Then is Shire, or Shere lane, opening also into Ficket's Field, hard by the Bars. On this North side of Fleetstreet, in the Year of Christ 1595. I observed, that when the Labourers had broken up the Pavement from against Chancery lane end, up toward St. Dunstan's Church, and had digged four Foot deep, they found one other Pavement of hard Stone, more suffieincet than the fisrt; and therefore harder to be broken. Under the which they found, in the made Ground, Piles of Timber, driven very thick, and almost close together; the same being as black as Pitch or Coal, and many of them rotten as Earth. Which proveth, that the Ground there (as sundry other Places of this City) have been Marish or full of Springs.

On the South side from Ludgate (before the Wall of the City) be fair builded Houses to Fleet Bridge; on the which Bridge, a Cestern for receipt of Spring Water, was made by the Men of Fleetstreet; but the Water Course is decayed, and not restored.

Next is Bride lane, and therein Bridewel, of old time the King's House. For the Kings of this Realm have been there lodged, and their Courts of law have been there kept of old time. And till the 9th of Henry III. the Courts were kept in the King's House, wheresoever he was lodged; as may appear by antient Records, whereof I have seen many; for Example, I have already set forth one, in the Chapter of Towers and Castles.

King Hen. VIII. builded there a stately and beautiful House of new, for receipt of the Emperor Charles V. who in the Year 1522. was lodged himself at the Black Friers; but his Nobles in this new builded Bridewel, a Gallery being made over the Water, and through the Wall of the City, into the Emperor's Lodging at the Black Friers. King Henry himself oftentimes lodged there also; as namely, in the Year 1525. a Parliament being then holden in the Black Friers. He created States of Nobility there; to wit:

Henry Fitz Roy, a Child, (which he had by Elizabeth Blunt) to be Earl of Nottingham, Duke of Richmond, and of Somerset; Lieutenant General from Trent Northward, Warden of the East middle, and West Marches for anenst Scotland.

Henry Courtney, Earl of Devonshire, Cousin German to the King, to be Marquess of Excester.

Henry Brandon, a Child of two Years old, Son to the Earl of Suffolk, to be Earl of Lincoln.

Sir Thomas Manners, Lord Ross, to be Earl of Rutland.

Sir Henry Clifford to be Earl of Cumberland.

Sir Robert Ratcliff, to be Viscount Fitzwater.

Sir Thomas Boloine, Treasurer of the King's Houshold, to be Viscount Rochford.

In the Year 1528. Cardinal Campeius was brought to the King's presence, being then at Bridewel, whither he had called all his Nobitlity, Judges, and Councellors, &c. And there, the 8th of November, in his great Chamber, he made unto them an Oration touching his Marriage with Queen Katharine; as ye may read in Edward Hall.

In the Year 1529. the same King Henry and Queen Katharine were lodged there, whilst the Question of their Marriage was argued in the Black Friers, &c.

But now you shall hear how this House became a House of Correction.

In the year 1553. the 7th of Edward VI. the 10th of April, Sir George Barne * being Maior of this City, was sent for to the Court of White Hall, and there at that time the King gave unto him, for the Communalty and Citizens, to be a Workhouse for the poor and idle Persons of the City, his House of Bridewel, and Seven hundred Marks Land, late of the Possessions of the House of the Savoy; and all the Bedding and other Furniture of the said Hospital of the Savoy, towards the Maintenance of the said Workhouse of Bridewel, and the Hospital of St. Thomas in Southwark.

This Gift King Edward confirmed by his Charter, dated the 26th of June, next following. And in the Year 1555. in the Month of February, Sir William Gerard, Maior, and the Aldermen, entred Bridewel, and took possession thereof, according to the Gift of the said King Edward. The same was also confirmed by Queen Mary.

Concerning the forwarding of this good Work of Bridewel, and bringing it to a desired Perfection, this Act of Common Council was made the last of February, in the 2d and 3d Years of Philip and Mary.

"Forasmuch as King Edward VI. had given his House of Bridewel unto the City, partly for the setting of idle and lewd People to work, and partly for the lodging and harbouring of the Poor, Sick, Weak, and Sore People of this City; and of poor Wayfaring People repairing to the same: And had for this last purpose, given the Bedding and Furniture of the Savoy to that Purpose. Therefore in consideration that very great Charges would be required to the fitting of the said House, and the buying of Tools and Bedding, the Money was ordered to be gotten up among the rich People of the Companies of London, &c.]"

There is a Chappel belonging to Bridewel Precinct. Which was inlarged and beautified at the proper Cost and Charge of the Governours and Inhabitants of this Precinct, in the Year of our Lord 1620. Sir Thomas Middleton being then President, and Mr. Thomas Johnson Treasurer of this Hospital.

The inlargement was by taking in of a large Room, that (before the Date above named) joined upon the Head of the Chappel. This Ground adding to the length of it (at the full breadth going with it) Twenty four Foot and better.

This Room thus taken in, trim'd, beautifued, and consecrated, is now a handsome Chappel; it being before a Room empty, vast, rude and unsightly; though then in the Use deserving a fair Commendation. For then the Ground that is now a Chancel to the Prisoners of the House, was a Chappel; into which every Sabbath, through a By or Backward Passage, they were brought from their several Lodgings, to hear Divine Service and Sermons.

Close by the Pulpit hangs the Picture of King Edward VI. with these Lines under it.

This EDWARD of fair Memory the sixt,
In whom with Greatness, Goodness was commixt,
Gave this Bridewel, a Palace in old Times,
For a Chastising House of vagrant Crimes.

In this Chappel also is Queen Elizabeth's Monument, with the common Verses.

Here lyes her Type, &c.]