"The most outstanding and worthy Elizabethan lord mayor was Sir Rowland Heyward, also a Clothworker, from Shropshire. He was an active and successful merchant and financier, who loaned money to the Queen, sat as a member of parliament between 1572 and 1583 and was very active on parliamentary committees. He served for no less than thirtythree years as an alderman, was sheriff in 1563, Master of the Clothworkers in 1559 and lord mayor in 1570-1, the year in which Gresham's Royal Exchange was opened, and again in 1591 when he took over on the early death of John Allot. He was at various times governor of the Muscovy Company, governor of the Mineral and Battery Works, Justice of the Peace for Shropshire and Middlesex, president of Bridewell and Bethlem hospitals, president of St Bartholomew's, Surveyor General and Comptroller General of Hospitals. His most valuable work was in dealing with visitations of the plague, especially in the epidemic of 1563. Disease was one of the most serious problems the City authorities had to cope with in the Tudor period. At the very beginning, in 1485, Thomas Hill, lord mayor, died in office and was followed by Sir William Stokker who died four days later. Four other aldermen died in the same week. Plague recurred frequently in the sixteenth century and was particularly bad in 1556 when seven aldermen died during two months. In 1563 and in 1569 no mayoral feast was held because of plague. The authorities made all sorts of attempts to control it, quarantining sufferers in their houses, burning herbs in the street, killing dogs. In the outbreak of 1593-4 the Mayor, Cuthbert Buckle, and two ex-mayors, Wolstan Dixie and Rowland Heyward himself, were all victims.

"Sir Rowland's career epitomized all that was best in the sixteenth-century lord mayors. Most worked incredibly hard, not only during their year of office but throughout their lives as presidents and surveyors of hospitals, members of parliament, collectors of customs, treasurers, arbitrators. Their expert knowledge on commercial and financial affairs was invaluable to the Government. In 1588, the year of the Armada, for example, Richard Saltonstall, who had lived in the Netherlands and would become lord mayor in 1597, was consulted by Lord Burleigh on means of raising money in the continental market to finance defence measures against the threatened Spanish invasion. Their active promotion of trade 'and exploration and their spirit of adventure in these matters made them instrumental in the founding of the British Empire. Through their legacies they made a huge contribution to the care of the poor and sick and with the founding of schools they influenced the development of education all over the country. They rebuilt chapels and churches. They provided for road and bridge repairs, for the provision of water, for the cleansing of ditches. They founded hospitals and almshouses."

Rowland Hayward was son of George Hayward, of Bridgnorth, co. Salop. Elected Alderman of Farringdon Ward Without in September, 1560. Removed to Queenhithe Ward 26 September, 1564, to Cripplegate 1566, Lord Mayor 1570, in which year he was knighted; he removed to Lime Street Ward 23 October, 1571, remaining there until his death, 5 December, 1593. He served the office of Lord Mayor a second time, during September and October of the year 1591, upon the decease of Sir John Allot.

Hayward was one of the four Members of Parliament for London elected in 1572. This Parliament met at Westminster, and sat from 8 May, 1572, to 24 April, 1583, but there were four Sessions only in the eleven years. The Journals of the House of Commons mark him out as a Member of exceptional ability and distinction. He was prominent on Joint Committee of the Lords and Commons appointed to consider what was to be done with Mary Queen of Scots and equally so on the Commons' Committee for granting a subsidy, and on the numerous committees dealing with various branches of trade. He served the office February 17, 1572, a commission was entrusted to sir John White and sir Rolande Heywarde, aldermen of London, Thomas Wilson, master of the court of requests, David Lewys, chief judge of the admiralty court, and seven others "to ascertain what English property has been arrested in Spain since Dec. 28, 1568." Master of the Clothworkers' Company in 1559 and one of the twelve citizens appointed to attend as assistants to the Chief Butler at coronation of Queen Mary, 1553, and of Queen Elizabeth in 1558. He resided in Philip Lane, London Wall, adjoining to St. Alphage Church, being the site of Elsynge Spittle, which was conveyed to him for the sum of £x00 by Margery, daughter of Lord Williams and wife Lord Norrys.

In 1560 he was possessed of the Manor of Over Seile in Leicestershire, also in 1561 of the Manor of Appleby Parva, in the same county. In 1574 he held the Manor of Cheyneys Court, Chart Sutton, Kent. In 1583 the Manor of Hackney was conveyed to him, and in 1596 was disposed of by his executors to the Countess of Oxford. Queen Elizabeth held her Court and stayed at his house, at Hackney, on her way to Theobalds, in 1587. During his first Mayoralty Queen Elizabeth opened the Royal Exchange (on the 22 January, 1571). The Queens Majestie accompanied with Nobility, came to Sir Thomas Gresham's in Bishopsgate Street, where she dined, and after returning through Cornhill entered the Burse, which place she caused by an Herald to be proclaimed "the Royal Exchange."

He was elected President of St. Bartholomew's Hospital 30 August, 1572, and retained the office till his death. At a meeting of the whole of the Governors of the Royal Hospitals, held at Christ's Hospital in 1587 he was elected "Comptroller General of Hospitals." This appointment appears to have been confirmed by the Court of Aldermen. His daughter Joan married Sir John Thynne of Longleat (ancestor of the Marquis of Bath), her mother was a daughter of Sir Richard Gresham, Mayor 1537, and sister of Sir Thomas Gresham. When he relinquished the office of Lord Mayor the second time, although he must have been a very old man, he still continued most active as a magistrate, right up to the date of his death, which occurred at his Manor house at Hackney, 5 December, 1593. In his Will he requested that his "sinful carcase might be buried where his executors should think most convenient," and they chose the Church of St. Alphage, London Wall, which benefited considerably under his Will.

Stow says there is a very good monument on the south wall of the choir of St. Alphage with the inscription:- "Here lieth the body of Sir Rowland Hayward, Knight, twice Lord Maior of this City of London, living an Alderman the space of thirty yeres; and (at his death) the ancientest Alderman in the said City. He lived beloved of all good Men, and died (in great Credit and Reputation) the fifth day of December Ann. Dom. 1593 and the 36 yere of our Soveraigne Lady Queene Elizabeth. He had two virtuous wives, and by them many happy children." This monument is still to be seen in the church.

Baddeley noted that Lime Street Ward seemed to be one of the most desirable wards in this era, with fewer removals than other wards.

Inquisition take at the Guildhall, 21 February, 36 Eliz. [1594], before Cuthbert Buckle, Mayor and escheator, after the death of Rowland Hayward, late citizen and Alderman of London, by the oath of Thomas Saywel, William Harvy, William Crowche, James Robinson, Robert Durrante, John Jennynges, John Dyxon, Richard Rogers, Cuthbert Lee, Christopher Dickin ..., Richard Mylles, Andrew Feild, Richard Kyrby, Henry Beste, James Taylor, and Michael Crouche, who say that

Rowland Hayward, knight, was seised in his demesne as of fee of the manor, mansion house and capital messuage called Kynges place lying in Hackney in co. Midd., late in the tenure of the said Sir Rowland, and all the houses, orchards, gardens, woods, &c., thereto belonging; and divers lands and tenements in Hackney.

So seised, the said Sir Rowland by indenture dated 18 September, 35 Eliz. [1593], made between himself of the one part and Anthony Ratcliffe and Nicholas Mosseley, Alderman of the City of London, Richard Warren of London, esq., Alexander Kynge of London, esq., Edward Pillesworthe, citizen and clothworker of London, and William Cotton, citizen and draper of London, of the other part, conveyed the said manor, lands, &c., and the reversion thereof to the said Anthony Ratcliffe and others to the sole and proper use of them and their heirs for ever, upon trust nevertheless that they shall suffer the said Sir Rowland Hayward during his natural life to have and hold the said premises and to take the rents thereof, and also that they shall within convenient time after the death of the said Sir Rowland convey, bargain and sell the same for the largest amount possible, and employ the money arising from such sale for the performance of the will of the said Sir Rowland [indenture here given in English].

The said Sir Rowland Hayward was likewise long before his death seised in his demesne as of fee of all that manor or lordship of Conde or Cownde in co. Salop, and the manor or lordship of Cardington, and of all those messuages, lands, tenements and hereditaments in Cardington in co. Salop, lately purchased by the said Rowland Hayward, knight, of the free and customary tenants of the said manor of Cardington; and of the farm or manor of Hudwicke in the said county of Salop; and all that farm and all the lands, tenements and hereditaments called Brierly adjoining Walcam Woode in or near the parish of Stotesdon alias Stoterton in the said county; and all the lands, tenements and hereditaments in the manor or lordship of Stretton in the said county; also the manor or lordship of Teremeneth alias Stretmarcell in co. Montgomery; and divers lands, &c., in the parish of le Poole, Buttington and Gilfeilde in the said county of Montgomery; also of that large messuage wherein the said Sir Rowland lately dwelt in the parish of St. Alphage or St. Mary Aldermanburie, formerly called Elsinge or Isinge spittell; and all the messuages, houses, gardens, orchards, &c., to the said messuage adjoining and belonging; and divers messuages, houses, lands, &c., in Phillipp Lane in the said City of London, late parcel of Elsinge Spittell, now or late in the tenure of Dame Katharine Hayward . . . Lord Norrys of Ricot, Richard Ley, Hugh Whitebrooke and Richard Langley ; divers messuages, lands, tenements and hereditaments called Garlande Alley, lying without Bishopsgate in the parish of St. Botolph without Bishopsgate, now or late in the tenures of Henry Jackson, John Gares, John Rayner, Joyce Sheres, Edmund Hunt, John Newton, John Hampson, Henry Stacie, Brock (Broci) Whitney, William Carter, Anne Ackerlande, Thomas Thorneton and Daniel Bewporte; divers messuages, lands and tenements lying in or near Milkestrete in the parish of St. Mary Magdalene, London, now or late in the several tenures of John Lacye, Richard Boothe, Thomas Hide and Robert Herne; all that meadow or pasture lying near Temple Mille in Stratford Langthorne in co. Essex; and divers lands and tenements in the vills, hamlets and parishes of Conde, Cardington, Hudwicke, Burley, Stretton, Teremeneth alias Stretmercell, Poole, Gilfeilde, Phillip Lane, St. Botolph, St. Marie Magdalen and Stratford Langthorne.

So seised, the said Sir Rowland by indenture dated 5 September, 34 Eliz. [1592], [here given in English,] made between himself of the one part and Richard Warren, esq., Edward Pillesworthe, citizen and clothworker of London, and William Cotton, citizen and draper of London, of the other part, demised all the said premises to said Richard, Edward, and William: to hold immediately after the decease of the survivor of the said Sir Rowland Hayward and Dame Katharine his wife for the term of 12 years, paying therefor yearly 1 red rose at the feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist if it be lawfully demanded, upon special confidence nevertheless that the said Richard Warren and others shall employ all the rents and profits of the said premises to such persons and uses as the said Sir Rowland by his last will shall appoint, provided always that if any heir male of the body of the said Sir Rowland shall before the expiration of the said term accomplish the full age of 21 years, or if the said Sir Rowland shall any time make void this said indenture, or shall deliver to the said Richard Warren, Edward Pillesworthe and William Cotton and to any other persons to their use a ring of gold of the value of 5s. or more, that then and from thenceforth this indenture shall be utterly void and of no effect.

The said Sir Rowland was long before his death likewise seised in his demesne as of fee of the manor or lordship of Doddington alias Ditton alias Earles Dytton in the parish of Mortimer Cleoburie or elsewhere in co. Salop; the manor or lordship of Rounde Acton in the parishes of Wenlocke and Rounde Acton; the manor or lordship of Parva Wenlocke in the said county; the manors or lordships of Magna Dawtey and Stircheley in the said county; the manor or lordship of Tiberton alias Tibrighton in the parish of Tiberton or elsewhere in the said county; the demesne lands and other lands and tenements called Lydlowes Hayes alias Lydleyes Hayes in the parish of Cardington in the said county, and now or late in the tenure of Rowland Whitebroke; the manor or lordship of Edgdon in the said county; the manor or lordship of Tugford Burley and Longstaunton in the parishes of Tugford and Staunton in the said county; the manor or lordship of Heathe and Heathe parke, adjoining the manor of Tugford in the parishes of Milborne, Stoke, Tugford and Heathe, and in all that soil, waste or ground and all those houses, lands, and tenements formerly called Jhesus Steeple adjoining or lying near St. Paul's Church in London, now or late in the several tenures of John Browne, Robert Cogon and Hugh Fayercloughe; and all the houses, buildings, orchards, gardens, lands, &c., in Woodstreet and Bountinge Alley parcel of Woodstreete in the parish of St. Alphage, London, now or late in the tenure of Margaret Selbie, John Preston, Richard Hawkesford, John Gardiner, Philip Traherne, William Hawe, James Dagger, Bridget Birham, Roger Pepper, Thomas Rosamonde, William Midleton, William Snellinge, Margaret Carter, Robert Greenenopp, Thomas Tomkins, Simon Muse, John Dowdinge, Elizabeth Gisse, Henry Ince and Margaret Marten; and all the messuages, granges, houses, lands, &c. &c., to the last recited manors and premises belonging; and divers other lands, tenements and hereditaments in the vills, fields, hamlets and parishes of Dodington, Ditton, Rounde Acton, Wenlocke, Magna Dawley, Stirchley, Tiberton, Lydlowes Hayes, Edgdon, Tugford, Burley, Longe Staunton, Heathe, Heathe Parke, Jhesus Steeple, Woodstreete and Bountinge Alley. So seised, the said Sir Rowland by indenture dated 5 Sept., 34 Eliz. [1592], made between himself of the one part and the said Richard Warren, Edward Pillesworthe and William Cotton of the other part granted to the said Richard, Edward and William all the said premises last recited: to hold immediately after the death of the said Sir Rowland for the term of 17 years, paying therefor yearly 1 red rose at Midsummer if it be lawfully demanded, on condition that they shall bestow all the rents and profits of the said premises to such persons and uses as the said Sir Rowland by his last will shall appoint, provided always that if the said Sir Rowland shall at any time determine to frustrate this Indenture and shall tender to the said Richard Warren, Edward Pillesworth and William Cotton a gold ring of the value of 5s. or more, that then this indenture shall be void.

The said Sir Rowland was likewise seised in his demesne as of fee and right of the advowson of the vicarage or Church of Conde in the said county of Salop, viz., in his demesne as of fee; also of the manor or lordship of Parva Dawley in the said county; and all the tithes growing or renewing in the vills, fields, hamlets and parishes of Dudleston, Northwoode, Trenche, Elleston and Greeneyall in the said county and in co. Flint; and the manor or lordship of Lavenden alias Landen in cos. Bucks and Bedford; the manors or lordships of Bemerton and Quidhampton in co. Wilts, divers other lands, tenements and hereditaments in Parva Dawley, Dudleston, Northwoode, Trenche, Elleston, Greneyall, Lavenden, Bemerton and Quidhampton, also of the reversion of the messuage called Walcainwoode and of all the lands and tenements to the same belonging in co. Salop as of fee and right, depending upon the death of ----- who holds the same for the term of her life.

So seised, the said Sir Rowland by another indenture dated the said 5th day of September in the said 34th year of Eliz., made between himself of the one part, and Thomas Fanshawe, esq., the Queen's Remembrancer of the Court of Exchequer and John Smythe of Sturrey, in co. Kent, esq., and John Lacye, citizen and clothworker of London, of the other part, in consideration of the entire goodwill and affection which he bore towards Dame Katherine Hayward his wife and to his children as well of Dame Johan Hayward, deceased, sometime his wife as of the said Dame Katherine his now wife and for the preferment of his said children and for the more certain order and disposition of the said manors and other the premises ---- promised and agreed that he and his heirs should stand seised of the manor of Doddington alias Dytton in the parish of Mortimer Cleobury in co. Salop, the manor of Conde, the advowson, free disposition and right of patronage of the Church of Conde, the manor of Rounde Acton with a tenement and lands in Brocton in the parishes of Rounde Acton, Wenlock and Brocton in co. Salop, the manors of Little Wenlocke and Little Dawley; the manors of Great DawIey and Stirchley in the parishes of Great Dawley and Strichley in the said county; the manor of Tiberton in the said county, the manor of Cardington in the said county; all the messuages, lands, &c., which the said Sir Rowland purchased of the free and copy holders of the said manor of Cardington, the demesne and other lands and tenements called Lydlowes Haies, in the parish of Cardington; all the lands and tenements of the said Sir Rowland in the manor of Stretton, the manor of Tugford Burley and Longstaunton in the parish of Tugford; the manor of Heathe and Heathe Parke, adjoining the said manor of Tugford, the manor of Edgdon in co. Salop, the tithes of sheaves, corn, grain and hay and all other the tithes of the said Sir Rowland in Dudleston, Northwoode, Trenche, Elleston and Greneyall in cos. Salop and Flint, the farm of Hudwicke, the farm called Walcamwoode in the parish of Stotesdon, the farm and lands called Bryerley in the said parish of Stotesden, the manor of Teremeneth in co. Montgomery, and all other the lands and tenements of the said Sir Rowland in the parishes of le Poole . . . in the said county of Montgomery, the manor of Lavenden in cos. Bucks and Bedford, and all other the lands in the said counties of Bucks and Bedford; the manors of Bemerton, and Quidhampton in co. Wilts and all the lands, &c., in co. Wilts, the great messuage lying in the parishes of St. Alphage and St. Mary in Aldermanbury, called Elsinge spittell, and all the houses, &c., thereto belonging, the messuages, houses, &c., in Phillip Lane and in the parish of St. Botolph without Bishopsgate and in Milk street in the parish of St. Mary Magdalen, the waste ground, soil, houses, lands, &c., called Jhesus Steeple, and the houses, buildings, &c., in Little Woodstreet, the meadow ground or pasture in Stratford Langthorne in co. Essex, and all the rnessuages, gardens, tenements, woods, waters, fishings, mills, tithes, advowsons, courts leet, views of frank pledge to the said premises belonging to the uses following, viz., as to the said manor of Conde and the advowson and right of patronage of the Church there, the manor of and lands in Cardington, the farm of Hudwicke, the farm called Brierley, the premises in Stretton, the manor of Teremeneth alias Stretmercell and all the said lands in co. Montgomery, the great messuage wherein the said Sir Rowland Hayward now dwells called Elsinge Spittell and the houses, &c., thereto belonging, the premises in Phillip Lane sometime parcel of the said Elsing spittle, the messuages, houses, &c., called Garlande Alley, the said premises in the said parish of St. Botolphs and in or near Milke street, the meadow ground near Temple Mill in Stratford Langthorne in co. Essex, and all messuages, lands, &c., to the said premises belonging -- to the use of the said Sir Rowland Hayward and Dame Katherine his wife and the heirs male of the body of the said Sir Rowland begotten and to be begotten; for default, to the use of the heirs female of the body of the said Sir Rowland as well by the said Dame Johan his late wife as by the said Dame Katherine his now wife; and for default, to the use of his right heirs for ever.

As to the manor of Doddington alias Dytton alias Earles Dytton, the manors of Rounde Acton, Lytle Wenlocke, Great Dawley, Stircheley and Tiberton, the demesne and other lands called Lydlowes Heyes, the manor of Edgdon, the manor of Tugford Burley and Longstaunton, the manor of Heathe and Heathe Parke, the waste ground, &c., called Jesus Steeple, the houses, orchards, lands, &c., in Little Woodstreet, and the messuages, lands, &c., to the said manors, &c., belonging to the use of the said Sir Rowland and the heirs male of his body begotten and to be begotten; for default, to the use of the heirs female of the body of the said Sir Rowland as well by the said Dame Johan as the said Dame Katharine; and for default, to the use of his right heirs for ever: which said premises last mentioned the said Sir Rowland had assured for divers years yet enduring for payment of his debts and legacies and the performance of his will. And whereas the Queen ought by the laws of this realm to have after the death of the said Sir Rowland for wardship or primer seisin a full 3rd part of all his manors, lands, &c., by these presents conveyed for the preferment of his said wife and children or whereof the fee simple is or shall be left to any of his children or to his right heirs, and so that she may not be prejudiced therein the said Sir Rowland hereby limits the said manor of Little Dawley and all the said tithes issuing and happening in the towns, fields, &c., of Dudleston, Northwoode, Trenche, Elleston and GreeneyalI, the said manor of Lavenden, the said lands and tenements in cos. Bucks and Bedford, the manor or site of Bemerton and Quidhampton and all other the lands, &c., in co. Wilts, the manor, farm or messuage in Walcam Woode, and all the messuages, lands, &c., to the last recited premises belonging -- to remain to the Queen and her heirs and successors for her full 3rd part, provided always and it is agreed between the said parties to these presents and the said Sir Rowland grants to the said Thomas Fanshawe, John Smythe and John Lacie that he will be seised immediately after such time as the said title which shall grow to the Queen after the death of the said Sir Rowland shall be ended or removed from the Queen by reason of livery sued thereon or any other means of all the said manors, lands, &c., so limited to the Queen to the uses following: viz. as to the manor of Lavenden and the lands in cos. Bucks and Bedford to the use of John Hayward second son of the said Sir Rowland and the heirs of his body; for default, to the use of the heirs male of the body of the said Sir Rowland; for default, to the use of the heirs female of his body as well by the said Dame Joan as by the said Dame Katharine; and for default, to the use of his right heirs for ever. As to all other the premises before limited to the Queen, to the use of the heirs male of the body of the said Sir Rowland; for default, to the use of his heirs female; and for default, to the use of his right heirs for ever.

On the 17th day of November, 1592, the said Sir Rowland Hayward, knight, made his will reciting the demises and grants before set out, and giving sums of money to his sons and daughters [particulars and names not given].

Of whom or by what service the manor and mansion house called King's Place are held the jurors know not: they are worth per ann., clear, £ 13 6s. 8d. The manor of Conde, the advowson of the Church and other the premises there are held of the Queen in chief by knight's service and are worth per ann., clear, £ 4 12s. 2d.; of whom or by what service the manor of Cardington and other the premises there are held the jurors know not: they are worth per ann., clear, £ 6.13s. 4d. The manor or farm of Hudwicke and other the premises there are held of the Queen in chief by knight's service, and are worth per ann., clear, 40s. The premises called Brierly in or near Stotesden and other the premises there are held of the Queen in chief by knight's service and are worth per ann., clear, 53s. 4d. Of whom or by what service the premises in the lordship of Stretton are held is not known: they are worth per ann., clear, 13s. 4d. The manor of Teremeneth alias Stretmercell and other the premises in le Poole, Buttington and Gilfeilde are held of [blank] in free socage by fealty and the rent of [blank] and are worth per ann., clear, £ 20. The large messuage called Elsinge Spettell and all the premises in Philip Lane are held of the Queen in chief by knight's service and are worth per ann., clear, £ 9. The premises called Garlande Alley are held of the Queen in free burgage and are worth per ann., clear, £ 4. Of whom or by what service the premises in Milkstreet are held the jurors know not: they are worth per ann., clear, 30s. Of whom or by what service the manor of Doddington in the parish of Mortimer Cleobury and other the lands there are held the jurors know not: they are worth per ann., clear, £ 4.2s. 0d. Of whom or by what service the manor of Rounde Acton and other the premises there are held is not known: they are worth per ann., clear, £ 3.6s. 8d. The manor of Parva Wenlocke and other the premises there are held of the Queen in chief by knight's service, and are worth per ann., clear, £ 3.6s. 8d. Of whom or by what service the manor of Magna Dawley and other the premises there are held the jurors know not: they are worth per ann., clear, £ 3. Of whom or by what service the manor of Stirchley and other the premises there are held is not known: they are worth per ann., clear, 20s. Of whom the manor of Tiberton and other the premises there are held is not known: they are worth per ann., clear, 50s. Of whom the premises called Lydlowes Hayes are held is not known: they are worth per ann., clear, 50s. Of whom the manor of Edgdon and other the premises there are held the jurors know not: they are worth per ann., clear, £ 3. The manors of Tugford Burley and Longestaunton and other the premises in Tugford and Staunton are held of the Queen in chief by knight's service and are worth per ann., clear, £ 6.13s. 4d. Of whom the manor of Heathe and Heathe Parke and other the premises in Milborne, Stoke, Tugford and Heathe are held is not known: they are worth per ann., clear, 20s. The waste ground and premises called Jhesus Steeple are held of the Queen in free burgage and are worth per ann., clear, 50s. The premises in Wood street and Bountinge Alley are held of the Queen in free burgage and are worth per ann., clear, £ 9. The manor of Parva Dawley and other the premises there are held of the Queen in chief by knight's service and are worth per ann., clear, 20s. Of whom or by what service the tithes in Dudleston, Northwood, Trenche, Elleston and Greeneyall are held is not known: they are worth per ann., clear, £ 7. The manor of Lavenden and other the premises there are held of the Queen in chief by knight's service, and are worth per ann., clear, £ 19. The manor or site of Bemerton and Quidhampton and other the premises there are held of the Queen in chief by knight's service, and are worth per ann., clear, £ 7. The manor or farm called Walcam Wood is held of the Queen as next above, and is worth per ann., clear, 20s.

Sir Rowland Hayward died 5 December last past; George Hayward is his son and next heir and is now aged 7 years except 17 days.

Chan. Inq. p.m., ser. 2, vol. 241, No. I25.

Now for antiquities and ornaments in this ward to be noted: I find first, at the meeting of the corners of the Old Jurie, Milke street, Lad lane, and Aldermanburie, there was of old time a fair well with two buckets, of late years converted to a pump. How Aldermanbury street took that name many fables have been bruited, all which I overpass as not worthy the counting; but to be short, I say, this street took the name of Alderman's burie (which is to say a court), there kept in their bery, or court, but now called the Guildhall; which hall of old time stood on the east side of the same street, not far from the west end of Guildhall, now used. Touching the antiquity of this old Alderman's burie or court, I have not read other than that Richard Renery, one of the sheriffs of London in the 1st of Richard I, which was in the year of Christ 1189, gave to the church of St. Mary at Osney, by Oxford, certain ground and rents in Aldermanbery of London, as appeareth by the register of that church, as is also entered into the hoistinges of the Guildhall in London. This old bery court or hall continued, and the courts of the mayor and aldermen were continually holden there, until the new bery court, or Guildhall that now is, was built and finished; which hall was first begun to be founded in the year 1411, and was not fully finished in twenty years after. I myself have seen the ruins of the old court hall in Aldermanbery street, which of late hath been employed as a carpenter's yard, etc.

In this Aldermanbery street be divers fair houses on both the sides, meet for merchants or men of worship, and in the midst thereof is a fair conduit, made at the charges of William Eastfield, sometime mayor, who took order as well for water to be conveyed from Teyborne, and for the building of this Conduit, not far distant from his dwelling-house, as also for a Standard of sweet water, to be erected in Fleet street, all which was done by his executors, as in another place I have showed.

Then is the parish church of St. Mary Aldermanbury, a fair church, with a churchyard, and cloister adjoining; in the which cloister is hanged and fastened a shank-bone of a man (as is said), very great ... Pat's note: I omit this digression].

There lie buried in this church -- Simon Winchcombe, esquire, 1391; Robert Combarton, 1422; John Wheatley, mercer, 1428; Sir William Estfild, knight of the bath, mayor 1438, a great benefactor to that church, under a fair monument: he also built their steeple, changed their old bells into five tuneable bells, and gave one hundred pounds to other works of that church. Moreover, he caused the Conduit in Aldermanbury, which he had begun, to be performed at his charges, and water to be conveyed by pipes of lead from Tyborne to Fleet street, as I have said: and also from High Berie to the parish of St. Giles without Cripplegate, where the inhabitants of those parts incastellated the same in sufficient cisterns. John Midleton, mercer, mayor I472; John Tomes, draper, 1486; William Bucke, tailor, 1501; Sir William Browne, mayor x5o7; Dame Margaret Jeninges, wife to Stephen Jeninges, mayor 1515; a widow named Starkey, sometime wife to Modie; Raffe Woodcock, grocer, one of the sheriffs 1586; Dame Mary Gresham, wife to Sir John Gresham, 1538; Thomas Godfrey, remembrancer of the office of the first fruits, 1577.

Beneath this church have ye Gay spur lane, which runneth down to London wall, as is afore showed. In this lane, at the north end thereof, was of old time a house of nuns; which house being in great decay, William Elsing, mercer, in the year of Christ 1329, the 3rd of Edward III, began in place thereof the foundation of an hospital for sustentation of one hundred blind men; towards the erection whereof he gave his two houses in the parishes of St. Alphage, and our Blessed Lady in Aldermanbury, near Cripplegate. This house was after called a priory, or hospital, of St. Mary the Virgin, founded in the year 1332 by W. Elsing, for canons regular; the which William became the first prior there. Robert Elsing, son to the said William, gave to the hospital twelve pounds by the year, for the finding of three priests: he also gave one hundred shillings towards the inclosing of the new churchyard without Aldgate, and one hundred shillings to the inclosing of the new churchyard without Aldersgate; to Thomas Elsing, his son, eighty pounds, the rest of his goods to be sold and given to the poor. This house, valued £ 193.15s. 5d., was surrendered the eleventh of May, the 22nd of Henry VIII.[Pat's note: English reformation; the dissolution].

The monuments that were in this church defaced: -- Thomas Cheney, son to William Cheney; Thomas, John, and William Cheney; John Northampton, draper, mayor 1381; Edmond Hungerford; Henry Frowike; Joan, daughter to Sir William Cheney, wife to William Stoke; Robert Eldarbroke, esquire, 1460; Dame Joan Ratcliffe; William Fowler; William Kingstone; Thomas Swineley, and Helen his wife, etc. The principal aisle of this church towards the north was pulled down, and a frame of four houses set up in place: the other part, from the steeple upward, was converted into a parish church of St. Alphage; and the parish church which stood near unto the wall of the city by Cripplesgate was pulled down, the plot thereof made a carpenter's yard, with saw-pits. The hospital itself, the prior and canons' house, with other lodgings, were made a dwelling-house; the churchyard is a garden plot, and a fair gallery on the cloister; the lodgings for the poor are translated into stabling for horses.

In the year 1541, Sir John Williams, master of the king's jewels, dwelling in this house on Christmas even at night about seven of the clock, a great fire began in the gallery thereof, which burned so sore, that the flame firing the whole house, and consuming it, was seen all the city over, and was hardly quenched, whereby many of the king's jewels were burnt, and more embezzled (as was said).* Sir Rowland Heyward, mayor, dwelt in this Spittle, and was buried there 1593; Richard Lee, alias Clarenciaux king of arms, I597.

Now to return to Milk street, so called of milk sold there, [as is supposed], there be many fair houses for wealthy merchants and other; amongst the which I read, that Gregory Rokesley, chief assay master of the king's mints, and mayor of London in the year 1275, dwelt in this Milk street, in a house belonging to the priory of Lewes in Sussex, whereof he was tenant at will, paying twenty shillings by the year, without other charge: such were the rents of those times.

*Footnote: The Lord William of Thame was buried in this church, and so was his successor in that house, Sir Rowland Heyward.