THE WRITING SCHOOL, CHRIST'S HOSPITAL. Several of the monastic buildings, were founded contained several chapels. No order of monks, says by different benefactors. The principal of these was Mr. Pennant, seem to have possessed the powers of sir Richard Whittington, who in the year 1429 began persuasion equal to these poor friars. They raised a magnificent library, which was finished the follow- vast sums for their buildings among the rich, and ing year, and was soon afterwards furnished with there were few of their admirers when they came to books. This library, a part of which still remains, die, who did not console themselves with the thoughts was 129 feet long and thirty-one broad, was com- of lying within their expiating walls ; and if they pletely wainscotted or ceiled, and contained twenty. were particularly wicked, thought themselves secure eight desks and eight double wainscot settles. The against the assault of the devil, if their corpse was whole cost of this erection was 5561. 108. four hun. wrapped in the habit and cowl of a friar. Multitudes dred pounds of which was the gift of Richard Whit. therefore of all ranks were crowded in this holy tington, and the rest was contributed by one of the ground. It was honoured with the sepulture of four brothers, Dr. Thomas Winchelsey, who paid like- queens, four duchesses, four countesses, one duke, wise for the writing out of the works of D. Nicholas two earls, eight barons, and thirty-five knights, de Lira, in two volumes, to be chained there, 100 whose names are mentioned by Stowe, and in all, marks. The conduit-head and watercourse had been from the first foundation to the dissolution, 663 previously given by one William Taylor, taylor to persons of quality were here interred. In the choir king Henry III.

were nine tombs of alabaster and inarble “environed The revenues of this monastery on the dissolution with bars or strikes of iron :" one tomb in the body were valued at 32l. 198. It was surrendered 12th of of the church coped also with iron, and seven score November 1538.

gravestones of marble in divers places. The ancient church, with most of the monastic In the month of September 1552, the Grey Friars buildings, were destroyed in the fire of London. The having been previously prepared for their reception cloisters, with a few other fragments, remain. The by order of Edward VI. near 400 orphans were adchurch was cruciform and of great extent, being 300 mitted upon his charitable foundation here ; and on feet in length, eighty-nine feet in breadth, and from the succeeding Christmas Day in the afternoon, the floor to the roof sixty-four feet two inches, and while the lord mayor and aldermen rode to St. Paul's,