and a Chantry, the 22d of Richard II. Henry IV. in the 12th of his Reign, confirmed to Stephen Spilman, W. Marchford, and John Whatile, Mercers, by the Name of one new Seldam, Shed, or Building, with Shops, Cellars, and Edifices whatsoever appertaining; the Buildings called Crownfsilde, situate in the Mercery of West Cheape, in the Parish of St. Mary de Arcubus in London, &c. to be holden in Burgage, as all the City of London is; and which were worth by Year, in all Issues, according to the true value of them, 7l. 13s. 4d. as was found by inquisition before Tho. Knolles, Maior, and Eschetor in the said City; as was shewn before in Cordwainer street Ward. Henry the VIth, in the 3d of his Reign, at the request of John Coventry, John Carpenter, and William Grove, granted to the Mercers to have a Chaplain, and a Brotherhood, for relief of such of their Company as came to decay by Misfortune at Sea.

On Tuesady, April 27. Anno 10 of Henry VIII. it was granted unto the Master and his Brethren of the Hospital of S. Thomas of Acon in Westcheape, where S. Thomas the Martyr was born, (because they wanted room in the Hospital) that for their more Ease they might make a Gallery in convenient height and breadth, from their said house overthwart the street in the Old Jury; into a certain Garden and Buildings which the Master and Brethren had then lately purchased. So as the said Gallery should be of such height, as should not annoy Man, Horse, nor Cart. And to make a Window on either side of the said Gallery; and therein yearly in the Winter to have a sufficient Light, for the Comfort of them that passed by.]

In the year, 1536. on S. Peters Night, King Henry VIII. and Queen Jane his Wife, stood in this Mercers Hall, then new builded, and beheld the marching Watch of the City, most bravely set out, Sir John Allen, Mercer, one of the King's Council, being Maior.

Of later time, a famous learned Italian Archbishop. viz. the Archbishop of Spalatto, who had forsaken his Country, and Archbishoprick for the sake of the true Religion, and came and dwelt in England, preached divers Sermons in the Italian Language in the Mercers Chappel. The first Sermon, as it seems, he preached there was Novemb. ult. 1617. where were present as his Auditors, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, the Earls of Arundel, and Pembroke, the Lords Zouch and Compton, and many other of great Note. He preached there again upon Sunday 19 April, 1618. And so he did upon Sundays divers years after. And from thence even to our remembrance that Chappel was used for Italian Sermons, at which English Merchants that had lived abroad were present, and contributed to the maintaining thereof.

This Hall and Chappel was demolished by the great Fire, but new and magnificently rebuilt by the said Company of Mercers: The Chappel hath a large Ambulatory before it, propped up with Pillars. And ascending up thence by stone Stairs, you come into their Hall and Court Rooms. It hath a beautiful Front of stone towards the street, with a Balcony, and the Figures of Faith and Hope articficially wrought in stone, and above them a larger Figure of Charity (being the greatest Grace of the Three) with three Children about her. Under the Balcony two Angels.]

Next beyond the Mercers Chappel, is Ironmonger lane, so called of Ironmongers dwell- ing there; whereof I read in the Reign of Edward I. &c.

In this Lane is the small Parish Church of S. Martin, called Pomary, upon what occasion certainly I know not. But it is supposed to be of Apples growing, where now houses are lately builded: for my self have seen the large void places there.

This Church was repaired and beautified at the Cost and Charge of the Parishioners in the year of our Lord 1629. There was a very fair Skreen at the Entrance into this Church, with this Inscription. Me fieri fecerunt Hamletus Clarke, Generosus, & Rodulphus Latham, Armiger. 20 Martii 1629.

In the year 1627, a great part of the North Wall of this Church, being very much decayed and perished, was, at the Cost of the Parish, rebuilded. In it a very fair Window with these Words, This Window was new built and finished at the sole Cost of John and Humfrey Slany, 1627. The Arms of these Gentlemen over it with this Motto, Deo Duce, Comite Industria.

Monuments in this Church were none to account of, till after Stows Time. But since are these:

Here under lyeth buried ELEANOR Wife of Hamlet Clarke, free of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers, London, and one of the four Clarks of the Lord Maiors Court, London, aforesaid. She dyed on Sunday the 14th of January 1626. and was buried on Friday the 19th of the same: After they had been married 33 years, and about two Months. They had Issue only Mary, married to Ralph Latham of Upminster in the County of Essex, Esq; Common Sergeant at Law of this Honourable City. And the said Eleanor had also Elizabeth another Daughter, by Charles Barnard, a former Husband, married to Thomas Latham of Stilford in Essex, Gentleman.

Here lyeth interred the body of Randol Pickering, late Citizen and Haberdasher of London, born at Turvine in the County of Chester. Who put off this Mortality, Mar. 10. 1629. And Alice his Wife, Daughter of William Madox, and born in this Parish: Who departed this Life the 20th. of June 1618. By her he had Issue three Sons and three Daughters: William, Randol, Anne and Elizabeth surviving: John and Mary deceased.]

These Gifts belong to this Parish of S. Martins Ironmonger lane.

Mr. Stodder left 40s. for a Sermon to be preached on S. James's day by an unbeneficed Minister, in Commemoration of the Deliverance in the year 1588. And 50s. more to the Use of the Poor of the same Parish; To be paid by the Ironmongers.

There was a Parsonage-house for the Mminister, but burnt down An. 1666. And the Toft and Ground adjoyning was Ann. 1673. demised and lett by Dr. Hibbert, Parson of S. Olaves Jury (to which Ironmonger lane was united) to several of the Parishioners, for 40 years, a Rent of 8l. per ann. reserved. And the Parishioners built a dwelling House on the said Toft.

The Glebe belonging formerly to this Benefice was 20l. per ann. as it was given in at a Parochial Visitation, Anno 1636.]

Farther West, is S. Lawrence lane, so called of S. Lawrence Church, which standeth directly over against the North end thereof. Anti-