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called BEMBREDGE'S INN, supposed to have been a corruption of Brembre, from Sir Nicholas Brembre, Lord Mayor, beheaded during the reign of Richard II. Another house, nearly adjoining this, in Lime Street, belonged to the Nevils: but was afterwards the dwelling of Simon De Burley, the favourite of Edward the Black Prince, and tutor to Richard, his son, who, on coming to the crown, advanced Sir Simon to several high dignities, but unfortunately neglecting to follow his advice, Sir Simon fell a sacrifice to Richard's folly and De Vere's oppressive measures, being condemned for treason, and beheaded on Tower Hill.

The west side of Lime Street, in the reign of Edward the First, contained a Royal Mansion, denominated the King's Artiree, on the site of Queen Square Passage. The site of this is now occupied by the offices and warehouses of the East India Company. Previously to the year 1509, between Lime Street and Billiter Lane, was a large garden plot, inclosed from the street by a brick wall, which being taken down to dig the ground for cellaring, another wall, with an arched stone gateway was discovered. The gates, which had been of timber, towards the street, were wholly consumed, but the iron hinges and staples remained; and bars of iron were attached to the frames of the remaining square windows: the whole was twelve feet under ground; and, as Stow imagined, was probably the ruin of some mansion burnt in the reign of King Stephen, the fire then having begun near London Stone, and consumed the city eastward to Aldgate,

Not far from hence, towards the end of the adjacent street of St. Mary Axe, stood the mansion of Richard Vere, Earl of Oxford, who inhabited it in the beginning of the reign of Henry the Fifth; but being induced in his old age to join his master in the French wars, he died in France in 1415.*

BILLITER LANE, originally called Belzeter's Lane, after its founder, was another part of the city, the manners and customs of whose inhabitants frequently exhibited the most striking and whimsical contrasts: this almost in the centre of opulence, as

late

late as the reign of Henry VIII. as we learn from Sir Tho mas More, was inhabited by a set of impudent beggars, whose conduct to passengers at length became so offensive, that it was found necessary to stop up the thoroughfare. Here at present stands the Private Trade Warehouse of the East India Company, for the reception of such goods brought from the Indies as belong to Private Individuals, and here they remain till sold at the India House.

CORNHILL. This part of the city, which in more than one sense may be styled eminent, has been the scene of many singular changes and improvements. The progression from rude to polished manners, has been by no means rapid, but of that description which at the present time rather excite surprise than admiration. Only a few centuries since, the front of the Royal Exchange, the centre of intercourse among some of the most enlight ened men in the world, was the site of a dungeon, a loathsome prison called THE TUN. Upon the spot more immediately referred to, now stands "a handsome pump," with the following inscripion: "On this spot a well was first made and a house of correc tion built thereon, by Henry Wallis, mayor of London in the year 1282." In those uncivilized times, it seems the conduct of the lower order of citizens, having been very irregular, in consequence of the tyrannic reign of Henry III. it was necessary to adopt means to ensure good order. The spring then lately discovered was therefore enclosed with a stone wall, and a prison erected there" for night-walkers, and other suspicious persons who at that time infested the city." This prison, on account of its singular formation, was called the Tun. Here not only the laity, but some of the Clergy accused of incontinence, were confined. Richard Gravesend, Bishop of London, not approving of this innovation, had influence enough with Edward I. to cause an order to be made" in full hustings," that no watch should enter the chamber of a priest under a forfeiture of thirty pounds.

This partial mandate was so ill taken by the citizens of Lon

don, that nine of the principal of them broke open this new place of confinement, and liberated all they found there. As it might be expected, this was another instance of the folly of the weak in provoking the strong: the perpetrators were personally punished, and a fine of twenty thousand marks was imposed upon the city by the Exchequer; and it was nearly twelve years before the corporation was restored to the royal favour, which was then expressed by a grant of some additional privileges.

After 1383, the custom of imprisoning women in the Tun taken in adultery, was adopted, and their heads being shaved, it was usual to expose them publicly, by leading them about the city with trumpets and pipes sounding before them, with the view that their persons might be more particularly distinguished.

In a charge given at one of the Wardmotes about this time, it was ordered," that if there be any priest in service within the ward, which before that time hath been set in the Tun in Cornhill, for his dishonesty, and hath forsworn the city, all such shall be prosecuted."

A ludicrous anecdote is related by Stow of one of these priests, whose incontinence had been discovered; he was, on three suecessive market-days, conveyed through the high streets, with a paper on his head, whereon was written his crime. The first day he rode in a cart; the second on a horse, with his face to the tail the third he was led between two: and every day rang with basons, and proclamations made of his crime at every turning of the streets, and also before the stall of John Atwood, (the person offended.) After being exposed at the church-door, where he served, he lost his chauntry, and was banished the city for

ever.

But notwithstanding this Tun was made use of for such foul purposes as before mentioned, in the year 1401, it was made a cistern of sweet water, and called The Conduit upon Cornhill. The well was planked over, and a strong timber prison erected for disorderly persons, and called The Cage. To this was added a pair of Stocks; and on the top of the prison was placed a pilLory,