Returning from the church into Leadenhall Street, the nearest object on the north side of the way is, the first of the East India Company's Warehouses, a vast pile of building reaching from this Street nearly to Bury Street; and is denominated the COAST WAREHOUSE, so called from having formerly contained Coast and Surat piece goods; though made use of at present for the purpose of housing drugs.

Billiter Lane originally called from its founder, Belzeter's Lane, was inhabited by such persons as induced sir Thomas More, in a book he wrote against the martyr Tyndal, to use that gross proverb of antient times, "a bawdy beggar of Billiter Lane." This lane, however, is at present much better occupied; it contains another large structure belonging to the East India Company, called the Private Trade Warehouse, for the reception of such goods, brought from the east, as belong to private individuals, where they remain till sold at the India House, when all property, public and private must be designated to the hammer, and then delivered to their proper owners. Billiter Square also formed part of a lane, which was obliged to be stopped up on account of the iniquity of its inhabitants.

Returning to Leadenhall Street, and having passed a house which has lately been noticed for its filthy condition during several years, owing to the singular humour of the tenant, we proceed to a large building formerly rented by the African Company. It antiently was part of the dissolved priory of the Holy Trinity; but on account of Mrs. Cornwallis having gratified the appetite of Henry VIII. by presenting him with some fine puddings, he granted this, and other tenements to her and her heirs. The house was afterwards the residence of the great sir Nicholas Throgmorton, who was a favourite with queen Elizabeth, and her ambassador to France and Scotland. His ability was firmly attached to the interests of his mistress, which so far excited the envy of the malicious Dudley, earl of Leicester, that it is supposed sir Nicholas was poisoned by a sallad which he eat at the earl's house." It is certain that he died soon after he had eaten it, before he could be removed from table."

St. CATHE

PREVIOUSLY to giving the history of this edifice,it may be necessary to say something concerning the saint to which it is dedicated. St. Catharine, according to the monkish legends, was a virgin of Alexandria; and having been instructed in literature and the sciences, was afterwards converted to the Christian faith, at the time when the emperor Maxentius persecuted such as were of that persuasion. Being called before the emperor, she not only refused to sacrifice to idols, but reproached Maxentius for his cruelty; for which she was scourged and imprisoned, without sustenance, seven days. When, however, neither promises, threats, nor imprisonments prevailed, she was condemned to suffer death; and the emperor ordered her to be crushed between wheels made of iron, to which were fastened sword blades this measure was rendered abortive by the prayers of the sufferer; the wheels instantly broke asunder, the blades were scattered, and in a wonderous manner wounded the by-standers. Finding that all other means of death were inefficacious, she was by the emperor beheaded, in the year 310, at the early age of eighteen years.

Newcourt seems not only to doubt the miracle of the wheels, but absolutely asserts his disbelief of others; for, he says, "Of other incredible miracles wrought after she VOL. II. No. 35.

Ꮓ

was

was beheaded, it is not worth relating; as how milk should flow out of her dead corps; and that the angels should carry her body unto Mount Sinai, and the like. Travellers report, that they have seen her tomb full of oil, and her head, hair, and bones swimming therein."

Such points of religious controversy being mentally settled, we proceed to state that this parish church stands, where was formerly the cemetery of the priory of the Holy Trinity Christ Church; and hence derived its present denomination of Christ's, or corruptedly, Cree Church.

From an antient ledger book belonging to Trinity priory, it appears, that the parishioners frequented the altar of St. Mary Magdalen in the conventual church; but, on account of such inconvenience, occasioned by the dissonance of voices, when service was performing in another part of the church; it was agreed between the prior and convent, and the parishioners, with the consent of Richard de Gravesend, bishop of London, that the chapel of St. Catharine, in the church yard, should be appropriated for more quiet devotion. In consequence of this agreement, the parishes of St. Catharine, St. Mary Magdalen, St. Michael, and the Blessed Trinity, which had been united, when the priory was founded, were appropriated and confirmed to that community by a bull from pope Innocent II, but without a stated vicar, on account of the scanty re venue; the cure was to be supplied by one of the canons, at the pleasure of the prior. Differences, however, arising between the convent and parishioners, it was in 1414 mutually agreed that the parishioners should support the burthens of their own church or chapel, independently of the convent; which was again confirmed by bishop Fitzjames, in 1509; though the presentation still continued with the priory.

After the surrender to Henry VIII. this church, as part of its possessions, was bestowed on Sir Thomas Audley, afterterwards lord chancellor, by the title of Lord Audley. His lordship bestowed it, with all its privileges, on Magdalen. College, Cambridge. They leased it to the parishioners,

who

who nominate a curate, licenced by the bishop of London, by which the curate holds his title; in consequence, it is not charged with first-fruits and tenths, except procuration to the bishop and archdeacon.

The superstitious consecration of the present building by the imprudent, well-meaning Laud, on January 16, 1630-31, added new force to the discontents and rage of the Puritans; he attempted innovations in the church ceremonies at á season when he ought at least to have left them in the state he found them; instead of which, he urged his opinions to extremities, and used the fierce persecutions of the Star Chamber against his opponents; nor did he desist till he brought destruction on his own head, and highly contributed to that of his royal master, Charles I. *

The church is built of stone, and is a composition of Gothic architecture, with a single series of large square windows, each with three lancet compartments; there are also smaller windows in the same form above the parapet, which altogether affords a great body of light to the internal part of the structure, which is about ninety feet in length; in breadth fifty-one; and the altitude of the tower, on which is an ornamented dome, is about eighty feet; within the tower is a small ring of bells.

The interior consists of a body and two aisles, and a square roof, supported by pillars and pillasters of the Corinthian order; the roof is ornamented with fret-work, interspersed with the armorial bearings of the city, and the several companies of London. The whole is very handsomely wainscoted and pewed; and the gallery, which supports a good organ, is very neatly carved. The altar is also very beautifully painted in perspective; the east window exhibits the arms of Charles Prince of Wales, the city of London, and Sir James Campbell, lord mayor in 1629. The pulpit and communion table are of pure cedar.

Among the monuments the following are the most remarkable :

"Sacred to the memory of Mr. Samuel Marshal, who was a bright scholar to the excellent Dr. Blow, an admired, useful, and sedulous

Z 2

* Pennant

sedulous ornament to the choir of St. Paul's; above eleven years the exquisite organist of this church, and master to other good organists. Ob. Anno 1713-4. Ætat. suæ 27.

"His very artful, solemn, and moving compositions and performances, for, and in, the service of God, &c. though through humility disregarded by himself, have deservedly raised him a great name and esteem among the best and most impartial judges of them."

Another with a long Latin inscription to the memory of the reverend and learned John Tovey.

But the most elegant is the monument to perpetuate to posterity the revered name of Sir Nicholas Throkmorton. It is on the south side of the church, and is of fine marble, adorned with the full length of the deceased in armour, reclining on a matted couch; the whole is very spacious in the Doric order, and highly decorated. The inscription is thus:

"Here lyeth the body of Sir Nicolas Throkmorton, knight, the fourth son of Sir George Throkmorton, knight; which Sir Nicholas was chief butler of England, one of the chamberlains of the Exchequer, and ambassador-leiger to the queen's majesty Queen Elizabeth. And after his return into England, he was sent ambassador again into France, and twice into Scotland. He married Ann Carew, daughter to Sir Nicholas Carew, knight, and begat of her ten sons and three daughters. He died the 12th of February 1570, aged fifty-seven."

His arms are seven coats quarterly.

The famous Hans Holbein, painter to Henry VIII. and Edward VI. was buried in this church*.

An annual sermon is preached here on the sixteenth of October, in commemoration of a remarkable deliverance.

Sir

This great genius, whose works ornament several of the public buildings in and about London, was recommended to Sir Thomas More by the learned Erasmus; "and," as Granger observes, "sufficiently recommended himself to Henry VIII. who was struck with just admiration at the sight of an assemblage of his portraits in Sir Thomas's hall. He was the first reformer of the Gothic style of architecture in England." An anecdote is related of this artist; who having highly af

fronted