Notwithstanding this gift, it must have reverted to the crown; for in Richard the Second's reign it was called the Queen's Wardrobe,' as Stow thus relates from Froissart.'

King Richard having in Smithfield overcome and dispersed the rebels, he, his lords, and all his company, entered the city of London with great joy, and went to the lady princess his mother, who was then lodged in the Tower Royal, called the Queen's Wardrobe, where she had remained three days and two nights, right sore abashed. But when she saw the king her son, she was greatly rejoiced, and said, Ah, son, what great sorrow have I suffered for you this day!' The king answered and said, 'Certainly, madam, I know it well, but now rejoice and thank God, for I have this day recovered mine heritage, and the realm of England, which I had near hand lost."

Hence it is probable, that this was a place of considerable strength at this time; for, when the rebels had got possession of the Tower of London, the queen-mother being obliged to fly, came hither for security and it may be supposed that the king also lodged here; for, in 1386, when Leon III. king of Armenia, who had been expelled his kingdom by the Turks, fled to England for refuge, this was the residence of Richard.

This great house, belonging anciently to the kings of England, was inhabited by the first duke of Norfolk of the family of the Howards, granted unto him by king Richard III. as appears in an old ledger-book of that king's; where it is said, That the king granted unto John duke of Norfolk, Messuagium cum Pertinenciis, voc. le Tower, infra Paroch. Sancti Thomæ Lond.'

The parish church of St. Martin, Vintry, annexed to that of St. Michael Royal, stood at the south-east corner of Queen-street, in Thames-street, the site of which is now used as a cemetery for the inhabitants of this parish.

In St. Thomas Apostles there was a messuage perhaps some time the dwelling of the earls of Cornwall, called Ringed-hall; for in the reign of Edward III. a place so called, with four shops and two gardens, in this parish, was granted by Edmund earl of Cornwall to the abbot of Beaulieu near Oxford; and re-granted, and a plea thereupon in the hustings, in the second of Richard II.

On the same side, was one great messuage, some time called Ipres-inn, of William of Ipres, a Fleming, the first builder thereof, who was called out of Flanders, with a number of Flemings, to the aid of king Stephen, against Maud the empress, in the year 1138, as before related, and grew so far in favour with the said king for his service, that he built this house near the Tower Royal, in which tower it seemeth the king was then lodged, as in the heart of the city, for his great safety.*

In Great St. Thomas Apostle, formerly called Horse-bridgestreet, is

• Maitland.

Cutler's Hall.

A plain brick building, totally devoid of architectural ornament. It appears from ancient records that Richard de Wilehale, in 1295, confirmed to Paul Butelar this house, and the edifices, in the parish of St. Michael Paternoster church, and St. John upon Walbrook ; which some time Lawrence Gisors, and his son Peter Gisors, did possess, and afterwards Hugo de Higham; and lieth between the tenement of the said Richard towards the south, and the lane called Horse-shoe-bridge towards the north; and between the way called Paternoster church on the west, and the course of Walbrooke on the east, paying yearly one clove of gilliflowers at Easter, and to the priory and convent of St. Mary Overy, 6s. This house some time belonged to Simon Dolesty, grocer, mayor in the year 1359.

The hall is a large apartment, with a music gallery at the north end. Over the master's chair is a portrait of Mrs. Margaret Craythorne, widow of John Craythorne, a worthy benefactress, 1569.* In the windows are several shields of arms of masters of the company in stained glass. From one it appears that the foundation of this hall was laid in 1667.

The court room, which is on the second floor, is a handsome apartment, in the windows are twelve shields of stained glass, and over the mantel-piece is another portrait of Mrs. Craythorne, and in the lobby is apparently the original painted on pannel. On the north side of Great Trinity-lane is the

German Catholic Chapel.

It is a large room on the first floor, being constructed above a gateway. The external appearance has nothing striking; it is built of brick, and has two large circular headed windows. On the ground floor is a porch, on which is a staircase leading to the chapel the interior is surrounded on three sides by a large gallery, the remaining side, which is the northern, is occupied by the altar. The area is not filled with unsightly pews, as in Protestant churches, but in accordance with continental usage, is entirely open, chairs being provided for the congregation. The ceiling is horizontal without ornament. The altar is richly decorated, it is of a sarcophagus form, painted in imitation of marble; upon it stands several candlesticks and a gilt crucifix, the wall behind it, which is lighted by the two large windows before noticed, is ornamented with small attached pillars, between which is a good painting of the Virgin and child, which is inscribed

REFUGIUM PECCATORUM.

The pulpit is suspended from the front of the eastern branch of the gallery.

On the east side of College-hill is the

*She gave the company the Belle Sauvage Inn, Ludgate-hill.

Mercers' School.

A neat edifice, but the interior is totally devoid of ornament. This school originated in the petition to parliament of four benevolent clergymen, in the 25th of Henry VI. one of whom, John Neel, or Neil, was master of the hospital of St. Thomas of Acres.* For many years this seminary, was kept in the Old Jewry, but it was subsequently removed to College-hill. Twenty-five boys are here instructed in grammatical learning, &c. and the master is allowed a dwelling, in addition to his annual salary. Among the learned men who have been masters of this school, was Mr. William Baxter, nephew to the famous Richard Baxter, and author of the Dictionary of British Antiquities, published under the title of Glossarium Antiquitates Britannicarum. He died May, 1723.

Adjoining Mercers'-school, are two porches covered with sculpture of flowers, fruit, &c., the principal part with an arched pediment supported by elegant consoles. The whole is in the elaborate and heavy style of the latter part of the seventeenth century. On the south side of Thames-street is

Vintners' Hall.

A handsome edifice of brick, compoed. It is situated on the site of a mansion called Stody-place, or the manor of the Vintry,' which was given to the company, with tenements round about,' by sir John Stody, or Stodie, vintner, lord mayor in 1357. The vintners builded for themselves a faire hall there, and also thirteen almse-houses, for thirteen poore people, which are kept of charitie, rent free.' These buildings were all destroyed in the great fire of 1666, after which the present fabric was raised; it forms three sides of a quadrangle, with an iron palisade, and neatly wrought iron gates, in front. The hall, which occupies the south side of the quadrangle, is a large and lofty apartment, formerly paved with marble, but now floored; it is neatly wainscotted, and ornamented with a handsome screen, and various shields of arms of different masters of the company. On the walls are painted in golden letters, in compartments, the names of numerous benefactors towards the re-building of the hall after the great fire, &c. and of subscribers towards the re-building of the vintner's alms-houses, at Mile End, since the year 1809. In different windows also, in painted glass, were the arms of the company, the royal arms of Charles II. and a sun dial, with a fly upon it, 'painted curiously.'†

Vide ante, vol. i. p. 160.

Mal. Lond. Red. vol. iv. p. 520. The statue and picture of St. Martin and the cripple, the figures of Bacchus, &c. and the fine piece of ancient tapestry, are mentioned by Mr. Malcolm as being here in the year 1780. They were not here when Mr. Brayley made his survey. The picture of St. Martin

is here, and the principal part of the tapestry is at the alms houses in the Mile-End road; there is however remaining at the hall a curious embroidered pall, with the figures of our Saviour and the Virgin, St. Martin, &c. At one corner is a shield of arms, barry of six, ermine and gules, a crescent for difference -T. A.

The court room, which is an elegant apartment, the wainscot, &c. being elaborately carved, and the ceiling ornamented in stucco work, was finished in 1672. Over the fire place is a small, but well painted old picture of St. Martin (the patron saint of the company,) dividing his cloak with the beggar;' agreeably to the ancient legend, which represents the saint on horseback, as passing the gates of Amiens on a cold winter's day, when meeting with a poor beggar who was almost naked, he drew his sword, cutting off one half of his cloak (which was the only garment he had remaining, having already bestowed the rest to the like charitable uses) he presented it to the shivering mendicant, reserving the other half for his own use. In this room are also some good portraits of Charles II. a half length: William III. and his queen Mary, both full lengths, prince George of Denmark; a half length of sir Thomas Rawlinson, lord mayor in 1706, and two clever modern heads of Mr. John Wright, a late master, by Opie, and Benjamin Kenton, esq. who was master in 1776; both the latter were esteemed very excellent likenesses. Mr. Kenton died in May, 1800, at the advanced age of eighty-two; the life of this gentleman, who was professionally a vintner, affords the most striking illustration of the apothegm, that industry and perseverance lead to affluence;' for although of the most humble origin, and possessed of no other education than what he had received at a common charity school, he realized upwards of 100,000l. the greatest part of which, nearly 65,000l. he bequeathed to various charitable establishments and uses; of this sum he gave 2,000l. to the general fund of the vintners' company, and 2,500l. for the re-building, &c. of the almshouses at Mile-End.

Around the court room are disposed the shields of arms of various members of this company who have served the office of mayor.

In the ante room, which adjoins, is a curious painting on pannel by Taverner. The staircase is very handsome, the ballusters representing fruit baskets, the whole appears to be carved in oak, and has been most injudiciously painted.

Over the court room is the drawing-room, an elegant apartment. The only painting is a landscape, with figures of St. Martin dividing his cloak with a beggar. Over it is the following inscrip

tion:

George Robertson, liveryman, painted and presented this picture to the company, anno 1775.

A little west of Vintners-hall, stood Worcester-place, the house of the accomplished John Tiptoft, earl of Worcester, lord high treasurer of England.

Adjoining the Southwark-bridge, is the Three Cranes wharf, which in old times, by royal order, was allotted for the landing of wines, as the name imports. The cranes were the three machines used for the landing of wines, such as are used at this day. In the

adjacent lane was the painted tavern, famous as early as the time of Kichard II.

On the east side of Queen-street is the church yard of St. Thomas the Apostle, some remains of the ancient church were visible till plaistered over in the early part of the present year.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

History and Topography of Wallbrook Ward.

This ward takes its name from a street in it, which runs from the south-west corner of the mansion-house towards the Thames. The name of this street was derived from a rivulet, which took its rise to the north of Moorfields, and was called Wallbrook, on account of its entering the city through the wall, between Bishopsgate and Moorgate. After many turnings and windings, it directed its course down this street, and emptied itself into the Thames, to the west of Dowgate. Anciently, this stream was open, and had several bridges over, which were kept in repair by certain religious houses, or by individuals; but it has been long arched and built upon, so that its subterraneous course is, at this time, but very little known.

It is bounded on the east by Langbourn and Candlewick-streetwards; on the north by Cheap-ward, on the west by Cordwainers'ward, and on the south by Dowgate-ward. It is divided into seven precincts, two of St. Swithin, St. Mary Woolchurch, St. Stephen Wallbrook, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary Bothaw, and St. Mary Abchurch, and is governed by an alderman and eight common councilmen.

Before the great fire there were five churches in this ward, St. Stephen, Wallbrook; St Swithin; St. John upon Wallbrook; St. Mary, Bothaw; and St. Mary, Woolchurch Haw; the three last were not rebuilt.

St. Stephen Wallbrook.

At the north east corner of Wallbrook stands the parish church of St. Stephen Wallbrook, which owes its name to its dedication to St. Stephen, the protomartyr, and its situation. It appears by ancient records that a church dedicated to the same patron, was situated near this spot, but on the opposite side of the stream, prior to the year 1135, when it was given to the monastery of St. John in Colchester, by Eudo, steward of the household to Henry I. How long the patronage was possessed by this fraternity, or for what corsideration they parted with it does not appear; but in 1428, it belonged to John Duke of Bedford, in which year Robert Chichely,