies have 499. for the one, but not without manifest corruption and error.

And now to returne where we left: True it is, that a Library there was pertaining to this Parish Church, of old time builded of stone, and of late repaired with Bricke, by the Executors of Sir Iohn Crosby, Alderman, as his Armes on the South end doe witnesse.

This Library hath bin (of late time) to wit, within these 70. yeeres, well furnished of Books, Iohn Leyland viewed and commended them; but now those Bookes are gone,Io. Leyland. and the place is occupied by a Schoolemaster, and his Vsher, for a number of Scholars learning their Grammar rules, &c. Notwithstanding, before that time, a Grammar Schoole had beene kept in this Parish, as appeareth in the yeere, 1425.

I read,Grammar Schooles commanded by Parliament. that Iohn Whitby was Rector, and Iohn Steward Schoolemaster there: and in the 25. of Henry the sixth it was enacted by Parliament, that 4. Grammar Schooles in London, should bee maintained, viz. In the Parishes of Alhallowes in Thames street: Saint Andrew in Oldborne: Saint Peters upon Cornehill; and Saint Thomas of Acres.

Monuments of the dead in this Church defaced.

I read that Hugh Waltham,

Nicholas Pricot, Mercer, Alderman,

Richard Manhall; 1503.

VVilliam Kingstone, Fishmonger, gave his Tenements called the Horsemill in Grasse-street, to this Church, and was there buried, about the yeere, 1298.

Iohn Vnisbrugh, Poulter, 1410.

Iohn Law.

Also, Peter Mason Taylor, gave to this Church seven pound starling yeerly for ever, out of his Tenements in Colechurch Parish, and deceased about the yeere, 1416.

Iohn Foxton founded a Chauntry there.

A Brotherhood of Saint Peter was in this Church established by Henry the fourth, the fourth of his reigne.

VVilliam Brampton, and William Askham, Fishmongers and Aldermen, were chiefe procurers thereof, for the Fishmongers of late buried there Sir William Bowyer, Maior, 1543.

Sir Henry Huberthorne, Maior, 1546.

Sir Christopher Morice, Master Gunner of England to King Henry the eight.

Edward Elrington, Esquire, chiefe Butler to Edward the sixth.

Thomas Gardener, Grocer. Justice Smith, and other beside.A faire ancient Tombe for Sir VVilliam Bowyer in the south Ile of the Quire. In the yeere of Iesus Christ’s Incarnation, One thousand, five hundred, forty and foure, The 22. day of April, by just computation; In this place was buried with great honour, VVhich proved a man Meet to bee a Governour, For the Common-wealth of this high and famous Citie: Called Sir William Bowyer, Lord of the Maioralty, Which departed not with finding great calamity: And pray wee to GOD, to grant his Soule mercy. O London, if thou looke to the Lacedemonies, There to finde Lycurgus that noble and kinde King; Or if thou seeke for Ciceroes men most of prize, Or if thou apply thee to have all the whole desiring Of Amphyon, Orpheus, or of Mecaenas demeaning a Seeke no further to finde, for here hee is buried, VVhich had all their properties for Londons good ordering. Bee wee then of his honourable degree well conceiving, For Cornehill Ward. For his acts for ever be registred in Londons meaning. Here lyeth Sir Henry Huberthorne, A faire Marble stone under the Communion Table, plated about. sometime Lord Maior and Merchant-taylor of this Citie of London, and Dame Elizabeth his Wife. Hee departed this life, &c. And the said Dame Elizabeth left this transitory life in Anno Domini, 1551. Hereunder lieth buried William Messe of this Citie,A faire plated stone, neere to the other. Whil’st he lived, free of the Grocers Company, And Julian his wife, to whom 24. yeeres married was he, By whom God sent him five sonnes and daughters three, And to Gods will his heart was alwaies bent, So did his death shew a life well spent. Here this is written, that other may remember, His godly departure from this world the 26. of September.

In the same Vault with Sir William Bowyers body, is Mr. Alderman VValthals also laid, but no Monument as yet made for him, beside his Funerall Banners.

The Charities of the Parish of Saint Peter upon Cornehill.

Launcelot Tompson of London, Draper, was buried in this Parish Church, and gave 20. l. for the yeerely preaching of five Sermons, untill the money should be fully run out. Which Sermons were all preached by Doctor Ashbold, Parson there. Also he gave 100. l. to the Drapers Company, and they to allow 5. l. yeerely for ever, for Bread and Coales for the poore of the said parish.

Boniface Tatam of London, Vintner, buried in the said Parish the third of February, 1606. gave 40. s. yeerely to the Parson, for preaching foure Sermons every yeere, so long as the Lease of the Marmaid in Cornehill, (a Taverne so called) shall endure. He gave also to the poore of the Parish thirteene penny loaves every Sunday, during the foresaid Leafe.

Mr. William Walthal, late of London, Alderman, buried in the said Parish Church the second of September, 1606. gave twenty pound to the stocke of the Parish. Next, he gave forty Markes, for forty Sermons to be preached in the said Church. Also hee gave two hundred pounds, to bee imployed as followeth: Tenne young men, trading and dwelling in the Parish, with two sufficient sureties, each man, from foure yeeres to foure yeeres, to enjoy the benefit thereof. And every one of them, for the time being, having the usage of the said money, is to pay yeerely to the good of the poore of the said Parish, for bread and coales, the summe of thirteene shillings foure pence, which amounteth in the whole, to the summe of six pounds, thirteene shillings, foure pence. Hee hath also allowed to the Churchwardens and Overseers for the poore, five shillings yeerely among them, to see his good meaning effectually performed.

Robert Warden, of London, Poulter, buried in the same Church the 18. of November, 1609. hath given out of one Messuage or Tenement, lying and being in Bishopsgate street, in the said Parish, the summe of three pounds twelve shillings, yeerely for ever, viz. 52. shillings in wheaten bread every Sunday, for the poore of the Parish, 10. s. a yeere for two Sermons, to bee preached to the Company of Poulters, 4. s. for the Clerks attendance at the said Sermons, and 2. s. a yeere for the Sexton, allowed by the said Company.

Mr. Iohn Malin, Physician, buried in the said Church the 25. of May, 1613. gave to the poore of this Parish the sum of 40. l. to bee weekly bestowed on them, on Friday mornings for ever.

Then have ye the Parish Church of S. Michael the Archangell:The Parish Church of S. Michael on Cornhill. for the Antiquity thereof, I finde that Alnothus the Priest gave it to the Abbot and Covent of Covesham; Reynold Abbot, and the Covent there, did grant the same to Sparling the Priest, in all measures, as he and his Predecessors before had held it: to the which Sparling also, they granted all their Lands which they there had, except certaine Lands which Orgar le Prowde held of them, and paid two shillings yeerely. For the which grant, the Cornehill Ward. the said Sparling should yeerely pay one Marke of rent to the said Abbot of Covesham, and finde him his lodging, salt, water, and fire, when hee came to London; this was granted 1133. about the 34. of Henry the first. Thus much for antiquity.

Of later time I finde, that Elizabeth Peake, Widdow, gave the Patronage or gift of this Benefice to the Drapers in London: shee lyeth buried in the Belfrey, 1518. her Monument yet remaineth. This hath beene a faire and beautifull Church, but of late yeeres, since the surrender of their lands to Edward the sixth, greatly blemished by the building of foure Tenements on the North side thereof, towards the high street, in place of a greene Church-yard, whereby the Church is darkened and other waies annoyed. The faire new Steeple or Bell-Tower of this Church, was begun to bee builded in the yeere, 1421. which being finished,This was accounted the best Ring of 6. Bels to be rung by 6. men that was in England for harmonie, sweetnesse of sound and tune. and a faire ring of five Bels therein placed; a sixth Bell was added, and given by Iohn VVhitwel, Isabel his wife, and VVilliam Rus, or Rous Alderman and Goldsmith, about the yeere, 1430. which Bell named Rus, (nightly at eight of the clocke, and otherwise for Knels, and in Peales, rung by one man, by the space of 160. yeeres) of late over-haled by foure or five at once, hath been thrice broken, and new cast, within the space of ten yeeres, to the charges of that Parish, more than 100. Markes.

And here note of this Steeple, as I have oft heard my Father report.Lightning and thunder, with ugly shaps seen in S. Michaels Steeple. Vpon Saint Iames night, certaine men in the Loft next under the Bells, ringing of a Peale, a Tempest of Lightning and Thunder did arise, and an ugly shapen sight appeared to them, comming in at the South window, and lighted on the North, for feare whereof, they all fell downe, and lay as dead for the time, letting the Bels ring and cease of their own accord. When the Ringers came to themselves,The print of clawes to be seen in hard stone. they found certaine stones of the North window to bee razed and scrat, as if they had been so much Butter printed with a Lyons clawe: the same stones were fastned there againe, and so remaine till this day. I have seen them oft, and have put a feather or small stick into the holes, where the clawes had entred 3. or 4. inches deepe.

At the same time, certain maine timber posts at Queene Hith, Pulpit-Crosse in Pauls Church-yard overturned. were scrat and cleft from the top to the bottome, and the Pulpit Crosse in Pauls Church-yard was likewise scrat, cleft, and overturned. One of the Ringers lived in my youth, whom I have oft heard to verifie the same to be true; but to returne.

William Rus was a speciall Benefactor to this Church, his Armes yet remaine in the Windowes.

VVilliam Comerton, Simon Smith, Walter Belengham were buried there, and founded Chaunteries there.

Iohn Grace, 1439.

Robert Drope, Maior, buried on the North side the Quire, under a faire Tombe of Grey Marble, 1485. he gave to poore Maides marriages of that Parish twenty pound, to the poore of that Ward ten pound; Shirts and smockes three hundred, and gownes of broad-cloth, one hundred, &c.

Iane his wife, matching with Edward Gray, Vicount Lisle, was buried by her first husband 1500. She gave 90. pound in money to the beautifying of that Church, and her great Messuage with the appurtenance, which was by her Executors, W. Caple and other, 1517. the ninth of Henry the eighth assured to Iohn Wardroper, Parson, T. Clerke, W. Dixson, and Iohn Murdon, Wardens of the said Church, and their successors for ever, they to keepe yeerely for her an Obit, or Anniversary; to be spent on the poore, and otherwise, in all three pounds, the rest of the profits to be imployed in reparation of the Church.

In the 34. yeere of Henry the eighth, Edward Stephan, Parson, T. Spencer, P. Guntar, and E. Grouch, Churchwardens, granted to T. Lodge, a Leafe for threescore yeeres of the said great Messuage, with the appurtenances, which were called the Lady Lisles Lands, for the rent of eight pound, thirteene shillings, foure pence the yeere. The Parishioners since gave it up as Chauntry land, and wronged themselves; also the said Robert Drope and Lady Lisle (notwithstanding their liberality to that Church and Parish) their Tombe is pulled down no Monument remaineth of them. Peter Cornehill Ward. Peter Houghton, late Alderman, is layd in their Vault, 1569.

Robert Fabian Alderman, that wrote and published a Chronicle of England, and of France, was buried there, 1511. with this Epitaph.

Like as the day his course doth consume, And the new morrow springeth again as fast, So man and woman by natures custome, This life to passe, at last in earth are cast, Injoy, & sorrow, which heretheirtime do wast Never in one state, but in course Transitory, So full of change, is of this world the glory.

His Monument is gone: Richard Garnam, 1527. buried there.

Edmond Trindle, and Robert Smith.

William Dickson, and Margret his wife, buried in the Cloister under a faire Tombe now defaced.

Thomas Stow my Grandfather, about the yeere, 1526. and Thomas Stow my Father, 1559.

Iohn Tolus, Alderman, 1548. he gave to Iohn Willoby, Iohn Tolus his gift to the church not performed but concealed. Parson of that Church, to Thomas Lodge, G. Hind, P. Bolde, Church-wardens, and to their successors (towards the reparation of that Church, and reliefe of the poore for ever) his Tenement, with the appurtenances in the Parish of Saint Michael, which hee had lately purchased of Alvery Randalph, of Badlesmeere in Kent: but the Parish never had the gift, nor heard thereof, by the space of 40. yeeres after: such was the conscience of G. Barne, and other the Executors to conceale it to themselves, and such is the negligence of the Parishioners, that (being informed thereof) make no claime thereunto.

Philip Gunter, that was Alderman for a time, and gave 400. pound to bee discharged thereof, was buried in the Cloyster, about the yeere 1582. and Anne his wife, &c.

Thomas Haughton father to the said Peter Haughton.

Francis Beneson, and William Towerson.

Philip Gunter, A hansome Monument in the wall of the Chancell, the south side. Skinner, sometime Alderman of this City, departed this life the 15. day of February, 1582. and lyeth buried in the Cloyster of this Church: who married Anne, Daughter of Henry Barley, of Albery, in the County of Hereford, Esquire; and had issue by her 11. Sonnes, and foure daughters. He left good maintenance for two Sermons yeerely for ever in this Church: the one on the 15. day of March, the other the 25. of December.

Here lyeth buried the body of Peter Houghton, A very faire Monument richly guilded, in the Chancell wall on the North ſide. of London Alderman: he was free of the Grocers Company, a Merchant of the Staple in England, and a Merchant Adventurer. Hee was one of the Sheriffes of this City, in An. 1593. and dyed the last day of December, 1596. Hee gave to the foure Hospitals (that is to say) Saint Bartholomewes, Christ Church, St. Thomas and Bridewell, 600. pound, equally to bee divided betweene them. Hee gave also to the Grocers Company 400. pound to bee lent to eight young men of the same Company (gratis) from two yeeres, to two yeeres, for ever. Which 1000. pound was paid by Iohn Vernon, Merchant-Taylor, accordingly. He had to wife Mary Houghton, who sithence married with Sir Thomas Vavasor, Knight Marshall. Hee had children by her, two Sonnes, named Hatton, and Peter, who dyed young; and two Daughters, Mary and Elizabeth. Mary was married to Sir Iames Scudamore, Knight, and Elizabeth to Sir Henry Bedingfield, Knight.

Here lyeth buried (by a desired promise made to Alderman Houghton while hee lived) the body of Iohn Vernon, His Picture standeth aloft on the other Monument. Merchant-Taylor: who was Master of the said Company, in An. 1609. And hee was also a Merchant of the Staple in England. He dyed the day of An. Dom.

Nemo ante obitum felix.

Here in the Vault lyeth buried the bodies of of Iohn Taylor, In the South Ile of the Quire a hansome Monumẽt in the wal. Citizen and Draper of London, and Constance his wife, one of the Daughters and Coheires of Reginald Wooddeson, of Alresford in Hampshire, Gent. They had issue between them three Sonnes, Iohn, who dyed young, Robert and Iohn. Hee departed this life the 4. day of April, 1597. being about the age of 63. yeeres: and she, being the age of 67. the 29. of October, 1614. Cornehill Ward. 1614. Votum S. Pauli. Phil. 1. Adepti.

In March; 1588. was buried in this place,In the same wall lower, a hansome small Monument. Alexander Every, Merchant but 40. yeeres of age, Whose godly gifts, by will, are warrants of Gods grace In him. By whom, thinke on thy selfe, and on the stage Thou stand’st, and measure it, and other worldly things: As streames that swiftly slide downe from their springs. An. Dom. 1570. primo Feb. Here lyeth Francis Benneson, a Citizen was hee,A plated stone in the same Ile on the ground. A Merchant Adventurer also, and of the Mystery Of Haberdashers Company. A man of honest name, Who here on earth to feare of God, his vitall dayes did frame. Two wives hee had, the first of them in Antwerpe borne she was; The other hee a Widdow left, so God brought it to passe. His Soule (no doubt) doth now remaine with God among the rest Of other worthy Christians, who evermore are blest.

Hereunder lyeth buried the body of the worshipfull, A faire small Monument on a Pillar right against the Pulpit. John Harby, Citizen and Skinner of London, and free of the Merchant Adventurers Company, for Muscovia, Spaine, and the East Iudiaes: who had two wives, Anne Mording, Widdow, by whom he had issue foure Sonnes, and one Daughter, viz. Thomas, Francis, John, William, and Emme. And lastly he married with Anne Saltonstal, Daughter to Sir Richard Saltonstall, Knight, sometime Lord Maior of this City: by whom hee had two Sonnes, Richard and Daniel; which John Harby after 74. yeeres, departed this life the 15. day of April, 1610. Expecting a joyfull resurrection by Iesus Christ.

Hic dormivit in Christo Joannes Cowper, Armiger;A faire Tombe in the Cloyster South. Vxorem habuit Elizabeth Ironside ante se mortuam. Obiit 3. Iunii. An. Dom. 1609.

There is a comely Monument,In the wall on the North side of the Chancell. although of no great cost or charge, there placed for Master Laurence Caldwell, Citizen and Haberdasher of London, and Mary his wife. Great pitty it is, that it is no better kept and looked unto, for shortly the inscriptions engraven thereon, will not any way possibly be read, &c.

This Parish Church hath on the south side thereof a proper Cloyster,Pulpit-Crosse in S. Michael Church-yard. and a faire Church-yard, with a Pulpit-crosse, not much unlike to that in Pauls Church yard. Sir Iohn Rudstone Maior, caused the same Pulpit-Crosse, in his life time to be builded, the Church-yard to bee enlarged, by ground purchased of the next Parish, and also proper houses to be raised, for lodging of Quire men, such as at that time were assistants to Divine Service, then daily sung by Note, in that Church.

The said Io. Rudstone deceased, 1531. and was buried in a Vault under the Pulpit-Crosse: he appointed Sermons to bee preached there, not now performed. His Tombe before the Pulpit-Crosse is taken thence, with the Tombe of Richard Yaxley, Doctor of physicke to King Henry the eighth and other.

The Quire of that Church being dissolved, the lodgings of the Quire men were (by the grave Fathers of that time) charitably appointed for receit of ancient decayed parishioners; namely, widdowes, such as were not able to beare the charge of greater rents abroad, which blessed worke of harbouring the harbourlesse,Mat. 2. 5. is promised to be rewarded in the Kingdome of Heaven.

Then have ye Birchover lane, Birchovers lane. so called of Birchover, the first builder and owner thereof, now corruptly called Birchin lane, the North halfe whereof is of the said Cornehill Ward, the other part is of Langborne Ward.

This lane and the high street neere adjoyning, hath been inhabited (for the most part) with wealthy Drapers, from Birchovers lane on that side the street, downe to the Stockes. In the reigne of Henry the sixth,Vpholders sellers of old stuffe in Cornhill. had yee (for the most part) dwelling there, Frippers or Vpholders, that sold apparell and old houshold stuffe.

I have read of a Country man, that then having lost his hood in Westminster Hall, found the same in Cornhill, hanged out Cornehill Ward. out to be sold, which hee challenged, but was forced to buy, or goe without it: for their stall (they said) was their market.Popes head Taverne on Cornhil. At that time also, the VVinedrawer of the Popes-head Taverne, (standing without the doore in the high street) took the same man by the sleeve, and said, Sir, will you drinke a Pint of VVine?Wine one pint for a penny, & bread given free. VVhereunto he answered, A penny spend I may: and so dranke his Pint: for bread nothing did he pay, for that was then allowed free.

This Popes-head Taverne, with other houses adjoyning, strongly builded of stone, hath of old time beene all in one, pertaining to some great Estate,The Kings house in Cornhill. or rather to the King of this Realme, as may be supposed, both by largenesse thereof, and by the Armes; to wit, 3. Leopards passant gardant, which was the whole Armes of England, before the reigne of Edward the third, that quartered them with the Armes of France, three Flower de Luces.

These Armes of England, Armes of England supported by Angels supported then betweene two Angels, are faire and largely graven in stone on the forefront towards the high street, over the doore or stall of one great house, lately (for many yeeres) possessed by Mr. Philip Gunter. The Popes-head Taverne is on the backe part thereof, towards the South, as also one other house, called the stone house in Lombard street. Some say this was King Iohn’s house; which might so be: for I finde in a written copie of Mathew Paris his Historie, that in the yeere 1232. Henry the third sent Hubert de Burgho, Hubert de Burgho, Earle of Kent, sent into Cornhill. Earle of Kent, to Cornhill in London, there to answer all matters objected against him: where hee wisely acquitted himselfe. The Popes-head Taverne hath a foot-way through, from Cornehill into Lombard street. And downe lower on the high street of Cornhill, is there one other way thorow by the Cardinals Hat Taverne,The Cardinals Hat Taverne. into Lombard street. And so let this suffice for Cornehill VVard. In which be Governours, an Alderman, his Deputy, Common-Counsellours, foure, or sixe; Constables, foure; Scavengers, foure; VVardmote inquest, 16. and a Beadle: it is charged to the Fifteene at 16. pounds.

Langborne