Chapter V: Preface (4)

In this office are transacted all martime affairs belonging to the
jurisdiction of the Admiralty, who here regulate the affairs of the
navy; nominate Admirals, Captains, and other officers to serve on
board his Majesty’s ships of war, and give orders for the trial of
those who have failed in their duty, or been guilty of other
irregularities.

ADMIRALTY _office yard_, Whitehall.☐

ADSCOMB, in Surrey near Croydon, is the seat of William Draper, Esq; the
paintings and furniture of which are fine.

ADVOCATES _of Doctors Commons_. See DOCTORS COMMONS.

AFFIDAVIT _office_, in Symond’s inn. This office belongs to the Masters
in Chancery, where one or more of them constantly attend to take
affidavits, and there all affidavits belonging to the Court of
Chancery are filed.

AFRICAN COMPANY. The English first sent ships to Africa on account of
commerce about the year 1553, from which time the trade to that
country was carried on by private hands till 1588, when Queen
Elizabeth, by her letters patent, erected a company, for the more
effectual promoting of that trade, which then was only for gold,
elephants teeth, and Guinea pepper; for the use of negroes was not yet
introduced into America.

This company was greatly encouraged during the reigns of James I. and
Charles I. but the Dutch taking several forts on the coast of Africa
from the Portuguese, committed great depredations on the English, upon
which Charles II. the better to enable his subjects to carry on that
trade, incorporated a body of merchants, in the year 1662, by the
title of _The Company of Royal Adventurers of England to Africa_: but
the subscriptions for carrying on this precarious commerce not
answering the expectation of the incorporated merchants, they were
soon involved in debt, and reduced to such difficulties as rendered
them unable to continue their trade to advantage; wherefore they
agreed for a certain sum, to surrender their charter to the crown, and
to assign all their estates and effects both at home and abroad to
certain merchants, who intended to erect a new company, for the more
effectual carrying on a trade to Africa: these merchants the King
incorporated in the year 1672, and these were the Royal African
company, who had a power to trade from the port of Sallee, to the Cape
of Good Hope, exclusive of all the King’s other subjects, during the
term of a thousand years.

By virtue of this royal grant, the company made a considerable
progress in erecting forts, and settling factors: but their trade
being laid open by parliament in the year 1697, they were rendered
unable to support their forts, it was therefore enacted, that all
private traders to Africa should pay ten _per cent._ to the company
for that purpose.

This duty did not however answer the end for which it was granted, and
the company was obliged to apply to parliament in the year 1730 for
relief, when they obtained a certain sum for that purpose, and it was
enacted that all his Majesty’s subjects treading to and from Africa,
between Cape Blanco and the Cape of Good Hope, should hereafter be
deemed a body corporate, and that all the countries, islands, rivers
and places, together with the forts, should be in the possession of
this new company; the members of which should not trade to or from
Africa in their joint capacity, have any joint or transferable stock,
or borrow money on their common seal. That the persons trading or
intending to trade to Africa, should pay to the Chamberlain of London,
the Clerk of the Merchants-hall in Bristol, or the Town Clerk of
Liverpool, 40_s._ each for the freedom of the new company. That the
management of the affairs of this new company, should be under the
direction of a committee of nine persons, to be chosen annually, three
out of the members in the city of London, three out of those of
Bristol, and three out of those of Liverpool. That this committee
should have power to make orders for the government and improvement of
the forts and factories; to appoint governors, and other officers
civil and military; to receive annually the sum of 40_s._ and to take
a list of the names of all the persons making payment.

It is also enacted, that the committee shall once a year give an
account of all their transactions to the Commissioners for trade and
plantations, and likewise lay before the Cursitor Baron of the
Exchequer, an account, upon oath, of all the money they have received
within the preceding year, and the application thereof; and the Lords
of the Admiralty are to give instructions to the Captains of such of
his Majesty’s ships of war as shall be stationed or ordered to cruize
within the above limits, to inspect, and make report to them from time
to time of the state of the forts and settlements, copies of which are
to be laid before the parliament every sessions.

This is the state at present of this company, who keep their office in
Cooper’s court, Cornhill.

AGNES _court_, Little George street.

_St._ AGNES LE CLARE _fields_, near Hoxton, so called from a spring of
water dedicated to that Saint, and now converted into a cold bath.

AILSBURY _court_, George street.

AILSBURY _street_, 1. By Jermyn street. 2. St. John’s street,
Clerkenwell green.

AINGER _street_, York street.†

AIR _street_, 1. Piccadilly.† 2. By Mary la bone.† 3. Leather lane.†

AKERSLEY _yard_, Great St. Anne’s street.†

ALAM _yard_, Crutched Friars.

_St._ ALBAN’S, a large and very ancient town in Hertfordshire, 21 miles
from London, was so called from St. Alban, who suffered in the
persecution under Dioclesian, and being afterwards canonized, and
interred on a hill in the neighbourhood of this town, a monastery was
erected and dedicated to him by King Offa. King Edward I. erected a
magnificent cross in memory of Queen Eleanor; and King Edward VI.
incorporated this town by a charter, granting the inhabitants a Mayor,
a Steward, a Chamberlain, and ten Burgesses: but the Mayor and Steward
are here the only Justices of peace. Here are three churches, besides
the ancient cathedral called St. Alban’s, belonging to the monastery,
which is now a parish church.

In this ancient edifice is a funeral monument and effigies of King
Offa, its founder, who is represented seated on his throne; and
underneath is the following inscription:

Fundator Ecclesiæ circa annum 793.
Quem male depictum, et residentem cernitis alte
Sublimem solio, MERCIUS OFFA fuit.

That is,

_The founder of the church, about the year 793.
Whom you behold ill-painted on his throne
Sublime, was once for_ MERCIAN OFFA _known._

On the east side stood the shrine of St. Alban, where the following
short inscription is still to be seen;

S. ALBANUS VEROLAMENSIS, ANGLORUM PROTOMARTYR, 17 Junii 293.

In the south isle near the above shrine is the monument of Humphry,
brother to King Henry V. commonly distinguished by the title of the
Good Duke of Gloucester. It is adorned with a ducal coronet, and the
arms of France and England quartered. In niches on one side are
seventeen Kings; but in the niches on the other side there are no
statues remaining. The inscription, which alludes to the pretended
miraculous cure of a blind man detected by the Duke, is as follows:

Piæ Memoriæ V. Opt. Sacrum.
Hic jacet HUMPHREDUS, Dux ille Glocestrius olim,
HENRICI Sexti protector, fraudis ineptæ
Detector, dum ficta notat miracula cœci.
Lumen erat patriæ, columen venerabile regni,
Pacis amans, Musisque favens melioribus; unde
Gratum opus Oxonio, quæ nunc schola sacra refulget.
Invida sed mulier regno, regi, sibi nequam,
Abstulit hunc, humili vix hoc dignata sepulcro.
Invidia rumpente tamen, post funera vivit.

Which has been thus translated:

_Sacred to the memory of the best of men._
Interr’d within this consecrated ground,
Lies he, whom HENRY his protector found:
Good HUMPHRY, Gloc’ster’s Duke, who well could spy
Fraud couch’d within the blind impostor’s eye.
His country’s light, the state’s rever’d support,
Who peace and rising learning deigned to court;
Whence his rich library at Oxford plac’d,
Her ample schools with sacred influence grac’d:
Yet fell beneath an envious woman’s wile,
Both to herself, her King, and country vile;
Who scarce allowed his bones this spot of land:
Yet spite of envy shall his glory stand.

About 40 years ago in digging a grave, a pair of stairs were
discovered that lead down into a vault where his leaden coffin was
found, in which his body was preserved entire, by a kind of pickle in
which it lay, only the flesh was wasted from the legs, the pickle at
that end being dried up. Many curious medals and coins are to be seen
in the church, that have been dug out of the ruins of Old Verulam that
stood on the other side of the river Ver, or Moore, which runs south
west of the town.

Near St. Alban’s is a fort, at a place called by the common people the
Oyster Hills, which is supposed to have been the camp of Ostorius, the
Roman Proprætor. This town is the largest in the county, and besides
the four churches, has several meeting-houses, two charity schools,
and three fairs, and has on Saturday one of the best markets for wheat
in England. It gives the title of Duke to the noble family of
Beauclerc. The great John Duke of Marlborough erected a seat here,
called Holloway-house, and several neat alms-houses have been built
here by him and his Duchess.

_St._ ALBAN’S, _Wood street_, on the north side of London, and the east
side of Wood street, Cheapside, is dedicated to St. Alban, the British
Proto-Martyr, who suffered under the persecution of Dioclesian. The
first church in this place was erected in the year 930, and dedicated
to the same Saint. After various repairs, the old church was pulled
down in 1634, and another erected, which was destroyed by the fire of
London thirty-two years after, when the present edifice was built from
the same model as the former. It is entirely in the Gothic stile, and
consists of a spacious body, and a handsome tower with pinacles.

This church is a rectory in the patronage of Eton College, and the
parish of St. Olave, Silver street, is united to it. The Rector,
besides other advantages, receives 170_l._ in lieu of tithes.

Munday in his edition of Stow mentions several uncommon epitaphs in
this church, from which we have only selected the following:

Hic jacet Tom Shorthose,
Sine tombe, sine sheet, sine riches,
Qui vixit sine gowne,
Sine cloake, sine shirt, sine breeches.

_St._ ALBAN’S _street_, Pall-mall.

ALBEMARLE _buildings_, Bond street, so called from the Duke of
Albemarle, who bought the Earl of Clarendon’s seat, which stood here,
and afterwards selling the house and gardens, they were laid out into
streets, whence arose this and the two following streets.

ALBEMARLE _mews_, Dover street.

ALBEMARLE _street_. 1. Piccadilly, 2. St. John’s street, West
Smithfield.†

In the possession of Richard Mead, Esq; in Albemarle street, is a book
bought out of the collection of the famous Cardinal Maximi at Rome; it
contain 148 accurate and elegant paintings in water colours, done from
ancient pictures found on the walls, ceilings and floors of the baths
of Titus, and various other buildings in Rome, some of which have been
engraved by Bartoli in his _Sepolchri di Nassoni_, and in other books:
but many of them are to be seen no where else, neither engraved, nor
on the walls from whence they were first copied, where they are much
defaced by the weather, the smoke of torches, and other accidents.

Of these ancient paintings on wall, Mr. Mead has also a very elegant
little specimen representing Augustus restoring a crown to a conquered
Prince in the presence of several of his courtiers, among which the
faces of Mecænas and Horace may be distinguished.—This has been
engraved and explained by Turnbull.

An ancient Greek inscription, being eight lines of Hexameter and
Pentameter verses on a marble brought from Asia, which had been a
pedestal to a statue of Jupiter Urius. This has been engraved and
explained by the learned Mr. Chishul in his _Antiquitates Asiaticæ_.

ALCOCK’S _rents_, Barnaby street.†

ALDERMANBURY, Cateaton street. This street was thus named from the
Guildhall being anciently situated there, till falling to decay, the
present hall was built at the end of King street, about the year 1420.
The old hall must have been very ancient, as this street had the name
of Aldermanbury so early as before the year 1189; and Mr. Maitland
supposes that Edward the Confessor, who began his reign in 1042, had a
considerable share in its first foundation.

ALDERMANBURY _Postern_, London wall.

ALDERMAN PARSONS’S _stairs_, St. Catharine’s.†

ALDERMAN’S _walk_, Bishopsgate street.

ALDERMEN. These are twenty-six in number, and each has his separate
ward, to the government of which he is more immediately to attend.
Those who have served the office of Lord Mayor, are said to be above
the chair, and with three of the eldest that are next it, are justices
of the peace by charter. All the Aldermen keep their wardmote for
chusing ward officers, and settling the affairs of the ward; for
redressing grievances, and presenting all defaults found in the ward.
In the management of these affairs, every Alderman has his deputy,
chosen out of the common council, and in some of the wards, that are
very large, the Alderman has two deputies.

ALDERSGATE, which is situated 1265 feet south west of Cripplegate, is,
in Stow’s opinion, one of the original gates of the city; but this is
disputed by Maitland, who observes, that the epithet of Alder does not
necessarily imply its antiquity, as some derive the name of the gate
from Aldrich, a Saxon; others from the seniors or old men by whom it
was built; and others from the great number of alder trees, which grew
in that neighbourhood; whence he imagines that either of these
opinions is more probable, than that this name was conferred upon it
on account of its age, particularly as it is no where found to be
mentioned before the conquest.

The present gate was built in the year 1616, and being much damaged by
the fire of London, was repaired in 1670. In a large square over the
arch is King James I. on horseback, in the same posture as when he
made his entry through this gate, on his coming to take possession of
the crown. The arms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, are quartered
above his head. In a nich on the east side is the prophet Jeremiah,
with the words of the 25th verse of the 17th chapter of his book; and
in a nich on the west side stands the prophet Samuel, with the first
verse of the 12th chap. of 1 Sam. On the south side is King James I.
in his royal robes, sitting in a chair of state, done in relief. By
the sides of the gate there are two posterns for the convenience of
foot passengers: and the apartments above are appropriated to the use
of the common crier of the city.

A late author observes, that this gate is so heavy and Gothic a
structure, that it hardly deserves notice, unless for the sake of the
bass relief of King James, which, though in an aukward and inelegant
taste, is a very tolerable piece of workmanship, and may challenge
some applause.

ALDERSGATE _bars_, in Goswell street, a little beyond the north end of
Aldersgate street, where the liberties of the city end on that side.

ALDERSGATE _street_, extends from the gate to the corner of Barbican.

ALDERSGATE WARD, is of considerable extent both within and without the
gate from which it is named, and extends in length from Blowbladder
street to Aldersgate bars, including part of Noble street, almost all
Foster lane, St. Martin’s le Grand, Bull and Mouth street, Little
Britain, and Aldersgate street. The principal buildings are two
churches, St. Botolph’s and St. Ann’s, Goldsmiths-hall, Cooks-hall,
Coachmakers-hall, Shaftsbury house, a noble building now used for the
London lying-in hospital, and London-house. This ward is governed by
an Alderman, two Deputies, and eight Common Council Men; eight
constables, nine scavengers, nineteen wardmote inquest men and a
beadle. The jurymen returned by the wardmote inquest serve in the
several courts in Guildhall in the month of August.

ALDGATE, was one of the four original gates of the city, and that
through which the Roman vicinal way led to the _trajectus_ or ferry at
Old Ford. Stow says, that it received its name from its antiquity,
which Maitland observes is very improbable, though he allows that the
Saxons might give it the epithet of _Eald_ or _Ald_, from the ruinous
condition in which they found it when they first possessed themselves
of this city. However, the first time it is found mentioned, is in a
charter granted by King Edgar about the year 967.

Aldgate being very ruinous, was pulled down in the year 1606, and the
first stone of the present edifice was laid the next year; but this
work was not finished till 1609. It is observable that in digging the
foundation, several Roman coins were discovered, two of which Mr. Bond
the surveyor caused to be cut on stone, and placed on each side of the
east front. On the same side was placed in a large square the statue
of King James I. in gilt armour, with a golden lion and a chained
unicorn couchant at his feet. On the top of the gate was a vane
supported by a gilt sphere, on each side of which stood a soldier
holding a bullet in his hand, on the top of the upper battlements. On
the west side was a figure of Fortune gilt, and standing on a globe,
with a prosperous sail spreading over her head; under which was carved
the King’s arms; some what lower on the south side stood Peace with a
dove perched on her hand, and a gilded wreath in the other; and on the
north side was the emblem of Charity. Over the arch of the gate was
also engraven,

_Senatus Populusque_ Londinensis
_Fecit_ 1609
HUMFREY WELD, Maior.

But all these statues have been removed, and none of these ornaments
remain, except the representation of the two Roman coins, and the
inscription.

The apartments over this gate are appropriated to the use of one of
the Lord Mayor’s carvers.

ALDGATE _high street_, extends from Aldgate to Leadenhall street.

ALDGATE _street_, extends without Aldgate, to the north east corner of
the Minories.

ALDGATE WARD, is bounded on the east by Portsoken ward; on the south by
Tower street ward; and on the west and north, by the wards of
Langbourn, Lime street and Bishopsgate. It extends from Aldgate to
Lime street corner in Leadenhall street, and takes in all the streets
and lanes on the one hand to Bevis Mark and Shoemaker row, and on the
other to Ironmongers hall in Fenchurch street; to the navy office,
only a part of which is in this ward, and to the end of River street
Tower hill; including Poor Jury lane, Crutched Friars, London street,
Woodroff lane, _&c._ The principal buildings are these four parish
churches, St. Catharine Cree church, St. Andrew Undershaft, St. James
Duke’s place, and St. Catharine Coleman; three Jews Synagogues, and
the Ironmongers, Fletchers and Bricklayers halls. It is under the
government of an Alderman and six Common Council men, one of whom is
the Alderman’s deputy, with six constables, nine scavengers, eighteen
wardmote inquest men, and a beadle. The jurymen returned by the
wardmote inquest, serve as jurors in the several courts of Guildhall
in the month of January. _Maitland._

ALEXANDER’S _yard_, Water lane, Fleet street.†

ALIENATION OFFICE in the Inner Temple, is one of the offices under the
Lord Chancellor. Here all writs of covenants and entry upon which
fines are levied, and recoveries suffered, are carried to have fines
for alienation, set and paid thereupon. This office is executed by
three commissioners. _Chamberlain’s Present State._

ALLARD’S _hill_, Rotherhith wall.†

ALLEN’S _street_, Goswell street.†

ALLEN’S _court_, 1. Leadenhall street.† 2. Oxford street.†

ALLEN’S _rents_, Houndsditch, Bishopsgate street without.†

ALLEYN’S COLLEGE at Dulwich. See DULWICH _college_. ALLEYN’S ALMSHOUSE
in Lamb alley in Bishopsgate street. This charitable foundation, was
erected in Petty France by Edward Alleyn, a comedian, about the year
1614, and from thence removed to the above place upon the rebuilding
of Petty France, now called New Broad street. Ten poor men and women
are, besides their lodging, allowed about 40_s._ _per annum_, and
every other year the men have coats and breeches, and the women gowns
and petticoats. _Maitland._

ALLEYN’S ALMSHOUSE, in Pesthouse lane near Old street, was founded by
the above Edward Alleyn, about the year 1616, for ten poor men and
women; who receive 6_d._ per week each, and every other year coats and
gowns.

ALLEYN’S ALMSHOUSE in Soap yard, Deadman’s Place in Southwark, was also
founded by the above Edward Alleyn, about the year 1616, for ten poor
men and women, with an allowance of only 6_d._ per week.

ALLHALLOWS _Barking_ church, at the east end of Tower street, is so
denominated from its being dedicated to all the Saints, vulgarly
called Allhallows; and its anciently belonging to the Abbess and
Convent of Barking in Essex. It escaped the fire in 1666, and carries
about it the marks of that period when architecture was not well
understood in England. The church is of considerable extent, and the
steeple is a plain tower with its turret. It is a vicarage in the
patronage of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Vicar, besides other
advantages, receives about 126_l._ a year in tithes.

ALLHALLOWS _Bread street_. The old church was destroyed by the dreadful
conflagration which laid most of the other churches in ruins; and the
present edifice was erected in 1684. It consists of a plain body, and
a square tower divided into four stages with arches near the top. It
is a rectory, and one of the thirteen peculiars in this city belonging
to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The advowson of this church is in the Archbishop of Canterbury, and to
this parish that of St. John the Evangelist is united. The Vicar,
besides glebes, casualties, annual donations, and other advantages,
receives 1401. a year in lieu of tithes. _Maitland._

The following monumental inscripton in this church is worthy of a
place in this work. It is to the memory of Humfrey Levins, a citizen
and grocer of London, who died in 1682, in the fifty-third year of his
age, and his son Humfrey, a youth aged fourteen, who died in 1677, and
lies buried in the same grave.

Which shall we weep? both merit tears; yet sure
Tears are but vain, where bliss is so secure.
Which shall we praise? our eulogy can’t add
Unto the bless’d, who God’s kind euge had.
Our duty’s but to imitate and admire
This happy pair of the celestial choir.

ALLHALLOWS _the Great_, situated on the south side of Thames street, was
anciently denominated _Allhallows the More_, and _Allhallows ad Fœnum_
in the _Ropery_, from its vicinity to a hay-wharf or market, and
situation among ropemakers. The old church with a large cloister on
the south side, were consumed in the general conflagration in 1666,
and the present edifice arose in 1683. It was built on Sir Christopher
Wren’s plan; but in some parts the mason has taken inexcusable
liberties. The church is 87 feet in length, 60 in breadth, and the
height to the roof is 33. It is built of stone, and there runs thro’
the whole, an apparent strength and solidity. The walls are plain and
massy, the ornaments are few and simple, and the apertures, tho’
large, in order to enlighten so considerable a breadth, are not
numerous. The tower is plain, square, and divided into five stages,
but terminates absolutely square and plain, without spire, turret or
pinacles. The cornice is supported by scrolls, and over these rises a
balustrade of solid construction, very proper for the rest of the
building. _Maitland, and English Architecture._

Among the funeral monuments in this church, before its being burnt,
was one in memory of Queen Elizabeth, with the following inscriptions:

If royal virtues ever crown’d a crown;
If ever mildness shin’d in majesty;
If ever honour honour’d true renown;
If ever courage dwelt with clemency;
If ever Princess put all Princes down,
For temperance, prowess, prudence, equity;
This, this was she, that in despight of death
Lives still admir’d, ador’d Elizabeth.
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

_In the figure of a book above her picture_;

They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Sion, which shall not
be removed.

_On the right side_;

Spain’s rod, Rome’s ruin, the Netherlands relief,
Heaven’s gem, earth’s joy, world’s wonder, nation’s chief.

_On the left side_;

Britain’s blessing, England’s splendor,
Religion’s nurse, and Faith’s defender.

_And beneath_;

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, &c.
Queen Elizabeth died the 24th of March, 1602.

This church is a rectory, and one of the thirteen peculiars belonging
to the Archbishop of Canterbury; and to this parish that of Allhallows
the Less is annexed, by which the profits of the Rector are greatly
increased. He receives, besides glebes, &c. 200_l._ _per annum_ in
lieu of tithes.

ALLHALLOWS _Honey lane_, a small church, which stood where the east end
of Honey lane market is at present situated; but being destroyed by
the fire of London in 1666, the parish was by act of parliament united
to the church of St. Mary le Bow.

ALLHALLOWS _the Less_, stood on the south side of Thames street, almost
adjoining to that of Allhallows the Great; but having suffered in the
common calamity in 1666, the parish was united to that of Allhallows
the Great.

ALLHALLOWS _Lombard street_, situated in Bell alley, near the north
corner of Lombard street, in Langbourn ward. A church stood here under
the same patronage, before the year 1053; but the present plain,
well-proportioned building, was erected in the room of that destroyed
by the fire of London. The body is enlightened by a single series of
large windows, and the tower is terminated by a plain battlement.

This church is a rectory, and one of the thirteen peculiars in this
city belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Rector, besides
glebes, donations, and casualties, receives 110_l._ a year in lieu of
tithes. _Maitland._

ALLHALLOWS _London wall_, a small mean edifice, a little to the east of
Bethlem Hospital, on the outside of London wall. It escaped the fire
in 1666, and is a rectory, in the King’s gift.

ALLHALLOWS _Staining_, situated near the north end of Mark lane. It is
said to obtain the name of Staining, from the corruption of the word
_stoney_, because built at first of stone, when the other churches
dedicated to all the Saints were of wood. It escaped the fire in 1666.
The body is well illuminated with Gothic windows, and the square tower
is crowned with a small turret.

This church is a curacy, in the gift of the Grocers company. The
curate receives about 100_l._ a year by tithes. _Maitland, and English
Architecture._

ALLHALLOWS STAINING SCHOOL, was founded in the year 1658, by Mr. William
Winter, who endowed it with the sum of 600_l._ the profits arising
from which, amounting to 26_l._ _per annum_, are employed in
instructing six boys in reading, writing, and accounts, and putting
them out apprentice, with each of whom a sum is given not exceeding
10_l._

ALLHALLOWS _Lane_, near the Steelyard, Thames street.☐

ALLHALLOWS _Stairs_, Allhallows lane, Thames street.

_Lord High_ ALMONER, a clergyman of the highest rank, and frequently the
Archbishop of York, who has the office of disposing of the King’s
alms, and for that use receives all deodands, the goods of persons
found guilty of self-murder, and other sums allowed by his Majesty to
be disposed of for that purpose. Besides the sums distributed to the
poor of several parishes, there are many poor pensioners to the King
below stairs, who have a competency duly paid them, either because
they are so old as to be unfit for service, or because they are the
widows of such of his Majesty’s household servants as died poor, and
were unable to provide for their wives and children in their
life-times.

Under the Lord High Almoner, are a Sub-almoner, a Yeoman, and a Groom
of the Almonry.

ALMONRY, vulgarly called the _Ambry_, receives its name from the alms of
the Abbey being distributed there, and was originally a chapel
dedicated to St. Catharine, and not, as Mr. Stow asserts, to St. Anne.
Near this chapel Abbot Islip erected the first printing-house that
ever was in England in the year 1474; when Mr. William Caxton, a
citizen and mercer of London, bringing that invaluable art from
Holland, became the first printer in Britain. _Maitland._

ALMONRY SCHOOL, situated in the Almonry at Westminster, was founded in
the year 1677, by Henry Hill, Esq; who also endowed it with 7_l._ a
year for the education of poor children.

ALMSHOUSES. See a particular account of each under the names of their
respective founders. The number of persons contained in the several
Alms-houses and hospitals within the bills of mortality, with the
children put forth apprentice by the money collected at the feast, &c.
of the Sons of the Clergy, and the several poor families that
participate of the king’s annual charity, amount in the whole to about
8000 persons, and the sum employed for their relief to 80,000_l._
_Maitland._

ALMSHOUSE _yard_. 1. Little Almonry, Westminster. 2. Dormer’s Hill. 3.
Little Chapel street. 4. Coleman street. 5. Snow Hill, in which
Hammond’s almshouse is situated.

_St._ ALPHAGE, in Aldermanbury near London wall, owes its name to its
dedication to St. Alphage, or Elphege, a noble Saxon Saint, and
Archbishop of Canterbury, who was murdered at Greenwich by the pagan
Danes, in the year 1013. This church escaped the flames in 1666, and
is still standing; tho’ it is as mean a structure as can well be
conceived.

The living is a rectory in the patronage of the Bishop of London, and
the Rector receives about 75_l._ a year in tithes.

AMBLE _court_, near Wellclose square.

AMEN _corner_, at the end of Pater-noster-row, near St. Paul’s. See
PATER-NOSTER-ROW.

AMERSHAM, or AGMONDESHAM, a small but very ancient borough, in
Buckinghamshire, situated in a vale between woody hills, 29 miles from
London. This town does not come within the compass which we have
prescribed round London, but our map of the environs not being a
circle, the angles of it take in some few places at a greater distance
than 20 miles; and these being inserted in our map, we thought we
could not dispense with taking notice of them, as well as of those
within the prescribed limits. The town consists of a long street,
divided about the middle by a shorter cross street; in the
intersection of which stands the church, said to be the best rectory
in the county; it being well endowed by Geoffery de Mandeville, Earl
of Essex, in the reign of King Stephen. There is here a handsome
market-house, built with brick on arched pillars, about 80 years ago,
by Sir William Drake, Knt. It has a free school founded in the reign
of Queen Elizabeth; and here is also a fine seat called Shardelowes,
the manor of which formerly belonged to the noble family of the
Russels; but about the time of the restoration it was sold, with the
borough, to Sir William Drake, Bart. in whose family it still remains.

AMICABLE SOCIETY, in Serjeants-inn Fleet street, was incorporated by a
charter granted by Queen Anne, in the year 1706, for a perpetual
Assurance-office for the purpose of making a provision for their
wives, children, and other relations, after an easy, certain and
advantageous manner, with power to purchase lands, &c. and to have a
seal, which is a dove standing upon a serpent, and above in a scroll
the motto PRUDENS SIMPLICITAS. The number of persons to be
incorporated was not to exceed 2000. After paying the charges of the
policy, and 10_s._ entrance-money, each person was to pay 6_l._ 4_s._
_per annum_, which annual payments have since, by the increase of the
Society’s stock, been reduced to 5_l._ a year, payable quarterly, and
from these payments the dividends to claimants are to arise.

That this Society has been greatly beneficial to the public, evidently
appears from a state of their yearly dividends from Lady-day 1710, to
Lady 1757, during which each claim amounted upon an average to 106_l._
1_s._ 4_d._ but taking the computation only for these twenty-three
years last past, _viz._ from the year 1734, (when by an order of the
general court, a part of their yearly income was appropriated for
augmenting their claims whenever they should happen to be under
100_l._) the quantum of such claims from the year 1734 to 1757, have
amounted upon an average to 120_l._ 9_s._ 1_d._ and so considerable
has been the increase of the dividends for these nine years last past,
that each claim, during that period, has been advanced upon an average
to 142_l._ 6_s._ 5_d._

However, at a general court held May 12, 1757, an order was made for
farther augmenting the dividends on claims, so as that for the future
they will not be less than 125_l._ each claim, but yet may happen to
be considerably more, which has been the case of several former years.

The advantages from becoming members of this society are such as
follow:

To clergymen, physicians, surgeons, lawyers, tradesmen, and
particularly persons possessed of places or employments for life: to
such parents, husbands, or wives, and other relations, whose income is
subject to be determined or diminished at their respective deaths, who
by insuring their lives by means of this Society, may now in all
events leave to their families a claim, or right, to receive a sum not
less than 125_l._ for every five pounds annually paid in, and very
probably a larger sum, as appears by the above account.

To married persons, more especially where a jointure, pension, or
annuity depends on both or either of their lives, by insuring the life
of the persons intitled to such annuity, pension or jointure.

To dependents upon any other person intitled to a salary, benefaction,
or other means of subsistence, during the life of such person, whose
life being insured in this society, either by themselves, or by the
person upon whom they are dependent, will intitle them to receive upon
the death of such person, a sum not less than 125_l._ for each number
so insured.

To persons wanting to borrow money, who by insuring their lives, are
enabled to give a collateral security for the money borrowed.

To creditors intitled to demands larger than their debtors are able to
discharge, such debtors may, by a like insurance, secure to their
creditors their principal sums at their deaths.

The abovementioned advantages are chiefly with respect to perpetual
insurances for life; but temporary insurers may find no less advantage
from this Society, as may plainly appear from the following instance,
_viz._ _A. B._ has agreed for the purchase of an office or employment,
but wants 300_l._ or 400_l._ to make up the purchase-money: he is
willing to assign a share of the profits or income of his office, as a
security or pledge for the repayment of the principal with interest,
but cannot obtain a loan of that sum without insuring his life till
the whole be cleared, which he is enabled to do by the help of this
Society. For example; He purchases three numbers, on each of which he
insures his life, and thereby his assigns become intitled to three
several claims at his death; which claims, by the abovementioned
provision, will not be less than 125_l._ each, and may probably amount
to more: he assigns and deposits his policy with the lender: he pays
to the Society for the yearly contributions on the three numbers no
more than 5_l._ each, which is considerably less than 5_l._ _per
cent._ under which rate no other office will insure, and that for one
year only; at the end of which such offices are at liberty to refuse
any further insurance: whereas in this Society the insurance continues
during the life of the insured, unless excluded by the non-payment of
the quarterly contributions. And every insurer, or their
representatives, at the end of their insurance may in a great measure
(if not entirely) reimburse themselves their purchase-money
(originally paid by them for their numbers) by disposing of them at a
market price, which they may do without any farther trouble than
applying to the Society’s office.

The regulations of the Society are as follow:

All persons at the time of their admission are to be between the ages
of twelve and forty-five, and must then appear to be in a good state
of health.

Persons living in the country may be admitted by certificates and
affidavit, forms of which may be had at the office.

Every claimant is impowered to put in a new life in the room of the
deceased within twelve calendar months next after the end of the
current year, for which his or her claim shall be allowed as often as
the same shall happen, upon payment of 10_s._ entrance.

Any person may have two or three several insurances, or numbers, on
one and the same life, whereby such persons will be intitled to a
claim on each number so insured.

The affairs of the corporation are managed by a court of twelve
directors annually chosen within forty days after every 25th of March;
and the majority of the members assembled at a general court, which is
never to consist of less than twenty, are impowered to make laws and
ordinances for the good government of the corporation. The charter
directs one of the members of the Society to be elected their
Register, who being also their receiver and accomptant, is therefore
required by the by-laws to give good security in the sum of 2000_l._
at least.

Five members of the Society are annually elected auditors, who are by
their office to inspect every transaction of the Society, to examine
all vouchers for receipts and payments, and upon oath to lay before
the quarterly and annual general courts, the quarterly and annual
accounts of the Society: and on the day before the holding each court
of directors, the auditors are to state and enter in the directors
minute book a balance of the cash of the Society.

Attendance is daily given at the Society’s office from nine in the
morning, till two in the afternoon, holidays excepted. _From the
proposals printed by the Society._

AMSTERDAM _court_, Upper Shadwell.

AMYAS’S ALMSHOUSE was erected in George yard, Old street, in the year
1655, by Mrs. Susanna Amyas, for eight poor single men or women, who
have an allowance of 4_l._ _per annum_ each; besides 6_l._ to furnish
them all with coals, 1_l._ for water, and 1_l._ for one of the eight
to read prayers daily.

ANABAPTISTS, or, as they chuse to call themselves, Baptists. See an
account of their several places of worship, under the article BAPTIST.

ANCHOR _alley_. 1. Mint street,Southwark.* 2. Worcester place, Thames
street.*

ANCHOR AND HOPE _alley_, Green bank, near Wapping.*

ANCHOR _court_, Anchor street, Spitalfields.*

ANCHOR _lane_, Thames street.*

ANCHOR _street_. 1. By Webb’s square, Spitalfields.* 2. Thames street.*

ANCHOR _yard_, Barnaby street, Southwark.*

ANDERSON’S _yard_, Oxford street.†

ST. ANDREW’S _Holborn_, a plain but not inelegant church, situated on
the south side of Holborn, and at the corner of Shoe lane. It is
dedicated to St. Andrew the Apostle, who was distinguished by being
the first person Christ called for a disciple; and his suffering
martyrdom in Achaia. There was a church in this place called by the
name of the same Apostle, so early as the year 1297. The old church
escaped the flames in the dreadful fire of London, that proved fatal
to so many others; but ten years after being found too ruinous for
repair, was taken down in 1687, and the present structure erected in
its place, except the tower, which was not finished till the year
1704.

This church has a considerable space before it, which is entered by a
handsome pair of iron gates. It is a neat edifice, with two series of
windows, and a handsome balustrade round the top. The tower, which
rises square, consists only of two stages, and round the top is a
balustrade with a pinacle at each corner; on the crown of each is
placed a pine apple, from which rises the fanes. On the inside, the
church is extremely neat and well finished.

The living is a rectory, said to be worth 600_l._ a year, in the
patronage of the Duke of Montague. _Stow, Maitland, English
architecture._

_St._ ANDREW’S _court_, Holborn hill, so called from the above church.

_St._ ANDREW _Hubbard_, a church which stood between St. Botolph’s lane,
and Love lane, in Little Eastcheap, where the King’s weigh-house now
stands; but being destroyed by the fire of London, and not rebuilt,
the parish was united to that of St. Mary at Hill.

_St._ ANDREW _Undershaft_, at the corner of St. Mary Ax in Leadenhall
street, and in Aldgate ward. There stood in this place a church
dedicated to the same Saint so early as in 1362, which was pulled down
in the year 1532, and the present structure erected in its room. It
obtained the name of _Undershaft_ from a may-pole, which was anciently
called a shaft, being annually raised in the street near it on
May-day, and was taller than the steeple.

This church is a plain gothic structure, with a well enlightened body,
and a square tower terminated by battlements, with pinacles at the
corners, within which rises a turret that contains the bell. It is a
rectory, in the patronage of the Bishop of London. The Incumbent
receives 120_l._ a year by tithes.

_St._ ANDREW _Wardrobe_, on the east side of Puddledock hill, in Castle
Baynard ward, took its name from a great royal wardrobe erected there
in the reign of King Edward III. There was a church on the same spot
dedicated to St. Andrew in the year 1322: but the present structure
was not built till the year 1670, when it was erected in the place of
one burnt by the fire of London. The body is enlightened by two rows
of windows, and the tower has neither turret, pinacles nor spire.

This church is a rectory, in the gift of the Crown, and to this parish
that of St. Ann’s Black Friars is annexed. The Rector receives by act
of parliament 140_l._ a year in lieu of tithes. _Newc. Repert.
Eccles._

ANGEL _alley_. 1. Fore street, Lambeth.* 2. King’s street, St. James’s
square.* 3. Shoe lane.* 4. Gray’s Inn lane.* 5. Long acre.* 6.
Aldersgate street.* 7. Redcross street.* 8. Whitecross street,
Cripplegate.* 9. Charterhouse lane.* 10. Coleman street.* 11.
Fenchurch street.* 12. Leadenhall street.* 13. Houndsditch.* 14.
Little Moorfields.* 15. Bishopsgate street.* 16. Golden lane, Old
street.* 17. Stony lane, Petticoat lane. 18. Whitechapel.* 19. Brick
lane, Spitalfields.* 20. Ratcliff highway.* 21. Nightingale lane, East
Smithfield.* 22. Pepper Alley, Southwark.* 23. Coal Harbour, Thames
street.*

ANGEL _court_. 1. King’s street, St. James’s square.* 2. Drury lane.* 3.
Charing Cross.* 4. Charterhouse lane alley.* 5. Aldersgate street.* 6.
Friday street.* 7. Grub street.* 8. Camomile street.* 9. Bishopsgate
street without.* 10. Lamb alley, Bishopsgate street.* 11. Angel alley,
Aldersgate street.* 12. Foul lane, in the Borough.* 13. Great Windmill
street.* 14. King’s Bench alley, Southwark.* 15. Redcross street in
the Park, Southwark.* 16. Leadenhall street.* 17. Little Elbow lane.*
18. New Gravel lane.* 19. Redcross street, Cripplegate.* 20. Little
Old Bailey.* 21. Snowhill.* 22. Long acre.* 23. Long ditch,
Westminster.* 24. Near St. James’s square.* 25. St. Martin’s lane,
Charing cross.* 26. Near Surrey street in the Strand.* 27. Throgmorton
street.* 28. White’s alley, Rosemary lane.* 29. Stony lane, Petticoat
lane.* 30. Shoe lane.*

ANGEL _hill_, Oxford street.*

ANGEL _street_. 1. St. Martin’s le grand.* 2. Little Moorfields.* 3. St.
George’s fields, Southwark.*

ANGEL AND SUGARLOAF _yard_, in the Minories.*

_St._ ANN’S _alley_, Noble street, Foster lane.

ANN’S _alley_, East Smithfield.

_St._ ANN’S _Aldersgate_, on the north side of St. Ann’s lane, in the
ward of Aldersgate within, is dedicated to St. Ann the mother of the
Virgin Mary. The old church in this place perished in the fire 1666,
and the present was raised in its place about three years after. It is
a very plain edifice: the body is enlightened by a few large windows,
cased with rustic. The tower, which is very plain, is also
strengthened at the corners with rustic, and from its top rises a
turret and spire.

The church is a rectory in the patronage of the Bishop of London, and
the parish of St. John Zachary is annexed to it. The Rector receives
140_l._ _per annum_, in lieu of tithes.

_St._ ANN’S _Black Friars_, stood on the east side of Churchyard alley,
in the precinct of Black Friars, and the ward of Faringdon without;
but having suffered in the fatal calamity of 1666, and not being
rebuilt, the parish was annexed to that St. Andrew Wardrobe.

_St._ ANN’S _Limehouse_, arose from the great increase of houses and
inhabitants, by which the village of Limehouse, a hamlet of Stepney,
became joined to the metropolis, and it was resolved that here should
be one of the fifty new churches appointed by act of parliament to be
built within the bills of mortality. The foundation was laid in the
year 1712, and the present structure finished in 1729; but the
inhabitants of this hamlet not applying to parliament to have it
erected into a parish till the year 1729, it was not consecrated till
1730. This hamlet and part of that of Ratcliff, having been
constituted a distinct parish from that of Stepney, the sum of
3500_l._ was given by parliament to be laid out in fee simple towards
the support of the Rector; besides which the church wardens were to
pay him annually the sum of 60_l._ to be raised by burial fees.

This church is of a very singular construction, the body is not one
plain building, but is continued under separate portions. The door
under the tower has a portico, covered with a dome supported by
pilasters, and to this door there is an ascent by a flight of plain
steps. Its square tower has a large Corinthian window adorned with
columns and pilasters. The corners of the tower are also strengthened
by pilasters, which on their tops support vases. The upper stage of
the tower is plain, and extremely heavy, and from this part rises a
turret at each corner, and a more lofty one in the middle.

The advowson of this rectory, which is not to be held in commendam, is
in the Principal and Scholars of King’s hall, and Brazen-nose College,
Oxford. _Maitland._

_St._ ANN’S _Soho_, owes its foundation to the same cause as the former,
the increase of public buildings; the inhabitants of the parish of St.
Martin’s in the Fields became much too numerous to be contained in the
church, and therefore applying to parliament, this was erected in the
year 1686, in a spot of ground then called Kemp’s Field, and the
parish to which it belongs was separated from St. Martin’s in 1678.

The walls of this church are of brick with rustic quoins. The tower,
which is square, is strengthened with a kind of buttresses, and at the
springing of the dome, which supports the lanthorn, there are urns on
the corners with flames. The lanthorn, which is formed of arches, is
surrounded with a balustrade at the bottom, and a turret over it is
well shaped, and crowned with a globe and fane.

The advowson of this church is settled upon the Bishop of London, and
the Rector; instead of tithes, receives from the parishioners 100_l._
a year, which, together with the glebe, surplice fees, and Easter
book, amount to about 300_l._ _per annum_. _Maitland._

_St._ ANN’S _court_, Dean street, Soho.☐

ANN’S _court_, East Smithfield.

ANONYMOUS _New street_, Coverlead’s fields.

ANSON’S _alley_, Broad St. Giles’s.†

_St._ ANTHOLIN’S _Church yard_, Budge row.

_St._ ANTHONY, vulgarly called _St._ ANTHOLIN’S, Budge row, a plain but
well-proportioned church, with a neat spire. The former church in this
place was destroyed by fire in 1666, and the present edifice finished
in 1682. It is built of stone, and is of the Tuscan order, firm and
massy. The length of the church is 66 feet, and the breadth 54. The
roof is a cupola of an elliptic form, enlightened by four port hole
windows, and supported by composite columns. The steeple consists of a
tower, and a neat spire.

The living is a rectory, with the parish of St. John Baptist annexed
to it, and the advowson is in the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul’s. The
Rector receives 120_l._ a year in lieu of tithes.

_St._ ANTHONY’S HOSPITAL and SCHOOL, an ancient foundation in
Threadneedle street. See the FRENCH EPISCOPAL CHURCH _in Threadneedle
street_.

ANTILOPE _alley_, King’s street Westminster.*

ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY. A society of Antiquaries was formed in this city
about the year 1580, by some of the most learned men in the kingdom:
but having been frequently interrupted and discontinued, very little
can be said concerning the same till the year 1717, when it was again
revived by a number of gentlemen studious of antiquity in general, but
more particularly desirous to obtain all possible knowledge of the
antiquities of their own country. With this view they agreed to meet
one evening in every week under certain regulations; they encouraged
correspondencies with all parts of the kingdom; they subscribed an
annual sum to defray the expence of engraving on copper-plates, what
should be thought deserving to be so preserved, and limited their
number to 100. And in this manner they continued their weekly meeting
with great reputation, till his Majesty King George II. was graciously
pleased to grant them a royal charter of incorporation, dated Nov. 2,
1751; and to declare himself their founder and patron.

Under this charter they became a body corporate, by the name of the
Society of Antiquaries of London, with a power to have and use a
common seal, to sue and be sued, and to take, hold, and enjoy by
purchase, gift, or otherwise, any lands, tenements or hereditaments,
not exceeding in the whole 1000_l._ _per annum_. And it is therein
directed, that the Council of the said Society shall at all times
consist of 21 persons, the President for the time being always to be
one; and the said charter appoints Martin Folkes, Esq; to be the first
President, and also 20 other persons therein named to be the first
Council, empowering them within two months from the date thereof, to
nominate, chuse and admit, as Fellows of the said Society, such
persons as shall excel in the knowledge of the antiquities and history
of this and other nations, and be eminent for piety, virtue, integrity
and loyalty. This first President and Council are to continue till the
23d day of April next ensuing, on which day, in every year thereafter,
the Council and Fellows are to assemble to nominate and elect a
President, and Council for the ensuing year; and it is particularly
directed that eleven of the former Council shall be continued, and ten
other persons chosen out of the members of the Society: ten and no
more of the Council being to be changed annually. The President is
empowered to nominate four persons of the Council to be his Deputies,
and supply his place in case of sickness or absence, and the
President, Council, Fellows, or any twenty-one or more, are empowered
to make statutes, rules, orders and by-laws, for the government and
direction of the said Society, their estates, goods, &c. and for the
admission and amoval of all and every the members and officers
thereof. And the President, Council and Fellows, may appoint
treasurers, secretaries and clerks, may have and employ one serjeant
at mace, and such other servants as they think necessary. And lastly,
if any abuses or differences shall arise, the Archbishop of
Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor or Keeper of the Great Seal, the Lord
Privy Seal, and the two Secretaries of State for the time being, are
appointed Visitors, with full power for any three of them to compose
and redress such differences and abuses: provision is also made to
fill up any vacancies that may happen by the death of the President or
any of the Council.

On the receipt of this charter, the first President and Council
nominated and admitted, by a writing dated the 14th of November 1751,
all the former members, together with some others, in the whole 121,
to be Fellows of the said Society of Antiquaries of London, and soon
after drew up a body of statutes for the good government thereof,
which, was unanimously agreed to and confirmed in the month of July
1752.