slayne, and many wonded. Then outcry was made, so that ye shyreffes, with strengthe of other cómors, came to the ryddynge of theym, and of theym toke certayne persones, and sent theym vnto dyvers pry sons and upon the morrowe, such serche was made, yt the moste of the chief causers of that fray were taken and put in warde.-Then vpon the Fryday folowynge saynt Katteryns daye, sessyons were kepte at Newgate by the Mayre and Lawrence de Broke justice and other: where xxx. of the sayd persones were arregned of felony, and xiii. of theym caste and hanged and for one Godfrey de Beuyrley holpe to arme one of the sayde persones, he was also caste amonge the others."* This contention between the Companies lasted many years, nor was it finally terminated till several persons of each party were expelled from the city. Goldsmiths' Hall is an extensive and handsome pile, standing in Foster Lane, on the site of a more ancient Hall, which had been founded for the use of the Company in 1407, by Sir Drew Barentyne, Lord Mayor in 1398. That edifice, which Stow calls "a proper house, but not large," was destroyed in the Great Fire, and the present fabric arose in its place within a few years afterwards. The buildings are of brick, and surround a square court, paved: the front is ornamented with stone corners wrought in rustic, and a large arched entrance, which exhibits a high pediment, supported on Doric columns, and open at * Fab. Chron. p. 364, Ellis's Edit. 1811. the top, to give room for a shield of the Company's arms. The Hall itself, which is on the east side of the court, is a spacious and lofty apartment, paved with black and white marble, and most elegantly fitted up. The wainscotting is very handsome, and the ceiling and its appendages are richly stuccoed; an enormous flower adorning the centre, and the City and Goldsmiths' arms, with various decorations, appearing in its other compartments. A richly carved screen, with composite pillars, pilasters, &c. a balustrade with vases, terminating in branches for lights, (between which are displayed the banners and flags used on public occasions,) and a buffet of considerable size, with white and gold ornaments, form part of the embellishments of this splendid room. The balustrade of the stair-case is elegantly carved, and the walls exhibit numerous reliefs of scrolls, flowers, and instruments of music. The Court Room is another richly wainscotted apartment, and the ceiling is loaded with embellishments, which give it a grand, though somewhat heavy effect. The chimney-piece is of statuary marble, and very sumptuous; the sides : *The Goldsmiths' arms, are quarterly, gules and azure, in the first and fourth, a leopard's head, or; in the second and third, a covered cup, between two buckles, all of the last crest, a demi Goldsmith, in the dress of Elizabeth's reign, his right hand sustaining a pair of scales, his left hand holding an ingot: supporters, unicorns: motto, Το God only be all Glory." The arms are ancient: the crest and supporters were granted by Robert Cooke, Clarencieux, in 1571. being adorned with male caryatides, and the whole enriched by scrolls, grapes, &c. Above, is a painting of St. Dunstan, the Patron saint of the Company, in conversation with the Holy Virgin, having in the back ground a representation of the Saint burning the Devil's nose, as described in the ancient legend, when assailed by the fiend with temptation. Here, also, are the following portraits: Sir Martin Bowes, Goldsmith, Lord Mayor in 1545, said to be by Holbein; this gentleman presented his Company with an elegant Cup, (still carefully preserved among their plate,) which is thought to have been originally a Royal gift. Sir Hugh Myddleton, Bart. the illustrious character, who expended his entire fortune in forwarding the noble design of supplying the Metropolis with water, by means of the New River, a share of which he bequeathed to this Company, for the benefit of its decayed members. This is a fine picture, in the style of Vandyke. Sir Hugh is pourtrayed in a black habit, with his hand resting upon a shell near him the words Fontes Fodine' are inscribed. Sir Thomas Vyner, Goldsmith, Lord Mayor in 1653; and Charles Hosier, Esq. In the Ball Room, which is a large apartment, very handsomely decorated, is a portrait of his late Majesty, George the Third. In another apartment is a large picture by Hudson, containing likenesses of six Lord Mayors, all Goldsmiths, namely, Sir Henry Marshall, Lord Mayor in 1745; William Benn, Esq. 1747 ; John Blachford, Esq. 1750; Robert Alsop, Esq. 1752; Edmund Ironside, Esq. and Sir Thomas Raw : linson, both in 1754, the former having died during his Mayoralty: these gentlemen are represented seated at a table, at which Blachford presides. The Assay Office, belonging to the Goldsmiths' Company, adjoins to the Hall on the south side, the front entrance being in Carey Lane. Every article of Gold and silver of standard quality must be stamped by their mark. This affluent community is governed by a Prime, and three other Wardens, and a numerous Court of Assistants. Its revenues are very considerable; and its disbursements, for charitable purposes, amount to about 1500%. annually; which is principally expended in the support of Alms-houses and Free-schools. Before the business of Banking became a regular trade, about the middle of the seventeenth century, and also for many years afterwards, the Goldsmiths were the chief Bankers, their general opulence occasioning them to be regarded as the most trustworthy of the numerous classes of tradesmen which inhabited the City.. ACTING IN CHURCH YARDS, ON SUNDAYS AND Customs, which we should now deem irreligious and profane, were long after the Reformation prevalent in this City, and the practice of them was attended with but very little scandal until the cant and severity of the Puritans rendered those things" unholy," which at most, were only thoughtless and indiscreet. But the gloomy sourness of their creed made them reprehend every kind of festive diversion, with as much zeal as though it had been a crime to laugh, and themselves had been commissioned ambassadors from the Throne of Grace to denounce vengeance against the exercise of the risible faculties. Like the "Evangelical" misanthropes of modern days, they reversed the doctrine of our Saviour, who taught that the" Sabbath was made for Man, and not man for the sabbath ;" and imbued by the acrimony of their own crabbedness, took no delight except in "vinegar aspects," and sanctimonious phraseology, in which assumed godliness was blend'ed with hypocrisy, and "saving grace," instead of "Charity," made the cloak and cover of a multitude of sins." 1. That the rank corruptions of the Romish Church, its degrading superstitions, and ignoble dependence upon Canons and Councils, rather than upon the Word of God, required a strong hand to oppose, and a determined spirit to overcome, is most true ;* but Puritanism, (for the spirit still exists, although disguised, and under a different name,) instead of rooting out the weeds alone, would destroy both the wheat and the tares together. Among the customs alluded to, at the head of these remarks, was that of acting Interludes in Church-yards on Sundays; of the rise, or origin, of which, we have no account. We may, however, very rationally conjecture that it sprang from the performance of those religious Mysteries and Moralities which were allowed by our Catholic ancestors to be played, not only within the precincts of their sa |