account in this treatise, and never since rebuilt or like to be) by that which remained of it before, it seemed to have been a fair strong

cond year of

Richard I.

of

Longshamp Ely, Chancaused part wall, from the White be broken

enlarging round

made a wall which

outermost

likewise

William

bishop

cellor,

of the city that gate to Tower, to down, for the Tower, which he embattled, now the wall; he made

a

gate was, by

THE TOWER.

undermine

ing the foundation, much weakened, and about two hundred years after, that is 1440, the eighteenth year of Henry VI. it fell down, and was never since rebuilt.

The next in the east is Aldgate, or Oldgate, of the antiquity thereof, having been one of the four principal gates, and also one of the seven double gates aforementioned. It had two pair of gates and portcullises, though now but one, yet the hooks of the other gate, and the place. of letting down the other portcullis are yet to be seen. This gate appeareth to be very antient, being named in the charter in King Edgar's time; and likewise in King Edward I. And in the civil wars between King John and his barons, 1215, the Londoners were on the barons part, who then besieged Northampton, and after came to Bedford Castle, where they were well received by William Beauchamp, captain thereof; and having then secret notice, that if they pleased they might enter the city, they removed their camp to Ware, and from thence coming to London in the night, they entered by Aldgate, and placing guards at the gate, they disposed of all things at their pleasure.

They spoiled the Friar's houses, and searched their coffers: after which Robert Fitzwater, Jeffery Magnaville, the Earl of Essex, and

the Earl of

ALDGATE.

Gloucester, mander in

applied to repair the walls of the stones taken. Jew's

aforesaid;

being most having

an easy en

repaired, or it, after the the Nor

strong bulwarks of brick, and tile.

eleventh of 1471, ThoFaucon

bridge, having assembled a riotous company of seamen and others in Essex and Kent, came with a great navy of ships up to the Tower of London, whereupon the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, with consent of the Common Council, fortified the Thames sides with armed men, guns, and other warlike weapons, from Baynard's Cas le to the Tower, to prevent their landing; but the rebels being denied passage that way, they fell upon Aldgate, Bishopsgate, Cripplegate, Aldersgate, London Bridge, and along Bankside, shooting arrows, and guns into the city, and burning above threescore houses in the suburbs.

Upon Sunday, May 11, 1471, five thousand of them assaulting Aldgate, won the Bulwarks, and entered the city, but the portcullis being let down, those that were in were slain; and Robert Basset, alderman of that ward, commanded them in the name of God to draw up the portcullis, which being done, the Londoners issued out of the gate, and courageously beat back their enemies to St. Botolph's church, by which time the Earl Rivers, and the lieutenant of the Tower, coming with fresh forces, joined them, and then they soon routed the rebels, and made them fly. Alderman Basset and other citizens chasing them to Milend, and from thence pursued some of them to Poplar, and

others to Stratford, killing many, and taking divers prisoners. In the mean time, Fauconbridge their commander, having in vain assaulted other places on the water-side, fled to his ships. Thus much of Aldgate as it was of old, we shall speak of the rebuilding when we come to Aldgate ward.

The third

the north, is gate, supbuilt

by

of London, unknown; casion there ease of paspecially to Suffolk, shire, &c. were forced about; yet what antient that in year land was

procurators of London tuate in the

Botolph,

Bishops

BISHOPSGATE.

gate toward Bishopsposed to be some bishop though now but the ocof was for

sengers, esNorfolk, Cambridgewho before to go much it is somefor we read 1210, some sold to the or wardens Bridge, siparish of St. without

gate. And

in a charter dated 1235, it is written, that Walter Brume, and Rosia his wife, having founded the priory, or new hospital of our blessed lady, (since called St. Mary Spittle) without Bishopsgate, having confirmed the same to the honour of God, and our blessed lady for canons regular. Also in 1247, Simeon Fitz-Mary, Sheriff of London, the twenty-ninth year of Henry III. founded the hospital of St. Mary called Bethlem, without Bishopsgate.

And for repairing this gate, Henry III. confirmed certain liberties to the merchants of the Haunce, to keep it in repair, which they did for many years; but in the year 1551, having prepared stone, and a new gate to be set up, at the complaint of the English merchants, their charter was taken from them, so that the old gate remained.

Next to this upon the north side of the city, is Moorgate, of which we read, that in the third year of Henry V. 1415, Thomas Faulconer, Mayor, caused the wall of the city to be broken through near Coleman

city.

Between

other

MOORGATE.

this gate and Cripplegate there have been lately made two posterns through the wall, for the better ease of passengers, and several new

houses built near them.

gate is next, great antiSO called

conquest; that in 1010, spoiling the East Angles, bishop of caused the King Edmartyr to be from Bre(now called mund's

through the the East so to LonCripplegate it was SO cripples there, and

that when the body of St. Edmund passed through it, many miracles were wrought thereby, as that some of the lame were cured, praising God, &c. This body continued three years in St. Gregory's church, near St. Paul's. And further, William the Conqueror in his charter for confirming the foundation of the college in London, called St. Martin's le Grand, said thus, "I do give and grant to the same church and canons serving God therein, all the lands, and the moor without the postern, which is called Cripplegate, on either part of the postern." We read likewise, that Alfune built the parish church of St. Giles, near a gate of the city, called Porta Contractorum, or Cripplesgate, about the year 1090.

This gate was formerly a prison for citizens for debt or otherwise, like one of the counters; it was new built in 1244, by the brewers of London; and Edmund Shaw, Goldsmith, in 1483, gave by his will 400 marks, and the stuff of the old gate called Cripplegate, to build the same again, which was accordingly done in 1491.

Alders

as

Ældersgate so called wich, or of antient men same, nor of growing tifully there places, fancied; but the antiquiit being one first gates of serving for as Aldgate eastern parts both old distinction, Aldersgate,

had several

other Ald

gate hath

ALDERSGATE.

additional buildings to it, as on the southside, where several large rooms and lodgings of timber have been made; and on the east side a great, timber building, with one large room paved with stone or tile; there is likewise a well curbed with stone, and of a great depth, which rises into that room, though two stories high from the ground, which is very remarkable; John Day, a famous printer, dwelt in this gate, and built many houses upon the city wall, toward St. Ann's Church. You may read more of the new building this gate in Aldersgate ward.