INTRODUCTORY 1 1 



distant Bunhill Fields, have remained through the changes 

 time has wrought. This space might have been like 

 one of the other heaths or commons of London, a 

 beautiful open space in the heart of the town, but the 

 supposed exigencies of modern civilisation, with the usual 

 want of foresight, have banished the life-giving fresh air, 

 and the Corporation of London has had to go far afield, 

 to Burnham Beeches and Epping Forest, to supply what 

 once was at its door. Literally at its door, as the 

 busy street of Moorgate recalls the Mayor, Thomas 

 Falconer by name, who in 141 5 "caused the wall of 

 the citie to be broken neere unto Coleman Street, and 

 there builded a posterne now called Moorgate^ upon the 

 Mooreside, where was never gate before. This gate he 

 made for ease of the citizens, that way to passe upon 

 cawseys into the Field for their recreation." ^ The fields 

 in question were at that time a marsh, and though some 

 fifty years later " dikes and bridges " were made, it was 

 many years before the whole moor was drained. The 

 task at one time seemed so difficult that the chronicler 

 Stowe, in 1598, feared that even if the earth was raised 

 until it was level with the city walls it would be "but 

 little dryer," such was the " moorish " nature of the 

 ground. Moorfields was the scene of many curious 

 dramas during its history It was the great place for 

 displays, sham fights, and sports of the citizens. Pepys 

 notes in his Diary, July 26, 1664, that there was much 

 discourse about "the fray yesterday in Moorfields, how 

 the butchers at first did beat the weavers (between whom 

 there hath been ever an old competition for mastery), 

 but at last the weavers rallied and beat them." Such 

 scenes were very frequent, and Moorfields for generations 



^ Stowe, " Survey of London." 



