Street derives its name, also resided Philip Henslowe, the famous stage-manager, and Edward Alleyn, the celebrated actor, in the days of Elizabeth and James the First. Henslowe had originally carried on the trade of a dyer on Bankside, and subsequently became owner of the Rose Theatre, and part-proprietor of Paris Garden, both of them in the immediate vicinity.

Even as late as the close of the reign of Elizabeth, Southwark was still little more than a mere village. The present High Street, indeed, extending in a southerly direction from London Bridge, was partially built, and there was also a continuous range of building on the banks of the river,namely, the present Clink Street and Bankside; but to the north, and to the west, as far as Lambeth, all was open country.

We must not omit to mention, that Oliver Goldsmith for some time carried on business, and earned a scanty livelihood, as a medical practitioner in Bankside.

Paris Garden Stairs, close to the east side of Blackfriars Bridge, still points out the site of the once celebrated place of amusement, Paris Garden. In addition to bear-baiting, bull-baiting, and other entertainments, Paris Garden had also latterly a regular theatre, in which, in 1582, a fearful accident occurred; the scaffolding, which supported the spectators, suddenly giving way, by which a great many persons were either killed or wounded. As Sunday was the day on which Paris Garden

was most frequented by the citizens, this accident was looked upon by many persons as a judgment from heaven.

In the reign of James the First, Paris Garden was leased by Henslowe and Alleyn; and it was during their management, and to their great loss, that dramatic performances on the Sabbath were first prohibited.

Not far from Paris Garden stood the Falcon Inn, once, it is said, the daily resort of Shakespeare, and of his dramatic associates, and which, till within the last few years, continued to be a tavern of considerable importance. Falcon Stairs and the Falcon Brewery, still point out its site. Beyond it, to the south-east, were the Pike Ponds, which supplied our early sovereigns with fresh-water fish, and the name of which is still retained in Pike or Pye-Gardens.

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Further on stood, side by side, two large circular buildings, the one set apart for "bowll-baytyng," and the other for "6 beare-baytyng." The site of the latter is still pointed out by Bear Garden Stairs. Herein," says Stow, "be kept bears, bulls, and other beasts to be baited; as also mastiffs in several kennels, nourished to bait them. These bears, and other beasts, are there kept in plots of ground scaffolded about for the beholders to stand safe." On one occasion we find Queen Elizabeth directing the French ambassadors to be conducted to Southwark, for the purpose of witnessing these cruel but then fashionable sports. Pepys, in his "Diary," mentions more than one visit which

he paid to the Bear Garden, between the years 1666 and 1669. As late as the year 1675, the Spanish Ambassador was treated, at the royal expense, with an exhibition of bear-baiting at Southwark.

To the east of the Bear Garden stood the Rose Theatre the site of which was long pointed out by Rose Alley. Globe Alley, near Maiden Lane, also marks the vicinity of the still more famous Globe Theatre. In the year 1603, we find James the First granting a patent to William Shakespeare and others to act plays, "as well within their now usual home, called the Globe, within our county of Surrey, as elsewhere."

On St. Peter's Day, 1613, the Globe Theatre was accidentally burnt to the ground. According to Winwood, the disaster was occasioned by the rushes of the roof becoming ignited by the firing of some ordnance, during the representation of Shakespeare's play of "Henry the Eighth." The Globe was rebuilt the following year in "a far fairer manner than before." Taylor, the water-poet, says of the new building:

As gold is better that's in fire tried,

So is the Bankside Globe, that late was burn'd;
For where before it had a thatched hide,

Now to a stately theatre 'tis turn'd.

This famous theatre was finally demolished on the 15th of April 1644.

Another playhouse in this classical neighbourhood was the Swan, the most westerly of the playhouses on the Bankside, which stood near the end of Blackfriars Bridge. After flourishing for a short

time, it was converted into an exhibition for fencers. It was suppressed at the commencement of the civil wars, and was shortly afterwards demolished.

Not far from Bankside were the "Stews,"-a colony of licensed houses of very indifferent repute, which anciently existed in this locality. They were under the control of the Bishop of Winchester, whose palace was in the immediate vicinity. In the "First Part of Henry the Sixth," we find the uncle of the King addressing the Bishop of Winchester,

Thou that giv'st w- -s indulgences in sin.

In the reign of Richard the Second, they were rented by the celebrated Lord Mayor of London, Sir William Walworth, to certain Flemish women, or Frows, who were allowed to occupy them under certain regulations and restrictions. For instance, as is still the case in Holland, their owners were compelled to close them on Sundays, and married women were on no account to be admitted. "I have heard ancient men," says Stow, "of good credit report that these single women were forbidden the rites of the church so long as they continued that sinful life, and were excluded from Christian burial if they were not reconciled before their death. And therefore there was a plot of ground, called 'Single Women's Churchyard,' appointed for them, far from the parish church.” The houses comprising this oasis of profligacy must have presented a very remarkable appearance, each of them having a sign painted in front of it,—“ not hanged out,”—such as a Boar's Head, the Cross

Keys, the Gun, the Castle, the Crane, the Bell, the Swan, and the somewhat inappropriate name of the Cardinal's Hat.* These houses appear to have been originally eighteen in number. In the reign of Henry the Seventh they were reduced to twelve, and in the latter part of that of Henry the Eighth were entirely suppressed by proclamation and "sound of trumpet."

Between Bankside and the south end of London Bridge stood the magnificent mansion and gardens of the Bishops of Winchester, the name of which is still preserved in the present Winchester Street. It is said to have been built in 1107, by William Gifford, Bishop of Winchester, and for nearly five centuries and a half continued to be the London residence of the Bishops of that See. In the reign of Queen Mary, when the star of the inhuman Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, was in the ascendant, we find several unfortunate Protestants confined in Winchester House. Here Sir Edward Dyer, the poet and friend of Sir Philip Sydney, lived and died. During the Civil Wars, Winchester House was again converted into a prison, and on the death of Charles the First, was sold by the Parliament for the sum of 4380%. The eccentric Sir Kenelm Digby was for some time a prisoner in Winchester House by order of the Parliament, and here he wrote his "Critical Remarks" on Browne's "Religio Medici." After the Restoration the old mansion again reverted to the

* There was formerly a Cardinal's Hat Alley, in Southwark, which probably may still exist.