larly as before, and another day dawned without the slightest symptom of the threatened floods having been observed. The people thereupon began to grow clamorous, and some one started the notion, that it would serve the false prophets and astrologers but right to duck them in the river. The proposition was favourably received-it would be a show for the people after all; not quite so grand a one as the inundation, but still a show; and a mob of people proceeded in search of the astrologers, to inflict a summary punishment upon them. Luckily, the astrologers invented an excuse, which allayed the popular fury. The stars were right, they said, after all; it was they, erring mortals, who were wrong. The inundation would most certainly take place, as the stars had foretold; 10,000 houses in London would assuredly be washed away by the Thames, but they had made a slight error in the date-an error of one figure only; for they had reckoned a five instead of a six, and thus fixed the date of the catastrophe a whole century too early. London was therefore safe until 1624, and there was no cause of alarm for the present generation. The popular wrath was appeased-the account was spread through the city-Bolton, the prior, dismantled his fortress, and came back to St. Bartholomew's; and the other refugees followed his example, and gradually came back, until London was as cheerful and as populous as it had ever been before.

CHAPTER XX.

Founder of St. Bartholomew's Hospital-Long Lane, acts of incendiarism plotted there-The Barbican-Noble mansions there formerly-Chapel founded in Red-cross Street-Prince Rupert's house there-Newgate Street--Bagnio Court-Account of Christ's Hospital, or Blue Coat School -Navigation School founded there by Charles II.-Munificence of Sir Robert Clayton to this foundation-The New Hall-Scholarships fromPublic suppers-Founder's intention now defeated-The Cock of Westminster-Christ Church, a remnant of the monastery of Grey Friars— Library founded by Sir Richard Whittington--The Spital SermonsMagnificent monuments formerly in the Church of the Grey Friars-The burial-place of Baxter; of Sir John Mortimer, a victim to the House of Lancaster; of an ancester of Sir Francis Burdett tyrannically murdered; of a murderess-Pontack's, the first genteel metropolitan eating-house-The Queen's Arms Tavern-Warwick Lane, site of the mansion of King-making Warwick.

ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S HOSPITAL also owes its origin to the benevolent Rahere. He obtained from Henry I. a piece of

waste ground adjoining the priory, where he built and endowed an hospital "for a master, brethren, and sisters, and for the entertainment of poor diseased people till they got well; of distressed women big with child, till they were delivered and able to go abroad; and for the support of all children whose mothers died in the house, until they attained the age of seven years." The present building was begun in the year 1729.

Before leaving the neighbourhood of Smithfield, we must take a turn into Cock Lane, so notorious for the ghost which alarmed all London in the year 1762. The story is too well known to need repetition.

Long Lane and Barbican, both in the close vicinity of Smithfield, deserve a word of mention before we return to the direct course towards St. Paul's. Long Lane is distinguished by some dreadful acts of incendiarism. An ample memorial of the event is exhibited in the following inscription on a stone affixed to the house of a linendraper at the corner :—

"On Saturday, Nov. 20, 1790, the two incendiaries were executed, who wilfully set on fire, on the 16th of May in the same year, several houses which stood on this ground, and occasioned a loss of upwards of £40,000, for no other purpose but to plunder the sufferers."

(6 A person named Flindall, then detected in stealing, wrote a letter to Mr. Alderman Skinner, which led to the disclosure of the whole particulars of that calamity. Flindall being admitted king's evidence, it also appeared that this act of deliberate villany had no other object but that of plunder. Edward Love and William Jobbins, being convicted of this crime at the Old Bailey on the 30th of October, were executed on the spot where the depredation was committed, on the 20th of November, 1790, and confessed their guilt at the place of execution."

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"The Barbican," says Mr. Pennant, originally a Roman speculum, or watch-tower, lay a little to the north of this street. It was an appendage to most fortified places. The Saxons gave them the title of Burgh-kenning. They were esteemed so important, that the custody was always committed to some man of rank.

"This was entrusted to the care of Robert Ufford, Earl of Suffolk, by Edward III., by the name of Basse Court, which descended by the marriage of Cecilia, one of his daughters, to Sir John Willoughby, afterwards Lord Willoughby of Parham. Here was of old a manor-house of the king's, called Basse Court, or Barbican, destroyed in 1251, but restored as appears above."

Lord Willoughby of Eresby had his mansion here in the reign of Edward VI. His lady, a zealous protestant, having offended Stephen Gardiner, was compelled with the family to fly to the continent, and being delivered of a son near a church porch, in Bruges, he was named Peregrine, a name taken by several of the Ancaster family. Pennant says, the cause of offence was, that the lady, in her zeal against popery, had dressed a dog in a rochet or surplice worn by bishops, and in affront to Bishop Gardiner, named her dog after him. Willoughby House, in Barbican, was very large, and one of its tenants was Peregrine Bertie, Lord Willoughby of Eresby, father of Lord Robert Bertie, the great Earl of Lindsey, who was killed at the battle of Edgehill, under Charles I.

On the top of an ancient house near Redcross Street, called Garter Place, Sir Thomas Wriothesley founded a chapel, which he dedicated by the name of Sancta Trinitatis in alto.

The Earls of Bridgewater had also a house in the Barbican. Their name is preserved in the adjoining square. The house was burnt down in 1675, when Lord Brackley, the eldest son of the Earl, and his tutor, perished in the flames. Prince Rupert also lived in the Barbican. An account of the house, with a print of it, is given in the "European Magazine" for 1791, page 328; from which it appears that Charles II. visited the prince there, and that the bell-ringers of the neighbouring church received a guinea for ringing a peal on the occasion.

We now return to Newgate Street, named after the gate and prison, both of which have been already mentioned. Bagnio Court in this street is said to have derived its name from the first bagnio or public bath ever established in England.

Taking the left-hand side of the street first, we pass the ancient public-house known by the sign of the "Magpie and Stump," and arrive at the handsome iron railing across the opening recently made to throw open to public view the national structure of Christ's Hospital, or the Blue-Coat School. This is another of the many foundations for which the city of London is indebted to King Edward VI. The hospital stands in the precincts of the abolished convent of the Grey Friars; and its original object was to provide for the relief and education of young and helpless children. The three hospitals he founded have each its separate purpose:-this for poor children; St. Thomas's Southwark, for the sick and the maimed; and Bridewell for the reformation of the thriftless and ill-disposed. The three hospitals were incorporated by a charter dated the 6th of

"To

June, in the seventh year of the young monarch's reign. promote and continue this good work," says Dr. Hughson, in his "History and Survey of London," "his majesty granted to the city certain lands that had been given to the house of the Savoy, founded by King Henry VII. for the lodging of pilgrims and strangers, but which had of late been only a harbour for beggars and strumpets; which lands amounted to the yearly value of £600. He also commanded that, after reserving a certain quantity of the linen which had been used in times of popish superstition, to each church in the city and suburbs of London, the remaining superfluous great quantities should be delivered to the governors of this hospital, for the use of the poor children under their care. And such was the diligence of those employed to execute this great and good plan, that no less than 340 children were admitted upon its foundation, so early as the year 1552."

The example of the king was imitated by his subjects; and many benefactions were from time to time made to the hospital. One man deserves especial attention. He was a poor shoemaker of Westminster, named Richard Cartel or Cartellan, who was noted all over his own neighbourhood for his habits of industry and frugality. He rose every morning at four o'clock, summer and winter, to pursue his humble calling, and acquired, from his early rising, the name of the "Cock of Westminster." These habits brought him custom and wealth; and having no children, he purchased lands and tenements in Westminster to the yearly value of £44, which he bequeathed to Christ's Hospital. "The

King Charles II. founded the mathematical school. buildings of Christ's Hospital are of various periods; but there are scarcely any parts of the ancient priory remaining, except the cloisters and buttery. After the great fire, the first important addition was the mathematical school, which was founded by Charles II. in 1672, for the instruction of forty boys in navigation; he also endowed it for seven years with £1000, and a perpetual annuity of £370 10s., payable out of the exchequer, for educating and placing out yearly ten boys in the sea service. The rebuilding of the south front, which was effected by the munificent Sir Robert Clayton, at an expense of about £700, was commenced in 1675. The old wall, which stood over the west cloister, but has recently been pulled down, was erected by Sir John Frederick, knight and alderman, about the year 1680. The writing school was begun in 1694, by Sir John More, knight and alderman, and finished at his sole charge. It stands

on the west side of the playground; and from being supported on pillars-the under part called the New Cloister,-affords a retreat for the boys in bad weather. Part of this space was inclosed in 1819, for the erection of a lavatory. In 1705, the ward over the east cloister was rebuilt by Sir Francis Child, knight and alderman. The new grammar-school, which stands on the north side of the ditch playground, was built in 1795, partly with a sum of money bequeathed for that purpose by John Smith, Esq. Behind the latter is the infirmary, which was erected in 1822.

"But the most magnificent and last part of this hospital is the New Hall, of which the first stone was laid by his late royal highness Frederick Duke of York, on the 28th of April, 1825. This noble fabric is in the Tudor style of architecture, and was designed by, and erected under the superintendence of, John Shaw, Esq., the then architect to this establishment. It stands partly on the ancient wall of London, and partly on the foundations of the refectory of the Grey Friars. The southern or principal part faces Newgate Street. It is supported by buttresses, and has an octagon tower at each extremity. The summit is embattled and ornamented with pinnacles; the upper part of the western tower is appropriated as an observatory. On the grand story is an open arcade, for the shelter or recreation of the boys in hot or wet weather."

There are seven exhibitions or scholarships for Cambridge, and one for Oxford, belonging to the institution, the value of which at Cambridge is £60 per annum, and at Pembroke Hall, an additional exhibition from the college, making about 100. for the first four years, and £50 for the last three years; to which may be added the bachelors and masters' degrees, which are defrayed by the hospital. The Oxford exhibitions are £10 more, or £70. The governors discharge all fees of entrance: £20 towards furnishing the room, £10 for books, and £10 for clothes making at least £50 for the outfit.

The public suppers at Christ's Hospital are held in the great hall, between Christmas and Easter, and commence at six o'clock. Three tables are covered with neat cloths, wooden platters, little wooden buckets of beer, with bread, butter, &c. The ceremony begins with three strokes of a mallet, producing the most profound silence. One of the seniors having ascended the pulpit, reads a chapter from the Bible; and during prayers, the boys stand; and the Amen, pronounced by such a number of voices, has a striking effect. A hymn sung by the whole