'What LONDON hath beene of auncient Time, Men may here STOW'S SURVEY. LONDON: Imprynted for ARTHUR HALL, VIRTUE, & Co. at 25, Paternoster Row. (1852) 270. 6. 125. I I. A Country Lad cometh to Town. So we left the old grey Horse at the Tabard, and fet forth a-foot, my Mother and me, for London Bridge: I looking right and left for a Glimpse of the great, broad River. But no Water could we fee; and the Ways were thronged with Men, Horfes, Carts, Wagons, Flocks of Sheep, and Droves of Oxen, preffing along between Stalls fet out with all Manner of Cates. Anon we come to a big Gateway, with its Portcullis-teeth grinning over our Heads; and a-top of this Gateway, that was that was flanked with Turrets, B May, 1547. 1547. Turrets, and spanned the Road, were what looked like ever so many Plum-puddings prickt on Spits, leaning this Way and that; but my Mother fhuddered when she faw them, and told me they were Traitors' Heads. But between us and this Gateway lay a Drawbridge, the which, as we croffed, gave us a Glimpse of the broad Thames, all a-blaze in the Sun. I pluckt at my Mother's Sleeve, without fpeaking, and we looked over the Parapet, and could fee Boats ducking and diving under a Row of Houses right across the River, fome of 'em fix Stories high, with Balconies and projecting Gables, looking ready to topple into the Water, that rushed onward with tremendous Force, eddying and foaming among the Arches. Then I noted at the Foot of each Pier, ftrange Projections of Timber Timber-work, and afkt my Mother what they were, and fhe could not tell me. But a Man that overheard me faid they were called Sterlings, and were ftrong Piles of Wood driven into the Bed of the River. Alfo he told me the Bridge was fixty Feet above the Water, and that its Founder, Peter of Colechurch, lay y-buried in the Chapel on the Bridge; and more he would have added but for the Interpofure of my Mother, who faid, Come, Child, "we linger," and drew me away. Then we paffed under the Gateway, which was alfo a Kind of Guardhoufe, and Toll-gate; and, quod fhe, "Now thou art on London Bridge." But I should never have found it out; for to all Seeming, we were in midst of an ill-paved, exceeding narrow Strete, only fome twelve Feet 66 66 across, 1574. |