for such churches as wanted church-yards; he was the founder of the Spital Sermons. He gave 100l. to be lent to eight poor men; to the Merchant-Taylors company lands and tenements to the amount of 401. yearly, to maintain ten poor men, for ever, such as were not members of that company; but chosen out of the companies of Clothworkers, Armourers, Carpenters, Tylers, and Plasterers; in the consideration that, by over-toiling labour, dangers, falls, bruises, and other inconveniences, they were soonest like to become impotent, and unable to help or maintain themselves. 1576. Sir Ambrose Nicholas, salter, founded twelve almshouses in Monkwell Street. 1586. Sir Wolston Dixie, skinner, founded a free-school at Bosworth; he gave 427. to Christ's Hospital yearly, for ever; to Emanuel College 600l. to purchase lands for the maintenance of two fellows and two scholars; and towards building the college 50l.; and among other great charities, 500l. to be lent to poor merchants.. 1610. Sir William Craven, merchant-taylor, gave by will, to the poor prisoners in Newgate, Ludgate, and the two Compters, 10l. each; to Christ's Hospital 1007.; to St. Bartholomew's Hospital 100%; to Bridewell 1007. and to St. Thomas's Hospital 100%.; one hundred pounds to be distributed to divers parishes in London; and ten pounds each to six parishes in Southwark; 100l. to the parish of St. John the Evangelist; one hundred nobles to the poor of St. Antholin; and besides other charities, several thousand pounds among his domestics.. 1611. Sir John Pemberton, goldsmith, founder of a free school at Heskin, in Lancashire, gave to Christ's Hospital 500%; to the Goldsmith's company 2001. and other considerable donations. 1629. Sir James Cambell, ironmonger. This worthy magistrate left 48,9671. 6s. 8d.-of which he gave 1,000l. to repair St. Paul's cathedral; 1,300l. to the ironmongers company, to be lent to young tradesmen at 1007. each; to enlarge St. Thomas's Hospital 1,500l.; to Bridewell and St. Bartholomew's 2001.; to Christ's Hospital. 500l.; to Bethlem 1007.; to Bridewell, for a stock to set on work poor vagrants vagrants that are delivered out of gaol, to prevent their future pilfering, 2,000l.; for the relief of prisoners for small debts 1,000l.; for redemption of poor captives from Turkish slavery 1,000l.; for erecting a school at Barking, Essex, 6661.; for erecting a bridge near Wanstead 250l.; for a supply of coals, which his father had begun, 500l.; to his executors to dispose of in such charitable uses as they should think fit to be accomplished in two years, 10,000l. 1652. John Kendrick, draper, was a most extensive benefactor to his country. He gave to the town of Reading 7,500l. in trust, for employing the poor; 4,000l. for the same end to the town of Newbury; to the company of Drapers, towards repairing St. Paul's cathedral, 1,000l.; Christ's Hospital 500l. &c. 1646. Sir Thomas Adams, mercer, an incorruptible loyalist, and a great sufferer in the royal cause, founder of a free-school in Shropshire, an Arabic lecture in Cambridge, and a great benefactor of the Clothworkers company. He was born at Wem, in Shropshire, in 1586, educated in the university of Cambridge, and bred a draper in London. In the year 1639, he was chosen sheriff of that city; and was of so public a spirit, that when his son-in-law brought him the first news of the election, he immediately dismissed his particular business, and never afterwards personally fol lowed his trade, but gave himself up to the city concerns. He made himself such a master of the customs and usages, the rights and privileges of the city; and, at the same time, was found to be a man of such wisdom and integrity in the exertion of his knowledge; that there was no honour in the city whereof he was capable, to which he was not preferred. He was chosen master of the Drapers company, alderman of a ward, and president of St. Thomas's Hospital, which would probably have been ruined, had it not been for his sagacity and industry in discovering the frauds of an unjust steward. He was often returned a burgess in parliament, though the iniquity of the times would not permit him to sit there and in the year 1645, he was elected lord mayor of London; in which office he was so far from seeking his own benefit, that he would not accept of those advantages which are are usually made by selling the vacant places. On account of his incorruptible lovalty to king Charles I. his house, while he was lord mayor, was searched by the party then getting into power, in expectation of finding the king there. This party finding that Mr. Adams was a man who would not be moulded into their forms, or make shipwreck of his conscience, to serve their interest; he was, the year after, committed and detained a prisoner in the Tower for some time and for several years excluded from all public offices and employments. His constancy to the royal cause brought upon him, besides these troubles, the scoffs and detractions of his adversaries, which others have cleared him of; and many writers, in verse as well as prose, have applauded his administration, when in office. At length he became, and so continued for some years, the first among the twenty-six, the eldest alderman upon the bench, that had served in the office of lord mayor, to whom is given that honourable title of FATHER OF THE CITY. Such was his generous loyalty and affection to Charles II. that, in the perilous times of his exile, he had remitted to him 10,000l. When therefore, at his majesty's joyful return to these realms, Mr. Adams was deputed by the city to go, though in the seventy-fourth year of his age, as their commissioner, to Breda, in Holland, with general Monk, to congratulate the king, and attend him home; he was in consideration of his signal services knighted at the Hague by the king, and a few days after the Restoration advanced to the dignity of a ba ronet of England. His merit is still more extensive in the character of a benefactor to the public. At Wem, he gave the house of his nativity for a free-school, and liberally endowed it. He likewise founded an Arabic professorship at Cambridge, on condition that it were frequented by a competent number of auditors; and it thrived só well, that the salary of forty pounds per annum, was settled upon Mr. Abraham Wheelock, fellow of Clare Hall, a man of great learning and industry, whose longer life would probably have much improved the Polyglot Bible. These munificent endowments, VOL. II. No. 29. E both both of which were perpetual, took place, the first of them twenty years, and the second above thirty years, before Sir Thomas Adams's death. At the desire of Mr. Wheelock, he was at the expence of printing the Persian Gospels, and of transmitting them into the eastern parts of the world. Thus he endeavoured to promote the Christian religion, by throwing, as he himself used to express it, "a stone at the forehead of Mahomet." 1669. Sir William Turner, merchant-taylor, founder of an hospital, free-school, &c. at Kirk Leedham, in Yorkshire. 1675. Sir Robert Viner, bart. goldsmith and banker, was a very loyal and no less useful subject to Charles II. When he entered upon his mayoralty, the king did him the honour of drinking several bottles with him, "an indulgence," as He Granger observes, " not unfrequent in this reign." afterwards erected an equestrian statue to the king at Stocks Market. It was done originally for John Sobieski, king of Poland." 1680. Sir Robert Clayton, draper. "This excellent citizen well understood and sedulously promoted the commercial, civil, and religious interests of his country. As he had rendered himself obnoxious to the Duke of York, by voting in parliament for the Exclusion Bill, he retired from business, and amused himself with building and planting, after that prince ascended the throne. When the Prince of Orange was at Henley upon Thames, he was sent in the name of the city, to compliment the Prince on his arrival; he was afterwards appointed commissioner of the customs. His benefactions to Christ's and St. Thomas's Hospitals will be remembered to his honour +. * An anecdote is related in the Spectator, No. 462. of one of these entertainments. His majesty had been drinking pretty deep with Sir Robert, when he wished to depart. The lord mayor, however, in the fulness of his heart, followed the king, and taking him by the coat, insisted, that his majesty should drink-one bottle more." Charles complied with his guest's mandatory request, good naturedly observing, that "He that's drunk is as great as a king !”. + Granger. 1681. 1 1681. Sir John Moor, grocer, erected the writing school in Christ's Hospital, and a free-school at Appleby in Leices. tershire. 1684. Sir Henry Tulse, grocer. "Let it remain upon record, for the lasting honour of this mayor, that when one had offered him one thousand guineas to procure him a lease of the city's duties of scavage, portage, &c. at 400%. rent yearly to the city, Sir Henry generously refused it; and more over, used his endeavour to advance the rent of the said duties for the benefit of the city: by which means it came to pass, that 1,2007. yearly rent was paid for the same, by the same person *.” Having brought our list of "Worthy Mayors" to the era of the glorious Revolution, a continuation of the names of such gentlemen as have been honoured with the highest degree of civic magistracy is subjoined: 1689 Sir John Chapman, knt. 1713 Sir Richard Hoare, knt. 1714 Sir Samuel Stanier, knt. 1715 Sir W. Humpreys, knt. and bart. 1716 Sir Charles Peers, knt. 1719 Sir William Lewen, knt. 1721 Sir John Fryer, bart. |