King James I. was a member of this company; and the following extract from Nichol's _Progresses_ furnishes us with the speech he made on the day he enrolled himself among the Clothworkers: "Now, I drink unto all my good brethren, the clothworkers; and I pray God to bless them all, and all good clothworkers; and for proof of our especial favour to this fraternity, and for their increase of mutual amity, I do here give unto this company two brace of bucks yearly, for ever, against the time of the election of the master and wardens of this society." This was on the 12th of June, 1607, after the king had privately dined "at the house of Sir John Watts, then lord mayor." In Mark-lane we find the great Corn Exchange (lately damaged by fire). About three centuries ago, the corn-market was held at Queenhithe, although the oldest place for the sale of corn was Cornhill, a market having been held there, according to Stowe, "time out of mind." In Knight's _London_, vol. iii. p. 364, we find the following curious remarks on this great metropolitan corn-market: "The market-days are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, the first being by far the busiest day of the three; and the hours of business are from ten to three. A bargain does not become valid until an hour after the commencement of business on the next market-day. The general commercial reader will perhaps be interested in knowing that wheat is paid for in bills at one month, and all other descriptions of corn and grain in bills of two months. But the Kentish 'hoymen,' who may be distinguished by their sailors' jackets, are privileged, by the custom of the market, to sell for ready money, though, of course, they sell only what they bring up themselves. They have stands free of expense, and pay less for metage and dues than others. The Essex dealers also enjoy some privileges. Their origin, in both cases, is said to have been in consideration of the men of Kent and Essex having continued to supply the City at a time when it was ravaged by the plague." In Mark-lane stands the church of Allhallows Staining, which escaped the Fire, though the tower is all that remains of the ancient edifice. Here it is said Queen Elizabeth went to return thanks after her release from the Tower; and when the service was over, she adjourned to the adjoining tavern, the King's-head, in Fenchurch-street, where she dined off the unladylike luxuries of pork and peas, in memory of which event the dish and cover are still preserved. In the parish-books of Allhallows are the following entries relating to old ecclesiastical holidays: "Paid unto Goodman Chese, broiderer, for making a new mitre for the Bishop, against St. Nicholas's night, 2_s._ 8_d._;" and again, "Paid for the hiring of a pair of wings and a crest for an angel on Palm Sunday, 8_d._" Merry doings were there in the olden time at church-ales and Easter-tide, and many another ancient holiday which now lives but in name.