"There were two ways of being law worthy, or having the benefit of the law. By the state and conditions of men's persons almoft all freemen had the free benefit of the law; but men of servile condition had not, especially such as were in Dominio, (in Demesne;) for they received justice from their lords, were judged by them in most cases, and had not the true benefit of the law: fo neither as to the second observation in this charter, could their children be their heirs; for they held their lands and goods at the will of the lord, and were not sure to enjoy them longer than at his pleasure.

"The second way of being law-worthy was, when men had not committed any crimes, or done any thing for which they forfeited the law, and deserved to be outlawed; then they were said to be legales homines, recti in curia, or lawworthy, but not so properly as in the first sense of the word.

"Hence may arise a very probable conjecture at the meaning of this protection or charter. That the burgesses of London had obtained of the Saxon kings several liberties and immunities is undoubted, among which this was one, to be so far free, as not to be in Dominio, or so obnoxious to any lord, but that, by reason of their state and condition, they might be law-worthy, that is, have the free benefit of the law; and likewise further obtained, (if it was not then a consequent of their personal estate and condition) that their children should be heirs of their lands and goods, and in both these were free from the injuries and unreasonable demands and power of any severe lord; so that all the application made by their bishop William, and not unlikely by Godfrey the portreve, to the Conqueror for them, was, that their state and condition might be the same it was in king Edward's days, that their children might be their heirs, and that they might in both be protected from the injury and violence of imperious lords; which by the prevalency of their bishop were granted.

"Considering, therefore, that by the foregoing instances it is clear, that many or most burgesses of other burgs were in Dominio, either of the king, or some other lords or patrons VOL. I. No. 3.

H

in

in the time of king Edward, and that the Londoners might fear the Conqueror would break in upon their privileges, and reduce them to the same condition; that was a great privilege obtained."

What enhanced the value of this and the following charter was, that they were granted at the time when the feudal system obtained a firmer and more extensive establishment, by the settlement of the Norman barons in England, under the military tenure.

The Tower of London is the only building that remains to indicate the mode of architecture in William's reign. Two public acts, however, are recorded which evince the liberality of great minds. The cathedral of St. Paul, which had been burnt, was re-edified by the benevolent exertions of bishop Maurice; and a general survey was taken by order of the king throughout the realm, the report of which was carefully collected and deposited in the Exchequer, comprized in two volumes denominated Domesday Book. This act reflects honour on the monarch; and the accuracy with which the survey was taken, on oath, establishes it as a high authority of jurisprudence at the present period, as well as affording a certain knowledge of several important particulars of our country and ancestors for upwards of seven hundred years*.

We pass over the intemperate reign of William Rufus, except merely to note that it is remarkable for the extenfion of the fortifications at the Tower; for the rebuilding of London Bridge, and for the founding of Westminster Hall, one of the most respectable specimens of the architecture of these times, at present, the venerable seat of justice, and at the commencement of every reign a scene of national festivity.

sooner.

* Our great wine trade with Bourdeaux, and the neighbouring provinces, is supposed to have commenced as early as the Conquest, perhaps But it became very considerable in the reign of Henry II by reason of his marriage with Elianor, daughter of the duke of Aquitaine; our conquest of that, and other great wine provinces of France, increased the trade to a high degree. Pennant.

4

Henry

Henry I. considering his title to the crown slender, whilst his elder brother Robert lived, thought it his interest to be upon good terms with the citizens; and therefore granted them the first real charter of their privileges, which were ascertained and established, instead of being dictated or regulated by any capricious humour of favouritizm. In consequence of this charter, various guilds and associations of trade and profession were formed; and municipal usages, hitherto of no higher authority than common practice, assumed the dignified appearance of legal authorities, and were reduced to writing.

This seems to have been an auspicious reign both for the city and realm; for the subjects of Henry were protected from the licentiousness of the insolent Normans, and enjoyed such abundance of the comforts of life, that corn, sufficient for one hundred persons in one day, was sold for twelve pence; and as much hay and corn as would maintain twenty horses for the same space of time could be purchased for four pence, which was also the price of a sheep.

During this reign the spirit of religion began to manifest itself in religious foundations, in and about London, A. D. 1081, Alwin Child, citizen of London, founded a monastery for Cluniack monks, at Bermondsey, dedicated to St. Saviour. Alfune, who was afterwards the first hospitaller, or proctor of St. Bartholomew's hospital, built a parish church near that gate of the city now called Cripplegate, in the year 1090, which he dedicated to St. Giles. A. D. 1102, Rahere, a gentleman who bore the office of king's minstrel, founded the priory of St. Bartholomew, on the east side of West Smithfield and Duck Lane, for canons of St. Augustine; of whom he himself became the first prior. To which the founder affixed an hospital for the relief of sick and infirm persons and obtained for both foundations many great privileges and immunities: amongst which is mentioned Bartholomew fair for three days. Smithfield was at this time. a kind of lay stall, for ordure and filth, and the place for public executions.

The priory of Clerkenwell also was raised by the munifi cence of Jordan Bliset, (who is stiled Baro and Miles) in a field near unto Clerk's Well, on the north side of London. It stood upon and encompassed fourteen acres of land, and was dedicated to the honour of God and the Assumption of Our Lady, for Benedictine nuns he also gave his house and another piece of ground, for building a mill for the use of this priory. It was soon after amply endowed by several benefactions particularly with certain lands at Muswel Hill, near Highgate, given by Richard Beauvois, bishop of London, in 1112, and confirmed by king Stephen.

Thi same Jordan Bliset, alias Briset, founded another house near adjoining to these nuns, by the name of the priory of St. John at Jerusalem, for the Knights Templars, for which purpose the founder took ten acres of land from the nuns, and gave them ten acres of land in exchange at Welyng-hall, in the county of Kent.

Queen Maud, consort to Henry I. built an hospital for lepers in St. Giles's in the Fields*, and another for poor. maimed people near the north gate of the city, which from this foundation and benefaction, has always since that time been distinguished by the name of Cripplegate. Both these hospitals were endowed with a sufficiency to maintain the poor objects received into them, with diet and clothes. She also was the foundress of a priory near Aldgate, for canons regular. This priory, dedicated by the name of Holy Trinity, Christ's Church, was built on the place where Suredas, or Siredus, had some time before begun to erect, or had erected, a church in honour of the Holy Cross and St. Mary Magdalen, and obtained a charter of confirmation from the king; by which this church of Christ, within the walls of London, where now stands Duke's Place, was made free and acquitted from subjection to any other person or church, except the bishop of London, or church of St. Paul. The queen also appointed one Norman the first prior of this religious house,

* At this hospital it became a custom to present the malefactors carried to execution at Tyburn, with a great bowl of ale, to drink of it as they pleased for their last refreshment in this life. Entick.

and

and gave to him and the canons" the east gate of the city, called Aldgate, and the soke, (i. e. jurisdiction, district, or ward) thereunto belonging, with all the customs, as she held the same and two parts of the revenues and rents of the city of Exeter, then valued at 251. per ann. And in the year 1115 certain burgesses of London, descended from the thirteen knights to whom king Edgar granted this soke, gave the same to the church and canons of the Holy Trinity, or Trinity Christ Church, within Aldgate; then newly founded by queen Maud, taking upon them the brotherhood and participation of the benefits of that house, by the hands of Norman the prior; and did put the said prior in seisin thereof by the church of St. Botolph, which was built thereon: and was the head of that soke or land anciently called Knighten Guild, but now known by the name of Portsoken ward. So that the church of St. Botolph, without Aldgate, was united and appropriated to the priory of the Holy Trinity, within Aldgate. Which was confirmed not only by royal charter, but by pope Innocent II. in the fourth year of his pontificate; who by his bull confirmed the uniting and annexing St. Botolph's church and the chapels of St. Catharine, (now St. Catharine Cree Church) alias Christ's Church, and St. Michaels', (which stood, and whose ruins may still be seen in the cellars, between the east extremities of Leadenhall Street and Fenchurch Street, but then) situate in the church yard of the said monastery of the Holy Trinity, to the said canons." The possessions of this priory became so great, that it surpassed all other priories in London and Middlesex for riches.

Soon after this the queen resolved upon another religious foundation, by the name of the church and hospital of St. Catharine near the Tower. For which purpose, Ralph the prior, with the canons of the Holy Trinity, within Aldgate, granted to her a certain parcel of land, to build on, and the mill in the shambles, in lieu of six yard land in the manor of Bracching, in the county of Hertford.

To Maud posterity are also indebted for the foundation of Bow Bridge, then called Stratford, and afterwards Stratford Bow; and Channel, or Channelsea Bridge; she also paved

the