She gave also to Rob. Hardesty, her Messuage and Farm, Wood Lands, and other Lands and Hereditaments, in the several Parishes of Layer Marly [Marny] and Wigborough in Essex, with the Premisses (except the Wood Lands then in her own Possession) in the several Possessions of Oddy, Widow, and Benjamin Handler: Upon special Trust and Confidence, that the said Rob. Hardesty, do from and after her Decease, employ the clear Rents and Profits for the Relief and Maintenance of such poor Persons who shall be brought to the Hospital of St. Bartholomew, London, for Cure of the respective Maladies and Infirmities they labour under, and shall be there found and adjudged incurable, and in human Probability, destitute of all Means to gain a Livelihood by their own Labour: For whose Relief (as she was credibly informed) no Charity had been hitherto given. And the Reversion of her said Messuage, Lands, &c. last mentioned, from and immediately after the Death of the said Rob. Hardesty, she gave unto the Governours of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, and their Successors for ever, upon the like Trust, and to the same Uses.

She gave her Manour of Covil Hall, with the Rights and Members, and her Messuage, Lands, Tenements, &c. lying in the Parish of White Roding, alias White Roothing in Essex, all the Rents and Profits thereof for the Relief and Support of poor Seamens Widows, inhabiting within the Parish of Stepney; as shall be recommended from Time to Time to the Ministers of the said Parish of Stepney, or of the respective Chapels within the same; or to the Churchwardens or Chapelwardens, to be fit Objects of Charity; to be given them in such Proportion as the said Rob. Hardesty shall think fit, not exceeding 50s. to any one Widow in any one Year. The Reversion of the said Messuage, &c. after Rob. Hardesty's Death, to the Ministers of Stepney, Bromley, St. Mary Matfelon, and of the Chapels of Bow and Poplar, and to the Churchwardens, Chapelwardens, and Overseers of the Poor of the same.

That as soon as the Value of her whole personal Estate could be adjusted, and the same could be got in, and a true State could be taken thereof, two Parts of the Surplus thereof to be laid out and disposed by her Executor in the best Charities he could be informed of; and the remaining Third Part of the Surplus she gave to her said Executor for his own Use.

This charitable Gentlewoman lies buried in Bow Church, with a fair Monument, in Memory of her and her liberal Benefactions.

There is a fair Alms-house now lately built near Bow by the Company of Drapers of London, upon a Gift of an Estate of about 180l. per Ann. bequeathed to them in Trust for that Purpose, by Mr. Edmundson, a Sail Maker, sometime since deceased. It is situate in a Field on the Right Hand of the Road coming from London, on a Piece of Ground there, about three Quarters of an Acre more or less, which cost the Company 195l. It fronts Sir John Jolls his Alms-house, belonging to the same Company, and is to consist of twelve Rooms. To which belongeth a Chapel and Gardens. There is a very good Water that serves the old Alms-house, which will supply the New.

The Reverend Mr. White, late Minister of this Church, Rector of Stepney, and Lecturer there for many Years, lies buried in this Church, under a fair black Marble Stone, with this Inscription, composed by one who sometime was his Friend, and well acquainted with him.

Quicquid mori debuit Reverendi viri THO. WHITE, A.M. Cathedralis Ecclesiæ Litchfieldensis Prebendarii, Parachialis STEPNEIÆ Rectoris, hic situm est. Vixit suis Præsidium, pauperibus Levamen, Ecclesiæ & Reip. Ornamentum Vixit. Heu! Excessit Pastor vigilantissimus, Conjux fidissimus, Amicus conjunctissimus. Cui Virtus, Pudor, & Justitiæ soror incorrupta Fides, nudáq; Veritas, rarò ullum invenient parem. Excessit, Heu! Fuit Ore disertus, Doctrina clarus, Moribus candidus, Aditu facilis, Affatu mitis, aliorum facilis Censor, sui severissimus, Prudens, Patiens, sibi constans; nisi in hoc diversus, quod indies melior; ut Verbo dicam, verè Christianus. Heu! Fuit.     
Obiit 6ta Kal. Mar. Anno M DCCIX.
Ætat. 67.

There was an ancient Custom, for the Inhabitants of this Town of Stratford at Bow, to go in Procession to the Church of St. Peter, Westminster, all through the City of London, at Whitsontide; in Token of some Dependence of this Town upon that Church. This they got themselves released of, in the Days of Henry the Eighth, by a License or Toleration obtained from Thomas, Bishop of Westminster, That they should not be obliged to come in solemn Procession to the Cathedral Church of Westminster, in the Feast of Pentecost, being accustomed so to do of old. The like Processions the Parishes of Stepney and Whitechapel performed: And the like Letters of License were granted by the same Bishop, to the Rectors and Parishioners of those Parishes.

In the Records of the Tower, Mention is made, in the Reign of King Edward the First, of two Bridges in the Road between this Town and West Ham, and for their Reparation and Foundation, viz. De Reparatione & fundatione pontium inter Villas de Stratford & West Ham, viz. Chaneres Bregge, & Lekke Bregge.

A Mile from Stratford Bow, in the Road into Essex, is Stratford Langton, or Langthorn, lying in the Parish of West Ham, a Place much frequented for Country Houses of wealthy Citizens, and the Habitations of such other of them who cannot enjoy their Health in London. The Parish is called West Ham, in Distinction from another Ham on the East. In the Church are these Monuments of Note.

In the Chancel upon the Pavement.

Henry Fallowfield, Merchant of London, deceased the 4th of May, 1566. Aged 54. Having a stedfast Hope of a joyful Resurrection in the last Day.

On the Side of the Communion Table is buried Henry Amcott and Katherine his Wife. He dyed 1583.

Under the Communion Table is the Monument of Mr. John Shipman: Who dyed An. 1583.

On the North Side of the Communion Table, against the Wall, is a very fair Monument (with two Marble Effigies) of Sir Thomas Foot, Kt. and Bart. late Alderman; and Lord Maior of London, in the Year 1650. Dyed Octob. 12, 1688, in the 96th Year of his Age. Together with the Body of Elizabeth his Wife: Who dyed Ocotb. 6. 1667, in the 74th Year of her Age. They had