Whether Shakespeare is correct in fixing the residence of the Duke of Gloucester at Crosby Place, at this particular period, admits of doubt; but that he was residing here twelve years afterward, when Edward the Fourth breathed his last, there can be no question. Some of his retinue, it seems, were lodged in the neighbouring suburb of Cripplegate. Sir Thomas More mentions, in his "Pitiful Life of King Edward the Fifth," that on the same night that Edward the Fourth died at Westminster, one Mistelbrooke came stealthily to the house of Pottier, a retainer of the Duke of Gloucester, who lived in Red Cross Street, Cripplegate, and, "after hasty rapping, being quickly let in," informed him of the important tidings of the king's death. "By my troth, then," quoth Pottier, "will my master, the Duke of Gloucester, be king, and that I warrant thee." Even at this early period, it would seem, were the ambitious designs of Richard suspected by his friends and retainers. At all events, in the interim between his brother's death and his own usurpation, we have evidence, not only that he held his levees in Crosby Place, but that they were crowded with

"Gloucester. Are you now going to despatch this deed?

1st Murderer. We are, my lord, and come to have the warrant,

That we may be admitted where he is.

Gloucester. Well thought upon; I have it here about me. When you have done, repair to Crosby Place."

the noblest and wisest in the land; the young king in the meantime being left "in a manner desolate."

In 1502, Crosby Place was purchased by Bartholomew Read, Lord Mayor of London, and the same year was set apart as the residence of the ambassador of the Emperor Maximilian, who filled it with a splendid retinue, consisting of a bishop, an earl, and a large train of gentlemen. From the possession of Read, Crosby Place passed into the hands of Sir John Rest, lord mayor in 1516, by whom it was sold to Sir Thomas More.

Were it from no other circumstance than its having been the residence of that great man, Crosby Place would be sufficiently endeared to us. Here he passed that useful and cheerful existence which his pen has so well described, and here he is supposed to have written his "Utopia" and his "Life of Richard the Third." Not improbably the idea of the latter work may have suggested itself to him from his occupying the same apartments where, according to popular belief, the crook-backed Richard hatched his dark projects and successful crimes.

In 1523, Sir Thomas More parted with Crosby Place to his dear friend, Antonio Bonvisi, a merchant of Lucca. When, a few years afterward, More was a prisoner in the Tower, deprived, by the cruelty of his persecutors, of the means of

communicating with those who were near and dear to him, - it was to Bonvisi that he wrote with a piece of charcoal that well-known and interesting letter which breathes so eloquently of Christian piety and resignation.

From Bonvisi, Crosby Place passed, in 1547, into the hands of William Roper, the son-in-law, and William Rastell, the nephew, of Sir Thomas More. The days of religious persecution followed; the old mansion became forfeited; and shortly afterward was conferred by Edward the Sixth on Sir Thomas d'Arcy, a Knight of the Garter, created Baron d'Arcy of Chiche in 1551. Whether Lord d'Arcy ever resided here is doubtful, for shortly afterward we find it the residence of a wealthy citizen, William Bond, whose history is thus briefly told on his monument in the neighbouring church of St. Helen's. "Here lyeth the body of William Bond, Alderman and some time Sheriff of London; a merchant adventurer, and most famous in his age for his great adventures, both by sea and land. Obiit 30 of May, 1576."

The next possessor of Crosby Place (1590) was Sir John Spencer, whose immense wealth rendered him one of the most conspicuous persons of his age, and obtained for him the title of the "Rich Spencer." Here he kept his mayoralty in 1594 At his death, in 1609, Crosby Place, together with the mass of his vast fortune, came into the posses

sion of William Compton, the first Earl of Northampton, who had married Elizabeth, the only daughter of the "Rich Spencer."

The circumstance of finding himself suddenly the possessor of untold wealth had such an effect upon Lord Northampton, that, according to Winwood, it deprived him temporarily of his senses. On the mind of his lady, however, — at least, if we may judge by the following very curious letter addressed by her to her lord, it produced no other effect than a desire to spend freely, and to the best advantage, the wealth which Providence and her father's long life of industry had secured to her.

"MY SWEET Life: Now I have declared to you my mind for the selling of your estate, I supposed that that were best for me to bethink or consider with myself what allowance were meetest for me. For considering what care I have ever had of your estate, and how respectfully I dealt with those, which both by the laws of God, of nature, and civil polity, wit, religion, government, and honesty, you, my dear, are bound, to, I pray and beseech you to grant to me, your most kind and loving wife, the sum of £1,600 per annum, quarterly to be paid.

"Also I would, besides that allowance for my apparel, have £600 added yearly (quarterly to be paid), for the performance of charitable works,

and these things I would not, neither will be accountable for.

"Also I will have three horses for my own saddle, that none shall dare to lend or borrow; none lend but I, none borrow but you.

"Also I would have two gentlewomen, lest one should be sick or have some other lett. Also believe that it is an undecent thing for a gentlewoman to stand mumping alone, when God hath blessed their lord and lady with a great estate.

"Also when I ride a hunting, or a hawking, or travel from one house to another, I will have them attending. So for either of those said women, I must and will have for either of them a horse.

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Also I will have six or eight gentlemen; and I will have my two coaches, one lined with velvet, to myself, with four very fair horses; and a coach for my women, lined with sweet cloth, one laced with gold, the other with scarlet, and lined with watched lace and silver, with four good horses.

"Also I will have two coachmen, one for my own coach, the other for my women.

"Also, at any time when I travel, I will be allowed, not only caroches and spare horses for me and my women, but I will have such carriages as shall be fitting for all, orderly, not posturing my things with my women's, nor theirs with chambermaids, nor theirs with wash-maids.

"Also, for laundresses, when I travel, I will have them sent away before with the carriages to