Bishopsgate Ward. The Bounds. 105

Bishopsgate Ward. The Bounds.

der a fair Monument: Where, in the Inscription his Character and Quality is told.

This Rectory came afterwards into the Possession of the Stanhope's, viz. in the 41. of Queen Elizabeth. The Parish have the Copy of her Sale thereof for the Sum of 610l. 18s. 7d. ob.q. paid by Michael Stanhope Esq; one of the Grooms of the Privy Chamber, and Edward Stanhope Doctor of Law, and one of the Masters of the Court of Chancery: "Granting to them the whole Rectory and Church of St. Helen's, with their Rights, Members, and Appurtenances, late belonging to the Priory of St. Helen's, and all the Messuages, Houses, Edifices, Gardens, Tithes, Oblations, Rents, Fruits, Profits, Commodities, Advantages, &c. belonging to the said Rectory and Church; And the annual Rent of 8l. 16s. 1d. formerly belonging to the said Priory, and Parcel of the Possessions. Which Priory, Rectory and Church, is extended to the clear yearly Value of 8l. 16s. 1d. per Ann. To hold by Fealty in free and common Sockage, and not in Capite, nor by Military Service. And moreover she gave and granted all the Rents, Issues, Revenues, Profits, &c. of all and singular the Premisses from the Feast of the Annunciation of our Blessed Lady last past by her Gift absq; compoto: 20l. to be issuing from the said Rectory pro Stipendio sive Salario, i.e. for a Stipend or Salary for a sufficient Preacher of God's Word within the said Church, to preach from time to time, to be allowed by the Bishop of London for the time being; to be paid him Quarterly by equal Portions: and from the said Payments to free and indemnify her and her Successors." This bore Date at Westminster the 13th of Sept. 41. Regin.]

The Bounds and Limits of St. Helen's Parish, called Bishopsgate Street. The furthest House on the East side, wherein Thomas Childe now dwelleth, towards the South, abutteth upon the Tenement now in the Occupation of James Austen, in the Parish of St. Martin Oteswich. The furthest House, wherein Edmund Higges, Sadler, now dwelleth, towards the North, abutteth upon the Parsonage House of St. Ethelburge Parish: enclosing (withal) little St. Helen's Close, wherein the Leather-sellers Hall, other Tenements, and Almshouses belonging to the said Company, do stand. As also great St. Helen's Close, wherein the Parish Church, with a Thorough fare to the back Gate, leading into St. Mary at the Axe; and the utmost House belonging to the said Parish, is next adjoining to the said Gate towards the South, and openeth into the Street there, commonly called St. Mary at Axe.

The Bounds of this Parish.

A. M.

On the West side of the Street, called Bishopsgate Street, the furthest House, wherein Thomas Goodson now dwelleth, (towards the South) abutteth upob the Gate, wherein Mr. Richard Foxe, Alderman's Deputy, then dwelled in the Parish of St. Martin Oteswich. And the furthest House, wherein Nathaniel Wright then also dwelled, towards the North, abutteth upon the Messuage or Tenement Inn, called the Black Bull, in the said Parish of St. Ethelburge.

By me, Jo. Warner, Parish Clerk there.]

Then have ye one great House, called Crosby Place, because the same was builded by Sir John Crosby, Grocer and Woolman, in place of certain Tenements, with their Appurtenances, letten to him by Alice Ashfeld, Prioress of St. Helen's, and the Covent, for 99 Years, from the Year 1466. unto the Year 1565. for the annual Rent of 11l. 6s. 8d. This House he builded of Stone and Timber, very large and beautiful, and the highest at that time in London: He was one of the Sheriffs, and an Alderman in the Year 1470. Knighted by Edw. IV. in the Year 1471. and deceased in the Year 1475. So short a time enjoyed he that his large and sumptuous Building.

Crosby Place.

Sir John Crosby.

What the Contents and Particulars of the Demises granted to Crosby by the Prioress were, may be understood by the Grant of Crosby Place and the Appurtenances made by King Henry VIII. to Anthony Bonvixi the Italian Merchant. Rex omnibus, &c. cum Alicia Ashfeld, &c. Wherein are mentioned first, the great Messuage or Tenement now commonly called Crosby Place, with a certain Venell, i.e. Lane or Passage that extended in Length from the East Part of the said Tenement to the Corner or South End of a certain little Lane North, bending unto the Priory Close: Also nine Messuages situate and lying in the said Parish of St. Helen's: Whereof six were situate and lying between the Front of the said Tenement, and the Front of the Bell-house or Steeple of the said Church: And another Messuage of the said nine Messuages, which Katharine Catesby Widow formerly held, sutuate within the Gate and the Steeple aforesaid, and the six Messuages mentioned before; together with a certain Void Place of Land situate in the said Parish, extending in Length toward the East by the said Messuage which the said Katharine Catesby formerly held, from the outward Part of the Plat or Post of the Bell-house, abutting upon the North Part of the said six Messuages, and the Kings Street, unto the Churchyard there, five Foot and an half Assize: and thence extending in Breadth toward the South directly unto a certain Tenement there, formerly in the Tenure of Robert Smith: And two Messuages more of the said nine Messuages jointly, situate within the Close of the said Priory. Of which one heretofore was in the Tenure of John Crosby by the Demise of Alice Woodhouse late Prioress; and the other heretofore in the Tenure of the said Robert Smith. And these were the Tenements and Appurtenances held of the Priory of St. Helen's by Sir John Crosby.]

What was granted to Crosby by the Prioress.

J. S.

Int. Record. Paroch.

He was buried in St. Helen's, the Parish Church, a fair Monument of him and his Lady is raised there: He gave towards the reforming of that Church five hundred Marks, which was bestowed with the better, as appeareth by his Armes, both in the Stone- work, Roof of Timber, and Glassing.

His Monument.

I hold it a Fable said of him, to be named Crosby, of being found by a Cross; for I have read of other to have that Name of Crosby before him; namely, in theYear 1406. the 7th of Henry IV. the said King gave to his Servant John Crosby the Wardship of Joan, Daughter and sole Heir to John Jordaine, Fishmonger, &c. This Crosby might be Father or Grandfather to Sir John Crosby.

And before him in the Reign of King Edward III. was another John Crosby, a Knight and Alderman of London, and had a Son and Heir called John. Of this Sir John I find this Record. Edwardus Princeps Wallie, Dux Cornubie concessit, &c. Edward Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwal, hath granted to Thomas Rigby, &c. "The Custody of the Manor of Haneworth, and the Advowson of the Church of Haneworth; which lately was John Crosby's Knt. late Alderman of London; which he held of the same Prince Edward the Day wherein he died: to have and hold until the lawful Age of John his Son and Heir, called John Crosby." It was confirmed by the King. This Hanworth is placed on the River of Thames not far from Hampton

Another Sir John Crosby more ancient.

J. S.

Rec. Turr.

Court,