his soute in peace," being then fifty-three years of age. Sir Thomas was much solicited to leave his retirement, and return to court, but refused; though he thought himself too severe and scrupulous, when he remembered his “reverend mother the university of Oxon;" and concluded at last to set up his staff at the library in Oxford, to reduce that place, which then in every part lay ruined and waste, to the public use of the student*. In two years time be brought it to a good degree of perfection, furnishing it with books of his own collecting abroad, and from various benefactions; and in 1610, laid the foundation stone of his new fabric in that university, for a general library, &c.

Sir DUDLEY CARLETON. He married 1607, a niece of Sir Maurice Carey, knt. with whom he resided some time in Chancery Lane. He represents his situation in "Little St. Bartholomew's," in expectation of preferment, în ́a letter to Sir Ralph Winwood, printed in Buck's View of Negotiation between England, France, and Brussels, to the latter of which court he was, by favour of the earl of Salisbury, at last appointed ambassador in 1610.

WEST SMITHFIELD, is so called to distinguish it from 3 place of the same denomination in the eastern part of the city, and was antiently a large open field.

We are not informed why it was called Smithfield; but history acquaints as that a part of it was known by the name of "THE ELM8," as being covered with elm trees, and was the place of execution for malefactors in and before the year 1219. And in later times, when the spirit of reformation in religion began to appear in this metropolis, Smithfield became the scene of martyrdom. In the centre of the space now inclosed with rails many were burnt for their steady adhering to the principles of the Gospel, and opposing the doctrines peculiar to the chirch of Rome.

To the credit of the kings of England be it said, that none were ever known to attend these Autos de Fè; even Philip II. of Spain, never honoured any, of the many which were celebrated by permission of his gentle queen,

Seo his Journal, printed by Hearne,

with his presence, notwithstanding he could behold the roasting of his own subjects with infinite self applause, and sangfroid. The spot is still held in remembrance, under the large board on which is painted a collection of Regalations for the market. Here the martyr Latimer preached patience to friar Forest, agonizing under the torture of a slow fire, for denying Henry's supremacy: and to this place our martyr Cranmer compelled the amiable Edward, by forcing his reluctant hand to the warrant, to send Jane Bocher, a silly-woman, to the stake, Here suffered "holy JOHN BRADFORD," and the mild LAURENCE SAUNDERS; and here the pious archdeacon PHILPOT, "paid his vows." Latimer, however, never thought of his former conduct in his last moments; nor did Cranmer thrust his hand into the fire for a real crime, but for one which was venial through the frailty of human nature *.

The gracious Elizabeth could likewise burn people for religion. Two Dutchmen, anabaptists, suffered in Smithfield during the year 1575, and died, as Holingshed sagely remarks, with "roring and crieing." This, to give Elizabeth her due, is the only instance of exerting the blessed prerogative of the writ de Heretico comburendo. Her highness preferred the halter, her sullen sister, fire and faggot; not that it can be denied but Elizabeth made a very free use of the terrible act of her twenty-seventh year: one hundred and sixty-eight suffered in her reign, at London, York, in Lancashire, and several other parts of the kingdom, convicted of being priests, of harbouring priests, or of becoming converts! The balance is against Elizabeth, in the article persecution, particularly by the agonizing death of fire: for the smallest number estimated to have suffered under the sayage Mary, amounts, in her short reign, to two hundred and seventy-seven t.

Bartholomew Legatt, was the last person who was burnt here, in 1611. John King, bishop of London, pronounced sentence against him as "a blasphemous heretic ;" and having consigned him to the secular arm of the casuist mo+ lbid..

Ponant.

X fee 2.5 8596

narch

narch James, he took care to cause the sentence of burning to be executed with its utmost effect.

It was in Smithfield that rebellion received its death blow, in the person of Wat Tyler, A. D. 1381; and that two instances of the law of recrimination occurred of boiling to death, two wretches who had administered poison in cookery. John Roose, in 1530, in an attempt to destroy bishop Fisher, took an opportunity in the cook's absence, to throw a great quantity of the noxious ingredients into some gruel, prepared for the bishop's family and the poor of Lambeth parish. The bishop's abstinence on that day saved his life; but of seventeen who were poisoned two died, and the rest never recovered their health. The second instance of this kind occurred in 1541, when Margaret Davie, was executed in the same manner for poisoning her mistress, and several other persons.

From such disgusting subjects, let us ascend to the times of chivalry. In the forty-eighth year of the reign of Edward III. dame Alice Perrars or Pierce, the king's concubine, as lady of the Sun, rode from the Tower of London, through Cheap, accompanied by many lords and ladies; every lady leading a lord by his horse's bridle, till they came into West Smithfield; and then began a great just, which lasted for seven days.

Also in the ninth of Richard II. was the like great riding from the Tower to Westminster, and every lord led a lady's horse's bridle; and in the morning began the justs in Smithfield, which lasted three days. Henry of Darby, the duke of Lancaster's son, the lord Beaumont, Sir Simon Burley, and Sir Paris Courtney, distinguished themselves on this oc

casion.

In the year 1393, the seventeenth of Richard II. certain lords of Scotland came into England to get honour by force of arms. The earl of Mar challenged the earl of Nottingham to just with him; and so they rode certain courses, but not the full challenge: for the earl of Mar was cast, both horse and man, and two of his ribs broken with the fall; so that he was conveyed out of Smithfield, and so towards Scotland, but died by the way, at York.

Loose

"Loose serving men would commonly meet here, and make uproars and quarrels; insomuch that it was many years called Ruffians Hall, being the usual rendezvous of ruffians and quarrellers, during the time that swords and bucklers were used; when every serving-man carried a buckler at his back, which suspended by the hilt or pommel of his sword hanging before him.

Between Hosier Lane and Cow Lane, in Smithfield, anciently was a large pool of water, called Smithfield Pond, or horse pool, from the watering of horses there; and to the south-west of which, in Cow Lane, where St. John's Court is situate, stood the gallows, or public place of execution, denominated the Elms, from the great quantity of such trees growing in that neighbourhood. But, the gallows being removed to the west end of the fuburbs, this part of Smithfield was soon erected into streets, lanes, &c. among the first of which buildings was that spacious and lofty wooden edifice, denominated High Hall, formerly standing in the said St. John's Court. This ancient structure of wood and stone was the city residence of the prior of Sempringham in Lincolnshire, as is evident by the writings thereunto belonging, in the custody of Sir Harry Featherstone, wherein the said house is denominated Se. pringham Head-house."

Smithfield always was, and still continues, a market-place for cattle, hay, straw, and other necessary provisions; and once in the year, at Bartholomew tide (old stile), is noted for a general fair, commonly called Bartholomew Fair.

King Henry II. granted to the adjoining priory the privilege of a fair to be kept at Bartholomew tide, on the eve, the day, and the morrow, to which the clothiers of England, and the drapers of London, repaired, and had their booths and standings in the church-yard within the priory, which was separated from Smithfield only by walls and gates, that were locked every night, and watched, for the safety of the goods deposited there; and the narrow street, or lane, afterwards built where the cloth was sold, still reVOL. III. No. 75. 4 F tains

Exha
Piates

tains the name of CLOTH FAIR. A court of pied poudre was daily, during the fair, holden for debts and con

tracts.

The fair kept here, instead of three days, was at length prolonged to a fortnight; and became of little other use than for idle youth and loose people to resort to, and to spend their money in vanity; and (which was worse) in debaucheries, drunkenness, whoredom, and in seeing and hearing things not fit for Christian eyes and ears; many of the houses and booths here serving only to allure men and women to such purposes of impiety. Therefore the magistracy, often intending, at last fully resolved, in the year 1708, to reduce the fair to that space of time only, according to which it was at first granted, that is, to three days; and accordingly an order was made: and at a court of common council in June, the said year, the order was confirmed: whereby the fair was to be kept for three days only, for selling of merchandizes, according to the original grants from the crown; which regulation, though it has been sometimes broke, the chief magistrate of late years has strictly observed,

The excellent regulations, however, in the year 1806, through the wise management of alderman Shaw, during his respected mayoralty, sufficiently evinced that the community might be enabled to enjoy the usual exhibitions and entertainments, without indecorum or injury to their persons or property, more especially when it is considered what a revenue the tolls produce to the city chamber.

Smithfield is surrounded by many good houses; but they are far from being regular or uniform. Mr. Ralph, in his "Review of Public Buildings," observes, that this vast area is capable of great beauty; but it is at present destitute of all; and a scene of filth and nastiness. " "Tis true, the use which is made of it as a market," he adds, is something of an excuse for it, and in some degree atones for the want of that decency that would improve it so much yet 'tis my opinion, that ways and means might

be