"There is a penny story-book of this tremendous virago [Westminster Meg], who performed many wonderful exploits about the time that Jack the Giant Killer flourished. She was buried, as all the world knows, in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey, where a huge stone is still pointed out to the Whitsuntide visitors as her gravestone."
—Gifford's Ben Jonson, viii. 78.
Let me add, that I am much obliged to DR. RIMBAULT, as well as to other correspondents, for corrections and still more valuable additions to my book, printed in "NOTES AND QUERIES."
PETER CUNNINGHAM
The Churchwardens' Accounts of St. Antholin's (Vol. i., pp. 180, 260.).—In my additions to Mr. Cunningham's Handbook for London, I noticed two folio volumes of churchwardens' accounts, belonging to the parish of St. Antholin's, that had accidentally got away from the custody of their proper guardians. This notice roused from his slunbers one of the said guardians, the present overseer of the parish, W.C., Junior, who stated in your journal of February 23. that
"The churchwardens' accounts are in good preservation, and present (in an unbroken series) the parish expenditure for nearly three centuries."
The worthy overseer also wishes to impress your readers with a belief that I had been misled by Thorpe's Catalogue, and that the books to which I referred were merely extracts. In justice to myself, I therefore give the entries in Thorpe's Catalogue verbatim as they occur. Your readers will then be better able to judge which is the "true" Dromio:—
"The Churchwardens' Accounts from 1615 to 1752 of the Parish of St. Antholin's, London. Folio, 3l. 3s.
"This curious and interesting volume appears to have been kept purposely for the various clergymen to write their receipts for preaching the morning lectures at the above church for nearly a century and a half. It contains the autographs of many eminent divines; among others, John Goodwin, R. Pearson, J. Berriman, J. Withers, J. Cooksey, R. Vann, T. Shepperd. W. Scott, R. Chambre, J. Todd, Lilly Butler, J. Botham, C. Evans, T. Clarke, J. Williams, J. Povey, J. Hotchkis, W. Stringfellow, W. Pott, C. Bancroft, R. Clarke, W. Gearing, and many others."
"The Chuchwarden and Overseers of the Parish of St. Antholin's in London, Accounts from 1638 to 1700 inclusive. Folio, 3l. 3s.
"An interesting record of the expenses of this parish for sixty-four years. It commences with the gifts of various sacks of coals, faggots, &c., to the poor, receipts for flesh licences, collections, interest money, the Lady Martaine's gifts, Sir W. Craven's gifts, the Merchant Tailors' Company's gifts, Mercers' ditto, the Company of Ironmongers forty fagots, the Company of Mercers a load of charcoal, the gift of the late King James seven loads of Newcastle coals,—this royal bequest appears to have been annual gift for ever. Query, if now in payment? ANNUAL gifts of Lady Coventry for putting out two poor children born in this parish. Lady Martin's, and many others, are annual gifts, which ought to be forthcoming to the parish at this time."
This last note contains some Queries which I should be glad to see answered.
EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.