Epitaph on S. P., a Child of Queen Elizabeth's Chapel. Weepe with me all you that read This little storie, And know for whom a tear you shed,- 'Twas a child, that so did thrive As Heaven and Nature seem'd to strive Yeeres he number'd scarce thirteene Yet three fill'd Zodiackes had he beene And did act (what now we mone) Old men so duely, As sooth the Parce thought him one, He plai'd so truely. So, by error, to his fate They all consented, But viewing him since (alas, too late!) conclude that bis decease occurred either in 1602 or early in 1603, as "the three-filled zodiacs," during which, as the poet expresses, he had been the "Stage's Jewel," would then have expired. To which of the above plays Mr. Clarke alludes as "The Comical Satyre" in which Pavy acted, is dubious, as those words form the secondary title to both pieces. And have sought (to give new Lirth) In bathes to steepe him ; But, being so much too good for earth, Heaven vows to keepe him. PENTONVILLE, AND ST. JAMES'S CHAPEL. PENTONVILLE derived its name from the late Henry Penton, Esq., who was the chief proprietor of the estate he died in Italy in the latter part of the last century. With the exception of White-Conduit House, the house attached to Dobney's BowlingGreen, and a few other buildings, the whole of this extensive district has sprung up within the last sixty years. As the population increased, it became necessary to study the better conveniency of the inhabitants, who had previously been obliged to resort for religious worship to St. James's, Clerkenwell, (in which parish Pentonville is situated,) and the present chapel was erected by subscription, about the year 1788, under the provisions of the Toleration Act. In 1790, in consequence of an application to Parliament, the trustees for rebuilding St. James's Church were empowered, or rather constrained, to purchase the new chapel at the expense of 5000%, and annex it for ever to their own church, as a chapel of ease for the inhabitants of Pentonville. All rents and surplice fees were reserved to the minister of Clerkenwell, together with an annual stipend of 207. subject to certain payments; he also was authorised to appoint the curate, in perpetuity. The Chapel is a well-built and not unhandsome fabric, dedicated to St. James, and occupying a pleasant eminence on the north side of the New Road leading to Pancras and Paddington. It is constructed, principally, with brick, but has a stone frontispiece, composed by pilasters supporting an entablature and pediment: on the roof is a small cupola. The interior is neatly arranged, and the altar-piece, which stands within a semicircular recess at the north end of the chapel, is ornamented with a well-executed picture of Christ raising the damsel Tabitha. CLOTHWORKERS' COMPANY AND HALL. THE Clothworkers' Company, though a very ancient Guild, was not incorporated till the year 1482, when Edward IV. granted the members his letters patent, by the style of "The Fraternity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of the Sheermen of London ;" but this appellation was changed on their re-incorporation by Queen Elizabeth, to that of "the Master, Wardens, and Commonalty of Freemen of the Art and Mystery of Clothworkers of the City of London." Elizabeth's Charter was confirmed by Charles I. in 1634. This Company is governed by a Master, four Wardens, and a Court of about forty Assistants. Clothworkers' Hall, a small building, principally of red brick, is situated on the east side of Mincing Lane, Fenchurch Street, The Hall is a lofty apartment, wainscotted to the ceiling, which is richly stuccoed with compartments of fretwork and other ornaments. At the upper end are carved statues, as large as life, of James I. and Charles I., in their royal robes;* and in the windows are various shields of arms of Masters, &c. in large compartments. FORCED LOANS IN QUEEN ELIZABETH'S REIGN. DIFFERENT periods of our history have been marked by pecuniary impositions on the people, under the appellations of benevolences and forced loans, but it is not so generally known that the Lord Mayor acting under the orders of Government, and in a state emergency, had power to assess the City Companies in the way of oan, in proportion to their affluence, yet that such was the fact, appears from the Precepts issued to each Company, in Queen Elizabeth's reign, and a copy of which is here given from the Records of the Ironmongers' Company. "By the Maior; "Theis are to will and comannd youe, that forthwth youe prepare in a redynes, the sume of LX£. of the stocke of youre halle, (and if you have not so moche in store, then you shall borrow the same at ynterest, at th' only costs and lossis of yo" halle;) to be *The Clothworkers' arms are, sable, a chevron ermine, between two habicts in chief, and a thistle in base, proper : erest, a ram passant; supporters, griffins, spotted sable; motto, "My Trust is in God alone." The arms were granted by Thomas Benolt, Clarencieux, in 1530; the crest and supporters by Robert Cooke, Clarencieux, in 1587, |