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Cripplegate Ward is in City of London.
On 19th October 1624 Robert Wright aka Villiers aka Danvers was born illegitimately to Robert Howard (age 40) and Frances Coke Viscountess Purbeck (age 22) in Cripplegate Ward. Illegitimate. His father probably Robert Howard with whom his mother was having a long term affair. His mother was married to John Villiers 1st Viscount Purbeck (age 33). He was baptised Robert Wright.
Cripple Gate [Map] was originally the northern entrance to the Roman fort, built c. AD120. This Roman gate probably remained in use until at least the late Saxon period when it is mentioned in 10th and 11th century documents.
Wriothesley's Chronicle [1508-1562]. 1490. This yeare Creplegate [Map] was new made, and E. Franckee and other put to death.
Note e. Edward Franke in Arnold.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 14th February 1554. The xiiij day of Feybruary wher hangyd at evere gatt and plasse: in Chepe-syd vj; Algatt [Map] j, quartered; at Leydynhall [Map] iij; at Bysshope-gatt [Map] on, and quartered; Morgatt one; Crepullgatt [Map] one; Aldersgatt on, quartered; Nuwgat [Map] on, quartered; Ludgatt on; Belyngat iij hangyd; Sant Magnus iij hangyd; Towre hyll [Map] ij. hangyd; Holborne iij hangyd; Flettstret [Map] iij hangyd; at Peper alley gat iij; Barunsaystret iij; Sant Gorgus iij; Charyng crosse [Map] iiij, on Boyth the fottman, and Vekars of the gard, and ij moo; at Hydparke corner iij, on Polard a waterbeyrar; theys iij hanges in chynes; and but vij quartered, and ther bodys and heds set a-pon the gattes of London.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 28th November 1558. [The xxviijth day of November the Queen (age 25) removed to the Tower from the lord North's] plasse, (which) was the Charter Howsse. [All] the stretes unto the towre of London was newe gravelled. Her grace rod thrugh Barbecan and Crepulgat [Map], by [London-wall] unto Bysshope-gate [Map], and up to Leden-halle [Map] and thrugh Gracyus strett [Map] and Fanchyrchestrett [Map]; and a-for rod gentyllmen and [many] knyghtes and lordes, and after cam all the trumpetes blohyng, and then cam all the haroldes in a-ray; and my lord of Penbroke (age 57) [bare the] the quen('s) sword; then cam here Grace on horsbake, [apparelled] in purpull welvett with a skarpe [scarf] abowt her neke, and [the serg]anttes of armes abowt here grace; and next after rod [sir] Robart Dudley (age 26) the master of her horse; and so the gard with halbards. [And] ther was shyche shutyng of gunes as never was hard a-for; so to the towre, with all the nobulles. And so here Grace lay in the towre [Map] unto the v day of Dessember, that was sant Necolas evyn. And ther was in serten plasses chylderyn with speches and odur places, syngyng and playing with regalles.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 3rd May 1665. So to the Inne again by Cripplegate [Map], expecting my mother's coming to towne, but she is not come this weeke neither, the coach being too full.
John Evelyn's Diary. 5th September 1666. It crossed toward Whitehall [Map]; but oh! the confusion there was then at that Court! It pleased his Majesty (age 36) to command me, among the rest, to look after the quenching of Fetter-lane end, to preserve (if possible) that part of Holborn, while the rest of the gentlemen took their several posts, some at one part, and some at another (for now they began to bestir themselves, and not till now, who hitherto had stood as men intoxicated, with their hands across), and began to consider that nothing was likely to put a stop but the blowing up of so many houses as might make a wider gap than any had yet been made by the ordinary method of pulling them down with engines. This some stout seamen proposed early enough to have saved near the whole city, but this some tenacious and avaricious men, aldermen, etc., would not permit, because their houses must have been of the first. It was, therefore, now commended to be practiced; and my concern being particularly for the Hospital of St. Bartholomew, near Smithfield, where I had many wounded and sick men, made me the more diligent to promote it; nor was my care for the Savoy less. It now pleased God, by abating the wind, and by the industry of the people, when almost all was lost infusing a new spirit into them, that the fury of it began sensibly to abate about noon, so as it came no farther than the Temple westward, nor than the entrance of Smithfield, north: but continued all this day and night so impetuous toward Cripplegate [Map] and the Tower [Map], as made us all despair. It also broke out again in the Temple [Map]; but the courage of the multitude persisting, and many houses being blown up, such gaps and desolations were soon made, as, with the former three days' consumption, the back fire did not so vehemently urge upon the rest as formerly. There was yet no standing near the burning and glowing ruins by near a furlong's space.
Cripple Gate [Map] was demolished in 1760.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 21st June 1665. So homewards and to the Cross Keys at Cripplegate, where I find all the towne almost going out of towne, the coaches and waggons being all full of people going into the country. Here I had some of the company of the tapster's wife a while, and so home to my office, and then home to supper and to bed.
On 2nd April 1827 William Holman Hunt was born to William Hunt (age 27) and Sarah Hobman (age 29) at 41 Lifford Street or Love Lane [Map]. Originally William Hobman Hunt he changed his name when he discovered it had been erroneously entered at his baptism on 10th April 1827 at the St Giles without Cripplegate Church [Map].
William Hunt: In 1800 he was born. In 1856 he died.
Sarah Hobman: In 1798 she was born to William Hobman of Rotherhithe. In 1884 she died.
On 2nd April 1827 William Holman Hunt was born to William Hunt (age 27) and Sarah Hobman (age 29) at 41 Lifford Street or Love Lane [Map]. Originally William Hobman Hunt he changed his name when he discovered it had been erroneously entered at his baptism on 10th April 1827 at the St Giles without Cripplegate Church [Map].
William Hunt: In 1800 he was born. In 1856 he died.
Sarah Hobman: In 1798 she was born to William Hobman of Rotherhithe. In 1884 she died.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 14th April 1664. Up betimes, and after my father's eating something, I walked out with him as far as Milk Streete, he turning down to Cripplegate to take coach; and at the end of the streete I took leave, being much afeard I shall not see him here any more, he do decay so much every day, and so I walked on, there being never a coach to be had till I came to Charing Cross, and there Col. Froud took me up and carried me to St. James's, where with Mr. Coventry (age 36) and Povy (age 50), &c., about my Lord Peterborough's (age 42) accounts, but, Lord! to see still what a puppy that Povy is with all his show is very strange.
On 3rd June 1514 William Browne (age 46) died. He was buried at Church of St Mary Magdalen Milk Street.
All About History Books
The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 27th July 1556. The xxvij day of July was bered Thomas Lune grocer in sant Mare Mawdlyn in Mylke-strett, with ij whytt branchys and xviij stayffes torchys and iiij grett tapurs; and alle thay had mantyll fryse gownes, and dyvers women had lyke gownes, pore men and women; and mony morners in blake, and dyver althermen with gren stayffes; and the masturs of the hospetalle with gren stayffes; .... and vj long torchys and vj tapurs of iijli a [peice] and iiij grett tapurs with armes, and the cherche hangyd with blake a-for-none; and mony mornars and mony prestes and clarkes, [and so] home to dener; and a vj dosen of skochyons, and the powre.... The sam day was bered at saynt Katheryn ... cherche master Thomas Henege [Note. Probably Robert Heneage (age 56)], with a penon and a harold bayring his cott armur, and ij whyt branchys, and a dosen stayffes [torches, .. ] tapurs and a v. dosen of skochyons; and the cherche hangyd with blake; and after to the hosse to dener.
Note. P. 111. Funeral of (Robert) Heneage esquire. Machyn was wrong in the christian name, giving, as in some other cases, the name of the son to the father. This was Robert Heneage esquire, auditor of the duchy of Lancaster, and surveyor of the queen's woods beyond Trent; and father of sir Thomas Heneage, afterwards chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, and a privy councillor to queen Elizabeth. Though Stowe does not mention his monument at St. Katharine Creechurch, Collins (in Peerage, tit. Finch earl of Winchelsea) states that effigies in brass of Robert Heneage and his wife, who was Margaret sister to Thomas earl of Rutland, remained in that church, but the inscription was effaced.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 8th September 1561. The viij day of September cam owt of the Towre [Map] my good lade Walgraff (age 42), and in Red-cross stret she lys.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 11th May 1563. The xj day of May was a fyre in Barbykan at my lade Suffoke's plase be-syd the Red-crosse strett, by a Frenche man that kept the plase-a part bornyd.
Calendar of State Papers Charles II 03 Sep 1666. 3rd September 1666. Golden Lion Posthouse. 61. J. Hickes to [Williamson]. Sir Philip [Frowde] and his lady, fled from the [letter] office at midnight for safety; stayed himself said ay ohne till 1 a.m., till his wife and childrens' patience could stay no longer, fearing lest they should be quite stopped up; the passage was so tedious, they had much ado to get where they are. The Chester and 1 his Irish mails have come in; sends him his letters; knows not how to 7 not dispose of the business. Is sending his wife and children to Barnet.
Redcross Street [Map]. Used to run from the Beech Street / Golden Lane junction, where there was a red cross, due south to St Giles Cripplegate at Fore Street.
The History of King Richard the Third by Thomas More. Some wise men also think that his plan-covertly conveyed-lacked not in helping his brother Clarence to his death, which he resisted openly, although somewhat (as men judged) more faintly than one who was heartily concerned for his welfare. And they who thus judged, they think he for a long time during King Edward's life forethought to be king in case the King his brother (whose life he looked to, so that evil diet should shorten it) should happen to die (as indeed he did) while his children were young. And they judged that for this reason: he was glad of his brother's death, that Duke of Clarence, whose life must needs have hindered his plans, whether the same Duke of Clarence had kept himself true to his nephew the young King, or enterprised to be king himself. But of all this point, is there no certainty, and whosoever divines upon conjectures may as well shoot too far as too short. However, this have I by credible information learned, that the same night in which King Edward died, one Mistlebrook, long before morning, came in great haste to the house of one Potter, dwelling in Redcross Street without Cripplegate [Map], and when he was with hasty rapping quickly let in, he revealed unto Potter that King Edward was departed. "By my truth man," said Potter, "then will my master the Duke of Gloucester be king." What cause he had so to think it is hard to say: whether he, being well disposed toward him, knew anything about such a thing the Duke had purposed, or otherwise he had any inkling thereof, for he was not ever likely to speak of it.
Henry Machyn's Diary. January 1559. The day of January was buried at saint Giles's with-owt Crepull-gatt [Map] master Thomas Grennell, .... with iiij gylt candyllstykes and iiij grett tapurs, .... whyt branchys and xvj stayffe torchys, and the [company of] the Wax-chandlers; and he gayff to the ys compene [for to] make mere (blank); and ther was the compene of Flechers at ys berehyng, and all they dyd offer ... they had iiij nobuls to make mere at the S[un? in] Crepullgatt; and, after mase done, ther was a grett dener and soper at ys owne howsse.
Note. P. 187. Funeral of Thomas Greenhill, waxchandler. Our diarist, if he was not related to Greenhill, had much to do with him in the course of business, the wax-chandlers being greatly employed to provide lights for funerals. The Index will be found to refer to various particulars relating to him and his family.