The survey of London containing the original, increase, modern estate and government of that city, methodically set down : with a memorial of those famouser acts of charity, which for publick and pious vses have been bestowed by many worshipfull citizens and benefactors : as also all the ancient and modern monuments erected in the churches, not only of those two famous cities, London and Westminster, but (now newly added) four miles compass / begun first by the pains and industry of John Stow, in the year 1598 ; afterwards inlarged by the care and diligence of A.M. in the year 1618 ; and now compleatly finished by the study & labour of A.M., H.D. and others, this present year 1633 ; whereunto, besides many additions (as appears by the contents) are annexed divers alphabetical tables, especially two, the first, an index of things, the second, a concordance of names.

THE SURVEY OF LONDON: Containing the Originall, Antiquity, Increase, Mo∣derne Estate, and Description of that Citie.

AS the Romane Writers, to glorify the Ci∣tie of Rome, drew the Ori∣ginall thereof from gods & demygods, by the Trojan pro∣genie: so Geoffrey of Monmouth, the Welsh Historian, deduceth the founda∣tion of this famous Citie of London, for the greater glorie thereof, and emulati∣on of Rome, from the very same Origi∣nall. For he reporteth, that Brute line∣ally descended from the demy-god Ae∣neas, the sonne of Venus, daughter of Iu∣piter, about the yeere of the world 2855. and 1108. before the nativity of Christ, builded this Citie neere unto the River now called Thames,* 1.1 and named it Troy∣novant, or Trenovant. But herein, as Li∣vie (the most famous Historiographer of the Romanes) writeth, Antiquity is pardonable, and hath an especiall priviledge, by interlacing divine matters with humane, to make the first foundation of Cities more honourable, more sacred, and as it were, of greater Majestie.

King Lud (as the aforesaid Geoffrey of Monmouth noteth) afterward, not on∣ly repaired this Citie; but also increa∣sed the same with faire Buildings, Tow∣ers and Walls, and after his owne name, called it Caire-Lud,* 1.2 as Luds Towne, and the strong Gate which he builded in the West part of the Citie, he likewise (for his owne honour) named Ludgate.

This Lud had issue two sonnes, An∣drogeus, and Theomantius, or Tenanticus, who beeing not of age to governe at the death of their Father; their Vncle Cassibelan tooke upon him the Crowne; about the eighth yeere of whose reigne, Iulius Caesar arrived in this Land, with a great power of Romanes to conquer it. The manner of which Conquest, I will summarily set downe out of his owne Commentaries, which are of farre bet∣ter credit, than the relations of Geoffrey Monmouth.

The chiefe government of the Britains,* 1.3 and ordering of the Warres, was then (by common advice) committed to Cassibelan, whose Signiorie was separated from the Ci∣ties towards the Sea-coast, by the River cal∣led Thames, about 80. miles off from the Sea. This Cassibelan in times past, had made continuall warre upon the Cities ad∣joyning; but the Britains being moved with the Romanes invasiton, had resolved in that necessity to make him their Soveraigne and Generall of the Warres. Caesar having know∣ledge of their intent, marched with his Army to the Thames,* 1.4 into the Signory of Cassibe∣lan. This River can be passed but onely in one place on foot, and that very hardly. When he came thither, he saw a great power

of his enemies in battaile array, on the other side of the River. Now was the Banke stick∣ed full of stakes, sharpned at the end; and likewise other stakes (of the same making) were driven into the Channell, and hidden with the water. Caesar having understan∣ding thereof, by his Prisoners and Runne∣awaies, sent his Horsemen before, and com∣manded his Footmen to follow immediately after them. But the Romane Souldiers went with such speed and force, having no more than their heads onely above the water: that the enemy being not able to withstand the violence of the Footmen, and the men of Armes, forsooke the banke, and tooke them to flight. Cassibelan despairing of his good successe, by fighting in plaine battaile, sent away all his greater powers,* 1.5 and keeping still about foure thousand Waggoners, watched which way the Romanes went, and drew somewhat aside out of the way, hiding him∣selfe in cumbersome and woody places. And wheresoever hee knew the Romanes should march, hee drave both Cattell and people thence into the Woods. When the Romanes Horsemen ranged any thing freely abroad into the fields for forrage, or to harry the Countrey: he sent his Waggoners by allwaies and paths out of the woods, upon their men of Armes,* 1.6 and encountred with them to their great prejudice, through the feare whereof, he kept them short from ranging at their pleasure.

So the matter was brought to this passe, that Caesar would not suffer his Horsemen to stray any farnesse from his maine Battaile of Footmen, and adventured no further to annoy his enemies, in wasting their fields, and burning their houses, than he could com∣passe by the travaile of his Footmen, as they were able to journey.

In the meane while,* 1.7 the Trinobants, which was the strongest Citie, wel-neere, of all those Countries, and out of which Citie, a yong Gentleman called Mandubrace, upon confidence of Caesars helpe, comming unto him into the maine Land of Gallia, now called France, had thereby escaped death, which he should have suffered at Cassibe∣lans hand, (as his Father Imanuence had done, who had reigned in that Citie:) sent Ambassadours to Caesar,* 1.8 promising to yeeld unto him, and to doe what hee should com∣mand them. Instantly desiring him, to pro∣tect Mandubrace from the furious Tyranny of Cassibelan, and to send him into the City, with authority to take the government there∣of upon him. Caesar accepted the offer, and appointed them to give unto him 40. Hosta∣ges, and withall to finde him graine for his Armie, and so sent hee Mandubrace unto them.

When others saw that Caesar had not only defended the Trinobants against Cassibe∣lan, but had also saved them harmlesse from the pillage of his owne Souldiers: then also did the Cenimagues, Segontians, Aucalits, Bibrokes, and Cassians like∣wise submit themselves unto him,* 1.9 and by them he learned, that not farre from thence was Cassibelans Towne, (fortified with woods and marish grounds) into the which he had gathered a great number both of men and cattell.

For the Brittans call that a Towne,* 1.10 when they have fortified a cumbersome wood with a ditch and Rampire, and thither they resort to eschew the invasions of their enemies. To this place therefore marched Caesar with his Legions; hee found it excellently fortified, both of nature, and by mans advice: never∣thelesse, he resolved to assault it in two seve∣rall places at once; whereupon the Britaines being not able to endure the force of the Ro∣manes, fled out at another part, and left the Towne unto him: a great number of cat∣tell he found there, and many of the Bri∣taines he slew, and others hee tooke in the chase.

Whilest these things were a doing in these quarters, Cassibelan sent messengers into Kent, which lyeth upon the Sea, and in which there reigned then foure particular Kings, named, Cingetorix, Carvil, Taximagul, and Segonax, whom he commanded to raise all their forces, and suddenly to set upon, and assault the Romanes in their Trenches by the Sea side: the which when the Ro∣mans perceived, they sallied out upon them, slew a great sort of them, and taking Cin∣getorix their noble Captaine prisoner, reti∣red themselves to their Campe in good safe∣tie.

When Cassibelan heard of this, and had formerly taken many other losses, and found his Countrey sore wasted, and himselfe left almost alone, by the defection of the other Ci∣ties, he sent Ambassadours by Comius of Arras to Caesar, to intreat him concerning his owne submission: the which Caesar did accept; and taking Hostages, assessed the Realme of Britaine to a yeerely Tribute,

to be paid to the people of Rome,* 1.11 giving straight charge to Cassibelan, that he should not seeke any revenge upon Mandubrace, or the Trinobants, and so withdrew his Ar∣mie to the Sea againe.

Thus farre out of Caesars Commenta∣ries, concerning this History, which hapned in the yeere before Christs nati∣vity, 54. In all which processe, there is for this purpose to be noted, that Caesar nameth the Citie of Trinobantes, which hath a resemblance with Troy nova, or Trinobantum,* 1.12 having no greater diffe∣rence in the Orthography, than changing (b) into (v), and yet maketh an errour, whereof I will not argue. Onely this I will note, that divers learned men doe not thinke Civitas Trinobantum, to bee well and truely translated, the Citie of the Trinobantes: but it should rather bee the state, communalty, or Signiorie of the Trinobantes, for that Caesar in his Commentaries useth the word Civitas, onely for a people living under the selfe∣same Prince and Law. But certaine it is,* 1.13 that the Cities of the Brittaines were (in those daies) neither artificially buil∣ded with houses, nor strongly walled with stone, but were onely thicke and cumbersome Woods, plashed within, and trenched about: and the like (in ef∣fect) doe other the Romane and Greeke Authors affirme,* 1.14 as Strabo, Pomponius Mela,* 1.15 and Dion, a Senator of Rome, which flourished in the severall reignes of the Romane Emperours,* 1.16 Tiberius,* 1.17 Claudius, Domitian, and Severus: to wit, that be∣fore the arrivall of the Romanes, the Brit∣taines had no Townes, but called that a Towne, which had a thicke intangled Wood, defended (as I said) with a ditch and banke, the like whereof the Irishmen, our next neighbours, doe at this day call Fastnes. But after that these hither parts of Britains were reduced into the forme of a Province, by the Romans, who sowed the seeds of civility over all Europe; this Citie, whatsoever it was before, began to be renowned and of fame.* 1.18 For Taci∣tus, who first of all Authors nameth it Londinium, saith, that in the 26. yeere after Christ, it was, albeit no Colonie of the Romanes, yet most famous for the great multitude of Merchants, provisi∣on, and entercourse. At which time, in that notable revolt of the Britaines from Nero, in which threescore and ten thou∣sand Romanes and their confederates were slaine; this Citie, with Verulami∣um, neere Saint Albans, and Maldon in Essex, then all famous, were ransacked and spoiled. For Suetonius Paulinus, then Lieutenant for the Romanes in this Ile, abandoned it, as not then fortified, and left it to the spoile.

Shortly after,* 1.19 Iulius Agricola, the Ro∣mane Lieutenant, in the time of Domiti∣an, was the first that (by adhorting the Britaines publikely, and helping them privately) wonne them to build houses, for themselves, Temples for the gods, and Courts for Justice, to bring up the Noble mens children in good Letters, and humanity, and to apparell them∣selves Romane like.* 1.20 Whereas before (for the most part) they went naked, pain∣ting their bodies, &c. as all the Romane Writers have observed.

True it is, I confesse, that afterward many Cities and Townes in Britaine, under the Government of the Romanes, were walled with Stone, and baked Brickes,* 1.21 or Tyles; as Richborrow, Rypta∣chester, * 1.22 in the Ile of Thanet, till the chan∣nell altered his course;* 1.23 besides Sand∣wich in Kent,* 1.24 Verulamium, besides Saint Albanes in Hartfordshire,* 1.25 Cilcester in Hampshire,* 1.26 Wroxcester in Shropshire, Kencester in Herefordshire, there miles from Hereford Towne; Ribcester, seven miles above Preston, on the water of Rible; Aldeburge, a mile from Borrow∣bridge, or Wathelingstreet, on Vre River, and others.

And no doubt but this Citie of Lon∣don was also walled with Stone,* 1.27 in the time of the Romane Government here, but yet very lately. For, it seemeth not to have beene walled in the yeere of our Lord 296. because in that yeere, when Alectus the Tyrant was slaine in the Field, the Franks or Franconians ea∣sily entred London, and had sacked the same, had not GOD (of his great favour) at the very instant, brought along the River of Thames, certaine Bands of Romane Souldiers, who slew those Franks in every street of the Citie.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Trinobantū hath the written copie. Livi••.
• * 1.2

  Caire Lud, the Citie of Lud, but Luds-towne is a Saxon word.
• * 1.3

  Caesars cō∣mentaries, lib. 5.
• * 1.4

  The River of Thames to be pas∣sed afoot in Caesars time.
• * 1.5

  The poli∣cie of Cas∣sibelan up∣on his ill successe.
• * 1.6

  His advā∣tage a∣gainst the Romane horsemen.
• * 1.7

  Trinobants Citizens of London.
• * 1.8

  Mandu∣brace and the Trino∣bants yeeld to Caesar, and he de∣fended them.
• * 1.9

  Cassibelans Towne west from London, for Caesar saith, 80. miles from the Sea.
• * 1.10

  Cities of the Britains were cum∣bersome woods for∣tified.
• * 1.11

  Britaine ses∣••ed to pay a yeerely tribute to Rome.
• * 1.12

  Trinobant, new Londō.
• * 1.13

  Cities of the Britains not artifi∣cially buil∣ded with houses, nor walled with stone
• * 1.14

  Strabo.
• * 1.15

  Pomponius Mela.
• * 1.16

  Tacitus.
• * 1.17

  Dion.
• * 1.18

  London most fa∣mous for merchants and enter∣course.
• * 1.19

  The Bri∣taines had no houses, but cotta∣ges.
• * 1.20

  The Bri∣taines wen•• naked, their bo∣dies pain∣ted.
• * 1.21

  Richborrow in Kent.
• * 1.22

  Verulamiū.
• * 1.23

  Cilcester.
• * 1.24

  Wroxcester.
• * 1.25

  Kencester.
• * 1.26

  Leyland.
• * 1.27

  Of the wal about Lon∣don.