proctor and twenty-five scholars, all to be men 'studying the refinements of grammar.' In 1642 the rector, Phillip Eldlyn, was sequestered for his loyalty. The second name in the dedication has caused some speculation, as the father of S. John the Baptist could hardly be intended. A certain Zacharius living in the parish, and probably a benefactor, has been suggested. But a simple way out of the difficulty is to assume that Zachary was used as a surname and to distinguish John, son of Zachary, from John, son of Zebedee. le-Grand The great religious house (monastery or college) of S. MartinS. Martin-le-Grand, near S. Paul's, was founded in 1056 by two brothers, Ingilricus and Girardus, and confirmed by William the Conqueror. It was altered and repaired in 1367. The church and advowson were given by Henry VII (in his eighteenth year) to the Monastery of S. Peter, Westminster. In the reign of Edward VI the college was surrendered and the church destroyed in 1548, and 'a tavern built on the east part of it '— so Heylyn writes. Touching on the question of sanctuary already mentioned, the following are interesting. From Coke's 'Institutes': The Abbot of Westminster exhibited his Bill to the King against the Sheriffs of London for arresting and drawing out with force a privileged person out of the sanctuary of S. Martin's le grand. The Sheriffs were grievously fined in the Star Chamber (29 Hen. VI). From a letter of Thos. Dorset [printed by the Camden Society: Men sayd that the sayntuary shall aftre this settyng of parliament, hold no man for dett, morder, nor felenye nor Westmestre, nor S. Martyns etc. (1555). The Church of S. Michael-at-Corne (or ad bladum), corrupted s. into 'Querne,' stood at the west end of West Chepe, close to Michael 1 Newcourt. Querne S. Vedast S. Paul's. There was formerly a corn market there: hence the name. The date of the first church was probably twelfth century. At all events there was a church there in 1181, the first year of Ralph de Diceto, Dean of S. Paul's. In early times it was neither a rectory nor vicarage, probably a curate was supplied by the Dean and Canons of S. Paul's. Thomas Newton was parson in 1461, and died and was buried there in that year. A cross of stone, known as 'the old cross,' which formerly stood at the west end of the street, was placed in this church and remained there for some years. It was also known as 'the Standard.' John Leland, the famous antiquary, lived in the parish and was buried in the church in 1552. The church was not rebuilt after the Fire, and the parish was united to that of S. Vedast, which is near by. Laurance was rector during the Civil War, and was ejected by sequestration. The Church of S. Vedast,1 close to the last mentioned, stands at the corner of Foster Lane (Foster being a corruption of Vedast), and is one of the thirteen Peculiars.' It is on record that John de Ruberge was priest in charge, or possibly rector, in 1291. Thomas Rotherham, who was rector in 1465, afterwards became Bishop of Rochester. He was chaplain to Edward IV, but imprisoned by Richard (when Protector) as being a friend to the younger Edward. He was Master of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, and Chancellor of the University, and was munificent in his benefactions both to Cambridge and Oxford. John Batty, rector in the time of the Civil War, was sequestered and died before the Restoration. The first church must have dated from the thirteenth century, if not earlier. Dugdale calls it S. Vedast, and Amand says it was under the, patronage of Christchurch, Canterbury (Monasticon, ed. 1846 i. 88). It seems to have been newly 1 S. Vedast was Bishop of Arras about A.D. 484. built in the beginning of the sixteenth century, and Henry Coot, sheriff, who died in 1509, added a chapel dedicated to S. Dunstan. In 1614 it was repaired and enlarged. It was not entirely destroyed in the Fire. The tower stood till 1694, but was rebuilt in the next century. Silver With John Stow the monuments in a church were the chief S. Olave, feature of interest, and he is rather contemptuous of the little Street Church of S. Olave in Silver Street: 'A small thing and without any noteworthy monuments.' The date of the original church was earlier than 1291, the date of the 'Taxatio' of Pope Nicholas, in which the church is called 'Olav de Mokewell' (i.e. Monkwell). We are told of a certain priest or curate in charge, Roger de Shardelawe, in 1343. The church was rebuilt in 1609. The income was stated to be £83, including the value of the parsonage. It was not rebuilt after the Fire, but the parish was joined to that of S. Alban, Wood Street. A small piece of the churchyard may still be seen in Falcon Square, and is used as a public resting-place. Two churches within the City and one-Shoreditch-without were dedicated to S. Leonard, who was Bishop of Limoges in the sixth century, and is traditionally credited with possessing the miraculous power of releasing from prison such prisoners as appealed to him for intercession. Foster S. Leonard's, Foster Lane, formerly stood on the west side s. of that street, being a small parish church designed for people Leonard, of S. Martin-le-Grand, and founded by the dean and canons Lane of the priory in the thirteenth century. Outside the church was a monument to John Brokeitwell, one of the founders or new builders of the church, with this epitaph: Al yat wil gud wurkes wurch, Prey for yem yat help thys Church Pater noster and Ave. |