was given by Queen Mary to Nicholas Heath, Archbishop of York, the possessors of that See having had no town residence after York Place, Whitehall, had been converted into a royal palace by Henry the Eighth, on the fall of Wolsey. Archbishop Heath sold his newly-acquired seat, and purchased Norwich Inn, which afterwards obtained the appellation of York House, and hence the name of the Water-gate and Stairs. Archbishop Toby Matthews exchanged York House for several Manors with James the First, and the Lords Chancellors Egerton and Bacon are said to have both resided here. It was afterwards "assured" to the King by an Act of Parliament, pas-sed on the 19th of May, 1624, and he granted the estate, as already mentioned, to the Duke of Buckingham, on whose melancholy death it was leased for a short term to the Earl of Northumberland, together with its goods, furniture, and pictures, at an annual rent of £350.* In 1649, the Parliament bestowed York House on Lord Fairfax, by the marriage of whose daughter and heiress with George, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, it was re-conveyed to the Villiers' family. That nobleman resided here for several years subsequent to the Restoration, but he eventually sold the whole estate for building on, and several streets were raised on the site of the old house and grounds. These, for a long period, went under the general name of York Buildings, but their particular appellations are George Street, Villiers Street, Duke Street, Off Vide "Journals of the House of Commons," April 23, 1645. Alley, and Buckingham Street; the distinctive name and title of their former possessor being thus effectually preserved. At the time of nobility to be York House stood at a short distance to the west of the Water-Gate, which includes a flight of steps that led from the gardens to the river. its erection, it was customary for our conveyed by water from one part of the metropolis to another, whenever practicable, the roadways being extremely defective, and but few carriages in use, and those rather adapted for state purposes, than for general convenience. Hence most of our noble mansions were built near the Thames, and stairs led from the grounds to the water-side. : Ralph, in his "Critical Review of Public Buildings," has thus characterized this structure, and his approbation of its merits, though something too florid, perhaps, has been generally acquiesced in by subsequent writers." York-Stairs is, unquestionably, the most perfect piece of building that does honour to the name of Inigo Jones it is planned in so exquisite a taste, formed of such equal and harmonious parts, and adorned with such proper and elegant decorations that nothing can be censured or added. It is, at once, happy in its situation beyond comparison, and fancied in a style exactly suited to that situation. The rock-work, or rustic, can never be better introduced than in buildings by the side of water; and indeed, it is a great question with me, whether it ought to be made use of anywhere else." This fabric is built with Portland stone. It is ap : proached from a small terrace, planted with lime trees, which, being inclosed from the public, forms an agreeable promenade for the inhabitants of the neighbourhood, who keep it in repair from the proceeds of a rate levied on their houses. On the northern, or street side, it consists of three arches, flanked by pilasters, supporting an entablature on which are four balls ornamental shields rise above the key-stones of the arches, those at the sides being sculptured with anchors, and that in the centre with the arms of Villiers impaling those of the family of Manners. The Villiers' motto, viz: FIDEI COTICULA CRUX, (the Cross is the Touchstone of Faith,) is inscribed upon the frieze. The southern, or river front, displays a large archway opening upon the steps leading to the water, with a lateral aperture, or window, on each side these, conjointly with four rusticated columns, support an entablature ornamented with escallops, and crowned by an arched pediment and two couch. ant lions, holding shields, on which are sculptured anchors. In the middle of the pediment, within a scroll, are the arms of Villiers, viz: on a Cross, five Escallops, encircled by a garter, and surmounted by a ducal coronet : at the sides are pendant festoons. The apertures flanking the steps are ach divided by a small column, and partly closed by balustrades. : LYDGATE'S "LONDON LYCKPENY. Stow, in his account of Eastcheap, refers to Lydgate's "Song," called "London Lyckpeny," or as we should now say 'Lack-Penny,' a copy of which, (with some alterations,) is preserved among that bistorian's manuscripts in the Harleian Collection, viz. No. 367, fol. 126; but whether the original be extant, does not appear. It is probable, that the alterations alluded to, were made by Stow himself, as in the summary of Lydgate's poem, inserted in his "Survey of London," several particulars are narrated which altogether vary from the Ballad in the Museum. It was written, Stow says, "in the reigne of Henry the fift, in the person of a Countryman comming to London, and travelling through the same. In West-Cheape, (saith the Song) hee was called on to buy fine lawne, Paris threed, Cotton Vmble, and other linnen clothes, and such like: (he speaketh of no silkes) In Cornehill, to buy old apparell, and household stuffe, where he was forced to buy his owne Hood, which he had lost in VVestminster Hall : In Candlewright street, Drapers proffered him cheape Cloth In East-cheape, the Cookes cried hot Ribbes of Beefe rosted, Pies well baked, and other Victuals : There was clattering of Pewter Pots, Harpe, Pipe, and Sawtrie, yea by cocke, nay by cocke, for greater oaths were spared: some sang of lenken, and Iulian, &c. all which melodie liked well the passenger, but hee wanted mony to abide by it, and therfore gat him into Grauesend Barge, and home into Kent." " In the following transcript from Stow's manuscript, both the contractions and the orthography are accurately copied, but the punctuation is now introduced, the manuscript being wholly without points. "Survey of London," p. 405, edit. 1618. |