tices: Whom We likewise command to put the Law in due execution against them.

"Our pleasure likewise is, That the Bishop of that Diocesse take the like straight order with all the Puritans and Precisians within the same, either constraining them to conforme themselues, or to leaue the Countrey according to the Lawes of Our Kingdome, and Canons of Our Church, and so to strike equally on both hands, against the contemners of Our Authoritie, and aduersaries of Our Church. And as for Our good peoples lawfull Recreation, Our pleasure likewise is, That after the end of Diuine Seruice, Our good people be not disturbed, letted, or discouraged from any lawfull Recreation; Such as dauncing, either men or women, Archerie for men, leaping, vaulting, or any other such harmlesse Recreation, nor from hauing of May-Games, Whitson-Ales, and Morris-dances, and the setting vp of May-poles and other sports therewith vsed, so as the same be had in dre and conuenient time, without impediment or neglect of Diuine Seruice: And that women shall haue leaue to carry rushes to the Church for the decoring of it, according to their old custome. But withall, We doe here accompt still as prohibited all vnlawfull games to be vsed vpon Sundayes only, as Beare and Bull-baitings, Jnter ludes, and at all times in the meaner sort of People by Law prohibited, Bowling.

"And likewise, Wee barre from this benefit and libertie, all such knowne Recusants, either men or Women, as will abstaine from coming to Church or Diuine Seruice, being therefore vnworthy of any lawfull recreation after the said Service, that will not first come to the Church and serue GoD: Prohibiting in like sort the said Recreations to any that, though conforme in Religion, are not present in the Church at the Seruice of Gon, before

their going to the said recreations. Our pleasure like wise is, That they to whom it belongeth in Office, shall present and sharply punish all such as in abuse of this Our libertie, will vse these exercises before the ends of all Divine Seruices for that day. And We likewise straightly command, that euery person shall resort to his owne Parish Church to heare Diuine Seruice, and each Parish by it selfe to vse the said recreation after Diuine Seruice. Prohibiting likewise any Offensive weapons to be carried or vsed in the said times of recreations. And Our pleasure is, That this Our Declaration shall be published by order from the Bishop of the Diocesse, through all the Parish Churches, and that both Our Judges of Our Circuit, and Our Iustices of Our Peace, be informed thereof.

"Giuen at our Mannour of Greenwich the four and twentieth day of May, in the sixteenth yeere of Our Raigne of England, France and Ireland, and of Scotland the one and fiftieth.

God saue,the King.

"Now, out of a like pious Care for the Service of God, and for the suppressing of any Humours that oppose Truth, and for the Ease, Comfort, and Recreation of our well-deserving People, we doe ratifie and publish this Our Blessed Father's Declaration: The rather, because of late, in some Counties of our Kingdom, we find, that under pretence of taking away Abuses, there hath been a general Forbidding, not onely of Ordinary Meetings, but of the Feasts of the Dedication of the Churches, commonly called Wakes. Now Our express Will and Pleasure is, that these Feasts, with other, shall be observed; and that our Justices of Peace, in their several Divisions, shall look to it, both that all Disorders there may be prevented and punished, and that all Neighbour

hood and Freedom, with Manlike and Lawful Exercises be used. And We further command Our Justices of Assize, in their several Circuits, to see that no Man do trouble or molest any of Our Loyal and Dutiful People, in or for these Lawful Recreations, having first done their Duty to God, and continuing in Obedience to Us and Our Laws. And of this we command all Our Judges, Justices of the Peace, as well within Liberties, as without, Mayors, Bailiffs, Constables, and other Officers to take notice of, and to see observed as they tender Our Displeasure. And We further Will, that publication of this Our Command be made by Order from the Bishops through all Our Parish Churches of their several Dioeeses respectively.

"

"Given at Our Palace at Westminster the Eighteenth Day of October, in the ninth year of Our Reign. God Save the King."

CANONBURY TOWER AND TAVERN.

The manor of Canonbury, at Islington, was, in the reign of Edward the Third, granted by Sir Ralph de Berners, to the Prior and Canons of St. Bartholomew's, in West Smithfield, who continued to possess it till the Dissolution, when it was surrendered to Henry the Eighth. Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, and John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, on whom it was afterwards successively bestowed by the crown, both perished on the scaffold, the former in 1540, and the latter in 1553. Queen Mary, in 1557, granted it to Thomas Lord Wentworth, who, in 1570, alienated it to the affluent Sir John Spencer, Knt. and Bart. who so greatly distinguished himself by his public spirit during his mayoralty in 1595. Elizabeth, his only

daughter and heiress, married William, second Lord Compton, who is traditionally said to have contrived her elopement from her father's house at Canonbury, in a Baker's basket. This was the spirited Lady, who, about the year 1617, wrote the remarkable letter to her husband, in which, after requiring an annuity of 22001.; the like sum for her privy purse; 10,000l. for jewels; her debts to be paid, and horses, coaches, male and female attendants, &c. to be provided for her, she concludes by praying him, when he becomes an Earl, to "allow her 1000l. more than she now desires, with double attendance." These "* reasonable requests," as her ladyship terms them, serve to prove the great wealth of the family, but whether they were granted or not is unknown. In August, 1618, Lord Compton was created Earl of Northampton, and from him the present owner of Canonbury, who is the ninth Earl, and first Marquess of Northampton, is lineally descended.

Whilst this estate was the property of the Priors of St. Bartholomew, they caused a spacious mansion to be erected here for their country residence, which nearly covered the entire site now occupied by Canonbury Place. It had, also, attached to it, a small park of about four acres, with large gardens, a fish pond, and various domestic offices. Canonbury Tower, which is of red brick, was, probably, erected soon after the time of Wm. Bolton, who was Prior from 1509 till 1532; but his device, or rebus, viz. a bird-bolt in a tou, appears in different parts of the walls connected with the Tower. From the leads of this building, which is

about seventeen feet square, and nearly sixty feet in height, is one of the most delightful panoramic scenes to be met with near London. The prospects include a vast extent of country, teeming with towns and villages, and finely diversified by hill and dale: that over the metropolis is particularly grand, and, in a clear day, the whole course of the river Thames may be traced as far as Gravesend, with the hills of Kent rising beyond, and all the intervening tract spotted by buildings, and enriched by cultivation. The salubrity of the air, and the proximity of the metropolis, renders Canonbury a very desirable place of residence, and in the summer season, the Tower building, which is seven stories high, is let out as a lodging-house. It contains twenty-three rooms, besides convenient closets and landing-places. Several persons of literary eminence have been residents here, as Dr. Ephraim Chambers, Dr. Goldsmith, and Mr. J. Newbury. In several of the contiguous houses there are remains of the old buildings; and particularly, two or three curiously ornamented chimney-pieces, and some stuccoed ceilings, of Queen Elizabeth's time.

Canonbury Tavern, now a respectable and wellknown place of public entertainment and tea-gardens, was, in the middle of the last century, nothing more than an inconsiderable ale-house. It was afterwards taken by a Mr. James Lane, who had been a private soldier, and by him some considerable additions and improvements were made; but the present celebrity of this place was chiefly owing to the widow Sutton, who resided here from 1785 to 1808. Through the