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.

BASSINGS HALL VVARD.

THe next adjoyning to Coleman streete Ward, on the West side thereof, is Bas∣sings Hall Ward, a small thing, and consisteth of one streete, called Bas∣sings Hall streete, of Bassings Hall, the most principall house, whereof the Ward taketh name. It beginneth in the South, by the late spoken Market house, called the Bay Hall, which is the last of Coleman streete Ward. This streete run∣neth from thence North downe to Lon∣don Wall, and some little distance both East and West, against the said Hall: And this is the bounds of Bassings Hall Ward.

Monuments on the East side thereof, amongst divers faire houses for Mer∣chants, have ye three Hals of Compa∣nies; namely, the Masons Hall for the first; but of what antiquity that Com∣pany is, I have not read. The next is the Weavers Hall: which Company hath been of great antiquity in this Ci∣ty, as appeareth by a Charter of Henry the second, in these words; Rex omnibus ad quos, &c. to be englished thus:

Henry, King of England, Duke of Normandy, and of Guian, Earle of An∣jou, to the Bishop, Iustices, Sheriffes, Ba∣rons, Ministers, and all his true Lieges of London, sendeth greeting: Know ye, that we have granted to the Weavers in Lon∣don their Guild, with all the Freedomes and Customes that they had in the time of King Henry my Grandfather: so that none but they intermit within the City of their Craft, but he be of their Guild; neither in Southwarke, or other places pertaining to London, otherwise than it was done in the time of King Henry my Grandfather. wherefore I will and straightly command, that over all lawfully they may treat, and have all aforesaid, as well in peace, free, wor∣shipfull, and wholly, as they had it, freer, better, worshipfullier, and whollier, than in the time of King Henry my Grandfa∣ther. So that they yeeld yeerly to mee two Markes of Gold, at the Eeast of Saint Mi∣chael. And I forbid, that any man to them doe any unright, or disease, upon paine of ten pound. Witnesse Thomas of Canter∣bury, Warwicke fili Gar, Chamberlaine, at Winchester.

Also I reade, that the same Henry the second, in the 31. of his reigne, made a Confirmation to the Weavers, that had a Guild of Fraternity in London; wherein it appeareth, that the said Weavers made woollen cloth, and that they had the correction thereof. But a∣mongst other Articles in that Patent, it was decreed, That if any man made cloth of Spanish wooll, mixed with Eng∣lish wooll, the Portgrave or principall Magistrate of London ought to burne it, &c.

Moreover, in the yeere 1197. King Richard the first, at the instance of Hu∣bert, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Iu∣sticiar of England, ordained, That the woollen clothes in every part of this Realme, should be in breadth two yards within the Lists, and as good in the middest as in the sides, &c. King Henry the third granted to the Citizens of London, that they should not bee vexed for the Burels, or Cloth-listed, accor∣ding to the constitution made for breadth of cloth the 9. of his reigne, &c. Richard the 2. in the third of his reigne, granted an order of agreement between the Weavers of London, Englishmen, and Aliens or Strangers borne, brought in by Edward the third.

Lower downe, is the Girdlers Hall: and this is all touching the East side of this Ward.

On the VVest side, almost at the

South end thereof, is Bakewell Hall, cor∣ruptly called Blackwell Hall. Concer∣ning the originall whereof, I have heard divers opinions, which I over-passe as fables, without colour of truth: for though the same seemed a Building of great antiquity, yet (in mine opinion) the foundation thereof was first laid since the Conquest of William, Duke of Normandy: for the same was builded upon Vaults of stone, which stone was brought from Cane in Normandy. The like of that of Pauls Church, builded by Mauritius and his successors, Bishops of London. But that this house hath beene a Temple, or Iewish Synagogue (as some have fantasied) I allow not, seeing that it had no such forme of roundnesse, or other likenesse. Neither had it the forme of a Church, for the assembly of Christians, which are builded East and West: but contrariwise, the same was builded North and South, and in forme of a Noble mans house: and therefore the best opinion (in my judgement) is, that it was (of old time) belonging to the Family of the Bassings, which was in this Realme a name of great antiquity and renowne, and that it bare also the name of that Family, and was called therfore Bassings Haugh, or Hall. Where∣unto I am the rather induced, for that the Armes of that Family were (of old time) so abundantly placed in sundry parts of that house, even in the stone∣worke, but more especially on the wals of the Hall, which carried a continuall painting of them on every side so close together, as one Escocheon could bee placed by another, which I my selfe have often seene and noted, before the old Building was taken downe. These Arms were a Gerond of twelve points, Gold and Azure. Of the Bassings there∣fore, builders of this House, and owners of the ground neere adjoyning, that VVard taketh the name; as Coleman streete Ward of Coleman, and Faringdon Ward of William and Nicholas Faringdon, men that were principall owners of those places.

And of old time the most Noble per∣sons that inhabited this City, were ap∣pointed to bee principall Magistrates thereas was Godfrey de Magun (or Mag∣navilla) Portgrave or Sheriffe, in the reigne of William the Conquerour, and of William Rufus; Hugh de Buch, in the reigne of Henry the first; Aubery de Vere, Earle of Oxford. After him, Gilbert Bec∣ket, in the reigne of King Stephen. After that, Godfrey de Magnavilla, the sonne of William, the sonne of Godfrey de Mag∣navilla, Earles of Essex, were Port∣graves or Sheriffes of London and Mid∣dlesex. In the reign of Henry the second, Peter Fitzwalter: after him, Iohn Fitzni∣gel, &c. So likewise in the reigne of King Iohn, the 16. of his reigne, a time of great troubles, in the yeere 1214. Sa∣lomon Bassing, and Hugh Bassing, Barons of this Realme, as may bee supposed, were Sheriffes; and that the said Salo∣mon Bassing was Maior in the yeer 1216. which was the first of Henry the third. Also Adam Bassing, son to Salomon (as it seemeth) was one of the Sheriffes, in the yeere 1243. the 28. of Henry the third.

Vnto this Adam de Bassing, King Hen∣ry the third, in the 31. of his reign, gave and confirmed certaine Messuages in Aldermanbury, and in Milke streete (pla∣ces not farre from Bassings Hall) and the advowson of the Church at Bassings Hall, with sundry liberties and priviledges.

This than was afterwards Maior, in the yeere 1251. the 36. of Henry the third. Moreover, Thomas Bassing was one of the Sheriffes, 1269. Robert Bas∣sing, Sheriffe, 1279. and William Bassing was Sheriffe, 1308, &c. For more of the Bassings in this City I neede not note, only I reade of this Family of Bassings in Cambridge shire, called Bassing at the Bourne, and more shortly, Bassing-Bourne, and gave Armes, as is afore shewed, & was painted about this old Hall. But this Family is worne out, and hath left the name to the place where they dwelt. Thus much for this Bassings Hall.

Now how Bakewell Hall tooke that name, is another question: For which I reade, that Thomas Bakewell dwelled in this house, in the 36. of Edward the third, and that in the 20. of Richard the second, the said King, for the summe of fifty pounds, which the Maior and the Cōmonalty had payed into the Hana∣par, granted licence, so much as was in him, to Iohn Frosh, William Parker, and Stephen Spilman (Citizens and Mercers) that they, the said Messuage, called

Bakewell Hall, and one Garden, with the appurtenances, in the Parish of St. Mi∣chael of Bassings Haugh, and of St. Lau∣rence in the Iewry of London, and one Messuage, two Shops, and one Garden, in the said Parish of S. Michael, which they held of the King in Burgage, might give and assigne to the Maior and Commonalty for ever.

This Bakewell Hall thus established, hath beene long since imployed, as a weekly Market place for all sorts of woollen clothes, broad and narrow, brought from all parts of this Realme there to bee sold. In the 21. of Richard the second, Richard Whitington, Maior; and in the 22. Drew Barringtine being Maior, it was decreed, that no Forraine or Stranger should sell any woollen cloth, but in the Bakewell Hall, upon paine of forfeiture thereof.

This house (of late yeeres) growing ruinous, & in danger of falling, Richard May, Merchant-Taylor, at his decease gave towards the new building of the outward part thereof, 300. pounds, up∣on condition that the same should bee performed within 3. yeeres after his de∣cease. Whereupon the old Bakewell Hall was taken downe, and in the moneth of February next following, the foundati∣on of a new, strong, and beautifull Store-house being laid, the work there∣of was so diligently applyed, that with∣in the space often moneths after, to the charges of 2500. pounds, the same was finished, in the yeere 1588.

Next beyond this house, are placed divers faire houses for Merchants, and others, till ye come to the backe 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 com∣mon Hall.

Then is the Parish Church of Saint Michael, called St. Michael at Bassings Hall, a proper Church, lately re-edified or new builded: whereto Iohn Burton, Mercer, and Agnes his wife, were great Benefactors; as appeareth by his mark, placed throughout the whole Roofe of the Quire, and middle Ile of the Church. He deceased in the yeer 1460. and was buried in the Quire, with this Epitaph:

Iohn Burton lieth under here, Sometimes of London Citizen & Mercer; And Jenet his wife with their progenie, Beene turned to earth, as ye may see. Friends free, what so ye be, Pray for us, we you pray; As you see us in this degree, So shall you be another day.

Francis Cooke, Iohn Martin, Edward Bromflit, Esquire of Warwickshire, 1460.

Richard Barnes, sir Roger Roe, Roger Velden, 1479.

Sir Iames Yerforde, Mercer, Maior, de∣ceased 1527. buried under a faire Tombe, with his Lady, in a speciall Chappell by him builded, on the north side of the Quire.

Sir Iohn Gresham, Mercer, Maior, de∣ceased, 1554. Sir Iohn Ailife, Chirur∣geon, then a Grocer, one of the She∣riffes, 1548. Nicholas Bakhurst, one of the Sheriffes, 1577. Sir Wolston Dixi, Skinner, Maior, 1585. And sir Leonard Hallyday, Maior, 1605. but no Monu∣ments were made for them, nor so much as any Grave-stone laid.

Hereunder lieth buried the bodies of Sir Iames Yerforde, Knight, Mercer, and sometimes Lord Maior of this City of London; and of Dame Elizabeth, his wife. The which Sir Iames deceased the 22. day of Iune, An. Dom. 1527. And the said Elizabeth deceased the 18. day of August, An. Dom. 1548.

In Chirurgery brought up in youth, a Knight here lieth dead; A Knight, and eke a Surgeon such, as England seld hath bred. For which so soveraigne gift of God, wherein he did excell, King Henry 8. call'd him to Court, who lov'd him dearly well. God gave the gift, the king gave goods, the gift of God t' enhance; Where God & such a Prince do joyne, such man hath happy chance. King Edward for his service sake, bade him rise up a Knight; A name of praise, and ever since, he Sir Iohn Ailife hight. Right Worshipful, in name and charge, in London liv'd he than; In Blackwell Hall, the Merchant chiefe,

first Sheriffe, then Alderman. The Hospitals bewaile his death, the Orphan children mone, Their chiefe Erector being dead, and Benefactor gone. Dame Isable, who liv'd with him, his faithfull Wife and Make, With him (as dearest after death) doth not her Knight forsake. The Knight, the 24. of October yeelded up his breath, And she soone after followed, to live with him in death.

Here lyeth buried under this Tombe, the body of Sir Iohn Gresham, Knight; sometime Alderman and Lord Maior of this City of London; who had two wives, Dame Mary his first wife, by whom bee had issue five sonnes and sixe daughters: by Dame Katharine, his last wife, no issue. Which Sir Iohn deceased the 23. day of October, Anno Domini, 1556. And Dame Mary died the 21. day of September, 1538. Dame Katha∣rine died,—

His jacet Dom. Richard. Sarich, quon∣dam Rector istius Eccles. Qui obiit 13. Novemb. An. Dom. 1359. Cujus animae propitieture Deus.

Thus have you noted one Parish Church of St. Michael Blackwell Hall, a Market place for woollen clothes; the Masons Hall, Weavers Hall, Gird∣lers Hall, and Coopers Hall. And thus I end this VVard, which hath an Alder∣man, his Deputy, for Common Coun∣sell foure, Constables two, Scavengers two, for the VVardmote inquest seven∣teene, and a Beadle. Jt is taxed to the Fifteene in London 7. pounds, and like∣wise in the Exchequer at 7. pounds.

Notes

• Bassings Hall Ward.
• Masons Hall.
• Weavers Hall.
• Patent of Henry 2.
• Henry 1.
• Patent.
• Mathew Paris.
• Girdlers Hall.
• Bakewall Hall.
• Bassings Hall.
• Armes of the Bas∣sings.
• How Bas∣sings Hall Ward took that name
• Salomon Bassing and other of that name
• Bassing Bourne.
• Bakewell Hall given to the Ci∣tie.
• Bakewell Hall a Market place for woollen clothes.
• Bakewell Hall new builded.
• Coopers Hall.
• Parish Church of S. Michael.
• An anci∣ent Mo∣nument in the North Ile of the Quire.
• An anci∣ent Mar∣ble 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the Chancell
• Blakewell Hall was his dwel∣ling house
• 1548.
• An anci∣ent Mar∣ble tombe in the South lle of the Quire.
• Vnder the Com∣munion Table.