Walbrook derives its name from a fair stream of that name, which in ancient times entered the City through the old fortified wall between Bishops-gate and Moor-gate, and, after many meanderings, poured itself into the Thames on the site of the present Dowgate Wharf. The brook was crossed by several bridges, and was sufficiently broad to admit of barges being towed up as far as Bucklersbury, a circumstance still preserved in the name of Barge Yard. More than two centuries have elapsed since this rivulet was vaulted over and built upon, so that its subterranean course is now but little known.*

In the wall of a house in Pancras Lane, close by, is a stone bearing the following inscription::- "Before the dreadfull fire, anno 1666, here stood the parish church of St. Bennet Sherehog." The old burial ground of the parish is still to be seen in Pancras Lane. Let us not omit to mention, that "in, or near, the parish of St. Mary Woolchurch, where the Stocks Market now is," was born, according to Anthony Wood, the celebrated dramatic writer, James Shirley.

"Shirley, the morning-child, the Muses bred,

And sent him born with bays upon his head."

Walbrook diverges at its southern extremity into Cannon Street. Here, at the south-west angle of St. Swithin's Lane, stands the parish church dedicated to St. Swithin. The old church, which existed on this spot at least as early as 1331, was burnt down in the fire of London, shortly after which period the present structure was built by Sir Christopher Wren. In this church Dryden was married, in 1663, to the Lady Elizabeth Howard.†

Attached to the exterior of St. Swithin's Church is the *See ante, p. 234. + Cunningham's "London," Art. St. Swithin.

famous "London Stone." At least a thousand years are known to have elapsed since it was first placed in this immediate neighbourhood. Some have supposed it to have been a Druidical altar; others, that it was raised to commemorate some extraordinary event; some, that public proclamations were delivered from it to the citizens; while others, from its vicinity to Watling Street, the principal street, or Prætorian way, of the Romans, have imagined it to have been the centre from which that great people computed their distances to their several stations throughout England. These, however, are the mere conjectures of antiquaries, nothing certain being known of the history of this interesting relic, but that it has been consecrated by the veneration of ages, and that it was long regarded as the Palladium of the City. When, in 1450, the rebel Jack Cade passed from Southwark into London, it was to "London Stone" that he led his victorious followers. Glancing sternly round at the citizens by whom he was surrounded, among whom were the Lord Mayor, Nicias Wyfforde, and the Aldermen, he struck the stone with his sword, exclaiming-"Now is Mortimer lord of this city!"*

In the days of Stow London Stone stood upright in the ground on the south side of Cannon Street. In December, 1742, it was removed to the north side of the street, and in 1798 it was placed in its present position, in order to preserve it from risk of injury.

In Oxford Court, St. Swithin's Lane, is the hall of the Salters' Company, built in 1827. On the site of this court stood the Inn of the Priors of Tortington, in Sussex. Over

*Cade. Now is Mortimer lord of this city. And here sitting upon this stone, I charge and command that, of the city's cost, the conduit run nothing but claret wine this first year of our reign. And now, henceforward it shall be treason for any that calls me other than Lord Mortimer.SHAKSPEARE, Second Part of Henry VI., act iv., scene 6.

388

INN OF THE PRIORS OF TORTINGTON.

looking the Priors' garden, now the garden of the Salters' Company, stood "two fair houses," which were severally the residences of Sir Richard Empson and Sir Edmund Dudley, celebrated as the instruments of Henry the Seventh in carrying out his oppressive exactions on his subjects, for which they both subsequently paid the penalty of death on Tower Hill. They were, according to Stow, allowed access to the Priors' garden," wherein they met and consulted of matters at their pleasures." The Inn of the Priors of Tortington subsequently gave place to the mansion of the De Veres, Earls of Oxford, from whom Oxford Court derives its

name.

BISHOPSGATE STREET, CROSBY HALL.

DERIVATION OF THE WORD BISHOPSGATE.-CROSBY PLACE.-ITS PRESENT CONDITION.-WHEN BUILT.-CHARACTER OF ITS FOUNDER.-ITS TENANTS: RICHARD THE THIRD,-READ,-EMPEROR MAXIMILIAN,-REST,-SIR THOMAS MORE, BOND,-SPENCER,-FIRST EARL OF NORTHAMPTON,

COUNTESS

OF PEMBROKE,-DUC DE SULLY, SECOND EARL OF NORTHAMPTON,—SIR STEPHEN LANGHAM.-GRESHAM HOUSE.-SIR PAUL PINDAR.

ISHOPSGATE STREET derives its name from one of the ancient City gates, which spanned the street where the thoroughfare called London Wall now divides Bishopsgate Within from Bishopsgate Without the walls. The gate in question is said to have been originally built about the year 680, by Erkenwald, Bishop of London. Shortly after the Conquest it was repaired and beautified by William, one of the successors of Erkenwald in the metropolitan see, and from these circumstances, and from its having been ornamented with the statues of the two Bishops, it derived its name of Bishopsgate. It was finally rebuilt in 1479, in the reign of Edward the Fourth.

The ancient houses which not long since rendered the aspect of Bishopsgate Street so interesting to the antiquary, are fast disappearing. Fortunately, however, a few still remain; enabling us to form a tolerable notion of the appearance of an aristocratic street in London in the days of Henry the Seventh.

Passing down Bishopsgate Street, a small gateway on the right leads us into Crosby Square, the site of that magnifi

cent mansion, Crosby Place, the stately hall of which is still standing. The escape from the noise and bustle of the streets to this quiet spot is of itself a relief; but how delightful are our sensations on finding ourselves gazing on those time-honoured walls, within which the usurper Richard hatched his crooked counsels; where Sir Thomas More is said to have composed his great work, the "Utopia,” and where the great minister Sully lodged, when he arrived in England on that well-known embassy, of which his own pen has bequeathed us so interesting a description!

Of the vast size of old Crosby Place, the immense extent of its still existing vaults affords sufficient evidence. All that now remains to us-and rich indeed are we in their possession are the council-chamber, the throne-room, and the old hall. The throne-room, with its oak-ceiling divided into compartments, and its graceful window extending from the ceiling to the floor, has been deservedly admired. But the magnificent hall it is, with its host of historical associations, which makes us feel that we are standing on classic ground. There it is that we recall the days when it was the scene of the revel and the dance; when the wise, the witty, and the princely feasted at its festive board; when its vaulted roof echoed back the merry sounds of music; when a thousand tapers flashed on the tapestried walls; when gentle dalliance took place in its oriel window; and where, not improbably, Richard the Third himself may have led off one of the stately dances of the period with the Lady Anne. Nearly four centuries have passed since its princely founder laid his hand to its foundation-stone; and yet it still remains, with its glorious roof, its fine proportions, and its beautiful oriel window, as perfect as when the architect gave his finishing touch to it in the days of the Plantagenets.

Crosby Place was built in the reign of Edward the Fourth,