manbury; which tower was of the very same stone and manner of building with St. Alban's church."

As a corroboration, Matthew Paris, in his Life of St. Alban, p. 50, says, "that in the time of Paul, the fourteenth abbot of St. Albans, A. D. 1077, there were many churches in London belonging to that abbey, of which this was one, the donation of which he changed for the patronage of another with the abbot of Westminster. It is said there to be the chapel of king Offa, whose royal palace was contiguous to it; but through the carelessness and sloth of his succes sors, was by the unjust seizing or encroaching thereon by neighbouring citizens, reduced (though still retaining its antient liberty) to a small house."

The church, which was old and shattered, was rebuilt Anno 1634, and being consumed by the dreadful fire in the year 1666, was re-erected, and finished in the

year 1685. The building both of the inside and outside of this church is of the Gothic order. It is wainscoated round with Norway

oak.

There is a gallery at the west end of the church, the front of which is large bolection, with raised pannels, in which is a very good organ, also a door case and a spacious arch under the gallery, opening into the nave of the church."

The pulpit is finely carved in imitation of fruit and leaves; the sound-board is a hexagon, surrounded by a handsome cornice, adorned with cherubims and other embellishments; the inside is neatly veneered.

The altar-piece is highly ornamented, and consists of four columns, fluted, with their bases, pedestals, entablature, and open pediment of the Corinthian order; over each column, upon acroters, is a lamp with a gilded taper: above the cornice are the arms of England, with the supporters, helmet and crest, richly carved under a triangular pediment, and on the north and south sides of these ornaments are two large cartouches, carved in fine wainscot.

The church is well pewed with oak; here are also two large brass branches, and a neat marble font, enriched with cherubims, &c.

The tower is of stone, built square; the eight acroterial pinnacles are of the Gothic order. The altitude of the tower is eighty-five feet and a half; to the top of the pinnacles ninety-two feet.

The church is in length about sixty-six feet, breadth fiftynine, and in height thirty-three.

In Stow's time here were the monuments of Sir Richard Illingworth, baron of the Exchequer; Thomas Catworth, mayor of London in the year 1443; John Woodcock, mayor of London in the year 1405; and of Thomas Chalton, mayor Anno 1550.

Sir JOHN CHEKE, preceptor to Edward VI. with this in scription:

Doctrinæ Lumen CHECUS vitæq Magister,

Aurea naturæ fabrica, morte jacet.
Non erat è multis unus, sed præstitit unus
Omnibus, & Patria flos erat ille suæ:

Gemma Britanna fuit, tam magnum nulla tulerunt
Tempora Thesaurum, tempora nulla ferent.

He also says:

Hic jacet Tom Short-hose,

Sine Tombe, sine Sheete, sine Riches;
Qui vixit sine Gowne,

Sine Cloake, sine Shirt, sine Breeches.

The patronage of this rectory was, during the reign of Edward III. in the master, brethren and sisters of the hospital of St. James, Westminster, and so it continued till the foundation of Eton College by Henry VI. when the presentation was transferred to the provost and fellows of that college, in which, after very little interruption, it still conti

nues.

Among the rectors of eminence, we record WILLIAM WATTS, D. D. a native of Lynn in Norfolk, and of Caius College, Cambridge, who having improved his education by travel, became master of several languages, and an admirable critic and divine. Charles I. appointed him one of his chaplains; he was also chaplain to the earl of Arundel, general of the Scottish expedition in 1639. He was after

wards

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wards prebendary of Wells. But being sequestered from this benefice, plundered, and his wife and children turned out of doors, and himself compelled to fly for his life. He then retired to the king, and was appointed chaplain to prince Rupert; was present with him in all the battles which he fought with the Parliamentarians, and attended him at the blockade of Kinsale, where, being seized with a distemper that baffled medical assistance, he died and was buried there in 1649. He was distinguished by Vossius as "Doctissimus et Clarissimus Watsius," and "qui optime de Historia meruit," &c. He greatly assisted in Spelman's Glossary, and corrected, added considerable notes to, and published Matthew Paris's Historia Major, 1640. He was also editor of several other learned works, a catalogue of which is in Wood's Athenæ Oxoni.

Exha Pursuing the route down WOOD STREET, eastward is Plates ADDLE STREET, of which a sufficient account has been given O 23 in the preceding article, and in a former part of this work.* In this street is

PLAISTERERS' HALL,

a handsome building, and formerly appropriated as the hall for the Pinners Company. It has, however, been of late years rented as a dancing school, music room, &c.

The PLAISTERERS COMPANY is the forty-sixth upon the city list, incorporated on the 18th of March, 1501, by king Henry VII. by the name and stile of "The Master and Wardens of the Guild or Fraternity of the blessed Mary of Plaisterers, London." Which charter was confirmed 19 Car. II. on the 11th of June, 1667. The present government of this company is in a master, two wardens, and a court of assistants. It also enjoys the privilege of the livery. In Wood Street, near Silver Street, is

PARISH CLERKS' HALL.

The COMPANY OF CLERKS, commonly termed PARISHI CLERKS were incorporated Anno 1232, in the 17th of Henry III. and confirmed by several succeeding kings; they consist of a master, two wardens and seventeen assistants, as governors,

* Vol. I. p. 47.

governors, besides one hundred and fifteen others, admitting one to each parish, though there are not altogether so

many.

They publish the Bills of Mortality, which also shew the number of christenings; with which bills any one may be served weekly for an annual compliment. They also publish at Christmas a yearly bill; and present an account of all the christenings, diseases and casualties, &c. weekly and yearly, to the king.

The antient hall of this company was near Little St. Helen's, in Bishopsgate Street, at the sign of the Angel, and here they had seven almshouses for widows. "Unto this fraternity men and women of the first quality, ecclesiastics, and others, joined themselves." Among the privileges of the company, granted by subsequent charters, were, that they should be exempt from all parish offices in the parish in which they officiated, but in no other. They were allowed to have a printing press in their common hall, for printing their general and weekly bills of mortality; and a printer for that purpose, to be appointed by the archbishop of Canterbury. They were empowered to administer an oath to the members on their admission" To be observant of, and obedient unto, all such wholesome rules and orders made or to be made, which may conduce to the common profit and benefit of the said company or fellowship." Before this oath can be administered to one newly chosen a parish clerk, it is necessary that he procure a licence under the seal of the bishop of London; upon producing which, the next court day he may be sworn, and received as a brother of the Society of Parish Clerks. Notwithstanding, if the person have not obtained his licence, he may not be refused his admittance, provided he produce a certificate under the hands of the minister and churchwardens of his election.

Formerly, it was the custom for the parish clerks to attend great funerals; going before the hearse, and singing, with their surplices hanging on their arms, till they arrived at the church.

They

They had also public festivals, which they celebrated with music and singing. These meetings were held in Guildhall college, or chapel. On the eve of September 27, 1560, they had an even song, and the next day a communion, whence they proceeded to dinner in Carpenter's Hall. In 1562, on the 11th of May, they again kept their communion in the chapel, and received seven persons into their brotherhood; they then retired to their own hall to dinner, after which they attended "a goodly play of the children of Westminster, with waits, regals, and singing."

In SILVER STREET, so called on account of the residence of silversmiths formerly, is SILVER STREET CHAPEL, which was an Independent meeting house; but afterwards occupied by the late pious Mr. THOMAS WILLS, many years preacher at Spa Fields chapel, Clerkenwell.

Beyond, on the same side of the way, is the site of

ST. OLAVE, SILVER STREET.

This was a rectory, and small church of some antiquity: but it does not appear when, or by whom, it was founded. It was in the gift of the dean and chapter of St. Paul's at the time, and long before the fire of London in 1666, when it was destroyed: so that the dean and chapter of St. Paul's, and the provost and fellows of Eaton, present to this living alternately. The site remains now only as a burying place for the inhabitants of this parish.

In antient records this church is denominated St. Olave de Mucwell, on account of its proximity to Mucwell, or Monkswell Street. In the church was buried John lord Darcy, of Chich, who died in 1593.

This parish is united to St. Alban's, but it still maintains a separate government within itself, by a general vestry, two churchwardens, and four overseers for the poor.

MONKSWELL STREET. The first object of attention in this street, is the MEETING HOUSE in Windsor Court. It was here that Mr. Doolittle opened the first Dissenting place of worship in London. The late Dr. James Fordyce, author of several religious and useful works, preached in this place of worship many years.

VOL. III. No. 63.

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