DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1212#0293
CHAiiTiea-HousE, 213
recently as when Maitland wrote, stood a large brick
building once distinguished as the Fortune theatre., erected
in 1599, by that celebrated and benevolent actor Edward
Alleyne, the founder of Dulwich College. Playhouse-yard
indicates its exact position. In the time of Charles I. it
was one of the most popular of the six playhouses allowed
in town, but when the civil wars broke out its perform-
ances were suppressed, To the east of "Whitecross is
Milton-street, better known under its old cognomen, Grub-
street, and long famous as the asylum of poor and obscure
authors. Nevertheless, some of the most illustrious
writers have been content to take up their quarters here.
Foxe, author of the Book of Martyrs, lived and died here;
and Speed, the historian, and Milton, were among its resi-
dents; to the last-named of whom it is indebted for its
modern appellation.
Re-entering Aldersgate-street, Carthusian-street, imme-
diately beyond Long-lane, conducts into Charterhouse-
square, one of the finest of the city squares. The square
takes its name from the Charter House, which is situated
on its north side. This foundation stands upon the site
of an ancient monastery for Carthusian monks, called the
Chartreuse. The origin of this religious house is ascribed
to the plague which, in 1308, ravaged England and a part
of the continent, the spot having been consecrated by the
Bishop of London for a place of interment. Sir Walter
de Manni, a distinguished commander in the French wars
under Edward III., purchased this ground, upon which, in
conjunction with Northburg, Bishop of London, he built
and endowed a priory for a superior and twenty-four
monks of the Carthusian order, which was completed in
1370. The monastery was suppressed in 1538, in spite of
the persevering resistance of the monks, many of whom
suffered death rather than sanction the spoliation. Seven
of them were conveyed on hurdles through the city to the
place of execution, some were gibbeted, and others sub-
jected to the torture. Upon the dissolution of the Char-
treuse the house and grounds passed into the possession of
recently as when Maitland wrote, stood a large brick
building once distinguished as the Fortune theatre., erected
in 1599, by that celebrated and benevolent actor Edward
Alleyne, the founder of Dulwich College. Playhouse-yard
indicates its exact position. In the time of Charles I. it
was one of the most popular of the six playhouses allowed
in town, but when the civil wars broke out its perform-
ances were suppressed, To the east of "Whitecross is
Milton-street, better known under its old cognomen, Grub-
street, and long famous as the asylum of poor and obscure
authors. Nevertheless, some of the most illustrious
writers have been content to take up their quarters here.
Foxe, author of the Book of Martyrs, lived and died here;
and Speed, the historian, and Milton, were among its resi-
dents; to the last-named of whom it is indebted for its
modern appellation.
Re-entering Aldersgate-street, Carthusian-street, imme-
diately beyond Long-lane, conducts into Charterhouse-
square, one of the finest of the city squares. The square
takes its name from the Charter House, which is situated
on its north side. This foundation stands upon the site
of an ancient monastery for Carthusian monks, called the
Chartreuse. The origin of this religious house is ascribed
to the plague which, in 1308, ravaged England and a part
of the continent, the spot having been consecrated by the
Bishop of London for a place of interment. Sir Walter
de Manni, a distinguished commander in the French wars
under Edward III., purchased this ground, upon which, in
conjunction with Northburg, Bishop of London, he built
and endowed a priory for a superior and twenty-four
monks of the Carthusian order, which was completed in
1370. The monastery was suppressed in 1538, in spite of
the persevering resistance of the monks, many of whom
suffered death rather than sanction the spoliation. Seven
of them were conveyed on hurdles through the city to the
place of execution, some were gibbeted, and others sub-
jected to the torture. Upon the dissolution of the Char-
treuse the house and grounds passed into the possession of