Portgraves or Sheriffs of London and Middlesex. In the Reign of Henry II. Peter Fitzwalter; after him, John Fitznigel, &c. So likewise in the Reign of King John, the 16th of his Reign, a time of great Troubles, in the Year 1214. Salomon Bassing, and Hugh Bassing, Barons of this Realm, as may be supposed, were Sheriffs; and the said Salomon Bassing was Maior in the Year 1216 which was the 1st of Henry the IIId. Also Adam Bassing, Son to Salomon (as it seemeth) was one of the Sheriffs in the Year 1243. the 28th of Henry the III.

Unto this Adam de Bassing, King Henry III. in the 31st of his Reign, gave and confirmed certain Messuages in Aldermanbury, and in Milk street (places not far from Bassings Hall) and the advowson of the Church at Bassings Hall, with sundry Liberties and Privileges.

This Man was afterwards Maior, in the Year 1251. the 36th of Henry the IIId. Moreover, Thomas Bassing was one of the Sheriffs, 1269.

[Of whom I read this Passage, that the City paying a Fine to King Henry, of 20000 Marks, the Citizens, (considering his great Wealth perhaps) taxed this their Fellow Citizen above his proportion. Whereupon, King Edward I. in the 2d of his Reign, commanded William de Merton, his Chancellor, and others his Justices, to moderate the Talliages assessed upon him.]

Robert Bassing, Sheriff, 1279. and William Bassing was Sheriff, 1308, &c. For more of the Bassings in this City, I need not note; only I read of a Branch of this Family of Bassings, to have spread it self into Cambridgshire, near unto a Water or Bourn; and was therfore, for a difference from others of that name, called Bassing at the Bourne, and more shortly, Bassing Bourne; and gave Arms, as is aforeshewed, and was painted about this old Hall. But this Family is worn out, and hath left the Name to the place where they dwelt. Thus much for this Bassings Hall.

Now how Bakewel Hall, took that Name, is another question. For which I read, that Thomas Bakewel dwelled in this House, in the 36th of Edward the III. and that in the 20th of Richard the II. the said King, for the Sum of Fifty Pounds, which the Maior and Commonalty had paid into the Hanapar, granted Licence, so much as was in him, to John Frosh, William Parker, and Stpehen Spilman, Citizens and Mercers, that they, the said Messuage, called Bakewel Hall; and one Garden, with the Appurtenances, in the Parish of St. Michael of Bassings Haugh, and of St. Lawrence in the Jewry of London; and one Messuage, two Shops, and one Garden, in the said Parish of St. Michael, which they held of the King in Burgage; might give and assign to the Maior and Commonalty for ever, ad opus Communitatis.

This Bakewel Hall thus established, hath been long since employed, as a Weekly Market Place for Woollen Cloths, broad and narrow, brought from all parts of this Realm, there to be sold. In the 21st of Richard the II. Richard Whittington, Maior; and in the 22d, Drew Barringtine being Maior, it was decreed, That no Forreigner or Stranger should sell any Woolen Cloth, but in the Bakewel Hall, upon pain of forteiture thereof.

"WHEREAS by an Act of Common Councel, in the 22d Year of the Reign of King Richard the II. it was ordained and established, That no manner of Person should bring or conveigh any Woolen Cloths to the said City to be sold, except they were first brought, harboured, and discharged, at the common Market of Blackwell Hall; therefore ordained and provided, and of old time accustomed, upon pain of forfeiture of all the said Cloths so harboured and laid, contrary to the said Ordinance. Which Act and Ordinance, was by another Act of Common Councel, holden at the Guild hall aforesaid, the Day and Year abovesaid, ratified, approved, and confirmed. And over that, it is now at this present ordained, established, and enacted, That no manner of Person being Freeman of this City, after the Feast of the Nativity of our Lady next coming, suffer any manner of Person whatsoever, be he free or forreign, to buy and sell any manner of Woollen Cloths, harboured or lodged contrary to the said Ordinance: As broad Cloths, Carsies, Cottons, Bridgewater Frizes, Dosseins, or any other manner of Cloth made of Wool, within his Shop, Chamber, or other place within his House, unless the said Cloths were first brought to Blackwell Hall aforeaid, and there bought and sold. Or else the said Freeman, the said Cloths lawfully brought in the Country, out of the said City; upon pain to forfeit and to pay to the use of the Commonalty of this City, for his first Offence, for every Broad-Cloth so sold, harboured, or lodged, contrary to the said Ordinance, 6s. 8d. for every Carsie, 3s. 4d. for every Dosseigne, Bridgwaters, and other pieces of Cloth made of Wool, 20d. And for the second Offence, the said Pains to be doubled. And for the third Offence, the Party so offending, to be disfranchised, and deprived clearly from the Liberties of this City for ever.]"

This House (of late Years) growing ruinous, and in danger of falling, Richard May, Merchant Taylor, at his decease, gave towards the new building of the outward part thereof, 300l. upon condition that the same should be performed within three Years after his decease. Whereupon, the old Bakewell hall was taken down, and in the Month of February next following, the Foundation of a new, strong, and beautiful Store-house being laid, the Work thereof was so diligently applied, that within the space of ten Months after, to the Charges of 2500 Pounds, the same was finished in the year 1558.

Next beyond this House, are placed divers fair Houses for Merchants, and others, till ye come to the back Gate of Guild hall; which Gate, and part of the Building within the same, is of this Ward. Some small distance beyond this Gate, the Coopers have their common Hall.

Then is the Parish Church of St. Michael, called St. Michael at Bassings Hall, a proper Church, lately re-edified or new builded.