Weavers. Here lived also two Silk-twisters, who I suppose were the first Silk-throwers in London, and brought the Trade into England. And for remembrance sake, I shall set down their Names; the one was John James, born under the Dominion of King Philip, and made Denizen the 19th of December, the 10th of the Queen. The other was Anthony Emerick, born also under the Obedience of King Philip, and made Denizon the 1st of January, An. 17 Regin. Elizabethæ. There were upon that Survey abovesaid, found to be of Householders, (Denizons, as well as others) their Wives, Children, and Servants, one Hundred sixty one in number. Which nevertheless was less by half than was some Years before; for in 1569. their Number was 269.

There was a Constable and a Headborough for this Liberty. But divers Things here wanted providing for; in respect whereof, they that lived out of the Liberty, were in better condition. Sundry of the Inhabitants refused to watch and ward, when upon Occasion they were required, as good Subjects and honest Neighbours, so to do. They refused to contribute to such Taxes and Payments as were set upon them for her Majesty's Service, with the rest of their Neighbours. Several visited with the Sickness, would not obey the Orders appointed in that behalf; that is, they would not keep their Doors and Windows shut, nor keep themselves within their Houses; but walked forth, and struck out the Red Cross set upon their Doors, and threatned to mischief such as should come to set any such Crosses there. And some repaired to the Court with their Wares, a Thing dangerous to the Queen and Nobility. There was no Prison in the said Liberty to commit such as should be troublesome and offensive, but the Gatehouse in Westminster; which was in another Shire, and out of the Liberty. And so they that were thus committed, commonly brought their Actions against those that committed them, and put them to great Trouble.

Hence in the Year 1593. the Officers and Inhabitants petitioned the Lord Treasurer to grant them such good Ordinances for the redress of the said Disorders, and sufficient Authority for execution of the same, for the good Government of the said Liberty, and Conservation of the People in Peace; as to his Lordship's discrete Wisdom should be thought meet. And that they might have a Prison and Execution of Justice within the Precinct of the Liberty. And that he would send his Letters to the Constable and Headborough, to find out a convenient Place for such purpose; and to assess all the Inhabitants of the Liberty to the Charge thereof. The Lord Treasurer recommended this Matter to Sergeant Owen, and Mr. Lewis, Lawyers; who gave their Judgments, that for all Matters for the Service of the Queen, the Inhabitants were compelled to perform the same. But for other Matters, they must make some By-Laws and Orders among themselves, to bind themselves to performance. And that such disordered Persons, whose Houses were limited within the College, might be punished by Imprisonment; and in that contagious Time very convenient to be executed.

The Inhabitants also complained at this time, that the Maior's Officers entred into their Liberty at their pleasure, and searched and viewed all the Wares of the Shoemakers, according to a Statute lately made; not calling the Officer of the Liberty, or making him privy thereto. To this the Judgment of the foresaid Lawyers was, That the Searcher might enter into the Liberty, and search alone. But, for that the Benefit of the Forfeitures was given to the Liberty, they thought it convenient that the Lord Maior's Officer should be with them. Which they thought might be obtained, if it pleased the Treasurer to write to the Lord Maior in that behalf.]

Lower down, on the West side of St. Martins Lane, in the Parish of St. Anne, almost by Aldersgate, is one great House, commonly called Northumberland House; it belonged to Henry Percy. King Henry IV. in the 7th of his Reign, gave this House, with the Tenements thereunto appertaining, to Queen Jane his Wife, and then it was called her Wardrobe. It was afterward a Printing-house, but now a Tavern.

Now without Aldersgate, on the East side of Aldersgate street, is the Cooks Hall: Which Cooks (or Pastelars) were admitted to be a Company, and to have a Master and Wardens, in the 22d of Edward IV. From thence, along unto Hounsditch or Barbican street, be many fair Houses. On the West side also be the like fair Buildings, till ye come to Long lane, and so to Goswell street.

In Britten streete, now called Little Britain, whch took that Name of the Dukes of Britten lodging there, is one proper Parish Church of St. Buttolph. In which Church was sometime a Brotherhood of St. Fabian and Sebastian, founded in the Year 1377. the 51st of Edward III. and confirmed by Henry IV. in the 6th of his Reign. Then Henry VI. in the 24th of his Reign, to the Honour of the Trinity, gave Licence to Dame Joan Astley, sometime his Nurse, to Richard Cawood, and Thomas Smith, to found the same a Fraternity, perpetually to have a Master and two Custos, with Brethren and Sisters, &c. This Brotherhood was indowed with Lands, more than 30l. by the Year; and was suppressed by Edward VI.

This Brotherhood consisted of a Messuage, House and Tenement, called Trinity Hall, otherwise The common Hall of the Fraternity or Guild of the Holy Trinity, founded in the Church of St. Botolph Aldersgate, and also Eight Messuages and Tenements, commonly called The Trinity, also situate beneath Trinity Hall. They were in the tenure of Alexander Chapman, and coming into King Edward's hands by an Act of Parliament, he granted them to William Harris, alias Somers, in his second Year.

In Trinity Hall Chappel.

Orate pro bono statu Rogeri Russel, Civis & Salter. London, & Annæ Uxoris ejus.
Pray for the Soul of Nic. Adhele, &c.

In the Windows there, stood divers Coats of Cavendish, Smith, William Purchase, Maior of London, Agard, Gatton, &c.]

The Steeple of this Church of St. Botolph, being very much decayed and perished, was, so far as they found it needful, pulled down, and rebuilded with Portland Stone, beautified with new Battlements and a Turret. Some part of the Church repaired, and many of the Pews new made. As also, a new Clock and Dial (at the Cost and Charge of the Parishioners) in the