dation is ascribed to the dreadful pestilence, which, in 1308, desolated England and great part of Europe: this spot having been consecrated by the Bishop of London for a place of burial, it appears that during this plague upwards of fifty thousand persons were interred upon it, who had been the victims of the pestilence. Sir Walter Manny, for building this monastery, had purchased thirteen acres and one rood of ground; this, with three acres more, called Pardon Church-Yard, Sir Walter gave to the prior and monks. The monastery, in the time of Henry the Eighth, having been bestowed on Sir Edward North, it was sold by his son to Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, from whom it descended to Thomas, Earl of Suffolk, and was afterwards called Howard-House, by which name it was purchased of the Earl of Suffolk, by Thomas Sutton, Esq. the founder of this hospital: it consisted of four or five courts, a wilderness, gardens, orchards, walks, &c. The benevolent founder did not live to see the hospital finally settled; but, in 1614, three years after Mr. Sutton's death, in the reign of James the First, it was opened by his executors for the entry of the gentlemen, scholars, and others. Mr. Sutton's will was dated the 2 day of November, 1611. The gate of the first court of these ancient remains, opening into Charter-House Square, leads to a long gallery with windows of the fashion of Queen Elizabeth's time; an arched way, over which are the armorial bearings of Mr. Sutton, leads to another court, formed on the east side by the hall: a small portico before the door has the arms of James the First: to the right is a buttress and two large windows with lancet-shaped mullions; over them two small arched windows, and above the door, one, with nine divisions. At the south end is a very large projecting window divided into fifteen parts, and over it a smaller. The roof is slated of a stone colour, supporting a small cupola. The interior |