ward, is so called from the street, which is supposed to have received this name from making or selling lime there. It is bounded on the east and north by ward, on the west by Bishopsgate ward, and on the south by Langbourn ward. It is divided into precincts, numbered from to , and is under the government of an alderman, and common councilmen. Though this ward runs through several parishes, there is not any church in it, neither is there a whole street throughout it.

The most prominent edifice in ancient times in this ward, was Leadenhall, which was situated on the south side, and near the west end of the street of that name. It was originally a manor-house, belonging to sir Hugh Neville, in the year , and was purchased by the munificent Whittington in , who afterwards presented it to the city. In , sir Simon Eyre erected a public granary here, built with stone, at his own expense. He also built a chapel within the square, which he intended to apply to the uses of a foundation for a warden, secular priests, clerks, and choristers; and also for schoolmasters; and he left

some of the which

sixty

priests, every market day in the forenoon, did celebrate divine service here to such market people as repaired to prayer; and once every year they met all together, and had solemn service, with procession of all the brethren and sisters. This foundation was, in the year

1512

. by a common council, confirmed to the

sixty

Trinity priests, and to their successors, at the will of the mayor and commonalty.

In the year , a great fire happened upon the Leadenhall, many houses were destroyed, with all the stocks for guns, and other military provision belonging to the city.

In the year , the of Henry VII. a request was made by the commons of the city, concerning the usage of the said Leadenhall, in form as followeth:

Please it to the lord-maior, aldermen, and common council, to enact, that all Frenchmen bringing canvas, linen cloth, and other wares to be sold, and all foreigns bringing wolsteds, sayes, stamins, kiverings, nails, iron work, or any other wares, and also all manner foreigns bringing lead to the city to be sold, shall bring all such their wares aforesaid to the open market of the Leadenhall, there, and no where else, to be shewed, sold, and uttered, like as of old time it hath been used, upon pain of forfeiture of all the said wares shewed or sold in any other place than aforesaid; the shew of the said wares to be made three days in a week, that is to say, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. It is also thought reasonable, that the common beam be kept from henceforth in the Leadenhall, and the farmer to pay therefore reasonable rent to the chamber, for better it is that the chamber have advantage thereby than a foreign person; and also the said Leadenhall, which is more chargeable now by half than profitable, shall better bear oat the charges thereof: also the common beam for wool at Leadenhall may pay yearly a rent to the chamber of London, towards the supportation and charges of the same place; for reason it is, that a common office, occupied upon a common ground, bear a charge to the use of the commonalty: also that foreigns bringing wools, or any other merchandizes or wares to Leadenhall, to be kept there for the sale and market, may pay more largely for keeping of their goods, than freemen.Ibid.

In the year , the of Henry VIII. the the following petition was exhibited by the Commons to the common council, and was by them allowed, concerning the Leadenhall.

Meekly beseeching, sheweth unto your good lordship, and masterships, divers and many citizens of this city, which with your favours (under correction) think, that the great place called the Leadenhall should, nor ought not to be letten to farm, to any person or persons, and in especial to any fellowship or company incorporate, to have and hold the same hall for term of years; for such inconveniences as thereby may ensue, and come to the hurt of the common weal of the said city in time to come; as somewhat more largely may appear in the articles hereafter following:

, if any assembly, or hasty gathering of the commons of the said city, for oppressing or subduing of misruled people within the said city, hereafter shall happen to be called or commanded by the mayor, aldermen, and other governors and counsellors of the said city for the time being, there is none so convenient, meet, and necessary a place to assemble them in within the said city as the said Leadenhall, both for largeness of room, and for their sure defence in time of their counselling together about the premises. Also iii that place hath been used the artillery, guns, and other common armours of the said city, to be safely kept in a readiness, for the safeguard, wealth, and defence of the said city, to be had and occupied at times when need required: as also the store of timber, for the necessary reparations of the tenements belonging to the chamber of the said city, there commonly hath been kept.

Item. If any triumph or noblesse were to be done or shewed by the commonalty of the said city, for the honour of our sovereign lord the king and realm, and for the worship of the city, the said Leadenhall is the most meet and convenient place to prepare and order the said triumph therein, and from thence to issue forth to the places therefore appointed.

Item. At any largess or dole of any money made unto the poor people of this city, by or after the death of any worshipful person within the said city, it hath been used to be done and given in the said Leadenhall, for that the said place is most meet therefore.

Item. The honourable Father that was maker of the said hall, had a special will, intent, and mind (as is commonly said) that the market men and women that came to the city with victuals and other things, should have their free standing within the said Leadenhall in wet weather, to keep themselves and their wares dry, and thereby to encourage them, and all other, to have the better will and desire the more plenteously to resort to the said city to victual the same: and if the said hall should be letten to farm, the will of the said honourable father should never be fulfilled, nor take effect.

Item. If the said place, which is the chief fortress and most necessary place within all the city, for the tuition and safeguard of the same, should be letten to farm, out of the hands of the chief heads of the same city, and especially to any other body politick, it might at length (by likelihood) be occasion of discord and debate between the said bodies politic. Which God defend.

For these, and many other great and reasonable causes, which hereafter shall be shewed to this honourable court, your said beseechers think it much necessary that the said hall be still in the hands of this city, and to be surely kept by sad and discreet officers, in such wise that it may always be ready to be used and occupied, for the common weale of the said city when need shall require, and in no wise to be letten to any body politic.

About an attempt was made to remove the burse for the accommodation of the merchants, from to Leadenhall, but after many common councils had been held respecting the propriety of removal, the idea was abandoned.

In the year , when king Henry's corpse lay in state in his chapel at , in the month of February, about days, here at Leadenhall, Heath, bishop of Worcester, the king's almoner, and other his ministers and assistants, did daily distribute to poor people of the city great plenty of money, as well as at , and divers other places in the several wards, both in open doles and by way of proclamation.

[] Maitland, ii. 1001.