Company, for which they by Indenture an. 1657. pay 2s. a Week in Bread: 7s. for Reparation of the Body of the Church: 4s. to the Clark: 2s. 6d. to the Church Wardens.

Joan Wood, by her last Will in the Year 1600. gave an annual Rent Charge of 5s. issuing out of an House in Half Moon Alley: And a Rent Charge of 20s. issuing out of a Brewhouse, called Half Moon Brewhouse. She gave also all her other Lands and Tenements, lying in the same Parish, not otherwise bequeathed, for several Uses, viz. To find a Preacher to preach a Sermon on the Nativity of St. John Baptist, 10s. to the Minister and Church Wardens, 30s. to the Clerk, 6s. 8d. to the Sexton, 5s. The rest of the Premisses, after several other Legacies, to be employed in the common Stock of the said Parish: to repair the Church and other necessary Uses, for the good of the Parish.

Joan Ford. by her last Will dated 1644. gave divers Houses to the Minister and Church Wardens, situate in Half Moon Alley: For a Sermon every Michaelmas Day; or, if it fall on a Sunday, the Day after, 20s. to the Clerk, 3s. 4d. to the Sexton, 18d. And the residue of the Profits to either Uses specified.

John Quince, by his Will dated 1656. gave 40s. to be spent on a Dinner on the 5th of November. To the Parson for a Sermon, 10s. to the Clerk, 16d. and to the Sexton, 8d.

There belongs a Parsonage House to the Minister: And for more Glebe, an House now in Possession of Sir Francis Dashwood, Kt.]

Now without this Churchyard Wall, was a Cawsway, leading to a Quandrant called Petty-France, of Frenchmen dwelling there; and to other dwelling Houses, lately builded on the Bank of the said Ditch by some Citizens of London, that more regarded their own private Gain, than the common good of the City. For by means of this Cawsway raised on the Bank, and soylage of Houses, with other Filthiness cast into the Ditch. the same is now forced to a narrow Chanel, and almost filled up with unsavory things, to the danger of impoisoning the whole City.

For prevention whereof, and in a worthy charitable Disposition of so honourable a City (in regard that this Parish was greatly unprovided of the Burial for their Dead) that needless Cawsey or Passage to Petty France, was given by the City to the said Parish, for the same intent; which they have (since then) made good and firm Ground, walling it about with a good strong Brick Wall, serving as a lower and supplying Churchyard by itself. And towards the Charge whereof, divers good Parishioners (that desire to be nameless) gave large and honest Contribution. And because they would not shew themselves unthankful to the City for so great a Benefit, their Expression standeth thus fixed over the Gate, at entrance into the said Churchyard.

Cœmeterium hoc inferius a Civitate Londinensi huic Parochiæ concessum, sumptibus ejusdem Parochiæ muro lateritio septum est. An. Dom. 1615. Stephano Gossono, Rectore, Thomâ Johnsono & Johanne Hedleio, Ecclesiæ Gardianis.

This Churchyard being consecrated the 4th Day of June, 1617, the first Man buried therein chanced to be a Frenchman born; upon whose Burial these Verses were written by my Friend Mr. Th. Collins.

A Frenchman born,     
hight Martin de la Toure,
Was the first Man     
was buried in this Ground.
A Schoolmaster he was:     
And this a part of our
Near neighbouring Point,     
of Petty France small Bound.
So Martin of the Tower     
may well be said
T'have dyed in England,     
Yet in France was laid.

Aug. 10. 1626.

In Petty France, out of Christian Burial, was buried Hodges Shaughsware a Persian Merchant, who with his Son came over with the Persian Ambassador, and was buried by his own Son, who read certain Prayers, and used other Ceremonies, according to the Custom of their own Country, Morning and Evening, for a whole Month after the Burial: For whom is set up at the Charge of his Son, a Tomb of Stone with certain Persian Characters thereon; the Exposition thus, This Grave is made for Hodges Shaughsware, the chiefest Servant to the King of Persia, for the space of twenty Years, who came from the King of Persia and dyed in his Service. If any Persian cometh out of that Country, let him read this and a Prayer for him; the Lord receive his Soul, for here lyeth Maghmote Shaughsware, who was born in the Town of Novoy in Persia.