to Q. Katharine of Spain; who was Bishop of this See, Anno 1516.]

Thomas Wylson, Dr. of Law, in the time of Q. Elizabeth, her principal Secretary, of whom see Stow, speaking of this Hospital of St. Katharines; and the Author of Edwardus Confessor redivivus, Published, Anno 1688. He had been Tutor to the two Sons of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, in Edward the VIth's Time. It is said, that he dissolved the Choir, that might have equalled that of St. Paul's.

Ralph Rookesby, Esq; An. 1596. Stows Survey in St. Andrews Holborn.

Sir Robert Acton, An. 1631. under K. Charles I.

Sir Julius Cæsar, Knt. Dr. of the Civil Law. He dyed An. 1636.

Henry Mountague succeeded him.

Dr. Cox succeeded him.

George Mountague, under K. Charles II. who dyed in July 1681.

Lord Brunker succeeded him. He dyed Apr. 5. 1684. Then followed

Sir James Butler: Extinguished, An. 1698.

Lewis Duras, Earl of Feversham, next Master.

In the Year 1565, Dr. Wylson being Master, the Precinct of St. Katharines was in danger of losing its ancient Privileges; which occasioned an earnest Address from the Inhabitants to Secretary Cecyl; complaining unto him against the said Master; that he intended, as much as in him lay, for a pivate Gain of a Sum of Money, clearly for ever to sell and make away to the Lord Maior of the City of London, and his Brethren and the Commonalty, the whole Liberty, Right, Franchises, Royalties, and Privileges belonging to the said House and Hospital, that did appertain and were part of the Dowry of the Queens of this Realm; which would be, as they set forth, an utter subversion and extinguishing of the true Foundation thereof; and the impoverishing, Decay, and undoing of them and their Posterity.

And that the whole Intent and Purpose of these Orators might be the better conceived, they drew out divers Notes, or Articles, for the Secretary to consider.

First, That St. Katharines was an Hospital or Free Chapel, founded by Kings and Queens of this Realm above 300 Years ago, and the Foundation never since altered to any other Use or Purpose, than according to that Grant of the great Charter it was mentioned.

That the Masters of the Hospital had been taken by the said Charter, as Custodes and Governors of the said Hospital, and as Upholders of the Privileges thereof; and not to alter the true Use and Right thereof. As no Master hitherto durst or went about to infringe or break, to their Knowledge.

That it was always Parcel of the Dowry of the Queens of this Realm.

That the true Use of the Hospital was, for the Divine Service of God, to be a free, pure and perpetual Alms of the Poor; six Scholars to be maintained, and other Charges of the same House by due means to be supported. And that they the said Inhabitants should inhabit, and dwell for evermore within the Circuit of the said Hospital, as freely enjoying, and using the Privileges, Liberties, Tuition and Defences thereof.

That the Master, being but Governor, ought not to use, or abuse any Liberties, Franchises, or Privileges, other than is prescribed him in the said Charter.

That a great Commodity and Profit was brought by them, the Inhabitants, to the House. For whereas, before the Masters stood to the Charges of Reparations of all the Tenements in the said Precinct, the Farmers and Tenants now having Leases, did at their own Cost bear the whole Charges by Building and Maintaining. They paid to the said House for Burials, Christnings, Marriages, Four Offering Days, and Clerks Wages, orderly, as other Citizens did, saving privy Tithes, which they never paid. That they paid for Watch to the Tower, 28s. every Month, and were burthened at all Callings and Commandments to the Tower of London, about the Queens Business, as in Watching and other Attendencies.

They prayed, the Secretary would call before him the Comptroller, Surveyor, and Sergeant Plummer of the Queens Works, who of late had Surveyed the House, and were able to inform him of other Abuses of the said House. And this seemed to give a Stop to this Business.]

AND now we shall lead our Stranger to another Hospital of a later Foundation, (in the Reign of K. James I.) lying within the Limits of London, though out of the Liberties, situate near St. Johns Street, a little without Smithfield Bars, in the very Place where Sir Walter Manny, in the time of K. Edward III. Founded a House of Carthusians, called now corruptly The Charterhouse.]

This late dissolved Charterhouse, by West Smithfield, belonging then to the Right Honourable Thomas Earl of Suffolk, after Lord Treasurer of England, was sufficiently known to be a very large and goodly Mansion, beautified with spacious Gardens, Walks, Orchards, and other Pleasures, enriched with divers Dependencies of Lands and Tenements thereunto belonging, and very aptly seated for wholesome Air, and many other Commodities. All which Commodiousness of Situation, and Largeness of Circuit, gave occasion to a well minded Gentleman, Master Thomas Sutton, to affect that House, as the only Place whereon to build the Foundation of his Religious Purpose. For, among other his Christian Determinations, he had formerly intended to build an House at Hallingbury Bouchers in Essex, to be an Hospital for such poor Men and Children as he himself (in his Life-time, or future Governors for the same to be deputed) should think fit to be lodged and relieved there: Also, for a Schoolmaster and Usher, to teach Children to read and write, and instruct them in the Latin and Greek Grammar, with a Learned Divine likewise to preach the Word of God to them all, and a Master beside, to govern all those People belonging to that House.

To this blessed End and Purpose, he had procured (by earnest Suit) Power by an Act of Parliament, to build such an Hospital in the Town of Hallingbury Bouchers, and that the same should be named, The Hospital of King James, founded in Hallingbury in the County of Essex, at the humble Petition, and at the only Costs and Charges of Thomas Sutton, Esq; appointing also such Honourable, Reverend, and Worthy Persons, as by the said Act of Parliament were nominated and appointed, to be the first and instant Governors of the Lands, Possessions, Goods, and Revenues of the said Hospital.

But afterward, upon more grounded Deliberation, and finding this goodly House of the Charter-House, to be much more convenient for the Purpose, than that to be builded at Hallingbury could be; he became an earnest Suiter to the Earl of Suffolk, to purchase that House of him; acquainting his Ho-