other Lands, the high Altitude of the heavenly Counsels, marvelously wrought by some readier Devotion, it ought to be more worshipped; of which things the mortal Sickness (after the Fall of our first Father Adam) hath taken the beginning of this new repairing: Therefore forsooth, it beseemeth worthy, that the place, in which the Sonne of God is become Man, and hath proceeded from the Virgins Womb, which is increaser and beginner of Man's Redemption, namely ought to be with Reverence worshipped, and with beneficial Portions to be increased. Therefore it is, that the said Simon, Sonne of Mary; having special and singular Devotion to the Church of the glorious Virgin at Bethelem, where the same Virgin of her brought forth our Saviour incarnate, and lying in the Cratch, and with her own Milk nourished; and where the same Child to us there born, the Chivalrie of the heavenly Company sang the new Hymne, Gloria in excelsis Deo. The same time, the increaser of our Health, (as a King, and his Mother a Queene) willed to be worshipped of Kings: A new Starre going before them at the Honour and Reverence of the same Child, and his most meek Mother: And to the Exaltation of my most noble Lord, Henry, King of England; whose Wife and Child the foresaid Mother of God, and her only Son, have in their keeping and protection: And to the manifold increase of this City of London, in which I was born: And also for the health of my Soul, and the Souls of my Predecessors and Successors, my Father, Mother, and my Friends: And especially for the Souls of Guy of Marlowe, John Durant, Ralph Ashwye, Maud, Margaret, and Dennis, Women: Have given, granted, and by this my present Charter, here have confirmed to God, and to the Church of St. Mary of Bethelem, all my Lands which I have in the Parish of St. Botolph without Bishopsgate of London; that is to say, whatsoever I there now have, or had, or in time to come may have, in Houses, Gardens, Pools, Ponds, Ditches and Pits, and all their Appurtenances, as they be closed in by their Bounds; which now extend in length from the Kings high Street East, to the great Ditch in the West, the which is called Deep Ditch: And in breadth, to the Lands of Raph Downing in the North: And to the Land of the Church of St. Buttolph in the South. To have and to hold the foresaid Church of Bethelem in free and perpetual Alms: And also to make there a Priory, and to ordain a Prior and Canons, Brothers and also Sisters, when Jesus Christ shall enlarge his Grace upon it. And in the same place, the Rule and Order of the said Church of Bethelem solemnly professing, which shall bear the token of a Starre openly in their Copes and Mantles of Profession, and for to say divine Service there for the Souls aforesaid, and all Christian Soules: And specially to receive there the Bishop of Bethelem, Canons, Brothers and Messengers of the Church of Bethelem for evermore, as often as they shall come thither. And that a Church or Oratory there shall be builded, as soone as our Lord shall enlarge his Grace: Under such forme, that the Order, Institution of Priors, Canons, Brothers, Sisters of the Visitation, Correction and Reformation of the said Place, to the Bisop of Bethelem and his Successors, and to the Charter of his Church, and of his Messengers, as often as they shall come hither, as shall seeme them expedient, no Man's contradiction notwithstanding, shall pertain evermore, Saving alway the Services of the chiefe Lords, as much as pertaineth to the said Land. And to the more Surety of this thing, I have put my self out of this Land, and all mine: And Lord Godfrey, then chosen of the Nobles of the City of Rome, Bishop of Bethelem, and of the Pope confirmed then by his Name in England, in his Name, and of his Successors, and of his Chapter of his Church of Bethe- lem, into bodily Possession: I have indented and given to his Possession, all the foresaid Lands, which Possession he hath received, and entred in form abovesaid. And in token of Subjection and Reverence, the said Place in London without Bishopsgate, shall pay yearly in the said Citie, a Mark Sterling at Easter, to the Bishop of Bethelem, his Successors or his Messengers, in the Name of a Pension. And of the Faculties or Goods of the said Place (our Lord granting) happen to grow more; the said Place shall pay more, in the name of Pension, at the said term, to the Mother Church of Bethelem. This (forsooth) Gift and Confirmation of my Deed, and the putting to of my Seal for me and mine Heires, I have stedfastly made strong, the Year of our Lord God, A thousand, two hundred, forty seven, the Wednesday after the Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist: These being Witnesses, Peter the Sonne of Allen, then Maior of London, Nicholas Bet, then Sheriffe of the said Citie, and Alderman of the said Ward; Raph Sparling, Alderman; Godfrey of Campes, Simon Comicent, Simon Ronner, Rob. of Woodford, Thomas Woodford, Walter Pointell, Walter of Woodford, &c.

Stephen Gennings, Merchant Tayler, gave 40l. toward the purchase of the Patronage of this Hospital by his Testament, Anno 1523.]

And in the Year 1546. the Maior and Communalty purchased the Patronage thereof with all the Lands and Tenements thereunto belonging. The same Year, K. Henry VIII. gave this Hospital unto the City.]

In the Year 1551. a Protection was granted by Letters Patents from King Edward VI. dated March 7th, to John Whitehead, Proctor for this Hospital of Bethelem, to beg within the Counties of Lincoln and Cambridge, the City of London, and the Isle of Ely, to endure for an whole Year. Which was a sign the Revenues of it were now become but small, and not able to maintain the Charge.]

The Church and Chapel of this Hospital were taken down in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, and Houses builded there, by the Governors of Christ's Hospital in London. In this place, People that be distraught in their Wits, are (by the suite of their Friends) received and kept as afore, but not without Charges to their bringers in.

At a Court of Aldermen, holden on Tuesday, the 20th of January, An. 4. Ed. 6. a Carre roome was freely given to the Inhabitants of Bishopsgate Ward, to the intent, that they should cause the utter Parts of the said Ward without the Gate to be kept clean.

Also, at a Court of Aldermen, holden on Tursday the 7th of April, An. 5. Ed. 6. It was ordered that the Inhabitants with the Precinct of Bethelem should be (from thenceforth) united to the Parish Church of St. Botolph without Bishopsgate, and so by the Parson and Parishioners of the same Parish accepted and taken; and to be allotted and charged with them., to all Offices and Charges (Tithes and Clerkes Wages excepted:) In consideration whereof, the Parson of the said Parish was to receive yearly out of the Chamber of London, 20s. to the Parish Clerk, 6s. 8d.]

In the Year 1569. Sir Thomas Roe, Merchant Taylor, Maior, caused to be inclosed with a Wall of Brick) about one Acre of Ground, being part of the said Hospital of Bethelem, to wit, on the West on the Bank of Deep Ditch so called, parting the said Hospital of Bethelem from the Moorfield: This he did for Burial, in case of such Parishes in London, as wanted Ground convenient within their Parishes. The Lady his Wife was