A "Stande of Ale" Presented by Symon the Anker Yet another City church is in need of funds for the repair of the fabric, Yesterday it was St. Clement's, Eastcheap, or the church where Captain Cuttle was wont to worship; today it is Allhallows, London Wall, 0 called from its, position on the wall which the Romans—buildt some 1,600 years ago. Important remains a Roman bastion may still be_ found beneath the semi-circular vestry.
When and how the first Christian church was built gri the site one ean-not say. The parish is mentioned a will of 1285, and the list of rectors begins in 1349. There was 'a cell, known as the "Anker-hole" in the church for the use of anchorites—one at a time, please, for these pious gentlemen were touchy about their preserves—the most celebrated of whom was "Symon the Anker," who wrote "The fruyte of redemp poyou," which Wynkyn de Worde printed in black-letter in 1514—
Of your charyte praya for the' Anker of London Wall wretched Symion that to. the honour of Jhesu Cryst and of the virgin his moder mary hath compiled this matter in englysshe for your ghost-comfort that understand no Symon received more than enough from visitors who admired his piety for yielded to his importunity we find him on one occasion to the church a "stande of al chelys... wayenge
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.