engaged in the slave trade.

For these reasons--their antiquity, their history, their
associations--the destruction of the City churches ought to be resisted
with the utmost determination. You who read this page may very possibly
become parishioners of such a church. Learn that, without the consent of
the parishioners, no church can be destroyed. A meeting of parishioners
must be called: they must vote and decide. Do not forget this privilege.
The time may come when your vote and your's alone, may retain for your
posterity a church rich in history and venerable with the traditions of
the past.

29. THE STREETS.

You have seen how the wall surrounded Roman London. The same wall which
defended and limited Augusta defended and limited Plantagenet London.
Outside the wall on the east there continued to extend wide marshes
along the river; moorlands and forest on the north; marshes with rising
ground on the west; marshes on the south. Wapping was called Wapping in
the Wose (Wash or Ouze), meaning in the Marsh: Bermondsey was Bermond's
Island, standing in the marsh: Battersea was Batter's Island, or perhaps
Island of Boats: Chelsea was the Island of Chesel or Shingle:
Westminster Abbey was built on the Isle of Thorns. The monasteries
standing outside the wall attracted a certain number of serving people
who built houses round them: some of the riverside folk--boat-builders,
lightermen, and so forth--were living in the precinct of St. Katharine,
just outside the Tower: all along the Strand were great men's houses,
one of which, the Somerset House, still stands in altered form, and
another, Northumberland House, was only pulled down a few years ago.
Southwark had a single main street with a few branches east and west: it
also contained several great houses, and was provided with many Inns for
the use of those who brought their goods from Kent and Surrey to London
Market. It was also admitted as a ward. On either side of the High
Street lay marshes. The river was banked--hence the name Bank Side--but
it is not known at what time.

That part of the wall fronting the river had long been pulled down, but
the stairs were guarded with iron chains, and there was a river police
which rowed about among the shipping at night.

[Illustration: CHEPE IN THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY.]

The streets and lanes of London within the walls were very nearly the
same as they are at present, except for the great thoroughfares
constructed wit