This Church, thus furnished with Windows, made at the Charges of divers Persons, the Lady Margaret Segrave , Countess of Norfolk, bare the Charges of making the Stalls in the Quire, to the value of 350 Marks, about the year 1380. Richard Whitington, in the year 1429. founded the Library; which was in length One hundred twenty and nine Foot. and in breadth Thirty one*, all seeled with Wainscot; having Twenty eight Desks, and Eight double Settles of Wainscot. Which (in the next Year following,) was altogether finished in building; and within three Years after furnished with Books, to the Charges of Five hundred fifty six Pounds, ten Shillings; whereof Richard Whitington bare 400 Pounds, the rest was born by Dr. Thomas Winchelsey, a Frier there. And for the writing out of D. Nicolas de Lira his Works, in two Volumes, to be chained there, 100 Marks &c.

The Seeling of the Quire at divers Mens Charges, 200 Marks; and the Painting at 50 Marks. Their Conduit Head and Water-course was given them by William Tayler, Taylor to Hen. III. &c.

This whole Church contained in length 300 Foot, of the Feet of St. Paul; in breadth 89 Foot, and in heighth from the Ground to the Roof, 64 Foot and two Inches, &c. It was consecrated 1325. And at the general Suppression, was valued at 32l. 19s. Surrendered the 12th of November, 1538. the 30th of Hen. VIII. the Ornaments and Goods being taken to the King's Use. The Church was shut up for a time, and used as a Store-house of Goods, taken as Prizes from the French. But in the year 1546. on the 3d of January, it was again set open. On the which Day, preached at Pauls Cross the Bishop of Rochester; where he declared the King's Gift thereof to the City, for the relieving of the Poor.

Which Gift was by Patent of St. Bartholomew's Spittle in Smithfield, lately valued at 305 Pound, 6 Shillings, and 7 Pence, and surrenderd to the King; of the said Church of Gray Friars, and of two Parish Churches; the one of St. Nicolas in the Shambles, and the other of St. Ewins in Newgate Market; which were to be made one Parish Church in the said Friers Church. And in Lands, he gave for the Maintenance of the said Church, with divine Service, Reparations, &c. 500 Marks by Year for ever.

The 13th of January, the 38th of Hen. VIII. an Agreement was made betwixt the King and the Maior, and Communalty of London, dated the 27th of December. By which the said Gray Friers Church, with all the Edifices and Ground, the Fratry, the Library, the Dortar, and Chapter House, the great Cloister and the lesser: Tenements, Gardens, and vacant Grounds; Lead, Stone, Iron, &c. The Hospital of St. Bartholomew in West Smithfield, the Church of the same; the Lead, Bells, and Ornaments of the same Hospital, with all the Messuages, Tenements and Appurtenances; The Parishes of St. Nicolas and of St. Ewin, and so much of St. Pulchers Parish as is within the Gate, called Newgate; were made one Parish Church in the Gray Friers Church, and called Christs Church, founded by King Henry the 8th.

The Vicar of Christs Church was to have 26l. 13s. 4d. the Year. The Vicar of St. Bartholomew 13l. 6s. 8d. The Visiter of Newgate, being a Priest, 10l. And other five Priests in Christs Church, ministring the Sacraments and Sacramentals, the five Priests to have 8l. apiece. Two Clerks, 6l. each. A Sexton, 4l. Moreover he gave to them the Hospital of Bethlem, with the Laver of Brass in the Cloister, by estimation Eighteen Foot in length; and the Water-course of Lead, to the Frier-house belonging, containing by estimation in length, Eighteen Acres.

In this Grey Friars there was a stinking Dungeon, of what Antiquity I cannot tell. But in Queen Mary's time, they put in here such as were Vagabonds and idle Persons. The Porter of this Dungeon was one Ninian. Here Thomas Green, Servant to John Waylond the Printer, was brought; and after some time whip'd grievously, having the Correction of Thieves and Vagabonds; for a Book called Antichrist, that he had assisted at the printing of.]

In the year 1552. began the preparing of the Grey Friars House, for the poor Fatherless Children. And in the Month of November, the Children were taken into the same, to the Number of almost Four hundred. On Christmas day in the Afternoon, while the Lord Maior and Aldermen rode to Pauls, the Children of Christs Hospital stood from St. Laurence lane end Cheap, towards Pauls, all in one Livery of Russet Cotton, Three Hundred and Forty in number: And at Easter next they were in Blue, and so have continued ever since.

What further I have read and understood, concerning the first beginning and erection of this famous Hospital, followeth, according to the original Copy, set down by Mr. Richard Grafton.

Mr. Doctor Ridley, then Bishop of London, came and preached before the King's Majesty at Westminster. In which Srmon, he made a fruitful and godly Exhortation to the Rich, to be merciful unto the Poor; and also to move such as were in Authority, to travail by some charitable way and means, to comfort and relieve them. Whereupon, the King's Majesty, (being a Prince of such Towardness and Vertue for his years, as England before never brought forth; and being also so well retained and brought up in all godly Knowledge, as well by his dear Uncle the late * Protector, as also by his vertuous Schoolmasters) was so careful of the good Government of the Realm, and chiefly to do and prefer such Things as most especially touched the Honour of Almighty God; and understanding, that a great number of poor People did swarm in this Realm, and chiefly in the City of London, and that no good Order was taken of them; did suddenly, and of himself, send to the said Bishop, as soon as his Sermon was ended, willing him not to depart, until that he had spoken with him. And this that I now write, was the very Report of the said Bishop Ridley; Who (according to the King's Command) gave his Attendance. And so soon as the King's Majesty was at leisure, he called for him, and caused him to come unto him in a great Gallery at Westminster; where (to his knowledge, and the King likewise told him so) there was present no more Persons than they two; and therefore made him sit down in one Chair, and he himelf in another, which (as it seemed) were, before the coming of the Bishop, there purposely set; and caused the Bishop, maugre his Teeth, to be covered; and then entred Communication with him in this manner.

First, giving his hearty Thanks for his Sermon and good Exhortation; He therein rehearsed such special Things as he had noted, and that so many, that the Bishop said:

Truly, truly, (for that commonly was his Oath) I could never have thought that Excellency