Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 11.djvu/147

 118. XL FEB. 13, 1915.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

LS7

OLDEST BUSINESS -HOUSE IN LONDON (11 S. xi. 69). No. 7, Fleet Street, a building so long and honourably associated with litera- ture, is one which may fairly lay claim to a place among the oldest business-houses. (See 10 S. viii. 248, 350, 411, 478.)

WM. JAGGABD.

Rose Bank, Stratford-on-Avon.

ENGLISH SOVEREIGNS AS DEACONS (US. xi. 48, 97). " Roi de France " or " Hoi des Francois." It is suggested by W. C. J. that Charles X. and Louis Philippe were " Kings of the French," and not " Kings of France." This is undoubtedly the case with regard to Louis Philippe, who was not the legitimate king, and was considered to be elected by the French people. It was otherwise, however, with Charles X. He was the lineal de- scendant of the Bourbon kings, and was Louis Philippe never took the title. He was always " King of the French." I pre- sume, however, that his great-grandson, the present Duke of Orleans, claims to be "King of France" as he is now the true representative of the Royal family, the elder branch of the Bourbons being extinct. Although he is not actually reigning, there appears to be no reason why he should not be recognized as King at the Vatican, as were our own Pretenders, James III., Charles III., and Henry IX., although they never reigned.
 * ' King of France " by hereditary right.

J. FOSTER PALMER.

8, Royal Avenue, S.W.

The King of France (when there is one) may very likely be ex officio a member of the Chapter of St. John Lateran (though further evidence of the alleged fact is desirable). The King or Queen of England is First Cursal Prebendary of St. David's. A canonry or a prebend is, however, merely an ecclesiastical dignity, to the temporal emolu- ments of which a mere layman can canonic - ally be appointed. There is thus no ques- tion of "a curious similar custom " in these cases to the supposed inherited subdiaconate of English sovereigns.

The query is in no wise " answered by anticipation " by DR. ROCK. All lections or lessons read at any Matins, including the seventh lection read on Christmas Eve, ought, strictly speaking, to be read by an ordained lector. In the practice, however, of both Catholics and Orthodox for some hundreds of years, a layman has been allowed to usurp the office of reader. In no circumstances can a woman be a subdeacoii. JOHN B. WAINE WRIGHT.

WOODHOUSE, SHOEMAKER AND POET (11 S. xi. 89). Though James Woodhouse (1735- 1820) was generally known as " the poetical shoemaker," he was in business for some years, from 1803 onwards, at 211, Oxford Street, as a bookseller. See Blackwood's Magazine, November, 1829, art. ' Sorting my Letters and Papers ' ; also ' The Life and Poetical Works of James Woodhouse,' 2 vols., 4to, London, 1896. I think that MR. BRESLAR will be able to see these volumes at the Guildhall Library. WM. H. PEET. [MB. RUSSELL MABKLAND also thanked for reply.]

CROOKED LANE, LONDON BRIDGE (11 S x. 489; xi. 56, 93). In 1708 St. Michael's Church, Crooked Lane, was on the east side of St. Michael's Lane, at the turning into Crooked Lane, in the Ward of Candlewick Street.

In 1317 William de Burgo gave to the church " two messuages situate in Candlewick Street " (now Cannon Street). The church appears to have been small, as one "John Lovkin, Stock - Fishmonger, built St. Michael's Church in 1366." This John, whose name is sometimes spelt " Louskin," was Mayor in 1348, 1358, 1365, and 1366. The church was afterwards enlarged, a " choir and side-chapel being added by William Walworth (also a Fish- monger) in 1374," then Mayor, and again holding that office in 1380. " William Wal- worth was formerly servant to Louskin."

It was this Walworth who fatally wounded and captured Wat Tyler in Smithfield, for which he was knighted, and also rewarded with 100Z. per annum " to him and his heirs for ever." He founded in St. Michael's Church a " College of a Master and nine priests." He died in 1385.

With regard to " Sir John Brudge Maior, 1530," mentioned at the last reference but one, I do not find any record of a "Brudge " being Mayor in that year ; as a fact, all my authorities, including Stow in 1587, record " Thomas Pargitor " as Mayor in 1530.

Among the monuments which were in St. Michael's, the following inscription was on Sir William Walworth's : Hereunder lyeth a man of fame, William Walworth called by name, Fishmonger he was in lefe-time here, And twice Ld Mayor, as in books appear : Who, with Courage stout and manly might, Slew Wat Tyler in K. Richard's sight : For which Act done and true Intent, The King made him Knight incontinent And gave him Arms, as here you see, To declare his fact and Chivalry. He left his life, the year of our Lord, Thirteen hundred fourscore three and odd.