has since taken place; and till it can be discovered who the John Chaucer was that attended Edward III. in his expedi-" tion to Flanders, in 1388, we must be on the side of those who affirm that Richard Chaucer, wine-merchant, was the father of Geoffrey, who was ten years of age when the above John Chaucer was in the train of king Edward, Richard was buried in the church of St. Mary Aldermary, when his son was twenty years of age.

SAINT THOMAS THE APOSTLE.

THIS church stood in Cloak Lane, and belonged from time immemorial to the canons of St. Paul's cathedral; it continues still in the collation of the dean and chapter.

Here was a perpetual chantry founded for the souls of Thomas Romain and of Julian his wife, of which the mayor of London for the time being was patron. There were other chantries in addition, for the better maintenance of a priest.

Sir William Littlebury, alias Horn, was so named by Edward IV. on account of his excellent blowing of the horn, according to Stow, who, however, mentions him again as mayor of London in 1437, and that he was the son of Thomas Horn of Snaylewell in the county of Cambridge, and had been knighted on the field by Henry VII. This knight was buried in the church of St. Thomas, and gave his house in Bread Street, called the George, to the company of Salters, of which he was a member, to maintain a priest here, who was to have a yearly pension of 61. 13s. 4d. He also gave to every preacher at Paul's Cross and at the Spital 4d. for ever; to the prisoners at Newgate, Ludgate, the Marshalsea, and King's Bench, 10s. at Christmas, and the same donation at Easter, for ever, "but," says Stow, "these legacies are not performed." He appointed by his testament, the bells in this church to be changed for four new bells, but that also was not performed; and gave five hundred marks towards repairing the high roads between London and Cambridge, and his dwelling house, with the garden and appurtenances to be sold, and bestowed in charitable actions, as his executors should answer before God.

There

There were several other benefactions to this church, which was burnt in the year 1666, and the parish united to that of St. Mary Aldermary, Bow Lane.

Among the clergy who officiated here, was THOMAS CARTWRIGHT, bishop of Chester in the reign of James II. Granger says of this prelate, "that he had been a forward and confident preacher at the time of the Interregnum, and proceeded in exact conformity with the powers then in being, but struck in with the royal party at the Restoration, and was no less forward upon all occasions to express his loyalty.He was made one of the king's chaplains; was successively a prebendary of St. Paul's, and of Durham, and had a hard struggle with Dr. Womack for the bishopric of St. David's. In the reign of James, he enlisted himself on the side of the prerogative, and was made bishop of Chester for boldly asserting in one of his sermons, "that the king's promises to his parliament were not binding." It is probable, that on such slavish terms he might have been made archbishop of Canterbury, if that prince had continued on the throne. He sat in the Ecclesiastical Commission, and was one of the judges sent by the king to intimidate the fellows of Magdalen College in Oxford, in the affair of Dr. Parker, whom they had refused to elect their president, according to the royal mandate. Upon the Revolution, he fled into France, where he officiated as minister to the Protestant part of the king's household. Upon the death of Jeth Ward, he became titular bishop of Salisbury. James, who looked upon him as neither Protestant nor Papist, had little or no esteem for him. He died of the flux in Ireland, whither he had followed the royal adventurer, the fifteenth of April, 1689." +

6

This part of CLOAK LANE was antiently called KnightRiders Street, on account of the knights armed at all points, who mounted at Tower Royal, and proceeded through this street till they came to Creed Lane, whence crossing Ludgate Street, they passed into Smithfield, to display their feats of chivalry before the royal family, nobility, and other dignified characters of the realm.

* See Vol. I. p. 276.

+Hist. of England, Vol. IV. p. 29.

On

On the south side of Upper Thames Street, nearly adjoining to Anchor Alley, is situated

VINTNERS' HALL.

THIS handsome building is situated on the spot once occupied by the house of Sir John Stody, mayor of London in 1357, and at that time called Stody Place, or, the Manor of the Vintry; which place Sir John afterwards gave to the Vintners Company.

The present edifice incloses a square court, with a large handsome iron gate in the front next the street, hung upon columns wreathed with grapes and leaves, and a Bacchus upon three tuns on each pillar. The hall is exceedingly handsome, and behind it is a garden with a passage to the Thames. "In the great hall is a good picture of St. Martin, on a white horse, dividing his cloak with our Saviour, who ap、 peared to him in the year 337, in the character of a beggar; Hic Christo chlamydem Martinus dimidiavit;

Et faciamus idem nobis exemplificavit.

There is, besides, a statue of that saint in the same room; and another picture of him above stairs. "Why this saint was selected as patron of the company I know not, except they imagined that the saint, actuated by good wine, had been inspired with good thoughts; which, according to the argument of James Howel, producing good works brought a man to heaven. And, to shew the moral in a contrary effect, here is a picture of Lot and his incestuous daughters, exemplifying the danger of the abuse of the best things."*

The VINTNERS form a very antient company; were known by the name of Merchant-wine-tunners of Gascoyne, and were distinguished into importers, who were called Vineatrij, or wholesale dealers in wine; and Tabernarij, or retailers, who kept taverns or cellars to retail wine bought of the merchant. They were incorporated by Edward III. and confirmed by Henry VI, who granted them a charter to form them a body politic, by the name of "The Master, Wardens, and Freemen, and Commonalty of the Mystery of

VOL. III. No. 56.

* Pennant.

Vintners of the City of London." This is the eleventh of the twelve principal companies; and is governed by a master, wardens, and court of assistants.

The freemen belonging to this company have the privilege of retailing wine without a licence. They have considerable possessions, out of which they pay large sums annually for the relief of the poor,

They have also an almshouse near Mile-end for twelve widows, with a chapel.

Near the water side, a little to the west of Vinters' Hall, is

WORCESTER PLACE.

Mr. Pennant says that this was the antient residence of the accomplished John Tiptoft, carl of Worcester, during the reigns of Henry VI. and Edward IV. But we will endeavour to prove that it was a different family who resided here.

Bartholomew, lord Burghersh, whose niece married Thomas, son of Geoffrey Chaucer, before mentioned, had a daughter and heir who married Edward Le Despencer, grand nephew of the unfortunate Hugh le Despencer, whose son Thomas was earl of Gloucester, beheaded by the rabble in Bristol, in the year 1399. This nobleman left only one daughter and heir, Isabel, who first married Richard Beauchamp, earl of Worcester, and afterwards Richard Beauchamp, his first cousin, the great earl of Warwick. The issue of Isabel was Elizabeth, who married Sir Edward Nevil, afterwards lord Bergavenny. We do not find that Tiptoft, earl of Worcester, had any possessions in London, except the office of constable of the Tower.

Nearly opposite is GARLICK HILL, at the ascent of which stands the parish church of

SAINT JAMES, GARLICK HILL.

000000

THE old church was so decayed in 1326 as to require new building; it was rebuilt by Richard Rothing, sheriff, and 7007. was laid out in repair during the year 1624. This church is a rectory, and being burnt down in 1666, was rebuilt in 1683. This church was originally in the patronage of the abbot and convent of Westminster; but coming to the crown upon the dissolution of religious houses, was granted by Mary I. to the bishop of London and his successors.

It is built of stone, seventy-five feet long, forty-five feet broad, forty feet high to the roof, and the steeple ninetyeight feet. The tower is divided into three stages. In the lowest is a very elegant door, with coupled columns of the Corinthian order. In the second is a pretty large window, with the form of a circular one not opened over it. In the third story is a window larger than the former; and the cornice above this supports a range of open work, in the place of battlements, on a balustrade. Hence rises the turret, which is composed of four stages, and decorated with columns, scrolls, and other ornaments.

Stow mentions the monuments of the following eminent persons who were buried in the old church:

Mr. Sheriff Rothing, the rebuilder.