On the east side of formerly stood the priory of S Bartholomew, founded by Rahere,

a pleasant witty gentleman, and therefore in his time called the king's jester,

In a very curious legend, as Mr. Malcolm calls it, concerning the pious founder Rahere, is the following:

And he havynge the title of desired possession of the kyng's maiestie, was right gladde.

Than nothynge he omyttyng of care and diligence, two werkys of pyte began to make; oone for the vowe that he hadde made, another as to hym by p«cepte was inioynde. Therfore the case prosp«ously succeded, and after the apostles word all necessaryes flowed unto the hande.

The chirche he made of cumly stoone work, tablewyse. And an hospital house a litell lenger of from the chirche by hymself he began to edifie. The churche was fowndid (as we have taken of oure eldres) in the moneth of Marche, in the name of oure Lorde Jhu Christ, in memorie of most blesside Bartholomew apostle, the yere from the incarnation of the same Lorde our Savyoure Mmo c.xiij. Thanne haldyng and rewlyng the holy see of Rome, mooste holy fader Pope Calixte the secunde.

P«sidente in the churche of Inglond, William, archebishoppe of Cawntirbury; and Richarde, byshoppe of London; the whiche of due lawe and right halowid that place yn the giste party of the forsayde felde (and byshoply auctoryte dedicate the same that tyme full breve and shorte) as a cymytery.

Regnyng the yonger son of William Rothy, first kynge of Englischmen yn the north, Herry the firste, xxxty yere, and a side half, the thirde yere of his reigne. To the laude and glorie of the hye and endyvyduall Trynyte; to him blessynge, thankynge, honoure, and empyer, worlde withowtyn ende. Amen.

Rahere having discovered by the confession of of the parties, that his enemies had confederated against him to take away his life, addressed himself to king Henry I., who took him under his protection; and in order thereto granted him a charter confirming all the liberties.

A very disgraceful scene was acted in this priory, so early as the reign of Henry the . Boniface, archbishop of Canterbury, a wrathful and turbulent man, elected to that see in , in his visitation came to this priory, to which he had no right, where being received with procession in a most solemn manner, he said, that he passed not upon honour, but came to visit them; to whom the canons answered that they having a learned bishop, ought not, in contempt of him, to be visited by any other. This answer so much offended the archbishop, that he forthwith fell on the subprior, and smote him on the face, saying,

Indeed! indeed! doth it become you English traitors so to answer me?

Where is this ruffian, that cruel smiter? He is no

winner of souls, but an exacter of money, whom neither God nor any lawful or free election did bring to this promotion; but the king did unlawfully intrude him, being unlearned, a stranger born, and having a wife,

It was surrendered Hen. VIII. and Dugdale gives it as worth per annum.

Mr. Malcolm cites particulars from the

Livre de les Rates,

St. Bartholomew's priory had possessions at Stanmore, Middlesex, containing 66 acres of arable, 24 of pasture, and 42 of meadow land, of the clear yearly value of 15l. It was rated for sir Thomas Rayland, knt. at 28 years purchase, 1557.

4s. 8d. 13s. 4d. and 6s. per annum received by the prior and convent from the Bear, in West Smythfield; the Bell, in the same place, and the Ferrer's house, in the parish of St. Sepulchre's, were sold at 20 years purchase.

. A grant was made of this place to Richard Riche.

We, the king, inconsideration of the sum of

1,064l. 11s. 3d.

grant, &c. to R. R. kt. chancellor of our court of augmentations of the revenues of our crown, the capital messuage and mansion house of the dissolved monastery, or priory of St. Bartholomew, and that close of the same called Great St. Bartholomew's, beginning, &c. We do likewise grant to R. R. kt. all those our messuages, houses, and buildings, called Le Fermery, Le Dorter, Le Frater, Les Cloysters, Les Galleries, Le Hall, Le Kitchen, Le Buttry, Le Pantry, Le olde Kitchen, Le Woodehouse, Le Garner, and Le prior's stable, situate within the close aforesaid, as they appertained to the monastery.

The king gives the service of hundredth part of a knight's fee, and reserved rent of from a tenement granted to John Williams, of Rycote, in the county of Oxford, knt. and Edwarde Northe, kt. of London, in the above close. Also tenements, with their appurtenances, within the precincts of the great close

Then follows a grant of the fair of St. Bartholomew, as when in possession of the prior and convent, which is still held.

The seal of this priory was circular, with a representation of St. Bartholomew seated, having the deed of foundation in his right hand, and a knife uplifted in his left; behind him is an ecclesiastical edifice with finials formed of fleur de lys. Legend. The counter seal represents a ship, with an octangular tower and crocketted spire in a boat; on side of the church is , on the other . The legend is . On the accession of Mary a new seal was made; it was of an oval form, and represented St. Bartholomew with a broad knife in his light hand, and an open book in his left; above him was a dome canopy with drapery. The legend

other seals belonging to this priory have been engraved in the Archaelogia.

The church and ruins were evidently constructed at different periods. They must be sought among stables, carpenters' and farriers' shops. The sound of hammers now resound through those arches where the solemn chaunt only echoed in soft response; and where the measured step of the silent monk paced in slow movements.

The cloisters shew the workmanship of the latter portion of the century; the whole remains consist of arches, groined in a beautiful style; large bosses remain perfect

The east cloister which is the only perfect portion, is feet long, and broad. The court leads to the close, where we find a modern square; and though we are now directly facing the refectory, not a vestige of antient architecture is visible, that part which projects into the close being faced with brick. The windows are transformed into large ones of the present fashion. The length is feet, by in breadth.

The roof is very strong, and full of timber, and remains nearly as it was when the refectory.

In the north-east corner of the square, a passage has been cut through the cellars; and here the strength and solidity of the walls may be seen, with massy arches, and stout groins.

At the south end of the east cloister there was a space feet by , probably a court, through which the brethren passed to and from the refectory. The above passage turns to the north, where part of the old walls and a battered window that formerly lighted the vaults are still to be seen.

The lesser close contained the prior's stables; their exact site is not known. A gateway was standing within the memory of man leading to the wood-yard, kitchens, &c. An ancient mulberry tree grew near it, and beneath its branches the good wives and maids of the parish were wont to promenade. Houses have usurped their place.

The dissenting place of worship called Bartholomew's chapel, is set against the east end of the priory, not far from the choir. In a corner of this chapel, there used to be seen, some years back, a very antique piece of sculpture, representing the figure of a priest, with a child in his arms, (probably Simeon with the infant Christ); and several niches. Beneath it, is a strong wall once forming a communication between the close and the cloisters; it is traditionally styled a dungeon, but the remains of the architecture in a single trefoil canopy with sculptured capitals in the taste of the century, shew that the building must have been above ground. It is occupied as a depository for mahogany veneer, &c. and is approached through an alley, on the right hand of which is the entrance to

The Protestant Dissenting Charity School, supported by voluntary contributions.

The prior's house is perfect in the outline, but a great deal of the original finishing is wanting. It is a massive building, incorporated with the east end of the chancel, whose walls exceed in strength and thickness those of many modern fortifications. The south side is supported by buttresses; but the whole has been patched and altered to such a degree that we should hardy guess its designation.

The vast flight of stairs remain, and they are literally wide enough for a coach and horses. At the top is the

Fermery.

The earth has been much raised round the church, occasioning a descent of several steps. The parochial school is of the buildings of Prior Bolton; it is situated on the north side of the church, and like the Dissenters' school extends over the aisle. The houses project so much before this place, that they are within feet of their opposite neighbours at the tops.

[] Malcolm's Londinium Red. vol. I 271.

[] Harl. MSS.

[] Office of the First Fruits.

[] Appendant to a deed, dated Sept. 25, 1395. 16th Rich. II.

[] Engraved in the Archaelogia. vol. xv, p. 400.

[] Vol. xix. p. 49.

[] Malcolm, i. p. 287.