This was in early times a play ground for the youth of the city, for shooting with the long bow and other athletic exercises. Part of the eastern side was formerly bounded by the ancient hospital and priory of Bethlem, separated by a deep ditch, now covered by part of , or, as it was formerly called, and is even now better known, Broker's-row; the lower part of the fields was divided into squares impaled, and each square planted regularly with elm trees round a grass plat. Between these squares, or quarters as they were generally called, were broad gravel walks from east to west, and from north to south, which, with the trees on each side, formed a tolerable vista, and was so well frequented by the citizens of both sexes in the evenings and fine weather, to walk in, that it obtained the name of the

city mall.

Vinegar's ring;

In

1414

, Thomas Fauconer, mayor, opened the postern in the wall, called

Moorgate

, to give the citizens a passage into the country.

Here the mountebanks set up their stages, and dispensed infallible medicines, for every species of disease, to the gaping gulls who surrounded them. Here too, I lament to say, that religion set up its stage itinerant, beneath the shade of the trees ; and here the pious, well-meaning Whitfield, long preached so successfully, as to steal from a neighbouring charlatan the greater part of his numerous admirers, in defiance of the eloquence of the doctor, and the witty sallies of his pied attendant. The faithful merry andrew told his master not to be discouraged: he would engage soon to dislodge this powerful adversary. He accordingly climbed a tree above the head of the zealous preacher, who, in the midst of an ecstatic attitude, received from the impious wretch the full effects of a most active drug, and was forced to quit his discourse with the utmost precipitation. But Andrew found it difficult to escape with his life; for he was assailed on all sides by showers of stones from the

justly enraged congregation; and long felt, in his battered bones, the consequence of his wit.

On the southern portion of , and adjoining was

[] P. 252, 4to.