ANTONII Ecclesiæ Ornamentū & Decus, & ad Oblivionis Procacitatem, quæ rerum omnium citius obsuscat memoriam, effugandam, hoc vivus & superstes posuit. Quia præstat tempestivè quàm serò sapere, Executoribus negligentibus ac avaris hujusmodi Curam reliquendo.

Anno Domini MDXXXII.
Quocunq; ingrederis, sequitur mors corporis umbram.]

One Johnson (a Schoolmaster here) became a Prebendary of Windsor, and then (by little and little) followed the Spoile of this Hospitall: He first dissolved the Quire, conveyed away the Plate and Ornaments, then the Bels, and lastly put out the Almes- men from their Houses, appointing them Portions of 12 Pence the Week to each. But now I heare of no such matter performed; for their Houses, with other, be letten out for Rent, and the Church is a Preaching-place for the French Nation, who hold it at this Day of the Church of Windsor.

This Schoole was commended in the Reigne of Henry the sixth, and sithence also commended above other; but now it is decayed, and come to nothing, by taking that from it which thereunto belonged.

This School kept equal Credit with that of Pauls; both which had the greatest Reputation in the City in former Times. I meet with a merry Retainer at Q. Elizabeths Court, giving an Account of the great Entertainment she had in her Progress Anno 1575. at Kenelworth Catle by the Earl of Leicester: where he speaks of his going to this School: "Yee mervail perchance, saith he, to see me so bookish. Let me tel you in few Words. I went to School, forsooth, both at Polles and also at St. Antonies: [was] in the fifth Forme, past Esops Fables, red Terence. Vos isthæc intro auferte: And began with my Virgil; Tityre tu patulæ. I could my Rules, could construe and pars with the best of them, &c."

The Scholars of this School used at a certain time of the Year to go in Procession. Thus I find in the Year 1562 on the 15 day of September, there set from Mile End two hundred Children of this St. Anthonies School, all well be seen, and so along through Algate, down Cornhil, to the Stocks; and so to the Freer Austins, with Streamers and Flags, and Drums beating. And after, every Child went home to their Fathers and Friends.

The French or Walloon Church is still in this Place, having been new built after the Ruines of the former Church by the great Fire. Formerly three Pastors belonged to it. And in the Year 1652. the Pastors were Delmey, Cisner, and Stouppe. In those times the two latter disagreed with the first: Whom at length they with the Consistory suspended from his Ministry, upon pretence of Non-submission to certain Acts made by the Consistory. And when he acquiesced not in their Censure, they summoned him to appear before the Cœtus of the Strangers Churches in London, as the true and competent Judge in such Cases according to the Patent of King Edward VI. This Delmey had confuted in the Pulpit some Points that Cisner and the other had preached. They had preached for the Observation of Holidays; and did moreover observe and keep such Days: saying, that if they should scruple to preach on those Days, they should scandalize the Churches of France and Geneva. But on the other hand Delmey urged, that in the Acts of two Colloquies of all the foreign Churches in this Realm, viz. that were kept Anno 1644. and Anno 1654. the Observation of Holidays were prohibited and all publick Exercises thereon. And therefore he thought it his Duty to oppose them and their Doctrines, who thereby had made an Irrution upon the Churches Discipline and Government. This gave the first ground of Offence between them. After Delmeys Suspension, many of the Congregation were his Friends, (for he was a pious Man and good Preacher) and sided with him, and required him to be restored to his Preaching. And he appealed to a Colloquy of all the French Churches within the Kingdom, at Southampton, Norwich, Canterbury, Sandwich, &c. according to the right and usual way in such Cases. But Cisner refused it, and declined their Judgment herein: and would have all Matters decided by themselves and the Dutch Church in London; contrary to their Discipline and Government: which had been made by Consent of all the said Churches. Upon this a great many Families of this Congregation preferred a Petition An. 1656. to Oliver the Protector, that Delmeys Cause might be heard before a Colloquy. Which he granted: A Colloquy consisted of a Minister and an Elder of each Church. And in seventy six Years there had been twenty nine Colloquies. This Contest held for some Years.]

Next is the Parish Church of St. Bartholomew, at the End of Bartholomew Lane. Thomas Pike, Alderman, with the Assistance of Nicholas Yoo, one of the Sheriffes of London, about the Yeere 1438. new builded this Church, and were there buried.

This Church was repaired and beautified at the proper Cost and Charges of the Parishioners in the Year of our Lord 1620.

      Churchwardens.
William Drew,
Lancelot Johnson,

Sir John Frey, [or Fray] Knt. was buried there.

Margery his Daughter and Heire, Wife to Sir John Lepington, Knight, founded there a Chauntry the 21. of Edward the fourth.

Alderban, a Gascoigne, was buried there.

Sir W. Capell, Maior, 1509. added unto this Church a proper Chapel, on the South side thereof, and was buried there.

Sir Giles Cappell was also buried there.

James Wilford, Taylor, one of the Sheriffes, 1499. appointed by his Testament, a Doctor of Divinity, every Good Friday for ever, to preach there a Sermon of Christs Passion, from sixe of the Clocke till eight before Noone, in the said Church.

John Wilford, Merchant Taylor, Alderman. 1544.

Sir James Wilford, 1550.

Sir George Barne, Maior, 1552.

John Dent.

Miles Coverdale, Bishop of Excester.

Thomas Dancer, and Anne his Wife.