ground let from the church yard by William Gibton, rector, for the term of ninety years, at an annual rent of four shilings sterling, subject to distress' and re-entry upon nonpayment. Part of this rent was to go to the rector; the rest to be appropriated to the use of the fabric, of the body of the church; and after the expiration of the said term, the said piece of ground, and whatever was built thereon, was to revert to the rector, churchwardens, and parishioners, and their successors for ever.

The present structure was raised by means of Sir Stephen Jennings, lord mayor, in 1508, and the parishioners, during the year 1520. Sir Stephen was at the expence of erecting the north side of the middle aisle, both of the body and the choir; he also roofed the north aisle with timber; besides glazing the whole of the south side, and causing the pews to be made at his sole cost. This benevolent man died in 1524, and was buried in the Grey Friars church. This of St. Andrew was not finished till the year 1532*.

Here we must necessarily mention something of the church of St. Mary at Axe.

This building, so called from its situation opposite the Axe inn; as well as St. Mary Pelliper, from a neighbouring plot of ground belonging to the Skinners Company, stood on the west side of St. Mary's Street, now called St. Mary Axe. It originally belonged to the prioress and convent of St. Helen, till its dissolution; after which, in consequence of its surrender to the crown, it was neglected, till Queen Elizabeth, in 1561, united it to the parish of St. Andrew, and granted the patronage to the bishops of London.

In 1634, the parishioners of St. Mary having built a room over the lower part remaining of their church, which had, by this time, been converted to prophane uses, obtained a confirmation from bishop Juxon, that the ground might be

The author of the New View of London writes, that "this church was new built, and in the year 1532, finished at the charge, for the most part, of William Fitz Williams, Esq. (sheriff of London in the year 1506), and afterward of council to king Henry VIII." But we do not find such notice by any other editor.

restored

restored as a burial ground, and the room established as a free grammar school; the master to be nominated by the rector, churchwardens, and parishioners, and licenced by the ordinary. He was to teach four poor children belonging to this parish gratis; and in consideration of this duty, the room was appropriated to him rent free. In 1741, the school was leased to the trustees of Cornhill and Lime Street wards society, at a pepper-corn rent, and renewed in 1761.

In 1756, St. Andrew Undershaft.church was totally hid from Leadenhall Street by a house, under which an entry was made to the porch; but, by an order of vestry, the obstrution was removed, so that the tower is now seen.

The length of this beautiful church is about ninety-six foot, breadth fifty-four, and height forty-two. The altitude of the square tower, in which are six bells, is about seventythree foot and one-twentieth; and to the top of the turret ninety-one feet. There is no beauty in this part of the building. The north side has a small space of ground, whence only the outside may be seen. It has a range of windows, which are Gothic, and a Sexagon tower rises from the middle of the wall. The east end is entirely closed from view. On the south side is the principal door, with a pointed arch, the angles ornamented with quatrefoils, &c. ; and the window at the west end of the church is obscured by the organ. The interior displays ranges of delicate slender, pillars, supporting arches equally delicate, and truly proportioned. The cieling is decorated with angels, holding shields, vases, and scrolls, in the compartments. Over the pillars the angles are beautifully painted in imitation of basso relievo, from circumstances of the life of Christ. These were the gift of Mr. Tombes, otherwise a considerable benefactor. These are lighted by a range of upper windows, between which are statues in fresco. A fine glow of blue tint is produced by the painted glass introduced into the east window at a late repair. The whole structure is divided into a nave, and north and south ailes. The roof of the chancel is covered by a good painting, representing the heavenly choir in adoration,

ration, with voices and instruments. This was also a gift by Mr. Tombes. Reclining figures, painted to imitate a rustic basement, ornament the sides of the chancel; above is a 'Corinthian building, and in the intercolumniations are landscapes and architecture. The altar is a magnificent design of the Corinthian order; a rich crimson curtain, fringed with gold, painted in grand folds, and with hovering angels, &c. ornaments this part of the church. The east window is beautifully filled with stained glass, and divided into five compartments; containing whole length portraits of Edward the Sixth, Queen Elizabeth, James the First, Charles the First, and Charles the Second, nearly as large as life. A figure of St. Andrew, "lately finished, and placed in an upper compartment of the same window, serves to shew the progress which that art has made at the close of the eighteenth century. Under King Edward is an open book, inscribed Verbum Dei, and the royal arms. This window was the gift of Sir Christopher Clitherow. The pulpit is without a sounding board, and is a very beautiful specimen of delicate carving. The organ, built by Harris, and which cost 1400/. is large and handsome: the gallery on which it stands is the only one in the church; the front is placed on the west end of the nave, under the gallery. The windows have forty-four coats of arms of founders and benefactors: the last window, on the south side, is painted as though it were closed; and were it not for the situation, it might almost prove a deception.

The monuments in this parish church which escaped the fire are numerous, and remarkable. Stow mentions the following: Mr. Philip Malpas, sheriff in 1439; Sir Robert Denne and his son, in 1421; Mr. Nicholas Levison, one of the sheriffs, in 1534; Mr. Stephen Kyrton, alderman in 1552; Mr. David Woodroffe, sheriff in 1554; Mr. Stephen Woodroffe, his son; Mr. Thomas Starkey, sheriff in 1578; Hugh Offley, sheriff in 1588; and Henry Man, D. D. bishop of Man.

The principal monuments at present are a large marble monument for Sir Thomas Offley, knight and alderman of VOL. II. No. 34.

Y

London,

London, with his wife and three children, the figures of all being in a praying posture. He was lord mayor of London in the year 1556.

Dr. Humphrey Brook, fellow of the college of physicians in London, adorned with cherubims, skeletons heads, &c.

Mr. JOHN Sтow, to whose memory London is so much. indebted for accounts of her ancient state. This is a large marble monument, with his effigies sitting at study, and fenced in with an iron rail; over his head are these words in gold letters upon black:

Above which is a cornice, and the Merchant Taylors arms; and under the figure these words are cut :

Memoriæ Sacrum.

Resurrectionem in Christo hic expectat Johannes Stowe, Civis Londinensis: Qui in Antiquis Monumentis eruendis accuratissima diligentia usus Angliæ Annales & Civitatis Londini Synopsim, bene de sua bene de postera ætate meritus, luculenter scripsit, vitaæq; Studio pie & probe decurso. Obiit Etatis Anno SO, die. 5 Aprilis 1605.

Elizabetha Conjux ut perpetuum sui amoris Testimonium dolens. Mr. Moser observes, that this monument seems to be of stone; but Mr. Strype says, "he was told by an ingenious person that it was only of burnt clay (terra cotta) painted." This it is impossible now to discover without injuring the figure; but if it be really composed of burnt earth, of which, upon the authority of Strype, there can scarcely be a doubt, one very natural observation arises in the mind, which is, that the art of making figures in artificial stone, that was thought to have been invented about the year 1769, was of a much more antient date even in this kingdom: in Italy we know it was practiced in the days of Michael Angelo. This ingenious gentleman carries his speculation still farther; he says, "in fact, we might carry the date of this art back to the most remote ages of antiquity. What are the antient bricks, pottery, &c. but artificial stone. Of what but artificial stone was the composition of the altars,

vases, and sacrificing vessels of the antients? The same ob servation will apply to our earthen ware in general, and particularly what used to be termed Staffordshire; as also to the muffles and crucibles of the chymists. What are these but artificial stone? composed of the same materials, and vitrified by nearly the same process. With respect to the revival of the art of forming figures and ornaments of this composition, I think it does honour to the age and country, and that it may be attended with great national advan·tage *."

On the north side of the church is a very spacious marble monument, erected to the memory of Sir Hugh Hamersly, lord mayor of London in the year 1627, a colonel of this city, president of Christ's Hospital, president of the Artillery garden, governor of the company of Russia merchants, and of those of the Levant; free of the companies of Ha berdashers, and of Merchants, Adventurers of Spain, East India, France, and Virginia. He had issue by dame Mary his wife fifteen children, and died the 19th of October 1636, and of his age seventy-one. In memory of whom his lady erected this monument, in the year 1637.

Under an alcove over the inscription, are the statues of Sir Hugh and his lady in a kneeling posture; and on each side, near the extreme parts of the monument, are the figures of four soldiers of the Artillery Company lamenting his death.

Near the north side of the altar, and fronting the church, is a curious white marble monument to the memory of Sir John Jeffreys, with a long Latin inscription; recounting his virtues and his family.

A white marble monument, erected in memory of Sir Christopher Clitherow, lord mayor of London in 1635, and dame Mary his wife.

A monument to the memory of Mr. Mathias Datchelor, merchant, and Mary his wife, who had three daughters. Mary, Beatrix, and Sarah, is also worthy of notice, on ac

Vestiges, colleted and recollected, No. III.

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count