right, walk in solemn procession down the nave. . . .
It was a solemn as well as a splendid sight. More than once during the
day I thought of John Cok, the brother of St Bartholomew's beholding five
centuries ago within the same walls and under the same noble vault, the
coronation of the future victor of Agincourt. . . ."

John Cok is a valuable witness as regards the history of the hospital,
especially as to the mastership of John Wakeryng, who held office for
forty years. Cok became Rentar of the Hospital, and the chief work of
his life was the writing of the Cartulary (which he called a Rental),
recording rents due to the hospital, deeds of gift, papal bulls, and
other documents. Cok's book (dated 1456) is a large volume written in
Latin on 636 leaves of vellum and enclosed in an ancient binding of oak
boards covered with leather.

In a transaction of 14th June 1423 is the first appearance of the arms at
present used by the hospital (ii., p. 16), namely, party per pale argent
and sable a chevron counter-changed. It was probably Wakeryng's coat of
arms, but ended by being regarded as that of the hospital. The author
suggests that the chevron "might symbolise the hospital roof, while the
equally divided and counter-changed argent and sable suggested that each
patient admitted had an even chance of recovery or of death."

In 1432 arrangements were made for a water-supply to the hospital from
Islington (Iseldon); and the "waste of water at the Cisterne" was to be
conveyed "to the Gailes of Newgate and Ludgate for the reliefe of the
prisoners."

Cock Lane, near the hospital, has, I fear, no connection with brother
John Cok (ii., p. 53); it was so called from the shops of the cooks who
prepared refreshments for the crowds who came to Smithfield. It was at
the end of Cock Lane that the fire of London stopped in 1666, but it is
better known as the scene of the Cock Lane ghost.

Sir Richard Owen, who had been a student at St Bartholomew's, told Dr
Moore (ii., p. 54) a grim story of Cock Lane. It was there that the
hospital authorities hired a house for the reception of the dead bodies
of criminals hung at Newgate. "Owen was in a room on the first floor
with Sir William Blizard, the President, who was attired in court dress
as the proper costume for an official act. They heard the shouts of the
crowd and then the noise of an approaching cart, which turned down Cock
Lane and stopped at the door. Then came the heav