, who have wealth at their command,
undertaking works for the general benefit of their countrymen. Numerous
projects passed through his mind.

We had been one day in London, standing out in Lombard Street, where the
merchants were wont to meet to transact business, and had been exposed
to much damp and cold; the heavy rain frequently compelling us, with
other persons, to seek shelter in the shops near where we happened to be
standing, when, on our return to Gresham House, Sir Thomas exclaimed:

"Why should not a great commercial city like London possess a Bourse
like that of Antwerp? It would be a great benefit to our merchants; and
yet I fear that unless some private person undertakes it, we may never
see such a building erected. The Government, provided they obtain the
money for their wants, can scarcely be expected to care how their
merchants are lodged."

I, of course, agreed with Sir Thomas, that such a building was very
desirable; but that I scarcely expected that any one would be found
public-spirited enough to erect it at his own expense.

"Nay," he said, "but if a man has the means, and the thought is put into
his heart, it is his duty to carry it out."

To plan, with Sir Thomas, was in most cases to execute. At his
dictation, I wrote out a proposal, in which he offered to build a
Bourse, or Exchange, at his own expense, for the accommodation of the
merchants, provided a site should be found on which the edifice might be
conveniently erected. One of his principal clerks--Anthony Strynger--
was directed the next day, the 4th of January, 1565, to make the
proposal in due form before the Court of Aldermen. At first it was
proposed to establish it in Leadenhall. But Sir Thomas wished to erect
his building in the close vicinity of Lombard Street, so that the
merchants might not be moved to any distance from their original place
of meeting. His magnificent offer was at once accepted, and a
subscription was entered into by the merchants for purchasing a piece of
ground in the position he indicated. Some time, however, passed before
the stone of the foundation was laid. The ceremony took place on the
7th of June, 1567; but so diligently did the workmen perform their task,
that the whole was finished by the end of November in the same year. I
should say that during the period I have mentioned I was sent over to
Antwerp--as was also one of my patron's apprentices, John Worrall--to
assist Master Clough in