Notes and Queries, Number 37, July 13, 1850 | Page 4

Ground. It was pulled down, I believe, about the middle of the
seventeenth century. The new chapel of St. Anne, erected in 1631, near
the site of the old one, was destroyed about fifty years since.
Mr. Cunningham, in his Handbook for London (vol. i. p. 17.), says,--
"The first printing-press ever seen in England was set up in this
almonry under the patronage of _Esteney_, Abbot of Westminster, by
William Caxton, citizen and mercer (d. 1483)."
Esteney succeeded Milling in the Abbacy of Westminster, but the latter
did not die before 1492. On p. 520. of his second volume, Mr.
Cunninghan gives the date of Caxton's death correctly, i.e. 1491.
EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.
* * * * *
SANATORY LAWS IN OTHER DAYS.
In that curious medley commonly designated, after Hearne, _Arnold's
Chronicle_, and which was probably first printed in 1502 or 1503, we
find the following passages. I make "notes" of them, from their peculiar
interest at the moment when sanatory bills, having the same objects, are
occupying the public attention so strongly; especially in respect to the
Smithfield Nuisance and the Clergy Discipline bill.
1. In a paper entitled "The articles dishired bi y'e comonse of the cety
of London, for reformacyo of thingis to the same, of the Mayer,
Aldirmen, and Comon Counsell, to be enacted," we have the
following:--
"Also that in anoyding the corupte savours and lothsom innoyaunc
(caused by slaughter of best) w'tin the cyte, wherby moche people is
corupte and infecte, it may plese my Lord Mayr, Aldirmen, and Comen
Counsaile, to put in execucion a certaine acte of parlement, by whiche
it is ordeigned y't no such slaughter of best shuld be vsed or had within
this cite, and that suche penaltees be leuyed vpo the contrary doers as in
the said acte of parlement ben expressed.
"Also in anoyding of lyke annoyauce. Plese it my Lord Mair, Alderme,
and Como Councell, to enact that noo manor pulter or any other
persone i this cytee kepe from hinsforth, within his hous, swans, gies,
or dowk, upon a peyn therfore to be ordeigned."--pp. 83, 84, 3d. ed.

I believe that one item of "folk-faith" is that "farm-yard odours are
healthy." I have often {100} heard it affirmed at least; and, indeed, has
not the common councilman, whom the Times has happily designated
as the "defender of filth", totally and publicly staked his reputation on
the dogma in its most extravagant shape, within the last few months? It
is clear that nearly four centuries ago, the citizens of London thought
differently; even though "the corupte savours and lothsom innoyaunc"
were infinitely less loathsome than in the present Smithfield and the
City slaughter-houses.
It would be interesting to know to what act of parliament Arnold's
citizens refer, and whether it has ever been repealed. It is curious to
notice, too, that the danger from infuriated beasts running wild through
the streets is not amongst the evils of the system represented. They go
further, however, and forbid even the killing within the city.
Moreover, it would really seem that the swan was not then a mere
ornamental bird, either alive or dead, but an ordinary article of
citizen-dinners, it being classed with "gies and dowks" in the business
of the poulterer. At the same time, no mention being made of swine in
any of these ordonnances or petitions, would at first sight seem to show
that the flesh of the hog was in abhorrence with the Catholic citizen, as
much perhaps as with the Jews themselves; at any rate, that it was not a
vendible article of food in those days. When did it become so? This
conclusion would, however, be erroneous; for amongst "the articles of
the good governaûce of the cite of London" shortly following we have
this:--
"Also yf ony persone kepe or norrysh hoggis, oxen, kyen, or mallardis
within the ward, in noyoying of ther neyhbours."--p. 91.
The proper or appointed place for keeping hoggis was Hoggistone, now
Hoxton; as Houndsditch[2] was for the hounds.
There is another among these petitions to the Lord Mayor and
corporation, worthy of notice, in connection with sanatory law.
"Also in avoydîg ye abhomynable savours causid by ye kepîg of ye
kenell in ye mote and ye diches there, and î especiall by sethig of ye
houndes mete wt roten bones, and vnclenly keping of ye hoûdes,
wherof moche people is anoyed, soo yt when the wynde is in any poyte
of the northe, all the fowle stynke is blowen ouer the citee. Plese it mi
Lord Mair, Aldirmen, and Comen Coûcell, to ordeigne that the sayd

kenell be amoued and sett in sô other côuenient place where as best
shall seme them. And also that the said diches mai be clensed from yere
to yere, and