This building was built by sir John Beauchamp, knight of the garter, son of Guido earl of Warwick; on his decease in , his executors sold the mansion to Edward III. who converted it into a

In Mr. Malcolm's Londinium Redivivum are extracts from a manuscript in the , being the original accounts of Piers Courteys, keeper of the great wardrobe, from to Michaelmas, Edward IV. He had the care of the liveries of the brotherhoods of St. George and the garter; the robes of the king, queen, their children, and the principal nobility, for which he received, as his salary, per annum.

From the manuscript, it appears, he time delivered, for the kings own use,

a long gown of cloth of gold, blue upon satin, enamylled and lined with green satin; a doublet of blue satin, lined with Holland cloth, &c.

He received in the above period for the use of his office; , of which was appropriated to the purchase of velvets, satins, damaske, &c. for ounces of spangles, and for cloth of gold tissue.

Purchased fox skins at each; white lamb skins, at per .

item is for feather beds and bolsters for

our sovereign lord the king,

pair shoon of Spanysh leder, double soled and not lyned; price the peire

Numerous taylors were employed within the wardrobe, of whom are charged as working days, at per day each; skinners, days, at per day each.

Another curious item is for candles consumed, when

the king's highnesse and goode grace rested and abode at his said grete wardrobe,

For making a gown and a hood of the livery of the garter for the duke of Ferrar,

The expences of binding books was as follows:

Paid to Piers Baudwyn, stationer, for binding, gilding, and dressing of a book called Titus Livius, ; the same for the Holy Trinity, a.; the Bible, , &c.

In this house resided sir John Fortescue, knt. master of the wardrobe, chancellor and under-treasurer of the exchequer, and of the privy-council to queen Elizabeth. The secret letters and writings, touching the estate of the realm, were formerly enrolled in the king's wardrobe, and not in the Chancery, as appears by various records.

In Castle Baynard ward was an ancient palace of the kings of England, situated on the south side of , and extending from the cathedral to the river-side. The windows of of the southern apartments opened upon the river Thames, not

palace as the abode of royalty occurs in the reign of Canute, in whose presence the perfidious Edric, after a very summary process, expiated his treason with his life, and his body was thrown out of the windows into the river Thames.

This Saxon palace was forsaken by Edward the Confessor, who transferred his residence to the new foundation at . It was certainly destroyed by fire, with the cathedral, in , and was not rebuilt.

[] Vol ii. p. 361.

[] Harl. 4780.

[] Gent's Mag. vol. 96. pt. 1. pp. 293, 94.