104 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



count: "October 14, 1746, Mr. Michael Rawlins, living at the 

 Friars in Lichfield, having occasion to build a wall, and set down a 

 pair of gates, as he was sinking for the foundation of the former, 

 and making holes for posts, on which to hang the latter, found a 

 grave-stone, about six feet under the surface, with a cross-fleury 

 standing on four steps, cut in the middle, and round the edges the 

 following Monkish verses. There is no date ; but a coffin, with 

 bones in it, lay immediately under the stone, which he removed and 

 fixed in an old niche of the building, which he has converted into a 

 stable. By the letters, this stone seems to have been made not 

 very long before the dissolution of the house, for they are an old 

 English letter, and very legible. I took down the words thus : 



" Ricardus Mercator, victus morte noverca, 

 Qui cessat mercari, pausat in hac ierarca : 

 Extulit ephebus, paucis vivendo diebus, 

 Ecclesiam rebus sic & variis speciebus; 

 Vivat et in Coelis nunc mercator Micaelis!" 



The following translation appeared in the Gentleman's Magazine : 

 " Richard the merchant here extended lies, 

 Death like a step-dame gladly clos'd his eyes ', 

 No more he trades beyond the burning zone, 

 But, happy rests beneath this sacred stone. 

 His benefactions to the church were great, 

 Though young he hasten'd from this blest retreat. 

 May he, though dead, in trade successful prove, 

 Saint Michael's merchant in the realms above." 



Bridge-street, now called Bird-street, is a spacious handsome 

 street, with several good private houses, shops, and the two prin- 

 cipal inns. A bridge, at its northern extremity, affords a passage 

 across the pool, and separates it from the precincts of the Close. 



Next to Bridge-street is Bacon-street, which was nearly all burnt 

 to the ground during the sieges of the Close in the Civil war. 



St. John-street is remarkable for two public institutions, both 

 founded by Bishop Smith, in 1492. The first and most important 

 of these is the Free Grammar School, with appropriate buildings, 

 on which Henry VII. settled the revenues of the Hospital of Den- 

 hall at Wyrehall, in Cheshire. This school was further endowed 

 by Edward VI. and is memorable for having been the Alma Mater 

 in which Addison, Woolaston, Ashmole, and Johnson, received the 

 rudiments of their education. The hospital of St. John, formerly 

 a monastery, is situated opposite the school. It was re-built by 

 Bishop Smith, who endowed it as an hospital for the support of a 

 master, two presbyter chaplains, and ten poor men. 



