. , d.

Agreed that Medcalfe, the Clokk-smyth, oueragaynste St. Toly's Churche in Southwarke, should make a new Clokk, as large as the oulde, and perfet good, for iiij

lib.

he hauinge the oulde Clokk; and he hath made promys to make yt redy by Myhelmas next comynge by the grace of God.

— d. Agreed that

Robert Mydelton, our Clarke, shall not saye any more serments publickly in this Churche.

—, d.

Farther agreed that the Clokk-Smyth should haue hys mony at Master Oliver Coper's hande, accordinge to their former covenaunte.—he byndynge himselfe by faithful promys to keepe the Clokke free for

one

whole yere folloynge in good order; and euery yere after he to haue iiij

s.

by the yere.

-. , .

Agreed that the Churchewardens should sett a carpenter a work with the rofe of the North Chapell, to take downe the ij dormer-windows in the roof, and to close up the plasys where the wendowes ar: And also to haue the leades amended so moche as any nede shall requyre in that place.

glasse wendowes to be repayred and mendyd in all plasys of the Churche, and to be made perfett clene.

. . Agreed

that Peter Medcalfe, Clok-Smythe should haue of ther good--will and benevolence xxvj

s.

viij

d.

, for that he made his mone by sute, sayinge that he was a greate loser by makynge of ther new Clocke.

Item

, condysended and agreed, that the Churche should be whited and collared thorowte in all plasys, immedyately and owte of hande.

-. , . The great door and wicket at the north-west end of the Church, hanging to the wall of John a Bowen's house, to be hung on the other side at the Church's charge,

for to avoyde fowle and euill inconuenyences, that hath byn a long tyme in an euill case and not to be soffered.

. , .

Onely Claret Wine of the best to be used at the Communion.

— , .

Six

new and stronge pues

xiij

lib.

if the hoole parish did well like them,

. , . The porch of the north door ordered to be repaired,

for feare yt shoulde faule, and soo to hurte any body.

Item

, Determined that those men that brake the greate glasse lanthorn shoulde pay for the mendynge of yt agayne, because they broke yt thrugh their oune wantonness. The Churchwardens knoweth them.

-. , . Ordered that the xvj taken for every grave in the side-Chapels, in the body of the Churche, and under the Library, shall be given to the Churchwardens, who are to see the place made up again without delay.

-. , . [d]  ordered on the south side of the Church, and so many on the north,

and but

one

Maydes on eyther syde:

. , . The wall in the North Chapel in danger of breaking out with a foul annoyance, as from Witchecok's house and Anthony Yonge's, which should be spedily remedied: the Churchwardens to talk with the former for it to be amended, or else to be considered of at the Vestry.— , . Witchecocke promises that his vault shall be cleaned, that the

parishioners might view it, and consider what to determine as towchynge the Churche wall: for that the founel of theyr prevy cometh through the wall, from the upper ende downe to the nether ende. And theyr stoles hangeth over the Churche leades, and the wall is somewhat broke out with corropsyon ryghte agaynste the Communyon-table, and not to be soffered to remayne any longer in that state.

—, . A door ordered

for Master Parson to come in at, at the weste ende of the Churche, as at the greate dore by the clocke-house, through the belfery, at all tymes when yt pleaseth hym.

—, . The parishioners moved to contribute towards discharging the Church debts, chiefly for enclosing the vestry.—[e] 

-. , . The Churchwardens to procure the entrance at the west end of the Church to be paved with hard stone.

. , .

Agreed that Robert Mott, Bellfounder, shoulde haue the Greate Bell, it being broken, to exchange for a perfett good Bell, and of good sounde, to agree with the reste: and Mott to hange yt up and take yt downe agayne at hys owne charge yf yt be not founde perfett and good as to the ende and terme of a yeare and a daye after yt ys fyrst hanged up; and so yt be founde perfett and good with oute any defaulte as in the

aforesayde,

Tymotheu

(thus in the transcript) Mott to haue for every

hundred

weight thereof v

s.

as for the exchange, and then he is to have for the charge of hangyng of it vpp also.

where the corrupsyon breakyth oute, as from Pope's house, be mended within thys x days, as by Pope's procurement, or else that the Churchewardens do stop yt up; and not to fayle.

. , . Ordered that Mott

shoulde take away the Greate Bell that he dyd hang up, for that it was dysliked of all the Parrish generally. Also they decreed with him yf he had a good and perfect treble, they wold have

one

of him resonable.

that a connynge mason shalbe procuryd by the Churchewardens to vew the new stone windows lyinge in the North Chapple, whether it were good they were sett up in the steeple without any danger to falle or peryshe thereby: yea or no.

—. Robert Mott the Bell-founder to have his bill paid for casting the Great Bell, and for overplus of metal, and for taking the Bell down and hanging it up again:

and also he stand bounde for a year and a daye, as by the Churchewardens to be bownde in a bonde as for the good and perfet profe of the Bell well to houlde.

—. Ordered dozen of

Leyther Bokkets,

the

one

longe, as of a xlv, thother a xxv. stepps; also a Hooke, or Grapnell, at the charge of the Churche;

These articles were most probably provided in consequence of an order of the Common Council: an Act of the same authority for the better preventing and suppressing of Fires, passed Nov. 15th, 1677, also orders that buckets, ladders, &c. which are described and enumerated, shall be furnished throughout the City. Strype's Stow's Survey of London, Vol. I. book i. chap. xxviii. p. 238.

the Clerke to enquire whether any of the Parishes have contributed towards any hooke or grapnell, in any of the Wardes: also whether there was any hook or grapnell hangyng under the Lyberary in yeares heretofore; yea or no.

. . Ordered that the Churchwardens get dozen of

Leyther Booketts to be marked in redd, a P and a C joyned together, and sett uppon the sydes of them; and also the same mark uppon the wall above them where they hange; and also to be marked with an iron marke or seale on the outesyde: and yt is a Toone, and an R in the myddle of the Toone, as on

two

sydes of eache Bokkett.

—. Notice of the box-maker's cellar being dangerous to the steeple in future:—a fire made on a hearth in a shop let to Anthony Yonge, though he has no chimney.—His tenement appears to have been of those at the east end of the Church on the north side, in : see .

. , February—

Agreed, that for because our Church of St. Peter upon

Cornhill

was very foule, and had not been whited afore in many yeares, (see

August 3rd, 1576

) as also for that the churcheyard walles and fence was very low, so that thereby much damage happened to the windows glazed, and the walles being so very unhandsome to see to;—that the forsayd Church should forthwith bee whited, and the walles raised up in as decent manner as might be.

—.

Agreed that the Church and Chancel be immediately whited and trymmed.

.—

Agreed that the Parishes of St. Peter and St. Andrew

The Parish of St. Andrew Undershaft, Leadenhall Street, which now joins that of St. Peter on the east; but there appears to have been anciently another Church between them dedicated to St. Andrew the Apostle, called by way of distinction St. Andrew of Cornhill. This it is supposed might have stood on the north side of Leadennall Street, nearly opposite the gate of the old hall; since the district of Cornhill extended from the eastern end of that edifice to the Stocks Market, the site of the present Mansion House: and when the remains of that ancient crypt were discovered in Leadenhall Street, after the fire of 1765, described and represented in this work, it was conjectured that they might be reliques of the older St. Andrew's Church. There are traces of this foundation in the Inquisitiones Post Mortem, which prove it to have been situate on a spot very different to that of the present St. Andrew-Undershaft, which is in Aldgate Ward; whereas it is entered on those records for the 49th year of Edward III., 1375-76, Part ii., No. 28, that Richard Pembrugge and Henry his son, possessed a tenement in the parish of St. Andrew upon Cornhill, in the Ward of Lime Street. In the same Inquisitions, also, for the 15th year of Richard II., 1391-92, No. 101, it is stated that Michael Pistoye, son and heir of Simon Pistoye, of Lombardy, possessed an inn called the Green Gate in the parish of St. Andrew upon Cornhill, in the Ward of Lime Street, and one tenement and nine shops in the same ward. These buildings appear to have stood a short distance from the north end of Lime Street, on the western side of the way: and a farther notice of them will be found in Strype's Stow's Survey of London, Vol. I. book ii. chap. v. p. 84. There does not now appear to be any record when this Parish was taken away, though it was no doubt before the Letters Patent of April 12th, 1562, the 4th of Elizabeth, which united the Parishes of St. Mary at Axe and St. Andrew-Undershaft. Some trace of an ancient connection between two Churches situate near each other upon Cornhill, appears, however, in the above extract, transferred to that of St. Andrew-Undershaft, since that Parish agrees to be charged with part of the expense of a cage to be erected in Cornhill Ward, from which it is separated by the broadest part of Lime Street Ward, and crossed by the Ward of Bishopsgate; though the ordinance of Sir William Capell, Lord Mayor in 1503, directed such a prison to be set up in every Ward of the City.

should at their joint costs, set up a Cage for

Cornhill

Ward, for the reclayming and shutting up of vagrant persons, untill they might according to lawe be punished.

. , . The building of the Churchyard wall referred to another Vestry.

— , . The steeple and turret next Master Doctor's house to be viewed, and presently repaired if required.

— , . The same sentenced by the Master and Wardens of the Masons to be taken down in March, and in the mean space to be pointed and stopped against the weather.

. , . . Again viewed.—d. To be rough-cast where it is required, and a new door made on the leads, from the south-west part of the steeple.

. , . Agreed that the penny of Pewage throughout the Church, should be upon every pew abated, for that the same had been too high charged.—Agreed that Mott's Bell be accepted of, because thought tuneable enough;

and for the steeple being old and crazie would surely without damage admit the Great Bell:

. , . A view of the steeple ordered, complaint being made that it is very defective

in the toppe and spheare.

. , . Agreed that the duties for burials in the Chapels, Church, and Library, shall be raised: namely, for graves in the aisles, ; in the Church, ; and under the Library, And a new table to be made accordingly.

. . A new head for the pulpit ordered by the Churchwardens.

. . Agreed for the Sexton to have his passage through the shop next the steeple, which the Clerk's now joineth,

for to toole the bell in the nyght tyme, as such occasions shall fall out, without any let or hindrance.

. . The old clock-bell ordered to the top of the steeple, because the on which the clock now striketh is found fault with, being so low that few of the parish can hear it.

. . The Steeple again viewed.

—. A motion for altering certayne pewes in the Churche for Woomen, and that for diuers reasons then shewn at the vestrie it was left to the Churchwardens with certeyne sufficient workemen; and they to vew and give their advice therein, whereby such things as are fitting may be done and no other.

. . The Steeple ordered to be covered and the bells hung up.

. . Agreed that some of the Parish go to Sir Henry Martine with a petition, to acquaint him with the ruinous state of the Church and steeple, to procure some of the money in his hands for charitable uses.[d] 

. . The repair of the Steeple considered, then much in decay, as to whether the fabric should

stand as it now is, and be covered and have battlements set up, according to the advice of workmen; or else whether the old work shall be taken down to about the next lofte, little more or lesse, and a new lofte of timber set up, and then to be erected in stone-work

25

foote high, in a frame, with battlements, according to the advice of workmen:

Of the cause of the very extensive repairs which were now about to be commenced throughout the whole of this edifice, there is the following curious anecdote related in David Lloyd's , London: , folio; page , in the account of William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury.—

The great influence of his publick spirit reached not onely so far as he had power himself, but also as far as any had power that either saw his good example, or read his effectual admonitions. At a Visitation kept in

St. Peter's

Cornhill

, for the Clergy of London, the preacher discoursing of the painfulness of the ministerial function, proved it from the Greek deduction of

*diakonos

, a Deacon; so called from

konis

, dust, because he must

laborare in pulvere in arenâ

, work in the dust, do hard service in hot weather. Sermon ended, my Lord, then of London,

Laud was translated to the See of London, June 17th, 1628, and to that of Canterbury, August 6th, 1633.

proceeded to his Charge to the Clergy; and observing the Church to be ill repaired without, and slovenly kept within, 'I am sorry,' said he, 'to meet here with so true an etymology of Diaconos, for here is both dust and dirt too, for a Deacon or Priest either to work in; yea it is dust of the worst kinde, caused from the ruines of this ancient house of God, so that it pittieth his servants to see her dust.' Hence he took an occasion to press the repair of that and other places of Divine worship, so that from this day we may date the general mending, beautifying, and adorning, of all English Churches; some to decency, and some to magnificence.

This Churche is yet in repaire. The steeple beganne to be repaired in the yeere of our Lord

1628

, and was finished

1629

. The Church it selfe was begunne to be repaired in

March 1632

, and is, as they make account, about All Saints Day (

November 1st

) in this present yeere,

1633

, to be finished; and at the sole cost and charge of the parishioners, without, within, in all and every part of it, richly and very worthily beautified. The certaine charge cannot yet bee knowne; but as I have heard it, probably imagined by what is done and to doe, it is about

1400

l.

The Churchwardens this yeere of finishing are Thomas Birket and Theophilus Boulton.

. . The Sexton allowed per week for his attendance on the carpenters from the beginning of the work, .—A course to be taken by the Parish for recovering the money given by Mr. Reynolds towards re-edifying the Steeple; and a contribution immediately made towards rebuilding the Church and Steeple.—The Bell to be new cast and made tuneable like the rest.

. . The Churchwardens to raise the pews; to new pave and level the Church floor; and to new line the row of men's pews with say.—The Belfrey to be taken down and set lower, and new stairs made.

—. A subscription at the Vestry towards the repair of the Church.

. . The Mason's note of repairs required presented and entered; the particulars of which are as follow.—The upper and lower battlements of the Church to be removed and replaced, excepting the lower on the north side, according to the old proportions of height and thickness; with new water-tables and crest and vent of Portland stone:—To point and mend the lower north battlements, water-tables, and buttresses, and the south buttresses:—The staircase battlements to be renewed and pointed all down; and a portal made over the Church door as formerly:—The entire stonework of the windows in the middle roof, on the south, on the north, on the east, of which to be taken down to the foundations if the parish think fit, and on the west:—those parts of the Church to be pointed and rough-cast which were formerly so, and all other defects to be amended:—Portland stone to be used throughout.

To performe all this worke for

345

l.

. , . The other half of the contributions for repair of the Church ordered to be collected: the leads to be viewed and repaired, and steeple turret to be amended:—the Churchwardens to give an allowance to the masons for breakfasts not exceeding —the Court of Aldermen to be petitioned for their benevolence.

. . The Parish having already petitioned the Mercers, Grocers, and Merchant-Taylors, for assistance towards the repairs, petitions are ordered to the remainder of the Companies.

— .

Agreed that the Glassier should goe in hand with the King's Armes for the Chapell-window, and he to make all the hast he can of it.

. . The Churchwardens ordered to pay Sutton, the Glass-Painter.[d]  in full of his bill:—and to Norman the Painter in fulle payment.

. , . Agreed that the charges for taking away Superstitious Pictures out of the Church,[e]  and for repairing and adorning the same as it hath been lately performed, by consent of the former Vestry, shall be paid by the Churchwardens out of the Parish stock.—The Parish to treat with Mr. Coleman[f]  about taking the Sequestration of the Rectory.

. . Farther Conferences between Coleman and the Parish.—. Mr. Thomas Coleman elected minister by the Vestry.

. . Agreed that the Parish petition the Committee of Sequestrations for time to elect a minister in the room of Coleman, deceased.

. . William Blackmore elected Minister by the Parish, by order of the Committee for Plundered Ministers.[a] 

—. Ruling Elders chosen.[b] 

. .

Agreed that the Churchwarden should be allowed such charges as he should disburse for the refection of the severall ministers that shall preach the Morning Exercise at this Church during the month.

. . Agreed that Thomas Fenn, Sexton, be required to give an account of the lynnen and scarlet hood belonging to the Parish, and all the brasses that are missing, between this and the next Vestry, or else to be discharged.[c] 

. . collected for propagating the Gospel in New England.[d] 

. . Order for buckets to be repaired damaged by the late fire.

. . The north side of the Church ordered to be repaired and viewed.

. .

Agreed that the King's Arms in Painted Glass, and other Armes painted, should be refreshed; and Moses and Aaron are forthwith to be set up by the Churchwarden at the Parish charges; and whatsoever he giveth to the Glasier for a gratuity for his care in keeping of them all this while.

. . A wire lattice ordered for defence of the King's Arms and other Painted Glass in the Vestry, and at the chancel end, and on side.

—. Agreed that a Parish Prayer Book be bought at the Parish charge.

—. A Saint's Bell ordered to be hanged in the Steeple over the other bells.

. . The turrets in the steeple very much impaired and dangerous to the houses.

. . Agreed that the Church and Vestry shall be forthwith repaired and beautified.

The Church of St. Peter upon appears to have been in the same state of continual alteration and repair down to the time of the Great Fire of London, : for on in that year, it was agreed that the steeple and eastern end of the edifice should be taken down, and a petition presented to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen for furtherance of rebuilding the whole. As the conflagration crossed diagonally from and the south-western corner of Leadenhall, to the same angle of ,—a very small portion of the north-eastern part of this Church was left undestroyed; though the fire carried away all the remainder in its devasting progress up , which it appears to have reached on Monday .[e] — After the fire the Vestry of met at the Nag's Head Tavern, , nearly opposite to Leadenhall gate, and the earliest entry of its proceedings is on , directing that several quantities of lead, iron, and bell-metal, and other matters, and things scattered and in danger of being wasted, then lying in the ruins, should be collected by Mr. Richard Blackburne, the Churchwarden. On , it is agreed that per annum shall be allowed him for the charge of cellars wherever those articles may belying; and on , appears the notice of rebuilding this part of , by the vestry granting him the ground of the Round Tower, or staircase of the steeple to build upon at the rent of per annum, or a lease of years.—The proceedings of the Churchwardens are then again regularly entered, and the following extracts shew various circumstances relating to the Parish in its desolated state, as well as the progress of removing the ruins of the old Church and of erecting the present.

. .

Agreed that the Churchwardens and some of the antients of the Parish, petition the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen for the ruins of Grace Church towards the rebuilding of

St. Peter's

upon

Cornhill

, they being the patrons: and that they will please to take into their consideration that when there shall be a joining or annexing of that Parish to some other Church, that they will endeavour to cause so many of the houses of that Parish to be added to

St. Peter's

as they in their wisdome shall thinke meet.

— . The Vestry orders the ruins to be cleared:—the lead, &c. in the custody of Master Richard Blackburne ordered to be sold and the money applied towards rebuilding the Church.

. . An order for taking down the east wall of the Church.

-. February Agreed that a general Vestry shall be speedily called about preparing and fitting the Vestry for a public meeting in the worship of God:—the ground of the Church-yard should be enclosed for security of the Church materials.

. . The ground from the houses of Mr. Williamson's legacy belonging to , staked out for the enlargement of Grace certified by Robert Hooke to be in depth at the north end feet, and at the south feet; in breadth from north to south, feet inches; and in superficial content feet / of an inch:—the ground staked out to be taken away from the Church of St. Peter for the enlargement of Grace , certified by the same, at the north end feet, and at the south end feet; the breadth feet, and the superficial content feet.— These additions to the street gave it the present direct line to the south end of , the old road having had an oblique turning to the east by Leaden-Hall: and for this ground the city paid to Parish. (See .[a] )

. .

Granted Anne Hebblethwaite, Widowe, upon her request and free offer, all that shed on the west side of the Church dore of this Parish for the term of

13

years, she paying to the Churchwardens

26

l.

for a fine or income; and also

10

l.

per annum rent, in equal portions. And she is also at her own costs and charges to re-edify the same, and make a substantial front of oaken timber, and cover it with a flat lead roof, with oaken rafters and ballisterns: and she paid at the Vestry

40

s.

in part of the said shedds.—It was voted that Samuel Purchase be desired to take upon himself the care and trouble of fitting the Great Room (taken in Leaden Hall) for the public worship of Almighty God, with decent and convenient pewes, lights, and seats; and also a pulpit, table, and other conveniences, for which he is to have money allowed him by the Churchwardens.

26

l.

yearly to be paid for the said room, of which

5

l.

are to be paid by Dean Hodges, and the remainder from the rent of the

three

sheds or shops on the north side of the Church.

. .

Vestry at the Chappel in Leaden-Hall.

. . It was voted that guineas be paid to Dr. Wrenn (Sir Christopher, the Architect) as a gratuity for his pains and furtherance of a Tabernacle for this Parish.—This temporary building appears to have stood on the south of the Church in the present Churchyard.

. . The Vestry held at the Tabernacle: a bell ordered for it weighing about cwt. and workmen to make a wheel and frame.

—. more voted to Dr. Wrenn:—charge ordered for burials in the Tabernacle to be for every corpse.

-. . paid to the Parish by the City for melioration for ground to be taken from the eastern end of , and laid into Grace .

-. . A door ordered to be made into the Tabernacle out of Alley.

. . The leases of the shops under the Church bought to raise money upon.—At the following Vestry bought by Robert Fowler for

. , . It was ordered that Thomas Poultney and Thomas Athew, Citizens and Joiners of London, their Executors, &c. should, by the next ensuing, erect and finish in the Parish Church of St. Peter, for the prices undermentioned, the several pews, seats, screen, and pulpit, agreeably to models delivered, and hereunto annexed:—Viz.—All the pews that shall be set up in the body of said Church shall be in height ft. inches above the floor. And all the pews in the Chancel shall be in height ft. inches above the floor. And the pillars and walls in the said Church shall be lined feet high, or thereabout, above the floor. The Screen, which shall divide the body of the said Church from the Chancel, shall be feet high above the pavement, and made according to model. All the fronts of the pews shall be framed with wainscot; inch and a half thick, and mitred with an ogee on both sides, and a round laid on the outside of the framing, and the panel of an inch thick raised on both sides. All the partitions shall be framed with wainscot, an inch and a half thick and mitred with an ogee on both sides, and the panels of an inch thick, raised on both sides; under the benches excepted which shall be wrought as plain work. The wall-work and casing the pillars shall be framed with wainscot, inch thick, and mitred with an ogee and the panels an inch thick raised. All the desk-boards shall be of wainscot, of an inch thick, and inches broad, more or less, with the brackets, not to be measured in.—All the benches shall be made of well-seasoned yellow Drame Deal, without knots or holes, and shall be a foot broad, more or less, and inch and a half thick: the feet for the benches not to be measured or paid for.—The Screen shall be framed with wainscot, inches thick, and panels inch and a quarter thick, raised on both sides. And the fronts and partitions of the pews, the wall-work, and linings of the pillars, as aforesaid, shall be all measured straight in height and length, the Screen only as work and half; (the King's Armes above the screen excepted.) And they shall make and set up the King's Armes above the screen, raised fair, and to appear on both sides; the said Screen to be wrought in wainscot, according to the best art and skill of the trade or mystery of a carver.—And they shall and will make and set up a wainscot pulpit, with the canopy, stairs, rail, and carving-work, belonging to it agreeably to model. And farther that all the wainscot that shall be used in and about the several pews, wall-work, linings of the pillars, screen, King's Arms, and pulpit, shall be of good, clean, sound, well-coloured, well-dryed, well-seasoned, and well-matched, East-country wainscot, without white or red veines, sap, knots, or holes, in the said frame or panel, lining, or moulding work.—And they shall set all the locks and hinges on in a workmanlike manner: viz. a pair of hinges and a lock on each door.

Item, the fronts of all the said pews shall be done after the rate of per yard, measuring on side. The wall-work and casing of the pillars shall be done after the rate of a yard. The Desk boards of per foot, and the benches after the rate of per foot. The Screen and carvingwork about the same, according to model, shall be done after the rate of per yard; except the King's Arms, which shall be done for the sum of . The pulpit, canopy, rails, and stairs, belonging, agreeably to model, shall be done for the sum of Item, all the benches shall be borne up with standards of deal, and not to be measured, but go into the benching at per foot.

And the said Thomas Poultney and Thomas Athew do covenant to finish all the said work as above, if not hindered by the other workmen employed for the prices, &c. above named. In consideration of which work so to be done, it is ordered by Vestry that the said Thomas Poultney and Thomas Athew, their Executors, &c. shall for such work be paid as per agreement, in manner following; viz.— upon the said parties bringing in the said work into the same Parish Church: more upon their fixing and setting up the same; and the remainder which the said work shall amount to, according to the prices fixed on, within months after the compleat finishing of the same.

. . Agreed upon erecting the Organ by Smith, according to the model produced, for ; including painting, gilding, and setting up.

—. The Vestry again held at the Nag's Head Tavern; probably in consequence of taking down the Tabernacle, as at this time the Church was almost completed.

. , . The Vestry held in the new Vestry house at the Church.

The present edifice being thus completed, the few additional descriptive particulars of it which are required by the annexed Views, shall be here inserted. It is situate on the same spot which it occupied before the Fire, at the angle formed by Grace-Church Street and , excepting that about feet were taken from the eastern end of it. This part fronts upon the western side of the street, and is built in the Grecian style, with a decorated pediment enclosing windows; beneath which are others, separated by Corinthian pilasters. The side of the Church in rises from behind a long and low but handsome shop, and the south side overlooks the Churchyard and Alley, as exhibited in the ensuing Plate of the Exterior. By the same View it will also be seen that the body of the building is of stone, and the tower of brick, as far as the dome and spire, but the latter are of wood covered with lead: the roof is also entirely leaded over. The interior is divided into a

. . Sixpence offered to each of the parishioners who come to Vestry.

. . Resolved to make a vault for the burial of the dead.

—. Ordered that the Committee treat with workmen for the iron gates and pallisadoes round the Churchyard.

. . Ordered that dues for burying the dead in the church be raised:— guineas presented to the Parish by Mr. William , Merchant, in consideration of permitting him to fit up a pew in the South chapel at his own charge for himself and family as long as he shall remain in the Parish:—Mr. Joseph Mott allowed Lady Beck's pew for his own use, the payment for which is left to his generosity, and he also presents the parish with guineas.

. . Ordered a pair of iron gates at the north door of the church:— guineas of the given by Mr. Mott for his pew returned to his widow.

—. Present at the Vestry, Dr. John Waugh, Lord Bishop of Carlisle, Rector.

. . Mr. John Finch to represent the Bishop at the Vestry.

. . Ordered that the Churchwardens wait upon the Lord Bishop of Carlisle about the pulpit being hung in mourning—for the death of George I., .

-. . Resolved that whoever builds a pew in the church pays guineas:—the fines to be paid forthwith.

. . Ordered that every person who shall have leave to lay down a grave-stone in any of the aisles of the church shall pay to the churchwardens for the use of the Parish.

. . A motion being made for leave to erect a monument in the churchyard not exceeding feet in length and feet in breadth;— Ordered that leave be given to erect the same upon payment of guineas to the churchwarden for the use of the Parish.

. . The Orders of the last Vestry were read and confirmed, excepting that the leave given to erect a monument in the churchyard is hereby extended to feet inches in length, and feet inch in breadth, instead of the former dimensions allotted for the same.

. . Mr. John Angel chosen Under-churchwarden.—. . Upper churchwarden.

. . Ordered that Mr. Sharett goes in the name of the Vestry to Messrs. Drake and Long, to let them know that it is expected they make a present to the poor for the privilege of having put up a monument on the south-side of within to the memory of Mrs. Gale.

. . Resolved that John Butler, Parish Clerk, be allowed per annum, beside the former gratuity of for his good services.

. . The Rev. Mr. Frankleyn, the Curate, requested to print the Sermon preached by him last Sunday forenoon: and presented by the Vestry with guineas for the printing.

. . The Vestry-room under repair: the Vestry held at the White Lion Tavern.

. . Ordered that the pulpit and desk be put into mourning for the death of our most gracious Sovereign King George II.

. . The Churchwarden, Mr. John Blake, informed the Vestry that he had received the sum of for affixing a monument in the church for Charles Chauncy (an oval tablet fixed against the north wall) and that he had paid the present Rector, Dr. Thomas, part thereof; and desired the opinion of the Vestry whether the Dr. were not entitled to half part of the said guineas, as he was informed had been practised in other parishes: which being put to the vote was carried in the affirmative.

. . It was submitted to the consideration of the Vestry whether a head stone with a modest inscription to the memory of the late John Butler, Parish and Vestry Clerk of this Parish, to perpetuate the remembrance of his long, faithful, and laborious services, for the benefit of this Parish, and aid of the severa officers thereof,—might not encourage diligence in future servants: when it was unanimously agreed that be erected for the said purpose.[b] 

. . A motion that houses in Grace belonging to the Parish, shall not be let to a butcher, tallow-chandler, pawnbroker, or working-copper smith: negatived.

. . Select Vestries discontinued.[c] 

. . A New Table of Fees made; which in was beautifully executed in ornamental writing by Tomkins, and framed and hung up in the Vestry.

. . A Vestry concerning the Voluntary Subscriptions in aid of the country collected in the Parish; amounting to

. . Use of the Vestry granted to the Volunteers.

. . Mr. Gould permitted to erect a tablet to the memory of Mrs. Gould against the south wall of the church outside, on paying to the poor.

. .

This finishes the present Journal of the Vestry. The foregoing extracts have been made from the Vestry-Books from

January 1718

to

20th April 1813

.

The subject of the last Plate in the present series is immediately connected with that of several of the preceling extracts; it being a representation of the beautiful mural monument erected in the South Chapel of St.

authentic,

On Monday, , the eldest daughter of the family was dug out of the ruins, with the body of a lad, said to be an apprentice from ,[f]  and on Wednesday

night were interred in the vault under

St. Peter's Church

,

Cornhill

, the remains of Mr. Woodmason's

seven

children taken out of the ruins of the late fire at his house.

Three

were put into

one

coffin: the other

four

were taken up so entire that they had a coffin for each. Likewise were interred the son of Mr. Noble, breeches-maker, next door to Mr. Woodmason's; and a young man, a watchmaker; whose bodies were taken out of the ruins.

last week the King and Queen sent twice to enquire after Mr. and Mrs. Woodmason. The Duke of Gloucester attended them in person; and the Duke and Duchess of Cumberland sent to them in the most tender manner. They are now at a relation's in

Bloomsbury Square

; as well as can be expected after so severe a trial. The East India Company have kindly effered Mr. Woodmason room in their warehouses to carry on his affairs, till he can suit himself in a house.

the spontaneous tribute,

of a sympathising friend of the bereaved parents, their companion through the night of the

18th of January

.

requested the Vestry on behalf of Mr. James Woodmason, for leave to erect a monument in the Church, which was unanimously agreed to.

In of the original accounts of this fire, appears a notice of the very great utility of a number of bags brought from watch-house and used for making a dam for the water, instead of the usual slight layers of

nothing more could have been done, there being water sufficient on turning the cocks and plugs: nothing could have saved Mr. Woodmason's house; though it may with confidence be asserted that the great and ready assistance did save the wooden buildings standing on each side, as well as those on the opposite side of the way.

[c] Previously to the Reformation there were one or more Clerks in holy orders attached to Parish-Churches, as assistants to the Rector or Vicar, who had for their maintenance the profits of the place, and the privilege of teaching school. As the Parish-Clerks, subsequently established performed many of the same duties, and often held the same privileges, they considered themselves to be also belonging to the Clergy, and empowered to read or say a homily or sermon in the public service of the Church; especially during the times before preaching was properly understood or regulated, and was almost unknown. Even in the reign of Elizabeth it has been calculated that there were 8000 parishes in England without preaching ministers, and the two books of Homilies by Archbishop Cranmer and Bishop Jewel, published in 1547 and 1560, were intended to supply this deficiency. By a Canon of James I. they were permitted to be read by unlicensed ministers, as Deacons, who, by the present form of ordering them, are not allowed to preach, unless they be thereunto licensed by the Bishop himself: and it is not improbable that many of the Parish-Clerks and Schoolmasters of the sixteenth century had already received Deacon's orders, and were thus considered capable of saying a sermon.

[d] This is perhaps a reference to an old practice of the foreign and exiled English protestants abroad,—namely the separating the male and female parts of a congregation; and was probably introduced into England on the increase of the Puritans in the reign of Elizabeth.

[e] The following remarkable persons are mentioned in the Chronicles of Holinshed, edit. 1586. vol. ii. p. 1322, col. 1, in connection with this Parish.—This yeare, 1581, were to be seene in London two Dutchmen of strange statures; the one in height seauen foot and seauen inches, in bredth betwixt the shoulders three quarters of a yard, and an inch; the compasse of his brest one yard, an halfe, and two inches; and about the wast one yard, a quarter, and one inch: the length of his arme to the hand a full yard: a comelie man of person, but lame of his legs, for he had broken them in lifting of a barrell of beere. The other was in height but three foot, had neuer a good foot, nor anie knee at all, and yet could he danse a galliard; he had no arme, but a stumpe to the elbow or little more on the right side; on the which he would danse a cup, and after tosse it about three or foure times, and euerie time receiue the same on the said stumpe: he would shoot an arrow neere to the marke, flourish with a rapier, throw a bowle, beat with an hammer, hew with an axe, sound a trumpet, and drink euerie daie ten quartes of the best beere if he could get it. About the seauenteenth of Julie, I saw these men in the Parish of St. Peter upon Cornhill, the taller sitting on a bench barcheaded, the lesser stood on the same bench, and hauing on his head a hat with a feather, was yet the lower. Also the taller man standing on his feet, the lesser, with his hat and feather on his head, went vprighte betweene his legs and touched him not.

[b] The R in the above mark was probably meant for Rectory, to be read with the other initials, and the tun was intended for the peculiar device of the Ward; referring to that ancient Conduit and Prison called the Tunne upon Cornehill, because the same was builded somewhat in fashion of a tunne standing on one end, erected by Henry le Walleis, Mayor of London in 1282, for night-walkers and other suspicious persons. It stood upon the site of the present pump on the north side of the Royal Exchange, which was erected over the original well on its discovery in 1799.

[d] Sir Henry Martin, Judge of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. The money referred to in this passage was probably the estate of Robert Gray. who died without a will, out of which in 1625 Sir Henry decreed 100l. to the use and benefit of the poor and Parish Church of Allhallows Bread Street. Strype's Stow's Survey of London. Vol. I. Book iii. chap. ix. p. 201.

[b] Stow's Survey of London, Edit. by Anthony Munday, Henry Dyson, &c. Lond. 1633, fol. p. 866 in the Remaines or Remnants of divers worthy things, which should have had their due place and honour in this worke, if promising friends had kept their words. The letter R placed in the margin of various parts of Strype's Edition of Stow, refers to these remains.

[c] The ancient views existing of St. Peter's Church after this repair, represent it as a more compact building than it appeared previously, with the roof clear, and surrounded by battlements, a round turret on the south-west, a series of arched windows in the side of the edifice, and a high pointed spireplaced upon the tower. See the Long Antwerp View of London etched by Hollar, and published in 1647, in seven sheets, measuring 2 1/2 yards by 17 1/2 inches. Of this interesting prospect a very beautiful fac-simile was executed in lithography in 1832 at the expense of William Lewis Newman, Esq., City-Solicitor, for private distribution; by which laudable and liberal act this rare and magnificent print is happily preserved from ever being entirely destroyed.

[d] Baptista Sutton, who painted two windows in the Church of St. Leonard, Shoreditch, in 1634; mentioned in the Hon. Horace Walpole's Anecdotes of Painting, Edit. by the Rev. J. Dallaway, Vol. II. Lond. 1826, 8vo. p. 37.

[e] The House of Commons made an order and Sir Robert Harlow the executioner of it, to take away all scandalous pictures, crosses, and figures, within churches and without: and the zealous knight took down the Cross in Cheapside, Charing Cross, and other the like monuments impartially. July 5th, 1641: 17th Charles I.— Memorials of the English Affairs, by Bulstrode Whitelock, Lond. 1732, fol. p. 47—Anno 1643, cap. 17, 28th Aug. 1743. entitled Monuments of Superstition to be abolished (before November 1st, 1643.) And be it farther ordained that all and euery such removal of the said altars, tables of stone, communion-tables, tapers, candlesticks and basons, crucifixes and crosses, images and pictures, as aforesaid, taking away of the rails, levelling of the said grounds, shall be done and performed, and the walls, windows, grounds, and other places, which shall be broken, places of publique prayer, belonging to any Parish by the Church-warden or Church-wardens of euery such Parish respectively.—Penalty 40s.—A Collection of Acts and Ordinances of Generall Use, made in the Parliament begun and held at Westminster the 3rd day of November 1640; and since unto the adjournment of the Parliament begun and holden the 17th of September Anno 1656; by Henry Scobell, Lond. 1658. fol.

[f] The following are official notices of the Sequestration referred to above.—Die Veneris 12o. Maii, 1643, 19 Car. I.—Ordered that Captain Richard Wollaston, and Mr. George Henley, of the Parish of St. Peter, Cornhill, London, do appoint such orthodox Divines as they shall think fit to preach and officiate in the said Parish Church, during the restraint of Dr. Fairfax and do all other things which the said Dr. Fairfax ought to do; and until this House do take further order.—Journals of the House of Commons, Vol. iii. p. 83.—Die Martis, 22o Augusti, 1643, 19 Car. I.—An Order for Sequestring the Parsonage of St. Peter's Cornehill, London, whereof Wm. Fairefaxe, Doctor in Divinity, is now Rector, to the use and benefit of Tho. Coleman, Master of Arts, a godly, learned, and orthodox Divine, who is hereby required to officiate the said cure, and to preach difigently there,—was this day read; and by vote upon the question assented unto.—Ibid. vol. iii. p. 214. With the remarkable divines, says Neal, may be reckoned the reverend and learned Mr. Thomas Colman, Rector of St. Peter's Church in Cornhill: he was born at Oxford and entered in Magdalen College in the seventeenth year of his age; he afterwards became so perfect a master of the Hebrew language, that he was commonly called Rabbi Colman. In the beginning of the Civil War he left his rectory of Blyton in Lincolnshire, being persecuted from thence by the cavaliers. Upon his coming to London he was preferred to the Rectory of St. Peter at Cornhill, and made one of the Assembly of Divines. Mr. Wood says he behaved modestly and learnedly in the Assembly, and Mr. Fuller gives him the character of a modest and learned divine: he was equally an enemy to presbytery and prelacy, being of Erastian principles: he fell sick while the Assembly was debating the jus divinum of presbytery; and when they sent some of their members to visit him, he desired they would not come to an absolute determination till they had heard what he had to offer upon the question; but his distemper increasing he died in a few days, and the whole Assembly did him the honour to attend his funeral in a body, March 30th, 1646.—The History of the Puritans by the Rev. Daniel Neal, Lond. 1822, 8vo. vol. iii. p. 316.

[a] The Committee for Plundered Ministers arose from those Puritan Clergy who, being driven from their cures in the country by the King's soldiers, fled to London with their families; leaving their substance and household furniture to the mercy of the enemy; these being reduced to very great exigencies, applied to the Parliament for relief; the Committee first ordered a charitable collection for them at their monthly fast, and four days after, namely, Dec. 31st, 1642, appointed a Committee to consider of the fittest way for the relief of such godly and well-affected ministers as have been plundered; and what malignant Clergymen have benefices in and about town; whose benefices being sequestered may be supplied by others who may receive their profits.—The Committee of Sequestrations also mentioned in the above extracts, originated in a Grand Committee of the whole House of Commons appointed Nov. 6th, 1640, for enquiring into the morals of the Clergy; from which Nov. 19th, Sub-committees were appointed to consider into the various parts of the subject, and especially of some way of removing scandalous ministers and of putting others in their places; few persons, however, were sequestered before this Committee was joined with that for Plundered Ministers.—Neal's History of the Puritans, vol. iii. pp. 27, 23-25.—William Blackmore, mentioned above as the successor of Colman, is stated by Palmer to have been M.A. of Lincoln Coll. Oxford. Ordained Deacon by Prideaux Bp. of Worcester; but he afterwards received classical ordination. He was imprisoned in the Tower with Mr. Love, &c. but had his parole by means of his elder brother Sir John Blackmore who had sided with Oliver and was his bail; by which means he was very helpful to Mr. Love in his trial. At the desire and appointment of the Provincial Assembly of London, to which he was secretary, he drew up that part in the book entitled Jus Div. Regim. Eccles. which treats of ordination by imposition of hands. After Bartholomew Day, 1662, he lived privately at Harestreet, near Rumford in Essex, to a good old age; preaching once a day gratis in his own hired house. He was particularly useful in catechising youth. He was a considerable man, a person of moderation and prudence, and distinguished as a peacemaker.—The Nonconformist's Memorial, by Samuel Palmer, Lond. 1785. 8vo. vol. i. p. 143.

[b] Die Martis, Aug. 19, 1645.—Directions of the Lords and Commons, after advice had with the Assembly of Divines, for the election and chusing of Ruling Elders in all the congregations, and in the Classical Assembly for the Cities of London and Westminster, and the several Counties of the kingdom for the speedy settling of the Presbyterian government.—Fuller's Church History, Cent. 17, Book xi. p. 228.

[c] A second ordinance for abolishing of monuments of superstition was issued by the Parliament May 9th, 1644, cap. 38; but in both of these acts the final clauses provided for the preservation of any image, picture, or coat of arms, in brass, stone, or otherwise, in any Church, Chapell, Churchyard, or place of publique prayer, as aforesaid; set up or graven onely for a monument of any King, Prince, or Nobleman, or other dead person which hath not been commonly reputed or taken for a Saint. —In the blind and furious zeal of the Parliament's officers and agents, many of these were also destroyed, and it is to such that the above entry refers. The use of copes, surplices, and superstitious vestments, was also prohibited by the latter ordinance, and they were to be taken away and destroyed with all organs and their cases; but the property of them was not assigned to the person who defaced them.

[d] Die Mercurii, 13mo Junii 1649. An Act for the Promoting and Propagating the Gospel of Jesus Christ in New England was this day read and committed; and on Friday, July 27th, it was passed and ordered to be published. Journals of the House of Commons, Vol. vi. pp. 231, 271;—it will be found printed in Scobell's Collection of Acts, &c. Part 2, p. 68, 1649, cap. 45. It first establishes a Corporation for the purpose, and then orders that a general collection in aid of it shall be made throughout all the counties, cities, towns, and parishes, of England and Wales: that the ministers should publickly read the Act the Lord's Day next after its delivery, exhorting their hearers to a cheerful and liberal contribution; that they with the parish-officers, should collect the alms from house to house, and that the amount should be paid within ten days after.

[e] An exact Surveigh of the Streets, Lanes, and Chvrches, comprehended within the Rvins of the City of London, first described in Six Plates, 10th December, Ao. Domi. 1666. By the Order and Directions of the Rt. Hon. the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Councell, of the said City. John Leake, John Fennings, Willm. Leyborne, Thomas Streete, Richard Shortgrave, Surveyors; and Reduced into one intire plat by John Leake for the use of the Commissioners for the regulation of Streets, Lanes, &c. Copied by G. Vertue, 1723. Two Sheets.—On Monday Grace Church Street is all in flames,—now the flames break in upon Cornhill, that large and spacious street, and quickly cross the way by the train of wood that lay untaken away which had been pulled down from the houses to prevent its spreading, and so they lick up the whole street as they go.—God's Terrible Advice to the City by Plague and Fire, by the Rev. Thomas Vincent. Lond. 1666. 4to.

[] Ed. Illegible.

[a] A rough ground plan, with the measurements inserted of this alteration, is in one of the series of original pocket-books used by the Surveyors of theruins of the City of London after the Great Fire, now preserved in the City Library at Guildhall, marked Booke IIII Hooke, p. 191; and the same alteration is indicated in the Survey of the ruins copied by Vertue.—In Mr. Wilkinson's MS. Collections the quantity of ground taken from the Parish is stated to be 114 3-eighths superficial fect from one of the houses adjoining the Church, and 168 3-fourths feet from the other.

[a] Parentalia; or Memoirs of the Family of the Wrens, by Christopher and Stephen Wren,and Joseph Ames, Lond. 1750, fol. pp. 317.—Hatton's New View of London, vol. ii. p. 485.—J. P. Malcolm's Londinum Redivivum, vol. iv. p. 571.

[b] The stone and inscription at this time erected are still to be seen, though greatly defaced, near the south-east corner of the church-yard in St. Peter's Alley. The upper part of the headstone was handsomely carved, and was originally sculptured with the figure of a pipe laid across an open music book above the following inscription, —This stone is erected by order of Vestry to perpetuate the memory of Mr. John Butler; who by the diligent, faithful, and unwearied discharge of his duty as Clerk of this Parish for 22 years, conciliated the generall esteem of all that were connected with him. He died Nov. 6th. 1768; Aged 61. Oft have I view'd the gloomy place Which claims the relicts of the human race, And read on the insculptured stone Here lies the body of——. the conclusion effaced.

[c] It seems that until the above period the Vestry of this Parish was select, consisting of about 30 who were chosen into the Vestry, out of which the Parish-officers were elected: thirteen members at a meeting had power to proceed on the parochial affairs, and a majority of seven might carry any vote.—New Remarks of London: Collected by the Company of Parish Clerks, Lond. 1732, 12mo. p. 127.

[a] The house at which this dreadful calamity took place, was situate between some ancient wooden buildings at the western end of the Old East India House, No. 5, on the south side of Leadenhall Street. Whilst it was re-erecting Mr. Woodmason removed to No. 129, in the same Street, and returned to his own place of residence in 1785. This date is embossed upon the boundary-plate of St. Peter's Parish now fixed against the edifice erected on this memorable spot, as it forms the most eastern extremity of that district: it is at present, December 1833, No. 11, and is occupied by Messrs. John Prince and Co. Clothiers.

[b] An Authentic Statement of the dreadful calamity which happened at Mr. Woodmason's house in Leadenhall Street on Friday, Jan. 18th. Universal Magazine, January 1782, vol. lxx. p. 53. London Chronicle, Tuesday Jan. 22nd to 24th. p. 83.—In the answers to Correspondents attached to the Morning Chronicle of Thursday, Jan. 24th, the printer notices his having received several articles relating to the fire, within the last three days, as well as some censure for not having copied the various paragraphs relating to it in the other papers: but he adds that he considered the event to have been attended with circumstances so shocking to humanity, that curiosity on the subject was thoughtless and unfeeling, and the sooner it was obliterated from the recollection of the public the better.

[c] The London Chronicle from Thursday Jan. 17th to 19th, 1782, p. 72.

[d] Authentic Statement, &c.—In the Morning Herald and Daily Advertiser of Monday Jan. 21st, it is most absurdly and mischievously stated, that the yeoman who went to call Mr. Woodmason from the gallery at St. James's, exclaimed to him aloud, Mr. Woodmason come down, for your wife and six children are all burnt in their beds!—The same paper denies the destruction of the children, and adds that they were all in the country at the time of the fire.

[e] Morning Chronicle and London Advertiser, Monday Jan. 21st.

[f] Authentic Statement, &c.

[g] London Chronicle from Tuesday Jan. 22nd to 24th. p. 88.

[h] Morning Chronicle, Monday Jan. 1st, and Tuesday Jan. 22nd.

[a] At a Court of Wardmote, holden for the Ward of Cornhill, the 16th day of June, 1781, it was Resolved, That a Tank or Reservoir, which will hold 18,000 Gallons of Water, be erected in the Front of St. Peter's Church in Cornhill, for the more effectual extinguishing of any Fire that may happen in or near this Ward; and that the expence of making the said Tank be raised by voluntary subscription.—The formation of this Tank appears to have originated in a Letter addressed to the inhabitants of Cornhill by Mr John Sewell, the Bookseller, which was read at a General Vestry of St. Michael's Parish, and afterwards printed in a small quarto half-sheet,—stating the great and frequent destruction which Cornhill Ward had experienced by fire; the imperfection of the nightly watch, and the plan of a reservoir for water, to contain 3230The last digit of this number is illegible. gallons, proposed to be erected over an intended new watch-house to be made in the cloister of St. Michael's Church. The portico of St. Peter's Church was then pointed out as an improvement, which would admit of a reservoir containing 5940 gallons of water, and last nearly an hour at the rate of 100 gallons per minute; the usual discharge of a large engine. This latter was succeeded by another from Mr. Edward Nairne, the Optician, opposite the Exchange, dated Dec. 21st, 1780, also printed separately in four small quarto pages, which proposed as an addition, the building of at least four tanks or cisterns of brick laid, and lined withinside with terras, under the high-way in the high-Street of Cornhill, or any other part of the Ward, to hold any quantity of water and to be filled by a pipe from the Thames, or New-River water-works. These tanks were proposed to be built like an arched coal-cellar, with a funnel in the pavement as an entry by which they might be repaired and cleaned, and it was calculated that one holding 6000 gallons would not cost more than 46l. the walls and arch being a brick and a half in thickness. The letter also replied to some objections which had been made to the design, proposed the means of paying for it, and noticed the great benefit which might be derived from large public tanks erected in the principal and most elevated parts of the City; especially at the great cross formed by Cornhill, Bishopsgate Street, Grace Church Street and Leadenhall Street.

[b] Gentleman's Magazine, November 1785, vol. lv. part ii. p. 485.