those Rhimes of Fabian in the Praise of London, seem to look.

It is so sure a STONE that that is upon sette
For though some have it thrette
With Manases grym and grette
Yet hurte had it none:
CRYSTE is the very STONE
That the Citie is set uppon
Which from al hys Foone
Hath ever preserved yt.

And since others have cast in their Conjectures in a Matter so obscure, by reason of the Antiquity of it, let me add one or two of mine own. The Romans reckoned their Miles from all great Towns and Places by Stones pitched; and so they did in Britain. And perhaps this might be the Stone for London; from which precise Place to measure their Miles from this City towards the other Parts of the Land. And this Street in former Times being the chief Street of London, as Cheapside now is, this Londonstone seems to have been the Place (and likely enough upon this Stone) whence Proclamations and publick Notices of Things were given to the Citizens. There is a Passage in our Chronicles that favours this Conceit. In Henry VI. his Time, Anno 1450. when Jack Cade the Kentish Rebel, whoi feigned himself the Lord Mortimer, came through Southwark into London, he marched to this Stone; where was a great Confluence of People, and the Lord Maior among the rest: Here he struck his Sword upon it, and said, Now is Mortimer Lord of this City: And there making a formal, but lying Declaration to the Maior, departed back again to Southwark.

Perhaps this Stone may be of greater Antiquity than the Times of the Romans, and was an Object or Monument of Heathen Worship: If any be moved so to think from what an exquisite British Anitiquitarian asserts, that the Britains erected Stones for religious Worship, and that the Druids had Pillars of Stone in Veneration. Which Custom, he saith, they borrowed from the Greeks, who, as Pausanias writeth, adored rude and unpolished Stones.]

Down West from this Parish Church, and from London Stone, have ye Walbrook Corner. [Here was a Conduit before the great Fire: Which was new built in the year 1568. at the Cities charge: But not rebuilt.] From whence runneth up a Street North, to the Stocks, called Walbrook, because it standeth on the East side of the same Brook, by the Bank thereof: And the whole Ward taketh Name of that Street. On the East side of this Street, and at the North Corner thereof, is the Stocks Market, which had this beginning.

About the year of Christ, 1282. Henry Wallis *, Maior, caused divers Houses in this City to be builded towards the maintenance of London Bridge; namely, one void place, near unto the Parish Church, called Wooll Church, on the North side thereof, where sometime (the Way being very large and broad) had stood a pair of Stocks, for punishment of Offenders. This Building took name of those Stocks, and was appointed (by him) to be a Market-place for Fish and Flesh in the midst of the City. Other Houses be builded in other Places, as by Patent of Edward the First it doth appear, dated the Tenth of his Reign.

This Stocks Market was sometime belonging to the Keepers of the Bridge of London, and they let the Shops for Term of their Lives to the Butchers and Fishmongers, at certain Rents, which were appropriated for the Use of the said Bridge. But afterwards it was concluded, that no Keeper of the said Bridge should let the said Shops for Life, without the Concurrence of the Maior and Commonalty, as appears by this Record.

John de Gisors being Maior [about the Year 1312 or 1313.] there was a Congregation of honest Men of the Commonalty met, to treat concerning the State of the Butchers and Fishmongers holding Places at the Stocks. And it was agreed by the whole Commonalty, that all they who took their Places by the Demise of John le Bevere, and of other six honest Men, to whom Henry de Galeys heretofore Maior, and the whole Commonalty granted and demised the same Places, viz. That whole House which is called the Stocks, for the Term of the Life of the said John Bevere and his Companions, for a certain Sum of Money, which they rendred yearly to London Bridge, that they may enjoy the same. And the same John and the others, may demise those Places to the Butchers and Fishmongers, according to what was indented in a certain Writing between the said Henry, the Maior and the Commonalty, on the one Part, and the said John, &c. on the other, and enrolled in the Hustengs. And it was likewise agreed, that other Butchers who have since taken Places by the Demise of other Keepers of the Bridge, and have paid certain Sums, to have for the Term of their Lives, and can shew it, may have and hold them. And that for the future, those Places which are not held in the aforesaid Market, be taken into the Hands of the Commonalty, and be demised by the Keepers of the Bridge, who are now Tenants yearly. [the Bridge Keepers being from that time yearly chosen] And it is agreed, that no such Keepers for the time to come, have Power of letting any Places for Term of Life, without the Assent and Will of the Maior, Aldermen and Commonalty.]

After this, in the year 1322. the 17th of Edw. 2. a Decree was made by Hamond Chickwell, Maior, that none should sell Fish or Flesh out of the Markets appointed, to wit, Bridge Street, Eastcheap, Old Fish Street, S. Nicolas Shambles, and the said Stocks, on pain to forfeit such Fish or Flesh as were sold, for the first time, and the second time to lose their Freedom. Which Act was made by commandment of the King, under his Letters Patents, dated at the Tower the 17. of his Reign: And then was this Stocks let to Farm for 46l. 13s. 4d. by year. This Stocks Market was again begun to be builded, in the year 1410. in the 11th of Henry IV. and was clean finished in the year next following. In the year 1507. the same was rented at 56l. 19s. 10d. And in the year 1543. John Cotes being Maior, there was in this Stocks Market for Fishmongers, twenty five Boards or Stalls, which rented yearly to 34l. 13s. 4d. There were for Butchers eighteen Boards or Stalls, rented at 40l. 16s. 4d. and there were also Chambers above, sixteen, rented at 5l. 13s. 4d. in all, 82l. 3s.

By the Stocks was a Stone Conduit set up by the Inhabitants, where before was only a Pipe of Lead. As appears by an Act of Common Council, viz.

At a Common Council held on Tuesday, November the 27th. 1 Hen. 8. this Petition was preferred and granted:

"To the Right Honourable the Lord Maior, and his Brethren the Aldermen, and to the discreet Persons of the Common Councel of this City of London. "

" Beseeching your good Lordship and Masterships, the Inhabitants dwelling about the "