Part 18

Subscriptions and benefactions are likewise taken in at Messrs. Honywood, Fuller, and Co. bankers in Birchin lane; and at Mr. Gislingham Cooper’s, banker in the Strand. _From the account published by the Society in June 1758._

The reader may find the other hospitals for lying-in women, founded after the example set by this excellent charity, under the articles LONDON LYING-IN HOSPITAL, LYING-IN HOSPITAL in Brownlow street, and LYING-IN HOSPITAL in Duke street.

MIDDLESEX _row_, St. Giles’s Broadway.

MIDLEY’S _wharf_, Ratcliff.†

MILBORNE’S _Almshouse_, on the west side of Woodrof lane, Crutched Friars, was erected by Sir John Milborne in the year 1535, for the reception of thirteen poor members of the Drapers company, whom he allowed 7d. _per_ week, which was at that time a sufficient support. In the front of the building is the following inscription:

_Ad laudem_ Dei, _& gloriosæ_ Virginis Mariæ, _hoc opus erexit Dominus_ Johannes Milborne, _Miles & Alderman. bujus civitatis, A. D. 1535_.

That is,

‘To the praise of God, and the glory of the Virgin, this edifice was erected by John Milborne, Mayor of this city in the year 1535.’

The Drapers company, to whom the management of this almshouse was intrusted, have not only increased the number of the pensioners to fifteen; but have doubled their pensions, with a load of coals, and twenty or more shillings annually, out of the money left to be distributed by that company at discretion.

_St._ MILDRED’S BREAD STREET, a church situated on the east side of Bread street, and in the ward of that name, is thus denominated from its being dedicated to St. Mildred, a Saxon lady, the daughter of Merwaldus, brother to Penda King of the Mercians. This Princess despising the gaieties of a court, retired to a convent at Hale in France, whence returning to England, accompanied by seventy virgins, she was consecrated Abbess of a new monastery in the isle of Thanet, where she died in the year 676.

A church under the same tutelary name stood in that spot in the year 1333: but the last structure being destroyed by the fire of London, the present edifice was created in its room in 1670.

It consists of a spacious body, and a light tower divided into four stages, whence rises a tall spire.

The advowson of this church was anciently in the Prior and Canons of St. Mary Overie’s, but it afterwards came to Sir Nicholas Crispe, in whose family it may perhaps still remain. On the present edifice being built, the parish of St. Margaret Moses was annexed to it. The Rector, besides his other profits, receives 130l. _per annum_ in lieu of tithes.

_St._ MILDRED’S POULTRY, at the corner of Scalding alley, in Cheap ward. A church of the same name stood in this place before the year 1325; but the last edifice sharing the fate of most of the other public buildings at the fire of London, this was built in its room.

It is a plain, substantial stone building, enlightened by a series of large windows, and strengthened with rustic at the corners. The tower is crowned with a plain course, without either pinacles, turret, or any other ornament.

The patronage of this church was in the Prior and Canons of St. Mary Overie’s in Southwark, till their suppression; and it has ever since been in the King’s gift. After its being rebuilt, the parish of St. Mary Cole was annexed to it, by which the profits of the Rector were considerably increased. Besides his other profits, he receives 170l. a year in lieu of tithes.

MILE END, so called from its being a mile from Aldgate, is situated near Stepney, in the road to Bow. Here anciently stood a Lazaretto, or hospital of lepers, denominated the house of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and Mary Magdalene, to whom Edward VI. granted letters patent, allowing them to beg for their support.

MILE END GREEN, Stepney.

MILE END OLD TOWN, near Stepney.

MILE’S _lane_, 1. By Crooked lane. † 2. New Fish street.†

MILE’S _rents_, 1. Dog lane, Barnaby street. † 2. Powell’s alley, Beech lane, Whitecross street.†

MILFORD _lane_, extends from the Strand to the Thames.†

MILFORD _stairs_, at the bottom of Milford lane. †

MILITARY _mews_, Prince’s street, Soho.

MILK _alley_, 1. Dean street, Soho. 2. Long Ditch, Westminster. 3. Milk yard, near Gravel lane. 4. Peter street, Clare market. 5. Wapping. 6. Winchester yard, Winchester street.

MILK _street_, Cheapside; so called from a market for milk formerly kept there.

MILK _yard_, 1. New Gravel lane, Shadwell. 2. Popping’s alley, Fleet street. 3. Rag Fair, Rosemary lane.

MILLBANK, Westminster horse ferry.

MILLER’S _court_, Aldermanbury.†

MILL _lane_, Tooley street.

MILLMAN’S _street_, near Red Lion street, Holborn.†

MILLPOND BRIDGE, Rotherhith.

MILLPOND BRIDGE _lane_, Rotherhith.

MILLPOND _row_, Rotherhith.

MILL _street_, 1. Conduit street. 2. Rotherhith wall. 3. St. Saviour’s dock.

MILL _yard_, runs from Rosemary lane into Goodman’s fields.

MILLS’S _yard_, Rotherhith wall.†

MILXAN’S _wharf_, Durham yard.†

MIMS, there are two villages of this name; North Mims, situated in Hertfordshire, on the east side of Colney, and two miles from Hatfield. In its neighbourhood is the seat of the late Sir Joseph Jekyll, Master of the Rolls, in right of his Lady, who was heir to her late brother the great Lord Somers. It has a most delightful prospect. The body of that Nobleman lies interred in the chancel of the church, without any inscription. This seat now belongs to the Duke of Leeds, who is Lord of the manor.

South Mims is situated two miles from the former, in the most northern corner of Middlesex. Here is an almshouse built and endowed for six poor people, by James Hickson, Esq; who died in 1689, when he gave by his will to fifteen poor people of this parish two shifts, one pair of hose, and a pair of shoes annually; for the payment of these, and other benefactions, he left several estates in this parish to the Brewers company in London.

MINCING _lane_, on the south side of Fenchurch street, extends to Tower street, is well built, and chiefly inhabited by merchants.

MINE AND BATTERY WORKS COMPANY, for the discovery of mines and minerals. In order to give a just idea of the origin of this and the following company, it is necessary to observe, that the English, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, being but little acquainted with the manner of working and discovering mines, she, by the advice of her Council, sent for several Germans, well skilled both in these works, and in smelting and refining of minerals; who on their arrival were no sooner naturalized, than they obtained a licence to search for mines.

Among these, that Princess in the year 1565, impowered William Humfreys and Christopher Schutz a German, to search for all mines, minerals, and subterraneous treasure, except allum and copperas, in the several royalties throughout England, exclusive of the following eight counties, York, Cumberland, Westmoreland, Cornwall, Lancashire, Devon, Gloucester, and the principality of Wales, for their sole use and profit; her Majesty only reserving to herself a tenth part of all gold, silver, and quicksilver ores, and the pre-emption of refined gold and silver, the former at 8d. and the latter at 1d. _per_ ounce lower than the current price of those metals; and 6d. for every hundred weight of copper.

Afterwards her Majesty, in the year 1568, incorporated this society by the name of, _The Governors, Assistants, and Society of the Mineral and Battery Works_. The number of shares belonging to this company at first amounted to thirty-six; which being divided into half and quarter parts, they are at present increased to an hundred and forty four.

MINES ROYAL COMPANY. This society owed its origin to the same cause as the former, and was founded a year before it: for in 1564 Queen Elizabeth, by her letters patent granted to Thomas Thurland and Daniel Houghsetter, and their heirs for ever, impowered them to search for mines of gold, silver, copper, and quicksilver, in the several royalties in the counties of York, Lancashire, Cumberland, Westmoreland, Cornwall, Devon, Gloucester, Worcester, and the principality of Wales, to be held of the crown upon the same terms as those abovementioned, with respect to the Mine and Battery Works company.

At length Thurland and Houghsetter having in virtue of the powers granted them, sold several parts or shares of their said privileges, they, with the purchasers, were, by letters patent, dated the 22d of May 1568, incorporated by the stile of, _The Governors, Assistants, and Commonalty of the Mines Royal_. The shares of this company at first consisted of twenty-four; but they have since been increased to ninety-six. _Sir John Pettus’s Fodinæ Regale._

MINORIES. This street extends from Aldgate street to Tower hill. The middle part of the east side is called the Little Minories; this part is railed in, and is out of the liberties of the city. Here anciently stood an abbey of nuns of the order of St. Clare, called the Minoresses; whence the street obtained the name of the Minories. See the article TRINITY _in the Minories_.

MINT, an office kept in the Tower for coining money. Before the Norman conquest the Kings of England set apart certain monasteries for mints; presuming that the coinage would in those places be best secured from frauds and corruption. Edward I. however ordered a mint of thirty furnaces to be erected in the Tower of London, and others in Canterbury, Kingston upon Hull, Newcastle upon Tyne, Bristol and Exeter. From that time the mint was kept sometimes in one place, and sometimes in another, according to the will and pleasure of the Prince, who, for a sum of money, was frequently prevailed upon to grant the privilege of coining to some Nobleman, Bishop, or Corporation; which being attended with many inconveniencies to the public, Queen Elizabeth, in the beginning of her reign, endeavoured to rectify those abuses, by confining the mint to the Tower of London, which has ever since been appropriated to the coinage of money, except when King Charles I. by the confusion of the times, was obliged to erect new mints at Oxford, York, and Newark upon Trent, where being with his army, he was reduced to the necessity of coining money to supply his present wants: and when King William III. having called in all the base and clipped money, for the sake of expedition, and for the service of distant parts of the nation, was obliged to erect mints at Bristol, Exeter, York and Winchester.

The mint office is on the left hand on entering into the Tower, and at a small distance from the gate. There is no possibility of describing the particular processes that the different metals undergo before they receive the impression.

The manner of stamping is all you are permitted to see, and this is done with surprizing expedition, by means of an engine, worked sometimes by three, and sometimes by four men. The manner of making the impression on gold, silver, and copper, is exactly the same, only a little more care is necessary in the one, than in the other, to prevent waste.

This engine, which makes the impression on both sides of a piece of money, in the same moment, works by a worm-screw terminating in a spindle; just in the same manner as the letter press for printing books. To the point of this spindle the head of the die is fastened by a small screw, and in a little sort of a cup directly underneath it, is placed the reverse. Between these the piece of metal already cut round, or cast to the size, and if gold, exactly weighed, is placed; and by once pulling down the spindle with a jerk, is completely stamped. The whole process is performed with amazing dexterity; for as fast as the men who work the engine can turn the spindle, so fast does another twitch out with his middle finger that which was stamped, while with his finger and thumb he places another that is unstamped. The silver and gold thus stamped, are delivered to be milled round the edges, the manner of performing which is a secret never shewn to any body.

The mint is managed by several officers formed into a corporation. These are a Warden, a Master and Worker, a Comptroller, the King’s Assay Master, the chief Engraver, the Surveyor of the meltings, a Clerk of the irons, a Weigher and Teller, a Provost, Melters, Blanchers, Moneyers, &c.

The Warden receives the silver, &c. from the goldsmiths, pays for it, and oversees all that belong to his office. His salary amounts to 450l. a year for himself and clerk. He has also another clerk who receives 100l. a year.

The Master and Worker receives the silver, &c. from the Warden, orders it to be melted, delivers it to the Moniers, and receives it back from them again. His salary is 650l. a year for himself and three clerks.

The Comptroller sees that the money be made of the just assize; oversees the officers, and controlls them, if the money does not prove as it ought. His salary for himself and clerk is 535l. _per annum_.

The King’s Assay Master, takes care that the bullion is according to standard. He has a salary of 225l. a year for himself and clerk: and the Assistant Assay Master has 100l. _per annum_.

The chief Engraver, engraves the stamps for the money. He has a salary of 200l. a year, and his Assistant 80l.

The Surveyor of the meltings, is to see the bullion cast out, and that the metal be not altered after the Assay Master has made trial of it, and it is delivered to the melter.

The business of the Clerk of the irons, is to see that the working irons are kept clean, and fit for the work. These two last offices are frequently enjoyed by the same person, who has a salary of 130l. 10s. a year.

The Weigher weighs the bullion.

The Teller counts the number of pieces. These two last offices are also frequently enjoyed by the same person, who has a salary of 142l. 10s. a year for himself and clerk.

The Provost to the company of Moneyers, provides for all the Moneyers, and oversees them. His salary is 100l. a year.

The Moneyers cast the money, and sheer it; some beat it broad, others round it, and others stamp or coin it. These have 40l. a year each.

Besides these there are the King’s Clerk, and Clerk of the papers, who has 100l. a year; a Surveyor of the money presses, who has 40l. a year; and several deputies and clerks.

MINT, opposite the west end of St. George’s church, Southwark. Here anciently stood a magnificent structure belonging to the Duke of Suffolk, which coming to Henry VIII. he erected a mint in it, from which that neighbourhood is still denominated. This place was for many years a famous asylum for debtors, who fled thither with their effects, in order to defraud their creditors: till this was carried to such a height, that the Parliament found it necessary to take away the privilege of sanctuary in order to destroy this nest of spoilers.

MINT _street_, extends west from the corner of Blackman street, opposite St. George’s church, Southwark.

MINT _square_, in the Mint, Southwark.

MITCHELL’S _court_, 1. Milk street, Cheapside† 2. Mitchell street, Old street.†

MITCHELL’S _street_, Brick lane, Old street.†

MITRE _court_, 1. Cheapside.* 2. Cornhill.* 3. Fenchurch street.* 4. Fish street hill.* 5. Fleet street.* 6. Friday street.* 7. Gutter lane, Cheapside.* 8. High street, Aldgate.* 9. St. John’s street, West Smithfield.* 10. Milk street, Cheapside.* 11. St. Paul’s Church yard.*

MITRE _court buildings_, Inner Temple.*

MITRE _yard_, Shoemaker row, Aldgate.*

MOLDSTRAND DOCK _stairs_, Willow street, Bank side.

MOLIN’S _court_, Shoe lane, Fleet street.†

MONEYBAG _alley_, Blue Anchor yard, Rosemary lane.

MONEYBAG _yard_, Anchor alley.

MONEY _court_, Mile’s lane.

MONGER’S _Almshouse_, in Well street, Hackney, was founded by Henry Monger, Esq; in the year 1699, for six poor old men, who are allowed forty shillings _per annum_ each. _Maitland._

MONKWELL _street_, Silver street, near Cripplegate. It took its name from the monks lodging in it, and a well belonging to them. _Maitland._

MONMOUTH _court_, 1. Hedge lane, Charing Cross. 2. High Holborn. 3. Monmouth street, St. Giles’s.

MONMOUTH _street_, 1. Quaker street, Spitalfields. 2. Seven Dials. This street is famous for the sale of old cloaths. 3. Shadwell market. 4. Spitalfields.

MONTAGUE _alley_, Clare street, Clare market.

MONTAGUE _close_, in Southwark.

MONTAGUE _court_, 1. Bishopsgate street. 2. Little Britain. 3. Montague street, Spitalfields. 4. Petticoat lane.

MONTAGUE HOUSE, in Great Russel street, a noble building, with a very spacious court yard before it. His Grace the late Duke of Montague having built another house in the Privy Garden at Whitehall, this edifice was let for the use of the King’s great wardrobe, and is since purchased by authority of Parliament, to be a repository for the Cotton library, and for the natural and artificial curiosities, medals, coins, printed books, and manuscripts, bought by the public of the executors of the late Sir Hans Sloane, the late Lord Oxford, &c. _Stowe’s Survey, last edition._ See the article BRITISH MUSEUM.

MONTAGUE _street_, Brick lane, Spitalfields.

MONTH’S _alley_, St. Catharine’s lane.

_The End of the_ FOURTH VOLUME.

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

1. P. 112, changed “pent-houses” to “pest-houses”. 2. P. 310, changed “Town Clerk, &c. their several coaches” to “Town Clerk, &c. in their several coaches”. 3. All spelling errors were left uncorrected. 4. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_. 5. Superscripts are denoted by a caret before a single superscript character, e.g. M^r.