36 Transactions of the 



Of William Canynges we do not know much. We know some- 

 what of his wealth, which was very great. In his private life we 

 know that he was much liked by his dependants, and in public 

 his being repeatedly mayor shows how popular he was. There is 

 a tradition about him, that on his wife's death he became a priest 

 to avoid marrying again, as the king was very anxious that he 

 shoidd do so, and had, in fact, selected the lady for him. He 

 had a splendid house in Redclifte Street. A little of it now 

 remains intact, but most of it has been much changed since his 

 day. One room especially is very interesting, and is quite worth 

 a visit. The house is occupied by Mr Jefferies, a bookseller, to 

 whom much praise is due for the great care which he takes so as 

 to disturb as little as possible the antiquarian remains. 



Around Canynge's tomb were several others, chiefly his servants' 

 burial-places. One of them tradition assigns to his purse-bearer ; 

 another bears an inscription informing us that John Blecker, pa?2-- 

 doxator, lies beneath. Pandoxator is translated brewei", — but 

 how the word means that, or whence it is derived, I don't know ; 

 I give it on the guide-book's authority. 



Near Canynges and his dependants' tombs is a monument 

 erected by subscription to Dr Nathaniel Bridges, who was clergy- 

 man of the parish for many years. Tliere is a long scroll below, 

 setting forth his estimable qualities, and below this again is the 

 following epitaph : — 



' Marble will moulder, monuments decay, 

 Time sweeps memorials from the earth away ; 

 But lastiug records are of Bridges given, 

 The date eteriiitj', the archives heaven. 

 There living tablets with his worth engraved. 

 Stand forth for ever in the souls he saved.' 



This is near the largest porch, and about it I must now say a 

 few words. Over the porch is a small room, once called the 

 ' Treasury House.' This is where Chatterton professed to find 

 the MS. which he ascribed to Eowley. In this room used to be 

 several large chests, one of which was called Mr Canynges' coffre. 

 It was firmly locked, and there were six keys to it. In course of 

 time all the keys were lost, and in the year 1727 it became neces- 

 sary to burst open the box, and consequently the documents lay 

 scattered about the room. Different people used to help tliem- 

 selves freely to the papers, and among others Chatterton's father, 

 who had free access to the room, took a fair share. In this way 

 Chatterton, seeing the old parchments lying about at home, came 

 to imitate them, and when he had far excelled the originals, he 

 was induced to say that he found them in Mr Canynges' cotfre, 

 to give them the smack of antiquity which their language 

 required. 



