Aldersgate warde

Aldersgate warde.; Oate lane. Noble streete.; Noble streete.; Shelleyes house now Bacon's house.

The next is Aldersgate Ward, taking name of that north gate of the citie, this ward also consisteth of diuers streetes and lanes, lying aswell within the gate and wall, as without, and first to speak of that part within the gate thus it is. The east part thereof ioyneth vnto the west part of Criplegate warde in Engain lane or Maiden lane. It beginneth on the north side of that lane, at Stayning Lane end, and runneth vppe from the Haberdashers Hall, to S. Mary Staining Church: and by the church east winding almost to Woodstreete: and west through Oatelane, & then by the south side of Bacon house in Noble streete, backe againe by Lilipot lane, which is also of that ward, to Maiden lane, and so on that north side west to S.Iohn Sacharies church, and to Faster lane. Now on the south side of Ingaine or Mayden lane is the west side of Guthuruns lane, to Kery lane, and Kery Lane itself (which is of this ward) and backe again into Engainlane, by the north side of the Goldsmithes hall, to Faster lane: and this is the East wing of this ward. Then is Foster lane almost wholy of this Warde, beginneth in the south toward Cheape, on the East side by the north side of S. Fosters church and runneth down North west by the west ende of Engaine lane, by Lilipot lane, and Oate lane, to Noble streete, and through that by Shelly house (of old time so called, as belonging to the Shelleyes) Sir Thomas Shelley, knight, was owner thereof in the I. of H. the 4. It is now called Bacon house, because the same was new builded by sir Nicholas Bacon Lord Keeper of the great Seale. Down on that side by Sergeant Fleetwoods house, Recorder of London, who also new builded it, to S. Olaues Church in Siluer streete which is by the North west end of this Noble streete.

Then again in Foster lane this ward beginneth on the West side thereof, ouer against the South west corner of S. Fosters church, and runneth downe by S. Leonards church by Pope lane end, and by S. Anns lane end, which lane is also of this ward, north to the stone wall by the wall of the Citty, ouer against Bacon house: which stone wall, and so down north to Criplegate on that side, is of Faringdon ward.

S. Martins lane.

Then haue yee the maine streete of this warde, which is called S. Martins lane, including Saint Martin on the East side thereof, and so downe on both the sides to Aldersgate. And these be the boundes of this ward within the wall and gate.

Aldersgate streete.; Goswel streete

Without the gate, the maine street called Aldersgate streete runneth vp North on the east side, to the west ende of Howndes ditch or Barbican streete: A part of which streete is also of this warde. And on the west side to Long lane, a part whereof is likewise of this ward. Beyond the which Aldersgate street, is Gosewell streete vp to the Barres.

Briton streete

And on this west side of Aldersgate streete, by S. Buttolphes church is Briton street, which runneth west to a pumpe, and then north to the gate, which entreth the churchyeard sometime pertaining to the Priory of S. Bartholomew, on the east side: and on the west side towards S. Bartholomewes spittle, to a paire of postes there fixed. And these be the boundes of this Aldersgate ward without.

Stayning lane.

The antiquities be these, first in Stayning lane, of old time so called, as may be supposed, of Painter stainers dwelling there.

Almeshouses there.

On the east side thereof, adioyning to the Haberdashers Hall, bee ten almes houses, pertaining to the Haberdashers wherin be placed ten Almes people of that company, euery of them hauing eight pence the peece euery Fryday for euer, by the gifte of Thomas Huntlow Haberdasher, one of the Shiriffes in the yeare, 1539. More, Sir George Baron gaue them ten poundes by the yeare for euer.

Parish Church of saint Mary Stayning.

Then is the small parrish Church of S. Mary called Staining, because it standeth at the North ende of Stayning lane. In the which church being but newly builded, there remayne(s) no monument worth the noting.

Parish church of S. Iohn Sachary.

Then is Engaine lane, or Mayden lane, and at the Northwest corner thereof, the parrish Church of S. Iohn Sachary: A fayre church, with the monuments wel preserued, of Thomas Lichfield, who founded a chauntrie there in the 14. of E. the 2. of sir Nicholas Twiford, Goldsmith, mayor 1388. and Dame Margery his wife: of whose goods the church was made & new builded, with a Tomb for them, and others of their race, 1390.Drugo Barentine, Mayor, 1398. He gaue fayre landes to the Goldsmithes: hee dwelled right against the Goldsmithes Hall. Between the which hall and his dwelling house, hee builded a Galory thwarting the streete, whereby hee might go from the one to the other: he was buried in this church, and Christian his wife, 1427. Iohn Adis Goldsmith 1400. and Margaret his wife. Iohn Francis, Goldsmith, Mayor 1400. And Elizabeth his wife, 1450. I Sutton, Goldsmith, one of the Shiriffes,1413. Bartholomew Seman, Gold-beater, Maister of the kinges Mintes, within the Tower of London and the town of Calice,1430. Iohn Hewet Esquier, 1500.William Breakespere,Goldsmith, 1461.Christopher Eliot, Goldsmith, 1505.Bartholomew Reade,Goldsmith, Mayor 1502, was buried in the Charterhouse, and gaue to this his parrish Church one hundred pound. His wife was buried here with a fayre Monument, her picture in habite of a widdow, Thomas Keyton, Lorimar, 1522. William Potken Esquier, 1537. Iohn Cornish with an Epitaph, 1470. Robert Fenruther, Goldsmith, one of the shiriffes in the yeare 1512.

The Goldsmithes hall.; R. Grafton

On the east side of this Faster lane, at Engayne lane ende, is the Goldsmithes hall, a proper house, but not large. And therefore to say that Bartholomew Read, Goldsmith, Mayor in the yeare 1502. kept such a feast in this hall as some haue fabuled, is far incredible, & altogether vnpossible, considering the smalnes of the hal & number of the guests, which as they say, were more then an hundreth persons of great estate. For the messes and dishes of meates to them serued, the paled Parke in the same hall, furnished with frutefull trees, beastes of venery, and other circumstances of that pretended feast well weighed, Westminster hall would hardly haue suffised, and therefore I will ouerpasse it, and note somewhat of principall Goldsmithes.

The first Mayor of London was a Goldsmith, Principal men of the Citty Goldsmithes.

First I read, that Leefstane, Goldsmith, was Prouost of this Cittie, in the raigne of Henry the I. Also that Henry Fitz Alewin Fitz Leafstane, Goldsmith, was Mayor of London in the I. of Richard the first, & continued Mayor 24. years. Also that Gregory Rocksly chiefe say-maister of all the Kings Mints within England, (and therefore by my coniecture) a Goldsmith, was Maior in the 3 of Edward the first, and continued Maior 7. years together. Then William Faringdon, Goldsmith, Alderman of Faringdon ward, one of the shiriffes, 1281. the 9. of E. the I. who was a Goldsmith as appeareth in record, & shall be shewed in Faringdon warde. Then Nicholas Faringdon his son, Goldsmith, Alderman of Faringdon Warde, foure times Mayor in the raign of Edward the second, &c. For the rest of latter time are more manifestlie knowne, and therefore I leaue them. The men of this mistery were incorporated or confirmed in the sixeteenth of Richard the second.

Parrish church of S. Olaue in Siluer streete.

Then at the North end of Noble streete, is the parrish church of S. Olaue in Siluer streete, a small thing, and without any noteworthy monuments.

Parrish church of S. Leonarde in Faster lane.

On the west side of Fauster lane, is the smal parrish Church of S. Leonardes, for them of S. Martins le graund. A number of Tenements beeing lately builded in place of the great Collegiate Church of S. Martin, that parish is mightily increased. In this Church remayne these Monumentes. First without the Church is grauen in stone on the east ende, John Brokeitwell, an especiall reedifier or new builder therof. In the Quire, grauen in brasse, Robert Purfet, Grocer, 1507. Robert Trappis, Goldsmith, 1526. with this Epitaph.

When the bels be merily roong,
And the masse deuoutly sung,
And the meat merily eaten,
Then shall Robert Traps (fn. 1) his wines
And children be forgotten.

Popelane, Parish church of S. Anne in the willowes.

Then in Pope lane, so called of one Pope that was owner thereof, on the north side is the parrish church of saint Anne in the willowes, so called I know not vpon what occasion: but some say, of willowes growing thereabouts: but now there is no such voyde place for willowes to grow, more then the Churchyeard, wherin do grow some high Ashe trees.

This church by casualty of fire, in the yeare 1548. was burnt, so far as it was combustible, but since being newly repayred, there remain a few monuments of antiquity, of Thomas Beckhenton (fn. 2) , Clarke of the pipe, who was buried there, 1499. Raph Caldwell, Gentleman of Greyes Inne, 1527. Iohn Lord Sheffelde, Iohn Herenden, Mercer, Esquire, 1572. these verses on an old stone.

William Gregory Skinner, Mayor of London in the year 1451, was there buried, and founded a chauntrie, but no monument of him remayneth.

Colledge of S. Martin le graund, claimed priui-ledge of sanctuary. Lib. S. Martin.; Argument against priuiledge chalenged by the Deane of saint Martins.

Then in S. Martins lane was of old time a fayre & large colledge of a deane and secular canons or priests, and was called S. Martins le graund, founded by Ingelricus and Edwardus his brother in the yeare of Christ 1056. & confirmed by W. the Conqueror, as appeareth by his charter dated 1068. This colledge claymed great priuiledges of sanctuary and otherwise, as appeareth in a booke, written by a notary of that house about the yeare 1440. the 19 of H. the 6. wherin amongst other things is set down & declared, that on the I. of september in the yeare aforesaid, a souldier prisoner in Newgate, as he was led by an officer towards the Guild hall of London, there came out of Panyer Alley 5. of his fellowship, & took him from the Officer, brought him into sanctuary at the west dore of S. Martins church, and tooke grithe of that place, but the same day Philip Malpas and Rob. Marshall then shiriffes of London, with many other entered the said Church, and forcibly tooke out with them the said 5. men, thether fled: ledde them fettered to the Compter, and from thence chained by the neckes to Newgate, of which violent taking the Deane and Chapter in large manner complayned to the king, and required him as their patron to defend their priuiledges, like as his predecessors had done, &c. All which complaint and sute the Cittizens by their counsell, Markam sergeant at the law, Iohn Carpentar late common Clearke of the Citty, and other, learnedly aunswered, offering to proue that the said place of saint Martin had no such immunity or Liberty, as was pretended: namely Carpenter offered to loose his liuelode, if that Church had more immunitie then the least church in London: notwithstanding, after long debating of this controuersie, by the kinges commaundement, and assent of his Councell in the stered Chamber, the Chauncelor and Treasurer sent a writ vnto the shiriffes of London, charging them to bring the saide fiue persons, with the cause of their taking, and withholding, afore the king in his Chauncerie, on the Vigill of All-hallowes. On which daye the saide shiriffes with the Recorder and Counsell of the Cittie, brought and deliuered them accordingly, afore the saide Lordes, whereas the Chauncelor, after hee had declared the Kinges commaundement, sent them to saint Martins, there to abide freely, as in a place hauing franchises, whiles them liked, &c.

Thus much out of that Booke haue I noted, concerning the priuiledge of that place challenged in these daies, since the which time, to wit in the yeare 1457, the 36. of the said Henry the 6, an ordinance was made by the king and his counsel, concerning the said sanctuary men in saint Martins le graund, whereof the Articles are set down in the booke of K within the Chamber of the Guild hall, in the leafe 299.

Mathew 21.

This Colledge was surrendered to king Edward the sixt, the 2. of his raigne, in the yeare of Christ, 1548. and the same yeare the Colledge church being pulled downe, in the east part thereof a large Wine tauerne was builded, and withall downe to the west and throughout the whole precinct of that Colledge many other houses were builded, and highly prised, letten to straungers borne, and other such, as there claymed benefite of priuiledges, graunted to the Canons, seruing God day and night (for so be the wordes in the Charter of W. Conqueror) which may hardly be wrested to artificers, buyers and sellars, otherwise then is mentioned in the 21. of saint Mathewes Gospel.

Lower down on the west side of S. Martins lane, in the parish of S. Anne almost by Aldersgate, is one great house, commonlie called Northumberland house: it belonged to H. Percy. K.H. the 4. in the 7. of his raign, gaue this house with the tenements therevnto appertayning to Queene Iane his wife, and then it was called her Wardrope, it is now a Printing house.

Cookes Hall.

Without Aldersgate, on the east side of Aldersgate street, is the Cookes hall: which Cooks (or Pastelars) were admitted to be a Company, and to haue a Maister & Wardens in the 22. of E. the 4. From thence along vnto Hounsditch or Barbican streete, bee many faire houses. On the west side also be the like faire buildings till ye come to Long lane, and so to Goswel streete.

Briton streete. Parish church of S. Buttolph.

In Briten street, which tooke that name of the Dukes of Briton lodging there, is one proper parish church of S. Buttolph, in which church was sometime a Brotherhood of S. Fabian & Sebastian, founded in the yeare 1377, the 51. of E. the 3. and confirmed by H. the 4. in the 6. of his raign. Then H. the 6. in the 24. of his raign, to the honour of the Trinitie, gaue licence to Dame Ioan Astley, somtime his Nurse, to R. Cawod and T. Smith to founde the same a fraternity, perpetually to haue a M. and 2. Custos with brethren & sisters, &c. This brotherhood was indowed with landes, more then 30. pound by the yeare, and was suppressed by E. the 6. There lie buried, Iohn de Bath, Weuar, 1390. Philip at Vine, Capper, 1396. Benet Gerard, Brewer, 1403. Thomas Bilsington founded a Chauntrie there, and gaue to that Church a house, called the Helmet vpon Cornhill. Iohn Bradmore Chirurgion, Margaret & Katheren his wiues, 1411. Iohn Michaell seriant at Armes, 1415. Allen Bret, Carpenter, 1425. Robert Malton 1426. Iohn Trigilion, Brewer, 1417. Iohn Mason, Brewer, 1431. Rob. Cawod, Clarke of the Pipe in the kings Exchequer, 1466. Ri. Emmessey, Iohn Walpole, I. Hartshorne Esquier, seruant to the king, 1400. And other of that family great benefactors to that church. W. Marrow, Grocer, Mayor (1455.) & Katherenhis wife, were buried there, about 1468. The Lady Anne Packintonwidow, late wife to Io. Packinton knight, Chirographer of the court of the common pleas: shee founded Almes houses neare vnto the white Fryers church in Fleetstreet, the Clothworkers in London haue ouersight thereof. And thus an end of this ward, which hath an Alderman, his Deputie, common Counsellers fiue, Constables eight, Scauengers nine, for the Wardmote inquest 14. and a Beedle. It is taxed to the fifteen in London, seuen pound, and in the Exchequer, 6. l. 19.s.

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