William de Luda, sometime Dean of St. Martins, stop'd it up. Whereupon at an Inquisition made in Edward II. his Reign, for Purprestures and Annoyances in the City, the King's Justices sitting at the Tower, the Jury presented this; and that it was to the damage of the King and the Commonalty of the City. But Richard de Ellensfield, then Dean of St. Martins, came in and shewed, that he held the said Lane stopped up, by vertue of a Licence from King Edward I. and that by Letters Patents which he produced.]

This Church, with the Tenements and Ornaments, was by Henry VIII. given to the Maior and Communalty of the City, towards the maintenance of the new Parish Church, then to be erected in the late dissolved Church of the Grey Friers: So was this Church dissolved and pulled down. In place whereof, and of the Churchyard, many fair Houses are now builded, in a Court with a Well, &c. in the midst whereof the Church stood.

Then is Stinking lane, formerly so called, or Chick lane, at the East end of the Grey Friers Church. It is now kept clean from Annoyance, and called by the Name of Butchers Hall lane; and there is the Butchers Hall.

In the 3d of Richard II. motion was made, that no Butcher should kill any Flesh within London; but at Knightsbridge, or such like distant place from the Walls of the City.

This was but the renewing of a Command strictly given by King Edward III. in the 35th of his Reign, to the Maior and Sheriffs, upon a great Contagion in the City; which was thought to have been occasioned by the stink of slain Beasts within or near the City. The Kings Letter will explain this Matter more at large; and that confirmed, as it seems, in Parliament.

Rex Maiori, &c. Quia per mactationem grossarum bestiarum, &c. i.e. "Because by reason of killing of great Beasts, &c. from whose putrified Blood running down the Streets, and the Bowels cast into the Thames, the Air in the City is very much corrupted and infected, whence abominable and most filthy Stinks proceed, Sicknesses and many other Evils have happened to such as have abode in the said City, or have resorted to it; and greater Dangers are feared to fall out for the time to come, unless Remedy be presently made against it; WEE, willing to prevent such Danger, and to provide as much as in Us lies, for the Honesty of the said City, and the Safety of our People, by the Consent of Our Council in our present Parliament, have ordained, That all Bulls, Oxen, Hogs, and other gross Creatures, to be slain for the sustentation of the said City, be led as * far as the Town of Stretford, [i.e. Stratford le Bow,] on one part of London, and the Town of Knightbrugg on the other, and there, and not on this side, be slain. And that their Bowels be there cleansed; and being so cleansed, to be brought, together with the Flesh, to the said City to be sold. And if any Butcher shall presume any thing rashly against this Ordinance, let him incur Forfeiture of the Flesh of the Creatures, which he hath caused to be slain on this side the said Towns, and the punishment of Imprisonment for one Year. This Ordinance to be publickly proclaimed and held; and all Butchers doing otherwise, to be chastised and punished according to the Form of the Ordinance aforesaid. Witness the King at Westminster, the 25th of February.]"

And then the late dissolved Church of Grey Friers; (called also Friers minors within Newgate) the Original whereof was thus.

The first of this Order of Friers in England, Nine in number, arrived at Dover, out of Italy, in the Year 1224, the 8th year of the Reign of King Henry III. being of the Order of the Franciscans, or Frier Minors. Five of them, being Priests, remained at Canterbury; the other Four, being Laymen, came to London; and were lodged at the Preaching Friers in Oldboorn, for the space of fifteen days. And then they hired a House in Cornhil, of John Trevers, one of the Sheriffs of London. They builded there little Cells, wherein they inhabited. But shortly after, the Devotion of the Citizens towards them, and the number of the Friers so increased, that they were by the Citizens removed to a place in St. Nicolas Shambles; which John Ewin, Mercer, purchasing a void piece of Ground, appropriated unto the Communalty, to the use of these said Friers: And himself became a Lay-brother amongst them, about the year 1225.

Divers Citizens seemed herein to join with the said John Ewin, and erected there very beautiful Buildings.

William Joyner, Lord Maior of London, in the year 1239. builded the Quire, which cost him 200l. Sterling. Which Quire made part of the Chancel, as it now standeth.

Henry Walleis, who was likewise Lord Maior of London, builded the Body of the Church; which afterward was pulled down, and made as now it is.

Mr. Walter Potter *, Alderman, the Chapter House; and gave divers Vessels of Brass for the Kitchin Service. Building Places also for the sick Persons, and other Offices beside.

Thomas Felcham builded the Vestry House.

Gregory Rokesley, Lord Maior of London, builded their Dorters and Chambers, and gave Beds to them.

Bartholomew of the Castel, made the Refectory.

Peter de Helyland builded the Infirmitory, and divers places for diseased Persons.

Bevis Bond, King of Heraults, the Study.

Margaret, Queen, second Wife to Edward I. began the Quire of their new Church, in the Year 1306. to the building whereof, in her life time, she gave 2000 Marks, and 100 Marks by her Testament.

John Britaine, Earl of Richmond, builded the Body of the Church, to the Charges of 300l. and gave many rich Jewels and Ornaments to be used in the same.

Mary, Countess of Pembrook, 70l.

Gilbart de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, bestowed Twenty great Beams out of his Forrest of Tunbridge, and 20l. sterling.

Lady Helianor le Spencer, Lady Elizabeth de Brugh, Sister to Gilbert de Clare, gave Sums of Money; and so did divers Citizens, as Arnold de Tolinca; 100l.

Robert Baron Lisle, who became a Frier there, 300l.

Bartholomew de Almaine, 50l.

Also Philippe, Queen, Wife to Edward III. gave 62 * l.

Isabel, Queen Mother to Edward III. gave Threescore and ten Pounds. And so the Work was done within the space of 21 Years, 1327.