The present state of London: or, Memorials comprehending a full and succinct account of the ancient and modern state thereof. By Tho. De-Laune, Gent

Of Leaden-Hall.

ANno 1411. This Hall was confirm'd unto the City by Sir Richard Whittington, and others, who purchased it. Anno 1443. 21 H. 6. Sir John Hatherly, Lord Mayor, purchased License of the King to take up 200 fodder of Lead, for the build∣ing of Water-Conduits, a Common Granary, and the Cross in Cheap-side, more beautifully for the ho∣nour of the City. This Granary was built by the honourable and famous Merchant, Simon Eyre, (the words of the Grant be, Cum Nobilis & potens, vir, &c. Whereas the Noble and powerful man, &c.) sometime an Ʋpholsterer, and then a Draper, Anno 1419. He built it of square Stone, as it now shew∣eth, having escaped the fury of the great Fire, with a fair and large Chappel on the East-side of the Quadrant, over the Porch he caused to be Written, Dextra Domini exaltavit me; The Lords Right hand exalted me. Within the Chappel was written, Honorandus & famosus Mercator Simon Eyre, hu∣jus operis, &c. In English thus, The honourable and famous Merchant Simon Eyre Founder of this Work, once Mayor of this City, Citizen and Draper of the same, Departed out of this Life 18 Sept. 1459. 38 H. 6. He was buried in the Church of St. Mary Wolnoth, in Lumbard-street. He gave very many large and bountiful Legacies, to be read in Stow, page 163.

This Hall was Burnt, Anno 1484. but Rebuilt again in a very stately and capacious manner. There were kept the Artillery, Guns, and other Armour

of the City.—The Store of Timber for the neces∣sary reparations of the Tenements belonging to the Chamber of London. It was a Free Market for Vi∣ctuallers. There were the Common Beams for weighing of Wools and other Wares, the Scales to weigh Meal, there were made the Pageants for the Midsummer-Watches. In other parts Woolsacks were stowed. Abovestairs the Painters workt upon the Pageants, the Residue were let to Merchants, &c. Now there is kept the greatest Flesh-Market about the City; And a great Magazine of Corn.

In speaking of Halls it may not be impertinent to remember the Right honourable Baptist Lord Hicks, Viscount Cambden, who besides many noble and charitable acts of Piety in King James his time, re∣corded by Stow, p. 760, 761. built the Sessions-House for the Justices of Middlesex, in St. Johns-street, at the charge of 600 l. called after his Name Hicks's-Hall, which was a great convenience, they sitting before in a common Inn, called the Castle.

As for the particular Halls of Companies, we have spoke of them Generally before, which is all that appears at present necessary.