Bridge warde within
Bridgewarde within.; Bridge streete or new Fishstreet.
Bridgeward within, so called of London Bridge, which
Bridge is a principall part of that Ward, and beginneth at the
stulpes on the South end by Southwarke, runneth along the
Bridge, and North vp Bridgestreete, commonly called (of
the Fishmarket) New Fishstreete, from Fishstreete hil, vp
Grasse streete, to the North corner of Grasse church, all the
Bridge is replenished on both the sides with large, fayre
and beautifull buildinges, inhabitants for the most part rich
marchantes, and other wealthy Citizens, Mercers and Haberdashers.
In new Fishstreete bee Fishmongers and fayre Tauernes
on Fishstreete hill and Grassestreete, men of diuerse trades,
Grocers and Haberdashers.
Water Conduit in Grassestreete.
In Grassestreete haue yee one fayre Conduit of sweete
water castellated with crest and vent, made by the appoyntment of Thomas Hill Mayor, 1484. who gaue by his testament
one hundred markes, towardes the conuayance of water to
this place. It was begun by his Executors in the yeare 1491.
and finished of his goods whatsoeuer it cost.
Parish church of S. Magnus.
On the East side of this Bridge warde, haue yee the fayre
Parrish Church of S. Magnus, in the which church haue beene
buried many men of good Worship, whose monumentes are
now for the most part vtterly defaced. I find Iohn Blund
Mayor, 1307. Henry Yeuele Freemason to E. 3 Richard the 2.
& Henry the 4. who deceased 1400. his Monument yet remayneth. William Brampton, Iohn Michell Mayor, 1436.
Iohn French, Baker, Yeoman of the Crowne to Henry the 7.
1510. Roberte Clarke Fishmonger 1521. Richard Turke one of
the Shiriffs 1549. William Steede Alderman, Richard Morgan
Knight, chiefe Iustice of the common pleas, (fn. 2) , 1556. Mauritius
Griffeth Bishoppe of Rochester, 1559. Robert Blanch Girdler
1567. Robert Belgraue Girdler, William Brame, Iohn Couper
Fishmonger, Alderman, who was put by his turn of Maoraltie, 1584. Sir William Garrard Haberdasher, Mayor I555.
a graue, sober, wise and discreete Cittizen, equall with the best,
and inferior to none of our time, deceased 1571. in the parrish
of S. Christopher, but was buried in this Church of Saint
Magnus as in the parrish where he was borne, a fayre monument
is there raysed on him: Robert Harding Salter, one of the
Shiriffs 1568. Simon Low Marchant Taylor, Esquier, &c.
Parish church of S. Margaret vpon fish street hill.
Then is the parrish Church of S. Margaret on Fishstreete
hill, a proper Church, but monumentes it hath none: a foot
way passeth by the south side of this Church, from Fishstreet
hill into Rother lane.
Parish church of S. Leonarde Milke church.
Vp higher on this hill, is the parrish Church of Saint
Leonard Milke Churche, so termed of one William Melker,
an especiall builder thereof, but commonly called Saint
Leonardes in East Cheape, because it standeth at East Cheape
corner. Monumentes there bee of the Doggets, namely,
Walter Dogget Vintner, one of the Shiriffes, 1380. Iohn
Dogget Vintner and Allice his wife, about 1456. this Iohn
Dogget gaue lands to that Church, William Dogget, &c.
This Church, and from thence into little East Cheape to
the east end of the saide Church, is of the Bridge Warde.
Grasse church of S. Benet. Grasse church.
Then higher in Grasse streete is the parrish Church of
Saint Bennet, called Grasse Church, of the Herbe market
there kept: this Church also is of the Bridge Warde, and the
farthest North end thereof: some Monumentes remayne there
vndefaced, as of Iohn Harding Saltar, 1576. Iohn Sturgeon
Haberdasher, Chamberlaine of London, Philip Cushen Florentine, a famous marchant, 1600.
Customes of Grasse street market.
The Customes of Grasse church market, in the raigne of
Edward the third, as I haue reade in a Booke of Customes,
were these: Euery Forren Cart laden with corne, or Maulte,
comming thether to bee sold, was to pay one halfe peny, euery
Forren cart bringing cheese two pence, euery cart of corne
& cheese together, (if the cheese be more worth then the
corne) two pence, and if the corne bee more worth then the
cheese, it was to paye a halfe peny, of two horses laden with
corne or malte, the Bayliffe had one Farthing, the cart of the
Franchise of the temple and of Saint Martins le grand, payed
a Farthing: the cart of the Hospitall of Saint Iohn of Ierusalem paid nothing for their proper goods, and if the corne
were brought by Marchants to sel againe, the load paid a
halfepennie, &c.
Thames streete Stockfishmonger row.; Ebgate lane.; Fishmongers hall.
On the west side of this ward, at the north end of London
bridge is a part of Thames streete, which is also of this warde,
to wit, so much as of old time was called Stockefishmonger
Row, of the stockefishmongers dwelling there, downe west to
a water gate, of old time called Ebgate, since Ebgate lane,
and now the olde swan, which is a common stayre on the
Thames, but the passage is very narrow by meanes of encrochments. On the South side of Thames streete, about the
midway betwixt the bridge foote, and Ebgate lane, standeth
the Fishmongers hall, and diuerse other fair houses for
marchants.
Antiquities of the fishmongers, 1290.; A triumphant shew made by the fishmongers for victorie of the king.;Fishmongers had six hals in London.Fishmongers
sixe of them Maiors in 24. yeares.; Fishmongers for their
gretetings enuied of the other companies.; Nicholas Exton for the
Fishmongers craued the kings protection.; Iohn Cauendish craued
the peace against the Chancellor, chalengeth him for taking of a bribe.;
Fishmongers by Parliament restored to their liberties.
These Fishmongers were sometimes of two seuerall companies, to wit, Stockefishmongers, and Saltfishmongers, of whose
antiquitie I reade, that by the name of Fishmongers of
London, they were for forestalling, &c. contrarie to the lawes
and constitutions of the Citie, fined to the king at 500.
markes, the I8. of king Edward the first. More, that the
said Fishmongers, hearing of the great victorie obtained by
the same king against the Scots, in the 26. of his raigne, made
a triumphant and solemne shew through the Citie, with
diuerse Pageants, and more then 1000. horsemen, &c. as in the
Chapter of sports and pastimes. These two companies of
Stockfishmongers and Saltfishmongers, of old time had their
seuerall Hals, to wit, in Thames streete twaine, in newe Fishstreete twaine, and in olde Fishstreete twaine: in each place
one for either companie, in all sixe seuerall halles, the companie was so great, as I haue read, and can proue by Recordes.
These Fishmongers hauing beene iolly Citizens, and sixe
Maiors of their companie in the space of 24. yeares, to wit,
Walter Turke, 1350. Iohn Lofkin, 1359. Iohn Wroth, 1361.
Iohn Pechie, 1362. Simon Morden, 1369. and William Walworth, 1374. It followed that in the yeare 1382. through the
counsell of Iohn Northampton Draper then being Maior,
William Essex, Iohn More Mercer, and Richard Northburie,
the sayde Fishmongers were greatly troubled, hindered of
their liberties, and almost destroyed by congregations made
against them, so that in a Parliament at London the controuersie depending betweene the Maior and Aldermen of
London, and the Fishmongers there, Nicholas Exton speaker
for the Fishmongers, prayeth the king to receiue him and his
companie into his protection, for feare of corporall hurt.
Wherevpon it was commanded, either part to keepe the peace,
on paine of loosing all they had. Herevpon a Fishmonger
starting vp, replyed that the complaint brought against them
by the moouers, &c. was but matter of malice, for that the
Fishmongers in the raigne of Edward the third, being chiefe
officers of the Citie, had for their misdemeaners then done,
committed the chiefe exhibitors of those petitions to prison.
In this parliament, the Fishmongers by the kings Chartar
patents were restored to their liberties: notwithstanding in the
yeare next following, to wit, 1383. Iohn Cauendish Fishmonger,
craueth the peace against the Chauncellor of England, which
was granted, and he put in sureties, the Earles of Stafford and
Salisburie, Cauendish chalengeth the Chauncellor for taking
of a bribe of ten pound for fauour of his case, which the
Chauncellor by oath vpon the Sacrament auoydeth. In further
triall it was found that the Chauncellors man without his
maisters priuitie had taken it. Whereupon Cauendish was
adiudged to prison, and to pay the Chauncellor 1000. Markes
for slandering him.
Principall aduersaries to the Fishmongers condemned to perpetuall prison.; Patent.; Stock
fishmongers and Salt fishmongers vnited. Sir Iohn Cornwall created baron Fan hope the 6.
of H. the 6. Fishmongers ioyned in amitie with the Goldsmiths. W.walworth
slandered by a fable of Iack Straw. T. Walsingham.; H.Kniton. Lib. Ebor.
After this many of the Nobles assembled at Reding, to
suppresse the seditious sturs of the said Iohn Northampton or
Combarton, late Maior, that had attempted great and heynous
interprises, of the which he was conuict, and when he stoode
mute, nor would vtter one worde, it was decreed, that hee
should be committed to perpetuall prison, his goods confiscate
to the kings vse, and that he should not come within one
hundred miles of London during his life. He was therefore
sent to the Castell of Tintegall in the confines of Cornewall,
and in the meane space the kinges seruants spoyled his
goodes. Iohn More, Richard Northbery, and other, were
likewise there conuict, and condemned to perpetuall prison,
and their goods confiscate, for certaine congregations by them
made against the Fishmongers in the Citie of London, as is
aforesayd, but they obtained and had the kings pardon, in the
14.of his raigne as appeareth of Record, and thus was all
these troubles quieted. Those Stockfishmongers, & Saltfishmongers, were vnited in the year 1536, the 28. of Henrie the
eight, their hal to be but one, in the house giuen vnto them by
sir Iohn Cornwall, Lord Fanhope, and of Ampthull, in the
parish of saint Michael in Crooked lane, in the raigne of
Henrie the sixt. Thus much haue I thought good to note of
the Fishmongers, men ignorant of their Antiquities, not able
to shew a reason why, or when they were ioyned in amitie
with the Goldsmiths, do giue part of their armes, &c. Neither
to say ought of sir William Walworth, the glorie of their
companie, more then that he slue Iacke Straw, which is a
meere fable, for the said Straw was after ouerthrown of the
Rebels, taken, and by iudgement of the Maior beheaded,
whose confession at the Gallowes is extant in my Annales,
where also is set down the most valiant, and praise-worthie
act of William Walworth, against the principall rebell Waltar
Tighlar. As in reproose of Walworths monument in Saint
Michaels Church I haue declared, and wished to be reformed
there, as in other places.
Drinkwater wharse, and fish wharfe.; Crooked
lane.; Edward the blacke prince.
On that south side of Thames streete, haue ye Drinkwater
warfe, and Fish Wharse in the parish of saint Magnus. On
the North side of Thames streete is Saint Martins lane, a part
of which lane is also of this ward, to wit, on the one side to a
well of water, and on the other side as farre vp as against the
said well. Then is Saint Michaels lane, part whereof is also of
this warde vp to a Well there, &c. Then at the vpper end of
new fishstreete, is a lane turning towards S. Michaels lane,
and is called Crooked lane, of the croked windings thereof.
Aboue this lanes end, vpon Fishstreet hill is one great house,
for the most part builded of stone, which pertained sometime
to Ed. the black prince, son to Ed. the 3. who was in his life
time lodged there. It is now altered to a common hosterie,
hauing the blacke bell for a signe: Aboue this house at the
top of Fishstreet hil is a turning into great Eastcheape, and
so to the corner of Lombardstreet, ouer against the northwest
corner of Grasse church, & these be the whole bounds of this
Bridgeward within: the which hath an Alderman, and his
deputie, for the common counsell 16. Constables 15. Scauengers
6. for the wardmote inquest 16. & a Beedle. It is taxed to
the 15. in Lon. at 47.1.