Part 6
PAPER _office_, Whitehall. An ancient office under the Secretaries of state, the keeper of which has under his charge all the public papers, writings, matters of state and council; all letters, intelligences, negotiations of the King’s public ministers abroad, and in general all the papers and dispatches that pass through the offices of the two Secretaries of state, which are, or ought to be, from time to time transmitted to this office, and remain here, disposed by way of library. _Chamberlain’s Present State._
PAPEY, an hospital which stood at the north end of St. Mary Ax, and was founded by three priests in the year 1430, for a Master, two Wardens, and several Chaplains, Chauntry Priests, &c. It belonged to the brotherhood of St. John the Evangelist and St. Charity. Such priests as were become lame, or in great poverty, were here relieved, and had chambers with a certain allowance of bread, drink, and coals; and one old man, with his wife, was to see them constantly served, and to keep the house clean. This hospital was suppressed in the reign of Edward VI.
PARADISE _court_, 1. Lady Clark’s yard, Gravel lane. 2. Peter street.
PARADISE _row_, 1. Brook’s street, Bond street. 2. Near St. George’s fields. 3. Lambeth. 4. Tottenham Court Road.
PARDON _church_, a chapel formerly situated to the east of the Bishop of London’s palace, in St. Paul’s church yard, in a place at that time known by the name of Pardon Church Haugh. This chapel was erected by Gilbert Becket, sheriff of London, in the reign of King Stephen, and rebuilt in the reign of Henry V. by Thomas More, Dean of St. Paul’s, who also encompassed it with a cloister. On the east side was a handsome library founded by Walter Shiryngton, Chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster. In this chapel were interred several persons, whose monuments, according to Mr. Stow, excelled in curious workmanship those in the neighbouring cathedral, and on the walls were painted the Dance of Death, in imitation of a painting in the cloister of St. Innocent’s church at Paris, with English verses translated out of French by John Lydgate, a famous old poet, by way of explanation.
PARISH CLERKS. See CLERKS.
PARISH GARDEN _lane_, Upper Ground, Southwark.
PARISH GARDEN _stairs_, Upper Ground.
PARISH _street_, Horselydown.
PARK, in Southwark; several streets built upon the spot where the Bishop of Winchester had formerly a park, which joined to his palace.
PARK GATE, Redcross street, Southwark.
PARK PLACE, St. James’s street, St. James’s.
PARK PROSPECT, Knightsbridge.
PARK PROSPECT _court_, Manchester street.
PARK _street_, 1. Little Grosvenor street. 2. Tothill street, Westminster.☐
PARKER’S _alley_. 1. Near Cherry Garden stairs.† 2. Turnmill street.†
PARKER’S _court_, Coleman street.†
PARKER’S _gardens_, Heydon yard, in the Minories.†
PARKER’S _lane_, Drury lane.†
PARKER’S _rents_, Whitecross street, Cripplegate.†
PARKER’S LANE _School_, situated in Parker’s lane, Drury lane, was founded about the year 1663, by Mr. William Skelton of St. Giles’s in the Fields, for the education of fifty poor boys, thirty-five of whom to be of the parish of St. Giles in the Fields, ten of that of St. Martin in the Fields, and five of St. Paul’s Covent Garden. The Master has a salary of 20_l._ two chaldrons of coals, and a gown every year, for teaching the children reading, writing, and arithmetic, each of whom has a coat of 6_s._ price every year; and the surplus arising from the estate is employed in putting them out apprentices. _Maitland._
PARLIAMENT. This great council, which is the highest and most ancient court of the kingdom, was indifferently denominated by the Saxons, _Michel Gemote_, and _Witen Gemote_, that is, the great court and council of wise men. _Coke’s Institutes._
The first mention we find of this court, is on its being held in this city by Egbert and Withlaf, Kings of Wessex, and Mercia, in the year 833, for deliberating on ways and means to oppose the piratical invasions, and destructive depredations of the Danes. _Spelman’s Concilia._
This great council, which was held twice a year before the conquest, consists of the King, the Lords spiritual and temporal, and the Commons: the Lords spiritual, consisting of the two Archbishops, and twenty-four Bishops, sit by virtue of their respective baronies, which they hold in a political capacity: the Lords temporal, who are created by the King’s patent, and therefore cannot be reduced to any certain number, sit by descent, or creation: and the Commons, who amount to 558, consist of Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, the representatives of the commonalty of Great Britain; who, by virtue of the King’s writs, are elected by the several counties, cities, and boroughs.
The power of parliament is so great and extensive, that it makes, amends, reduces, revives, and abrogates laws, statutes, and ordinances, concerning matters ecclesiastical, civil, and military. None can begin, continue, or dissolve this council, but by the King’s authority.
All the members of parliament sat together till the fiftieth of Edward III. in the year 1377, when the Commons removed to the Chapter-house of Westminster, in the cloister of the Abbey.
For the distinct privileges, and the manner of proceeding in the houses of Lords and Commons, see the articles LORDS, and COMMONS.
PARLIAMENT _alley_, Artillery lane.
PARLIAMENT _stairs_, Old Palace yard.☐
PARLIAMENT _stairs alley_, Old Palace yard.
PARLIAMENT _street_, a very handsome and spacious new built street, adorned with very handsome buildings. It extends from New Palace yard to the Cockpit.
PARMER’S _yard_, Stony lane.†
PARREY’S _rents_, Portpool lane, Leather lane.†
PARROT _alley_, 1. East Smithfield.* 2. Whitecross street, Old street.*
PARROT’S _rents_, Chequer alley, Whitecross street, Old street.†
PARROT _yard_, Parrot alley, East Smithfield.*
PARSON’S _court_, 1. Bride lane, Fleet street.† 2. White street.†
PARSON’S _rents_, Cow lane, Smithfield.†
PARSON’S _yard_, 1. Fore street, Lambeth.† 2. Shoreditch.
PASSAGE, Lambeth.
PATENT _Office_, Palsgrave Head court, near Temple Bar.
PATER NOSTER _alley_, Pater noster row.
PATER NOSTER _row_, extends from Cheapside to Amen corner. This street was anciently so called on account of the number of stationers, or writers who lived there before the invention of the noble art of printing; who wrote and sold the little books most in use in those times of ignorance, as alphabets with the Pater noster, the Ave Maria, the Creed and Graces. In the same place also dwelt the turners of beads for rosaries, who were also called Pater noster makers. At the end of Pater noster row near Amen corner is Ave Mary lane, which was also so called from the writers and beadmakers, who resided there. Pater noster row is still inhabited by many eminent wholesale booksellers and publishers. _Maitland._ 2. Dorset street, Spitalfields.
PATIENCE _street_, Anchor street.
PATRICK’S _court_, Houndsditch.†
PATTENMAKERS, a company incorporated by letters patent granted by King Charles II. in the year 1670; consisting of a Master, two Wardens, twenty-four Assistants, and forty-six Liverymen, who at their admission pay a fine of 6_l._ but have no hall.
PATTEN RING _alley_, Maze Pond, near Snow fields.
PAV’D _alley_, 1. Charles’s street, St. James’s. 2. Lime street, by Leadenhall street. 3. London House yard. 4. Water lane, Black Friars. 5. White Friars.
PAV’D _court_, 1. Bell Inn yard. 2. Five Feet lane. 3. Fleetwood’s rents. 4. George yard. 5. Green Bank.
PAV’D _entry_, London Wall.
PAVEMENT _row_, Moorfields.
PAVIOURS, a fellowship by prescription, and not by charter.
This company is governed by three Wardens and twenty-five Assistants; but though they have a coat of arms, they have neither hall nor livery.
PAVIOURS _alley_, Drury lane.
PAVIOURS _court_, Grub street, by Fore street, Moorgate.
PAULIN’S _street_, Hanover street.†
PAULIN’S _wharf_, Durham yard, in the Strand.
PAUL’S _alley_, 1. Fenchurch street. 2. St Paul’s Church yard. 3. Redcross street. 4. Wood street, Cheapside.
_St._ PAUL’S _Cathedral_, the most magnificent Protestant church in the world. This edifice has been generally supposed to have been founded in the place where anciently stood a temple dedicated by the Romans to the goddess Diana; an opinion derived from the tradition, of the heads of oxen, the horns of deer, and the tusks of boars having been commonly dug up there; but as Sir Christopher Wren in clearing the foundations of this ancient structure, found none of these, he justly discredited the opinion, and his son, in his _Parentalia_, has given a different account of the origin of the ancient edifice.
This gentleman observes, that the first cathedral of the episcopal see of London was built in the area, where had been the Roman Prætorian camp, and in the situation on which all the succeeding fabrics stood: but that this structure was demolished during the great and general persecution under the Emperor Dioclesian. This persecution was however short, the church is supposed to have been re-edified under Constantine; but it was afterwards destroyed by the Pagan Saxons, and restored again upon the old foundations, when they embraced Christianity in the seventh century, when Sebert, King of Essex, advanced Mellitus to the bishopric of London.
In 675, we find Erkenwald the fourth Bishop of London from Mellitus, expending great sums of money in repairing and beautifying the ancient edifice, augmenting its revenues, and procuring for it the most considerable privileges from the Pope and the Saxon princes then reigning: for these works the Bishop was canonized at his death, and his body placed in a glorious shrine above the high altar in the east part of the church, where this shrine remained the admiration of succeeding ages, till the fatal destruction of the whole fabric by fire.
This catastrophe happened in the year 961; and as it was rebuilt the same year, it is highly probable, that these early structures, how magnificent soever they might then be thought, were only small wooden buildings.
During the Saxon heptarchy, this church flourished extremely; Kenrad King of Mercia declared it as free in all its rights, as he himself desired to be at the day of judgment; Athelstan endowed it with fifteen lordships; Edgar, with two; and Egleflede his wife with two more; all which were confirmed by the charters of Ethelred and Canute, which solemnly imprecate curses on all who dare to violate it.
The next benefactor to this church was Edward the Confessor; but at the Norman invasion, which soon followed, some of its revenues were seized by the Conqueror; but he was no sooner seated on the throne, than he caused full restitution to be made; and even confirmed all its rights, privileges and immunities, in the amplest manner; with benedictions upon those who should augment its possessions, and solemn imprecations upon all who should violate any of the charters made in its favour.
In that reign, however, a dreadful fire consumed it a second time, and by this conflagration, which happened in 1086, the greatest part of this city was also laid in ashes: but this destruction served to make way for a more magnificent building, than had ever yet been applied to the purposes of devotion in this kingdom. Maurice, then Bishop of London, having undertaken this great work, obtained of the King the old stones of a spacious castle in the neighbourhood called the Palatine Tower, situated near the river Fleet; but though he lived twenty years, and prosecuted the work with uncommon earnestness, yet he left the completion of what he had begun to succeeding generations.
The successor of this Bishop followed his example, and even applied the whole revenue of his see towards the advancement of this great work; but like the former left it unfinished; after which it is supposed to have been compleated by lay persons; but at what time, or in what manner, is no where mentioned. Indeed William Rufus, who succeeded the Conqueror, is said to have exempted all ships entering the river Fleet with stone or other materials for the new cathedral, from toll and custom; and it is not improbable that he might take this structure under his own particular direction.
But notwithstanding the length of time, and the great expence bestowed upon this church, it had not long been compleated, when it was thought not sufficiently magnificent; the steeple was therefore rebuilt and finished about the year 1221; and then Roger Niger being promoted to the see of London in 1229, proceeding with the choir compleated it in 1240, and solemnly consecrated it afresh the same year, in the presence of the King, the Pope’s Legate, and many Lords both spiritual and temporal.
The spacious and magnificent edifice of St. Paul’s cathedral, being thus finished, a survey was taken of it, by which its dimensions appear to have been as follows. The length of the body of the church was 690 feet; the breadth 130; the height of the roof of the west part within 102 feet; that of the east 88; and that of the body 150; the height of the tower from the ground was 260 feet; from whence rose a wooden spire covered with lead 274 feet in length; on the top of which was a ball nine feet one inch in circumference. This was crowned with a cross that was fifteen feet in length, and the traverse six feet.
The ornaments of this cathedral exceeded those of every other church in the kingdom. The high altar stood between two columns, adorned with precious stones, and surrounded with images most beautifully wrought, and covered with a canopy of wood curiously painted with the representation of Saints and Angels.
The new shrine of St. Erkenwald stood on the east side of the wall above the high altar, and was adorned with gold, silver, and precious stones; but not being thought sufficiently rich, in 1339 three goldsmiths of London were retained by the Dean and Chapter to work upon it a whole year, at the end of which its lustre was so great, that Princes, Nobles, Ambassadors, and other foreigners of rank flocked from all parts to visit it, and to offer their oblations before it: among these we find all the rings and jewels of Walter de Thorp, and the best saphire stone of Richard de Preston; which last was applied to the curing of infirmities of the eyes, and proclamation of its virtues was made by the express will of the donor.
The picture of St. Paul finely painted, was placed in a wooden tabernacle on the right side of the high altar, and was esteemed a masterly performance.
Against a pillar in the body of the church, stood a beautiful image of the Virgin Mary; and that a lamp might be continually kept burning before it, and an anthem sung every day, John Burnet, Bishop of Bath and Wells, bequeathed a handsome estate.
In the center stood a large cross, and towards the north door a crucifix at which offerings were made, that greatly increased the revenue of the Dean and Canons.
The last piece of ornament we shall mention, was the fine dial belonging to the great clock, which being visible to all who passed by, care was taken that it should appear with the utmost splendor, and in particular an angel pointed to the hour.
Under this cathedral was a parish church called St. Faith’s, in which several persons of distinction were formerly interred: but no records remain that mention the time when divine worship was performed in it.
St. Paul’s cathedral was encompassed with a wall about the year 1109, which extended from the north east corner of Ave Mary lane, eastward along Pater noster row, to the north end of the Old Change in Cheapside; whence it ran southward to Carter lane, and passing on the north side of it to Creed lane, turned up to Ludgate street. To this wall there were six gates, the principal of which was situated near the end of Creed lane in Ludgate street. The second was at St. Paul’s alley in Pater noster row, the third at Canon alley; the fourth, called the Little gate, was situated at the entrance into Cheapside; the fifth, called St. Austin’s, led to Watling street; and the sixth fronted the south gate of the church near St. Paul’s chain.
Within the north side of this enclosure was situated in the middle of the church yard, a pulpit cross, at which sermons were preached weekly; and here was held the folkmote, or general convention of the citizens.
Facing this cross stood the charnel, in which the bones of the dead were decently piled up together, a thousand loads whereof were removed to Finsbury fields in the reign of Edward VI. and there laid in a moorish place, with so much earth to cover them, as raised a considerable mount, on which was erected three windmills to stand upon.
On the north west corner of the church yard, was the episcopal palace, contiguous to which on the east was a cemetery denominated Pardon Church Haw, where Gilbert Becket erected a chapel in the reign of King Stephen. See PARDON CHURCH.
On the east of the church yard was a clochier or bell tower by St. Paul’s school; wherein were four great bells, called Jesus bells, from their belonging to Jesus chapel in St. Faith’s church; but these, together with a fine image of St. Paul on the top of the spire, being won by Sir Miles Partridge, Knt. of Henry VIII. at one cast of the dice, were by that gentleman taken down and sold.
It may not be improper here to take notice of the celebration of divine service, the obsequies, anniversaries and chauntries particularly belonging to this cathedral: as to the first, Richard Clifford, Bishop of London, in 1414, with the consent of the Dean and Chapter, ordained that from thence forward it should be altered from the old form, and made conformable to the church of Salisbury, and other cathedrals within this kingdom.
The performance of obsequies for great persons deceased, was however retained as a peculiar privilege of this cathedral, from whence great profits arose. Indeed “the state and order observed on these occasions,” says Sir William Dugdale, “was little inferior to that used at the funerals of those great personages; the church and choir being hung with black, and escutcheons of their arms; their herses set up in wonderful magnificence, adorned with rich banner rolls, &c. and environed with barriers; having chief mourners and assistants, accompanied by several Bishops and Abbots in their proper habits; the Ambassadors of foreign Princes, many of our Nobility, the Knights of the Garter, the Lord Mayor, and the several Companies of London, who all attended with great devotion at these ceremonies.” This author adds a list of Emperors, Empresses, and Kings performed in this cathedral.
As to anniversaries, those of the conversion and commemoration of St. Paul, the consecration of the church, and the canonization of St. Erkenwald, were the principal. It is very remarkable, with respect to the first of these anniversaries, that Sir William le Baud, Knt. in the third year of Edward I. granted a good fat doe annually on the day of the conversion of St. Paul, and a good fat buck upon the day of commemoration, which till the reign of Queen Elizabeth were received with great formality at the steps of the choir, by the Canons cloathed in their sacred vestments, with garlands of flowers on their heads. Camden, who was an eye witness of this solemnity, says, that the horns of the buck were carried on a spear in procession round the inside of the church, the men blowing horns, &c. and then the buck being offered at the high altar, a shilling was ordered by the Dean and Chapter for the entertainment of the servants who brought it, and this concluded the ceremony.
The anniversaries of the consecration and canonization, were celebrated at the public expence: but there were other anniversaries of a private nature, provided for by particular endowments, as that of Sir John Poultney, Knt. who had been four times Lord Mayor of London, and assigned annual salaries to all who bore office about the church, together with an allowance of 6_s._ 8_d._ to the Lord Mayor, 5_s._ to the Recorder; 6_s._ 8_d._ to the two Sheriffs; 3_s._ 4_d._ to the Common Crier; 6_s._ 8_d._ to the Lord Mayor’s serjeants, and 6_s._ 8_d._ to the Master of the college of St. Laurence Poultney, provided they were present at his anniversary; but if any were absent, their share were to be distributed to the poor. There were many other anniversaries of the same kind.
The chauntries founded by men of condition for the maintenance of one or two priests, to celebrate divine service daily, for the release from purgatory of their souls, the souls of their dearest friends and relations, and of all the faithful deceased; but these were in a short time increased to such a degree, and the endowments were so slender, that so early as the reign of Richard II. Bishop Baybroke caused forty-four of them to be united into one solemn service.
Having thus taken a transient survey of this magnificent edifice, in its flourishing state, with all its appendages, we shall now view its decline, and trace this venerable Gothic structure to its final destruction.
The first remarkable misfortune that befel it was in 1444, when about two o’clock in the afternoon, its lofty wooden spire was fired by lightning; but by the assiduity of the citizens, it was soon seemingly extinguished: however to their great surprise and terror it broke out again with redoubled fury at about nine o’clock at night; but by the indefatigable pains of the Lord Mayor and citizens, it was at last effectually extinguished. The damage was not however fully repaired till the year 1462, when the spire was compleated, and a beautiful fane of gilt copper in the form of an eagle was placed upon it.
About an hundred years after this accident, another of the same kind happened to it, generally attributed to the same cause, but much more fatal in its consequences; the fire consuming not only the fine spire, but the upper roof of the church, and that of the aisles for in the space of four hours it burnt all the rafters, and every thing else that was combustible: but though it was universally believed that this fire was occasioned by lightning, yet, Dr. Heylin says, that an ancient plumber confessed at his death, that it was occasioned through his negligence in carelessly leaving a pan of coals in the steeple, while he went to dinner, which taking hold of the dry timber in the spire, was got to such a height at his return, that he judged it impossible to quench it, and therefore concluded it would be more consistent with his safety, not to contradict the common report.
This calamity was followed by a general contribution among the clergy, nobility, great officers of state, the city of London, and the Queen herself, who gave a thousand marks in gold towards its speedy repair, with a warrant for a thousand loads of timber to be cut in any of her woods, wherever it should be found most convenient; so that in five years time, the timber roofs were entirely finished, and covered with lead, the two largest being framed in Yorkshire, and brought by sea; but some difference in opinion arising about the model of the steeple, that part of the work was left unattempted; and it was never after rebuilt; for upon raising the roofs the walls were found to be so much damaged by the fire, that it was judged necessary to make a general repair of the whole building; but this was deferred for a long time.
At length Mr. Henry Farley, after above eight years earnest solicitation of King James I. prevailed on his Majesty to interpose in order to prevent the ruin of this venerable fabric, when that Prince, considering of what importance appearances are in the promotion of public zeal, caused it to be rumoured abroad, that on Sunday the 26th of March 1620, he would be present at divine service in St. Paul’s cathedral.