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gitive protestants. Part, as we have before, noticed,* was converted to a glass-house. The other portion the marquis reserved for the purpose of stowing corn, coals, and various kinds of lumber.

His son and successor, John, marquis of Winchester, sold the noble monuments of the dead, the pavement, and other rich materials which had cost immense sums, for 1007. and converted the building into stables for his horses. The steeple was standing in the year 1609, and it was so beautiful that the lord mayor and several respectable citizens petitioned the marquis that it might not be pulled down; but their petition was rejected, and this fine ornament of the city demolished.

The following copy of their application expresses the interest which the city took in the preservation of such a respectable relict of antiquity:

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Right Honourable, my very good Lord,

THERE hath been offered of late, unto this court, a most just` and earnest petition, by divers of the chiefest of the parish of St. Peter the Poor, in London, to move us to be humble suitors unto your lordship in a cause, which is sufficient to speak for itself, withqut the mediation of any other, viz. for the repair of the ruinous steeple of the church, some time called The Augustine Friars,' now belonging to the Dutch nation, situate in the same parish of St. Peter the Poor: The fall whereof, which, without speedy prevention, is near at hand, must needs bring with it not only a great deformitie to the whole city, it being for architecture, one of the beautifullest and rarest spectacles thereof, but also a fearful eminent danger to all the inhabitants next adjoining. Your lordship being moved herein, as we understand, a year since, was pleased then to give honourable promises, with hope of present help, but the effects not following according to your honourable intention, we are bould to renew the said suit agayne; eftsoons craving at your lordship's hands a due consideration of so worthy a work, as to help up the house of God; one of the chiefest fountains, from whence hath sprung so great glory to your lordship's most noble descendency of the Pawlets; whose steps your lordship must needs follow, to continue to all posterity, the fame of so bountiful benefactors both to church and common wealth.

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"So that I trust, we shall have the less need to importune your lordship in so reasonable a suite; first, Bycause it doth principally concern your lordship, being the owner of the greatest part of the said speare, or steeple; but especially by disbursing of a small sum of money, to the value of 50 or 601. your lordship shall do an excellent work, very helpful to many, and most grateful to all, as well English as strangers; who, by this means, shall have cause to magnify to the world this so honourable and charitable an action. And I and my brethren shall much rejoice to be relieved herein by your lordship's most noble disposition, rather than to fly to the last remedy of the law of the land, which in this case hath provided a writ, De Reparationé facienda.

"Thus, hoping as assuredly on your lordship's favour as we pray incessantlie for your continual felicitie, we humbly take leaves of your lordship."*

Nycholas Mosly, Mayor

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Mr. Malcolm, in the third volume of his Londinium Redivivus, has the following observations on the above letter: " In perusing the silly letter written to the marquis of Winchester, proprietor of the demesnes of the monastery in 1600, by the then mayor and aldermen of London, we are at a loss which to wonder at most, the extreme meanness of his lordship, or the want of spirit in the corporation, and the inhabitants of the rich parish of St. Peter le Poor, said by Stow to have been some time (peradventure) a poor parish, but at this present there be many fair houses, possessed by rich merchants and others. Those opulent persons, admiring the beautiful spire of St. Augustine, and observing the decays undermining it, and at the same time dreading the destruction of themselves and their houses by its fall, applied to the marquis to repair it; but a year having elapsed without any thing being done, they solicited the corporation of London, who wrote to the frugal nobleman the letter aluded to, which begins with a warm eulogium on the beauty of the spire, then reminds him of a promise to restore it, proceeds to say that 50%. or 60% would be sufficient for the purpose, and concludes with a threat to

compel

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THE church is now called the Dutch church in Austin Friars, and is served by two ministers, who preach twice every Sunday, and once in the week. They administer the sacrament on the last Sunday of every month, and exchange churches every first Sunday in the month with the Walloon congregation, for their administration of the Eucharist, their own church in Threadneedle Street being too small for them. The ministers have good salaries, and the church provides a sufficient subsistence for their widows.

compel him. Avarice had prompted the marquis to resist at first; but pride taking alarm, he resolved at once to let the steeple fall if it would; and although the Dutch, who possessed the church, might have contributed at least 202. the city the same sum, and the rich inhabitants of St Peter's, the remainder, penurious misers as they were, they suffered the "beautifulest and rarest spectacle" in London to stand threatening ruin, till that and the whole east end of the church were taken down, to make room for houses "for one man's commodity;" whereby London hath lost so goodly an ornament, and times hereafter may talk more of it." Though we can offer no apology for the avaritious marquis, it will be but just to say, on behalf of the city, &c. that had they attempted to resist the authority of the marquis, when aristocracy was at its height, and opposed his commodity, there is no doubt but he would have exerted all his interest at court to make the city and his neighbourhood uncomfortable; they, therefore, urged more by prudence than inclination, suffered the destruction of the edifice which they could not prevent without litigation and loss.

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It is a large and spacious Gothic edifice, supported by two rows of stone pillars. At the east end are several steps, which lead to a large platform, on which is placed a long table with seats against the wall, and forms round, for the use of the holy communion, and the windows on the side have painted on them in several places the word Jesus Temple. On the west end over the screen is a library thus inscribed, Ecclesia Londino Belgica, Bibliotheca, extructa sumptibus Marie Dubois 1659. It contains several valuable manuscripts, among which are the letters of Calvin, Peter Martyr, and other foreign reformers.

Many persons of rank were interred in the church, from the opinion that the ground was more sanctified on account of the peculiarly religious lives of the possessors. A few only can be named here: Edmund Guy de Meric, earl of St. Paul. This nobleman was sent over by Charles VI. of France on a complimentary, visit to Richard II. and his queen. He insinuated himself so greatly into the king's favour as to become a chief confidant; and it was by his advice that Richard was guilty of the murder of his uncle the duke of Gloucester. Lucie, wife of Edmund Holland, lord admiral, and one of the heirs and daughter of Barnabas lord of Milan.She left very considerable legacies to the church, and in particular to the canons of our Lady de la Scala, at Milan. Richard Fitzalan, the great earl of Arundel, beheaded in 1397 on Tower Hill. John Vere earl of Oxford, a firm adherent to the house of Lancaster, beheaded by Edward IV. in 1463, at the same place, with his son and several others, Numbers of the barons who fell in the battle of Barnet, were also buried here. Edward Stafford, duke of Buckingham, the victim to the pride of cardinal Wolsey, chose this as his

place

Dod in his Church History of England, vol. I, p. 165, informs us, that Wolsey, who longed to supplant his rival favourite, either from vanity or insolence, dipped his fingers in the bason which the duke had just before held to the king, while he washed his hands; upon which he poured the water into the cardinal's shoes. This so provoked the haughty prelate, that he threatened to sit upon his skirts; which menace occasioned his having no skirts to his coat, when he next appeared

place of rest. When the emperor Charles V. heard of the duke's execution, he exclaimed " that a butcher's dog (meaning the cardinal, who was a butcher's son) had devoured the fattest buck (alluding to the name of Buckingham) in all England." A number of other noble and eminent persons were buried here, a list of whom is given in Stow's Survey.

In the south-west corner of Winchester Street are the remains of

WINCHESTER HOUSE.

The upper part of this fabric is more modern than the lower, yet appears in a decayed state; the old walls still retain their mullioned windows, surrounded with quoins.Strong bars of iron are inserted in the bricks, which prevent the several parts of the building from separating. The whole is enclosed by a wall, and a large gateway. It was lately occupied by Mr. Le Souef, a merchant, and afterwards by a packer; many of similar professions have been the occupiers.

In London-Wall Street, opposite Little Winchester Street, stands the parish church of

in the royal presence. The king asking him the reason of his singular appearance, he, with an air of pleasantry, told him, that it was only to 'disappoint the cardinal, by putting it out of his power to do as he had threatened. The poor duke was, however, some time after accused of treasonable practices, with a view of succeeding to the crown; in consequence of a prophecy of one Hopkins, a monk, who foretold that Henry should die without issue male. He was, of course, declared guilty, and executed on Tower Hill, May 17, 1521, So that Wolsey succeeded too fatally in sitting upon his skirt.

* Mullions are the short upright posts that divide the several lights in window frames.

ALHALLOWS,

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