Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 9.djvu/452

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [iis.ix.jusE6.i9i4.

43Z. as a fine paid, a lease paroll of a house or tene- ment in Long Lane, one of the tenements there newly built by Garrett Johnson upon one of the booths there, from 1599 for 21 years, paying annually 8Z., and doing reparations. They have
 * spent 30Z. on such reparations. During the life-

time of Garrett Johnson they enjoyed the house quietly, and for seven years after his death, paying Mary Johnson, his widow and executrix, the rent. " But so it is, may it please your Majesty, about 20th Feb., 1616, having occasion to use a cer- tain sum of money, the said Mary came to Jane Canon privately, and told her that if she would pay as much as 10Z., she would have the residue of the term of years for it, and Jane Canon gave Mary Johnson 3s. in earnest. Giles Canon was pleased with this arrangement that they might live where they had so long lived as they were old and past labour." And he had told this to Richard Stock- wood, his next neighbour, who pretended friend-
 * ship to him, and advised him to pay the 107., saying

it was worth the money. But Richard Stock- wood, out of a covetous and undermining desire, contrary to all neighbourhood, equity, and good conscience, " secretly contracted with Mary Johnson for the residue of the term of years, knowing your subjects could take no advantage of their lease for lack of witnesses, and knowing they were unable to maintain a suit at common law"; he out of his contentious and mischievous spirit hath combined with one William Richards, who well understood the former promise of Mary Johnson. Richard Stockwood, " not content with the sinister and dishonest procuring of the Assignment so perfidiously obtained," hath made a lea^ or secret conveyance of the premises, .and hath commenced an action against them in the Court of Common Pleas, and threatens to prosecute them to extremity, to the utter undoing of your faithful subject, his wife and family. He prays a Privy Seal against the three concerned.

In the Answer of Richard Stockwood, 4th July, 15 James I., he denies malice or underhand dealing. It was true that Giles Canon told him that Mary Johnson had offered him the lease for 10Z., and he said it was a good pennyworth, but promised no help, and knew nothing more about it till Mary Johnson came and asked him if he would take a lease for 1QL He asked if Giles Canon had no interest in it, and she said no. And she and Nicholas Johnson, being executors, and one Garrett Johnson, signed the indenture of lease, and he asked Richard Williams as a friend, without any underhand dealing.

Mary Johnson made a demurrer at law, 8th Oct., 15 James I. She said that if Canon had a lease from her husband, he could prove it in common law. She had spoken about it to them, tout it came to no promise or deed. Court of Requests Proceedings, Uncal. Series, Bundle II. part ii.

This makes it certain that it was not the elder Garrett Johnson who designed Shake- speare's tomb, but his son of the same name, who survived him, followed his business, and signed his mother's deed, as above stated. His inexperience might have caused the inartistic faults of the work as shown by Dugdale.

CHARLOTTE C. STOPES.

" SHIPSHAPE AND BRISTOL FASHION." Bristol at one time was the chief seaport of West England, was naturally the resort or home of many ships, and thus attained a pre- eminence in matters nautical. The methods of Bristol in the building, rigging, manning, and handling of ships making that town their port became the standard. The ways of Bristol were considered good, and were followed elsewhere. When a seaman wished to speak well of his vessel, he declared that with her things were " shipshape and Bristol fashion," although he hailed from another port. The fame of Bristol was well estab- lished. It was from Bristol that Cabot set sail in 1497 to look in upon that New World across the Western Oceafn. From the same port departed the first ocean-going steam- ship, the Great Western, on her famous voyage in 1838. While the phrase lingers on the lips of seafaring men, it is not their sole possession, it has become part of the general speech ; and although the wind- jammer is disappearing from the sea, the saying will live. JOHN E. XORCROSS.

Brooklyn, U.S.

CHRIST HOSPITAL. There are two minor incidents in the early history of this glorious London memory worth noting. The subsidy of 370Z. 10s. per annum granted by the Admiralty to the Mathematical School to enable its " poore boys" to be bound to shipmasters of the' mercantile marine (Pearce, 104) was to be continued " for ever." An early example of a Treasury order pro- viding the payment is before me, and is worth transcribing as it provides evidence that this grant was made to the City of London, and not directly to the Governors of the foundation, and ^the object of the grant, the support of the Mathematical School and its work, is not specified.

" After our hearty Commendacions By vertue of the Letters Patents in this behalfe These are to pray and require you to make and pass De- bentures for paying unto the Treasurer of Christs Hospitall or his assignes the sume of Three hun- dred and seaventy pounds ten shillings for one year due 31 Deer, last 1700 upon the annuity granted to the Mayor Comonalty and citizens of London for the better support of the Children of that foundacon and let the same be satisfyed out of any his Ma't's Treasure now or hereafter being and remaining in the Receipt of Ecxheq>- applicable to the use of the Civill Government For which this shall be your Lord'ps warrant. Cockpit Trea'ry Chambers 24 March 1700/1.

GODOLPHIN.

To our very good Lord, Charles Lord Halifax Auditor of the Rec* of his Ma'ty Excheq'."

Were these payments always in this form, or is this due to the greater interest the