Then is Fryday streete beginning also in west Cheape, and runneth downe South through Watheling street to Knightrider streete, or olde Fishstreet. This Friday streete is of Bredstreet ward, on the east side from over against the northeast corner of S. Mathewes church, and on the west side from the south corner of the said church, down as aforesaid.

In this Fryday streete on the west side thereof is a Lane, commonly called Mayden Lane, or Distaffe Lane, corruptly for Distar lane, which runneth west into the old Exchange: and in this lane is also one other lane, on the south side thereof, likewise called Distar lane, which runneth downe to Knightriders street, or olde Fishstreete: and so be the boundes of this whole ward.

A fayre paued way found, 15 foote deepe in Cheape streete.

Monumentes to be noted here, first at Breadstreet corner the north East end, 1595. of Thomas Tomlinson causing in the high streete of Cheape a Vaulte to be digged, and made, there was found at fifteene foote deepe, a fayre pauement like vnto that aboue ground, and at the further end at the chanell, was founde a tree sawed into fiue steppes, which was to steppe ouer some brooke running out of the west towardes Walbrooke, and vpon the edge of the saide Brooke, as it seemeth, there were found lying along the bodies of two great trees, the endes whereof were then sawed off, and firme timber as at the first when they fell, parte of the sayde trees remayne yet in the ground vndigged. It was all forced ground, vntill they went past the trees afore sayde, which was about seuenteene foote deepe or better, thus much hath the grounde of this Cittie in that place beene raysed from the mayne.

Next to be noted, the most beautiful frame of fayre houses and shoppes, that bee within the Walles of London, or else where in England, commonly called Goldsmithes Rowe, betwixt Bredstreet end & the Crosse in Cheape, but is within this Bredstreete warde, the same was builded by Thomas Wood Goldsmith, one of the shiriffes of London, in the yeare 1491. It contayneth in number tenne fayre dwelling houses, and foureteene shoppes, all in one frame, vniformely builded foure stories high, bewtified towardes the streete with the Goldsmithes armes and the likenes of woodmen, in memory of his name, riding on monstrous beasts, all which is cast in lead, richly painted ouer and gilt, these he gaue to the Goldsmithes with stockes of money to be lent to yong men, hauing those shops, &c. This saide Front was againe new painted and guilt ouer, in the yeare 1594. Sir Richard Martin being then Mayor, and keeping his Mayoralty in one of them, seruing out the time of Cutbert Buckle from the second of July, till the 28. of October.

Then for Watheling streete, which Leyland calleth Atheling or Noble streete: but since he sheweth no reason why, I rather take it to be so named of the great high way of the same calling. True it is, that at this present, the inhabitants thereof are wealthy Drapers, retailors of woollen cloathes both broad and narrow, of all sorts, more then in any one streete of this citie.

Of the old Exchaunge, I haue noted in Faringdon Warde: wherefore I passe downe to Knightrider street, whereof I haue also spoken in Cordwainer streete Warde, but in this part of the said Knightriders streete is a fishmarket kept, and therefore called old Fishstreet, for a difference from new Fishstreete.

In this old Fishstreete, is one row of small houses, placed along in the middest of Knightriders streete, which rowe is also of Bredstreete Warde: these houses now possessed by Fishmongers, were at the first but moueable boordes (or stalles) set out on market daies, to shew their fish there to be sold: but procuring license to set up sheds, they grew to shops, and by little and little, to tall houses, of three or foure stories in height, and now are called Fishstreete. Walter Turke Fishmonger, Mayor 1349. had two shops in old Fishstreete, ouer against saint Nicholas church, the one rented v.s. the yeere, the other iiii. s.

Bredstreete, so called of bread sold there (as I said) is now wholy inhabited by rich Marchants, and diuers faire Innes bee there, for good receipt of Carriers, and other trauellers to the city.

On the East side of this streete, at the corner of Watheling streete, is the proper church of Alhallowes in Bredstreete, wherein are the Monuments of James Thame Goldsmith, Iohn Walpole Goldsmith, 1349. Thomas Beamount Alderman, one of the Shiriffes, 1442. Robert Basset, Salter, Mayor 1476. Sir Richard Chaury, Salter, Mayor 1509. Sir Thomas Pargitar, Salter, Mayor 1530. Henry Sucley, Merchant Taylor, one of the Shiriffes 1541. Richard Reade Alderman, that serued and was taken prisoner in Scotland, 1542. Robert House one of the Shiriffes, 1589. William Albany, Richard May, and Roger Abdy, Merchant Taylors.