The patronage of this rectory was anciently in the Abbot and Convent of Westminster; but on the suppression of their monastery, King Henry VIII. erected Westminster into a bishopric, and gave the advowson of this church to the Bishop; but the new see being dissolved by Edward VI. Queen Mary granted it to the Bishop of London, and his successors, in whom it still remains. The Rector receives, by act of Parliament, in lieu of tithes, 160l. _per annum_. _Newcomb’s Eccles. Rep._ Mr. Strype, in his edition of Stowe’s Survey, gives several monumental inscriptions in this church, from which we shall select the two following; the first to the memory of William Yeardley and his wife, the former of whom died on the 28th of October 1523, and the latter on the 20th of July 1533. William Yeardley, and Elizabeth his wife, Who lived on earth free from strife, Not farre from this, in earth doth lye, To shew that all that live must dye. Where they do quietly expect To rise again as God’s elect. They left four daughters and a sonne, Who left them this when they were gone. The other is on Florens Caldwell, Esq; citizen and haberdasher, and Mary his wife, the latter of whom died June 19, 1590. Earth goes to earth, as mold to mold, Earth treads on earth, glittering in gold, Earth as to earth returne neare should, Earth shall to earth goe ere he would, Earth upon earth consider may, Earth goes to earth naked away. Earth, though on earth be stout and gay, Shall from earth pass poore away. Be merciful and charitable, Relieve the poor as thou art able; A shrowd to thy grave Is all thou shalt have. _St._ MARTIN’S ORGARS, a rectory, the church of which was situated on the east side of St. Martin’s lane near Canon street, in Candlewick ward, and is so named from its dedication to St. Martin; and the additional epithet of _Orgars_, from Odgarus or Ordgarus, who was probably its founder or patron: but this church being destroyed with the rest of the public edifices in the fire of London in 1666, and not rebuilt, the parish was annexed to the church of St. Clement Eastcheap. _Newc. Rep. Eccles. Paroch._ In this church was a tomb with the following epitaph, mentioned by Mr. Strype in his edition of Stowe’s Survey, on Sir Allen Cotton, Knt. Alderman, and sometime Lord Mayor of London, who died on the 24th of September 1628, leaving three sons and two daughters; and these sons caused his monument to be erected, When he left earth, rich bounty dy’d, Mild courtesie gave place to pride: Soft Mercie to bright Justice said, O sister! we are both betray’d; White Innocence lay on the ground By Truth, and wept at either’s wound. The sons of Levi did lament, Their lamps went out, their oil was spent. Heav’n hath his soul, and only we Spin out our lives in misery. So, Death, thou missest of thy ends, And kill’st not him, but kill’st his friends.