‘Off alle werkys in this worlde that ever were wrought, Holy Chirche is chefe, there children been chersid. For by baptim these barnes to blisse been ybrought, Thorough the grace of God, and fayre refresshed. Another blessid besines is Brigges to make, Where, that the pepul may not passe after greet showers; Dole it is to drawe a deed body out of a lake, That was fulled in a fount stoon, and a felow of oures. King Herry the fifte, in his fourthe yere, He hathe yfounde for his folke a Brige in Berke schyre, For cartis with carriages may goo and come clere, That many Wynters afore were mareed in the myre. And some oute of ther sadels flette to the grounde Went forthe in the water wist no man whare; Fyve wekys after or they were yfounde, Ther kyn and ther knowlech caught them uppe with care.’ “By this then, you see there is much virtue in your Bridge-builder. The names of all the Benefactors to London Bridge, indeed, were fairly painted on a tablet, and hung up in St. Thomas’s Chapel, which stood upon the middle of it; and, doubtless, the donation of King Henry II. would be found there recorded, if that grateful testimonial were yet in existence. The King’s gift, however, is supposed to have been, in fact, the gift of the people, being the produce of a tax upon wool; and hence arose that absurd tradition, which the commonalty invented to make a wonder of the matter, that ‘London Bridge was built upon woolpacks,’ I am, indeed, inclined to think that the measure was not very popular; for the people of England seldom failed to complain of any additional duty placed upon that commodity; and of this you find some reliques in Lord Coke’s Commentary on the 30th Chapter of the ‘_Magna Charta_’ of King Henry III., contained in his ‘_Second Institute_,’ pages 58, 59. He is there speaking, you know, of the taking away of evil tolls and customs, and he observes, that some have supposed that there was a tribute due to the King by the Common Law, upon all wools, wool-fells,--that is, the undressed sheep skins,--and leather, to be taken as well of the English as of strangers, known by the name of _Antiqua Custuma_. This amounted to half a mark, or 6_s._ 8_d._ for every sack of wool of 26 stone weight; and a whole mark upon every last of leather. But even this his Lordship also endeavours to prove a recent custom, by a Patent Roll from the Exchequer, of the 3rd of Edward I., A. D. 1274, which states, that the Prelates, Chiefs, and the whole Common Council of the kingdom, had consented to grant this new custom of wool to him, and to his heirs. Now, even the words ‘_novam consuetudinem_’ may signify only a revival of the ancient tax, for some specific cause; as it might have lain dormant since the days of building London Bridge; thus having reference to a new occasion, and not to the date. But shortly previous to the final confirmation of the